Rathbone genealogy

RATJIBOSE GENEALOGY.
bun, was descended from an old English family and was at
that time a merchant of Auburn; his mother, whose maiden
name, Louise Storm, was the daughter of a leading Xew
York merchant and a descendant of one of the old Knickerbocker
families of that city. The subject of this sketch was
educated at the Auburn academy and at a similar institute in
Xew York. At a comparatively early age he entered the
large business house of Storm, Smith & Co., East India mer-
chants, Xew York city.
In 1848, his father left Auburn and moved to Canada to
prosecute the lumber business at Mill Point, now Deseronto,
of which town he may be regarded as the founder. Failing
health compelled him to send for his son to aid him in the
business and in 1861 the latter left Xew York to take the
management of the firm which was thereafter known as H.
B. Rathbun & Son. Mr. Rathbun. though a young man.
soon displayed great business ability and as a result of his
vigorous management the various industries which he directed
rapidly assumed very extensive proportions. In
1883. the firm was incorporated by special act of Parliament
under the style of "The Rathbun Company" and is one of
the largest manufacturing corporations in Canada. The vil-
lage of Mill Point has grown into the flourishing town 01
Deseronto, known all over the Continent for its business ac-
tivity.
The company of which Mr. Rathbun is the president and
general manager have occupied a foremost place in utilizing
the saw products of Canada and in developing many iatent
sources of natural wealth. In this respect Mr. Rathbun well
deserves to occupy a high place in the roll of the great captains
of industry in this young Dominion. The company
have been pioneers in such industrial enterprises as wood
distilling and charcoal works, the manufacture of porous
terra cotta fire proofing material, roller process rlour milling.
Portland cement works, etc. The development of tnese extensive
and important industries necessitated better methods
of t-ansportation and more direct routes for removing and
making- more accessible the saw products of the forest and
mine. Hence the construction of over one hundred miles
of railway, known as the P>ay of Ouinte system which connects
Deseronto with a large area of country and also with
the principal towns of the district. The companv own sev-
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