Clinton Iron Works
Source: Clinton Semi-Weekly Herald, March 17, 1869. To the right are advertisements that appeared in various Clinton newspapers.
The Paid Up Cash Capital, $48,000 -- The
Working Capital, $35,000
SKETCH OF ITS HISTORY, PAST AND PRESENT
We have the pleasure, to-day, of calling the attention of our readers to one of the heavy (iron) firms of this city -- already doing the largest business in their line of any institution hereabouts; having also the largest working capital, and an ample reserve fund which can be thrown in the business at any desired time to double up the present capacity for business -- including the proposed new facilities and additions. We refer to the proprietors of the Clinton Iron Works, located at the southwest corner of Second street and Eleventh avenue. But to the chronological order of events.
The Clinton Iron Works were opened in May, 1866, by TenBroeck & Smeith (E. P. TenBroeck, John Smith.) At that time a building 80 x 80 feet was used for machine shops, office and pattern room, with foundry in rear about 50 feet square. When the firm commenced operations, the supply of patterns and machinery was very limited.
After a few months Mr. Smith, on account of ill health, withdrew from the firm, and Col. TemBroeck concluded to "go it alone." He has since added tools and machinery from time to time, until there are now five lathes, an upright drill, two iron planers, and about $10,000 worth of patterns for all kinds of mill machinery, building casting, etc. An office 25 x 18 has been erected on west side of the machine shops and conveniently fitted up -- the entire office and machine shops being heated by steam. A blacksmith shop, of brick, located west of the office, has been erected, 30 x 32 feet, and having a capacity for three fires.
On the first of the present month (after refusing to "go snucks' with men of limited means) he admitted to partnership with Col. Frank G. Noyes, under the firm name of Noyes & TenBroeck. Col. Noyes will be remembered by many of our citizens as one of the oldest residents of Clinton -- he having practiced law here in 1856, and until he entered the United States service in 1863, except a brief time when he was aid-de-camp to Gov. Kirkwood and an assitant in Adjutant General Baker's office. The colonel is a man of abundant means and untiring energy, and will prove a valuable acquisition to the buisiness interests of the city.
The new firm starts with a paid-up cash capital of $45,000 -- leaving them a working capital of at least $35,000. New buildings and added facilities are the order of the day.
A
new foundry of brick is to be erected on the two lots south of the
present foundry with two cupolas on the north end -- the moulding
floor to be 60 x 50 feet. There are to be two core ovens, one
16 x 10 feet, and the other a circular one for small cores. At
the rear of the foundry will be a pattern room, for patterns needed
for immediate use, 16 feet square, and a store room 10 x 16.
There is to be a sand room, for moulding sand, 24 x 16. At the
north end of the foundry, near the cupola, will be a cleaning room,
16 feet square.
The old foundry will receive a new floor, partitions will be torn down, and the entire building 120 x 35 used for machine shops. To these shops will be added a new upright engine, of Clinton Iron Works manufacture, of 65 horse power; a large lathe, 6 1/2 feet swing and 20 fee bed, weighing 4,300 pounds; a slotting machine, of Wood & Leight's patent, Worcester, Mass.; and a shafting lathe capable of turning out 200 feet per day of 2-inch shafting.
The blacksmith shop will be supplied with a fan for its three fires, run by steam power.
The firm are now building two 200 horse power engines -- one for Joyce & Smith's saw mill, in Lyons; the other for C. Lamb & Son's new stone mill, in this city.
They are also building several of Nichols' patent edgers, on his order, to fill orders which he has received therefor. George Nichols is a resident of Clinton, and is well known as the millright who had charge of the erection of the monster mill of W. J. Young & Co.
The Clinton Iowa [sic] Works are also extensively manufacturing and building up a large trade in the celebrated gang fender-parts of the Richard Parsons' Posts patent -- Col. TenBroeck holding a half interest in said patent. Two of them have been put up in this city for C. Lamb & Sons; and two are now being built for use in Lyons -- one for Ira Stockwell, and one for Joyce & Smith.
This firm holds the agency for Judson's patent governor and graduating values combined (for steam engines) one of the best in use. Three thousand are annually sold in Europe and over ten thousand have been sold.
Benjamin Graham -- a gentleman well known all through this section of country as an "A 1" millright and master mechanic, has charge of the mechanical department of the Clinton Iron Works. He has had an experience of over forty years in his line of business; and the simple announcement of his having charge of the work is a sufficient guarantee of its perfection; and, with the facilities to be provided by the new firm, orders can be filled promptly and perfect satisfaction given.
We see no reason why the Clinton Iron Works, with its mechanical and financial facilities, should not continue the leading house hereaway in its line of business.
Manufacturers
Source: The Clinton Weekly Herald, Feb. 19, 1870
The Clinton Iron Works, until recently owned and carried on by Col. E. P. TenBroeck is one of the pioneer institutions of the city. When there were scare a hundred population south of the rail road track, where now there are thousands. The Clinton Iron Works, had taken its position on the corner of Second street and Thirteenth avenue. It was not then what it is now, for like other Clinton enterprises, this one under the efficient management of the Col. and in keeping with the rapid growth of the city, soon began to assume mammoth proportions. About one year ago, more or less, Mr. TenBroeck took into the business as a partner Co. F. Noyes, since which time the business has been carried on by TenBroeck & Noyes. During the last year the proprietors have made extensive additions to their buildings, and improvements to their works, so that at the present time the Clinton Iron Works are among the first of the kind in the West. Their engine is one of the finest to be found in the country. the amount of business done at these works is rapidly increasing; orders coming in from the States of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, as well as from all parts of this State.
The sales for the year 1869 amounted to $75,000; the value of the material purchased during that time was $35,000; the amount paid employees was $20,000 and the increase of business over the preceding year amounted to $10,000.
During
the last year, the Works turned out five first class engines, three
gangs, three edgers, and five sets of Parsons Patent Gang Posts.
The extra amount of orders that have recently been sent into these
Works indicate a large increase of business this year, over any
preceding year.
It is with pleasure we make this brief mention if so valuable a department of enterprise to our manufacturing city as the Clinton Iron Works; and we predict that Messrs. TenBroeck & Noyes are the men to increase their facilities for turning out first class work, and that they will not, at any time be found anywhere but in the ranks of the most enterprising of our manufacturers.
Dissolution of Co-Partnership
Source: The Clinton Age, June 3, 1870
The firm of TenBroeck & Noyes, heretofore existing, and populary known as the managers and owners of the CLINTON IRON WORKS, is this day by mutual consent dissolved. Frank G. Noyes having purchased all the interest in the said business and assumed all the liabilities against the firm, will continue the business at the old stand.
All persons having claims against the firm will present them to him for adjustment, and all persons indebted to the same, will make payment to him who is alone authorized to receive the same.
Clinton, May 11, 1870 -- Edward P. Ten Broeck, Frank G. Noyes
The Clinton Age from July 23, 1875 posted this little tid-bit: A ten thousand pound "heat" was "taken off" at the Clinton Iron Works last week -- the heaviest for two year. On portion of it was a single casting, weighing 3,000 pounds, for Renwick's Davenport saw mill. Col. Noyes also has an order for machinery to shipped to the Government Navy Yard at Pensacola, Florida.
The Clinton Iron Works Closed (A Rumor? Keep reading)
Source: Clinton Daily Herald, May 5, 1876
For some time past, owing to pecuniary embarrassments, work at the Clinton Iron Works has been dragging, and financial matters seemed to press disastrously upon the proprietor, Col. F. G. Noyes. The recent breaking of a sewer and flooding of the foundry with water, causing about $1,500 damage in the molding and boiler rooms of the works, also proved the climax of other difficulties, and the foundry has not since been started and is now closed and in the hands of Deputy Sheriff L. P. Adams, who has a watchman in charge of the building. The material and equipments of the foundry, as well as some of the manufactorued products, including the "Centenial edger," which Col. Noyes built at considerable labor and expense, are held, we understand, under attachments and executions, so that the foundry now lies idle, and the doors are closed, while the proprietor has been at his residence most of the time for several weeks, physically indiposed and otherwise averse to appearing in public. We believe friends of Col. Noyes are daily expected, who will satisfactorily arrange the business matters with the creditors and relieve the foundry from its present embarrassment and place it again in operation.
The same newspaper, the next day, posted "We learn that the liabilities of the Clinton Iron Works and other property of Col. Noyes form an aggregate of about $20,000, while the value of the property covered by their endebedness reaches about $30,000."
Tuesday, May 9, 1876, the Clinton Daily Herald published the following letter from Mr. Noyes:
EIDTOR HERALD: In the daily issues of the HERALD for last Friday and Saturday, your statements regarding the Clinton Iron Works are so erroneous that it seems proper for me to correct them in justice to you as well as myself.
The Works were not "closed" by the Sheriff or his deputy, but were stopped temporarily by my forman, Mr. Howard, for our own convenience.
Neither the Clinton Iron Works nor any of its buildings, its tools or machinery have been attached or levied on, and they are not now and never have been in the hands of the Sheriff or any other law officer.
The only property attached or levied on are some finished machines and some manufactured material, and the claims sued on amount in the aggregate to less than $1,500. Six thousand dollars will cover my whole floating debt, and I have a larger sum than that due me although not available at present. Moreover, we have at least $5,000 worth of finished machines on hand in the shop ready for sale.
The inventory and valuation of the Clinton Iron Works on January 1st, 1876, allowed upwards of $50,000. Allowing, therefore, for all my bonded and floating debt, it is difficult to see why any alarm should be felt, or upon what grounds any attachment could be sworn out against my property, without somebody committing perjury. I have never disposed of any property in my life, except in a legitimate way, and have never contemplated doing so, and no transactions of mine will show any shadow of evidence to the contrary, even by inference.
The Works will be started up again soon, if satisfactory arrangements are made, and it should seem for our best interests to do so.
A Few Years Later....
Wagons have been employed for a few days removing patterns and other property from the Clinton Iron Works. This looks as though Col. Noyes has concluded to abandon the foundry and machine shop business here. (Source: Clinton Daily Herald, April 3, 1878.)
In the paper for April 18, 1878 is the following line in the Real Estate Transfers: F. G. Noys by Sheriff to N. Kingsland, Clinton Iron Works, $8,643.
Col. Noyes, who removed his patterns from the Clinton Iron Works building a week or two ago, is now taking out the balance of the machinery. (Source: Clinton Daily Herald, April 27, 1878.)
The obituary of a worker, Hiram H. Howard, 1878.
In Court Cases in the Clinton Daily Herald, Oct. 28, 1879: The case of F. G. Noyes vs Clinton city, for damages to the old Clinton Iron Works property by the backwater from a broken sewer, was dismissed. Noyes is gone, the foundry is forgotten and the suit never had a firm foundation anyway.
A Few More Years Later....
The Clinton Iron Works was bought by George Edwin Wilson in 1892 and it then became the Clinton Bridge & Iron Works. It was sold to the Allied Steel Co. in 1964.