YorksPast

Part of the USA Today Network

S. Morgan Smith Company; the Begats

Timeline Chart originating with S. Morgan Smith Company (S. H. Smith, 2014)
Timeline Chart originating with S. Morgan Smith Company (S. H. Smith, 2014)

This timeline chart shows how S. Morgan Smith Company begat four current York County Companies.  The question mark is when S. Morgan Smith Company was established.

I have seen or been told 1871, 1873, 1874, 1876 or 1877 as the year the company was established.  Company histories on the web sites of the begats do not agree; they use either 1876 or 1877 for the year S. Morgan Smith was established.

On the earliest 1870s years, I think some people overlooked the fact that the first product that S. M. Smith manufactured was his patented washing machine; they simply recalled he began his manufacturing career in the early 1870s, with which they inferred an earlier year when he established his company.  In early 1870s ads he asked people to address Success Washing Machine orders to S. M. Smith, York, Pa.  In late 1870s ads he asked people to address Success Turbine Water Wheel orders to S. M. Smith, York, Pa.

I believe that a good case can be made for either 1876 or 1877 as the year S. M. Smith established his company.  I’ll follow up with two posts.  As for now the best background related to the S. Morgan Smith Company can be found in these posts:

Reading the Headlines: A Quick Index to All YorksPast Posts