History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 94

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 94

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Springfield Iron Company .- This institution was organized October, 1871, with a capital stock of $200,000, which has been increased to $393,- 750. The first Board of Directors were Charles H. Ridgely, George M. Brinkerhoff, John W. Bunn, O. H. Miner, and William D. Richardson. The first and present officers are Charles Ridgely, President; John W. Bunn, Vice Presi- dent; George M. Brinkerhoff, Secretary. The present Board of Directors are Charles Ridgely, George M. Brinkerhoff, J. T. Smith, John Wil- liams, Joseph W. Clark, William Ridgely, and John W. Bunn.

In the beginning the works only manufactured railroad iron. The puddle mill belonging to the rail mill was started in June, 1872, and the first rail was made in September of that year, since which time it has continually been in operation.

The claim is made by the company that they have made more rails than any similar works in the United States. They now turn out four thousand five hundred tons of rails per month.

Other branches of manufacture have been in- troduced from time to time, so that at present the company is making rails of both iron and steel, bar iron, fish plates, and track bolts. The steel rails are made by the Seimeus-Martin, or open earth process. Charles Kennedy is general superintendent of the works.

The Springfield Iron Company is located about a mile north of the city limits. The build- ings of this company are constructed in a sub- stantial style of architecture, and present a pic- turesque appearance. It is impracticable in this article to give a full and complete description of the works, and our only endeavor will be to notice some of the principal points of interest. The buildings in order of importance are, the rail mill, where all the rails, both iron and steel, are made, is eighty by three hundred and twen- ty-five feet in dimensions. The rolls of this mill are propelled by a mammoth seven hun- dred horse-power engine. The steel converting works are two hundred by one hundred feet, and devoted to the manufacture of steel, which is cast into rail ingots. The manufacture of steel is under the care of Mr. C. W. Roeper.

The Blooming Mills are ninety by two hun- dred feet, substantially built and used for reduc- ing the ingots to the proper size for rolling into steel rails. The motive power being a four hun- dred and fifty horse-power Corless engine. The Merchant Mills are one hundred and six by two hundred and thirty-four feet in dimensions, and devoted to the manufacture of bar iron, mer- chants' iron and railroad fastenings, with a ca- pacity of sixteen hundred tons per month. The machinery of this mill is driven by a three hun- dred horse-power Corless engine. The puddle works are eighty-two by two hundred and two feet in dimensions, and used for the preparation of pig iron for the Merchant Mills, the motor being a three hundred horse power Corless en- gine. Besides the buildings already mentioned, there are machine shops, bolt and nut works, car- penter shops, pattern shops, blacksmith shops, etc. The company have introduced the Sie- mens gas furnaces, which they use exclusively for heating purposes, fifteen being in use in the different works. In the steel works they have a duplex Worthington pump, with two steam cylinders twenty-five and a half inches in diam- eter, with a twenty-four inch stroke and a hydraulic piston or plunger nine inches in diam-

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IHISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

eter, producing hydraulic pressure of three hun- dred and fifty pounds to the square inch. The water with this pressure is used for working lifts and cranes in the steel works and Blooming Mill. The works consume three hundred tons of coal per day, which is obtained from the Beard-Hickox Coal Company, located some two hundred yards from the works. The coal is loaded in the mines at a depth of two hundred feet, and carried on a tramway and delivered at the different works in the same cars. The office building is a two-story brick structure. The first floor is devoted to the heads of the various departments of the company, while the second story is used for draughting room and chemical laboratory. Some forty clerks are employed in the different departments of this office, while the entire works give employment to ten hun- dred and eighty employes. The goods manu- factured by the Springfield Iron Company are used by all the principal railroads in the west, and among them we will name the Wabash, Ill- inois Central, Chicago & Alton, Northwestern, etc., etc.

The company have a locomotive of their own for switching purposes and a store of general merchandise is connected with the works for the accommodation of the employes. Besides the four large engines in the different departments already alluded to, which are of themselves more than seventeen hundred horse power, there are numerous smaller engines used for running the nut and bolt works, saws, punches, presses, shears, etc. The master mechanic in charge is Mr. John R. Darcy. The company have forty-five acres of ground upon which the works are built, and is well drained. The principal sewer is three by three and one-half feet, built of brick and laid fourteen feet under the ground, and is a half mile in length.

It is interesting to contemplate the various in- dustries which cluster around a business of so much importance to the laborers and artisans of our country. Not only are there more than a thousand men directly employed, but dependent upon them are families; then there are miners of ore and coal; there should be added railroads and much of their rolling stock, the products of the earth and their transportation, domestic imple- ments and household comforts, are all improved and benefitted by all the legitimate means used to foster and encourage iron industries.

Illinois Watch Company .- In 1870, after a thorough discussion of the subject, the Spring- field Watch Company was organized, with John T. Stuart, President; W. B. Miller, Secretary.

Steps were at once taken for the erection of the necessary buidings, and in March, 1872, the first watch was turned out. During the first year three thousand eight hundred and forty-five watches were manufactured, which was increased to nine thousand and ninety-five and fourteen thousand two hundred and forty-one for the year 1873 and 1874, respectively. In 1875, in conse- quence of the financial troubles, but eight thou- sand five hundred and fifty were made, and only ten thousand and seventy-six in 1876. In 1877, the company was re-organized with Jacob Bunn President, and Charles Smorowski Secretary, since which time the business has constantly increased, so that up to this time (1881) they have been unable to keep up with their orders. The following table is of interest as showing what has been done with the force employed since 1877, and the annual pay roll:

Year.

Average No. No. movem'ts employed. annually m'de

Paid annually for labor.

1872

3,845

$63,000

1873

9,095

104,000

1874

14,241

121,000

1875

8,550

72,000

1876

10,076

50,000

1877

160

18,040

84,000

1878

180

19,035

96,000

1879

260

33,285

125,000

1880

400

47,065

207,000

It will thus be seen that since the re-organiza- tion there has been a marked increase in the amount of work done at this factory. As this work is being prepared for the press, steps are being taken for a further increase in the capacity of the works. Six hundred persons are now em- ployed, and this number will be increased to eight hundred during the coming year.

In brief, the Springfield Watch Company was organized in 1870. It was re-organized in 1877, and adopted the present name of Illinois Watch Company in December, 1878. The building is situated on North Grand Avenue, adjoining the beautiful Reservoir Park, on one of the hand- somest lots in the city, two blocks square, and embracing fourteen acres of land. The build- ings are immediately in front of Tenth street, and command a splendid view from every ap- proach.

In the spring of 1870, the operators went to work in the rooms now occupied by Mr. Kiken- dall, over the Excelsior machine shop, to make the tools required, and on Christmas of the same

575

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

year they moved into the north wing of the present building, which is one hundred by thirty feet, three stories high. In 1879, the middle building, forty by fifty, and four stories high, finished with a handsome double-deck cupola, was completed. During the past year, the south wing, one hundred by thirty, three stories high, was built. Each of the wing buildings described are handsomely finished, with ventilating cupo- las. On the north and east side, are located the boiler and engine house, the dial house, the gas works, the old office, and other out-buildings. The stack rises majestically, and towers above the whole, and rolls out its volumes of smoke daily, to proclaim the triumphs of artistic and mechanical skill, combining with its business sense in its management at its base.

Sixteen different grades of watches are now made, in the following order of excellence: "No. 1," being the movement known as "Stu- art;" next in grades downward, "Bunn," " Mil- ler," "Currier," " Hoyt," "Columbia," "Amer- ica," "103 Improved," "103 Adjusted," "103 Plain," "101 Improved," "101 Plain." These are all gentlemen's watches. The following are the grades of the ladies': "Mary Stuart," "Rose Leland," "Sunnyside," "Arlington" -- all of which are key and stem-winders. The wages rate from fifty cents to $6 per day. The pay roll will reach $22,500 per month, at present. About one-third of the employes are young ladies.

The Aetna Iron Works, on the southwest cor- ner of Second and Adams streets, succeeded to the firm of Lowry, Lamb & Co. John C. Lamb became a member, of the latter firm, in 1848 in carrying on the business of a foundry and ma- chine manufactory. The firm the following year, erected the main machine building. In 1853, one of the partners died, resulting in the dissolution of the partnership. After an inter- val of idleness, Mr. Lamb became sole owner in 1855, since which time he has conducted the business. The concern owns 157x360 feet of real estate, on which are buildings 150x157 feet, the main wing of which is of brick, two stories and attic. All kinds of castings, railroad and mill work, steam engines and mill machinery are manufactured in the machine department. An average of fifty men are employed in the various departments. Much of the work of the Wabash Company, and large quantities of rolling mill work are - manufactured by the Aetna Iron Works.

Ide'e Machine Works was established on the corner of Fifth and Madison streets in 1870, by

Albert L. Ide. The building was erected by the city some time previously as a market house, and purchased by Mr. Ide. Several additions and changes have since been made, and as now constructed it covers 50x100 feet, one wing being two stories high. The foundry is 100x60 feet, one story in height. In addition to this, there is a blacksmith and engine house. Mr. Ide has eight patents on heating apparatus, and has the most extensive line of patterns for steam radiators of any concern in the United States. He also makes a specialty of steam pumps and controls a valuable patent of his own invention in this line. Another specialty is the manufac- ture of automatic gas machines, on which he also controls a patent. He does a general ma- chine business in the way of building stean engines and of light and heavy castings for buildings. Mr. Ide annually manufactures a large number of nut locks for railroad joints, making them for the railroad companies in con- tracts for 100,000. The demand for some time has been in excess of the supply for the steam radiators, coming for the whole northwest. He has supplied most of the steam heating appa- ratus for the State institutions of the west. He works from sixty to seventy-five men regular y, and in 1880 did a business amounting to $325,000.

The Excelsior Foundry and Machine Works, located on the corner of Ninth and Adams streets, was established in 1854 by John Rippon. it includes 90x157 feet of real estate, on which are a two-story machine shop, 40x90, and a foundry, about equal in dimensions. For some time, the business was conducted by Berriman & Rippon, and in 1877 it was changed to Rip- pon & Childs. The following year Mr. Rippon bought the interest of his partner, and has since been sole proprietor. He does a general manu- facture of steam engines and machinery, all kinds of castings, and runs a general repair shop. From twelve to fourteen men are con- stantly employed.

Booth & Mc Cosker's Carriage and Wagon Manufactory, on the corner of Eighth and Washington streets, was originally established by Albert Booth, in 1854, and was conducted by himself and son until his death in 1873. Their buildings cover an area of 200x157 feet, two and three stories high. The firm make both heavy and light vehicles, spring wagons, carriages and buggies. From twenty-five to thirty-five hands are employed and from three hundred to five hundred vehicles are annually turned out from their shops, which are sold in Central Illinois.

576

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Withey & Bros'. Carriage und Wagon Manu- factory .- William H., George D., and James Withey are proprietors of the manufactory located between Seventh and Eighth, on Wash- ington street. The business was established by the brothers in 1853. They purchased the lot on which the factory stands of the renowned Wash- ington Irving, and erected a frame building 60x80 feet. Two years later they erected a brick 22x100 feet, three stories in height. The latter was blown down by a cyclone in April, 1860, which destroyed the frame also. They next erected a brick building 80x100 feet, two stories high, which was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1861. There was a total loss in each instance, amount- ing together to $40,000, leaving the brothers in debt about $10,000. Their present buildings are 100x157 feet, two stories high, and of brick. They were commenced in 1861 and completed in 1863. The brothers also now own a two-story brick on Eighth street, 40x80 feet, which is used as a warehouse. All their property is free from incunibrance. They manufacture a general line of carriages, buggies, phætons and light spring wagons of the best quality. They employ on an average of thirty hands, and made 250 vehicles in 1880. Their work is all sold in the local market at retail.

Sash Manufactory .- John A. Kikendal, man- ufacturer of sash, doors and blinds, commenced business on the corner of Ninth and Adams streets, October, 1878. His business has been constantly on the increase, and he now employs eight men. In 1880 he did a business of $15,000.

The Globe Spice Mills .- The business was es- tablished in 1870 by Slemmons & Conkling. Subsequently the firm name was changed to Slemmons, Conkling & Company. In 1876, Mr. Slemmons retired from the firm, and in 1878 started the Globe Mills on Adams, between Fourth and Fifth street, where he continued un- til August, 1880, when he removed to his pres- ent location on South Tenth street. The concern roasts and prepares coffee, prepares spices, man- ufactures baking powder and roasts peanuts. The Globe Cream Tartar Baking Powder is the best brand of baking powder made at these mills. All goods made by Mr. Slemmons are handled exclusively at wholesale. He employs two trav- eling salesmen, besides his goods are sold by the salesmen in the employ of John W. Bunn. Six hands are employed in the factory.

Springfield Paper Company .- The Springfield Paper Mill was erected by the Springfield Pulp and Paper Company in 1875. The Company was organized in the summer of 1875, with

William McCague, President; Nathaniel Cov- ington, Secretary; Maurice Starne, Treasurer. The company began operating the mill in Jan- uary, 1876. The cash capital was $50,000, while the plant, buildings, machinery, &c., cost be- tween $40,000 and $50,000. The grounds of the company comprise one entire block, and the main building has a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. The company confines itself to the manufacture of one line of paper, the cream manilla, a fine quality of wrapping paper, and produce an average of four thousand pounds a day. The property in 1881 changed hands, and the mill is now owned by S. H. Jones & Com- pany, with the title of Springfield Paper Com- pany, under the Superintendency of N. R. Nixon, and Nathaniel Covington, Secretary.

Wagons und Carriages .- The firm of Myers, Davidson & Henley, was organized in 1874, and they commenced manufacturing carriages, bug- gies and spring-wagons, near the corner of Jeffer- son and Sixth streets, where they continued until January 1, 1881, when they purchased and fitted up the old Christian Church on the north-east corner of Jefferson and Sixth Streets. Their lot is eighty by one hundred and fifty-seven feet, and is well covered with buildings. The members of the firm are all practical workmen, and each has con- trol of a department. They turned out sixty vehicles in 1880, besides doing a large amount of repair work.

Machine Works .- S. F. Eastman started in the machine business on Madison street, between Second and Third, in 1868, making a specialty of the manufacture of the Benefactor, a two- horse cultivator. He continued the business in that location three years, then moved to a build- ing on Seventh street. At that time he went into the general repair business of engines and farm machinery. He removed from there to his present location, opposite the Wabash depot, in 1875, the building being erected especially for his business. In 1879, he formed a partnership with John H. Stevens, which still continues. The firm now makes a specialty of the manufac- ture of small upright engines, and employ three men in addition to their own labor.

The Elevator Milling Company .- Near the depot of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, Asa Eastman & Company erected, in 1865, an ele- vator at a cost of $75,000. For some years Mr. Eastman was interested in the business, but in 1876 leased it to other parties, and retired. Wil- liam Broeker, George Kern, S. W. Currier, and W. P. Grimsley were the lessees. These gentle- men continued to handle grain for shipment until

577

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

1880. In May of that year they purchased the property and determined to ereet in connection with the elevator a flouring mill. In June, the company began the erection of the mill, complet- ing it during the early part of the winter follow- ing, and in February, 1881, commenced the manu- facture of flour. The mill is of brick, seventy- eight by fifty-six feet, four stories and basement, with an elevation of one room (ten by sixteen ) above the roof. The boiler and engine room, north of the main building, is twenty-five by forty feet, and twenty-six feet high. The mill has ten run of burrs, with all the modern im- provements, and has a capacity of twelve barrels per hour, or three hundred barrels for a twenty- four hours run. The cost of the mill was $45,000. The elevator has a storage capacity of one hun- dred and twenty thousand bushels of grain.

Excelsior Mills .- Douglas Hickox, proprietor of the Excelsior Mills, is one of a family of millers. Addison Hickox settled in Springfield in 1833, and being a practical miller, began the business about two miles northwest of the city, a small water mill being located there, built by A year or two later he erected another mill opposite, on the same stream, which he operated a number of years. In the meantime, he erected a saw mill, with which he sawed lumber for a new mill, which he erected on the corner of Third and Washington streets, in 1845. This new mill he continued to operate until 1855, when he sold his milling interests, and engaged in merchanizing until 1859. He then bought the old Lamb mill, on South Seventh, between Cook and Edwards streets, which he run some years. About this time the Illinois Mill was burned, but was rebuilt in 1861 and run by Washington Crowder. It was a very fine mill for that day, and cost $27,000. Mr. Crowder ran it two years, losing heavily, when he sold to Laswell & Broadwell, who ran it about one year, when, in 1864, it passed into Mr. Hickox's hands, who, in connection with his son- in-law, B. F. Haines, operated it. In the mean- time, Mr. Hickox had taken his son, Martin, as a partner in the Lamb mill. In 1866, another change was made, Martin purchasing his father's interest in the Illinois Mill, and selling him his interest in the Lamb mill. In the spring of 1865, Addison Hickox bought the Ætna mill, on East Adams street, between Sixth and Seventh, which had been erected by Ives & Matthews, some time previous. Douglas Hickox became a partner in the mill from the time of its purchase. The father and son run it two and a half years, and then leased it for ten years. Addison

67-

Hickox, becoming a partner with his son-in-law, retained the business until 1871, when he retired. That fall he went to Florida, as was his custom, to spend the winter, and there died in January, 1872. Addison Hickox was another instance of a self-made man. Commencing without a penny, by industry he accumulated a fortune, which he left to bis heirs, of $150,000. His sons and son- in-law have all followed the milling business. The two oldest sons, Martin and E. R., are dead ; S. W. Hickox is one of the proprietors of the Illinois Mills, and Douglas is proprietor of the Excelsior, as guardian for his nephew. The old City Mills blew up in 1867, and the Etna in 1879-both a total loss.

Te Excelsior Mill was built in 1860, by Rippon & Co., who leased it for a term of years. About 1867, Martin Hickox purchased it, and a year later, his father, Addison Hickox, became joint proprietor, but soon sold back to his son. The capacity of the Excelsior is one hundred barrels every twenty-four hours. The building is 40x60 feet, three stories and basement.

Home Mills .- This mill was erected in 1861, by Washington Crowder, who ran it for a time, when it was purchased by Addison Hickox, who operated it until the fall of 1871. It was a part of his estate at the time of his death, which oc- curred in January, 1872, and is now the property of his widow, Mrs. Rhoda Hickox. It is sixty by forty feet, exclusive of the engine and boiler room, which is thirty by sixty feet. The mill is three stories and basement, of brick, and is equip- ped with all modern milling machinery, and has a capacity of one hundred barrels every twenty- four hours. John L. Burke and S. W. Hickox leased the mill February, 1881. They do mer- chant work exclusively.

Printing and Binding .- In 1865 Henry W. Rokker came to Springfield, and in 1867 com- menced the business of book-binder, with loca- tion on Fifth, between Adams and Monroe streets. Business flourished, and year by year he added to his stock and capital, until 1872, when he was burned out, suffering a personal loss of $10,000. Hle re-opened within a month on East Washington street, where he remained until he removed to his present location, 309 South Fifth street, in 1876. The building was erected by Mr. Rokker especially for the busi- ness, and is one hundred and fifty-seven by twenty feet, three stories in height. On his re- moval to this building he added a small printing establishment, consisting of one small press and a few fonts of type. The business has since rapidly grown, until now he has in active opera-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

tion four large and two small presses, and is well supplied with printing material for the transac- tion of any kind of work. The printing establish- ment and bindery is the most complete in Cen- tral Illinois. He employs at a low average, sixty hands in the two departments.

Boiler and Sheet Iron Works .- In 1863, John M. Wilson commenced the manufacture of all kinds of boiler and sheet iron works. In 1865, the firm became Wilson & Drake, and in 1875, Drake & Palmer, the latter gentleman purchas- ing the interest of Mr. Wilson. The firm employ, on an average, twelve men, and turn out $25,000 worth of work per year. The business is grow- ing with the growth of the city.

Springfield Trunk Manufactory .- Phillips Brothers formed a co-partnership, and opened a trunk factory in Springfield, on South Sixth street, opposite the Leland Hotel, in 1879, where they carried on the business until the fall of 1881, when they moved to 123 North Sixth street. The firm is composed of Charles J., Edwin HI., William O., and Moreau F. Phillips. They make all kinds of packing and sample trunks, and do all kinds of repairing; also keep in stock a large assortment of traveling bags, ladies' satchels, straps, and show case goods. The brothers are energetic, thorough-going young men, possessing a practical knowledge of the business, which has been quite prosperous and steadily increased since established. Five skilled workmen are constantly employed in the factory.

Springfield Woolen Mills .- This mill is the outgrowth of what was a small beginning, in the way of carding wool, by H. M. Armstrong and John Dryer, in 1834. In 1848, Mr. Armstrong, who was then alone, put in a mill for " fulling and dressing" home-made cloths, in connection with wool carding. In a letter to Mr. Dicker- man, Mr. Armstrong, who is now living in Batavia, says: "At first we run our cards with ox-power, on inclined wheel, but when I added cloth dressing I substituted steam power. After I commenced cloth dressing, my patrons, ( the farmers) wanted me to add machinery for spin- ning and weaving, and in 1851 Joseph and E. R. Thayer joined me, and we built a house suffi- ciently large to put up one set of machinery for that purpose. We ran along two years, added another set, and after a few years the demand for our goods was such that we were compelled to pull down our old house and build larger; hence the present establishment."

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History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 94

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084