FROM WATERWHEELS TO PAPER MACHINES

"O. F. Merrill Company"  to "Beloit  Corporation"  (1858 to  2000)

In 142 years Beloit produced 927 paper machines worldwide. To this date, 6 years after its' closing,  Beloit still retains the record for number of paper machines produced by a single company. 

Click any image to see an enlarged view.

Origns of an industry giant:

O. F. Merrill Company organized in 1858  It was a  machine shop that made small patterns and spare parts for his brothers paper mill operating on the Rock River.  Shortly afterwards, it became Merrill and Houston Iron Works with George Houston  as a partner. The principal product in that day was the famous water wheel to harness water power that was perfected by George Houston. George Houston became  a partner in The Merrill and Houston iron Works. 

These images are photos of mill ruins taken during the Civil War in Richmond Virgina. Due to the coincidence of the dates and era, the water wheel may be a "Houston" wheel. George Houston furnished a most popular water wheel before the Civil War.  It is doubtful  the dryer section is a Merrill Houston machine.  Merrill Houston first paper machine was not until 1862.

A short time later J. B. Merrill ,  S.T.  Merrill and C. F. G. Collins became associated with the company. From making occasional spare parts for S. T. Merrill's paper  machine, the company broadened their interest to making spare parts for other mills to building a paper machine themselves. It worked! That first paper machine built in 1862 was a 48" cylinder machine for Iowa Manufacturing Company. Then came the panic of 1873. Industries and businesses collapsed. Merrill and Houston was hit hard. !n 1882 Merrill and Houston iron Works went into receivership. (Click here to  view a list of paper machines built by Merrill & Houston Iron Works from 1862 to 1887).

January 7, 1885 The Beloit Free Press reported:

Pursuant to an order of the court, the Merrill and Houston Company Iron Works were sold Wednesday at auction for the benefit of the creditors. That portion of the plant known as the "Parker and Stone" part was bid by C. D. Besley of Chicago for $ 10, 800, the amount covering a mortgage held by said property by the purchaser.

The highest bid for the remainder of the plant, including all real and personal property, was $ 20,000  made by J. D. Rexford of Janesville, in behalf of all creditors. The court reserved the right to reject or accept the bids and the decision will be made  and known on Saturday. 

It is understood that nearly two thirds of the amount of the liabilities are represented in the pool and that all creditors will be permitted to share alike in the final settlement of the property. If the court accepts the bids, it is thought that a new company will be immediately thereafter organized, and the Iron Works kept  running.  March 9, 1885 Richard J. Burdge, assignee of Merrill and Houston Ironworks, sold and transferred its property to John D. Rexford, Janesville, Wisconsin. The land parcels were described as Lots 1-2-7-8-9-13-14Tenney's addition. Lots 42-57 Hackett's addition, including what was known as the Island Property. July 21, 1885

The Beloit Iron Works was organized and created under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, July 28, 1885.  Agreement entered into between J. D. Rexford, president of Merrill and Houston Iron Works and the Beloit Iron Works for leasing of the farmer's property for a period of two years. This property being described as Lots 1-2-7-9, Tenney's addition and Lots 42-57-234, Hackett's addition, and comprising all property purchased by J. D. Rexford on January 7 at public auction, excepting lots 13-14, Tenney's addition. August 12, 1885 Articles of incorporation filed for Beloit Iron Works. September 7, 1885. James W. Veness, organization vice president, hailed from Rockton, Illinois where he had held political office as Justice of Peace and Conveyancer. 

Personnel: Beloit Iron Works Officers:

 

President: Mr. Fred Messer
Vice President:  Mr. J. W. Veness 
Secretary Mr. Alonzo Aldrich 
Treasurer Mr. Win. H. Grinnell 
Superintendent Mr. Noble J. Ross 

Employees:

The newly organized company had fifteen employees on the payroll and manufactured $20,000 worth of equipment its first year after the plant had laid idle for nearly a year.  By October 1886,  Beloit iron Works had sufficient orders on hand to maintain a work force of 48 people.

 

Beloit was well on it's way to producing 927 paper machine throughout the world.! 
Click here to view a comprehensive list of paper machines built by Beloit from 1862 to 2000