USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 7
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Beaver Falls Iron Company .- Originally J. S. Craft Iron Works, which was succeeded by McKee, Anderson & Co. The latter firm was succeeded by the Beaver Falls Iron Company, organized in October, 1885, under the management of N. E. Whittaker, president, and E. C. Ewing, secretary. The works of this company were quite extensive, and gave employment to about one hundred and fifty men. The product was exclusively sheet iron. November 19, 1888, the plant was burned down and was not rebuilt.
Co-operative Foundry Association .- This was organized January 1, 1872, with the following officers: A. J. Sennett, president; I. Armor, secretary, and H. Dufford, treasurer. The capital stock was $25,000, and the product was stoves, hollow ware, and ranges. The concern did a good business, and was later known as the Paisley Foundry. It is not now in existence.
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J. H. Knott & Company .- This firm owned a flouring mill, which was built in 1882 on the site of the old Patterson mill, which burned the year before. The members of this firm were John H. Knott, Joseph Wilson, F. K. Brierly, and M. Shaner, who was the miller in charge. The company did a general milling business for the local market. They sold out in 1896, and the building has since been used for other purposes.
The Old Brighton Paper Mill Company was started about 1835. The present Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway freight depot at the west end of Fifth Street is on its site. Robertson, Lee & McElroy were the original owners of this plant and operated it by steam. About the year 1840 it changed hands and was called the Pittsburgh Wall Paper Company, and under the new management was built the old paper mill at the Adamsville dam, where water-power was used. In 1876 Frazier, Metzgar & Company operated this mill in the same building in which the Beaver Falls Paper Company was afterwards located.
The Beaver Falls Paper Company was organized in 1883. The mill was merely a branch of the New Castle establishment, and was owned by Dillworth Brothers of Pittsburg. It is no longer in operation.
Wagner's Brewery was established in 1880 by Henry Wag- ner, and had a yearly capacity of about five thousand barrels of beer. The plant stood on what is now known as Bridge Street, about one hundred yards from the overgrade bridge, and is not now in operation.
Spring Water Brewery was established by James Anderton in 1869, and is now the Anderton Brewing Company, which was incorporated in 1891 with a capital of $50,000, and with the following officers: James Anderton, president; Jonathan Ander- ton, vice-president; and W. H. Anderton, secretary and treas- urer. The brewery stands at Twenty-fourth Street and the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway.
Whitla Glass Company, Limited, was organized in June, 1887, to make a general line of glassware. The officers were J. C. Whitla, president; J. P. Stone, secretary and treasurer; directors: Simon Harrold, John M. Hughes, F. G. Tallman,
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Stephen P. Stone, and J. R. Harrah. The plant was located in a large building on the east side of Seventh Avenue, near the present overgrade bridge, was equipped with the best modern machinery, and employed about 150 men. April 25, 1890, this concern was incorporated as The Valley Glass Company, with J. C. Whitla, president; J. P. Stone, secretary and treasurer; and Wm. Breitenstein, W. A. McCool, Simon Harrold, J. C. Whitla, J. P. Stone, John A. Ferguson, and Ernst Woelfel, as trustee of the Harmony Society, directors. The works were burned April 9, 1892, and were not rebuilt.
The Beaver Falls Gas Company was organized in 1871, with Hon. Henry Hice, president; J. H. Conway, vice-president; F. S. Reader, secretary; George S. Barker, treasurer; and John Reeves, J. M. Fessenden, W. W. Keyser, James Edgar, and M. Naylor, directors. The capital stock was $75,000. The company manufactured illuminating gas, and supplied the towns of New Brighton and Beaver Falls, but finding it difficult to meet the competition of the companies supplying natural gas, they ceased to operate in 1902.
Keystone Chemical Works .- In February, 1887, Mr. C. C. Beggs began to manufacture silicate of soda for making soap, stiffening prints, etc., using for his works quarters in the rear of the Mayer pottery building. Mr. Abraham Green was the manager, seven men were employed, and a large daily output was shipped to all parts of the country. The works are no longer in operation.
The Pittsburg Hinge and Chain Factory, operated by Reiter & Armor, was founded in 1870, and was succeeded by the Pittsburg Chain Company, and they by the Baker Chain and Wagon Iron Company. While operated by the latter, this plant was burned down, October 25, 1885, and was not rebuilt.
Beaver Falls Glass Company, Limited .- This company was organized January 1, 1887, under the following officers: George E. Smith, chairman; C. T. Mustin, secretary and treasurer; J. H. Ohnsman, superintendent. In addition to the officers named, James M. May, H. W. Reeves, F. F. Brierly, and George W. Coates constituted a board of managers. The firm employed
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about two hundred men, and manufactured all varieties of pressed glassware, which they shipped to every part of the country. This concern went out of business some years ago, but their premises are now occupied by the Imperial Glass Com- pany, mentioned below.
Algeo & Sons' Coffin Works were removed from Rochester, N. Y., to Pittsburg, and fifteen years later (about 1879) located in Beaver Falls, where they were operated successfully for a number of years.
Hartman Steel Company, Limited .- This company was or- ganized in January, 1883, and in March of the same year the buildings, which had been begun in October preceding, were occupied, and the wire department put in operation. The property of the company consisted of twenty acres, situated on the "Marginal Railroad," which was operated by them. Nine hundred men were employed, and an immense daily output of all kinds of wire was made. Branch offices were maintained in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, St. Louis, and Chicago. The officers of the company were: H. W. Hartman, chairman; G. H. Wightman, secretary; R. A. Franks, treasurer; and F. G. Tallman, general superintendent.
This company has been succeeded by the following: Carnegie, Phipps & Company in 1892; Carnegie Steel Company, Ltd., in the spring of 1895; Consolidated Steel & Wire Company in the fall of 1895; American Steel & Wire Company of Illinois in 1898; and the American Steel & Wire Company of New Jersey in 1899, absorbed in 1901 by the United States Steel Corpora- tion. Since 1899 the works have been shut down.
Emerson, Smith & Company, Limited .- This concern was organized under the firm name of Emerson, Ford & Company, in 1871. In February, 1877, a change in the membership of the firm gave the new name of Emerson, Smith & Company. This name was retained until July 16, 1884, when a dissolution of partner- ship occurring, a reorganization under the Pennsylvania limited partnership laws was effected, with the present title and with a capital of $250.000 of stock paid in. The officers were then: James E. Emerson, chairman: Julius F. Kurtz. Sr., vice-chair- man and treasurer; and Edward L. Hutchinson, secretary. The
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present officers are: J. F. Kurtz, Sr., chairman and treasurer; and E. L. Hutchinson, vice-chairman and secretary. The com- pany has agencies in San Francisco, New Orleans, and Atlanta; and its products, which are saws of all kinds and sizes, and saw tools and apparatus connected with mill saws, are in demand in all portions of the world.
Nicholson File Works .- The works of the Great Western File Company, Limited, were built in 1869 by David Blake and James M. Fessenden. Four years later the capacity was doubled. In 1875 the firm was changed to a limited company, with James M. Fessenden, chairman; E. L. Blake, secretary; and F. F. Foshay, treasurer.
On the 19th of April, 1880, the entire works were destroyed by fire, with an almost total loss, but in eighteen weeks they were rebuilt on a much larger scale and were again in active opera- tion. In 1883 Hon. Henry Hice became chairman, and George W. Morrison, secretary and treasurer.
In 1899 the Great Western File Works was absorbed by the present company, under the style of the Nicholson File Works. The firm is composed of Eastern capitalists. At present (1904) the plant is not in operation.
Penn Bridge Company .- This concern was organized by T. B. White & Sons in 1868, and the plant was located in New Brighton. Ten years later the works were removed to their present site in Beaver Falls. The firm was reorganized and incorporated in 1887 as the Penn Bridge Company, and was then composed of the following members: S. P. White, T. S. White, J. F. Miner, J. F. Mitchell, and F. Degner. Its capital is $50,000, and the present officers are Hon. Samuel P. White, president; T. S. White, vice-president; and J. F. Mitchell, secretary and treasurer.
The products of this company consist of wrought-iron, steel, and combination bridges, iron sub-structures, buildings, roof- trusses, plate, box, and lattice girders, and general architectural ironwork. In 1902 they made, and they are still making, large additions to their plant.
Crucible Steel Company of America .- This company is the successor of the Beaver Falls Steel Works, which were estab-
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lished in 1875 by Abel, Pedder & Company, and, three years later, bought by the Harmony Society, and operated by them in the manufacture of tool and file steel, iron center cast steel, soft steel, finished rolling coulters, patent cutlery steel, and cast and special plow steel, etc. About eighty hands were employed, and the products were shipped throughout the United States, into Canada, and occasionally into Mexico. The superintendent was Mr. James M. May, who had been connected with the enterprise since its origin. In August, 1881, the works of the Beaver Falls Steel Company were burned, but they were soon rebuilt, and, April 6, 1893, they were purchased from the Harmony Society by J. M. May, J. F. Merriman, G. W. Coates, and John T. Reeves, who operated them under the same name until July, 1900, when the company was absorbed by the Crucible Steel Company of America.
American Axe & Tool Company, formerly Hubbard & Com- pany .- These works were established in 1870 by Joseph Graff & Company, and were operated by them until 1879, being known as "The Empire Axe & Hoe Works." March 16, 1875, the works were burned down, but were promptly rebuilt, being ready for operation again May 16, 1875. Later they were again burned.
In 1879 the firm name was changed to Hubbard, Bakewell & Company, these parties securing the works as a branch to their extensive plant in Allegheny County. Later the firm was known as Hubbard & Company, and consisted of the following members: Charles W. Hubbard, S. A. Rankin, D. M. Long, Charles Lockhart, W. W. Frew, and S. D. Hubbard, the last- named gentleman managing the works.
In 1893 this company was absorbed by the American Axe & Tool Company. The present superintendent is F. T. Powell. The axes made here are sold in the whole of the United States, in Canada, and in South America.
Ames Shovel & Tool Company, formerly H. M. Myers & Company, Limited .- In 1869 the "Economy Works" were established by Myers & Armor, and in 1875 the firm of H. M. Myers & Company, Limited, was formed, with H. M. Myers, chairman; Joseph M. Morrison, secretary, and John Reeves, treasurer. Its products were shovels, spades, and scoops of all kinds, and it gave employment to a large number of men. Its
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market was the whole Union. In 1902 this company was absorbed by the Ames Shovel & Tool Company. Mr. C. H. Myers is the general manager.
Imperial Glass Company .- This company, which occupies the premises of the Beaver Falls Glass Company, Limited, was in- corporated in 1900 with a capital of $50,000 for the manufacture of glassware.
Co-operative Flint Glass Company, Limited, succeeding the Beaver Falls Co-operative Glass Company .- The latter concern was organized February 7, 1879, under the management of John Stoehr, chairman, and George K. Brown, secretary and treas- urer. At a later date the firm was composed of the following officers: William Scheffler, Sr., chairman; C. C. Vogely, secre- tary and treasurer; Philip Scharf, foreman. The company manufactured general glass tableware, etc., and found a market in all parts of the United States and in portions of South Amer- ica. This company was succeeded by the Co-operative Flint Glass Company, Limited, organized in 1889, with J. H. Ruh- landt, chairman, and Charles W. Klein, secretary and treasurer.
Howard Stove Company .- The works of this company were formerly controlled by A. F. Wolf, who started a stove foundry in 1868, and after suffering two losses by fire, sold in 1883. The present officers are Jacob Ecki, manager; and James D. Perrott, secretary and treasurer; with Howard D. Perrott and Frank C. Perrott, traveling representatives. The products of this company are all kinds of stoves and ranges, and a good market is found for them everywhere.
Knott, Harker & Company organized in 1884, and opera- ted for a few months in New Brighton, where they bought the property of the American Grate & Fender Company. They then removed to Beaver Falls. The officers of the company are: Joseph Wilson, president; J. W. Knott, secretary and treasurer; and W. G. Harker, superintendent. F. F. and F. K. Brierly are also members of the firm.
The company has a capital of $50,000. They are founders and machinists, and manufacture and deal in mantels, grates, and all kinds of fireplace goods, and are doing a large business. VOL. 11 .- 5.
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Keystone Driller Company .- In 1880 Mr. R. M. Downie in- vented and patented a steam-drill, and in 1882 a company was formed to put it on the market, with Mr. Downie, superinten- ยท dent, and Rev. H. H. George, D.D., chairman of the board of directors. The company operated successfully in Fallston for several years, and then removed to Beaver Falls. The com- pany's title was at first the Keystone Portable Steam Driller Company, Limited, but in 1891 it was incorporated under its present name, with a capital of $300,000. The present officers are Rev. D. M. McAllister, D.D., president; R. M. Downie, sec- retary and manager, and R. G. Forbes, treasurer. In the fall of 1902 the plant was almost entirely destroyed by fire, but has since been rebuilt.
Beaver Falls Planing Mill Company .- This company was organized in 1878 by Simon Harrold, who had conducted a gen- eral planing-mill business until 1877, when the concern passed into the hands of S. N. Douthitt and Simon Harrold, who styled themselves the Beaver Falls Planing Mill Company. In April, 1886, George C. Wareham and Frank Pearson were admitted into partnership; and in September, 1887, the company became a limited concern, with the following officers: G. C. Wareham, chairman; Frank Pearson, secretary; and S. N. Douthitt, treasurer.
In 1893 the company was incorporated as the Beaver Falls Planing Mill Company, with a capital of $50,000, and the officers as follows: Frank Pearson, president; and Charles F. Ross, sec- retary and treasurer. About five or six years ago this company absorbed the firm of Wilson & Brierly, which was itself a reor- ganization of the old firm of Waddle, Wilson & Company. The firm last named, Waddle, Wilson & Company, deserve mention as having built in 1866 the first lime-kiln opened near Beaver Falls. The first switch laid in the city was one from the rail- road track to this kiln. This same firm also made the first purchase of real estate sold under the new corporation of Beaver Falls.
J. S. Mitchell & Sons .- This firm is composed of James S. Mitchell, Fred S. Mitchell, and David J. Mitchell, who, in 1898, came to Beaver Falls and bought the property formerly used by
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the Steam Planing Mill Company. The latter company had been organized June 25, 1887, as the successor of L. E. Pierce. Mitchell & Sons deal in rough and planed lumber and in general planing-mill products.
The Beaver Falls Chemical Company was organized in 1884 to manufacture general chemical products. The company is composed of Cleveland men. Mr. W. C. Bailey is superintendent.
Mayer Pottery Company, Limited .- This company was or- ganized in 1881, with Joseph Mayer, chairman, and Ernest Mayer, secretary and treasurer. The plant is large and com- plete in all its details, and manufactures as its specialty under- glaze printed dinner, tea, and toilet ware. The factory was entirely destroyed by fire in 1896, and the new one is a modern plant in every respect. This firm does a large business through- out the United States. It manufactures yearly $150,000 worth of ware, and employs 175 hands.
On the site of the Mayer pottery a cooper shop was operated by James Patterson until 1859. At the same place Chapman & Company later made stoneware, crocks and jugs, and still later Elijah Webster had here a stone-china pottery. With him was afterwards associated Benjamin Nowling. The plant was . then run for a short time by the Harmony Society, who sold it to the Mayer Pottery Company.
The Beaver Falls Art Tile Company, Limited, was organized February 1, 1887, with the following officers: John Reeves, chairman; F. W. Walker, Jr., secretary and treasurer, and L. Roden, superintendent. The products are a superior quality of artistic decorative tile, including stove, fireplace, and mantel tiles. The present officers are J. M. May, chairman, and F. W. Walker, Jr., secretary, treasurer, and general manager. Capital, $47,500.
The premises used by this company were originally occupied in the fall of 1868 by Isaac A. Harvey, who made "Liverpool Ware." Later, Elijah Webster manufactured door-knobs, and still later Joseph Graff manufactured yellow ware in the same place. While the latter was in business, the plant was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt by the Beaver Falls Art Tile Company.
A. S. & R. W. Hall Carriage Works .- This firm began opera- tions in Beaver Falls April 1, 1874. It is the only one in
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this line in the town, and turns out a fine make of buggies, phaetons, barouches, buck and spring wagons, and general carriage goods.
The Valley Ice Company was incorporated in 1897, with a capital of $30,000. The officers are Frank Pearson, president; T. M. Adams, secretary and treasurer, and J. K. Fleming, mana- ger. This firm manufactures pure ice and deals in ice, coal, and coke.
The Union Drawn Steel Company was incorporated in 1889, with a capital of $200,000. Its works and general offices are located at Beaver Falls, Pa. It manufactures high-grade cold- die rolled steel shafting, pump-rods, piston-rods, and special shapes of cold-finished steel on a large scale, employing steadily between four and five hundred men, and has the heaviest pay- roll in the town. Its product is marketed in all parts of the world, and the company has warehouses in New York, Phila- delphia, Cincinnati, and Chicago, where a large stock of bright, finished steel in rounds, flats, squares, and hexagons is carried at all times. It is also represented exclusively in all the principal American cities, which gives it exceptional dis- tributing facilities. The manufacturing is done under patents covering machinery and appliances, by a process superior to anything known for producing work mathematically accurate as to size, of absolute straightness, and of a perfectly polished surface.
The company is fortunate in being located so as to have the service of two railroads-the Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt sys- tems-and these roads haul annually for it nearly one hundred thousand tons of steel and iron. The officers are F. N. Beegle of Beaver Falls, president, and Frederick Davidson of Pittsburg, treasurer and secretary.
Finished Specialty and Machine Company .- This company is controlled by the Union Drawn Steel Company. It was or- ganized in the fall of 1902, purchased the old nail-mill property, and employs about fifty men.
The Standard Gauge Steel Company was incorporated in 1892. Its capital is $600,000, and its officers are as follows: A. Rasner,
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president; J. Wylie Forbes, vice-president; J. A. B. Patterson, secretary; F. Dinger, treasurer, and S. Moltrup, superintendent. The firm manufactures finished machine keys, machine racks, square, flat, round, and special shapes in finished steel; also compressed steel elevator guides.
The Hartman Manufacturing Company, which formerly oc- cupied these premises, removed to Ellwood City, Pa.
The Douglas-Whisler Brick Company was incorporated in 1898. Capital, $75,000, increased to $100,000. The officers of this company were as follows: W. C. Simpson, president; Abelard Whisler, secretary; and J. A. Douglas, superintendent (Douglas deceased, December 8, 1900) ; they are now W. C. Simpson, president and treasurer ; J. R. Douglas, vice-president ; and Abelard Whisler, secretary. This company moved their offices to the Masonic building in Beaver Falls in the spring of 1902, at which time they began the erection of a plant for the making of brick at Eastvale. The offices are now at Eastvale, and the plant is in active operation.
The New York-Pittsburg Company .- This company was organized in 1902 for the manufacture of typewriters and an attachment for sewing-machines for blind stitching. It is lo- cated in the remaining building of the property familiarly known as the cutlery works.
The Standard Connecting Rod Company was incorporated in 1902. Capital, $30,000. They are manufacturers of connect- ing-rods, strap-joints, finished crank shafts, and special rods. The officers are: A. Rasner, president; W. Moltrup, vice-presi- dent; Arthur Ball, secretary, and S. Moltrup, treasurer.
Commercial Sash and Door Company, J. M. Hastings, presi- dent; Frank Pearson, secretary and treasurer. This company, which has its general offices in Pittsburg, built here in the sum- mer of 1902 a large mill which stands over the race near the Tenth Street bridge.
McLean Bros. & Company operated a steam laundry under the name of the Mutual Laundry. The company was incor- porated in 1902. Capital, $15,000. Officers: J. L. Kirkpatrick,
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president; D. H. A. McLean, vice-president, and J. P. McLean, secretary and treasurer. This plant was shut down November I, 1903, and in February, 1904, was leased by the assignee, Mr. B. F. Dunkle of Bedford, Pa., who will operate it.
The Beaver Falls Supply Company was incorporated in 1902, with a capital of $15,000; officers: A. M. Jolly, president; W. S. Morrison, secretary and treasurer; and S. L. Adams, manager. The company produces natural-gas-pressure regulators.
The Mound Brick Company was incorporated 1902, with a capital of $15,000, and its officers were H. E. McLain, presi- dent; H. W. Reeves, secretary and treasurer. They are manu- facturers of red brick.
The Beaver Valley Boiler Works manufactures boilers, stills, tanks, plate and sheet-iron work. Charles Miller is manager.
Beaver Falls Manufacturing & Fuel Company .- This concern is owned and operated by the Messrs. Hileman, who handle coal and manufacture coal-drilling machines.
The Keystone Store Service Company was organized for the purpose of manufacturing computing scales. About the first of 1902 the concern was absorbed by the National Computing Scale Company.
The Keystone Wire Matting Company, on Seventh Street, be- tween Sixth and Seventh avenues, are manufacturers of wire netting. T. C. McPherson is superintendent.
Max Solomon, dealer in scrap iron, has large yards near the west end of Tenth Street bridge. He employs thirty or forty men.
Harn, Ow & Company's foundry and machine shop was operated only a little while and was destroyed by fire.
J. Bell & Sons were manufacturers of kegs and barrels. The concern is not now in existence.
R. A. Bole, formerly in the flour and feed business, has been succeeded by John G. Allen.
Paper Box Factory .- This was a factory operated for some years by A. P. Bryson, upon whose death it was discontinued.
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Walker & Hillman's Brush Works was on Fifth Street, where it crosses Walnut Bottom Run. It has not been in operation for some time. The brush works was succeeded by the plow factory of the Brown Manufacturing Company, now of Zanes- ville, Ohio. Later, a son of Mr. Walker of this firm established a brush factory in which Mr. Walter Foss was afterwards inter- ested. It also has not been in operation for some time.
The Beaver Valley Brush Works .- This plant was at first operated by Stauffer & Pfeffer on the present site of the First National Bank. Later, George E. Smith and J. E. Kirchartz went into it. It was moved from the place above named to the old Masonic block, and from there to Fallston. Another brush works was operated by a man named Potter on the present site of Pfaff Brothers' store.
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