1408 N. Van Buren, Ottumwa, Iowa 52501
The Janney Mfg. Company was first incorporated August 1, 1889
with G. Campbell Janney, president, M. H. Janney vice president and
treasurer, and R. Janney, secretary.
Their line included the Janney Common Sense Corn Husker and
Fodder Shredder, the Janney Common Sense Corn Planter in twenty
three different kinds, styles and varieties, and the Janney Common
Sense Triple Gear Feed Mill, a line of goods especially designed
and built for handling the corn crop in the greatest corn state in
the Union.
The Janney Common Sense Corn Husker and Fodder Shredder, which
was hand fed, had a patented safety device included to stop the
machine instantly. This machine was made almost entirely of steel,
malleable and gray iron.
The Janney Common Sense triple-geared grinding mill, with two
horses, was warranted to grind as much corn as any mill
manufactured. One bushel of dry corn could be ground in three and a
half minutes.
Their manufacturing plant was located at the corner of Ash and
Main Streets in Ottumwa. This plant included a foundry, machine
shop, blacksmith shop, paint shop and an erecting shop. It was
interesting to see the pig iron go into the foundry and the lumber
into the wood working shop in the rough state and come out a finely
finished product. The American Mining Tool Company was located at
the same address at the corner of Ash and Main Streets.
The Janney Mfg. Company incorporation was amended Dec. 24, 1902
with G. Campbell Janney president and J. M. Marley secretary. The
1905-06 Ottumwa city directory lists the Janney Mfg. Company with
Joseph Dain as receiver. This would indicate that the Dain Hay Tool
Plant took over the Janney operation. The Janney Mfg. Company was
not listed in the 1907-08 city directory but, the 1908-09 directory
lists G. Campbell Janney as president of the Ottumwa Pad and
Blanket Company at 309 E. 5th Street which was Mr. Janney’s
home address.
