This photo may be used copyright free and for any purpose and uploaded on any genealogical site. For larger JPG size contact photographer Patricia.

This photo may be used copyright free and for any purpose and uploaded on any genealogical site. For larger JPG size contact photographer Patricia.

Washington Iron Works
Sherman, Texas
Grayson County

Note: This photo may be used copyright free and for any purpose and uploaded on any genealogical site. For larger JPG size contact photographer Patricia.
http://washingtonironworks.com/aboutus.htm

In 1875 Solon Totten (1847-1932) made two trips on horseback to Texas from Quincy, Illinois, looking for better conditions for the family blacksmith business. Finding stage companies operating out of Sherman and requiring blacksmith services, he persuaded his father and family to move here. In 1876 Solon and his brother Levi Totten (1844-1915) opened "Totten Bros. Blacksmith" on Cherry Street. The business produced wheels for freight wagons and stagecoaches and repaired the vehicles.

Levi and Solon Totten [sons of Mary Isabella Stewart], Noah Swain, Adolph and Max Seisfield and L. L. Roussell were the original stockholders. The name changed in 1881 to "Washington Iron Works." In 1890 the firm moved to East Lamar Street and settled at this site. By 1893 the Totten brothers and their father Joseph (1821 - 1906) had gained full ownership. It remains in the Totten family.

By 1904 Solon operated the company with his sons Harry (1877-1964) and Jesse (1880-1946) until he retired in 1922. Harold Totten (1900-1969) operated the company with his father Harry after Jesse's death.

The foundry section closed in 1918. During World War II, the shop made gun barrel molds. This industry, the oldest in Sherman, has expanded to a worldwide service for oil and gas processing, petrochemical plants, power generation and marine interests.

Legal notice was given in THE QUINCY DAILY HERALD, dated Sept. 2, 1858; Page 3. William Stewart died in 1857. His wife Nancy Marston Stewart and family are documented in the newspaper notice below. Joseph Totten and his wife Mary Isabella Stewart Totten are cited below.

"STATE OF ILLINOIS --- COUNTY OF Adams, Sct., In the Adams Circuit Court, Illinois; to the October term, A. D. 1858.
Joseph Bennet…………………..complainant.
vs.
Nancy Stewart, William A. Thompson, Maria [Stewart] Thompson, Joseph Totten, Isabella [Stewart] Totten, John Stewart, Adaniram J. Stewart, Joseph H. Stewart, George E. Stewart, Isaac N. Stewart, Florinda T. Stewart, Henry W. Stewart, Francis M. Stewart, Emma Stewart, Cyrus Stewart, Vinet V. Stewart, Giles S. Lewis and William Stewart, Jr………………………….defendants.

It appearing by affidavit on file, in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in and for said county, that said defendant, Adaniram J. Stewart and George E. Stewart reside out of this state:

Notice is therefore hereby given, on the Chancery side thereof, and that a summons has been issued against the said defendant first above named, returnable on the first day of the next term of the said circuit court, to be holden at the court house, in Quincy, on the fourth Monday in the month of October next, and that unless said defendant be and appear before said circuit court, on the return day of said summons, and answer the said complainant's bill of complaint, the allegations thereof will be taken as confessed against them and a decree entered according to the prayer of said bill.

Dated at Quincy, this 23d day of August A. D. 1858.
THOS. W MACFALL, Clerk.
Isaac Shinn, complainants solicitor. an24d30d"

*Note: This notice appeared in the Sept. 2, 1858 edition of the newspaper and Mary [Isabella] Stewart Totten (wife of Joseph Totten) died on September 17, 1858, just two weeks later.