Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-02
Il AS REORGANlZED.
oTTuMWA IRON WORKS NOW UN.
DER NEW MANAGEMENT.
TO CONTINUE ON LARGER SCALE
ottumwans Will be Pleased to Hear
That Successful Organization Has
Abandoned Idea of Discontinuins-
Officers Under New incorporation.

Hpahdoned idea OF Disseminating
Officers Under New Incorporation.
! The Ottumwa Iron works, which
have long been doing business as firm
| in this city in the manufacture of
hoisting engines, machinery, and mine
equipments, have been reorganized and
| incorporated under new management,
and will continue to conduct the bust
ness as before only putting in new
blood and enterprise in the business.
j. T. Hacl1worth, A. G. Harrow and
Allen Johnston, who have been con-
Quoting the business for the Ottumwa
Iron works firm will retire and relin-
quish all management in the new or
ganization, but will retain some stock
in the new company, Mr.. Harrow be-
ing one of the board of directors of
the newly organized concern.
The board of directors of the new
company will be A. G. Harrow, Alfred
Briggs, II. p. Keyhoe. John Wishart,
l.. Hambleton, w. T. Harper and Jo-
seph Dain.
Officers of the Company.
Alfred Briggs, who has been gen.
eral superintendent and sales agent of
the old company for many years,
takes the presidency of the new COM
pany and will have charge of the
| costs and sales department H. p.
keyhoe, now member of the city
council and doing business on West
Second street, will close out his bust
| ness there and will take the position
I n t,t1 L
charge of the office work in the new
company. John Wishart, who was
formerly chief engineer for MorI'ell
& Co. of this city, and now engaged
in business in Chicago, will close up
his business there. and will take the
superintendency of the shops in the
new organization.
| This company, with three tried and
experienced men in charge of each de-
partment, expects to put new life into
the old established firm, increasing its
business and employing more men in
the future than in the past.
Is Good News.
The news that the company will
| continue in business as one of Ottum
was leading institutions will be re.
ceived gladly by the citizens. AS the
| Johnston Ruffler 20. and later as the
Ottumwa Iron Works this firm has
| been conducting successful business
| for years and it's pay roll has always
reached high figure annually. Wher
it was announced a few weeks agc
| that the company was considerins
the advisaoi'itv of retiring from bust
| ness, the citizens Of Ottumwa were ;
\ INIT in n 1nri,, ,nl,
| everyone will be pleased to learn tha
/ the proposed action was not taken ane
that the firm has signified It's inten
i ton of carrying on the business on q
larger scale
Foundation of the Business.
The foundation of what is now the
! Ottumwa Iron Works was laid by Allen
| Johnston, formerly one of the board
| OF directors of the company but under
/ the new incorporation one of the stock
| holders, Mr.. Johnston in conjunction
| with his brother W. T. Johnston, took
| out the first of his large number oil
patents in 1870 1t was an embroidery
attachment, contrived also joint,
with his brother The first of these
articles was made in the office of his
| DAoNhNi, " ~ oS q uSIllSt ny QFOl6S
| sion. AS trade increased there was
demand for more room and they
moved into the third story of build
ing on Main street, where tools were
made to manufacture the Johnston
ruffler, which afterwards became
| famous
Moved to Present Site,
The first machinery was propelled
by hand, through the aid of large
/ grindstone. This was soon replaced
I by an engine and more spacious quart
! ers were taken on Court street. where
large store room was secured Bust
ness grew rapidly and soon thirty
hands were employed. The company
was known as w. T. Johnston & Co.
and consisted of w. T. Johnston. AL
len Johnston, w. T. Major, J. t. Hack
4 worth and j. G. Hutchinson. In the
spring of 1871 the company bough
lot in the center of the present
plant OF the concern and built factory
80 by GO feet in dimensions and two
4 stories high. 1t was thought that thi.
structure would be large enough tt
handle all the business the firm would
/ ever have, but this was found to BIZ
mistake as business was increased
SO fast that new buildings were added
until the entire block was covered.
Company Incorporated.
In 1872 the concern was organized
as corporation under the title of the
Johnston Ruffler Co., the incorpora
tors being j. T. Hackworth, Allen John
ston, w. 7. Major and ]. G, Hutchinson
The latter sold his interest few
! years later and A. G. Harrow was ad
mited into the corporation. The com
pany for some time had over 500 mel
in its employ.
Growth of the Iron Works. q
The original Ottumwa Iron Work,
was founded in 1857 and a small shoI
was conducted on East Mill street ,nea
/ Union street. A few years after it's or
ganization the plant, then small, was
/ purchased by VIM, Daggett and w. I
! Harper ST., both of whom have sine,
passed away. About 1877 the plan
was purchased by the owners of tn,
Johnson Ruffler Co., and the capacity
| was immediately eplarpad Tho husi