History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

ITS ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 93
present time. They now make about increased his business only as his earn800 vehicles per year. Their work is ings would justify it. Mr. Kessberger is
chiefly on road wagons, but they make a the inventor and patentee of what is
considerable number of carriages and called the Iron Clad Pipe Axle. It is a
buggies, They give employment to combination of wrought iron pipe, with
twenty-five hands, and their annual sales cast iron skeins or axles arms, with wood
amount to about $75,000. filling, and has a truss rod beneath, for
Their business is now growing faster making the axle more firm. The patent
than at any previous era of this history. includes an attachment for a ring bolt,
In order to meet the demands of the trade, without making a hole through the axle
they are erecting a mammoth store house, and bolster, thus retaining all the strength
for sales rooms. at the corner of Adams at every point. This axle is undoubtedly
and Eighth street, one square south of a valuable invention, and wagon manutheir factory. facturers elsewhere would do well to consuit Mr. Kessberger, who has rights for
ary 1, 1868, the manufacture of carriages, the use of the patent for sale, either for
buggies and spring wagons. They em- shops, counties or States.
ploy from ten to twenty men. Manufac- Mr. K. has recently formed a partnerture all the time, and do repairing when ship with several of his workmen, and
called for. They use none but the best the style of the firm is A. Kessberger &
of materials, and employ the best work- Co. Thirteen men find employment here,
men to be obtained in the country. Bus- and manufacture about 200 wagons aniness amounts to from $15,000 to $20,000.
annually. Messrs. McDonald & Bro. are ALLEN MILLER has been about fourboth young and energetic, and bid fair teen years making carriages and wagons
to build up a fine business. in Springfield. His principal business is
WITHEY BROTHERS, three in number, building fine buggies and carriages, and
commenced business in Springfield in doing general repairing. He works from
six to ten men. 6hops on Monroe street
1854, and, by industry and perseverance, six to ten men. hops on Monroe street
have built up a fine trade. After six near the city hall.
years incessant labor their shops were JACOB DIVELBISS commenced making
almost totally destroyed by a hurricane, wagons in Springfield in the year 1837,
August 6, 1860. They immediately re- and continued in business until 1868,
built, and on the 19th of April, 1861,
their factory was swept away by fire. Hdge. In February, 170, Mr. Beard
With undaunted courage they have toiled
on, and now have a fine establishment, MR. JACOB HODGE is now the sole pro
giving employment to about twenty-five prietor, and he works an average of six
men. They make principally fine car- hands, making lumber wagons, spring
riages and buggies, and some lumber wagons, and does general repairing.
wagons. Their sales average from $50,- This establishment has, for thirty-four
000 to $60,000, annually. years, sustained its reputation for good
MYERS 6& TALBOTT make Pome new work, and it is not likely to degenerate
* * *sin the hands of the present proprietor.
work, and do a general repairing business.
Employ seven men, and do a business of Shops on North Eighth street.
about $12,000 annually. FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS.
MnE. AUGUST KESSBERGER commenced The -FTNA FOUNDRY, and Machine
building wagons in Springfield in the Shops, were established by Lowry, Lamb,
year 1661. He was without capital, and & Co. in 1848. The present shops were
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