Barnum, Richardson & Company
William Barnum, age 53, was already a successful businessman: president of the Barnum & Richardson Manufacturing Company, a major foundry and supplier of castings for railroads. The Barnum & Richardson Company had been established in 1830 at Lime Rock (about four miles south of Salisbury) by William’s father Milo and Milo’s son-in-law, Leonard Richardson. It began as a small firm specializing in the production of clock and sash weights, plow castings, and other small items. But by 1871, the company had been reorganized several times, had expanded by acquisition, and was a major supplier of cast iron car wheels with plants both in Lime Rock/Salisbury and in Chicago. Also two advertisements for it.
Barnum, Richardson & Co. 1866 Barnum & Richardson Mfg. Co. 1879
Both from R&LHS Bulletin #103, October 1960 --- "A strange nondescript has just been received for repairs at the Grant Locomotive Works, and crowds of workmen are attracted to look at it. There is little likeness about it to a locomotive engine such as may be seen at the present day, still it purports to be something of the sort. "It was what was once known as the "grasshopper" or "wheel-barrow" engine,
and it is said that this class was once used for switching purposes on the old
Paterson & Hudson River road. The front truck is placed on four wheels and
there are two drivers directly under the cab. The build is of the rudest
description, the frame timbers very heavy, looking for all the world as if
merely hewn out. It must be seen to be appreciated: as for description, the
nearest we can come to it is to liken it to a steam roller, which it resembles
as much as anything else. The engine came here from Oil City, is named
"LOGAN", and was built by Barnum, Richardson & Co., Chicago, in 1866." '' The Barnum & Richardson Mfg. Co.. in Chicago are about to move to the
new shops on the South Branch, which were built seven years ago, but have not
been used up to the present time. The change is made necessary by the press of
business."
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