Feature Article on Philip Smith.
Topic: PEOPLE & INDUSTRY
Written by Rich Wallace in April,
1996
EARLY INDUSTRIALIST HELPED TRANSFORM SIDNEY |
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| In 1859, just prior to the start of the Civil War, Sidney was a sleepy little
village. Small, family-sized businesses were the order of the day. All of that was about
to change with the arrival of Philip Smith. He was to become the first of a series of
great industrialists that would transform Sidney's character forever.Born in Pennsylvania, Smith moved to Dayton as a youngster and learned the
molder's trade with the firm of Thompson, McGregor and Callahan. At the age of 21 he left
his family in Dayton and moved to Sidney. After working for a short time for the Haslup
family, he started his own foundry business with a grand total of $25 in capital.. A short
time later his brother, Michael, moved to Sidney. Together, they formed a partnership
known as P. Smith & Bro.
In the early years, Smith took on whatever foundry work was available. In the first of what was to be many business sidelines, he developed a spoke works, where Philip and Michael manufactured wagon wheel spokes and other metal wagon parts. Soon the Smith brothers began casting bells in their small foundry. After some early success, disaster struck. A devastating fire destroyed the foundry in the 1860's. With no insurance, the men struggled to rebuild. In an article that appeared some years later, the editor of the Sidney Journal recalled: "Undaunted by their severe loss and adversity, they again girded on the armor to fight the battles of the world. The result shows what can be accomplished by indomitable perseverance and untiring energy." |
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