Founded by Philetus W. Gates and Hiram Scoville in about 1843. In 1848 Gates purchased Scoville's interest and took A. H. Hoge as a partner. A year later, Hoge sold his interest to George S. McKnight and the firm was named P. W. Gates & Co. The firm originally manufactured railroad box cars.
Information Sources
- Steam Power on the American Farm by Reynold M. Wik, 1953 page 252
- The American Cane Mill, ©2010, pgs. 157-159