History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 84

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875

USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time > Part 84

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335

EARLY TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.

McKnight had purchased Mr. Hoge's interest, the firm becoming P. W. Gates & Co. Soon afterward E. S. and A. G. Warner, Thomas Chalmers, and Andrew and David Fraser became associated with Mr. Gates, adding to their already extensive business the manufacture of cars. The panic of 1857 found them encumbered with debts amounting to $350,000 ; but, although the affairs of the firm were placed in the hands of an assignce, by 1860, cvery dollar of this indebtedness was paid off.

In 1848, soon after Mr. Scoville severed his business relations with Mr. Gates, he, with his sons, Adison, William and Ivcs, established a foundry on the corner of Canal and Adams streets. About this time the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company commenced laying iron, and Scoville & Sons contracted for building a number of freight and passenger cars. They also built the first locomotive manufactured west of the Allegheny Mountains, called the " Enterprise.' The formation of this firm of Scoville & Sons, in 1848, was the origin of the present '1883 Scoville Iron Works, Nos. 51-53 Lake Street.

In 1846 another branch of iron manufacturing was established in Chicago. During that year C. R. Van- dercook & Co. commenced to operate the " Phoenix Foundry." on the south side of the river, near the lake shore. The firm inade a specialty of manufacturing " Queen of the Prairies," a new hot-air cooking stove, and also turned out furnaces, grates, etc. This was the first stove foundry in Chicago.

By 1848 a number of firms were operating quite large brass foundries. Thomas George & Co., on Lake Street, was not only one of the oldest of the brass found- ers, but the most extensive. Nugent & Owens estab- lished their works on Market Street in 1848, but they were burned out in 1854, and afterward the foundry was operated by M. Nugent alone. H. W. Rincker was proprietor of the first bell-foundry on Canal Street near Adams, and in 1848 cast probably the largest bell in the city, for St. Peter's church. In 1854 he alsocast the large alarm bell for the court-house. In those days F. Letz's Chicago Iron Works on Wells Street, and Jantes Hannah & Co.'s foundry in Wabansia's addition, West Side, were turning out considerable work. Letz's works had been established some years, and in 1853 he purchased land on Franklin Street, between Washing- ton and Madison, where he erected a substantial cut- stone and brick building of three stories.

In 1851 Charles Reissig established the " Chicago Steam Boiler Works " on Jackson Street, west side of the river. He constructed the large mains for the water works in > 854.

Mason & McArthur commenced to manufacture purifiers and various wrought-iron work for the gas works in 1852, in a small wooden shop on Randolph Street. A removal was afterward made to the corner of Canal and Carroll streets, and in 1855 the facilities of the establishment were greatly increased. By 1857 the " Excelsior Iron Works" were among the leading iron manufactories of the city.

The year 1852 marks an epoch in the history of Chicago and Cook County manufactories. It was then evident that the city was to become a great railroad center, and all branches of manufactures were fostered. The building of cars and locomotives, especially, grew into large proportions. As has previously been stated P. W. Gates and Hiram H. Scoville engaged in the manufacture of cars on a small scale, when the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad first commenced to call for rolling stock in 1848. Stone & Boomer, in February of that year, began the construction of wooden bridges on

the Howe principle. In November, 1852, they com- pleted the " Union Car Works," on South Clark Street, which were destroyed by fire in September, 1855. In February, 1853, they turned out the first car, and dur- ing 1854 four hundred cars were completed. The firm had the contract for equipping the Western Division of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and the Ohio & Mississippi Company. At the time of the destruction of the works they were the most extensive of the kind in the West, the gross annual carnings of the firm in the building of bridges being $800,000. They had contracts with twenty-four different railroads in Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin. After the fire, the firm purchased the " American Car Works," on the lake shore, in the southern part of the city, and associated with themselves N. S Bonton. Mr. Bouton had pur- chased the works of G. W. Sizer & Co. This manu- factory was completed in the fall of 1852, but did not fairly commence business until March, 1853. When Messrs. Stone, Boomer & Bouton assumed charge in 1855, everything was in fine working order, the build- ings and necessary yard-room covering thirteen acres of ground. The Michigan Central and the Illinois Cen- tral roads passed by the manufactory, so that every transportation facility was at hand. The works con- sisted of a foundry, blacksmith shop, engine house, machine shop, paint shop and two passenger-car shops, and were known as the " Union Car and Bridge Works." In addition to these buildings the new firm continued to use their old foundry on South Clark Street. It should be remarked, however, that before the American Car Company's works came into their possession, they did a very extensive business under the former management and under the superintendency of D. H. Lyman. During the first year (1853) seven hundred cars were constructed, mostly freight. The passenger coaches of the Illinois Central Company were also built by the American Car Company. The value of the finished work amounted to $450,000. In 1854 the company manufactured thirty-nine first-class passenger cars and two hundred and thirty platform cars. This work, with the railroad castings, brought the value of manufactures up to $600,000 in the year 1855. In December, 1856, the car works were bought by the Illi- nois Central Company. The partnership was dissolved. Mr. Stone went into business as a contractor, Mr. Boomer as a bridge builder, and Mr. Bouton started a foundry on Clark Street, being appointed, soon after, to the position of City Superintendent of Public Works.

In September, 1853, the attention of business men was called to the importance of establishing, at this point, a locomotive manufactory. A company was therefore formed, in 1854, of which William II. Brown was president. The works of H. H. Scoville & Sons, corner of Adams and Canal streets, being adapted to the wants of the locomotive company, were purchased by the new organization. The Messrs. Scoville had already commenced the construction of a locomotive, which was placed upon the track soon after the organization of the company. It was the first locomotive built in Chicago -the " Enterprise "-and entered the services of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company. After- ward the locomotive company built the " Falcon" for the same road, and during the year of its existence turned out some ten locomotives, when its works and " good will " passed into the hands of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company.

In 1854 the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Company established a machine and repairing shop on West Kiuzie Street. Locomotives were also built there,

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

the " Black Hawk " being one of its productions. The name of McCormick, Ogden & Co. The contract em- next year (1855) the Illinois C'entral followed the exam- braced the supplying of Illinois (except four counties, Tennessee. Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. Ar- rangements were also made to enlarge the manufactory on the north side of the river, near the mouth of the harbor. During this year (1848; Mr. McCormick's brother, Leander, was taken into the business, and in 1849 William S. McCormick was associated. They afterward 1859 became partners in the manufactory. By 1857 the establishment was turning out over four thou- sand reapers annually, a capital of about $360,000 being invested. ple of the Galena road and established shops on the lake shore, south of Twelfth Street. As stated, in 1856, the company purchased the American Car Works, at Carville. In 1855 the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Company erected machine and repair works on Buffalo Street, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Com- pany put up similar shops on West Kinzie. The Chi- cago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Company also estab- lished works on the North Branch of the river. Con- sequently there was little need for private assistance in the manufacturing of cars and locomotives.

Within the five years succeeding 1852, a number of new iron mannfactories started into life. In June, 1853, the " Chicago Iron Railing Manufactory," A. F. Stod- dard, proprietor, commences business on Randolph Street. Vincent, Himrod & Company's stove foundry was built the same year, being located on the South Branch. John Peattie's steam engine. works were located the same year on North Water Street. In 1854. Stephens & Brother established a steam-engine manufactory, and J. W. Cobb's establishment on the corner of Kinzie and Desplaines streets, devoted to the same objects, was burned. The "Chicago Lead Pipe and Sheet Iron Works," corner of Clinton and Fulton streets, were established the same year by Collins & Blatchford, on the corner of Clinton and Fulton streets. Pressed bar lead was also made. The parent house for lead manufacture was located in St. Louis. M. C. Barrel established a foundry corner of Canal and Adams, in 1855; and during the same year Russe"! & Angel commenced business on the corner of Kinzie and Halsted; and Sherman, Bay & Co., on Canal Street. In April of this year, Perkins & Krause began to man- ufacture steam engines and flour and saw mills, their works being situated on the corner of Canal and Washington,

The following establishments commenced husiness in 1856: Kvarts & Butler, manufacturers of shingle machines, steam engines, etc., North Water Street; James Campbell & Co., boiler manufacturers, Jefferson, near Kinzie; W. M. Horton & Co., founders, corner Canal and Adams.

In July, 1857, Captain E. B. Ward established his mills for the re-rolling of iron rails. They were situated on the North Branch, three miles from Lake-street bridge. The buildings covered fifteen acres. The machinery was made in Detroit.

But few manufactories of any kind were established in 1857, those already in existence feeling satisfied if they couldl tide over the hard times.

By the year 1857 the capital invested in iron works, car manufactories, etc., exceeded $1,700,000, and the value of manufactures over twice that amount, Some two thousand eight hundred workmen were employed and eight thousand tons of wrought and four- teen thousand tons of cast iron were consumed. In the manufacture of stoves a capital of about $185,000 was employed, and the value of the products was $238,000 per annum,

Asahel Pierce, as has been stated, was the pioneer manufacturer of agricultural implements in Cook County, and the first one in northern Illinois. In 1847 Cyrus H. McCormick removed from Cincinnati to Chi- cago, and made arrangements with C. M. Gray for the manufacturing of his celebrated reaper. About seven hundred machines were made the first year, and fifteen hundred the second. In 1848 Mr. McCormick entered into a contract with Ogden & Jones under the firm

In 1853 J. S. Wright commenced manufacturing the Atkin's self-raking reaper and mower, his building being on l'eyton Street, North Side. The next year three hundred reapers were turned ont from this factory. In 1855 Mr. Wright changed his location. In 1857 he was manufacturing one thousand eight hundred ina. chines.

In 1854. as stated, Asahel Pierce turned over the manufacture of plows to David Bradley, his brother. in-law. Mr. Bradley associated with himself Conrad Furst, and the foundation of the present extensive estab- lishment of the " Furst & Bradley Manufacturing Com- pany " was laid.

H. A. Pitts, manufacturer of threshing machines and horse powers, was also prominent in this branch of industry. His factory, corner of West Randolph and Jefferson streets, was burned in September, 1855, but re-built on a greatly extended scale. In October, 1855. H. 1). Emery & Co. established the "Chicago Agri- cultural Works."

An idea of the growth of this class of manufactur- ing may be obtained from the statement that in 1856 the capital invested amounted to $597,000, and the total value of the production was $1, 134.300,

Among the pioneers in planing and the manufacture of builders' materials-sash, doors, blinds, etc.,-after Ira Miltimore were Foss & Brothers and J. W. Noble. who established themselves in 1848; also F. MeFall & Co. and Goss & Phillips, successors to Goss & Abbott. Mr. Goss commenced the business in 1848, and the firm of Goss & Phillips was formed in 1850. Goss & Phil- lips' factory was consumed by fire in August, 1856, but suspended business only a few weeks, and even then showed the enterprise which the "Goss & Phillips Man- ufacturing Company " possess to the present day. By 1857 there were some twenty planing mills and sash, door and blind factories, in which establishments was invested a capital of $445,000. The value of manu- factures turned out during the year 1856 was over $1,- 000,000,

From the most reliable accounts, as stated, Briggs & Ilumphrey were the first regular wagon and carriage makers, with Peter Schuttler a "good second." In No- vember, 1837, J. C. Outhet started a wagon manu- factory, and continued in business many years, his location being on Randolph Street, between Franklin and Wells streets. B. C. Welch established the first omnibus factory in the city in 1846. The firm name was at first B. C. Welch & Co., then Welch & Mensden, and after Mr. Welch's death in 1856, J. T. Mensden & Co. The factory was situated on Randolph, between LaSalle and Clark streets, and the business had widely extended by 1857. F. Busch commenced to manu- facture wagons on Washington Street in 1847. H. Witbeck was one of the largest and best known wagon manufacturers in Chicago for many years. His manu- factory, which he greatly enlarged in 1853, was situated on the corner of West Randolph and Jefferson streets.

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EARLY TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.

In 1854 Mr. Pierce, after having conducted the business of manufacturing wagons and plows for twenty years until it had grown into immense proportions, gave up the latter branch of the industry to his brother-in- law, David Bradley, and established the "Chicago Car- riage and Wagon Factory " at Holstein, three miles northwest of the city, on Milwaukee Avenue, being the largest and best known house of the kind in the city. Mr. Pierce carried on the business up to September, 1856, when the management was assumed by Tucker & Steinhouse. Mr. Bradley, in the meantime, had asso- ciated himself with Conrad Furst, an experienced car- riage and wagon maker, and thus was laid the basis of the " Furst & Bradley Manufacturing Company," still alive and wonderfully prosperous.

Among the prominent wagon and carriage manu- facturers of early days may also be mentioned Ellithorpe & Kline. John H. Kline went into business for himself in 1856.

By 1857 the total capital invested in the business was $356,000, and the value of the manufactures $948,- 160. Over seven thousand wagons and carriages were manufactured in 1856.

Charles Morgan has the reputation of being the earliest furniture manufacturer in Chicago. John Phil- lips commenced to make chairs in 1845. His factory was on the corner of Green and Third streets, and was the first establishment devoted exclusively to the manu- facture of chairs. Both were in business in 1857. Furniture making took a fresh start in 1855 ; such new firms as Jacob Strehl and Hutchings & Brown going into the business. The capital invested in this branch of industry in 1857 was $354,000, and during 1856 the manufactures were valued at $543,000. Among the most extensive then doing business were D. L. Jacobus & Bro., on Randolph Street, and Jolin Finerty, on the same thoroughfare, the latter of whom confined himself to the manufacture of fine goods.

The sub-soil of Chicago and vicinity is a blue clay, underlying the surface from three to six feet. This material is found in great abundance on the South Branch of the River, in Green's addition. Next to Mr. Blodgett, among the first of Chicago's citizens to fairly establish this branch of manufacture was John Penny. Other Pennys followed, and in the forties John Penny was re-enforced by A. J., and G. W., his sons. Penny & Meacham, Penny, Meacham & Harvey, etc., were all in the same business up to 1857. In 1853 the total manu- facture of bricks had reached only twenty million, but the entire product was used at home, Milwaukee also furnishing this city a portion of her eream colored articles. By 1854 there were five brick-yards in oper- ation, that of Daniel Elston being the largest. F. T. & E. Sherman had also obtained a reputation for the excellence of their manufacture. In 1857 there were fifteen yards and they turned out about ninety-onc million of brick, valued at over $700,000.

About eighteen miles southwest from Chicago, are situated the famous " Athens Quarries," near Lemont. In 1846 the stone was discovered by some workman while they were excavating for the Illinois & Michigan Canal, but was not then considered of superior quality. It was, at first, used merely for foundation stone. In 1851 the " Illinois Stone Company" opened a quarry there, but even then no one thought of using the stone for facing purposes, or of calling it "marble." In 1852, however, the Merchant's & Mechanic's Bank of Chicago was faced with the Athens stone, the first used for this purpose in the city. F. C. Sherman and William B. Ogden then used it in their buildings, next to the Sher-

man House, and on the corner of Lake and Clark streets. Several large marble yards started up in Chi- cago during the year 1852, several of them drawing their supply from the Athens quarries. H. & O. Wilson had extensive yards, on the corner of State and Wash- ington streets, established in the summer of 1853. John Shumer & Co., successors to A. S. Sherman, on Water Street, also were actively engaged in that business. The " Illinois Stone & Lime Company " was organized in December, 1853, purchasing A. S. & O. Sherman's interest in the quarry at Lemont, and also the lime kiln near Bridgeport. The organization consisted of W. S. Gurnee, president : M. C. Stearns, secretary and treas- urer; A. S. & O. Sherman, superintendents. The reputation of the Athens stone extended until it became the favorite building material in the city. Professor Hitchcock while on a visit to Chicago, during the winter of 1855-56, examined and analyzed it, and called it " Athens Marble." Although really a magnesian lime- stone, it has since been known by that name.

In 1857 the amount of capital employed in the stone business of Chicago was fully 81,500,000. During that year the six thousand tons of Athens marble, shipped mostly from Chicago, found its way to all the important cities in the Northwest, and became a serious compet- itor in the market with the products of the Lockport quarries, in New York.

In 1838 S. B. Collins & Co. began the manufacture of boots and shoes, in a small way. It increased yearly until 1855, at which time the business passed into the hands of Pearson & Dana. In 1854 E. S. Wells opened the Metropolitan Boot and Shoe Store, and commenced the manufacture on an extensive scale.

In 1855 C. G. Sheffield, as agent of the old type foundry of John T. White & Co., New York, established a branch in Chicago-the only one of the kind west of Cincinnati. It was in a large four-story brick building on Washington Street.

Messrs. Rossetter & Pahlman established the " Chi- cago Woodenware Manufactory" in 1854. The value of its product the next year amounted to $100,000. At this time it was the only establishment of the kind in the West, and the largest one in the United States. E. & D. Brunswick established their billiard table manu- factory on Randolph Street at an early day. 1. Brown started the first match factory on Wells Street. In 1854 Chapman & Atwood established the "Eagle Match Factory." In June, 1854, the first paper box factory was started at No. 71 Lake Street by Wiegle & Co. The first manufacturer of tobacco was A. Meyers, who commenced business in 1849. In 1856 L. Lyon erected a factory for the manufacture of white lead on Halsted Street, corner of Fulton.

The manufacture of musical instruments was started in 1854. During that year R. G. Green started a melo- deon manufactory at the southeast corner of Washing- ton and Market streets. The business had been carried on by Mr. Green and partners in an unostentatious way for two years, and assumed a prominent place among the manufactures of the city and county at this time, when he became sole proprietor of the business. He employed twenty workmen, and made three hundred instruments during the year, valued at $25,000. The capital invested was $10,000. Following this first manufactory came additions in 1855. During that year Knaub & Sons began the manufacture of pianos at 145 North Clark Street. Their invested capital was $3,000. They employed nine workinen, and made the first year thirty pianos, valued at $10,000. H. Stone also began the manufacture of pianos the same year, at the corner

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

of Clark and Water streets. His capital was Szoo: he employed two workmen and made, in one year, eight instruments, valued at $2,000. John Preston was also making pianos at this time, but his capital, the number of operatives employed, or the extent of his business, are not matters of record. The summary of this branch of business : for 1855, as shown by the Democratic Press, was: Capital invested. $13,200; number of hands employed, 31; pianos manufactured, 38; melodeons made, 300; total production, valued at 837,000.

Late in 1855, the first type foundry was started by C. G. Shetfield, at 43 Franklin Street, where he adver- tised a "type foundry and printers' warehouse." His first investnient was $15,000, and he employed fifteen hands. Besides the type he manufactured, he kept for sale the first full stack of printers' material ever offered in the city. His advertisement stated that it included everything in the printer's line. "from a Washington press to a bodkin."

As has been remarked, the revival of manufacturing dates from the "wholesale " introduction of railroads in 1852. In 1851 the total capital invested in foundries was $55,000; in agricultural implements, $8,; in wagon and carriage manufactories, $22.300, and in the black smithing business, $10,700. By 1854. $1,650,000 was in- vested in locomotive, engine and machine shops: $310,000 in agricultural implements; $220,000 in wagon and car- riage mannfactories, and many other lines of manufacture were represented in proportion. A comparison of the value of manufactures for 1854, 1855 and 1856, shows that within those three years it more than doubled.

In 1854 the value of manufactures was as follows: Locomotives, engine, machinery and iron works, railroad cars, furnishings, etc., $3.200.000; agricultural imple- ments, $350,000; carriages and wagons, $500,000; fitr- niture and cabinet work. 8350,000; planing mills, sash factories, etc., $500,000; brass and copper works, $1 35,- ooo; stoves, leather, soaps and candles, and all other branches, 82.800,000.

A comparison for the years 1855 and 1856 is given in detail. No reports were received in 1857, the year of the panic, but upon the authority of the Democratic Press it may be stated that before the end of the year the total value of the manufactures had equaled that of 1856.

COMPARATIVE VALD'E OF CERTAIN MANIFAUTI'RES,

1855.

Locomotive, engine, machinery and iron works ...

$2.976,000

$3.887,034

Agricultural implements

649.790

1.134.300

L'arriages amil wagons

702,104

948,160

Furniture and cabinet works

453.54M+

543,000

l'laning mills, sash, door and blind factories .. .

749.654

1.002.307

Brans and copper works

377.200

471.000

Whisky, ale, porter, beer, etc ....

$26,645

1,150,320

Oils, soap, candles, ete

464,130

525,021

Leather . .

290,000

432,000

Marhle and stone

585.900

86. 775

Brick

260,000

712,000

Stoves

235.000

Besides the important branches especially mentioned were many others which should be recorded as having hecome established prior to the close of 1856. The following table from the Democratic Press gives the essential particulars concerning many of them;

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURES OF CHICAGO, JANUARY 1, 15ST.

Name of Farm

Manufacturers.

Capital Invested

Value of Manefact. tures.

Hands

Stearns & Co ..

Lime,

880,000

$ 8 ;. 350

William Holmes ..

Look'g glass, &c.

25,000

150,000

Jordan & Olcott

Ship builders. ..

80,000

75,000 to

Weeks Bros.

Ship builders. .. 10,000

20,000) | 50

Hunison & Towner.

Coffee, Spic's &c.

8,000

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 84

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas Number of Pages: 875

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875