Washington Iron Works Inc.

A Short History about Washington Iron Works As Stated on the Historical Marker Presented By The State Of Texas In 1875 Solon Totten (1847-1932) came to Texas from Quincy, Illinois, looking for better conditions for the family blacksmith business F...

A Short History about Washington Iron Works As Stated on the Historical Marker Presented By The State Of Texas In 1875 Solon Totten (1847-1932) came to Texas from Quincy, Illinois, looking for better conditions for the family blacksmith business Finding stage companies operating out of Sherman which required blacksmith services, he persuaded his father and family to move here. In 1876 Solon and his brother Levi Totten (1844-1915) opened ''Totten Bros. Blacksmith" on Cherry Street. The business produced wheels for stagecoaches and freight wagons and repaired the vehicles. L. L. Rousel, Max and Adolph Seisfeld, Noah Swain, Levi and Solon Totten were the original stockholders. The name changed in 1881 to "Washington Iron Works''. After moving North Walnut Street, the firm settled at the current site. By 1893 the Totten Brothers and their father Joseph (1821-1906) retained full control. By 1904 Joseph