USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 64
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It is a distinct advantage to nearly all the manufactories here to have a foreign market for their goods, as oftentimes when business is dull in the United States it is good elsewhere. In one case in particular this has proved true, as one Elgin manufacturing concern has been enabled to go through the recent "hard times" without laying off a single man or cutting its working time one hour a week simply because of the demand for its goods in foreign countries.
This neglect of foreign business in the past has not been confined to Elgin manufacturers, but to the manufacturers of the United States in general. For years England and Germany have practically monopolized the foreign busi- ness, simply because United States business men did not approach the question of securing foreign business in the proper manner.
According to a prominent Elgin manufacturer, it is a species of egotism that has kept the manufacturers of this country out of the foreign markets. The people of this country believe it is the biggest and best on the face of the earth, and the manufacturers believed their wares were the best on earthi. Consequently they attempted to sell their American wares to the people of other countries, without regard as to whether the machinery, shoes, foods, or other products suited the needs of the people of other countries.
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MEET FOREIGN DEMANDS.
German and English manufacturers had men out to study the peculiarities of foreign people, and what particular stuff they wanted most, and how they wanted it. They made their products conform to the demand, while the manufacturers of this country tried to make the demand conform to their wares, and failed. Now this is changed, and manufacturers are studying the demands and endeavoring to meet them.
Of course, the largest manufacturing concern of the city is the one that might reasonably be supposed to have the largest foreign trade, and without doubt it does. The Elgin National Watch Company has representatives in practically every civilized country of the globe, and its watches announce the time of day to nations, from "Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral strands."
It has a large agency in England, another in Germany, one in France, and so on throughout the list of the world's countries. Its product is a neces- sity wherever man may be, or wherever he may roam. He wants to know the time, and an Elgin watch will tell him as well as any other watch, and perhaps better. The watch company has been shipping goods for years to foreign countries, and can hardly be classed among the manufactories that have only recently gotten onto the advantage of a large foreign business.
Likewise the D. C. Cook Publishing Company. Its Bibles, tracts, picture cards, Sunday school papers and quarterlies go into every civilized country of the globe, and are read and enjoyed by children, and grown folks as well, speaking almost every tongue that ever resulted from the Tower of Babel. They have been here for years, and this company can hardly be considered one of the newcomers in the field.
SILVER PLATE COMPANY'S SUCCESS.
But not so with other concerns. About eight years ago the Elgin Silver Plate Company received an order from an undertaker, whatever he may be, in the language of his own country, in far-off South America. He wanted a sample shipment of coffin hardware, and he got it. It was good, and he wanted some more, and ever since then he has been getting shipments at least once a year from the Elgin factory.
Since that time the company has made shipments to New Zealand, Australia, Central America, many countries of South America, England. Can- ada, and even far-off Japan. Its foreign business has amounted to thousands of dollars, although it has no foreign representative or traveling salesman, all of its business being done direct or through New York exporting houses. If the business continues to grow as it has done the day is not so far distant when it will pay the company to keep a man making a round of the world taking orders.
SEYBOLD COMPANY'S EXPANSION.
One of the strongest bidders for foreign business is one of the newest Elgin manufactories, the Seybold Piano and Organ Company. This company
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made its first foreign shipment shortly after its inception, four years ago, and its most recent one was made last week. The business is steadily increasing, and promises to be a big asset to the company before many years have gone by.
Since that shipment four years ago the company has sent organs to England, Scotland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Australia, Colom- bia, South America, Mexico, Cuba, and Canada. One Holland organ dealer thinks so much of the Elgin company's organs that he has secured several pictures of the different styles of organs and uses them in his advertising matter, showing the name "Seybold" to all his customers.
Fred H. Ackemann, manager, of the organ company, stated one morn- ing that he had just received a letter from a dealer in Warsaw, Russia, who desires a catalogue of the goods manufactured by the company, and states that he thinks the local company can suit his needs. All this foreign business has come unsolicited, as the company has no foreign representative, but Mr. Ackemann stated that he expected the time to come when a foreign traveling man would be a necessary factor in the company's business.
TOOL WORKS HAS FOREIGN TRADE.
Even so small a concern. relatively speaking, as the Elgin Tool works, does considerable business in foreign countries. Although one of the newest of Elgin manufacturing concerns, it has already sold its products in Belgium. Mexico and Germany, and has had inquiries from Spain, Australia, England. France, Switzerland, and Sweden. The company is now making arrange- ments with a New York exporting house to handle its foreign business.
The Moseley Lathe Company has also made foreign shipments to Switzer- land. England. France, Germany, and Australia, its last shipment having been made about a year ago. It is now negotiating for a large order of goods to be sent to India. This company has been able to sell its regular product in other lands, and foreign dealers and customers have always bought the best and most expensive stuff the local concern makes.
The Borden Condensed Milk Company is another Elgin factory whose product has been enjoyed by the people of other lands. Shipments have been made from the local factory in the past to Japan. China. England, and many other countries, and the excellence of the product has done much to add to Elgin's fame.
WATCH CASES GO EVERYWHERE.
Watch cases made at the plant of the Illinois Watch Case Company go to practically every civilized country on the globe. The company has several foreign representatives in the larger cities of the more important countries, and has also had men traveling out of this factory make trips through Europe and South America to South Africa, and also to Australia and other coun- tries. The company has a large Cuban trade, as well as a large amount of business in Mexico.
Foreign shipments have also been made by the American Tower and Tank Company, manufacturers of structural towers and tanks. This company
NEWMANFINNES
EAST SIDE OF DOUGLAS AVENUE, ELGIN, ABOUT 1860.
RIVER STREET, ELGIN, ABOUT 1860.
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has a very large Canadian business, and has also made shipments to Cuba and South America. These shipments were made through exporting houses, and the South American shipment is believed to have gone to the Argentine Repub- lic. Formerly a great many Elgin windmills and pumps were sold abroad.
OUR BUTTER IS EXPORTED.
The Creamery Packing Manufacturing Company has shipped goods to other lands. although of late years little has gone from this factory. A few years ago the local factory shipped a carload of butter tubs direct to Liver- pool, but that is the last foreign shipment made direct from the local factory, which is merely one of a chain which reaches all over the United States.
Its product does go to many foreign countries, however, as a shipping case for other products.
Even the Elgin Metal Novelty Company's goods go to foreign lands, although they are not shipped direct, but go through dealers in this country who order them made at the Elgin plant. Selz. Schwab & Co.'s shoes, made up on Congdon avenue, go to cover the feet of many nations. although they are shipped through the main office and not direct from the Elgin factory. The shoe company has salesmen in nearly all foreign countries.
The Cutter & Crosette shirt factory sells most of its goods in the United States, about the only foreign market being Canada. The shipping rates on such bulky products are too high to make the foreign business much of an object. Many of the shirts get into foreign lands, however, on the backs of Americans who appreciate good shirts.
CHINESE READ COOK'S BIBLES.
And so it goes. The missionary in far-off China reads to his almond-eyed pupils out of a Bible made at D. C. Cook's publishing house, accompanies their hymns on an organ from the Seybold factory, closes school by looking at an Elgin watch, and then goes to his home, to make his tea out of water drawn by an Elgin windmill, sweetens it with condensed milk prepared at the Brook street factory.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF ELGIN.
E. C. Kincaid, then prominent in newspaper circles, wrote as follows :
"A history of Elgin would be incomplete without mention being made of the names and fate of the various newspapers published. In no country in the world as America does the press wield so large and effective an influence. Neither is a town considered located and established until it contains a paper. especially adapted to its wants and devoted to its interests. The mission of the newspaper man is an important one, and it is but justice to say that, in most American communities, he is a welcome guest and receives a fair reward for his labors. Elgin is no exception to this general rule, and the press of the city has usually been so conducted as to be a subject of legitimate pride to the citizens.
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"The first issue of a paper in Elgin was in 1845, when the Western Christian was established. It was edited by Spencer Carr, Rev. A. J. Joslyn and Rev. Wareham Walker. In political belief, it advocated the most ad- vanced anti-slaveryism, and in religious opinion it was strongly Baptist. The paper was subsequently removed to New York state, and after various muta- tions, was legitimately succeeded by the Baptist Weekly.
"About 1847 the Elgin Gazette was issued, and never failed to appear weekly until March, 1874, when it lapsed and merged in the Advocate.
"The Fox River Courier appeared as a whig paper in 1851, and after a brief and troubled existence. sped away.
"In 1853. the Elgin Palladium was started by a Mr. Hough. It was afterward published by John H. Rowe & Bro. About 1855 or 1856 it was changed to the Kane County Journal, and was published by Lyman & Smith. This was Henry M. Smith, who has since been managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, and now occupies the same position on the Brooklyn Union.
"The Gazette, however, ontlived them all, and was edited, at various times, by E. Owen, E. S. Joslyn, Professor Blenkiron, A. J. Joslyn, Gershom Martin and Birney Hand, until, in 1865, it was purchased by E. C. Kincaid and L. H. Post. The partner of Mr. Martin in the publication of the Gazette was Mr. E. W. King, who came here in 1854, and is now the oldest practical printer in the place. In 1868 F. T. Gilbert and L. H. Post succeeded the old firm of Kincaid & Post, and about six months after Mr. Gilbert purchased the interest of his partner. In 1871 the Watchman was consolidated with the Gazette and a stock company formed, consisting of Z. Eastman, F. T. Gilbert, G. H. Daniels and E. C. Kincaid (the latter being proprietor of the Watchman at the time). In 1873 F. T. Gilbert purchased the whole concern, and the following year it was sold out and succeeded by the Advocate, owned by S. L. Taylor, who had established the latter paper in 1871.
"The Advocate has one of the best appointed offices in the state outside of Chicago, and is in a very flourishing condition. S. L. Taylor is proprietor and chief editor, and is ably assisted by R. P. McGlincy, who officiates as city editor.
"In 1858 a campaign democratic paper was established by the late Colonel Thomas Grosvenor and F. B. Wilkie, now of the Chicago Times.
"In 1865 the Second District Democrat succeeded, published by B. W. Staniforth, and edited by sundry persons.
"This was succeeded by the Elgin Chronicle, edited by Ed. Keogh, and finally purchased by E. C. Kincaid, and changed to the Watchman.
"In May, 1872. the Lady Elgin, a monthly paper, was started by oper- atives in the watch factory, and for about two and a half years edited and published by Bertha H. Ellsworth, Alida V. Ahle and Lydia A. Richards, when the senior partner withdrew. In March. 1874, a one-third interest in the paper was purchased by the watch factory company and donated to the operatives. The paper represents these operatives, and is an honor to them. Its present circulation is about one thousand five hundred.
"The Elgin Times was established in 1874 by Ed. Keogh, and still lives.
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"In the fall of 1874 the publisher of the Dundee Citizen issued an edi- tion in this city called the Elgin Republic. It was commenced as a daily on the 17th of October and changed to a weekly on the 26th of November.
"During the winter of 1874-75 Dudley Randall. of Aurora, started the Daily Bluff City. The problem of its existence is still unsolved.
"Elgin has always been well supplied with Chicago dailies, fresh from the press, and their aggregate circulation is nearly six hundred. The Journal leads them all. it being delivered here at six p. m., and carriers distributing it throughout the city."
At the present time ( 1908) the following publications appear, having a circulation covering the northern part of the county: The Elgin Advocate. published weekly by Lowrie & Black, and enjoying a large circulation : the Elgin Daily News, by the same firm, with a circulation of about two thousand five hundred. Both are printed at the fine building on Chicago street-the News-Advocate block; the Elgin Daily Courier, now conducted by a cor- poration of which H. D. Hemmens is president. . \. L. Hall is managing editor : the Elgin Evening Press, an independent sheet owned largely by Aurora residents ; the Elgin Herald-Germania, edited by Adolph Fischer and printed in German.
There is also published the Elgin Dairy Report, by W. D. Willson, and the Gospel Messenger, a religious sheet.
The Daily News and Daily Courier are republican, there being no demo- cratic paper in Elgin or in the county.
All are thoroughly up-to-date newspapers, edited by able men, and equipped with the modern appliances for newspaper making and job printing.
INDUSTRIES OF ELGIN.
Elgin is an industrial city and from the beginning has been. That it must continue to be is obvious from its situation and history. In the growth and fame of its manufacturing institutions, it is surpassed by no city of its size and age, and equaled by few. Since the establishment here of the Na- tional watch works its destiny has been determined and its progress continuous. Factory after factory has been added until the list now shows a healthful variety to which new enterprises will be constantly added. The location here of the woolen mill gave the people of Elgin their lesson as to the value of industries, and. as stated above, they have not forgotten, but have profited by that experience as shown by the institutions since located here.
THE ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH FACTORY.
Hon. S. Wilcox and G. P. Lord, Esq .. wrote in 1875 :
"In 1864, several enterprising men of Chicago determining that watches should be manufactured in the west, organized for that purpose under an act of the legislature of this state, a company called then the 'National Watch Com- pany,' since changed to Elgin National Watch Company. B. W. Raymond. Esq .. a former resident and firm friend of Elgin, was chosen president of the company.
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"This project became known early here through John Adams and George B. Adams, jewelers in Elgin, and the location of the factory in this city at once engaged the attention of the business men. A committe was appointed to ascertain the inducements necessary to this end. This committee conferred upon the subject with the president of the company and its leading artisans from Waltham. An examination of the grounds in and about Elgin ensued, which resulted in the conclusion that the present site of the factory buildings would be satisfactory to the company. This was upon the premises then known as the Dexter farm, which was owned by persons living in Oneida county. New York. These persons would sell all ( 171 acres) but not part. of the farm-price $50 per acre, cash. The company then (fall of 1864) proposed to locate the factory on this site, provided thirty-five acres (the most valuable part per acre of the farm) were donated to it and $25,000 of its stock was taken in Elgin. This proposition involved the purchase of the Dexter farm, as well as the donation of the thirty-five acres and subscription of stock. Efforts to raise the money ( $8.577.48) to purchase the farm and secure the $25,000 subscription of stock were immediately commenced, but were found likely to be unavailing.
"In this emergency, on the 24th of December. Henry Sherman, Benjamin F. Lawrence, Walter L. Pease and Silvanus Wilcox, determined to secure the factory here. They bought the farm, each furnishing one-quarter of the $8,577.48-laid off that part situated in Kane county into lots. calling it 'Sherman's addition,' donated blocks one, two and three of said addition ( thirty-five acres) to the company, subscribed for the balance of the $25,000 of the stock, and thus settled the location of the watch factory in Elgin.
"The organization of the Elgin National Watch Company was completed February 15. 1865. During several months after, they occupied a three-story wooden building on the alley west of Market square for the manufacture of watchmakers' machinery.
"In 1866 they moved into their new building, which consisted of a central. three-story building, with basement 40x40; a two-story and basement west wing 28x100; a two-story and basement south wing 28x87 ; a one-story west wing, extending from south wing, 25x35 for dial room, and a one-story wing on the west, and opposite dial room, 30x65, for engine and boiler room.
"In 1868, the company added the west wing to their front. 28x100, two- story and basement.
"In 1870, the company extended their south wing, 28x100, two-story and basement.
"In 1871, they built their new engine house for their Holly water works.
"In the spring of 1873. the company extended their dial room, making it 25x70 and two stories high.
"In August, 1873. they commenced their new front buildings, consisting of a center building, 62×62. three stories and basement, with the two front wings, each 30X114. and a rear and connecting wing, 28x90. All these are two stories and basement.
"In 1874. the company rebuilt their engine house, making it 30x65, with a
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ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH WORKS IN 1868.
.4.111
ELGIN WATCH WORKS, COMPLETED IN 1907.
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boiler house 40x65, one story, and replaced the old chimney by a new one 27×27 at base. 11.6XII.6 at cap, and 144 feet high.
"In five years and ten months from the date of their charter the company had erected their buildings, manufactured their machinery. and made and placed on the market more than forty-two thousand watches. In five years from the production of their first watch the company had established the reputation of their watch, and made and placed on the market more than one hundred and twenty-five thousand watches; and all this in less than seven and one-half years from the date of their charter. It is believed that no other watch manufacturing establishment ever achieved a like result in the same length of time.
"Of the six hundred employes of the company, nearly one-half are ladies. The monthly pay-roll is about $35.000.
"Board of Directors-T. M. Avery, H. Z. Culver. B. W. Raymond, J. T. Ryerson, H. H. Taylor, Mat. Laflin, W. H. Ferry, Samuel T. Atwater, and W. L. Pease. T. M. Avery, president : H. Z. Culver, vice president ; H. Rey- nolds, secretary: George Hunter. superintendent; G. P. Lord, business manager."
A writer in 1870 said :
"This mammoth institution, which provides a great portion of our countrymen with that particular and indispensable article so well described by L'Estrange in the saying. "The timing of things is a main point in the dispatch of all affairs," has but been in operation since 1867, and during that year turned out three thousand watches. This for the first year was deemed a good showing, but the great western country over which the sale of the article, perhaps at first principally extended, welcomed the National watches with downright enthusiasm, and in 1868 the company sold no less than eighteen thousand time-keepers, each one of which was an advertisement of the rectitude and excellence of their watches. During 1869. the fame of the Elgin watches had spread far and wide, in the East no less than the West, the new product of American mechanism was sought for and purchased, and the past year's sales exhibits the enormous and unprecedented favor now extended by the public to the Elgin watch in the sale of no less than twenty-two thousand of these time-keepers. The present year, 1870, will show an increase over the past. The factory is now turning out one hundred and thirty watches per day. and will at the year's close have presented and sold to the public thirty-five thou- sand watches.
"This wondrous aggregate of western enterprise and workmanship is the product of five hundred and twenty-five persons, comprehending. in the lan- guage of an old English author. 'all trades which use forge or file, from the anchorsmith to the watchmaker.' These operatives are distributed in four- teen departments, and their monthly earnings amount to the sum of $27.000."
Since 1875 the progress of the watch factory has been continuous and the work of its employes steady, except during the panic of 1893-7 when it ran on part time, and during the panic of 1908, when it has been on four days time during the summer months. It now gives employment to three thousand five hundred persons and turns out an average of two thousand five hundred
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watches each day. Its pay-roll each month now amounts to nearly $250,000. In 1905 the old main buildings fronting on National street, and the wing front- ing on Fox river, were entirely removed and the magnificent five-story struc- ture completed in 1907, was erected. The present plans contemplate the removal of all the old buildings, and the construction of buildings similar to the new factory. A new engine house, unsurpassed by anything in northern Illinois, was built in 1907.
Borden Condensed Milk Company. In 1865 Gail Borden began con- densing milk in Elgin by a process he had invented. It made him and many other millionaires before his death, on January 13, 1874, at Borden, Texas. William G. Hubbard and James Christie were respectively vice president and secretary of the first company. Its stock is not now for sale, it is so far above par. In 1868 the factory, which had been working at a disadvantage some years, sold out to the New York Condensed Milk Company, and operations on a large scale were at once begun under Mr. Borden's patents. The "Eagle" brand of milk, made here, soon became favorably known throughout the United States, and has so continued. The works on Brook street have been con- tinuously increased in size until they now cover over two blocks. About 1900 the old Waverly house was bought and a new factory started there. The company employs four hundred or five hundred workmen in Elgin, which is now but a branch of the immense business that extends to every part of the world. E. S. Eno is now superintendent.
D. C. Cook Publishing Company. This establishment, now one of the most important in the city, came to Elgin in 1886 and located in the old woolen mill on River street. It continued in this location until 1900 when it moved into the splendid factory buildings at the north end of the city. It now gives occupation to more than four hundred employes. The buildings cover thirteen acres of ground and are equipped with every modern improvement that looks to the health of employes and the turning out of good work. The mail of the establishment averages ten tons per day. Shipments of its products, books. tracts and general church and Sunday school periodicals, are made to every part of the United States. That the institution has grown to its present size is due to untiring efforts of its proprietor, David C. Cook, and his son George Cook. The present manager is W. P. Topping, who succeeded G. B. Richardson in 1904.
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