The Anchor Works (Sterling) are the outgrowth of a small shop run by Mr. A. B. Spies, situated first just back of the present National Bank building. He commenced business there in 1863, and did wagon work and repairing exclusively. In 1868 he commenced the manufacture of a walking corn plow, an invention of his own. The plow proved a success, and the business increased so rapidly that in 1871 he was obliged to leave that location, and erect a large building near the river. This building is thirty-two feet front, and three stories high, with everything so arranged as to do the greatest possible amount of work with the least expenditure of force. In 1872, Mr. Spies also invented and commenced the manufacture of a harrow, of which he sold one hundred in 1873; one hundred and sixty the next year, and the gain since then has been in an in­creased ratio. Besides these corn plows, and harrows, carriages, buggies, wag­ons, sleighs, etc., are made by the company in great numbers. The firm name is Spies, Zendt & Co., and is composed of A. B. Spies, Henry Zendt, and Justus Becker.

J. R Deyo (Sterling) makes the manufacture of an animal power churn, a specialty. These churns have attracted unversal attention, and the demand for them is very large.

The Empire Feed Mill Company (Sterling) was organized in 1870. The buildings of this Company are situated on the river bank on the opposite side of the race from the Sterling School Furniture Works and are large and conveniently arranged for all classes of work manufactured. They are built of limestone and are three stories high. The machine shop connected with the works is a wooden struc­ture next west of the main building, and is two stories high, with basement. The principal work of the Company is the manufacture of feed mills, and shel­lers, and the power attached. The feed mill, which was originally designed for shelling and grinding corn, was afterwards so constructed that it will grind other grain equally as well, and as now made is the most economical mill ever invented. The capacity of the double mill is from thirty to forty bushels per hour. The others are of various capacities according to their size. Three kinds of shellers are made, a one, and a two hole, besides one attached to the feed mills. These mills and shellers are sold all over the United States. Every class of job work, and repairs, both in wood and iron, is also largely carried on by the Com­pany. Lorenzo Hapgood is President, and Samuel C. Harvey, Secretary.

The Farmers Co-operative Manufacturing Company of Lyndon, was organized under the general law of the State of Illinois in 1873. In 1875 the Company commenced the erection of their building for manufacturing purposes and finished it in 1876. It is a brick structure, the main building being one hundred and sixty feet long and eighty feet wide two stories high with stone basement, and the addition eighty feet long and eighty feet wide, one story high with iron roof. The design of the Company is to manufacture all kinds of farming implements. The first President of the Company was L.C. Belding of Carroll county. At the second election, Ambrose Denton was chosen President; Alexander Wilson, Treasurer, and Charles H. Rood. Secretary. The present officers are Samuel J. Baird, President; John Whallon, Secretary, and W.C. Snyder, Treasurer. The building erected by the Company is admirably adapted for manufacturing purposes.

Huber Brother located at No. 9, West Third street, in Sterling, are manufacturers of all grades of cigars. George and Andrew Huber came to this city last spring (1896) and opened up their present place of business and are now making a large line of cigars, the most prominent of which is the Sterling and Club House, for five cents goods, and the Princess for ten cent goods. The young men have made many friends in this city and are enjoying an excellent business.

The Lyndon Hydraulic Manufacturing Company was organized in the spring of 1872, under the general manufacturing law of the State, with a capital of $60,000. The officers were: President, Justus Rew; Secretary, John Whallon; Directors, Justus Rew, George W. Fitch, George L. Coburn, George P. Richmond, Pardon A. Brooks, B.E. Orton, and John W. Hazard. The Company erected a dam during the same year across Rock River at the head of the rapids a little north of the village of Lyndon. The dam is seven feet high and eleven hundred and eighty feet long, giving a head of eight feet, and securing a power of thirty thousand inches of water and cost $30,000. The Company also erected a Merchant Flouring Mill the same year, with five run of stones. The mill is 45 by 50 feet in size, three stories in height above the basement, and is known as the Lyndon Mill. It cost $35,000. The mill was afterwards transferred to Church & Patterson, with use of sufficient water power, and by the latter gentlemen to L.P. Johnson

The Paper Manufacturing Mill (Lyndon) is situated near the Flouring Mill, and was built in 1873, by the Orton Bros. at a cost of $12,000. In 1875 it was transferred to Johnson & Hubbard who furnished the water wheels and all the machinery at an additional cost of $21,000. The building is one hundred and sixty feet long and 50 feet wide, and two stories high above the basement. In addition to the main building is the boiler house, sixteen feet long and 24 wide, constructed of brick, with stone basement. The mill uses two thousand inches of water, and manufactures two tons of straw wrapping paper per day.

William W. Perkins & Co., (Sterling) manufacture the Perkins’ improved fire proof iron door and shutter, refrigerators, etc., and A. F. Spooner makes an improved baby jumper.

The Sterling Burial Case Company was organized in 1873, with a capital of $40,000, the works occupying an area of thirty-eight thousand two hundred and forty feet, at Nos. 413 to 423 inclusive, on Third street. The company manu­facture coffins, caskets, and burial cases, the business amounting to one hun­dred thousand dollars annually.

The Sterling Distillery was started in 1864 by the late John S. Miller, and is the second largest distillery in the United States. The buildings consist Of the distillery proper, malt house, bonded warehouse, cooper shops, Corn bins, and cattle sheds, and an office in a central position, and are all situated on the bank of the river just east of the Fair Grounds. The cattle sheds are of sufficient in size to feed two thousand head, and that number is fattened by the proprietors each year. The buildings cover over five acres of ground. The capital employed in the business is three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Two thousand bushels of grain are used each day, making an aggregate of six hundred and forty thousand bushels annually. All of this grains ground previous being used. Eight thousand five hundred gallons of alcohol are made daily, aggregating about three million gallons yearly, upon which a government tax of over five thousand dollars is paid per day, making the sum annually the United States Revenue Department nearly two million dollars. One Hundred and seventeen men are employed in and around the distillery, to whom an aggragate sum of six thousand dollars are paid weekly, making an annual outlay to the operatives of three hundred and twelve thousand dollars, nearly all of which is placed in circulation in Sterling. The alcohol made is shipped primarily to Europe, and South America. Shipments are made directly to Genoa, in Italy, Geneva, Switzerland, and Constantinople, Turkey, in Europe, and to Buenos Ayres, Brazil, and other ports in South America. The price paid for the grain used at this distillery is nearly always somewhat in advance of that paid by other parties, and hence furnishes not only a sure, but good market for the farmer. The requisite number of United States officials are engaged here. John S. and William A. Miller, are the present proprietors.

The Sterling Manufacturing Company use steam for their motive power. The business now carried on by them, was in part commenced as early as 1855, but the company was not incorporated until 1870. The capital stock is $30,000, and it is the oldest manufacturing establishment in the city. The company manufacture sash, doors, blinds, church seats, butter tubs and boxes, stair rails, newel posts, harrows, clothes line rods, and sell hard and soft wood lumber by the car load, or in smaller quantities. They turn out about twenty-five hun­dred butter tubs in a week, and seven hundred harrows in a year. They also do scroll sawing, and planing, having improved machinery of the best designs, and engage extensively as builders and contractors. The present officers are: John D. Tracy, President and Treasurer; and James F. Platt, Vice President and Superintendent. Besides these gentlemen there are experienced and well-edu­ecated mechanics in every department.

The Sterling Mineral Paint Company was established in 1871. Sidney T. Osmer, Charles M. Worthington, and John A. Ladd, being the principal incorporators. The works of the compiny are located on the river at the foot of Mulberry Street. The main building is four stories high, each story being over eighty foot deep. The mineral is obtained from a bed on the farm of Grove Wright, in Coloma township. although a stratum underlies the country in and around Sterling and Rock Falls. Joel Harvey found one several feet thick while diggiug his artesian well in Sterling. The mineral is dug out in the sum­mer and thrown upon the ground, where it is partially dried. In the winter it is brought over the river to the works, and placed in large heaps, where the action of the frost breaks up the large lumps. It is then taken to the dry house, from thence passes through the several processes, until the paint is ready for the market The color of the paint as it comes from the mill is a dark brown and for some time this was the only color made. The company manufacture a red paint in addition, which retains all the painting qualities of the brown. The advantage of this paint over the other so-called mineral paints, is that the latter are merely dirt or clay paints, while this is mineral. The analy­sis of Prof. Mariner, of Chicago, shows that it contains a large percentage of peroxide of iron, which gives it color, body, and durability. Nearly all the railroad ­ companies now use it to paint their freight cars, shops, and depots, and it is extensively used for general painting throughout the country, being sold as far east as New York, and to the west as far as the Pacific States. It bears heat better than any other known paint. The present officers of the company are: Sidney T. Osnier, President and Superintendent; and J. P. Penrose, Secre­tary- Treasurer.

The Sterling Pump Works are situated on the water power, and originated from a private enterprise of Mr. M. C. Bowers, who commenced making pumps for the retail trade in Sterling, in 1863. In 1871 a stock company was organ­ized, with a capital of $50,000, the following gentlemen being the first officers: Aaron J. Hull, founder of the Sterling School Furniture Company, President and Treasurer; and M. C. Bowers, Secretary. Immediately after the organiza­tion of this company, the manufacture of pumps for the wholesale trade was commenced, the retail trade being also kept up. During the first year of the company’s existence sixteen hundred pumps were sold, but so rapidly did the trade increase that over seven thousand were sold in 1877. The company has improved their pumps from time to time until they are recognized as the best. The sales extend principally through the Northwestern and Western States. The company also manufacture Hull’s Patent Double Surface Washboard to a large extent over five hundred being made a day, and yet this number no more than fills their orders. The manufacture of these wash-boards commenced two years ago. They are shipped to all the Western States and Territories, and Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Indiana. The present officers of the company are: Aaron J. Hull, President; William A. McCune, Secretary and and, Treasurer, and William McCune, Superintendent.

The present Sterling School Furniture Company was organized as a stock eompany, April 3, 1869, by virtue of an act of the General Assembly of the State, granted the March previous. The Company was then knowii as the Novelty Iron Works Manufacturing Company. The first buildings were erected, and the land and water power purchased by A. J. Hull and F. T. June, in the summer of 1868, their object being to make sewing machines, and other castings. Their attention was drawn to the feasibility of manufacturing school furniture, by making some castings for that kind of furniture for a Chicago firm, and the re­sult was the placing of the “Sterling Seat” upon the market. The seat at once became popular, and very soon the factory was over-run with work, necessitating more land, buildings, and capital. These were secured, and A. J. Hull elected President of the Company; F. T. June, Secretary, and A. J. Hull, F. T. June, Charles H. Presbrey, W. A. Sanborn, and Edward Thomas, Directors. The capital stock was then $16,000. In 1871 this was increased to $50,000, and upon the resignation of Mr. Hull as President, F. T. June was elected in his place, and A.A. Terrell, Secretary and Treasurer. In 1873, the name of the Company was changed to the Sterling School Furniture Company, so as to better represent the business. The capital stock was also increased to $100,000, at amount it still continues, with a large amount of surplus fund. In the spring of 1873, Mr. June severed his connection with the Company, and W. L. Patterson, who had become a large stockholder, was elected President. In 1874 the company made the Secretary the General Manager of the works, and busi­ness, and since that time A. A. Terrell has had full charge of both. The present officers are: H. G. Harper, President; and A. A. Terrell, Secretary and General Manager. The buildings and land of the Company are located on the north bank of the river, are convenient to the depots of the Northwestern Railroad, and cover over thirty-five thousand square feet of ground. The goods manu­factured consist of school, church, office, and lodge furniture, porcelain work of all kinds, stove pipe registers, pump cylinders, stove reservoirs, gray enameled ware and small castings of every description. The material purchased by this company is the best that can be obtained, and is thoroughly prepared before being used. The work in every department is done by skillful and experienced hsnds, and when once turned out is unequalled for strength, durability, and beauty of finish. The reputation of the Sterling School Furniture Company is already National, and the amount of manufactured articles turned out by them simply immense. They have a branch house at Albany, New York, and one at San Francisco, California, where their goods are kept.

Todd’s Factory manufactures (Sterling) pruning shears, and hedge trimmers. It was started a number of years ago in the frame building erected in 1856 for a planing mill by some parties from Cincinnati. This business did not prove a success, and the building was afterwards used for different purposes until it fell into the hands of Mr. Todd. The pruning shears, and hedge trimmers, ~rc of excellent design and make, and their manufacture now one of the well estab­lished industries of Sterling.

The Victoria Flouring Mill, (Lyndon) on the same water power, was built in 1873 by Hoole & Putnam. It is a two and a half story frame building, fifty feet long and forty feet wide, with stone basenaent, and cost $18,000. The mill uses one thousand inches of water under a head of eight feet. supplied by the Lyndon Hydraulic Companv and manufactures seventy-five barrels of flour, and six hundred bushels of feed per day. In 1875 Mr. Putnam sold his interest to Alexander Wilson, and the mill is owned and conducted by the firm of Hoole & Wilson

The Williams & Orton Manufacturing Company (Sterling) was organized in June 1871, with a capital stock of $100,000. The basis of the organization were the foundry and machine shops of Williams & Orton, which were situated where the present manufactory stands. At the organization of the Company Mr. Williams was elected President, and Mr. Orton, Secretary. Present officers John Charter, President and Treasurer, and G. M.Robinson, Sec’y. The buildings of the Company are situated on the water power, and are four in number. The main building, which is the largest used for manufucturing purposes on the Sterling side of the river, is 60 by 150 feet in size, and three stories high; the second building is 30 by 50 feet, and one story high; the third is 40 by 150 feet in size, and also one story high, and the fourth, 40 by 50 feet in size, and two stories high. The articles manufactured are, mill machinery, and general machinists goods. The manufacture of these is very heavy, and the goods are sold all over the country, giving the utmost satisfaction. The Company is also preparing to make the celebrated Williams’ Reaper and Mower, and will have them in the market next season (1878). These machines are the invention of Dyer Wil­liams, and for the past ten years have been manufactured at Syracuse, New York. They are extensively used in that State, and cannot fail of becoming so here now that the mnanufactory will be in the West. The Company have a large frontage on the river, and sufficient water power to more than double their capacity for manufacturing purposes.

Immediately upon the finishing of the dam and race in 1853, Messrs. Joshua V. and William McKinney built the stone mill, (Sterling) it being the first erected on the water power for the manufacture of flour. It is now owned by Church & Patterson, and makes two hundred barrels of flour per day. A little later Lukens & Bye built the one now run by U. T. Elliott, and known as the Com­mercial Mills, which also manufactures two hundred barrels of flour per day. The Pacific Mills were afterwards erected, and make one hundred and fifty barrels of flour per day; Dillon & Bowers, the proprietors, also do custom work, and grind feed, the mills being the only ones at which custom work is done in Sterling.

Source: Bent & Wilson History of Sterling