Evening star., 1949-03-27
Famous Printing Trade Names
By John CIoqett Proctor

By John CIoeett Proctor
For many years after the Fed
eral Government took over Wen
dell's printing omce. which once
stood at H and North Capitol
streets, there were certain times
in the year-particularly when
Congress was in session-when the
establishment could not do all the
work required. and largely as q
result of this, additional private
establishments were added with
special equipment for governmental
work.
Many Of these firms became
household words and are stin re-
called namely; Gibson Bros, Nc
Gill IL Witherow, Gideon & Pear
son, and . few years later r. C..
Polkinhorn, Judd q Detweiler, and
others.
Gibson Brothers entered the
printing business here in Decem-
ber. 1852. They were then over
Schneider's hardware store at
1010-10l2 Pennsylvania avenue
NV, where they remained until
about 1883, when they moved to
the southeast corner of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Thirteenth
street.
At first the hrm consisted only
of John and George Gibson, but
later William was taken into the
partnership. All three have long
since passed away, but they LETT
behind, as we all know, a reputa-
ton for honesty and fair dealing
both to the public and to their
employes-which one might well
be proud of even today. John. the
senior member Of the firm, Joined
the Columbia Typographical So
ciety in February. 1862. Though
the writer Is not fully informed
as to the descendants Of these
men, yet he does know that there
are some still living in Washing
ton, among whom are two delight
full women whom he frequently
meets. Mrs. Bertha G. Hudson
and Miss Flora Gibson, daughters
Of George Gibson.
Some Early Firms
McGill & Witherow, like Gibson
Brothers and the other big print
ing offices, always employed a big
force of printers, pressmen, book
binders, feeders and folders. At
first they were located at eleventh
street and Pennsylvania avenue,
but later conducted their estab-
lishment at 11O7 E street NV.
The records show that Thomas
McGill became a member OF the
union in August, 1848. and his
partner, James NJ. Witherow in
June, 1852. Thomas McGill g. Co..
and later McGill q Wallace. be-
came the successors Of the old
firm. which was started by Thomas
McGill.'
Gideon & Pearson had their
printing Office at the southwest
corner Of D and Ninth streets, in
the building in which the Grand
Lodge of Masons and several
subordinate Masonic lodges met
prior to moving to Ninth and F
streets. George S. Gideon. the
senior member of the company.
was the third generation identified
with the printing business in
Washington for many years. The
Junior member Of the firm. Joseph
L. Pearson, succeeded to the busi-
ness. and will be<best remembered
by the younger generation as
having conducted his printing
Office in the neighborhood where
the Gideons-Jacob. jr.. and
George s.-had conducted a SINH
lar business many years before.
Many an old resident will recall
Polkinhorn's printing Office on the
south side of D street between
Sixth and Seventh streets NV,
conducted for many years by r.
o. Polkinhorn. who probably en-
ployed more help than any other
printer in Washington.
Mr.. Polkinhorn learned his trade
with his Uncle Henry. one of
Washingtons pioneer printers,
who was admitted into the Typo
graphical Society in November,
1887, and in 1846 is recorded as
living in the block on Seventh
street between E and F streets,
west side. In 1860, and probably
at an earlier date, he was estab-
lished in business at 375 and 377
D street NV. which, quite likely.
under the changed system Of num-
bering. is the same site later occu-
pied by his nephew. r. o. Polkin-
horn, and the place where the
latter was an apprentice printer.
The firm In 1862 was H. Polkin-
horn d Son. Samuel Polkinhorn
being the Junior member of the
firm. and he. together with his
cousin, r. O. Polkinhorn.> sue
ceeded to the business about 1867.
Those Were the