Iron Business

 

The first attempt to manufacture iron and rolling mill products in Knoxville was made by the Confederate authorities during the Civil war but from lack of skilled workmen his attempt was a failure. The machinery used in this attempt was confiscated at Loudon, Tenn and moved to Knoxville. Soon after the occupation of the city by the Union Army, an attempt to operate this mill was made by HS Chamberlain, a quartermaster in the army, but his attempt was likewise a failure. After the close of hostilities, John H Jones, one of the owners of the mill, came to Knoxville and then a company was formed composed of himself, ST Atkin, LC Shepherd and HS Chamberlain, the mill being put in operation by them.

These men had extensive experience in the iron business and a company was organized under the name of Chamberlain Richards & Co. At first this company had considerable difficulty in carrying on their business, raw material costing a great deal, and being hard to obtain. Coal was brought by them to Knoxville by boat in the winter season, and in the summer season by wagons at a cost of fifty cents per bushel, that brought in the winter coming from Emory Gap, that brought in the summer from Winter's Gap. In 1867 a mine of coal was opened at Coal creek under the direction of D Thomas and in the fall of that year, the first car load of coal was brought into Knoxville over the Knoxville and Ohio railroad.

 

The Knoxville Iron Company was incorporated in 1868, with an authorized capital of $150,000 and was organized February 1 that year, with the following board of directors and officers HS Chamberlain, president; WR Tuttle, secretary; HS Chamberlain, treasurer and Joseph Richards, general manager; the other directors being Daniel Thomas, David Richards, Thomas D Lewis, and William Richards. February 27, 1871, Mr Chamberlain resigned as president of this company to accept a similar position with the Roane Iron company of Chattanooga, and on March 20 following, the capital stock of the Knoxville Iron company was increased to $200,000. Up to this time the old buildings formerly in use by Mr ST Atkin elsewhere referred to as an iron manufacturer during the war of the Rebellion were in but now a new building was erected and in 1873 still mill was erected to accommodate the growing business of company.

A nail factory was added in 1875, which was for several years but is not now in use. At the beginning of the company's existence, the were operated to manufacture finished bar iron muck and a few sizes of round and square iron, only one train of being in use. When the new mill was erected it included eighteen inch nail plate train, a sixteen inch bar mill, and eight inch band mill. The nail factory contained forty two machines and had an output of 70,000 to 75,000 kegs of per year. This factory was closed in 1890 and has not been in use.

A foundry and machine shop was decided upon 1 891. Within the last two years, the mill has been to the production of bar iron of all kinds. The mill is now equipped throughout, with modern such as gas furnaces, gas producers, etc, by which output of the works has since 1895 been increased about fifty per cent and they now have a capacity of from 15,000 18,000 tons per year of finished material. About 200 are employed in the mill. This company also operates coal mines in Anderson County.

 

HO Nelsen manufactures iron and steel fences of all his works being located on the Maryville railroad track near Asylum street. Formerly they located at Valley Forge and are still known as the Valley Forge Fence works. In 1873, Mr Nelsen moved to his present location where he set up new machinery of a larger pattern, and increased the number of hands employed, and the output from his works which now amounts to about $60,000 per year. He is now devoting his energies to the production of wrought steel fences of various patterns and for all purposes and has recently adopted new names for several of his leading styles of fence as Taylor, Shafter, Grant, Sampson, Lee, Dewey, Schley, Hobson, etc.

 

Dempsters Machine Shop is located at No 114 East Main street, and was established in 1886 by James Dempster, who has manufactured a few engines, but found that manufacturing engines on a small scale did not prove profitable. He also, in the past, carried on the manufacture of machinery, steam pumps, etc, on a small scale, but has abandoned all kinds of manufacturing, and devotes his works and energies now exclusively to repairs. On the average he employs about four men in doing such repair work as comes to his shop. His is the old McClannahan mill established many years ago, and which later became the property of Major RR Swepson who owned it for some time, and then sold it to the Champion Manufacturing company, which sold out to Mr Dempsey in 1889, who from the time he began in business in 1886 to 1889, was located near Nelsen's Valley Forge Fence works.

 

Fair, Day & DeKlyne's Foundry and Pattern Shop which is located on Jacksboro street beyond the Brookside mills, and close to the Knoxville and Ohio railroad, were established in 1880 by Fair & Day. In 1890, the works occupied about one and a half acres of ground on Second creek, which creek furnished them water power. Generally speaking Tennessee iron is used by these works, and about twenty-five men are employed. The product is principally house work, machine castings, hardware findings, fronts, and grates. Sash weights are also made at these works. The annual output of the works is about $30,000.

The Enterprise Machine Works situated on Chamberlain street near the brewery, were established in 1886, by DC Richards and Sons WP, AT, and Roger P. the latter of whom died February 23, 1898. At these works are manufactured engines of all sizes from six up to 500 horse power, and both stationary and portable heavy castings, hoisting machinery, and derricks. Repairs of all kinds are made in these works including the repair of locomotives, a new building having been erected for this special work during 1898.

The Enterprise Foundry Company was formed March 1, 1897, by RR Shipman, Calvin George, and Len George, each of whom had at the time $33. They began in a small way in Skate's Furnace buildings, with the three men besides themselves, they being practical workmen and all taking hold with a determination to succeed. Their business grew so rapidly that it became necessary in April, 1898, to move to their present location on the Knoxville and Ohio railroad and nearly opposite the Brookside cotton mills. These buildings had been occupied by Roy & Armstrong. Here the business has grown far more rapidly than they at first dared to anticipate and they now employ on the average twenty-four.  (Source: Standard History of Knoxville, Tennessee, edited by William Rule, George Frederick Mellen, John Wooldridge, Lewis Publishing Company,1900) and other sources.

 

 

 

Photo credit:"Knoxville-iron-company-1889" by Lloyd Branson and Frank McCrary (creators) - Souvenir, Knoxville, Tennessee, Branson and McCrary, 1889. On file at the Calvin M. McClung Digital Collection.. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - Link