KRETSINGER, WILLIAM H.

KRETSINGER, RAMSDELL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/5/2019 at 00:05:52

MADISON TOWNSHIP.
P. O. FORT MADISON

KRETSINGER, WILLIAM H., Superintendent and Manager of the Iowa Farming Tool Co. ; one of the most enterprising and substantial business men of Lee Co. ; he is a native of Herkimer Co., N. Y., and was brought up in that State ; he came to Chicago in 1856, and was successfully engaged in business there for a number of years ; in 1869, having purchased an interest in the firm of Soule, Davis & Co., manufacturers of agricultural implements, he removed to Fort Madison, and the firm became Soule, Kretsinger & Co. On the 1st of October, 1874, the Iowa Farming Tool Co. was organized by Mr. Kretsinger, he having the control and entire management of the Company ; the Company employ convict labor in the different departments of their factory, employing about one hundred and twenty-five men ; the farm implements manufactured by this Company have an established reputation, and under the present able management of the Company, have built up a large and extensive trade, and the demand for their goods is constantly increasing to such an extent that they are unable to fill their orders ; they not only ship their goods over the West and California and Oregon, but they have a large demand from Eastern markets, New York and Boston ; they are also having a foreign demand, and ship their goods to Liverpool, England, Switzerland and Germany. The quality and cheapness of their goods being un surpassed. While living in Chicago, Mr. Kretsinger married Miss Maria A. Ramsdell, a native of Oneida Co., N. Y. ; they have one daughter—Adele; Mr. Kretsinger has two sons by a former marriage.

Source: BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY IOWA
CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1879

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1879