My Genealogy Hound

JOHN H. FLAGLER, ESQ. Among the originators and foremost leaders of the various vast industries of this country, no one occupies a more prominent position than the subject of this brief sketch, and Pennsylvania is especially proud in having had his energies more particularly devoted to her welfare in the iron-manufacturing business. Mr. Flagler was born at Cold Spring, N. Y., which is on the Hudson river opposite West Point, in 1836. The famous West Point Foundry and Machine-shops are located at Cold Spring, and were in those days the largest in this country. It was a question as to whether Mr. Flagler should be schooled for West Point or take an engineering course; his natural tastes favored the latter. He was therefore sent to the Patterson (N. Y.) Academy, where he graduated. He then was taken into the iron business with his uncles, Messrs. John & James H. Haldane, who owned and operated the Greenwich Iron-works of Connecticut. After gaining practical knowledge there, he was taken to their extensive iron-stores in New York city, where he remained for a period of years. He was then sent to Europe by the firm, for the purpose of studying the detailed methods of iron-tube making as pursued there, for the purpose of introducing the foreign system in this country; there being but two concerns in the United States then manufacturing pipe and tubes, large quantities being brought from abroad, of which the firm of Messrs. John & James H. Haldane were the largest importers. In 1860 Mr. Flagler was given the Boston branch of this iron firm as his interest, and in 1862, when the war broke out, his knowledge of the question of heavy armor-plates for our monitor service, and his experience and ability in iron matters, enabled him to obtain the iron contracts for the New England waters; a portion of the iron which came under his direction was also furnished to the Monitor which fought the Merrimac. In 1867 Mr. Flagler conceived the idea of making pipe and tubes in this country, on his own account, by improved processes over those used in Europe, and he consequently built his wrought-iron pipe and tube works, operating it under the firm name of J. H. Flagler & Co., afterward merging it into that of the National Tube-works company at East Boston, Mass. The National Tube-works company was, therefore, incorporated in 1869. In that year 125 men were employed at the East Boston works. In 1872 he went to McKeesport, Pa., and built additional works for the company, where today 5,800 men are employed. Mr. Flagler’s energy and keen foresight, therefore, have produced an establishment of such gigantic proportions that it can be properly called the Krupp’s of America; it is now the largest pipe and tube-works in the world, recognized as such throughout this country and Europe.

Mr. Flagler’s opinion on mercantile and political questions is prominently recognized throughout Pennsylvania and New York, and his many duties connected with his interests have forced him to refuse many offers of political offices. As a friend and promoter of the workingmen’s best interests, the feeling toward him was strongly evidenced a short time ago upon his return from a European trip, at which time over five thousand of his employes turned out in a parade of welcome, and the event was celebrated as a holiday in McKeesport. The great success of the National Tube-works company, and the close attachment between employer and employe evidence Mr. Flagler’s ability and worth. Mr. Flagler today not only occupies the position as general managing director of the National Tube-works company, but is also president of other organizations representing, in the aggregate, over $70,000,000 of capital.