Sunland Tribune Volume 24 Article 3 1998 Hamilton Disston and the Development of Florida Joe Knetsch Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/sunlandtribune Recommended Citation Knetsch, Joe (1998) "Hamilton Disston and the Development of Florida," Sunland Tribune: Vol. 24 , Article 3. Available at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/sunlandtribune/vol24/iss1/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sunland Tribune by an authorized editor of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HAMILTON DISSTON and the Development of Florida Dr. Joe Knetsch early struggles with land- lords and lenders, established himself at Front and Laurel One of the most enduring mysteries in the Street, two years after Hamilton's birth. The history of Florida is the “man”, Hamilton elder Disston's skills could not be denied, Disston. Little has ever been published and he looked to become independent of about this individual's life or his many imported British steel. In 1855, he accomplishments. What is “known” is based constructed his own steel mill, producing upon few primary sources, and those have some of the highest grade crucible steel to not been evaluated for accuracy. None of the be found anywhere. This gave him the edge few works that discuss the "Gilded Age" over much of his competition, foreign or politics have ever delved into the life behind domestic. So successful was the Disston the man who bailed Florida out of its worst works, that they were not affected by the financial embarrassment. Even the story of severe Panic of 1857. Young Hamilton, his death is questionable, if, in fact, not observing first-hand many of his father's totally erroneous. It is the goal of this article administrative touches and inventive to shed some light onto this unknown capacity, probably made mental notes of individual and maybe encourage greater those that were most successful.1 primary research into the background of those who have helped to shape our The Civil War brought many changes to the destinies. Disston firm, primarily the need to produce war materials for the Union Army. For the That Hamilton Disston was a congenial purpose of making metal plates, whose person has been testified to by many who importation was disrupted by Confederate knew the young man. Born on August 23, raiders, Henry Disston constructed his own 1844, he was educated at home, like many rolling mill. He also erected an experimental children of his day, and at the age of fifteen, sawmill to test his saws on various types of he became a full-time apprentice in his wood for the purpose of more efficient father's factory on Laurel Street, in cutting and precision. The father also Philadelphia. His father was an inventive, experimented with new saw types, improved strong willed and talented man, whose the quality of the steel and any number of mechanical abilities came naturally through improvements in various war materials. In Hamilton's grandfather, Thomas Disston, of the interest of the firm and national defense, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England. The he encouraged employees to spot defects adaptable Henry Disston migrated to and suggest improvements.2 The firm aside America with his family in 1833, only to from it’s primary business primary business, lose his father three days after their arrival. also produced scabbards, swords, guns, Left to his own devices, he apprenticed knapsack mountings, army curbits, etc. for himself to a saw-maker and began a career the military effort. In addition to his that reads like a Horatio Alger tale. With a production, Henry Disston offered each of start of only $350, he began his own his employees who joined the colors half as manufacturing firm in 1840, and after some much in addition to what the government would pay, and guaranteed them their jobs of the Disston works to the new area of upon returning from the war.3 Tacony. According to Harry C. Silcox, in his recent Hamilton, like his father, was a strong book on the Disston works, Hamilton Republican and favored the protective tariff. wanted to enlist in the Army immediately His growing interest in politics led him into upon President Lincoln's call for volunteers. the embroglio of the Philadelphia wards. In Twice, Hamilton attempted to enlist, only to the beginning, he was allied with many of find his place taken by someone who was the so-called "bosses" of the wards, paid an enlistment bonus by his father, who including James McManes (the city gas insisted he was needed in the business. To works "czar"), William Leeds and David H. relieve this tension, Hamilton increased his Lane. He helped one of his old Northern interest in the Northern Liberties Volunteer Liberties Hose Company colleagues, John Fire Company. As the story goes, the fires A. Loughridge, into the post of prothonotary became so frequent that Hamilton was often to the Court of Common Pleas.6 One- time missing answering the fire bell. Hamilton's governor of Pennsylvania, Samuel W. popularity among this group of young men Pennypacker, noted in his autobiography, was great enough that, in the end, his father that, in 1875, Hamilton Disston was the relented and allowed him and 100 "Disston ward leader in the Twenty-ninth ward, and Volunteers" to serve their time. The father was assisted by William U. Moyer. He also went so far as to equip the entire unit. When makes it clear that anything that went on in the war ended in 1865, Hamilton returned to the ward, had to have Disston's approval,7 the firm and was created a partner in the Pennypacker which he claims he disliked. new business of Henry Disston & Son.4 Pennypecker describes his group's defeat at the hands of Disston and his allies when he Assisted by a protective tariff policy and a attempted to reform the precinct: growing demand for saws of all kinds, the years immediately following the war were "We hired a hall, notified every very prosperous for the firm. New lines of Republican, held a meeting which was products were introduced, including a new largely attended and selected a ticket. line of files developed during the war. For a time it looked as though we would According to a handbook from the company, succeed, but we failed at the last moment "During the War we were unable to obtain through the better discipline of our files which would give us satisfaction and opponents and the superior practical were compelled to manufacture our own. knowledge which comes with it. The We spent thousands of dollars in perfecting evening of the primary turned out to be our arrangements for manufacturing files."5 cold, and blasts of snow filled the air. Hamilton lost his social outlet when the The well-to-do citizens upon whom we volunteer fire department was discontinued relied sat at home by their fires in in 1870 and this led him into one of his first comfort. Their servants rode in ventures into politics. The prosperity of the carriages, hired by the more shrewd firm and the free time that this allowed the regulars, to the polls and voted against "partner" meant a change of roles, one us.”8 congenial with the growing need to market the company's new products and the move The future governor learned from his tactical error and soon was on the way to more Portrait of Hamilton Disston. Courtesy of University of South Florida Library Special Collections. personal successes. Meanwhile, having adventurous with his money and was an learned how to control the ward, Hamilton officer in the Keystone Chemical Company, shifted his efforts, somewhat, to the family - the Florida land ventures and a railroad created settlement of Tacony, where he trust/syndicate, capitalized at $20,000,000 in served innocuously as a Fairmount Park China. This last venture was in association Commissioner, while controlling the town with Wharton Barker, Samuel R. Shipley through his Magistrate (and real estate (President of the Provident Life and Trust agent) Tom South.9 Company), and others.13 It should also be pointed out that the Disston family owned Disston's interest in politics also made him much of the land in and around Tacony and friends on the national level. With an ability a substantial sum was earned over the years to help finance investment schemes as well from this investment. as political campaigns, Disston had the ears of some of Pennsylvania's most powerful As a manager of the Disston works upon and influential. Among those who readily Henry Disston's death in 1878, in his listened to and cooperated with Disston were fifty-ninth year, Hamilton had received Wharton Barker (once head of the Finance mixed approval and doubt. The firm's his- Company of Pennsylvania), Thomas Scott, tory, done by two members of the family Jr., the heir to the Pennsylvania Railroad and one other, states: "The general supervi- former president's fortune and later, a sion of the establishment now devolved on partner in some of Disston's Florida Hamilton Disston, who possessed the quick ventures, and, most importantly, Matt Quay, eye and sound judgment of his father. He, U. S. Senator and "Boss" of that body. together with his brothers, ... having served Through Quay, a high tariff man in his own full apprenticeships in the shops, and with right, Disston sought to keep the price of Albert H. devoting himself to the general imported steel and, later, sugar, high.10 He financial and office management, was com- shared with his father, a strong feeling of petent from a mechanical as well as a busi- getting things done, in politics as well as ness point of view to carry along the inten- business.