William Whitaker & Sons, Inc.

William Whitaker & Sons was one of the oldest Philadelphia textile mills. Henry Whitaker had founded the firm of Whitaker & Sons in Rochdale, England, in 1796. He visited the United States in 1807 and returned in 1809 to relocate the business to Hudson, N.Y. In 1813 he again relocated to Philadelphia, where he established the Cedar Grove Mills on Tacony Creek. Henry Whitaker retired in 1822 and was succeeded by his sons Robert and William. They in turn sold out to their cousin, William Whitaker, who continued to operate the business as William Whitaker & Sons.

William Whitaker died in 1878 and was succeeded by his sons. Eventually, one of them, James Whitaker, became sole owner. The business remained in the Whitaker family for six generations. It was incorporated as William Whitaker & Sons, Inc., on September 30, 1946.

The Cedar Grove Mills came to specialize in mattress ticking, which was the principal product line from the 1840s until World War II. During the Civil War the firm manufactured woolen blankets for the war effort. In 1876 the Whitakers expanded into carpet manufacture through the purchase of the Tremont Carpet Mills in Frankford. The Whitaker firm sold directly to retailers, particularly to the retail store, Boyd, White & Co.

After World War II the firm went into decline as the mattress ticking business moved south. The mills were organized by the Textile Workers Union of America (AFL-CIO) in 1943. They closed for the last time in 1970.

From the description of Records, 1809-1970. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122458167