The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-30
FOURTH EDITION


Joel First, senior member of the
firm of First & Allmon, mol Invest cor
ner OF Seventh and Shipley streets.
died at his residence, No. zoe Shipley
street, about 3.45 o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
The deceased was born near Newport,
February ~, 1911. and spent the early
part of his life on farm with his
father. Having a strong desire to be-
come mechanic he became an ap-
prentice to Thomas Moore. coach ma
ker in a shop where the post-ofiice now
stands, Sixth and King streets. This
old shop was noted as being the priil-
olpal shop In the city. 1t was frame
building and the sign on it represent
Ing .'Phoebus drawing the chariot OF
the Sum-" was painted by the noted
Peter Bauday, n Frenchman, and the
lettering read this way: Thomas
Coach Moore Maker" and was the
cause of many a laugh.
From this old shop went out man y
iof the pioneer coach-builders that
made Wilmington famous as q coach
manufacturing city. who for many
years controlled the carriage trade of
the Southern States. Joel First was one
of these pioneers.
When Mr.. First finished his appren-
Iticeship he went to New York, and
worked as journeyman. On his re-
turn he worked for Joseph Hunter
whose shop was on Market street, be-
tween Sixth aud Seventh streets.
1 After this he went on little venture
for himself in little shop at Third
and King streets where the REPUBLICAN
office now stands. Afterwards he was
employed by John Merriek, whose
shop was at the loot of Ihorne street,
where j. Morton Poole's works now
are. In 1874 Merrick Jailed, when a
lco-operative company consisting OF
ALBERT Flaglor, Joel First, Enos lluntz-
berger, George Aiimon, Dodd Rob-
'inson and Henry Pretzehner WAS
Horned and begun business in an old
shop which stood where the b. Il o.
Idepot is now located, at Water and
Market streets.
1 The company was called A, Flaglor
AZ Co. The company afterwards occu-
pied frame SHOP built for them by
Charles Candy over Market street
bridge. In the course OF year Rob.
'Iinson and PretZchner drew out. In
1856, joel First and George Allmon
drew out OF the company and formed
1.-THE firm of First a Allmon, and remov.
ED to Seventh and Slipley streets
Illuntzberger drew out OF the Original
firm In 1859 and forming n co-partner-
ship with IL. L. Taylor, Duilt the large
five story brick building at Water and
Market streets, where flaglor Il Cos.
first shop stood.
4 In 1859 First d Allmon erected the
present coach factory at Seventh and
Shipley streets, where they haye car.
Iried on the business up To the death
lof Mr., First. Mr., First was noted for
shis honesty and integrity, and entirely
.Idevoid of vanity. He was more anx.
tious to build up reputation for hon
est work, reliable business man, thar
he was to get rich. He was noted fol
This charity and generosity, and was
always sensitive to the wants of others
n II he heard of suffering, he coulC
mot rest easy until he had done what
} The could to relieve it. Politically Mr.
First was originally Democrat. but
when the war OF the rebellion brORt
Stout he became a Republican and ever
latter remained one.
The deceased leaves two sons and q
daughter. The daughter is Mrs. Henry
/ IWaddingtOn. The sous are George
! and DR. IL. VI. FIRST of this city. III,
mad lived in the house where he dice
I5inCe 1857. His funeral will take plac,
/ ION Monday, November ,, at 2 o'clocl
! i'm the afternoon, Interment will b.
/, made in he Wilmington and Brandy
wine Cemetery, and will be private.
SO