In 1859, the partnership of Johnson & Emerson (Nathan Johnson and Richard Emerson) operated the Piazza Foundry in Alton, Illinois. They manufactured steam engines and sawmill machinery.
Information Sources
- 1859-07-23 Scientific American.
Big Sawing—The Alton (Ill.) Democrat, of the 7th inst., describes a feat of sawing which deserves more than a mere passing notice. On the day previous to that date, the editor visited the saw-mill of T. Hamilton, on Wood river, the machinery of which was made by Johnson & Emerson, of the Piazza Foundry, Alton; and between the hours of 5 A. M. and 7 P. M., 100 logs of oak, elm and hickory were sawed, the amount cut being 31,200 feet. This was cut by one circular saw of 58 inches diameter; the time occupied was 14 hours, giving an average of 2,228 feet cut per hour.
- 1859-11-12 Scientific American has an illustrated article on Travis' patent steam-engine governor made by Johnson & Emerson.