USA > Kentucky > Jefferson County > Louisville > The city of Louisville and a glimpse of Kentucky > Part 15
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As an indication of the appreciation in which this journal is held, we make the following extracts from a letter written from Tennessee to the publishers :
"Many persons praise your paper without saying what it has really done for the land we live in. The best possible evidence of its value to the farming community I find in the many letters you publish from the drouth stricken portions of Texas. These letter writers, men, women, and children, invariably say that they have enough and some to spare for their less fortunate neighbors. How is this? Why these writers simply take advantage of the helps and hints given every two weeks through HOME AND FARM, making poultry, sheep, cattle, hogs, and bees play their part when in a tight place."
This is only one of many testimonials to the value of the journal. The most substantial token of approval is found in the steady demand for the paper from the farmers themselves. Its regular edition is now about eighty-five thousand, and is steadily increasing. It has probably the largest list of actual subscribers possessed by any agricultural journal in America which adheres to the rule that every paper is discontinued when the time paid for has expired.
HOME AND FARM is published by the Home and Farm Publishing Company, of which Samuel L. Avery is president, and George C. Avery, vice-president. It is, and has been for the past seven years, under the editorial charge of Richard W. Knott.
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W. W. Hlife & Co
7 O the river trade Louisville owes her origin, and to the growth of the river interests does she owe her early development from a barge landing, on np through the various stages of hamlet, village, town, and city.
In the good old days when the vast area of wooded hills and grassy dells that has been farrowed into green and golden grain fields and divided into rich States, lined the Ohio, a newly inhabited land, the river was the only connecting link between wilderness and civilization and in time became the line of export and import, of harter and merchandise, and the site now covered by this beautiful and thriving city, by reason of its natural advantages which so well adapted it to that purpose, became a port of entry for the supplies coming from the East by way of the water courses, and a shipping port for the products of the fast developing farm land around. Naturally, therefore, as grew the river trade and the river interests so grew the City of the Falls.
From the landing of the first cargo, back at a period that tests the limit of the oldest inhabitant's memory, running down to the present day, the City of the Falls has heen closely identified with the river interests which grew rapidly into immense proportions as men of enterprise miet from year to year the demands of the country's development, and hy placing ample barges and handsome lines of steamers on the river opened W. W. HITE. a vein of commerce right into the heart of the fast growing Common- wealth, which even now, after the coming of all the railroads, retains much of its former importance.
Closely identified with this development of the river trade have been, since the early days of steamhoating on the Ohio, the Hite family. Indeed, the Hites have done much for the development of Kentucky. They came here in the early days when this was a wilderness and a man had to be brave and venturesome in order to undertake the risks of a journey into this unknown country. Away back in the pioneer times, Isaac Hite was one of a party that came to the falls of the Ohio on an exploring expedition. Daniel Boone was a member of the same party. Hite returned to Virginia, but in 1778 came back and settled in what is now Jefferson county. In 1782 his brother Abraham, a captain in the war of the revolution, also came out. Then followed Joseph Hite, another brother, and then came their father. They all settled in the county a few miles from the present city of Louisville. They were typical Kentucky pioneers, two of them, Abraham and Joseph, bearing to their graves wounds inflicted by Indians, who then infested this section of country. From this hardy stock sprang the subject of this sketch. His father, the late Captain Wmn. C. Hite, began life on the river, first as a clerk. He rose to be a captain of steamboats and then to own them. Those were days when the captain of a river boat was an antocratic prince of a floating palace. Until the time of his death Captain Hite kept np his interest in river commerce and through it acquired a large fortune. At his death the mantle of his business tact and integrity fell upon the shoulders of his son, W. W. Hite, senior member of the firm of W. W. HITE & Co. So this young man received as a heritage, not only large interests in the steamboat and river supply business, but also the qualifications, training, and a natural hent, that insured the success that has attended the business as con- ducted by himself and his active and enterprising partners.
The firm of W. W. HITE & Co. was formed July, 1882, as the successor of the firm of Gilmore, Hite & Co., of which W. W. Hite had been the active member since its formation in 1877. The personnel of the present firm is W. W. Hite, President ; J. G. McCulloch, Vice-President; Ed S. Brewster, Secretary ; and Louis Hite, Treasurer. They own the controlling interest in the Lonisville and Evansville Packet Company, running the elegant line of freight and passenger steamers, composed of the City of Owensboro, the Rainbow, the James Guthrie, and the Carrie Hope, plying between Louisville, Owensboro, Evansville, and Henderson. One of these boats leaves the Louisville wharf at four o'clock p. m. every day for the points mentioned. This line has ever heen noted for its speed, safety, and comfort, and it is the pride of the owners that each of these boats furnishes accommodations first-class in every particular and unequaled on the Ohio river.
But their packet line, though a hig business in itself, is but a minor part of the business of this enterprising firm. They deal largely in steamhoat supplies, cordage, oakum, cotton ducks, railway and mill supplies, and also represent the following extensive lines of trade :
The Boston Belting Company, of Boston, in Rubber goods. The Asbestos Packing Company, of Boston, in Ashestos material. Samnel Cabot, of Boston, in Creosote stains. The New York Tar and Chemical Company, of New York, in two and three-ply Ready Roofing. The Magnesia Sectional Covering Company, of Philadelphia, in Pipe covering, Sockets Sheathing paper, Roof Coating, Paints, etc.
The business of the firm, on and off the water, is extensive, and by reason of the commercial tact, the energy, and the enterprising management of Mr. W. W. Hite-who with his personal knowledge of the trade, his training for its development, and an ambition for its success, acquired both by hirth and education-and the intelligent aid of his competent co-laborers, the business has continued to thrive and keep well apace with the rapid growth of the city of which it is so important a factor. Nor will these gentlemen let it lag behind the city in her onward march, for they have the push, they have the money, they have the brains, and their watchword is Excelsior.
Sz
T. H. Sherley & Co.
4 NTIL within a very few years the difference between cities north of the Ohio river, and those south of that beautiful, historic waterway was as distinct and radical as that between daylight and darkness. Given at any time two cities in their respective sections, with equal advantages in the race for wealth, power, and importance, the victory was never doubtful at all. No matter what the underlying causes for their difference were, it was generally recognized that the southern merchants lacked the energy, the dash, the intrepidity of their northern competi- tors. The former were content with moderate success, conservative to the point of timidity, interested, rather, each man in his own well-being, than in the growth and improvement of the community. There was very little in the South of what is known across the river as "public spirit." In every one of the centers of population at the South, however, there were exceptions to the rule of general sluggishness ; men who, either uaturally, or by business association with their active brethren further north, were infected with the pluck and push of the latter. When the great awakening which has come to all sectious of the country in the last few years-the Titanic impulse which is to carry America to yet undreamed-of heights of spleudor and glory-reached such men, it found eager and able advocates and promoters. Louisville has a few of this class among her native resideuts, and of these Thos. H. Sherley is a type. T. H SHERLEY. The firm of T. H. SHERLEY & Co., of which Mr. Sherley is the ruling spirit, is one of the most extensively and favorably known in Kentucky. Twenty-two years ago, in 1865, the house was established by Mr. Sherley, himself then a very young man, who begau business as a distiller's agent and commission merchant for the sale of distilled spirits. In a few years he acquired the control of a large number of standard brands, and enlarged the scope of his business by engaging in the actual manufacture, obtaining an interest in two distilleries. At present the firm operates three distilleries.
Of these, the most famous perhaps is the E. L. Miles. This is the oldest manufactory in the State. It was established by the father of the present E. L. Miles, and has been in continnous operation for nearly one hundred years, except a period of ahont three years during the war. Its product has attained a wonderful celebrity among cousumers and the medical profession who require a purity of quality combined with the perfect flavor that is rarely, if ever, known out- side of the Kentucky article. As showing the position held by such goods among the trade, it may be stated that the highest priced sweet mash whisky in Kentucky to-day is the brand known as the E. L. Miles. After Mr. Sherley gained control of it, the Miles, which had been a small house, was enlarged and improved, and in 1885 was converted into a stock company of which Mr. Sherley is President.
The second of his houses is the New Hope. This was built in 1876, but its product has already gained a wide reputation for its purity aud flavor. This is also run as a. stock company of which Mr. Sherley is Vice-President. The third is the "Belle of Nelson." This famous brand of whisky is simply manufactured by Sherley & Co. for the Belle of Nelson Distillery Company, of which Bartley, Johnson & Co. are the principal stock-holders.
The capacity of the Miles house is about 10,000 harrels a year, that of the New Hope ahout 6,000 harrels. The distilleries where these whiskies are manufactured are in Nelson county, where the soil aud water contain the peculiar properties essential in the production of Bourbon whisky to a degree not surpassed by any of the other famous localities in Kentucky. The firm is also interested as commission merchants in the apple and peach brandy trade, and controls two-thirds of the product of the State.
In addition to its dealings in whisky, within the past few months the firm has leased both the Southern Glass Works and the Kentucky Glass Works, and is now actively operating those enterprises. The same activity and sagacity which Mr. Sherley has always displayed in his other pursuits, warrant a prediction of great success in his latest venture.
The company of the firm is Mr. Thos. J. Batman, a young man of fine character and sterling business qualities, who entered Mr. Sherley's service in 1875 as an office boy, and who after ten years of faithful and intelligent apprenticeship was honored by admission as a partner. Mr. Batman has complete control of the office, and by his thorough know- ledge of the business and his devotion to the firm's interests has acquired a fine reputation in the mercautile world.
While Mr. Sherley is known to the business world as a shrewd and prosperous merchant, his reputation with the public is still more general as an alert, progressive citizen, interested in every movement for the general development, and in every particular satisfying the requirements necessary to that envied and admired individual, a prominent man. For six years he was a member of the School Board, part of which time he was its chairman. He has been a director in the Board of Trade for two terms, four years in all, and is a director in the Louisville Southern road. It was mainly due to his exertions and money that the Public Elevator was built, the only institution of its kind in the city. Mr. Sherley has always manifested a fondness for politics aud is now a member of the Democratic State Committee. (He is fortunate in the possession of a temperament of which a vivid, if not elegant, idea is conveyed hy the expression, "he is a good fellow.") Louisville owes her prosperity to such men as Tom Sherley and their multiplication here will insure her future greatness.
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B. P. Avery & Sons.
7 HE day has passed, in this country as well as in others, when from very small be- giunings mechanical industries could rise to enormous proportions ; but some forty years ago uearly everything iu mechanics was done on a small scale, and enterprise and intelligence were required, rather than large capital. This was the case when the great plow factory of B. F. Avery, now known under the uame of B. F. AVERY & SONS, was established in Louis- ville in 1848.
Mr. Avery was a native of New York, descending from an old New England stock. He received a collegiate education and was admitted to the har, going to the city of New York to practice law. But this was not to his taste; he S. L. AVERY. bought a ton of iron and opened a foundry. After some success here they thought they would find a more profitable business in North Carolina, whither they accordingly went. They returned to Virginia, however, and were again in business there when Mr. Avery was called home to look after the affairs of his family. He induced one of his nephews to come out into the West to make plows. The nephew settled in Louisville and began the business, but shortly wrote for his uncle to come out here and advise him. Mr. Avery reached Lonisville ou December 25, 1847, inteuding to remain here only a few weeks; but he became interested in the business, saw the advantages that Louisville would afford, and determined to make this city his home.
Mr. Avery's success was not gained withont much effort. He found it difficult to induce the people to accept his cast-irou plows which were eventually to make his fortune, and of which more than 50,000 are now made annually. But the practical intelligence and earnest determination of such a man were not likely to fail. Many minor improve- ments were made that told wonderfully in the long run. For instance, Mr. Avery was the first to introduce the simple device hy which a straight handle can be fitted to the back of the mold-board. Formerly the handle had to be bent at each end, but hy casting with the mold-board two small projecting pieces into which bolts could be inserted, the straight handle could be securely fastened. Moreover, any country blacksmith could put a new handle to a plow, the handle not having to be bent to the shape of the mold-board.
Thus Mr. Avery made his improvements and built up his business until it became one of the largest and most widely known of Louisville enterprises. His sous were trained iu the factory, and when the founder of the enterprise retired, he left his business in competent hands. Mr. Avery hegan to make plows iu 1825. In 1847 he came to Lonis- ville and in 1852 the factory was located at its present site, at Fifteenth and Main streets. The concern is now an iucor- porated company with a capital stock of $1,500,000. Its officers are Samnel L. Avery, President and Treasurer; George C. Avery, Vice-President and Secretary ; and W. H. Coen, General Manager. These gentlemen all occupy the highest commercial positions.
The factory covers some six acres of ground. Here every part of a plow, from a holt or nut up, is made and sold separately or in the most complete of plows. Undressed lumber, pig iron, and plates of steel are the materials bought. The business of working up the raw materials is all done in the factory, and for this the apparatus could uot possibly be more complete than it is.
The managers of this great establishment understand that manufacturing, in order to be profitable, must now be done on a large scale. The large buyer gets the best rates on what he buys. He sells his goods, also, in the largest quantities and can consequently afford to undersell his small competitor. He has a fuller and more perfect line of machinery. The business of the Messrs. Avery has been running for fifty years, and there bas not heen a year of that time in which the machinery has not been improved. They never hesitate to throw out a machine and substitute another that will make plows more economically or more perfectly. Moreover, they nse the best material, the hest wood, the best iron and steel, and employ the best mechanics, and quality always tells. By all of these means they are enabled to sell a good plow at a profit where smaller concerns make none. In fact, the cost of manufacture has been reduced to such a point that they can deliver plows and cultivating implements in any foreign country at prices which compete with goods made in that country, and they have a large foreign trade. There is no waste in this factory. A piece of wood that will not make two handles will make one handle and a round. The shavings and chips are burned and effect a great saving in coal. Here again is an advantage over the small manufacturer. Another is that the machinery is nearly always in use and the money invested iu the plant is not lying idle, but is returning a good percentage.
had a natural aptitude for mechan- ics aud determined to devote him- self to some industry iu which this bent could express itself. He re- turned to the paternal home, where bis farming experiences had taught him how inadequate were the plows then in nse. This led to a determination to go into the bnsi- ness of making plows, with the ultimate object in view of making them more nearly meet the de- mands of the farmer. He equipped himself with a small portable furnace, some patterns, and $400 in money, and started ont to seek his fortune. He came down the coast to Virginia and settled 111 Mecklenburg county. He went into business with an- other young man-a practical molder-and together they
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Plow Manufacturers.
The location of the factory, its owners consider, is most advan- tageous to their business. Louis- ville is in the heart of the finest timber country aud has iron aud coal at her very door. Rents are low, aud there is obtainable here a good class of skilled labor which is quiet and steady. The shipping facilities of the city are uusur- passed, as it not only has a perfect railroad system, but also a water- way that is a high road to the sea. On all of these accounts Mr. Avery considers Louisville the best pos- sible location for his extensive works.
is a 400-horse-power Porter-Allen machine that makes 140 revolu- tions per minute and turns four twelve-foot wheels that supply the power to the shafting, which is located in several different build- iugs. The first of these the visitor enters contains the wood-working rooms. The lumber is all white oak. It is received in heavy planks, the supply coming mostly from Kentucky. The wood is kept for from a year to eighteen months in three large yards, becoming thoroughly seasoned. The supply now on hand is about $100,000 worth. After the plauks have been cut into pieces of the re- quired length, the rough patterns are marked on them and they are cut into shape by a band saw. The handles and other wooden parts of
The working force of the fac- tory is 600 men. The output is 1,500 plows and cultivating imple- ments a day. The engine that does the greater part of this work W H. COEN. the plow are then shaped up. The handles are now steamed and hent and, after drying thoroughly in the drying rooms, are "finished up" ready for use.
But the carpenter shops are not the most interesting section of the factory ; it is when one gets among the belching furnaces, the cyclopean hammers that beat a merry rat-a-plan with a force that would crush mountains, amid the presses and dies that mash great pieces of steel into shape, that one realizes the magnitude of the work in hand. Here are hundreds of men engaged in the lusty lahor. The pig iron, of which a dozen varieties are used, is melted and cast for the several pieces of a plow. The mold-boards and the shares are so hardened that they will cut glass. The several pieces are now bolted together onto the standard, when they are polished and ground on stones and emery wheels. Then we have the cast iron, or chilled plow, which is used in sandy soil that would soon cut the steel plow to pieces. The factory annually turns out 40,000 plows of one catalogue number alone, or of one size and design, beside the thousands of other desigus. The grindstones on which these plows are polished are from five to seven feet iu diameter and several of them are always at work. One of these huge stones is ground down to two feet in diameter in from two to three weeks, when it becomes useless. The workmen who polish the plows stand with their hacks pressed against an upright, while their legs are encased in boxes, by means of which they hold the metal firmly against the revolving stones.
For the steel plows the steel is bought in slabs. It is heated red hot and placed in presses which mash it into the required shapes. These are then tempered. The points are shaped up hy the great trip hammers and are then sharp- ened on the emery wheels, which throw out such volleys of sparks as to make the place look like a display of Japanese fire-works were taking place. In one of the shops are several machines called shears which trim the steel or iron plates, cutting a piece of steel a half inch thick as easily as one would cut a piece of cambric.
After the plow has been put together and the wood work has been bolted on, it is sent to the paint shop, where it is finished for the market in more or less elaborate style. Handsomely decorated implements are made for exhibition purposes, but these, of course, are few.
There is no kind of a plow that is not made in this factory, from the one-horse garden affair to the largest machine for breaking up a prairie or tearing to pieces a McAdamized street. Of course, they make sulky-plows and cotton land plows, aud plows for a sandy soil, and plows for a rich loam. In fact, the establishment meets every demaud of the market, the great variety of its manufacture enabling them to supply plows fitted to till any character of soil.
Here also are made all the cultivating implements in use, though the plow is what has carried the name of Avery into almost every country on the globe. Just 143 different kinds of plows and cultivators are made.
The Messrs. Avery assert that the persistence with which their wares have been pushed has done as much for their success as the superior quality of the plows themselves has done. They are always in the field, their videttes and out- posts, that is, their drummers and agents, heing as alert as their general officers are wise and hold. Their success is due to enlightened energy and to absolute knowledge of the business in hand. During his residence in Virginia and North Carolina, Mr. B. F. Avery himself did much of the mechanical work of the foundry. His experience and knowledge of the business thus descended to every detail. But it was the confident knowledge of the man of business that en- abled him to extend his enterprise until it became of vast importance.
Major Coen has been connected with the business as general manager for the past three years, having come here from Chicago, where he was the general manager of the Bayle Ice Machine Company. He is a man of marked ability, wonderful energy, and business tact. In the short time of his residence in Louisville he has earned an enviable reputa- tion as being one of the foremost business men of the city. He is an Englishman by hirth, but has spent most of his life in America.
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The Mutual Life Insurance Company of Kentucky.
7 "HE important business of Life Insurance is ably represented in Louisville by the MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF KEN- TUCKY, which numbers among its officers and directors a score or more of the very first business men of the city. It is only necessary to mention the names of these gentlemen to show the strength and high integrity of the Company.
Officers : Hon. Charles D. Jacob, President ; John K. Goodloe, Vice- President ; L. T. Thustin, Secretary ; Dr. W. H. Bolling, Medical Direc- tor ; David Meriwether, Actuary.
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