In 1859, James M. Matthews built a planing-mill and foundry and machine works, all combined on the east side of Walnut street,
south of Wilcoxen's warehouse. After completing these works, he operated them for about six months, also, when his brother, Thomas J. Matthews, was taken into partnership. They worked together about three years, at the end of which time R. H. Mong purchased the interest of James M. Matthews. About one month later John C. Matthews was admitted, when the firm became known as Mong, Matthews & Co. After continuing under this name for one year, Stanley Lawton purchased the interest of John C. Matthews, and the firm was again changed to Mong, Matthews & Lawton. Under this arrangement business was continued some two years, when Mr. Mong sold cut his interest to Matthews & Lawton, who conducted the business as formerly. Subsequently, D. J. Ryan and
P. H. D. Bandey were admitted and Lawton retired. After purchasing the interest of Mr. Lawton, Mr. Matthews sold his iron-working machinery to S. W. Harlan & Co. The firm them became Matthews, Ryan & Bandey, and the establishment was conducted as a plaining mill. Mr. Ryan retired from the firm in 1872, and Matthews & Bandey continued the business. Mr. Bandey purchased the interest of Mr. Matthews in 1872, and has since conducted the business alone.
PLANING-MILLS.
A partnership was entered into between R. H. Mong and Charles A. Willard in 1875, when they built a two-story brick manufacturing house on the southwest corner of Howard and High streets. The building was not, however, completed until the autmnn of 1876, at which time they put in a steam engine of thirty-live-horse-power, together with a planer and marcher, re-saw and other machinery. The cost of these improvements aggregated the sum of $9,400, $2,000 of which was paid for the lot upon which the works were erected. Business continued under the firm name of Mong & Willard until the spring of 1890, when Mr. Willard retired, leaving the entire works under the proprietorship and control of Mr. Mong. In the meantime the building and works had been leased to Mr. Davis, who operated them less than a year and then removed to another part of the city. After this surrender the old firm took charge again. Since the retirement of Mr. Willard the business has been managed by Mr. Mong, who manufactures flooring, siding, etc., keeping in stock and supplying the trade with all kinds of dressed lumber, shingles, etc.
FOUNDRY AND MACHINE-SHOP.
In 1867, Walter S. Phelps erected a frame building on tHe south side of Jackson, immediately east of Plum street. The building is still standing but not occupied. In 1868, it was fitted up with the necessary machinery, engine, boiler, lathes, drill presses, blower, etc., and Mr. Phelps commenced the manufacture of engines, sawMills, and, in short, did a general business in the line of manufacturing and rpairing machinery, etc., which he continued until 1871. At that time Dr. S. O. Budd, formed a partnership with him, the firm being known by the name of Phelps & Budd. About that time the capital invested amounted to about $9,000, and employed an average of eight men continually. Under this management the business was conducted successfully for a period of about one year, when Dr. Budd withdrew and Mr. Phelps became sole proprietor again, and kept the machinery running for several months after though with little success; then he also retired, and eventually the property reverted back into the hands of Dr. Budd, who, after holding the works for a short time, finally leased them to Messrs. Turner & Staker. Those gentlemen, in turn, after an experience of a few months, were themselves superseded by Turner & Adams, Mr. Staker having retired. The new firm contiued business a short time afterward, and then withdrew. Subsequently other parties became interested, but their experience was also unsatisfactory, and the business came to an end. Finally Dr. Budd sold the machinery to Brant Brothers, of Covington, Ohio, and it was at once moved there.
FOUNDRY, MACHINE AND BOILER WORKS.
These works are located on the east side of Mulberry street and imnediately north of the, Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad. The main building is a two story brick, the foundry a one story brick, and the boiler works a frame. All those were built in the summer of 1873 by a joint stock company, comprising among others Henry Patterson, W. B. Kline, Henry Wysor, David T. Haines, William Brotherton, J. L. McClintock and Thomas J. Mattlmws. The Board of Directors was composed of the following: A. F. Patterson, J. H. Wysor, William Brotherton, J. L. McClintock and David T. Haines. Thomas J. Matthews, Superintendent.
This company continued the business for three succeeding years, when, having become entangled in financial difficulties connected thereto, in 1877, the works were sold by the Sheriff of Delaware County, and bought in by J. H. Wysor, D. T. Haines, A. F. Patterson, William Brotherton, J. L. McClintock and John McClintock. The result of this purchase was the creation of a new firm Wysor, Haines & Co. A short time previous to the sale, however, the works had been operated by Mr. Haines, as the Muncie Foundry and Machine Works.
This new firm put in additional machinery and commenced manufacturing on a more extensive scale, and are now supplied with all the necessary machinery, planers, lathes, drills, and, in fact, all that is required to manufacture portable and stationary engines, boilers, and circular saw-mills, mill gearing, drag-saws, sheet-iron work, castings, steam gauges, whistles, brass goods, iron piping and in short, all the various classes of manufactures and repair work in that line. Mr. McClintock has since withdrawn from the firm, the remaining members having absorbed his interest. David T. Haines is at present Superintendent of the work. The firm employs an average of twenty men, but at times as many as thirty.
BOYCE'S BAGGING FACTORY
The extensive mills of James Boyce, Muncie's leading manufacturer,
are located in the eastern portion of the city at the head of Washington
Street.
Mr. Boyce came to Muncie on the 12th day of July 1870, from Wooster,
Ohio, and at once engaged in the tow business on the same site now occupied
by him. His energetic character in dispatching business was early manifested
in his movements toward the construction of the building and Machinery for
the manufacture of tow. It is said that with his own hands he threw out the
first spadeful of earth in making the excavation for the foundation of the
house, and from that time forward worked assiduously. The building was a
frame, two stories high and 34x70 feet on the foundation. For a period of
about two years, six men were employed about the establishment. At the end of
that time, being unable to find market for his tow, purchased some
second-hand machinery maid otherwise increased his manufacturing facilities,
when he began to make a fabric suitable for cotton bagging, and like
purposes. The machinery of the establishment was propelled by a
fifteen-horse power engine, which was put in at the beginning.
In 1872, he again made important improvements, adding a department
appropriated to the manufacture of flax-brakes, putting in for that purpose
lathes, drills, presses and other machinery necessary. This business was
prosecuted vigorously and successfully, a large number of machines being
built, sold and shipped to various portions of the country meantime, until
the fall about November 4 1876, when the entire buildings were destroyed by
fire, causing a net loss of about $13,000. At that time there were employed
in the manufactory an average of about thirty persons.
Not discouraged by the effects of the disaster, Mr. Boyce immediately set
about repairing the loss, by the erection of new buildings, and the putting
in of new machinery, all on a more extensive scale than before. Onthe 10th of
March 1877, everything being in readiness, the machinery was again put in
motion. A large portion of this new machinery was on exhibition at the
centennial fair and elsewhere. Upon commencing to rebuild, it was his
purpose to put into the works a five loom set, but did not know where he
would secure the money, when completed he had a seven-loom-set and wondered
at the achievement. The buildings when completed were 115x40 feet, of brick,
and two stories high From time to time he has since added to it until at
present the dimensions are l97x276; the different floors are the following
sizes: 40x80, 35x130, 50x70, 32x72, 40x24 feet. Beside this he has built a
one-story brick warehouse of 252x40 feet. This building is situated on the
Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad, on the east side of Elm street. Here
all the material is stored previous to shipping, and at this time Mr. Boyce
says it is "chock full," and he can't find room for another car load. The
mills are fitted with a 100-horse-power engine, which was built at Olds and
McLaughlin's works, at Fort Wayne, Ind and two steam boilers of seven flues
each; 417 feet of line shafting, in addition to 100 feet of counter shafting;
eleven looms, seven spinners, five cards, six tow machines, besides reeling
machines and cap-winders. In the machine shop there are three lathes, with
planers, drill presses, etc. In another department there are breaking and
scotching machines, in fact all the various kinds of machinery incident to the
business. There is also a carpenters shop with all the necessary planers,
drills, boring machines saws, etc., in lull operation. Here as elsewhere
throughout this extensive factory, is heard the busy hum of machinery and the
coming in and going out of the various kinds of material used in the
establishment. In this part of the building, a room is set off 24x40 feet,
and occupied by the Muncie Washing Machine Company, which runs saws, lathes,
etc, for the manufacture of a very practical and popular washing machine
invented and patented by Mr. E. L. Kees. The firm is composed of H.
J. Lockhart, John Ellis, and E. L. Kees. They employ four men constantly. In
the prosecution of this enterprise, as in many other cases in Muncie, Mr.
Boyce has lent a helping hand.
There are employed by Mr. B in the various departments of his works, about one
hundred and ten hands, among whom he disburses monthly near the sum of $2,200.
He claims to have disbursed in the city of Muncie since he commenced business,
nearly if not quite $1,000,000. Besides these principal works here in Muncie,
he operates omnivorous preparatory factories as auxiliaries there to, as
follows: At Winchester, Red Key, Albany, Wheeling, Honey Creek and Alexandria.
He operates also and controls a four loom bagging factory at Huntington Ind.
Recently he has purchased thirty-three acres of land at Hartford City, where
he will erect other preparatory factories the coming year. The capacity of
the works here is about one and a half million yank per year; the maximum
capacity, however, is one and three-fourth million yards within that period.
This material is all bagging and is shipped south for baling cotton. He has in
connection with the factory fourteen acres of ground, upon which fourteen
tenement houses, that are furnished at low rates for the benefit of those
employed about the works.
And last, though not least, as an outgrowth of the above, Mr. Boyce has
very recently completed one of the finest blocks of buildings in the city. It
is two stories high; indimensions, 125x80 feet, containing five first-class
business rooms on the first floor, and a number of fine office rooms, etc., in
the second story. The total cost of this building will not fall below
$25,000. It is the purpose of the proprietor to have the entirebuilding
heated by steam-now it is supplied throughout with water and gas. This block
is situated on the north side of west of Jefferson, in the largest room
of which, on first floor, the Boyce and Brundage, carry on an extensive
dry goods store, and, in a smaller room, a boot and shoe store.
On the same side of the street and east of Jefferson, he will also the present
year build another block of buildings, a portion of the new being already
under way-the design of which is for an agricultural depot, 31X110 feet in
size-the remaining portion of the area, ninety six feet deep, will be
occupied by another building to be used in connection with the main
one. All the buildings will be two stories high-good, plain and substantial
buildings, well adapted to the wants of the business.
HUB AND SPOKE FACTORY
��
Ed C. Anthony, in June 1877 built a sawmill and put in a circular saw and
other necessary machinery, and, in the fall of the same year he put in
machinery for the manufacture of heading.� Both branches of business were run
by him until the fall of 1879 when they passed into the hands of S. P.
Anthony, who at once converted it into a spoke and hub factory and these
works were operated by him until the beginning of the year 1880, at which
time Ed. Lewis became a partner and the business was conducted under the firm
name of Anthony and Lewis. In July following, Mr. Lewis retired, and since that
time Mr. Anthony has had sole control.�� The mill is situated immediately
north of the old Anthony home, in Anthony town, and the machinery is driven by
a 10x36 engine, and consists of the following: One cross-cut-saw, three strip
saws, three handle turning lathes, one boring machine, one chucking, boring
and bending machine, besides a number of additional saws, etc.� Near the "Six
Mile House," on the Wheeling Pike, he has a sawmill, which furnishes the
necessary lumber. The old saw mill machinery first put in here still stands
unused.� With the facilities of machinery possessed by the works, under the
careful management of the Superintendent, present and ultimate success are
assured.��������
DAVIS SPOKE AND HUB FACTORY.
Located on the south side of Adams street, between Beacon and Hackley streets, is a large frame building, the main part of which is two stories high, the larger portion extending soutbeing onl on sotry. These buildings we erected in 1859, by J. A. Heinsohn, then recently from Louisville, Ky., for the purpose of a flax factory. The mills, after being fitted up according to the requirements of such an establishment,and operated successfully until 1861, when, upon the breaking-out of the war, work was suspended.
The material manufactured was flax-tow, which was shipped from here to the main factory at Louisville, where it was manufactured into bagging, cordage, and rope for cotton bales in the South--the factory at this point being simply an auxiliary to that at Louisville. From twenty to thirty hands were employed in the works here, and a large portion of what is now Kirby's Additions to Muncie, in a large field, were used for drying purposes.
For a number of years after the works were suspended, the buildings remained idle. Subsequently, they were fitted up anew, and used for a foundry and machine-shop, by Samuel W. Harlan and _____Phelps. After the works had been operated for a short time, Mr. Harlan withdrew, and they were operated by M. Phelps alone. They were finally closed, a few months later, and the machinery taken out.
Again the buildings were unoccupied until 1879, when they were a second time refitted, this time as a hub and spoke factory, by W. T. Davis, of Allen County, Ind., who had for a long time previously been engaged in this and the wood-finishing business, but more recently in the planing-mill of Mong & Willard, in this place, which he had leased for one year.
Mr. Davis, having fitted up anew the old buildings and put in the necessary machinery--engine, boiler, etc.,--began the manufacture of spokes and hubs. The expense of this change amounted to about the sum of $4,000. The engine and boiler were furnished by C. L. Olds & Co., of Fort Wayne, and is a forty-five-horse power, running in all nine pieces of machinery, consisting of saws, lathes, reamers, boring machines, etc. This is now one of the leading manufacturing establishments in Muncie, employing constantly eighteen men and boys, his weekly pay-roll amounting to $125. These men and boys turn out about $2,000 worth of material per month, which is, as with most Indiana wooden material, shipped all over the continent, and beyond. A side-track to the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad furnishes the most ample facilities for loading and unloading material. The business is in every sense thriving; the large amount of material kept on hand, in addition to the almost continual shipments abroad, indicates unmistakably the magnitude of the enterprise and its judicious management.
In connection with this factory, James Muir, of Lima, Ohio, has recently erected and put in operation a stave and heading factory. Although these works were only put in operation in August, 1879, their success is assured beyond a peradventure, and now more than five thousand staves per day are turned out. The works have a capacity equal to double that amount. The heading machinery was put in in the fall of 1880, and started up a short time afterward.
MUNCIE STEAM COILED HOOP COMPANY.
The organization of this company was effected by the coming together, for a common purpose, of A. R. Brown, Thad A. Neely, William Patterson, Lyman R. Baldwin, E. B. Bishop, Robert Seaton and others, in 1872, as a joint-stock company, to manufacture coil hoops, the capital stock of which was made to represent $30,000, distributed in shares among the several stockholders.
The first location was near the present site of Wysor, Haines & Co.'s Machine Works, where they remained for about one year, and afterward erected more extensive buildings immediately south of the Bee Line depot. These buildings were frame, two stories high, and well adapted to the purposes contemplated in their erection. In 1875, they were destroyed by fire.
A short time after the organization of the company, J. E. McKendry was admitted as a partner with Mr. Bishop in his personal stock, Mr. Brown, in the meantime, having disposed of his stock and retired. Subsequently, Messrs. Brown and Bishop transferred their stock to the heading factory: situated a short distance to the southwest from their factory, then operated by McKendry & Co., but afterward destroyed
by a boiler explosion.
FURNITURE MANUFACTORY.
The business house of R. & I. Meeks & Co. is one of the oldest in Muncie. At first the business was commenced by James Hodge, on West Washington street, in a very early day. It was afterward transferred to Messrs. Swain and Nottingham, and finally into the hands of the present proprietors. This last transfer was about thirty-seven years ago, at which time the firm of R. & I. Meeks was established, and has since continued to the present day without interruption. They have kept pace with the times, and have manufactured all the varieties of furniture in use, from the old-fashioned bed-post down to latest improved spring-bottom, and from the old-fashioned rocking chair, with its great high back, down to the modern, convenient, upholstered rocker, from the old-fashioned Dutch bureau down to the modern fancy dressing case.
The manufactory--a substantial two-story brick, the main building of which is 27x60 feet, and the engine-room 25x14 feet---was erected in 1872, and is located on the east side of Elm street, north of Main. The cost of these buildings was $1,500, and the machinery, engine and other fixtures as much more, making the aggregate cost of $3,000. The engine is a 9x18 twenty-horse power, and drives all the various machinery of the establishment, such as planers, saws, turning-lathes, routing machines, etc. Five humIred dollars' worth of additional machinery has been supplied. The present salesroom is on the south side of Main street, east of Walnut; the old one occupied the present site of Boyce's Block.
FEATHER DUSTER FACTORY.
THE MUNCIE ROLLER SKATE.
This is an enterprise which, though yet in its incipiency, bids fair to become one of the important industries of Muncie. The uncertainty and irregularity which, for some years past, have characterized the winters of our climate, have had the effect of increasing the popularity of roller-skating rinks; and an article to meet the demand was invented by W. F. Cornelius, and patented, March 25, 1879, by W. F. Cornelius and Thad A. Neely, of Muncie. It has a malleable-iron bottom, which, by means of a set-screw, can be adjusted to conform to the size of any foot. The rollers, of which their are eight to each pair of skates, are made of the best of box-wood.
Messrs. Neely & Cornelius began the manufacture of the skate in 1879, at a little room in the Opera House at Muncie, and, during the first year were chiefly occupied in perfecting and introducing their invention. They only manufactured from 150 to 175 pairs that year. September 25, 1880, Mr. Neely purchased the interest of his associate, and began to push the enterprise vigorously. He fitted up a shop at home and employed an adequate number of men, advertising the invention extensively. Soon orders began to pour in from all quarters, beyond his capacity for manufacturing, and, since he assumed the exclusive control of the business, he has manufactured and sold upward of five thousand pairs. During the coming spring, he will extend his facilities for manufacturing, and be able to keep pace with the growing popularity of the skate. It has received very flattering testimonials from J. M. Cook, Chicago, the champion skater of the Northwest; robert Bussing, Manager Brooklyn (N. Y.) Rink; W. T. Seal, Secretary Philadelphia Roller Skating Co.; W. R. Goodall, Philadelphia; O. D. Charles, Rome, Ga.; and other experts.
ALFREY'S MILLS.
Henry Alfrey erected a frame building in Kirby's Sixth Addition to Muncie in July, 1880, and fitted it up with the necessary machinery for manufacturing heading, and, about the middle of the month commenced business, and, from that time until the 1st day of October, turned out 500,000 pieces of heading. He then had a further contract for supplying 900,000 pieces in fourteen months, he has in his employ ten hands in the factory, besides considerable additional help in the country. In the manufacturing department, he uses the various cut-off and heading saws, all run by a 20x12 forty-horse power engine. Although Mr. Alfrey has recently commenced business here, his activity thus far is a sure guaranty of his future success. The factory is situated a short distance southwest of the pork house, in the addition above cited.
PUMP FACTORY.
Early among the pump-makers in Muncie were Frederick Miller and Henry Snyder. They were engaged in the manufacture of wooden pumps, many of which are still in use in the surrounding country.
Charles Rickert was also engaged in the same business. Prior to 1876, Charles Gift was for several years in the manufacture of pumps, in a frame building on the east side of Jefferson street, between Main and Jackson, the present site of the Mineral Water Factory. He plied the business successfully until March, 1876, when he sold out to Caleb G. Puckett who remained in the same quarters until the succeeding September. At that time, he moved his factory to the north end of High street, north of Washington, present site of Streeter Bros.' Packing and Produce Exchange. This latter building tie occupied until November 1 1877. Just previous to that time, however, he formed a partnership with Ephraim Smell, and removed to their present location, at the northwest corner of High and Washington streets, in the old frame building erected and occupied by Job Swain as a dry-goods store in an early day.
The firm of Puckett & Smell continued until in March, 1880, when Samuel Martin was admitted, thus forming the present firm of Puckett, Smell &' Martin. This business, whether conducted by C. Puckett, Puckett & Smell, or as it is now--Puckett, Smell & Martin--has been successfully operated. The "Puckett Pump," as it is called, manufactured by this firm, is widely known, and very popular in all the counties contiguous to Delaware, wherever they have been used. Mr. Puckett is a pioneer pump man, his father having been engaged in the business in Randolph County, Ind., for many years. Caleb learned the trade with his father, commencing when he was sixteen years of age and continuing to the present time. The old mode of manufacture was to go and solicit from the farmer, with all the necessary tools, and take up bed and board, and manufacture the pump from timber selected on the farm. This sometimes occupied two men a number of days. Like all classes of manufacture, the wooden pump has kept pace with the times, and has been improved to meet the demand. Compared with the old wooden pumps of our grandfathers, the Puckett pump is a marvel of ingenuity, durability and beauty.
The firm employs two wagons and two men, who distribute their pumps over the surrounding country. They have manufactured, up to this time (October 1, 1880), 550 this year, nearly all of which have been put in. They run their boring and turning machinery by a portable steam engine. They manufacture all of the various sizes, besides a very neat box pump, that compares favorably, in point of finish, with any pump manufactured. They use altogether the porcelain chamber, and make all the fittings of hard wood, making a durable and practicable pump. The sizes run from five to seven inches, and vary in prices from $4 to $10 per stock.
STEAM SAW-MILL.
A. L. Johnson and J. T. Arnold, under the style of A. L. Johnson & Co., came to Muncie from Montpelier, Blackford Co., Ind., in the spring of 1880, and erected a saw-mill in Kirby's Sixth Addition to the city and near the Muncie & Wheeling Turnpike and the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad, and, about the middle of May, commenced operations. They operate a circular saw and strip saws, and get out all kinds of material for bent work and ship them to various points all over the country. They also buy and manufacture annually, large quantities of hard wood lumber, ash, oak and walnut. The engine is twelve
by twenty inches, and furnishes ample power. They employ in all about
fifteen hands, and disburse for materials and for help, at this point, about $3,000 per month. The building is a good, substantial frame, and, together with the machinery, it cost about $3,000. The grounds have been leased for a period of five years, with the privilege of purchase. Mr. Johnson is the manager. They use also, in part, material from three other mills in the county--two on the Lake Erie & Western and one on the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad. They also own and run a saw-mill at Montpelier, Ind.