Fackenthal, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1851-1941

Industrialist, philanthropist, college president, and historian.

From the description of Papers, 1722-1940. (Bucks County Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 70924651

From the description of Papers, 1727-1940. (Bucks County Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 70924650

Metallurgist, iron industry executive, and amateur historian.

From the description of Notes on the history of schools in Durham Township, Pa., [undated]. (Bucks County Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 70957754

From the description of Scrapbooks, ca. 1874-1934. (Bucks County Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 70957863

Businessman, metallurgist, and historian of early iron industry, of Pennsylvania.

From the description of Fackenthal family papers, [ca. 1790]-1900. (Bucks County Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 70965790

Businessman, metallurgist, and historian of early iron industry.

From the description of Documents, [ca. 1753]-1830. (Bucks County Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 70965789

B. F. Fackenthal, Jr., was a metallurgist and iron industry executive. He began work at the Durham Iron Works of Cooper & Hewitt in 1866, and from 1879 to 1892 he was superintendent of the works and general manager of Cooper & Hewitt's blast furnaces and mines. From 1893 to 1913 he was president of the Thomas Iron Company. In later life he was president of the Taylor, Stiles & Company knife works. Fackenthal was also a noted amateur historian of the early iron industry and of the Delaware Valley.

The Durham Iron Company was organized in 1726 by 14 persons, including Anthony Morris, James Logan, Joseph Turner and William Allen. A blast furnace was constructed at Durham, Bucks County, in 1727. The furnace supplied three forges located below it on Durham Creek. The heirs of the original partners partitioned the property in 1773. The furnace produced shot for the Contintental Army. Joseph Galloway, the principal owner, was attainted of treason, and his interest was purchased by Richard Backhouse in 1779. The original furnace was blown out in 1791 and torn down in 1829. New anthracite furnaces were constructed by the Whitakers in 1848 and 1851 and sold to Cooper & Hewitt in 1864.

From the description of Notes on Durham Iron Works, n.d. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122503444