Many different industries have called Henry County through the years, and many of those were related to agriculture. From the early farm implement dealers to the early manufacturers, the local farmers drove the development of Henry County.
One such industries that developed in the late 1870’s and into the early 1880’s was the manufacturing of windmills and pumps. Galva, Geneseo, and Kewanee were all home to manufacturing companies that designed and built windmills and water pumps for the farming communities.
The Geneseo Windmill and Pump Company began in 1879 in their building near the train depot. The company would lease the building from Horace Moses who had another agricultural based industry on the site. By the late 1870’s, there was a push in Geneseo for a manufacturing plant that would produce dairy products for the community.
Horace Moses, who came to Henry County in 1869, stepped forward to build the Maple City Creamery. The creamery would be the first one to operate in Henry County. The two-story building erected at the foot of Exchange Street just north of the train depot was built with Joliet Stone. This stone was limestone from rock quarries around Joliet, Illinois. From the 1860’s until the early 1900’s Joliet Limestone became known for its strength and durability. Near Geneseo, Joliet Limestone was used construct the buildings on the Rock Island Arsenal and in the early bridges across the Mississippi River. Moses would spend over $4,000 dollars to build and place equipment in the new butter and cheese plant. The plant was set up to handle milk from over 400 dairy cows. After it opened, plans were drawn up to expand the facility to handle milk from over 1000 cows. During the first year of operation, the Maple City Creamery produced 40,000 pounds of cheese products. However, this was not enough to support the operation. Moses would have to close down the manufacturing plant and try to find someone to lease the 60 x 32 foot building.
Three local men came forward to do just that. Mr. English, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Chapman engaged in the manufacturing of windmills and pumps in the building. Mr. Chapman had experience in designing and constructing windmills while working for the late Galva Manufacturing Company.
The Galva Manufacturing Company would be in operation during the late 1870’s. By November of 1877, the Galva company had so many orders for their windmills they could not keep up with the workforce and materials on hand. Between 1877 and 1879, the company would produce the Chapman Windmill and completing general manufacturing for clients in the Galva area. However, hard times hit the company and on May 30, 1879, the building, stock and equipment had to be sold at a sheriff’s auction. The Galva Manufacturing Company building located on Exchange Street in Galva, was purchased by W.F. Wiley for $2,000. The building would then be modified to become the home of a farm implement dealership.
Chapman and his brother made their way to Geneseo and began the Geneseo Windmill and Pump Company. The new company manufactured the Chapman Challenge and the U.S. Standard Windmills at their Geneseo location. By November 1880, the Geneseo Windmill and Pump Company would occupy the entire building that was once home to the Maple City Creamery. The Chapmans would expand the business to include machine turning and the moving of buildings for clients throughout Henry County. Shortly after the expansion, the company hit hard times and Chapman’s brother left the company and Geneseo to open a windmill business in Fair County, Iowa.
By 1882 the business was no longer advertised in the Geneseo Republic, and the Chapman family would leave the Maple City to develop their pump business in other cities including in Aurora, Illinois. In Aurora, the family established the American Well Works, which is still in operation today under other ownership.
Not to be left out of the windmill building craze of the late 1870s was the city of Kewanee. One of the best known windmill manufacturers in Henry County was incorporated in Kewanee during 1876. In February 1876, the Kewanee Manufacturing Company was opened. This company was soon the sole manufacturer of the Kewanee Windmill. The Kewanee Windmills would be constructed out of fine wood milled in Michigan and ranged in height from 8 to 28 feet tall. The Kewanee windmills were desired by farmers far and wide. By 1878, the Kewanee windmills were being sold and shipped around the country and even to other countries. Orders were placed and windmills were shipped to Cuba, Puerto Rico and even Egypt. These solid wheel windmills became so popular that one was put on display at the American Institute and were protected by two U. S. Patents, one dated December 23,1873 and one dated May 26, 1874. By July 1880, the Kewanee Manufacturing Company was constructing and selling the Eureka Windmill, which was advertised as the best windmill manufactured to that date.
The windmill craze would fade once electricity arrived in the rural areas. This trade brought many jobs to Henry County and helped the local towns grow though the craze just blew through in a short period of time.
Geneseo Windmill and Pump Company advertisement from the Geneseo Republic Newspaper December 2, 1881 issue
Kewanee Manufacturing Company building from the 1875 Henry Country Atlas
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