Untitled Document

MOLINE WAGON COMPANY.

The Moline Wagon Company had its origin in a humble and unpretentious way. In 1854 James First opened a shop in the upper part of the city and engaged in the manufacture and repair of wagons. For 15 years he continued alone, when a partnership was formed with Morris Rosenfield and Chas. A. Benser, under the firm name of First, Rosenfield & Co., and the new firm moved to the present location, on Third Avenue, where they erected a building two stories in height, with basement. Fifty hands were at first employed, and the business steadily increased. In 1871 a stock company was formed and incorporated under the general laws of the State, under the name of the Moline Wagon Company, with Morris Rosenfield , president, and Chas. A. Benser, secretary.

Since then it has had an unparalleled growth, and has been under the presidency and general management of Morris Rosen- field, who has proven by his laborious career, enterprise, shrewdness and determination to produce the best in the market, a valuable executive chief officer, and erected an establishment of which he may justly be proud. During the past 13 years, although depression in business has afflicted the country more than half that time, the institution has continued to thrive and extend its trade in the midst of this drawback and the keenest competition until 1885 finds it one of the very largest farm and spring wagon factories of the country.

Its capital stock is $600,000, and its business approaches $1,000,000 a year. In shops, which are of brick and mostly four stories high, store-rooms, lumber sheds, etc., over 1,000 feet frontage on the main avenue of the city is employed, with a depth of 450 feet to the river. The whole establishment presents a mammoth and magnificent appearance, by which all persons coming to Moline on the cars or otherwise cannot avoid being attracted. Between 300 and 400 here find employment, and the number of vehicles produced daily, when in full running order, number 100.

These consist of truck and spring wagons, which find ready sale amidst keen competition in the territory between Ohio on the east, to the Pacific coast on the west, and from Manitoba on the north to Texas on the south. The company has branch and distributing houses in different parts of the country, including Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Fort Worth, Salt Lake City and Winnepeg. Mr. Rosenfield is President and General Manager; R. H. Wilson, Secretary.

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