The Minnesota Iron Works was established by William M. Hurlbert in 1866, operating as W. M. Hurlbert. He had been in business about half a year when the Works burned to the ground. He reopened the business within a month, which he renamed to the Phenix Iron Works (The name was variously spelled the Phœnix Iron Works and the Phoenix Iron Works.)

The following list gives the business names and partners over the years.

• September 1866 – February(?) 1867: W. M. Hurlbert (sole proprietorship)
• February(?) 1867 – October 1868: Foster & Hurlbert (A. P. Foster and W. M. Hurlbert)
• October 1868 – October 1869: Hurlbert & Co. (A. P. Foster, O. W. Hough, W. M. Hurlbert)
• October 1869 – March 1871: Hurlbert & Co. (A. P. Foster and W. M. Hurlbert)
• March 1871 – sometime before February 1877: Hurlbert, Stevens & Co. (A. P. Foster, W. M. Hurlbert, William H. Stevens)
• Sometime before February 1877 – November 1902: W. M. Hurlbert (sole proprietorship)

In the early years they were a general foundry, making mill castings (including gearing, pulleys, and hangers), architectural castings, and agricultural machinery. Beginning in the early 1870s, they began to make steam engines. At some point they made a 16" jointer.

W. M. Hurlbert died on November 15, 1902. The business was eventually sold and continued to operate for a number of years. In 1914 they open a vehicle repair garage. In 1929 the Phoenix Iron Works was reorganized, and that is the last data we have on them.

Information Sources

• Thanks to Rich McGowen for bringing our attention to a 16" jointer on Minneapolis Craigslist. This find was subsequently discussed in an owwm.org thread. In picturess posted by tmeissner (the owner of the jointer), it has a brass plaque that says, "Manufactured by / The Phenix Iron Works / Winona, Minn. / No. _______". The space for the serial number is blank.
• Ads and articles in the Winona Daily Republican, accessed through the Winona Newspaper Project. See the "Images" tab, above, for a selection.
• History of Winona County, published by H. H. Hill & Co., 1883, has this biography:

  PHŒNIX IRONWORKS, corner Third and Winona streets; W. M. Hurlbert, Proprietor. These works were established in 1866 by Mr. Hurlbert, who, after fifteen years' experience in the machine shops of the Vermont Central railway, came to Winona in 1863 to establish the machine shops of the Winona & St. Peter railways. The Phoenix Works were started on the second block west from that now occupied, on rented ground, and here in September, 1866, Mr. Hurlbert erected his first manufactory, 30 X 90 feet. This building, destroyed by fire in February, 1867, was replaced the same month by one 30 X 100 feet, business suffering interruption only for a short period. The lots upon which the manufactory stood not being in the market, in the summer of 1857 Mr. Hurlbert purchased one-half of the block lying between Winona and Huff, on the south side of Third street, along which it fronts 300 feet, having a frontage of 150 on Winona. To this property Mr. Hurlbert removed his machine shop in 1867; built a two-story wood-shop 30 X 60 feet and a blacksmith shop 20 X 30 feet. The foundry, a solid stone structure, 40 X 65 feet, with iron truss roof, was erected four years later, in 1871. A general machine business is done, both repairing and jobbing, quite an extensive manufacturer of Minnesota seeders conducted and employment given to a force of from twenty-five to fifty hands, according to season. An engine of twenty-five horse-power supplies motor for the machinery, and steam for the heating apparatus. The works are furnished with lathes.

  Mr. Hurlbert was born in Walpole, New Hampshire; removed early in life to Northfield, Vermont, and there learned his trade as a machinist in the shops of the Vermont Central railway. Was in charge of their work at that point when he accepted a situation as master-mechanic of the Winona & St. Peter Railway Company, and in that capacity came to Winona in 1863, established, their shops and managed them two years, when he resigned his position and soon afterward engaged in his present industry, which he has managed successfully for over sixteen years. In 1867 Mr. Hurlbert patented his Minnesota seeder, which has quite an extensive sale throughout the northwest.

• The Minnesota Historical Society Library's Gregg collection has some material related to a steam engine from this firm. We have not seen this material.