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Manufacturers Index - A. D. Hermance
History
Last Modified: Dec 15 2010 11:52AM by Jeff_Joslin
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Albert D. Hermance worked on his own from 1873 until January 1875, when he joined E. A. Rowley of Millspaugh, Rowley and Millspaugh to create Rowley & Hermance. (It is not clear why the Millspaugh names were dropped; John H. Millspaugh, at least, was still an investor when Rowley & Hermance incorporated in 1882. Also in 1882, the Millspaughs were behind the newly incorporated Williamsport Machine Co. Further research may create a better understanding of the relationships between these various Williamsport makers.)

Information Sources

  • The 1892 book, History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania, edited by John F. Meginness, and available online at USGenNet, says the following about A. D. Hermance:
    ALBERT D. HERMANCE, Of the firm of Rowley & Hermance, manufacturers, was born in Saratoga county, New York, August 8, 1847, and is a son of Richard and Emeline (Dubois) Hermance, natives of New York State. His father was a farmer, but after settling in Saratoga county he erected a large foundry and machine shop, and engaged in the manufacture of stoves. He is the inventor of the low-down reservoir attachment for ranges and cooking stoves, now in general use throughout the country, and is also the patentee of many other stove attachments, and is well known among the stove manufacturers in that part of the country. Albert D. is the third in a family of five children; he was educated in the common schools and at Stillwater Seminary, and spent a short time at Fairfield Seminary. He remained in his native county up to 1860, and at the breaking out of the rebellion he went to Troy, New York, and engaged in a sash, door, and blind factory, to learn that business. In August, 1864, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-first New York Cavalry, and was immediately sent upon detached service. He served on detached duty until the close of the war, and was then mustered. out. In the autumn of 1865 he came to Williamsport, and found employment with Culver, Barber & Company, remaining with them until 1868. He then went to Green Island, New York, and took charge of Crampton & Belden’s blind factory, which was the largest institution of the sort in the United States at that time, and remained with them four years. In 1872 he returned to Williamsport, and took charge of the planing mill of Culver, Barber & Company, which position he occupied one year. He also had charge of the American Match Stick Company for a short time. In the meantime he had originated a woodworking machine, which he patented in the spring of 1873, and then commenced manufacturing his patent. He traveled through the State introducing and selling his machine, and had a gratifying success. In January, 1,875, he entered into partnership with E. A. Rowley, and the present firm of Rowley & Hermance was organized. Mr. Hermance’s extensive practical experience has had much to do with the success of this firm. He is the originator of the Hermance Chemical Company, and is a stockholder in the Otto Chemical Company, the plants of which are located in McKean county. He is a large stockholder in the Central Pennsylvania Telephone and Supply Company, and a director in that institution. He is also a director in the First National Bank of Williamsport, and a stockholder in the Susquehanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company, the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, and the Williamsport Water Company, and is a member of the Kettle Creek Coal Mining Company, and president of the Backus Manufacturing Company, which has a capital of $250,000. Mr. Hermance has large real estate interests in Williamsport, also in Dakota and New York States. He was one of the organizers of the Ross Club, in which he is a director. He has always taken an active interest in political affairs, and has served as a member of the common council of the city. He is a stanch Republican, a member of Reno Post, No. 64, G. A. R. and is connected with the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Hermance was married in 1870 to Agnes, daughter of E. M. D. Levan, of Williamsport. There are few business men of this city who have taken a deeper interest in its later growth and prosperity than Mr. Hermance, and few who have shown greater enterprise in the development of its manufacturing resources.
  • The above biography mentions an 1873 woodworking machine patent. We have made an exhaustive search, including using the services of a professional patent researcher, and have failed to turn up any such patent.
  • Mike Burian reports that a Power, Tainter & Co. miniature catalog, created as a handout for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, shows an A. D. Hermance "Iron Frame Door Clamp".