[Newspaper]
Publication: The Press and Tribune
Chicago, IL, United States
vol. 12, no. 282, p. 2, col. 3
Important Enterprise--Manufacture of Granite Table Ware in Illinois.
The last session of our Legislature granted a special charter, entitled "An Act to incorporate the American Pottery Company of Illinois." Since the passage of the bill, nothing has been said or done respecting it, and until stow the people have been kept in ignorance of its purposes, objects and aims. Dr. A. M. Johnson, of Fulton county, and who is well and favorably known to many of our citizens and throughout the State generally, has favored us with a few facts, in relation to an enterprise which is destined to do more to advance the growing wealth and prosperity of our State, than anything that has transpired since Illinois was admitted into the Union.
Messrs. Fenton & Clark. of Bennington, Vt., are the pioneers of the pottery business in the United States. They commenced business in Bennington some twenty-five years ago in the manufacture of common red earthern and stone ware, and have made rapid progress from year to year. In 1848 they produced the celebrated Flint Enamel Ware and an excellent quality of Parian Ware. But the great goal of their ambition was to produce the ordinary granite Table Ware, as this is the great staple article in the crockery line, and monopolized almost exclusively by Great Britain.
No considerable advancement was made in this until quite recently, when Mr. Clark made an accidental discovery in the manipulation of bodies and glazes, which has removed every difficulty in the fabrication of a much better article of ware than the best productions of Europe. We have had the pleasure of examining a few specimens of this ware which rivals in beauty the finest French Porcelain, and the most encouraging feature of all is, that it was made from Illinois material. We learn from Mr. Johnson that a stock company will be organized for this prosecution of this business on a very extensive scale. An immense pottery is to be located at some one of the most eligible points in this State for the distribution of wares and is designed to give employment to one thousand operatives—Peoria Transcript.
