Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-01-07

from Frank Leslie's Chimney Corner.l

manufacture OF querctron bark. Different
generations of the same family have been
prominently connected with tanneries In
Delaware and Philadelphia for the long pc.
riod OF eighty-seven years. The subject of
our present notice is one of the most con-
spicuous of the number, and from an hum
bic position has become man of large
wealth and influence.
Alexander Peterson, Esq, was boar in
the town of Smvrna, Kent county, Delaware,
March 10, 1876. He traces his descent from
an old Swedish family of the name, who set
tied on the Delaware river, more than two
hundred years ago. His father, Israel Pc
terson, learned the tanning business with
Nehemiah Tilton, Of Dover, and subsequent
ly commenced a small lanyard on his patri-
monial estate near Smyrna, in 1881, since
which time the family have always been in
terested in the business.
A few facts in regard to the manner in
which the business was conducted in Della
ware at that period will be interesting. The
| business was done by small tanners, who
were to be found in all the villages, and at
| the cross roads. Bark was abundant and
the competition for hides was very great.
The bark was procured in the spring from
the neighboring landowners who were clear
| ing their land, by going into the woods and
pealins what they wanted, the Telling of the |
tillber and cutting it into pieces for rails be- |
| ing the compensation for the bark. The |
tanners resorted to the fairs which were held |
| in the spring and autumn at various places |
| in the State and on the Eastern Shore of |
Maryland, where the planters obtained their |
semi-annual supplies of dry goods, shoes,
leather, ETC., and there sold surplus stock of
leather.
Such was the state of the tanning business
in Delaware up to 1900, about which time
the tanners were offered inducements to
send their leather to Philadelphia. They
; took back dry hides procured from the Span
ish Main, and soon all the lower part of the
, State was dotted with tanneries, engaged in
tanning dry hides. The State abounded In
Spanish oak bark and about 1910 there were
more dry hides tanned in Delaware than
any other State in the Union. Neither water
] power or steam was used in the tannery, land
: everything was done on the most primitive
. principle.
s The elder Peterson was succeeded in bust
| ness in 1906 by his son John, who, three
years later, bought property in Smyrna, and
: started lanyard there, which has been
: continued until this day.
k AT the age Of fourteenth 1910, Alexander
II Peterson left his fathers house 10 make his
! own way in the world. He Obtained a siina;
e ton in country store, wheic nc renamed
r three wears Tn 1918 he went TO Philadel-
: mia, and entered the store of Thomas and
o Philip Kelly, whose sales in shoes, leather,
and other articles, amounted 10 three hun
Il dred thousand dollars a year. He was a
le faithful, upright, Woodworking clerk, and
D, during his three years uf service, won the
cordial esteem of his employers
lg His brother John had been III Philadelphia
re for some years, engaged in curryipg, and in
,g 1876 procured lanyard in North Front ST.,
re where he proposed to carry on the manufac
ly turc of quercitron bark, and also tanning ir
ng a small way. Well pleased with the deli
he gence and ambition of Alexander, he placed
ld him in charge of this establishment. Th'
nd manufacture of quercitron bark, which j
q used as dye for coloring fabrics, became
,s- great success, and is still continued by tn
nd successors of these brothers, the brand O
lily Peterson & Mustard" beng well know
,re both in this country and in Europe.
In 1917 Alexander Peterson returned t
Ia SMYRNA, and took an interest in the tanner
ICE there. AT the same time the firm of j. 1
BY J. Peterson was continued in Philadelphia
me ana Sioat aar~-t~~~ =" che ',.sinaso wa
int that city during dull period, from 1918
1924. The business was kept on sal
rn. basis, though no money was made.
ag- Alexander Peterson not only showed gre;
full system and energy IN the management I
q the tannery, but his practical mind suggeste
vet useful improvements in the machinery. Il
or introduced the use of burr-stones instead
vor the iron mill in grinding the Spanish oa
bark, which produced very favorable +
suits.
ldy In 1886, several changes took place In Il
ers business. John Peterson retired from tt
flee city business and John Mustard received |
pl interest, and Alexander Peterson return
ons to Philadelphia, and, taking Israel Peterso
ard a son of his brother John, as partnt
,er- formed the firm of A. & I. Peterson. Tn
nire carried on tanning and furnishing on an G
ally tensive scale on the corner of Front a
rec Brown streets.
de- In S43, Mr.. Peterson placed ten hol
ned steam engine in his tannery, and was
,der first to successfully use the wet tan for fu
hen Others had before failed in this effor., al
sted five years after his success, the dscove
nth, was claimed and patented by other persol
veil, In l84S, Mr.. Peterson established the a
The of Peterson & Naudain, having a tanyi
eral at North Fifth and Master streets, and
+ 1850, in association with John Mustard,
bought out the interest of his brother Jo
in the Delaware tannery, which they
oc proved and enlarged to the capacity of
thousand hides rcr annum. Mr.. Peters
i l.. | was thus operating three extensive tanneri
In 1852, he transferred his interest in
yivis business at North Fifth and Master sire
to his only son John, and the firm beca
,aso Naudain & Peterson, and his interest i'll
;@o' ;ro tannery on Front and Brown streets to
~. nephew, Israel Peterson.
oeeh After year OF leisure, he open store
209 and 2ll Willow streot,to sell the ieat
t he from the Delaware tannery, and with
l." iobbing business in leather, and also &C
, has mission business in hides and wool from
1ice. Louis and New Orleans. This business C
,o,o. tinued until 1861, when he transferred
~ ," ~ his trade, except the Delaware tannery
= :" John q. Mustard the son of his partner
the tannery and quercitron bark manu-
aecal ss tory.
for On the first of May last, Mr.. Peterson
his partner, John Mustard, gave the b.
the mess of tanning and quercitron bark ma
mber facturc to the two cntcrprising sons of
latter, who, under the firm of ]. @. & I'll.
, lust Mustard, have their store at 200 Willow
I'd 90 Thus, after an uninterrupted connection
is. fifty-one years with the tanning and leat
was business, Mr.. Peterson withdrew from
after Ts having amassed a large fortune.
;r,s.s He now occupies his time in tho cult
'sA'' ton of his extensive landed estate in X
county, near the old tanncry. He h
ween large annual product Of wheat, corn, ,peac
rises etc. ETC.. which are n source of consid
sniaii ble profit. He is a practical as well as
entifc farmer, and takes great interest
&C in pleasure in agricultural progress and suec
a the His residence is in Philadelphia.
to be Mr.. Peterson is a fine looking, vener
man, who has still an active mind and G
ergy- est will. He has around figure, and a
ell in head, with prominent and expressive
Salt ures Snowy gray hair falls away from
,eturn ample brow, and his large, clear eyes b
with lustre which gathering years
,o,,,oa scarcely dimmed Plain and unostenta
',ss in character, and just and liberal in his
as all posNion, n1 - on6 ~ Will. @ ~ nha haa,,
down anu connsel a,;ont .auu. es and an
oraple ambition, and it has been crov
entral bv business success and thc esteem ol
iition. fellow. men.
that
~ tho