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A. H. Mickle & Sons
| Name | A. H. Mickle & Sons |
| Ortssitz | New York City |
| Art des Unternehmens | Tabakfabrik |
| Quellenangaben | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 514] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1776 |
George Benjamin Miller kommt nach New York von Philadelphia, seinem Geburtsort, und beginnt die Herstellung von Kau- und Schnupftabak in der Water Street 110. |
| 1790 |
Tod von George Benjamin Miller. Er hinterläßt seine Frau und einen Sohn. Nach seinem Tod übernimmt diese die Firmenleitung |
| 1790 |
Produktionsaufnahme von Marken wie "Fine Cut chewing" und "Smoking Tobacco" |
| 1835 |
Zerstörung der Fabrik beim großen Brand |
| 1848 |
Tod von Mrs. Miller |
| 1848 |
Nach dem Tod von Mrs. Miller wird die Firma "A. H. Mickle" als Nachfolger von "Mrs. G. B. Miller & Co." und firmiert anschließend als "A. H. Mickle & Sons. - Unter dieser Firma um 1866 unter Leitung von William E. Lawrence, dem Schwiegersohn, und George Benjamin Mickle. |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Tabak |
1868 |
[Bishop: Hist. of Amer. manuf. I (1868)] |
1868 |
[Bishop: Hist. of Amer. manuf. I (1868)] |
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| ZEIT | 1868 |
| THEMA | Firmenbeschreibung |
| TEXT | Successors to Mrs. G. B. Miller, who achieved the distinction, rare for a woman, of identifying her name with an article that is now a commercial staple, and whose influence is still felt in a trade that is now not only a source of vast individual wealth, but of national revenue. In the year 1776, George Benjamin Miller came to the city of New York from Philadelphia, the place of his birth, and commenced the manufacture of Plug Tobacco and Snuff at No. 110 Water street, near Wall. He had two brothers who entered the army of the Revolution under Washington, one of whom fell at the battle of Trenton, the other, after, the war, was for a time associated with George Benjamin Miller in business. About the year 1790, George Benjamin Miller died, leaving a wife and one son, the latter inheriting his father's name. On the death of her husband, Mrs. Miller assumed the management; commencing at the same time the manufacture of those brands of Fine Cut chewing and smoking Tobacco, which have made the establishment so famous, and so continued under her own name until her second marriage, when, her son being of age, the business was conducted in his name, Mrs. Miller retaining her interest and control as before. The second G. B. Miller married Miss Rachel Navaro, whom, at an early age, he left a widow with one daughter, Miss Caroline Augusta Miller, afterwards the wife of Mr. A. H. Mickle, late Mayor of New York. Mr. Mickle having become interested in the business, the firm name became Mrs. G. B. Miller & Co., and so continued until the death of Mrs. Miller, which happened in 1848, when it was changed to A. H. Mickle, successor to Mrs. G. B. Miller & Co., and subsequently to A. H. Mickle & Sons, under which style the business is now conducted by William E. Lawrence, son-in-law, and George Benjamin Mickle, who is now the sole representative of the family, and son of Mr. A. H. Mickle. As will be seen by the genealogy here given, the founder of this house was singularly fortunate in her family connections; her successors being near relations, and all trained under her immediate supervision, and to this fact, as well as to the fidelity with which they have uniformly followed her practice and precepts, the perpetuity for such a length of time and the unparalelled success of the establishment are in some degree attributable. Though not the originator of Fine Cut Chewing Tobacco, Mrs. Miller was one of the first to adopt the new discovery, and but for the improvements introduced by her in the mode of manufacture and the quality of the material employed, it is a question if, with the opposition which the innovation encountered, it would ever have become popular. When Mrs. Miller commenced the manufacture of Fine Cut, there were not more than six persons in the country engaged in the same business, and those that were so engaged, made only an inferior article. The Tobacco manufacture of that day consisted, with these few exceptions, of the most ordinary specimens of Plug Tobacco, the various brands bearing titles as ordinary as the material of which they were composed, and she was obliged to contend not only with the difficulties usually incident to the development of a new art, such as imperfect knowledge, poor machinery, want of experience, and public prejudice, but also with numerous and wealthy competitors in the other branch of the trade. Talent and energy, however, enabled her to overcome all opposition, and so popular did her productions in a short time become, that for several years she had the field almost exclusively to herself. Her success gradually attracted the attention of others to the same pursuit, the number of which has been constantly increasing, and now Fine Cut Tobacco is one of the most important manufacturing interests in the United States. Being a woman of remarkable social, as well as business qualifications, 110 Water street early became a resort of the most distinguished politicians and literary gentlemen of the period. From the old Tontine Coffee House, where the celebrities of the day were accustomed to assemble, and which was located on the northwest corner of Wall and Water streets, to Mrs. Miller's counting room was but a few steps, and thither, it was customary for the chosen ones to repair daily to procure their supplies of Snuif and Tobacco, and discuss politics and public topics generally. Here might have been found, at almost any time, when not engaged in their regular duties, such men as John Lang, editor of the old New York Gazette, whose office was on the south-east corner of Wall and Water streets, since occupied for so many years by the Journal of Commerce newspaper, the Maxwells, Whitneys, Wickoffs, Suydams, Irelands, and a host of other prominent old Knickerbockers. It was on an occasion, when several of these gentlemen were assembled, that one of the many brands of Snuff, for which this establishment is celebrated, received its appellation. A customer entered and asked for some "Irish Blackguard" - a kind of Snuff then, and now, extensively used by some classes; whereupon, Mr. Lang inquired of Mrs. Miller, why she did not have a distinctive name for the Snuff used by the party present, to which Mrs. Miller replied, "I will," and instantly gave it the name of the "American Gentleman", by which name it has been known from that day to this. The great fire of 1835, which destroyed so many memorable places, also reduced this one to ashes; but it was immediately rebuilt, and with greater capacity and more completeness of detail than before. It would be an interesting exhibit to show the total transactions of this house between the years 1836 and 1860, during which time the business reached its maximum, but to present such exhibit, would demand more space than the nature of this article will allow; it will, therefore, be sufficient to state that, they far exceed those of any similar house in the world. There is scarcely an individual in the United States acquainted with manufactured Tobacco, who is not familiar with the blue packages, which originated in and have been continuously prepared by this house, and it will hardly be deemed an exaggeration to assert, that very few who have become accustomed to their contents, have ever relinquished them for the purpose of obtaining something superior. The patronage of the house has been regular and continuous. Throughout its entire career, it has been distinguished for the purity and excellence of its production, and in no instance have her successors more rigidly adhered to the aim of the founder than in reference to these particulars. An article of Chewing Tobacco made of the very best material and wholly free from adulterations of every kind was what she relied upon for success at the outset, and although introducing many new and desirable brands since her time, her successors have never in the slightest degree deviated from this principle. Neither sweetening nor other foreign substances are or ever have been used in the manufacture of the leading brands of Chewing Tobacco in this establishment. The present senior partner, Mr. William E. Lawrence, is one of the most prominent and popular members of the trade. He is the President of the Tobacconists' National Association, and is distinguished both in public and in private life. The operations in manufacturing Fine Cut Chewing Tobacco are interesting, though simple - but a few hours being required to transmit the crude material into the finished article - and with some slight exceptions are alike in all the factories. To describe them, we shall selec' the |
| QUELLE | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 3 (1868) 514] |
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