Today in Wheeling History: March 13--Johann Ludwig Stifel, founder of J.L. Stifel & Sons, was born (1807).
Johann Ludwig Stifel was born on March 13, 1807, in Neuffen, Württemberg, Germany. He learned the trade of dyeing and calico printing in his homeland before emigrating to the United States in 1833. Stifel arrived in Baltimore and later moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he worked in woolen mills. In the summer of 1834, he walked barefoot from Bethlehem to Wheeling, Virginia, to save his shoes. By 1835, he had established a small dyeing shop in a log cabin with just a $10 investment and a piece of cotton cloth. His business grew rapidly, and he opened a larger calico shop on the southeast corner of 9th and Main Streets in Wheeling. Stifel was an active citizen, serving on various business boards and helping to found Wheeling's first German newspaper, "Staats Zeitung." In 1859, his sons Louis C. and William F. joined the company, which became J.L. Stifel & Sons. The company grew into one of the nation's largest calico printing establishments, exporting indigo-dyed prints internationally. During World War II, the company produced textiles for the U.S. military. However, foreign competition and recession forced the company to merge with Indian Head Mills in 1957. Stifel passed away on January 21, 1881, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3avsjymx), Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/yty3zutu), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/5bw7ru69)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
Johann Ludwig Stifel was born on March 13, 1807, in Neuffen, Württemberg, Germany. He learned the trade of dyeing and calico printing in his homeland before emigrating to the United States in 1833. Stifel arrived in Baltimore and later moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he worked in woolen mills. In the summer of 1834, he walked barefoot from Bethlehem to Wheeling, Virginia, to save his shoes. By 1835, he had established a small dyeing shop in a log cabin with just a $10 investment and a piece of cotton cloth. His business grew rapidly, and he opened a larger calico shop on the southeast corner of 9th and Main Streets in Wheeling. Stifel was an active citizen, serving on various business boards and helping to found Wheeling's first German newspaper, "Staats Zeitung." In 1859, his sons Louis C. and William F. joined the company, which became J.L. Stifel & Sons. The company grew into one of the nation's largest calico printing establishments, exporting indigo-dyed prints internationally. During World War II, the company produced textiles for the U.S. military. However, foreign competition and recession forced the company to merge with Indian Head Mills in 1957. Stifel passed away on January 21, 1881, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3avsjymx), Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/yty3zutu), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/5bw7ru69)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
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