John Sutcliffe was born in Stainland [29th July 1837].
The family moved to America in 1840.
He was educated in Poughkeepsie, New York and the Dutchess County Academy; a clerk in the family grocery store; assistant manager at the Peeksville Blast Furnace [1861].
He became an influential figure in Poughkeepsie, a well-known engineer, and was involved in the iron and slate industries in the USA and other parts of the world.
Around 1863, he designed a new furnace to be established at Coldspring, New York – known as Phillips Iron Works – which he built and started.
After a disagreement with the company management, he went to England to learn the details of the iron industry. He returned to America in 1864, and began building a new works at Verplanck's Point, New York. This was not completed, on account of the financial situation in 1865.
He erected a building in Poughkeepsie for his father [1865].
He and an uncle became interested in a woollen business.
In 1866, he took charge of the works of the Eagle Slate Company in Hydeville, Vermont.
In 1868, he went to Wales and England to learn the details of the slate industry. On his return to America, he built machinery for using refuse stock to make billiard tables, mantels and other slate products. He left the company, on account of differences of opinion.
In 1870, he remodelled a slate mill at Chapman slate quarries in Pennsylvania.
Later in the year, he built filter beds and docks for the city water works in Poughkeepsie. These were the only successful filter beds in the US at the time.
In 1872, after touring the south and west of the US looking at the iron fields, he returned to Poughkeepsie, where he built the Hudson River Iron Works, and the docks, now known as the Phœnix Horse Shoe Works.
In 1873, he was contracted to build sewers and lay water pipes for the city of Poughkeepsie, but financial problems meant that the city was unable to raise money to pay for the work, and the work was suspended. Sutcliffe raised th money privately and completed the work.
At the same time, he was manager of the Frankling iron Works, at Utica, New York, which had 2 blast furnaces. He also built a row of brick building in Poughkeepsie.
In 1874, he successfully settled the business of the Pond-Eddy Blue Stone Company in Pike county.
He was invited to investigate whether the Vallecillo Silver Mining Company's mines in Mexico could be run profitably. If this could be done, he was to take charge of the mines; if not, he was to receive one year's pay for his services. His study proved satisfactory, and he took charge of the mines and ran them for 10 years.
Around 1863, he designed a new furnace to be established at Coldspring, New York – known as Phillips Iron Works – which he built and started.
After a disagreement with the company management, he went to England to learn the details of the iron industry. He returned to America in 1864, and began building a new works at Verplanck's Point, New York. This was not completed, on account of the financial situation in 1865.
He erected a building in Poughkeepsie for his father [1865].
He and an uncle became interested in a woollen business.
In 1866, he took charge of the works of the Eagle Slate Company in Hydeville, Vermont.
In 1868, he went to Wales and England to learn the details of the slate industry. On his return to America, he built machinery for using refuse stock to make billiard tables, mantels and other slate products. He left the company, on account of differences of opinion.
In 1870, he remodelled a slate mill at Chapman slate quarries in Pennsylvania.
Later in the year, he built filter beds and docks for the city water works in Poughkeepsie. These were the only successful filter beds in the US at the time.
In 1872, after touring the south and west of the US looking at the iron fields, he returned to Poughkeepsie, where he built the Hudson River Iron Works, and the docks, now known as the Phœnix Horse Shoe Works.
In 1873, he was contracted to build sewers and lay water pipes for the city of Poughkeepsie, but financial problems meant that the city was unable to raise money to pay for the work, and the work was suspended. Sutcliffe raised th money privately and completed the work.
At the same time, he was manager of the Frankling iron Works, at Utica, New York, which had 2 blast furnaces. He also built a row of brick building in Poughkeepsie.
In 1874, he successfully settled the business of the Pond-Eddy Blue Stone Company in Pike county.
He was invited to investigate whether the Vallecillo Silver Mining Company's mines in Mexico could be run profitably. If this could be done, he was to take charge of the mines; if not, he was to receive one year's pay for his services. His study proved satisfactory, and he took charge of the mines and ran them for 10 years.
In 1884, he returned to Poughkeepsie, and the following year he was invited by the receiver to become general manager of Steel Company of Canada, in Nova Scotia. He established a new company – the Londonderry Iron Company Limited – and became general manager.
In 1889, he resigned in order to return to Poughkeepsie. He continued his business as a consulting engineer
This & associated entries use material contributed by Carole Edwards Caruso
Page Ref: ZZ_123
|
||
| site search by freefind |