USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections > Part 51
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The Keyes Manufacturing Company .- Situated in the north- eastern part of the city just outside of the corporation limits, is the immense plant of the Keyes Manufacturing Company. The magnitude of the works and the amount of goods turned out is surprising, even to those who have heard the plant mentioned and have had some idea of its capacity. The works are most familiarly known as the "Hub and Spoke Factory," and the place is generally spoken of by that name. As this signifies, hubs and spokes are manufactured, and these constitute a large portion of the output.
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But in addition, phaetons, carriages, buggies, sulkies and wagons of all kinds are made. The original company was organized in 1864, and the works were situated on the corner of First and Poplar streets. The building is still standing and is used as the store- house for the distillery. With the various additions and improve- ments the firm was compelled to seek more commodious quarters, and built the large plant in the northeastern section of the city. Several years ago the entire plant was destroyed by fire, but enter- prise and the great demand for their goods built up the works immediately, and now the company is receiving an immense trade, scattered over the entire United States, and is having a very pros- perous business. The drying-house and contents were destroyed by fire in the spring of 1890, but were quickly rebuilt and work resumed with but slight interruption.
The main building is the wood-work department. An adjoin- ing building is the immense blacksmithing department. All the various rings, rods, etc., used in the wagon or buggy, whichever it may be, are manufactured here. Then in the main building the body of the wagon is constructed. The facilities are the same for making complete wagons, buck-boards, phaetons, etc. Then in the setting-up department the various parts are put together, and the whole wagon appears. In the painting department the finishing is
done and the wagon is ready for the market. The machines are all run by power obtained from one immense engine. Indeed, the entire works are very complete. In the large storeroom are materials for getting out large orders on short notice. In every department of the shops is continually noticed the skill and knowledge of the complete construction, and accurate fitting of the parts, which only comes with long experience. The firm gives employment to several hundred men, and at the present time the demand for all kinds of buggies and wagons is so great, that every department is crowded with work.
Terre Haute Electric Light and Power Company, J. A. Crawford, president; Edwin Ellis, secretary; Samuel McKeen, treasurer. This company commenced operation in April, 1885, with fifty arc lights of the Thompson-Houston system. In the fall of the year they competed for lighting the city by electricity, and were successful. This company use the Hammerstein lamp sup- port (of which they own the patent) for suspending their light over the street crossings, and it is so far superior to the tower method of lighting that "comparisons are odious." More than 200 lights are used to light the streets of the city, while over 100 arc lights and some 500 incandescent lights are used in the business houses, hotels, etc. In the plant of the Terre
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Haute Electric Light Company's works are eight large boilers of total capacity of 500 horse power, two 250-horse-power engines, two 100-horse-power engines, ten arc-light dynamos and two incan- descent dynamos on the ground floor. The plant is located on north Center street and Vandalia Railroad.
Hudnut Milling Company .- From a small beginning in 1852, at Edinburg, Ind., this has grown to be one of the famous great in- dustries of the country. The making of hominy was known to the housewives of our ancestors since the day that corn came into use. This, of course, was the old-fashioned lye hominy, and formed much of the healthy food of our ancestors. The name of Hudnut will go into American history as the founder of the present remarkable out- growth of this industry. It was moved from Edinburg to Terre Haute in the early sixties, and work was commenced in an humble way in the old wooden building at the foot of Walnut street, on the river. This was burned, and the works then went into the old canal warehouse. It was operated and known as "The Hudnuts." In 1886 the pres- ent company was incorporated: Theodore Hudnut, president, and B. G. Hudnut, secretary and treasurer.
In Terre Haute the company have two mills-a frame and a new brick, and also an elevator; the latter is an iron-clad building. Their bins, buildings, elevator, etc., cover about five acres, all con- nected with the railroads, and having ample shipping facilities. They give employment to 100 employes in their mills, etc., in this city, and their output is 1,200 barrels daily.
Two other mills, one at Mount Vernon, Ind., and one at Pekin, Ill., are owned and operated by these gentlemen. Two mills in Terre Haute, and the two just mentioned. The main mills are in Terre Haute, and here is the largest output. The four mills con- sume 16,000 bushels of corn daily, and send out 2,000 barrels of corn goods daily. In order to meet the daily demand, the company has established grain offices and elevators at a large number of points in the corn-growing districts of Indiana and Illinois. They now have as many as twenty-two such supply points in operation. This company has converted into white corn goods as many as 17,000 bushels a day. The products of these mills are hominy grits, clean meal, corn flour, pearl meal, corn meal, hominy feed and Maizone-the latter is used by brewers. These goods are sent all over the world. The Hudnuts are the inventors and pat- entees of the machinery and devices used in their factory. The growth of this industry, in its rapidity and expansion, is one of the marvels of this country-celebrated as it is for its inventive in- genuity and boldness of enterprise.
Heading Factory is now being built, by W. J. Coleman. It
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is located on the V-shaped piece of ground between the Chicago & Eastern Illinois switches and the Polytechnic Institute. A switch will be built to the factory. The work on the building was com- menced July 25, 1890 and it is the intention to have it completed in sixty days or sooner. There will be three main buildings- one 108x78; one 109x70 and the other 56x24. Two 100-horse- power engines will supply the motive power. Its capacity is to be between 4,000 and 5,000 barrels a day, and give employment to 155 men in the building, besides the outside force; G. R. Parsons superintendent.
Cooper Shop .- For some years Messrs. Griffith & Co. have carried on a cooper shop. From the day they commenced their custom has grown, until just now they have enlarged their shops and substituted steam and machinery for the old style hand work. This shop is on North Second street. They are just completing their improvement.
Hanly's Tent Awning, Parlor Bed, and Lounge Factory .- In 1871 John Hanly made the humblest possible beginning in Terre Haute, himself being the entire force and an old outbuilding being his workshop, in the making of tents, sails, awnings, mattresses and lounges. He was a quick and expert workman, and his industry and pleasant manners soon brought him employment. For eight years he toiled alone, and would go out and hunt up work and on his shoulders carry it in and out. In 1880 he opened a shop in the basement of Cook's block, and boldly ventured on this advance step to employ a force of a man and a woman. This was encouraging and people began to call him "Mr. Hanly." He then moved into his present quarters 319 and 321 Cherry street, and in a short time was compelled to rent the upper floor of Oriental Hall, corner of Third and Main and is employing forty-one hands. He is now building on the corner of Third and Mulberry and expects to have his new brick factory complete in the early fall (1890). The main building is 40 feet front, 100 feet deep and three stories high; an L 35 feet front, 100 long, one story, for machinery when in his new building; will employ seventy-five men and women. He has not yet determined whether he will use steam or electric power. Mr. Hanly's sales in 1889 were $45,000 and for 1890, estimated $80,000.
In 1886 Mr. Hanly associated in his factory Mr. John M. Sam- uels, and it became as at present the firm of Hanly & Samuels.
Wabash Flouring Mill is at the foot of Wabash avenue. This was the first to introduce the roller process on the Wabash. Willard Kidder is the sole proprietor. The output is 800 barrels per day, and the high-grade flour is sent to all parts of the coun- try. Mr. Kidder has made the manufacture of first-class flour
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one of the most important industries of Terre Haute. He com- menced with the old-style buhr stones and a limited local sup- ply. Here is a center of an important wheat belt-the best quality of winter wheat, with all its possibilities has been kept in view. The mill is a fine three-story-and-basement brick, and has its railroad track for loading and unloading, and its pon- derous steam shovels.
W. L. Kidder & Sons' Flouring Mill .- This is one of the fin- est and largest mills in the State. It has a capacity of 1,000 bush- els a day. The enterprise was started in 1879, and the mill built in 1880, and at once commanded a large trade. The firm now ship upon orders to England and Europe generally. The excel- lence of its products are known everywhere. The mill is a four- story-and-basement brick structure, 50x100 feet, with separate build- ings for engine, storehouse, elevator and office, and is equipped in every department with the latest improved machinery. The full-roller process is run by a 600-horse-power engine, and furnishes employment for forty-five men, and a still larger number are in the cooper shops. This mill grinds only winter wheat. This noted flouring-mill is situated corner of Washington and Tenth streets.
Wabash Lumber Company, 133 North First street. The ex- tensive lumber enterprise of the Wabash Lumber Company was incorporated July 1, 1889, and forms one of the most important features of the trade in lumber and its products for building pur- poses in Terre Haute. The premises occupied by the company cover three city blocks, 'and besides extensive yards and sheds for storage, and a commodious office, they operate a well-equipped planing-mill, which is provided with all the necessary machinery and a seventy-horse-power steam engine, and is devoted to the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, moldings and builders' finish- ing, and general mill work. The company handles about 3,000,000 feet of lumber annually, consisting both of pine and hardwoods, and they carry in stock about 1,000,000 feet with which to promptly fill orders. The trade of the house is largely local, and shipments are also made to surrounding towns. All stock is procured direct from the original sources of supply in large quantities, and the location of the yards alongside of the railroad tracts affords the most complete facilities for receipt and shipment with the greatest economy. The officers of the company are Messrs. Crawford Fair- banks, president; John Beggs, vice-president; H. C. Miller, treas- urer, and W. B. Steel, secretary.
The Ehrman Manufacturing Company, 124 and 126 Wabash avenue. Messrs. C. H., A. and E. E. Ehrman are the founders and proprietors, and whose operations embrace the manufacture of
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pants, shirts, overalls, etc., for workingmen, mechanics and others. This enterprise was established in 1888, and gives employment to about 250 operatives, in the factory and at their own houses, and the trade of the house extends throughout the northwest and southwest and is annually increasing in volume. The fac- tory is a three-story brick building 50x100 feet in dimensions, the first floor being used as the stock room, the second floor for cutting and the third floor for manufacturing, the whole being equipped with sewing machines, button and button-hole machines, etc., operated with an electric motor. The products, which are in high favor with the trade and consumers, under the trade-mark of " Farmers and Mechanics," are all carefully made, are strong, serv- iceable garments, are produced at low - cost, and are particu- larly desirable for the purposes for which they are designed.
Electro-Plating, Steam Fitting, etc., house of D. W. Watson & Sons, was founded thirty-five years ago by the late D. W. Watson, and has been conducted under its present style since the death of the founder in 1883, by his son John C. Watson, who has been connected with the business for many years. The headquarters of the business are embraced in a three-story building, 35x150 feet in dimensions, which is equipped with a twenty-horse-power steam engine, and all necessary tools and machinery for the work in hand, employment in the several departments being given to about sixteen assistants. The ground floor is used for the steam- fitting and plumbing department, the second floor contains the stock of chandeliers, the third contains the electro-plating depart- ment, and the basement is used for storing heavy stock. In the plating department, which is a new feature of the business, added in December, 1889, gold, silver, nickel, brass, bronze and copper plating is accomplished by skillful workmen in the best manner. Old chandeliers are refinished in the latest styles, and oxidizing old iron and ormolu or any color or finish desired are given. The chief specialties of the house are steam heating and plumbing, and in this line of work contracts are made to as distant points as Kansas, and generally throughout this State and Illinois. The facilities of the house are unsurpassed in this vicinity, and the work executed has always been of superior excellence.
Stove Manufactory of Messrs. King & Seath, 603 North Sixth street, was originally established in 1872, by Messrs. Ball & King, and from 1876 to 1887 was conducted by Mr. E. J. King alone, the present firm having been organized in the latter year, its mem- bers being Messrs. E. J. 'King and J. R. Seath, Jr. The plant of the firm is embraced in a three-story brick factory 50x50 feet in dimensions, with a one-story foundry in the rear, 90x50 feet. The
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works are fully equipped with all necessary tools and appliances, operated by a 15-horse-power steam engine, and furnishes employ- ment to about 25 skilled mechanics during the busy season. The products of the firm consist of a general line of cooking and heating stoves. It is situated at the corner of Sixth street and the Vandalia Railroad.
Hominy Mills .- The business was established in 1878, under the firm name of Newhart & Garner, with a capacity of 150 barrels per day. In 1880 Mr. Garner retired, when it was conducted by Philip Newhart until 1883, when he admitted his son. In 1884 Philip Newhart died, since which time the business has been con- ducted by the widow and son under the old firm name of Newhart & Son. But before his death, Mr. Newhart, by close application had laid the foundation of a large and lucrative trade, and in 1885 the mills were newly constructed throughout, with an enlarged ca- pacity of 400 barrels per day. In 1886 they were destroyed by fire, the flames sparing nothing, save the bare walls, but they were re- built the same year with a capacity of 500 barrels per day, new machinery being used and every invention of modern science and ingenuity which could economize time and labor, or which could improve the quality of the goods produced was pushed into service. The old buhr stone has been discarded and in its stead are the latest patents of rollers; the machinery is operated by a magnificent engine; automatic scales measure and weigh the corn as it enters the mills and the hominy as it leaves them; and the whole enterprise from the basement to the topmost story evinces intelligent manage- ment and a prosperous business. The buildings are on South First street, being 130x142 feet in dimensions and three stories high. There is also an elevator attached, all grain from the moment of leaving the wagon being under the control of machine power, and we know of no better example of the triumph of labor-saving machin- ery than is here exhibited. Newhart & Son make shipments of their goods to all parts of the United States.
Cooperage .- In the southwestern part of the city on the river, connected by a side-track entering the premises, is the extensive plant of Mr. James Nichols, covering ten acres of ground and fur- nishing steady employment to seventy-five skilled workmen. This enterprise is the oldest and largest of its kind in this section of the State, and embraces the operation of the only saw-mill in the city. The products of the plant include hard and soft wood lumber of all kinds, slack barrels for flour, produce, salt, etc., headings, staves, and hoops, packing boxes, poultry crates, etc., and is one of the most self-contained establishments of the kind anywhere. The mechan- ical equipment embraces a saw-mill for lumber, hoops, staves, head-
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ing, box and other machinery of improved character, operated by an engine of 80-horse power, and every operation in connection with the manufacture of barrels and cooperage stock is performed on the premises from the receipt of the logs to the shipment of the com- pleted product. The timber is purchased in the forests standing, is cut and rafted down the river to the mill, where the logs are sawed into lumber, and then passed through the various operations required. The trade of the establishment is largely in Terre Haute with local millers, and also extends throughout Indiana and Illinois, and shipments of cooperage stock are also made to more distant States, notably Kansas. In lumber, oak, black walnut, and other hardwoods form the chief product, and this is marketed locally. The present capacity of the barrel department is about 1,500 daily. Mr. Nichols has been engaged in the cooperage business for the past nine years, and has operated his present plant since November, 1888, succeeding to the business originally established some years ago by Gilman & Reynolds.
Terre Haute Boiler Works, Ninth and Mulberry Streets. The business was originally instituted by Mr. William Cliff, who ad- mitted his son, J. H. Cliff, to a partnership in 1878, under the style of Cliff & Son, and in 1884 his nephew, C. N. Cliff, joined the firm, which has since been known as Cliff & Co. The works are em- braced in a one-story building, which is equipped with punching machines, rolls, dishing machines, etc., operated by a 12-horse-power engine, and furnish employment to twenty-five skilled workmen. The products embrace locomotive, stationary and marine boilers, stand pipes, oil, lard and water tanks, jail and prison work, furnace, cupolas, smoke stacks, fire-proof doors and shutters, and indeed anything in the way of boiler, tank, sheet and plate iron work. At present the firm is making more tubular boilers than others. The location of the works being contiguous to the railroad have unsur- passed facilities for the receipt of the raw materials and the ship- ment of the finished products, and the trade of the house extends throughout this State and Illinois, while the home demand in Terre Haute is practically controlled by the firm.
Challenge Manufacturing Company .- Boiler Scale Solution. The works, located at 129 Ohio street, are being operated success- fully and profitably.
Terre Haute Brewing Company .- As a correct measure of the growth and importance of Terre Haute as one of civilization's cen- tral points, there is perhaps no one thing that will furnish a more correct gauge than Anton Mayer's brewery. He came here nearly half a century ago, and about 1850, with very limited means and the most primitive appliances, commenced the brewing of beer.
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Limited as were his means, it was not more so than the wants of the locality at that time. Mr. Mayer had been thoroughly trained in the business, and was possessed of that spirit of enterprise that anticipated the public want as it grew and kept in the fore front with his trade-increasing facilities and enlarging capacity as well as improving products as the public want demanded, not outrunning it and then waiting at a ruinous loss for it to catch up, but using rare judgment, and thereby prospered and grew in even pace with the city and surrounding country. It had been a very small affair before he took hold of it and was undergoing frequent changes of proprietors, but from 1850 to October, 1889, he was the sole master of its destinies. October 14, 1889, he sold and it became a stock company affair, with the following officers: Crawford Fairbanks president, and John Beggs secretary and treasurer; capital $500,000.
The plant covers an entire block, bounded by Poplar, Swan, Ninth and the tracks of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad. The buildings embrace the brewery proper, the malt-house, offices, stables, cooper shops (all of brick from one to four stories high), artificial ice machines, immense and elegant cellars, the whole being furnished with six steam engines. The main building is an imposing structure, and fine and well-ventilated cellars are a prominent feature. In con- nection with the brewery is a bottling department, consisting of a two- story brick building located on the opposite side of Poplar street, where the company bottles their beer for the use of families, hotels and for shipment. Thirty workmen are employed in the several departments, and six teams are used to deliver the product to the trade, the capacity of the brewery being 70,000 barrels per annum.
Mikado Road Wagons .- This is now one of the leading indus- tries of Terre Haute, upon a firm basis-prosperous and growing. Like many of the great industries of the world it had its inception, not only in a small way, but from another but kindred branch of in- dustry. Nearly thirty years ago A. B. Fouts and W. R. Hunter had a livery and sale stable and dealt extensively in horses and carriages. Mr. Hunter had a quick eye for the wants of his business, and when he saw there was no road wagon that exactly filled that want, his in- genuity was challenged to produce it. In 1883 the firm of Fouts, Hunter & Co. was formed, and they commenced making the now celebrated Mikado wagons-the result of much investigation and experiments. The first year the firm made and sold only four wagons, the second year six, the third year eighty, the fourth year one hundred and eighty, and the present year they will manufacture at least five hundred. Since their first introduction they have been greatly improved, and new designs have been issued until at present the firm are making them in several different styles with or without
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leather tops, or canopy tops, one and two seat, and also one-man speeding wagons and pony wagons. Their shops are 121, 123, 125 South Third street.
Boiler Makers .- Cliff & Co. The senior member of this firm is William Cliff, who came to Terre Haute in 1856. He was eight years foreman in the Vandalia shops; he established the business in 1864. The other members of the firm are J. H. and C. N. Cliff. This firm does an annual business of about $20,000, and employs on an average twenty-eight workmen, and sometimes as high as thirty- six. They manufacture all kinds of locomotive, stationary and ma- rine boilers, iron tanks, jails, smoke stacks, breeching and sheet iron work. The building in which the business is conducted is 120x40 feet in dimensions, situated on First street, between Walnut and Poplar.
Carriage Factory .- Scott & Graff, 5 and 7 south Second street, gives employment to ten men; all work is done by hand. It com- menced operations in 1870. A two-story brick, divided into the iron and wood departments. The products are buggies, light car- riages, business wagons, grocery wagons, etc.
Shirts, Overalls, etc., Factory .- The large establishment of Zim- merman & Stahl, North Sixth street, was founded in 1871 by C. Zimmerman, who was succeeded in 1887 by the present firm, and since 1888 has been conducted under the sole proprietorship of C. Stahl, retaining however the old firm name. It is a three-story brick, 28x150, and equipped with all needed machinery and oper- ated by electric motor. It furnishes employment to 270 operatives.
Greiner Shoe Manufactory .- This became an incorporated com- pany in 1889, with a paid-up capital stock of $15,000, being suc- cessors to the business established in 1884 by Mr. D. C. Greiner. The plant is situated on Eighth and Wabash and is a one-story brick, 25x100 feet, and has a five-horse electric motor. The products are exclusively ladies' fine shoes and slippers. The output is ten or twelve dozen pairs daily. The officers of the company are Messrs. D. C. Greiner, president, J. B. Greiner, secretary and Jacob Baur, treasurer.
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