The History of Louisville, from the Earliest Settlement till the Year 1852 Part 14

This immense establishment was organized by Messrs. Bridgeford & Holbrook as early as 1837, and was the first foundry for stoves in the city. The articles manufactured at this establishment, are well known as bearing a high reputation all over the West. The gentlemen who compose the firm are men of enterprise, and are always the first to present the latest novelties in patterns or workmanship. They manufacture a large part of the sheet iron steamboat stoves which are used on the western rivers, and have a deservedly great name among steamboat furnishers. The large and commodious building erected by them as a foundry, is a proof of the prosperity which has attended their endeavors. The work sent from this establishment, whether of the most ordinary kinds or of the finest and most elegant enamelled ware, will compare very favorably with that of any other establishment in the West. They consume annually in their foundry about twelve hundred tons of iron, and employ one hundred hands; while the tin and copper factory uses and vends three thousand boxes of tin plate, and from $15,000 to $20,000 worth of sheet copper, wire, block tin, sheet zinc, lead, lead pipe, &c. Two thousand bundles of sheet and rod iron are also annually employed. The establishment is one which reflects great credit upon its proprietors, and forms an important part of Louisville Manufactures.

EAGLE FOUNDRY.

WALLACE, LITHGOW & CO.

MANUFACTURERS OF STOVES, GRATES, HOLLOW WARE, COPPER, TIN, AND SHEET IRON WORK.

NO. 536 MAIN STREET.

This foundry may be regarded as having been the first to introduce into the city the manufacture of the present extensive and complete variety of the finer sorts of stove work. The princ.i.p.als of the establishment, themselves practical workmen, have used much well-directed exertion to produce quite a revolution in the style of manufacture of the articles which come from their foundry. They have not only been early to introduce novelties from abroad, but have themselves patented many valuable articles. Among them the Eclipse Range, a cooking stove possessing numerous advantages over most of those now known, is deserving of especial mention. This range is in very common use all over the city, and is highly prized wherever it is known. They are also manufacturers of a great variety of elegant enamelled grates, garden vases and ornamental figures for gardens and yards. These latter articles have recently been introduced by these gentlemen, and they are being rapidly transferred from their warehouses to the many beautiful grounds of our wealthier citizens.

Their foundry and buildings cover about half a square of ground; they employ one hundred and twelve hands, and melt daily seven tons of iron.

Their importation of tin plate reaches four thousand three hundred and fifty boxes. Copper, zinc, wire, sheet iron, &c., are also used in immense quant.i.ties. The latest novelty of this establishment is Chilson's Air Warming and Ventilating Furnace for public and private buildings.

FALLS CITY Stove & Grate Foundry.

McDERMOTT, McGRAIN & Co., MANUFACTURERS OF STOVES, GRATES AND CASTINGS, COPPER, TIN AND SHEET IRON WARE, No. 73 Fourth Street.

This foundry, begun by Meadows & McGrain, is another well known establishment. The castings made by these gentlemen bear an equally high reputation with those already noticed. The firm has since its commencement been constantly improving in the quant.i.ty of its manufactured articles, and has added many valuable improvements to the stock of the stove founder. Among these may be noticed three new styles of cooking stove, all of which have attained a deserved celebrity. These are called "_The Stove_," "_Durable Kentuckian_," and the "_Queen Premium_." The first of these is suited to the wants of the city, being economical in the use of its fuel, and having attached to it a "summer arrangement," which does away with the extreme heat of the ordinary cooking stove. The oven is also so arranged that both bread and meat may be baked at the same time without imparting the taste of the one to the other. The second stove, the Kentuckian, is particularly adapted to the wants of the farmers, being large, roomy, and of unusual weight and durability. All of these stoves have met the entire approbation of those who have used them. Large quant.i.ties of Hollow Ware, such as pots, kettles, skillets, ovens, odd lids, &c., are cast at this foundry, and sold as well to the city as to country dealers. The common stoves made at the Falls City Foundry, are of excellent patterns and unusual weight; it not being the custom of this establishment in any case to sacrifice utility to ornament. All the articles usually made by the tinner also form a branch of their manufactory. These gentlemen receive large quant.i.ties of job-work, which, as is well known, they execute in a superior manner.

HOPE FOUNDRY.

GEO. MEADOWS, MANUFACTURER OF STOVES, GRATES, HOLLOW WARE, TEA KETTLES, SAD IRONS, ARCHITECTURAL AND OTHER CASTINGS.

Foundry, Main Street between Thirteenth and Fourteenth.

Ware House, 367 Main Street.

This Foundry, although recently established, is under the charge of a gentleman who is well known as having been long connected with this business in the city, and as bearing a very high reputation as a master-workman. The details of this business differ little from those already noticed. The quality of the work which proceeds from the Hope Foundry is surpa.s.sed by none in any part of the country. The sole difference between this and the stove foundries, already noticed, is found in the fact that great attention is here paid to architectural and job-work. Mr. M's skill in the operations of the foundry, and his constant presence and attention to all his work, recommend this establishment, in the highest manner, to all who desire to get up any novelty or to prepare any peculiar work. This foundry is as yet in its infancy, having been organized less than a year ago. It has already acquired an excellent business, and now finds ready sale for all the articles which can be produced. It is entirely safe to predict for it a speedy rise to great eminence. The factory is so arranged as to be readily extended to any capacity which may be desired, and the constantly increasing demand for this species of manufacture in the city, and its dependancies, will doubtless soon bring about this increase. It will be seen that Louisville is abundantly supplied with Foundries, and that the extent of work done in this line is of very great importance to her interests.

HAYS & COOPER, MANUFACTURERS OF WAGONS, PLOWS, CULTIVATORS, AND CASTINGS FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, Corner Main and Hanc.o.c.k Streets.

This is the largest establishment of the kind in the western country, and is alike a credit to its proprietors and an honor to the city. The machinery used is of the most perfect order, and the concern is indebted to its own inventive powers for a great part of its completeness. The proprietors are both practical workmen, and they give their constant attention to all the details of their manufacture. The consequences of this care and attention are shown in the widely spread reputation of their manufactured articles. The chief market of these articles is found in the southern States and in Texas. It is greatly to the credit of this factory that their articles are so readily taken up by the planters, for it is well known that inferior agricultural machines and implements find no buyers among this cla.s.s of consumers. In Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee, the machines and implements of this firm are universally known, and possess an enviable reputation. Messrs. H. & C. have introduced machinery by which one man can produce as many iron axles in a day as can usually be made by thirty hands, and the article so made is far more perfect than the old and tediously constructed one. They have also a small and ingenious saw of their own invention, for cutting felloes, and for sawing crooked lines, which for rapidity and precision cannot be anywhere surpa.s.sed. They also manufacture on their premises every article and every part of every article, which they sell. Plows, wagons, carts, timber wheels, harrows, cultivators, and other articles are made entirely on the premises, from the raw material into the perfect and finished article.

They employ thirty hands, and produce from eighty to one hundred thousand dollars worth of work annually. Beside this establishment there are four other plow manufacturers, and twenty-one other wagon makers.

BENJ. F. AVERY, MANUFACTURER OF PLOWS AND CULTIVATORS.

Main St. bet. Floyd & Preston.

It is a proof of the prosperity of a city when manufactories of so exclusive a character as the one before us not only exist but are handsomely sustained. Some five years ago Messrs. B. F. & D. H. Avery commenced the manufacture of the since celebrated Livingston County Plow.

It was with difficulty that the prejudices of the agricultural community in favor of other instruments were overcome, but by dint of industrious exertion the plow slowly gained the confidence of the community until it now holds, in several of the Southern and Western States, the very first rank as a plow. It is worthy of notice, as a proof of the enterprise of this firm, that each year since it was first introduced they have been obliged to double the number of plows made the preceding year. A few months since Messrs. B. F. & D. H. Avery dissolved their firm and Mr. B.

F. Avery has now sole charge of the establishment. He has recently made some valuable improvements upon his plow, which will make its utility still more general. The new plow is found excellent for after-cultivation, and in connection with the old one makes his stock of plows fully adequate to every variety of American soil. Mr. B. F. Avery has spent some twenty-five years in this species of manufacture, and his experience is alone a proof of the value of his invention. His business, though already very large, is growing rapidly every year.

EDWARD HOLBROOK, MANUFACTURER OF CHEWING TOBACCO, CIGARS, &c.

No. 474 MAIN STREET.

This extensive tobacco factory, established some twelve years ago, is one of the most important in the city. It was commenced at a time when Kentucky manufactured tobacco found very little market in the cities of the United States, but has grown with astonishing rapidity and vigor. Mr.

Holbrook is an old dealer in tobacco, and has acquired great sagacity in the selection of the article suited to the various departments of manufacture. His skill as a manufacturer is also worthy of notice. For many years he has been employed in testing the value of the various methods of producing the finest qualities of Chewing Tobacco, and has added many valuable improvements to the ordinary methods of manufacturing the article. By the industry and enterprise of this gentleman and his fellow tobacconists, the Louisville-made article has driven entirely out of market all the medium and lower brands of Virginia tobacco, and readily competes with even the higher brands of this favorite manufacture. The business of this factory is extended over a large surface of country. From the Lakes at the North to New Orleans, this tobacco is not only rapidly bought up, but is eagerly inquired for. Barker & Co., of Detroit, Mich., write to Mr. H.: "We have orders _daily_, which we cannot fill for want of your tobacco." Preston & Bros., of Evansville, write: "This tobacco gives good satisfaction." Twitty & Smith, of New Orleans, say: "We doubt not, speedy satisfactory sales may be made of several hundred boxes by 1st of September." Rawson, Wilby & Co., of Cincinnati, under date of June 7, 1852, write: "_We have a market for all the tobacco you can manufacture_."

Hundreds of similar letters could be shown from various points. These however will be sufficient to establish the character of the article.

UNION FACTORY.

MUSSELMAN & CO.

MANUFACTURERS OF CHEWING TOBACCO, Sixth Street, near Main.

This is the oldest tobacco factory in the city, and was the first which managed successfully to introduce this article. Previous to the establishment of this factory, all descriptions of chewing tobacco were brought from Virginia. Almost any other manufacturers would have sunk under the distrust and ill-will evinced by dealers of every cla.s.s against this tobacco in the earliest years of its introduction. It was difficult at first to persuade the dealers even to receive the article on commission--and prodigious efforts were then required to overcome the prejudice against western made tobacco. The gentlemen who are at the head of the firm, however, fully persuaded of the value of their manufacture, and knowing it needed only to be known to be appreciated, continued their exertions, and finally succeeded in reaching the market. The results were great beyond their expectation. In 1832, the first iron tobacco press was brought by them to this city; ten years have elapsed, and nearly two hundred presses are now in full operation. The Union Factory merited and has received its full share of the benefit of this increase. The tobacco made by them competes with the best Virginia article, and has completely supplanted all the inferior qualities of that tobacco. The city dealers are almost entirely supplied by this factory, and hundreds of boxes are daily sent abroad. Their tobacco has found a market even in the distant California. Several hundred boxes were recently shipped to that point by the way of New York. A great revolution has been effected in this article by these gentlemen, thousands of dollars have been added to the trade of the city, and an entirely new market has been created by them. They have not only richly merited the success which has awaited them, but they also deserve much at the hands of the friends of the city for their sagacity and enterprise in this regard.

J. F. BAST, MANUFACTURER OF FINE CIGARS, SMOKING TOBACCOS AND SNUFFS, Main Street, between Second and Third.

This is an old and well established firm, and one of those which have risen to eminence from small beginnings. The manufacture of cigars, Mr.

Bast shares in common with some hundreds of others, though his establishment is by far the largest in the city, but in the making of snuff he is without a rival. The attention of this factory is princ.i.p.ally directed to the manufacture of the finer quality of cigars, though many common cigars are made here. Mr. B. is himself an accomplished workman, and his articles may be entirely depended upon. There are about three millions of cigars made and sold here annually. The smoking tobacco from this factory is eagerly sought for wherever it is known; its superior quality and cheapness making a ready market for it wherever introduced.

Mr. B.'s manufacture of snuff also forms a large branch of this business.

The peculiar quality of this article consists in its entire adaptation to every climate, and its capacity for withstanding the influences of time.

It may be transported everywhere, and kept for any length of time without receiving injury. Mr. B.'s sales at wholesale are not confined merely to the usual country trade; many of his articles find their way in large quant.i.ties to the great cities, and many of his brands receive distinguished preference in these places. Beside his own manufactured articles Mr. B. imports choice pipes, snuff boxes, cigar cases, and similar fancy articles. As a retailer, his store is celebrated as the resort of all the connoisseurs in smoking, snuffing, and their various equipments.

CHRISTOPHER & STANCLIFF, MANUFACTURERS OF RAIL ROAD CARS, AND OF SASH, BLINDS, DOORS, &C.

CORNER OE EIGHTH AND GREEN.

This factory was organized three years ago on a very extensive scale, with a view to supplying the demand for Sashes, Doors, and other like articles for the builder or the house carpenter. Since its commencement, however, it has constantly increased both in the amount and variety of work, until it has come to be one of the largest establishments in the city. Enormous buildings have been put up at great expense, new machinery of various kinds has been added to the original supply, experienced workmen have been brought from the older cities, and everything has been effected which could contribute to place the concern on an equality in point of capacity with any similar establishment in the country. The manufacture of railroad cars is a new department of the business; created by the growing necessity for procuring such work at home. The cars made by these gentlemen have all the new improvements known to the car builder, and are beautiful specimens of handicraft. In this immense factory, the painter, the turner, the blacksmith, the cabinet maker, the car builder, the upholsterer, and the carpenter, all find employment at their various trades. All the screws, nuts, &c., used in the factory, are made on the premises by machinery. The gentlemen who compose the firm, are entirely competent to the management of their diversified business, and great credit is due them for the promptness and excellence with which they execute all descriptions of their work.

J. N. BREEDEN & CO.

MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS, BLINDS, SASH, FLOORING AND DRESSED PLANK, No. 622 MAIN STREET.

This large and well organized mill is well known to western builders. It is one of those conveniences which are found only in large cities, where the builder can find ready made to his hand all that is necessary for the interior and exterior wood work of his house. Boards are taken from the lumber yard, and by machinery planed and moulded into all the forms necessary for the house carpenter, thus saving all the tedious hand labor, and reducing the enormous expense which has attended the building of houses. The majority of planing mills have never attempted more than the preparation of work for cheap houses; but this establishment before us has specimens of its manufacture in some of the finest residences in and about the city. The proprietors of this mill are devoting much attention to the finer departments of work, and their success is at once complete and merited. The feeling which once existed against the work of the planing mill, is rapidly disappearing before the exertions of these gentlemen; they have supplied such large quant.i.ties of work of all sorts, and have so entirely the confidence of the community, that their work is eagerly sought after, and they are constantly full of orders. They employ about seventy-five hands, and have machines, which plane about twenty-three thousand feet of lumber per day. They also manufacture large quant.i.ties of Packing Boxes, which they furnish to the stores at small prices. This department of their business is of itself of considerable extent. Lumber in the rough is also sold in large quant.i.ties.

BEN. F. CAWTHON, MANUFACTURER OF FURNITURE AT WHOLESALE, Corner of Ninth, and Jefferson.

This establishment is among the largest factories of its cla.s.s in the western country. Although but a short time has elapsed since the manufacture of furniture by machinery was adopted in this part of the country, this factory has come to supply the wants of a great part of the West. In factories of this sort the manufacture of the most elegant cla.s.ses of furniture is not attempted; attention being directed only to the staples of the trade, in the production of which machinery can be used to advantage. This machinery beautiful in its adaptation, and perfect in its application, is well worthy of notice. There are comparatively few of the operations of this establishment to which the machinery does not apply. All the separate parts of each piece of furniture are got out by machinery and cleaned up, veneered, and put together by hand workmen. Mr.

C. thoroughly comprehends the business which he pursues, and has entirely the confidence of those with whom he has commercial relations. Large quant.i.ties of lumber are kept upon the premises, so that all the wood used in manufacture, is thoroughly seasoned; the workmen employed in the factory are mechanics of the best order, and the establishment has a high reputation for honesty and fair dealing, not only in the quality of work but in the equality of prices. Mr. C. has a regular printed price current by which he is governed, and according to which all dealers are equally served. His trade extends over a great part of the West and South, embracing the States of Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi; Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri. As will readily be seen, a manufactory of this kind, so useful in its interests, and so large in its extent, is of great importance to the city; bringing, as it does, large amounts of money from other and distant points, and disbursing them at home; as well as offering inducements to the immigration hither, (which are and have been eagerly embraced,) of a valuable cla.s.s of citizens.

JOHN M. STOKES, MANUFACTURER OF ALL KINDS OF CABINET FURNITURE, 533 Main Street, between 2nd & 3rd.

The manufacture of furniture in large quant.i.ties and with the aid of machinery has but lately been introduced into the western country, and however it may have reduced the prices or extended the sale of the articles so manufactured, it has by no means destroyed or even interfered with the sale of articles manufactured by hand. Of the finer cla.s.s of furniture, of all those articles which are used merely as luxuries, as well as of such as are required to stand the test of severe use, those manufactured by hand are yet preferred; and the growing desire in the West for the best articles of furniture has rendered the cla.s.s of manufactures under consideration of great value and importance. Louisville contains a very large number of establishments for the manufacture of fine as well as of durable and substantial common furniture. The largest of these and the one best calculated to display this branch of business is the well-known establishment of John M. Stokes, now in the 22d year of its existence.

There is scarcely a finely furnished parlor in Louisville or its vicinity, scarcely an elegant steamer in the southern trade, that does not show the capacity of this firm to rival any similar establishment in the country.

And while in some other branches of manufacture, Louisville may be exceeded by other western cities, it is only fair to say, that a visit to the immense establishment of Mr. Stokes will readily convince any one that in this department of trade, Louisville cannot be exceeded either in quality of work or in its price. Mr. S. has now in process of erection a large four story building, where he purposes to add very considerably to his already large manufacture.

ISAAC CROMIE, MANUFACTURER OF PRINTING PAPER, NEWS, BOOK, AND COLORED, Mill, Main Street between Tenth and Eleventh, Store, No. 477 Main St.

This is the largest Paper Mill in the Western country, and fully equal in point of capacity and advantages with any in the Union. It was established in 1846, and pa.s.sed into the hands of its present proprietor in 1848. The mill is furnished with every desirable improvement in the machinery used for paper making; the building is very commodious and well arranged, and is under the immediate supervision of Mr. Kellogg, a gentleman in every way qualified for his office. It is in constant operation, night and day, being lighted up by gas, which is also manufactured on the premises. This mill has advantages over most western mills in the fact that an abundant supply of rags is furnished in this market, that it is situated in a fine hemp growing region, where this article can readily be procured, bleached and reduced to the finest texture for strengthening paper; that this is an admirable location for making shipments of the manufactured article, and that the most excellent water is brought from wells on the premises in any quant.i.ty which may be desired. A very large amount of capital is invested in this establishment, and no expense has been spared in effecting every improvement known to the paper maker, and the results of this outlay of capital, and of the sagacity and enterprise of its proprietor are now evident. Not only does this paper find a ready market, but orders have so multiplied upon the factory that, even with the immense product, they have been unable until lately to complete their contracts for delivery. The stack for the furnace of this mill is 140 feet high, and can be seen from all the avenues of approach to the city.