James Sloss: Difference between revisions
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'''James Withers Sloss''' (born [[April 7]], [[1820]] in Limestone County - died May [[1890]]) was a planter, industrialist, and the founder of [[Sloss Furnaces]], and a leading figure in the early development of [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. | '''James Withers Sloss''' (born [[April 7]], [[1820]] in Limestone County - died [[May 4]], [[1890]] in [[Birmingham]]) was a planter, industrialist, and the founder of [[Sloss Furnaces]], and a leading figure in the early development of [[Birmingham, Alabama]]. | ||
Sloss was born to | Sloss was born to Joseph and Clarissa (Wasson) Sloss near Mooresville in Limestone County. Though he had little formal education, he apprenticed as a bookkeeper at a butcher's shop and, in [[1842]] bought his own general store in Athens and married [[Mary Sloss|Mary Bigger]]. He was successful and expanded his homestead into a successful plantation and soon became one of the richest men in the state. During the [[Civil War]] he served as a Colonel in the Confederate Army and in [[1867]] was made president of the Nashville & Decatur Railroad, which later merged into the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]] system. | ||
After the war | After the war Sloss became a leading figure in encouraging Alabama's industrial development. In [[1871]] he persuaded the L&N to extend its line to the newly-founded city of [[Birmingham]]. The railroad invested heavily in its Alabama operations and helped transform the infant city of Birmingham into what soon was labeled the [[Magic City]] for its miraculous growth. In [[1876]] he and [[James Thomas]] leased the [[Oxmoor Furnace]] and he also joined the [[Eureka Mining and Transportation Company]] with the aim of producing coke pig iron in [[Birmingham]]. | ||
Sloss, along with [[Henry DeBardeleben]] and [[James Aldrich]], formed the [[Pratt Coal and Coke Company]] which later became the largest mining operation in the [[Birmingham District]]. Through the work of the company, Sloss became the first person to show that iron could be made in Birmingham purely from Alabama's iron ore, coke, and limestone. With capital from DeBardeleben, Sloss founded the [[Sloss Furnace Company]] in [[1881]] and began erecting the "City Furnace", now known as [[Sloss Furnaces]]. Sloss retired from his company just four years later, selling the company to | In [[1878]] Sloss, along with [[Henry DeBardeleben]] and [[James Aldrich]], formed the [[Pratt Coal and Coke Company]] which later became the largest mining operation in the [[Birmingham District]]. Through the work of the company, Sloss became the first person to show that iron could be made in Birmingham purely from Alabama's iron ore, coke, and limestone. With capital from DeBardeleben, Sloss founded the [[Sloss Furnace Company]] in [[1881]] and began erecting the "City Furnace", now known as [[Sloss Furnaces]]. Sloss retired from his company just four years later, selling the company to a [[John Johnston]] and [[Joseph Johnston]] (not related) and a group of investors who expanded and reorganized in [[1899]] as the [[Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company]]. Sloss later served as president of the [[Birmingham Water Works]]. | ||
Sloss died in [[1890]] and is buried in Birmingham's [[Oak Hill Cemetery]]. | Sloss produced twelve children with Mary and his second wife [[Martha Sloss|Martha]]. He died in [[1890]] and is buried in Birmingham's [[Oak Hill Cemetery]]. | ||
==References == | ==References == | ||
* {{Cruikshank-1920}} | |||
* {{Owen-1921}} | |||
* {{Lewis-1994}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www.slossfurnaces.com/education/story/james-sloss.html James Withers Sloss] at slossfurnaces.com | *[http://www.slossfurnaces.com/education/story/james-sloss.html James Withers Sloss] at slossfurnaces.com | ||
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[[Category:1820 births]] | [[Category:1820 births]] | ||
[[Category:1890 deaths]] | [[Category:1890 deaths]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Bookkeepers]] | ||
[[Category:Entrepreneurs]] | [[Category:Entrepreneurs]] | ||
[[Category:Farmers]] | [[Category:Farmers]] | ||
Revision as of 22:50, 19 June 2009
James Withers Sloss (born April 7, 1820 in Limestone County - died May 4, 1890 in Birmingham) was a planter, industrialist, and the founder of Sloss Furnaces, and a leading figure in the early development of Birmingham, Alabama.
Sloss was born to Joseph and Clarissa (Wasson) Sloss near Mooresville in Limestone County. Though he had little formal education, he apprenticed as a bookkeeper at a butcher's shop and, in 1842 bought his own general store in Athens and married Mary Bigger. He was successful and expanded his homestead into a successful plantation and soon became one of the richest men in the state. During the Civil War he served as a Colonel in the Confederate Army and in 1867 was made president of the Nashville & Decatur Railroad, which later merged into the Louisville & Nashville Railroad system.
After the war Sloss became a leading figure in encouraging Alabama's industrial development. In 1871 he persuaded the L&N to extend its line to the newly-founded city of Birmingham. The railroad invested heavily in its Alabama operations and helped transform the infant city of Birmingham into what soon was labeled the Magic City for its miraculous growth. In 1876 he and James Thomas leased the Oxmoor Furnace and he also joined the Eureka Mining and Transportation Company with the aim of producing coke pig iron in Birmingham.
In 1878 Sloss, along with Henry DeBardeleben and James Aldrich, formed the Pratt Coal and Coke Company which later became the largest mining operation in the Birmingham District. Through the work of the company, Sloss became the first person to show that iron could be made in Birmingham purely from Alabama's iron ore, coke, and limestone. With capital from DeBardeleben, Sloss founded the Sloss Furnace Company in 1881 and began erecting the "City Furnace", now known as Sloss Furnaces. Sloss retired from his company just four years later, selling the company to a John Johnston and Joseph Johnston (not related) and a group of investors who expanded and reorganized in 1899 as the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company. Sloss later served as president of the Birmingham Water Works.
Sloss produced twelve children with Mary and his second wife Martha. He died in 1890 and is buried in Birmingham's Oak Hill Cemetery.
References
- Cruikshank, George H. (1920) History of Birmingham and Its Environs: A Narrative Account of Their Historical Progress, Their People, and Their Principal Interests 2 volumes. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- Owen, Thomas McAdory and Marie Bankhead Owen (1921) History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography. 4 volumes. Chicago, Illinois: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
- Lewis, W. David (1994) Sloss Furnaces and the Rise of the Birmingham District: An Industrial Epic. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0817307087
External links
- James Withers Sloss at slossfurnaces.com