Advertisements and News Clips for January & Wood Company, Inc. of Maysville, Kentucky
January & Wood Company was a major producer and provider of Maysville yarn based out of Maysville, Kentucky. The business was founded in 1851!! and remained in family hands throughout its long history, finally shutting its doors and ceasing operations in 2003. This over 150 year long history as a singular family owned business means I had a ton of fun researching newspaper mentions of this company! Maysville was a small town at the time with about 3,500 population in 1850 (now about 8,700 residents), and the January & Wood cotton mill was a major employer in the area. Therefore, the local newspapers reported little news bits about the company quite often. Through these small bits of news, we can gain a remarkable view of the company’s history over time and it’s role in the community at large in a way I’ve not experienced when researching any other vintage yarn and thread company so far.
Unlike other vintage yarn and thread companies I’ve researched, January & Wood didn’t advertise widely and doesn’t seem to have ever really become a household name, like Fleishers and Lily Mills did, yet its is possible that its products eventually may have been in more American homes than any other thread and yarn producer. January & Wood was the first carpet warp manufacturer to sell carpet warp directly to weavers. They predominantly marketed to weaving supply shops and home weavers, similar to the Charles Y. Butterworth Co.’s advertising approach, and also signed numerous commercial manufacturing/retailing contracts with major retailers such as Sears Roebuck & Company, Ace Hardware, Woolworth’s, Kroger, K-Mart, Coats and Clark, General Motors, G.C. Murphy and Southern States Company.
While January & Wood never got big into publishing pattern books like Fleishers and Lily Mills (and others) did, from approximately 1933 through at least Spring 1963, January & Wood published a small booklet/magazine called The Shuttle, which Warp and Weft has quite a few issues scanned and available for free download here. [Note to self post link to listing of Shuttle editions.]
The Shuttle was published for the members of the Maysville Guild of Home Weavers by January & Wood Co., makers of Maysville warp and filler. Each issue acted as a catalog for the company and included articles on January & Wood Co.’s fiber, weaving projects, and tips for using their yarns.
From The Internet Antique Shop:
Prior to its recent demolition, the historic old Maysville Cotton Mill had been a leading producer of carpet warp, rug yarns, cotton twine, twisted cord and tent rope. It had been in continuous operation since the first building was erected about 1834 with the exception of several months during the Civil War, when due to the inability to secure cotton, the mill closed from November, 1861 to March, 1862. J&W was one of only a few cotton mills in the country that continued operations throughout the Civil War.
Off topic: One of the founders of Maysville, Kentucky was Daniel Boone!
Nice brief history and timeline of the January & Wood Company: https://maysville-online.com/features/66894/a-look-back-at-january-and-wood-inc-maysville-cotton-mills
In 2006, demolition of the old January & Wood Company mill began but had to be stopped for a nearly a year due to asbestos complications. This April 2007 picture from AbandonedOnline.net is of the mill before demolition of the main building was restarted. Abandoned Online has a nice history of January & Wood along with information about the former mill location and demolition of the mill in this article.
1834
William Shotwell has a cotton mill constructed in Maysville near West Second Street.
1838
William Gosling purchases the cotton mill and land from William Shotwell.
1844
Richard Henry Lee purchases the cotton mill and land from William Gosling. Lee expanded mill operations and built another four-story building that fronted Second Street adjacent to the original building.
1848
Richard Henry Lee sells the business, building and land to Andrew M. January, Christian Schultz, Thomas Mannen, and William Stillwell.
1849
William Stillwell sells his interest in the mill to Henry Cutter.
1851
Andrew M. January and Benjamin W. Wood form a 50/50 partnership named January and Wood and purchase the interests of Christian Schultz, Thomas Mannen and Henry Cutter.
1852
“The cotton mill of Messrs. January & Wood”, The Lebanon Post (Lebanon, Kentucky) July 28, 1852
– The cotton mill of Messrs. January & Wood, at Maysville, was compelled to suspend operations last week, being unable to procure hands on account of the cholera.
1868
“The cotton mill of January & Wood, of Maysville, was barely saved”, Louisville Daily Democrat (Louisville, Kentucky) November 17, 1868
– The cotton mill of January & Wood, of Maysville, was barely saved from destruction by fire on Wednesday night last.
“On Wednesday night of last week, a fire”, Louisville Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.) November 21, 1868
On Wednesday night of last week, a fire originated in the pick-room of the cotton factory of January & Wood, Maysville, but was extinguished before much damage was done.
1876
“From The Bracken Record, October 25, 1876″, [first telegram] historical notes article, Bracken County News November 6, 2014
November 8, 1876
We learn from the Maysville Republican, that Messrs. January & Wood, of that city, received the first telegram over the wires from Augusta on Friday last, telegraphic communication between the two places having been established on that day.
1877
Andrew M. January dies in June 1877. His portion of the January and Wood Company is purchased by Andrew January Grundy and his daughter, Harriet January Cochran.
1879
January & Wood Co. begins production of the Maysville Carpet Warp yarn in black, white, ecru, and several colors.
1882
“Mid-Summer Entertainment”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky. ) July 1, 1882
1883
[Patent filings] Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1883 by the United States Patent Office
1884
[Patent filings] Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1884 by the United States Patent office
1886
“A.M.J. Cochran, commissioner, has conveyed to January & Wood”, Daily Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky.) November 18, 1886
A.M.J. Cochran, commissioner, has conveyed to January & Wood, two lots on Front Street, part of the property of the late D.S. Bonniwell. The price paid was $792.
1887
“Thompson & McAtee have 30,000 pounds of fencing wire”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky.) January 25, 1898
Thompson & McAtee have 30,000 pounds of fencing wire in the old plow factory building, corner Front and Wall, which they will have to move today on account of the flood in the Ohio. The January & Wood Co. have a big lot of cotton stored in the same building which they will have to move.
“The alarm of fire Sunday morning”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky.), January 30, 1899
“Dr. Thomas E. Pickett and others have sold and conveyed”, Daily Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky.) October 22, 1887
1888
“Maysville – Cotton Mill”, Manufacturers Record August 25, 1888, Volume 14 Issue 3
1890
“Maysville – Cotton Mills”, Manufacturers Record July 26, 1890, Volume 17 Issue 25
1892
“Mr. R.A. Cochran, through Mr. A.M. Campbell agent, sold yesterday”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky.: 1887): March 12, 1892
Mr. R.A. Cochran, through Mr. A. M. Campbell agent, sold yesterday to Messrs. James N. and M.F. Kehoe, the house on the north east corner of Grave Alley and Third Street for $1,400 cash. Mr. Campbell, as agent for January & Wood, sold to the same parties, the old Weaver property on southwest side of Lexington Pike for $1,000 cash.
1895
“The following building permits were granted”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) September 6, 1895
“The January & Wood Co. is putting in a lot of machinery at the Cotton Mills, and some of the workmen have been employed all night. Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) December 1895
1896
“Robert A. Cochran, Jr., has been elected Secretary”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky. ) January 20, 1896
“Building permits were granted to the January & Wood Co.”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) February 7, 1896
“The January & Wood Company has bought a new 500 horse power engine”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) June 15, 1896
“The January & Wood Company has been reorganized”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) July 4, 1896
“The McKinley Club of the Maysville Cotton Mills”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) October 31, 1896
“Speaking of the big McKinley parade at Cincinnati last Saturday”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky.) November 3, 1896
1897
Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) December 7, 1897
Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky. : 1887) December 7, 1897
Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) December 13, 1897
1900
“January & Wood Co.”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) January 18, 1900
1901
“Mills Shutting Down”, Textile World July 1901, Volume 21 Issue 1
Mills Shutting Down.
– Kentucky, Maysville. The cotton mills, operated by January & Wood Co., will shut down July 3d for a few weeks, during which time general repairs will be made to the machinery.
1903
“Wants $20,000.”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky. ) July 20, 1903
“The Major was authorized to employ”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky.), August 4, 1903
“Permits were granted”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky. ) December 8, 1903
1904
Mr. B.W. Wood Former Prominent Business Man Died Sunday Night at Louisville”, Evening Bulletin (Maysville, Ky.) March 15, 1904
Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) June 8, 1904
1906
“Wants her share”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) April 6, 1906
“One of the largest employers”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.): September 3, 1906
1908
“A preliminary injunction”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.): April 13, 1908
1910
Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) April 9, 1910
“Mills Shutting Down”, Textile World Record June 1910, Volume 39 Issue 3
1912
Bank check from Emmons-Hawkins Hardware Company to January & Wood Company, March 19, 1912, from Mar
[Mill news] Textile World Record, October 1912, Volume 44 Issue 1
1914
Davison’s Cordage, Twine and Duck Trade : A Directory of the Cordage and Twine Manufacturers of the United States and Canada, 14th Edition, 1914
1915
May 1915: A fire destroys a cotton shed containing 400 bales of raw cotton.
“Hauling Cotton”, Daily Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) June 2, 1915
“Fires”, Textile World Record June 1915, Volume 49 Issue 3
“Enlargements and Improvements”, Textile World Record July 1915, Volume 49 Issue 4
“Engineering News”, Engineering News August 26, 1915, Volume 74 Supplement
“Cotton Mill News”, Textile World Journal December 18, 1915, Volume 51 Issue 3
1916
“Legal News”, Municipal Journal (New York), January 6, 1916, Volume 40 Issue 1
“Textile Notes” [incorporation], Manufacturers Record August 31, 1916, Volume 70 Issue 9
“Textile Mills” [incorporation], Manufacturers Record September 14, 1916, Volume 70 Issue 11
Ky., Maysville – Woolen Goods. – January & Wood Co. was established in 1851; incptd. in 1888 with $200,000 capital; reincptd. in August, 1916; extensive improvements begun last year are nearing completion. (Lately noted incptd. with $200,000 capital.)
1917
“Enlargements and Improvements”, Textile World Journal January 13, 1917, Volume 52 Issue 7
Kentucky, Maysville. January & Wood Co.; Twines, Clothes Lines, etc.; installed additional machinery costing about $25,000; made extensive improvements and enlargements.
1918
“What the Consumer Thinks”, American Dyestuff Reporter April 15, 1918
“$622,150 in Mason County’s Total in Third Liberty Bond Sale”, Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) May 6, 1918
“Early Morning Fire Caused Big Damage”, Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) November 23, 1918
“We joined – have you?” The Maysville Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) December 20, 1918
1919
“Card of Thanks”, Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.): January 13, 1919
“Local Manufacturers at Convention”, Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) June 25, 1919
Local Manufacturers at Convention
Mr. S.P. Browning of the Ohio Valley Pulley Works, and Mr. R.A. Cochran of the January & Wood Company, are in Covington, attending the annual meeting of the Kentucky Manufacturers’ Association being held there this week.
1921
“Found”, Maysville Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.): 1921-07-08
“Break Ground for New Warehouse”, Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) September 26, 1921
“Resigns From Diem & Wing Paper Co.”, Paper Trade Journal November 17, 1921, Volume 73 Issue 20
“The Personal Page”, Textile World November 19, 1921, Volume 60 Issue 21
“The Personal Page”, Textile World December 24, 1921, Volume 61 Issue 26
Robert N. Adair is now associated with the January & Wood Co., Maysville, Ky. The company announces that Mr. Adair will have charge of its sales department.
1922
“All Hail the High School Graduate!” Fair warning, this is way over the top! While not actually a news report or advertisement for the January & Wood Co., I found myself giggling at this little … editorial … while also finding the little bits of insight it gives into the people of the time fascinating. (Granted, I’m easily amused and even more easily fascinated!) The Maysville Public Ledger (Maysville, Ky.) August 17, 1922
1925
“What a beautiful rag rug!”, The Ladies’ Home Journal October 1925, Volume 42 Issue 10
“Weavers this label will sell more rugs for you”, Successful Farming November 1925, Volume 23 Issue 11; Better Homes and Gardens January 1926, Volume 4 Issue 5; The Farm Journal December 1925, Volume 49 Issue 12
“Send for this Book of Quaint Rag Rugs”, Good Housekeeping November 1925, Volume 81 Issue 5
“Send for this book” (early American rugs book), Good Housekeeping December 1925, Volume 81 Issue 6
The Modern Hospital Year Book
1926
In early 1926, January & Wood Co. founded the Maysville Weavers Guild and began publishing The Shuttle.
“Learn how to make Early American Rugs”, The Ladies’ Home Journal February 1926, Volume 43 Issue 2
“Opinion Varies on Subject of Increasing Tariff Rates on Rag Rugs from Japan”, The United States Daily July 22, 1926, Volume 1 Issue 119. I found the little bits about the home weaving industry fascinating.
“This card will introduce the Maysville Guild rug weaver to you”, The Ladies’ Home Journal November 1926, Volume 43 Issue 11
“Maysville Carpet Warp for Hand Loomed Rugs”, The Industrial-Arts Magazine, December 1926, Vol 15 Iss 12; December 1927, Vol 16 Iss 12; December 1928, Vol 17 Iss 12; December 1929, Vol 18 Iss 12
“Hand-Loomed Rugs made especially for you!” (January & Wood Co.), Better Homes and Gardens December 1926, Volume 5 Issue 4; March 1927, Volume 5 Issue 7; April 1927, Volume 5 Issue 8
1927
“Maysville Guild Rugs”, McCall’s December 1927, February 1928, March 1928,
1928
“Mill News”, Textile World April 28, 1928, Volume 73 Issue 17
“Mill News”, Textile World August 11, 1928, Volume 74 Issue 6
“What The Southern Mills Are Doing”, Cotton October 1928, Volume 92 Issue 12
January & Wood Co., Maysville, Ky., have awarded contract to J.C. Simmons, local contractor, for a three-story addition. The building will be used as a storage and packing plant for finished goods.
1929
“Court of Appeals”, The United States Daily Annual Index 1929 Volume 4 Index
“Enlargements and Improvements”, Textile World February 2, 1929, Volume 75 Issue 5
“Horace J. Cochran” obituary, Textile World March 23, 1929, Volume 75 Issue 12
“Notes About Men You Know Or Know About”, Cotton April 1929, Volume 93 Issue 6
“The Personal Page”, Textile World June 22, 1929, Volume 75 Issue 25
1930
In 1930, January & Wood Co. begins production of “Maysville Rug Filler”.
1932
“Hometies Twine Holder”, Hardware Age August 4, 1932, Volume 130 Issue 3
1934
A.M.J. Cochran obituary, Textile World July 1934, Volume 84 Issue 8
A.M.J. Cochran, aged 80, president of January & Wood Co., Maysville, Ky., died June 12.
1940
“Textile Mill News”, Textile World August 1940, Volume 90 Issue 8
“What the Southern Mills Are Doing”, Cotton: Serving the Textile Industries August 1940, Volume 104 Issue 8
“Textile Mill News”, Textile World October 1940, Volume 90 Issue 10
January & Wood Co., Maysville, Ky., has awarded the contract for the dry pipe system of automatic sprinklers to Grinnell Co. The new building is 102×102 ft.
1941
“What the Southern Mills Are Doing”, Cotton: Serving the Textile Industries February 1941, Volume 105 Issue 3
“What the Southern Mills Are Doing”, Cotton: Serving the Textile Industries April 1941, Volume 105 Issue 5
“News About Men” Textile World May 1941, Volume 91 Issue 5
NEWS ABOUT MEN
J.O. Precourt is the newly elected vice-president of January & Wood Co., Maysville, Ky. He has since 1932 been in charge of the Chicago sales office of the company.
1943
“News About Men”, Textile World March 1943, Volume 93 Issue 3
R.M. Adair, president and sales manager of January & Wood Co., Maysville, Ky., is now in Washington with a temporary and part-time assignment in the textile division of WPB in connection with the twine and cord industry.
1944
“Maysville carpet warp and rug filler”. This ad appeared in multiple issues of The Seer: A Quarterly Bulletin for the Prevention of Blindness from March 1944 through December 1946.
1947
“Ask for Home-Ties Twine”, Life June 30, 1947, Volume 22 Issue 26; The Saturday Evening Post July 5, 1947, Volume 220 Issue 1
“Tested and Guaranteed!”, Life August 4, 1947, Volume 23 Issue 5
“Home-Ties Clothes Lines Are Stronger!”, The Saturday Evening Post October 4, 1947, Volume 220 Issue 14; Life October 6, 1947, Volume 23 Issue 14
“Insist on Home-Ties Twine” Life November 3, 1947, Volume 23 Issue 18
“Always Buy Home-Ties Gift Wrapping Twine”, Life December 8, 1947, Volume 23 Issue 23
1948
“News About Men”, Textile World November 1948, Volume 98 Issue 11
“News About Men”, Textile World October 1948, Volume 98 Issue 10
“Weavers, here is your opportunity!”, American Agriculturist February 7, 1948 and March 6, 1948; Farm Journal February 1948, Volume 72 Issue 2; February 1949, Volume 73 Issue 2; Pathfinder February 11, 1948, Volume 55 Issue 3; March 10, 1948, Volume 55 Issue 5; McCall’s March 1949, Vol 76 Issue 6
1949
1950
“Weavers You can make bigger profits!”, Handweaver & Craftsman Summer 1950: Vol 1 Iss 2; Fall 1950: Volume 1 Issue 3; Spring 1951: Vol 2 Iss 2
“Rayon makes the difference in Lusterspun”, Handweaver & Craftsman Winter 1950-1951: Vol 2 Iss 1
1954
“The mystery shrug”, The American Girl October 1954, Volume 37 Issue 10
1961
“Weaving that Pays Practical Experience over 25 Years” by Alice K. Cripps, Handweaver & Craftsman Summer 1961: Vol 12 Iss 3. I include this article by Alice K. Cripps because she was a pattern designer for January & Wood Co., Inc. “starting 12 years ago” (~1949). In this article, she gives advice on making money with home weaving and I just found it really intriguing article – not to mention, is still good advice for most any type of craft sales! (imho!)
1965
In late 1965, January & Wood Company/Maysville Weavers Guild ceases publication of The Shuttle.
Excerpt from Fifteen Clues by Eugene B. Block, Page 38:
Maysville, Kentucky Yarns and Yarn Company Advertisements: Reed Loom Company
The only other company (so far) I’ve found that appears to have been a widely known retailer and/or distributor and/or advertiser of and/or other affiliation with Maysville is the Reed Loom Company of Springfield, Ohio.
Handweaver & Craftsman April 1950: Vol 1 Iss 1
1953
Handweaver & Craftsman Summer 1953: Vol 4 Iss 3; Fall 1953: Vol 4 Iss 4; Winter 1953-1954: Vol 5 Iss 1; Spring 1954: Vol 5 Iss 2; Summer 1954: Vol 5 Iss 3; Fall 1954: Vol 5 Iss 4; Winter 1954-1955: Vol 6 Iss 1; Spring 1955: Vol 6 Iss 2; Summer 1955: Vol 6 Iss 3; Fall 1955: Vol 6 Iss 4
1955
Handweaver & Craftsman Winter 1955-1956: Vol 7 Iss 1; Spring 1956: Vol 7 Iss 2; Summer 1956: Vol 7 Iss 3
1956
Handweaver & Craftsman Fall 1956: Vol 7 Iss 4; Winter 1956-1957: Vol 8 Iss 1; Spring 1957: Vol 8 Iss 2; Fall 1957: Vol 8 Iss 4; Spring 1958: Vol 9 Iss 2
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