My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS STUBBS is Superintendent of the Wahnetah Silk Mills Company, which has a capital, stock of $200,000, and is among the most prosperous manufactories of the kind in this country. Its exhibits of different kinds of fine and pile fabrics received the highest award at the World’s Columbian Exposition, and rivaled the products of the French looms. Mr. Stubbs is the oldest man in his line of manufacture in the United States. He was present at the time these special fabrics were first made in England by Mr. Watson, and is now the only one of his original assistants living. A thorough and practical silk manufacturer, he understands every branch of the business, and, as may be readily imagined, is invaluable to the company with which he has so long been connected.

The son of Thomas and Mary A. (Downing) Stubbs, the subject of this sketch was born in Staffordshire, England, January 30, 1845. His father was also a native of that portion of England, and was a farmer by occupation. The mother likewise was born in Staffordshire, and by her marriage became the mother of five children, of whom our subject is the fourth in order of birth. At the age of two years he was sent to Macclesfield, Cheshire, where at the early age of nine years he went to work in the silk mills. At the age of fourteen he left Macclesfield and went to Burtle, a small village between Rochdale and Barry, and served his time with his uncle, Francis Reve, who was a master dyer. Continuing to live with Mr. Reve until he was twenty years of age, the young man then married and entered the employ of Mr. Watson as a dyer. This Mr. Watson was the founder of the industry of making plushes and union velvet, these pile fabrics having never before been manufactured. Francis Stubbs continued in his special branch as a dyer with Mr. Watson for twelve years with success. At the end of this time he answered the advertisement of Samuel Conliflister, now Lord Masham, who wanted a dyer to engage in the manufacture of plushes, etc. Mr. Stubbs was given the position, and became master dyer, continuing as such for about fourteen years, during which time he taught the trade to a great many persons who are now following the business in America.

In March, 1890, our subject emigrated to America and, coming to this city, accepted the position of foreman of the Wahnetah Silk Mills, in August of that year being appointed Superintendent over the whole business. The mills were started in November, 1889, though not ready for business before April, 1890. There are twenty-four looms in the plant, having a capacity of twelve thousand yards of silk per week. The mills consist of four buildings, well equipped with all modern improvements and inventions, and having a boiler and engine house containing two boilers which furnish steam-power. In the dying department all of the beautiful shades and tints are accomplished in the most artistic manner, and a specialty is made of velvets and plushes for upholstery and similar lines. Employment is furnished to over one hundred hands, and, in short, the business is constantly growing and acquiring a fine reputation under the able management of its present superintendent. The President of the mills is James Thomas, a member of the firm of Davis & Thomas; and the Secretary and Treasurer is Frank M. Horn, President of the National Bank of Catasauqua.

In 1865 Francis Stubbs married Miss Elizabeth Saxon, who was born near Rochdale, England, and to them have been born five children. Mary is the wife of Joseph Pearson, who is engaged in the lumber business in Bradford, England, with the firm of Becroft & Weetman; William, whose education was obtained in the Bradford Grammar School, in the Crayfeld Technical College in Germany, and in the Yorkshire College at Leeds, England, is a master dyer and is working with the John J. Dobson Company of Philadelphia as foreman dyer; the younger members of the family are Annie, Lizzie and Henrietta. Mr. Stubbs while in England was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was connected with the Masonic fraternity. In religion he is an Episcopalian, having been reared in that faith from boyhood.