The company's first passenger elevator was placed in a hotel on
the corner of Michigan Avenue and Congress Street. In 1S74, the
manufacture of hydraulic elevators was undertaken, and has since
grown steadily. No accident has been known to ever occur with the
Crane machines. During 18S0, the company established agencies in
other States, and they have been especially successful in New York
City, despite the disadvantages always attending competition in a
distant and thoroughly occupied field. Shortly after the building
of steam elevators had been commenced, an accidental discovery
showed that the machine was adapted to the hoisting of material
for blast furnaces. The company at once set to work to design an
apparatus still better suited for this class of work; the result was
a great improvement on everything theretofore built. In 1SS0, the
pipe manufacture had entirely outgrown the capacity of the mill
erected in 1S64, and a new mill was erected, on the corner of Canal
and Judd streets. The company employs more than eleven hun-
dred men. The capital invested
is about $1,300,000, and the value
of the manufactured product — in
a comparatively dull season — ag-
gregates $2,000,000. The officers
of the company are now as follows :
Richard T. Crane, president; C.
R. Crane, vice-president; Edward
Worcester, secretary; and William
Kerr, treasurer.
N. S. Bouton came to Chi-
cago in 1846, but at that time did
not remain. In 1S52, he came to
stay; and, in company with George
W. Sizer, of Cleveland, Ohio, and
A. L. Mowry, of Cincinnati, es-
tablished an iron foundry on Clark
Street, near Fifteenth. The style
of the firm was then George W.
Sizer & Co. The foundry was, in
one sense, connected with the
Union Car Works of Stone,
Boomer & Co., as there the cast-
ing was done for the latter insti-
tution. In September, 1S55, Stone,
Boomer & Co., were burned out,
and Mr. Bouton then purchased
for them the American Bridge
Company's Works, which were
at that time lying idle on the lake shore. Shortly afterward,
Mr. Bouton became a member of the firm, which then changed
to Stone, Boomer & Bouton. With their works, which, in 1857-5S,
were sold to the Illinois Central Railroad Company, was con-
nected an iron foundry, where the iron-work for cars, bridges,
turntables, etc., were manufactured. The works were then known
as the Union Car and Bridge Works. Previous to the sale mentioned,
however, Mr. Bouton purchased from Frederick Letz his archi-
tectural cast-iron business, which he removed to the old foundry
first mentioned, and which was not destroyed in the Stone & Boomer
fire. In 1858, he purchased from this firm their interest in the
burned premises of the old Union Car Works, and there continued
business until 1862, when he took into partnership Christopher B.
Bouton and Edwin F. Hurlbut, the firm name and style thereupon
changing to N. S. Bouton & Co. During 1871, the company was
incorporated as the Union Foundry Works, with the following
officers : N. S. Bouton, president; Edwin F. Hurlbut, vice-presi-
dent and superintendent; and Christopher B. Bouton, secretary
and treasurer. In 187S, Edward F. Cushing became secretary
and treasurer. In 1881, the company finding it desirable to seek a
more available location, selected Pullman; at the same time a re-
organization in the company was effected, and the name changed
to the Union Foundry and Pullman Car-Wheel Works. Buildings
were at once erected commensurate with the increased demand of
the business, and now consist of the following departments: Car
wheel, car casting, architectural jobbing, dry sand and loam. The
foundries have a capacity for melting one hundred and sixty tons of
iron daily. These works supply all the wheels and car castings for
the Pullman Palace Car Company. The different buildings occupy
twelve acres of ground. This company has left its impress upon
numerous large buildings in this city, among the number, the Pal-
mer Mouse, the Grand Pacific Hotel, the Tremont Mouse, the Sher-
man House, the Custom Mouse and others. The skill displayed in
the manufacture of heavy machinery is shown in the immense grain
elevators of this and other cities. In 1SS3, they manufactured the
Shay improved locomotive. These works employ about six hun-
dred men, with a monthly pay-roll of about $30,000, and the an-
nual product of their work is I iSi.mh, to S-_v <<i,n> .. The
officers of the company are N, S. bouton, president, and Charles
S. dishing, secretary and treasurer.
Nathaniel S. Bouton was born in Concord, \. II., in [828, 1 1 is
father was Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Bouton, and his mother was Harriet
Sherman Bouton, a granddaughter of Roger Sherman, the famous
statesman and philanthropist. Mr. Bouton left home at the age of
fourteen to work on a farm in Connecticut. Two years later he
taught school in the same State, and in 1S46 made a tour of this
Western country, returning to the East in the course of the fol-
lowing year. He then went into the employment of Fairbanks
Bros., the well-known scale men, as a traveling salesman, travel-
ing mostly on horseback, but sometimes by stage, over Ohio, Indi-
ana, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In 1S52, he
came to Chicago, and became a member of the firm of George W.
Sizer & Co. The firm at that time operated three works — one at
Cleveland, superintended by Mr. Sizer, one at Cincinnati, under
the direction of Mr. Mowry, and the one here, managed by Mr.
Bouton. In 1S57, Mr. Bouton was appointed superintendent of
public works of Chicago, under Mayors Wentworth and Haines, a
COLLINS & BURGIE's STOVE WORKS IN 1S85.
position he creditably filled for three years. He, with E. S. Ches-
brough and S. S. Greeley, constituted the committee to establish
the present grade of Chicago, and it was during his administration
that the first paving of the streets was done. In 1S62, he became
quartermaster of the S8th Illinois Infantry, a position he held until
alter the battle of Chickamauga, when he resigned, and came home
in order to give personal attention to his rapidly increasing business.
Mr. Bouton has been twice married — first, in 1857, to Emily L. Bis-
sell, daughter of Dr. Bissell, of Suffield, Conn. This lady died one
year after their marriage. His second marriage was with Mrs.
Ellen Shumway, of this city, daughter of Judge Gould, of Essex,
N. Y.
Of the subordinate branches of the iron industry
in i860, the following table will give an adequate com-
prehension :
ii
=
Value of
MANUFACTURfaS.
z =
Capital
invested.
45 ?â–
Wages.
v.~'
z -
product.
Blacksmithing _.
9
$18,050
$333,750
27
$10,848
830,15°
Gas fixtures
1
7,000
2.
n
4,800
15,000
Hardware, files
1
2,000
1,062
3
1,350
4.720
Scales — .
1
5,500
945
10
4.S00
10,000
Sewing machines
2
2,800
4 r "
4
1 ., 1-, 1
3,ogo
Stoves -
1
5,500
14,00' 1
12
3 600
32,500
1 in, copper and
sheet-iron ware
10
20,150
22,002
28
to, 1 (1
37.983
Allied to the f
oreg
oing man
ufacl ures
may
be menl
ioned :
Brass founders..
6
54,000
51.400
98
31 .-20
136,000
6S2
HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
Some of the oldest houses engaged in these branches
are represented in the sketches which follow:
William Blair & Co. — This is the oldest wholesale hardware
house in Chicago, and, with very few exceptions, the oldest busi-
ness house of any kind in the city. During August, 1842, William
Blair, the senior member of the firm, came to Chicago, and opened
a hardware store in the frame building at the southeast corner of
Dearborn and South Water streets. Mr. lilair continued the busi-
ness in his own name, as both wholesale and retail, until 1S44. In
the spring of that year, his brother, Chauncey B. Blair, then resid-
ing at Michigan City, Ind., became a partner in the business, and
added considerable capital, but took no part in the management.
The increase of business and the addition of a stock of bar iron and
steel required larger premises, and the firm removed the same year
(1S441 to the frame building at No. 75 Lake Street. During 1S46,
William Blair purchased his brother's interest, and associated with
himself his brother-in-law, William E. Stinson, under the firm name
of Blair & Stinson. A few years later. Mr. Stinson's health failed,
forcing him to retire from business. The growth of the business
requiring more room, the firm, in the spring of 1S47, removed to
No. 103 Lake Street; and in the following year Mr. Blair purchased
the lot at No. 176 Lake, the site of his present store, and erected
thereon a spacious building. After the decease of Mr. Stinson, in
December, 1S50, the business was conducted by Mr. Blair until
1S53. In the spring of that year, C. B. Nelson was admitted to
a partnership, and the business has since then been conducted
under the firm name of William Blair & Co. The opening of the
canal in 1S4S made large accessions to the wholesale trade of the
city from the Illinois River section, which was still further increased
by the opening of a portion of the Galena & Chicago Union Rail-
road a little later. The firm thereupon largely increased its stock,
and shortly after discontinued its retail business, and became the
first exclusively wholesale hardware house in the city, and the first
to open up a sample-room, with goods sampled on cards for the
personal inspection of customers. In the spring of 1S53, Mr. Blair
associated with him Elbridge G. Hall, for the establishment of a
wholesale iron store on South Water Street, under the firm name of
E. G. Hall & Co. The firm did a large business, and was one of
the most prominent in that line in the West. In i860, Mr. Blair
withdrew from this firm, transferring his interest to Mr. Hall. In
1S56, Oliver W. Belden, who had been for some years an employe
in the house, was admitted into the partnership, which continued
until the year 1S70. It was found that still more room was required
to meet the wants of their rapidly increasing business, and Mr.
Blair re-built the marble-front stores, Nos 179-S1 Randolph Street,
into which the firm removed in the autumn of that year. In Octo-
ber, 1871. this building, which contained the immense stock of the
firm (together with several other valuable buildings owned by Mr.
Blair) was destroyed by the great fire. Although the firm was for-
tunate in securing commodious quarters at Nos. 30-32 South Canal
Street immediately after the fire, and in a few days were in success-
ful operation, Mr. Blair decided to re-build at once upon the old
location, and within thirty days had purchased additional ground
for that purpose. The plans were so prepared as to combine every
modern convenience for the use of the firm, and be suitable for the
increasing wants of the trade. The result was a five story and
basement building, which was completed and occupied by the firm
in October, 1S72. In 1871, James M. Horton, who had been for
some years connected with the house, was admitted as a partner,
and two years later Augustus O. Hall was also admitted, and con-
tinued his connection with the firm until 1SS1. In the autumn of
[865, Mr. lilair, while in England, made extensive arrangements
f'.r goods for the house, from the manufacturers in Sheffield and
Birmingham. During January, 1882, C. B. Nelson, who had been
for more than thirty years connected with the house, retired from
the firm, and Edward T. Blair, son of the senior member, was
admitted a partner. Albert E. Roof, who had been connected with
the house for sixteen years, was also admitted to a partnership in
January, 1884.
William BLAIR was born in Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., on
May 20, 1818. His father, Samuel lilair, and his mother, Han-
nah, were both natives of lilandford, Mass., his mother being the
' daughter of Jonathan Frary, whose ancestors wereof Eng-
lish origin. On the paternal side, Sir. lilair is of Scottish descent.
At the age of fourteen he entered the employ and became a member
of the family of Oren North, a hardware merchant of Cortland,
. Mr. North decided upon removing his business to Joliet,
III., and. in July of ti :ii young lilair forward to that
plate, giving him letters of introduction to Martin II. Demmond,
and others. The financial troubles of 1837, however, deterred
Mr. North from coming West himself, as had been his original in-
tention, and. accordingly, he determined to close out his Western
branch. Mr. lilair, aided by his two brothers, Chauncey and
Lyman, then located at Michigan City, Ind., bought the stock of
Mr. North, and continued the business at Joliet, until, in August,
1S42, he came to Chicago and established the house here. Mr.
Blair was married on June 21, 1854, to Miss Sarah M. Seymour,
daughter of John Seymour, of Lyme, Ohio, a lady of most esti-
mable character and of fine literary taste. They have had two
children. The eldest, Willie Seymour Blair, a bright, promising
boy, died in December, 1861, not quite six years of age; the
younger, Edward Tyler Blair, graduated at Yale College in 1879,
and is now a valued and trusted member of his father's firm.
James M. Horton was born in Columbia County, N. Y..
in 1S26. His ancestors were Hollanders, originally of English
extraction, who settled at an early day in New York State. His
father, George P. Horton, was born in 1798, and is still living.
His mother, Margaret (Miller) Horton, died ten years since.
James M. graduated from Claverack Academy, Columbia County,
N. Y. Having decided to follow a mercantile life, at the age of
seventeen he went to Albany, N. Y., and served an apprenticeship
in the house of Pruyn, Wilson & Vosburgh, wholesale and retail
dealers and importers of hardware. He subsequently became con-
nected with the house of Erastus Corning & Co., with whom he
remained a number of years; and, in 1S66, he came to Chicago and
became connected with the firm of William Blair & Co. In 1871,
upon the retirement of Mr. Belden, Mr. Horton became a member
of the firm. Before removing to the West, he married Miss Matilda
McPherson, daughter of George McPherson, of Albany, N. Y.
They have had four children, two of whom are living — Lillie and
Leonora.
Edward T. Blair has been a resident of Chicago since his
birth. He graduated from Yale College in 1879, and spent a por-
tion of the two following years in travel, then entered the house of
William Blair & Co. He married, in 1882, Miss Ruby McCor-
mick, daughter of the late William S. McCormick, the reaper manu-
facturer, and has two children — William McCormick and Edith.
Albert E. Roof was born in Savanna, 111., in 1845. At the
age of seventeen, he commenced clerking in a general merchandise
store in Savanna, and one year afterward (1S63) came to Chicago,
and went into the employ of Burnham & Smith, afterward Smilh,
Cutler & Co., wholesale druggists, with whom he remained until
they sold out in 1868, when he became connected with the firm of
William Blair & Co., as cashier and bookkeeper. This position he
filled up to 18S4, when he became a member of the firm, and has
ever since had charge of the financial and credit business of the
house. In 1866, he was married to Miss Catharine Milan, of Os-
wego, N. Y.
Larrabee & North.— This house was established in 1844 by
William F. Dominick, then doing business at No. 134 Lake Street.
In 1851, Charles R. Larrabee became a partner, the firm name and
style then becoming William F. Dominick & Co. In 1S46, how-
ever, a removal had been made to No. 174 Lake Street, which was
the firm's location until 1857. In that year Mr. Dominick sold his
interest to Robert L. North, and the firm name then assumed its
present form. The new firm continued business at the same place
until the fire, by which they were sufferers to the amount of $30,000.
Within two days they resumed their business at No. 4S West Lake
Street, where they remained, until in February, 1872, when they
removed to the corner of West Lake and Clinton streets. Their
next removal was in the spring of 1873, to No. 163 Lake Street,
where they remained until, in 187S. they removed to their present
location. The firm of Larrabee & North has enjoyed the reputa-
tion of being one of the soundest and safest houses in this city, and
its members are highly respected as men and as citizens.
Charles R. Larrabee, the senior member of the house, was
born in Ticonderoga, N. Y., February 17, 1S25, the son of Lucius
C. and Calista (Bugbee) Larrabee. When only nineteen years of age,
young Larrabee came to Chicago, and for a time was in the employ of
the firm of Woodworth & Long, then proprietors of the old Hydrau-
lic Mills. In 1S44. he engaged as a clerk with, and in 1851 formed
the partnership with, Mr. Dominick, and has since been connected
with the house. Mr. Larrabee was married, in 1S51, to Mary A.
Wood, daughter of Peter Wood, a prominent lumber merchant of
this city. They have eight children — Edward A , Annie D., Elean-
or L., Mary C, Emily W., Rosalind C, Rollin N. and Caroline.
Robert L. North was born in the city of New York, Sep-
tember 15. 1829. His parents were Robert F. and Lydia (Guion)
North. The son was early given a business training, and in 1845
became a clerk in the firm of W. N. Seymour & Co., wholesale
hardware merchants in New York, and was admitted to partnership
in 1853. In 1857, he came to Chicago, and purchased Mr. Domin-
ick's interest in the house of W. F. Dominick & Co., and in con-
nection with Mr. Larrabee founded the house of which he is still a
member. Mr. North was married, in 1S60, to Elizabeth C. Larra-
bee, daughter of William M. Larrabee, of this city. They have
had three children — Robert L. Jr., Guion L. and Carrie L. ; the
two latter are deceased.
TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.
683
Seneca D. Kimbark. — The house of S. D. Kimbark was es-
tablished in this city in 1S53, by E. G Hall & Co., of which firm
Mr. Kimbark was a junior member. In 1S60, the firm name was
changed to Hall, Kimbark & Co., and in 1873 to Kimbark Bros.,
& Co In 1876, S. D. Kimbark became sole proprietor. Had
there been such a factor as chance in the founding of a legitimate
mercantile business, the fire of 1S7 r would have wiped out many of
the leading houses in Chicago. The losses of many of them were,
directly or indirectly, very large, and the house of S. D. Kimbark
was one of that number. And of those who survived that terrible
calamity, it may be said, that it possessed that intelligence, industry
and business integrity which insures success and at the same time
commands the respect and confidence of all classes. These were
the stepping-stones for S. I). Kimbark, and which have led him to
his present position, that of controlling the largest establishment of
its kind in Chicago ; a position gained by his own efforts, enter-
prise and ability. During all the years which this house has been
in existence, and the changes and fluctuations of business incident
to its long career, it has maintained its commercial integrity and its
standing as one of the soundest houses in the country. Increasing
capital and enlarged facilities have of course prompted Mr. Kim-
bark to greater efforts, and some years ago he established in Michi-
gan a factory for wagon-wood material, which is now thoroughly
equipped with the best designed labor-saving machinery. A large
number of hands are employed, most of whom are expert mechan-=
ics. As showing in a single statement its growth since its founding
and to the present time, it may be noted that during 1853 its busi-
ness approximated $250,000, and in 1883 it exceeded $1,500,000.
Seneca D. Kimbark was born in Venice, Cayuga County, N. Y.,
on March 4, 1832, and received his education in that State, com-
mencing with the common or district schools. He afterward at-
tended for a few terms the academies at Geneseo and Canandaigua,
where he paid the cost of his tuition by teaching school in the dis-
tricts adjacent to his residence, which was, at that time, Livingston
County, N. V. To that county his parents had moved, in the year
1840. From the time he was twelve years old until he was twenty-
one he worked on his father's farm, and during those years, did
fully a man's work at any species of labor he performed, and at the
age of twenty-one came to Chicago and engaged in the iron busi-
ness. In his career since that time Mr. Kimbark has been so
thoroughly identified with the history of the city, that he is as well
known personally and commercially as any resident here. In his
political opinions, during his earlier years, he was a Democrat and
an enthusiast on all political questions, being a strenuous advocate
of the annexation of Texas, the War with Mexico, the Missouri
Compromise, etc. The repeal of the Missouri Compromise made
Mr. Kimbark an Abolitionist and, after the organization of the Re-
publican party, he became a fervent supporter of its tenets and an
uncompromising advocate of the War. lie has never been a poli-
tician and, desiring no office, always kept aloof from political dis-
cussions and declined every nomination tendered him. He was
married, on September 25, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Pruyne, daugh-
ter of Peter Pruyne, who was State senator of Illinois and a colleague
of Stephen A. Douglas. Mrs. Kimbark's mother is the widow
of Thomas Church, formerly an old resident of Chicago. They
have had four children; the eldest, Charles A., is now the financial
manager of his father's business.
Hibbard, Spencer & Co. — Among the very oldest hardware
houses in Chicago, running without cessation or failure, is the firm
of Hibbard, Spencer & Co. In March, 1S55, Tuttle, Hibbard &
Co. founded a hardware and metal trade on South Water Street.
five doors east from Dearborn. Their premises and stock were
destroyed by fire in March, 1S57. They began again as soon as
possible, temporarily occupying a store at No. 32 Lake Street,
where they remained nearly three years. In 1S62, the business lo-
cation was changed to the southeast corner of Lake and State streets,
where the firm remained as long as they existed. On the 1st of
January, 1864, F. F. Spencer and William G. Hibbard bought out
the goods and business of Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., located at Xo.
62 Lake Street. There they were known for two years or more as
Hibbard & Spencer, and afterward as Hibbard, Spencer & Co., the
company being some employes who were given an interest in the
profits. ' As the store on State and Lake was getting too small for
the rapidly extending interests of the house, about the close of 1*07
a move was made to Nos. 92-94 Michigan Avenue, between Lake
and Randolph. Their loss in the October fire, 1871, was very
large. After being burned nut, a complete and new slock was, as
quickly as practicable, put into a temporary structure on the Lake
Front. These quarters were kept until June, 1S72, at which time
the permanent buildings on Lake Street were ready for oecupaurv.
They tirst used Nos. 30-32, and. as fast as room was demanded and
could be secured, they have added to them, until Nos. 22-32. or
six stores in the block.— each 25 x 142 feet and live stories and base-
ment in height — are under their proprietorship. Besides, they have
on the North Side a brick warehouse, into which they tun cars lor
loading and unloading their heaviest line of goods, such as tin
plate and nails. The trade of this great house extends from
British Columbia to Old Mexico, and west to the Golden Gate.
The first year Messrs. Hibbard i\ Spencer were together their total
sales footed up over $800,000. Last year it ran into the millions.
In January 1SS1, a family compact in fact, and a business agree-
ment in general, was entered into, and an incorporation was
formed, named and known as Hibbard, Spencer, liartlett & Co.
The officers were William G. Hibbard, president ; Franklin F.
Spencer, vice-president; A. C. Bartlett, secretary; Charles II. Con-
over and James \V. Nye, directors. Of the old firm of Tuttle, Hib-
bard & Co., Frederick Tuttle has retired, Nelson Tuttle is deceased,
and George M. Gray is with Pullman's Palace Car Company.
WiLLtAM G. lllBBAKD came to Chicago from Cortland, Cort-
land Co. , N. V., in 1849, and entered the employ of William Blair, his
first and only engagement, until he established the firm of Tuttle,
Hibbard & Co., in March, 1855. He married, in December, 1855,