The House of Morrell; with a foreword by William ... - University Library

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packing company in the United States in 1928 was a tribute to the vision and enterprise, the wisdom, faith and unremitting toil of the men who had steered the company through a century of time. For 101 years — from 1827 to 1928 — John Morrcll & Co. was a closed corporation. While the names Morrell and Foster have dominated the officers and directors of the company, a family tradition has persisted that the fledglings should learn the business from the bottom — up! Although there were perhaps few finer family men than Thomas D. Foster, he was a rugged individualist when it came to rearing his sons. Each one was required to step lively, to pay board at home, and to go on any job where he was needed! Thus, T. Henry Foster started out at 5 cents an hour in 1889, when common laborers received 15 cents an hour, and skilled cutters 25 cents per hour. As a result of negotiations in December, 1946, the average wage of the hourly paid employee was $1.08 per hour — basic common laborers getting 96 cents per hour. There is a good reason for the slogan "Morrell Pride Meats." Quality has always been the watchword for any Morrell product. On one occasion George A. Morrell went to Washington to seek permission to use labels which would feature the three diet idea which John Morrell & Co. planned to break on the canned dog food world. When he met with Bureau of Animal Industry officials, they questioned whether dogs, or for that matter human beings, could distinguish between the three proposed Red Heart flavors — beef, fish or cheese. Morrell contended that they were quite dififerent and suggested that human beings could take the blindfold test and quickly tell what they were eating. Morrell actually took the blindfold test to prove his point and the Bureau gave the company permission to use the designations of Diets A, B and C. Red Heart dog food came on the market in January, 1934; the faith of George Morrell in his company's product was a deciding factor. Historians owe the officers of John Morrell & Co. a vote of thanks for preparing this company history. The need for such historical records has long been recognized and the larger corporations of the United States are each year realizing the necessity for preserving
company records and inviting historians to catalogue and prepare them for just such books as L. O. Cheever's The House of Morrell. The story of meat paclcing in Iowa and the nation is greatly enriched by this fine industrial history. William J. Petersen, Superintendent The State Historical Society of Iowa Iowa Citv, Iowa
Page 2: LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINO
Page 7 and 8: THE HOUSE OF MORRELL BY LAWRENCE OA
Page 9 and 10: FOREWORD FOR MORE THAN A GENERATION
Page 11 and 12: on the Missouri. Three other railro
Page 13: The great Morrell plant at Sioux Fa
Page 18 and 19: Dedicated to all those whose effort
Page 21 and 22: ing in the homes of the town. The c
Page 23 and 24: on the Bradford market. Particularl
Page 25 and 26: 1837 4^ ia46 (^\i^ The partnership,
Page 27 and 28: He was deeply impressed by the kind
Page 29 and 30: ORGANIZER OF JOHN MORKliLL S: CO.
Page 31 and 32: employment in whatever occupation m
Page 33: 1 8 t T I S /^JL/ltstQi' The third
Page 36 and 37: and turned over a considerable port
Page 38 and 39: tccincd liiifhly meat from buffalo,
Page 40 and 41: farm was a festive occasion. Many o
Page 42 and 43: ! production, except that it stinte
Page 45: IBS 7^ IU66 ir Tt "ir Operations in
Page 48 and 49: or four 3'ears. Then gradunlly it d
Page 50 and 51: ing himself to business conditions
Page 52 and 53: cheese, were very extensive. He sec
Page 54 and 55: Ill Ul
Page 56 and 57: : 5o°. I was the inspector and had
Page 58 and 59: eferences to such an operation in n
Page 60 and 61: North American shores. Foster, in h
Page 62 and 63: : Castlecomcr; had worked in the cu
Page 64 and 65:
Foster to his parents and it seems
Page 66 and 67:
delusion. Everything I laid hands t
Page 68 and 69:
Lincoln Park and a Catholic cemeter
Page 70 and 71:
cured for hogs and cattle delivered
Page 72 and 73:
eprcsentatixc of John Morrell & Co.
Page 75 and 76:
were elected directors on October i
Page 77 and 78:
— Now It is hereby agreed as foll
Page 79 and 80:
when the Company shall allot the sa
Page 81 and 82:
8.—The said parties hereto of the
Page 83:
ever to take ice from the Des Moine
Page 86 and 87:
I838-I893 CHAIRMAN, 1881-1890
Page 88 and 89:
efore. He was told to make another
Page 90 and 91:
which gives a good insight to the c
Page 92 and 93:
fice. George Morrell, grandson of t
Page 94 and 95:
of meats, that would do credit to a
Page 96 and 97:
father gave all their love and devo
Page 98 and 99:
Kill and Cut; A. R. Brown, Zell Zim
Page 101:
1887* 18d6 y^l.'Trrtn*. In 1887 the
Page 104 and 105:
subject to any such conditions and
Page 106 and 107:
founded in 1878 with T. D. Foster a
Page 108 and 109:
twenty to twenty-five different cut
Page 110 and 111:
^^^^J^T^uuuIJ 1845-1905 CHAIRMAN, 1
Page 112 and 113:
eceiving messages. Contracts for ho
Page 114 and 115:
ernments the healthfulness of Ameri
Page 116 and 117:
: Agents of European countries whic
Page 118 and 119:
First, he told about an Englishman
Page 120 and 121:
expect no better fate along our pre
Page 122 and 123:
cattle being very cheap but this T
Page 124 and 125:
might have been given by the direct
Page 126 and 127:
them right but hardly looked for su
Page 128 and 129:
the ruins of his phint — Si fract
Page 130 and 131:
placed in complete charge of the bo
Page 132 and 133:
launched with a membership of 300.
Page 135 and 136:
is forced by the pump, which is not
Page 137 and 138:
the jobbing trade when we were out.
Page 139 and 140:
trusting to our quality to overcome
Page 141 and 142:
Junior Director shall only have one
Page 143 and 144:
valuable outlet for the company's p
Page 145 and 146:
and the cream was separated by hand
Page 147 and 148:
a visit. Hormel accepted the invita
Page 149 and 150:
around Ottumwa for thousands of acr
Page 151 and 152:
M. T. McClelland had been placed in
Page 153 and 154:
While not strictly an advertising p
Page 155:
viously been outside the law. It pu
Page 159 and 160:
Following completion of negotiation
Page 161 and 162:
1873- MANAGER, SIOUX FALLS PLANT, 1
Page 163 and 164:
"With the growing demands of the pa
Page 165 and 166:
Burnham of Kittery, Me., met at Kit
Page 167 and 168:
I864-I92I PRESIDENT, JOHN MORRELL &
Page 169 and 170:
11. If this iVgreement shall not be
Page 171 and 172:
suitable resolutions expressive of
Page 173 and 174:
it looked as if the plant would act
Page 175 and 176:
Liverpool directors, apparently in
Page 177 and 178:
1865-1924 CHAIRMAN, JOHN MORRELL &
Page 179 and 180:
the methods for producing hog chole
Page 181 and 182:
expanded exports. Therefore there w
Page 183:
efore. The Sioux Falls mark was fir
Page 187 and 188:
uncertainties of every kind, have a
Page 189 and 190:
troubles of private ownership and p
Page 191 and 192:
ments based on our position in the
Page 193 and 194:
we do not stand accused nor as far
Page 195 and 196:
effort but rather the result of a c
Page 197 and 198:
MANAGER, SIOUX FALLS PLANT, 1909-19
Page 199 and 200:
sent to Sioux Falls to head stock b
Page 201 and 202:
started operations on August 29, 19
Page 203 and 204:
eport for the period ended March 31
Page 205 and 206:
in wages or any increase in the eig
Page 207 and 208:
ness in this southern California ci
Page 209 and 210:
Falls; George Willging, who was sen
Page 211 and 212:
eceived vacations that first year,
Page 213 and 214:
"Having in mind that we are one big
Page 215:
portance and finally omitted entire
Page 219 and 220:
true facts pertaining to the foundi
Page 221 and 222:
President Foster then concluded the
Page 223 and 224:
involved in this action was a new o
Page 225 and 226:
Falls, South Dakota, covering appro
Page 227 and 228:
charged out of earnings and is cons
Page 229 and 230:
the changing of the date of annual
Page 231 and 232:
een approved increasing the number
Page 233 and 234:
forgotten levels and the market pri
Page 235 and 236:
hearty response on the part of the
Page 237 and 238:
destroyed, while the heavier pigs a
Page 239 and 240:
How this tax affected the price of
Page 241 and 242:
He just didn't like to be the goat.
Page 243 and 244:
uary 22. Later this temporary arran
Page 245 and 246:
and wrappings used by that plant. T
Page 247 and 248:
one the association of the two Iowa
Page 249 and 250:
partment was able to handle a maxim
Page 251 and 252:
Street branch and from nearby sales
Page 253 and 254:
and John H. Morrell. He continued i
Page 255 and 256:
and was succeeded by G. M. LaFollet
Page 257 and 258:
William Regan resigned and was succ
Page 259 and 260:
ger, with E. F. Paxson, manager at
Page 261 and 262:
yon Bill was introduced into Congre
Page 263 and 264:
facturers at each year's show. Ther
Page 265 and 266:
19 3 7 ^iHpEr jBTf V ^93^' Actual w
Page 267 and 268:
y-laws were again amended, increasi
Page 269 and 270:
W. Mock, assistant secretary. Other
Page 271 and 272:
y^- ^yU^. czzZ-Zr^ZiAZ 1887- PRESID
Page 273 and 274:
at many times during World War II,
Page 275 and 276:
dry salt fat backs and lard for suc
Page 277 and 278:
for meat cuts; increased wages also
Page 279 and 280:
age resulting from the drought and
Page 281 and 282:
to decontrol by the O. P. A., incre
Page 283 and 284:
ell research laboratories, and afte
Page 285 and 286:
During that same year an extension
Page 287 and 288:
Des Moines branch ceased operations
Page 289 and 290:
A. T. Dennis resigned as Sioux Fall
Page 291 and 292:
fet^^t/" Z r=Ar^Ziyi^ 1908- MANAGER
Page 293 and 294:
Austrian & Piatt was employed to ha
Page 295:
603. On May 12, 1938, another elect
Page 298 and 299:
29. A retirement income plan for em
Page 301 and 302:
First killing gang — Ottuniwa —
Page 303 and 304:
I Another new building at Ottumwa,
Page 305 and 306:
An artist's conception of the Chas.
Page 307 and 308:
*~ The O t tu m w a plant packing r
Page 309 and 310:
A. C. iMORRELL Director, Vice Presi
Page 311 and 312:
•^ T h e office of the Ottumwa pl
Page 313 and 314:
Freezers, Ottum- ^~ Ottumwa beef co
Page 315 and 316:
Bg^2x»|^-} An early Mmrcll rcl rlj
Page 317 and 318:
INDEX Aberdeen, S. D., branch opene
Page 319 and 320:
Crawford, Theodore, 274 Cataract
Page 321 and 322:
; corporation, 249; vice president,
Page 323 and 324:
Garretson, R. L., 240 Garrod, G. W.
Page 325 and 326:
Manchester Market, 34 Mo(fitt, Mike
Page 327 and 328:
ness, 17-19; forms partnership with
Page 329 and 330:
I934i 221-222; plant purchased in T
Page 331 and 332:
; Post-war planning, 277-27S Powell
Page 333:
ernment, 221; plant purchased in, 2
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