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Thomas Smull
| Name | Thomas Smull |
| Ortssitz | New York City |
| Art des Unternehmens | Lederfabrik |
| Anmerkungen | - |
| Quellenangaben | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 1 (1868) 683] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1806 |
Geburt von Thomas Smull in Whitehall, Pennsylvania |
| 1834 |
Zusammenschluß von Thomas Smull mit William Miles, welche die Firma "Thomas Smull & Co." errichten, welche mit Calcutta-Häuten handelt. |
| 1848 |
Smull kommt in Verbindung mit Jonathan Thorne, der $50.000 in das Geschäftskapital als besonderer Partner einbringt, ein Verbindung, die nach dem Eintritt von Aaron Healy andauert. |
| 1855 |
Smull errichtet in White Haven, Pennsylvania, eine Gerberei, die $60.000 kostet. |
| 1856 |
Errichtung der Firma "Thomas Smull & Sons" |
| 1865 |
Smull scheidet aus dem aktiven Geschäft aus und behält einen Anteil als spezieller Partner in der nunmehrigen Firma "T. L. & C. G. Smull". |
| 28.11.1866 |
Tod von Smull |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Leder |
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 | Another citizen of New York who attained a most distinguished position in the leather trade, was born at Whitehall, Pennsylvania, in 1806. When he was twenty-one years of age, he left his native state and went to the city of New York, and after a clerkship of two years, commenced business on his own account in association with Andrew Eobb, as tanners and finishers of calf skins, and dealers in sole and upper leather. This partnership continued but a couple of years and was not prosperous. In 1834 he associated with him William Miles, establishing the firm of Thomas Smull & Co., who did a large business in Calcutta hides, and sold largely of an article of traffic, now obsolete, known as seal-skins, to be used in covering trunks. About this time also he became acquainted with Nathaniel Oilman, of Waterville, Me., a wealthy merchant engaged in importing hides from Africa, who was so much pleased with Mr. Smull's manner of doing business, that he. entrusted him with whole cargoes to sell, with power to employ the proceeds in investments at his discretion for joint account. The relationship thus formed, subsequently led to a copartnership under the firm style of Gilman, Smull & Co., and their experience and large resources enabled them at once to attain a leading position among the hide and leather merchants of New York. This association continued until 1848, when Mr. Smull became connected with Jonathan Thorne, who contributed fifty thousand dollars to the capital stock as special partner, a relation that continued after the admission of Aaron Healy, and until 1856, when the firm of Thomas Smull & Sons, was established. The firm style was continued with some change of members until 1865, when Mr. Smull retired from active business, retaining however an interest as special partner in the present firm of T. L. & C. G. Smull, until his death, November, 28th, 1866. At the time of his decease it was said that among the many prominent men in the leather trade in New York, there was no one whose death would create a greater void. Genial, public-spirited, liberal, progressive, he constituted a most valuable member of the commercial and social circles, and it will be long years before his active form and pleasant countenance shall have passed away from the memories of the members of the leather trade, or the visitors of the "Swamp." Mr. Smull took the most lively interest in all the improvements and inventions appertaining to leather production, and was a contributor of excellent articles to the trade journals on the subject of tanning. In 1855 he erected, at White Haven, Pennsylvania, a tannery that cost sixty thousand dollars, with a view of making it a model establishment for the production of the best kind of sole leather. As a business man, Mr. Smull was remarkable for sagacity and commercial ability, combining boldness with caution. For many years he gave a Inrge share of his time and influence to the aid of various public institutions. He was for a long period Vice President and President of the old Mechanic Institute. He was also one of the incorporators and directors of the Metropolitan Bank of New York, and director in the Continental Fire Insurance Co., New York Life Insurance Co., the Clinton Fire Insurance Co., and the First National Bank of Sing Sing. He was also one of the originators of the six-penny Savings Bank, located in Clinton Hall, which it is said was the first bank organized to receive deposits of small sums. After his decease the various associations with which he had been connected passed resolutions of the most commendatory character, that constitute a priceless family record. It was said of him that he was naturally kind and grateful, and often assisted old friends and acquaintances who had been unfortunate. His former employer, having later in life become in straitened circumstances, received many substantial tokens of his kindness. Another fine trait in his character was a disposition to assist worthy young men. He spent a portion of the night previous to his death in making arrangements to assist, with his influence and capital a young man, who wished to engage in the leather business. Mr. Healy, who for fifteen years had been connected with him as clerk and partner, testified: "As an employer I always found him generous, confiding and liberal; he made my situation a pleasant and comfortable one. As a partner, being my senior, he treated me with respect and consideration. I cannot recollect an instance when he asserted his opinion, as he had a right to do, in opposition to my own. He never asked me to do any thing which was not strictly just, and which I did not think it right to do; and I may add, that during my whole knowledge of his business career I never knew him to do any act which was not right, both in a business and moral point of view. "I found him, as a business man, shrewd, energetic, cautious, and very upright and honorable; not over anxious to make money, but careful to keep what he had rather than run much risk to make more. He often said he had no desire to accumulate a great fortune. No differences arose between us, and when we came to dissolve our business relations he remarked 'we have been friends so long in business we will separate friends; our dissolution shall be satisfactory. And so it was. Another who had known him intimately for thirty-five years, and who had been his partner, remarked that he had a great tact "for drawing around him those who had certain talents which he might not possess; if one was a superior salesman, another a good judge of stock or possessed of financial ability, he was quick to notice and avail himself of such talents," while the pastor of the St. Paul's Episcopal church at Sing Sing, bore witness to his high moral character, and observed - "upright in his aims, direct and open in his measures, he always inspired confidence. I certainly never found that confidence misplaced. He endeavored to satisfy himself respecting the truth arid right; and when Thomas Smull had once taken his stand on honest conviction, he stood regardless of all other influences. He was a very kind man; earnest but pacific in his disposition; silent and unostentatious, but generous in his aid for an object which commended itself to his judgment." |
| QUELLE | [Bishop: History of American manufacturers 1 (1868) 683] |
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