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John William Kiser (June 20, 1857 – October 31, 1916) was a 19th-century
In 1889 when Kiser moved to Chicago, he had few resources, with his obituary in the ''American Artisan and Hardware Record'' later describing him as "practically penniless". That same year he took a job as manager of the Chicago Sewing Machine company. He rose to become the president of the company. Taking advantage of a boom in bicycle usage in the United States at that time, he and his partner Chandler Robbins then started Monarch Cycle Manufacturing Company to manufacture bicycles. The company, which was established with $500,000 in capital, built its factory at the corner of North Halsted and West Lake Streets in Chicago.
In 1892, Monarch Cycle had only 35 employees and made 150 bicycles. By 1896 the company had 1200 employees, and they were producing 50,000 bicycles. At its peak, the Monarch Cycle employed around 400 engineers. The company sold bicycles worldwide.
In 1899 he sold his company to the Bicycle Trust.
In 1902 he became the treasurer of the Phoenix Horseshoe Company of Chicago. By 1907 he was made president of the company. He was also the director of the First National Bank and the Miehle Printing Press.
John William Kiser at Find a Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiser, John William 1857 births 1916 deaths 19th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American businesspeople Businesspeople from Ohio Businesspeople from Chicago People from Champaign County, Ohio American industrialists
industrialist
A business magnate, also known as an industrialist or tycoon, is a person who is a powerful entrepreneur and investor who controls, through personal enterprise ownership or a dominant shareholding position, a firm or industry whose goods or ser ...
who owned the Monarch Cycle Manufacturing Company
Monarch Cycle Manufacturing Company (1892-1899) was a bicycle manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois. By 1896 the company became one of the largest manufacturers of bicycles in the world.
History
The company was founded in 1892 by John William ...
in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
. His company became one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in the world.
Early life
Kiser was born in St. Paris, Ohio, June 20, 1857. His parents were farmers George R. Kiser and Margaret Ellen (née McVey) Kiser. In 1884 he graduated with aBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
degree from Wittenburg College.
Career
In 1889 when Kiser moved to Chicago, he had few resources, with his obituary in the ''American Artisan and Hardware Record'' later describing him as "practically penniless". That same year he took a job as manager of the Chicago Sewing Machine company. He rose to become the president of the company. Taking advantage of a boom in bicycle usage in the United States at that time, he and his partner Chandler Robbins then started Monarch Cycle Manufacturing Company to manufacture bicycles. The company, which was established with $500,000 in capital, built its factory at the corner of North Halsted and West Lake Streets in Chicago.
In 1892, Monarch Cycle had only 35 employees and made 150 bicycles. By 1896 the company had 1200 employees, and they were producing 50,000 bicycles. At its peak, the Monarch Cycle employed around 400 engineers. The company sold bicycles worldwide.
In 1899 he sold his company to the Bicycle Trust.
In 1902 he became the treasurer of the Phoenix Horseshoe Company of Chicago. By 1907 he was made president of the company. He was also the director of the First National Bank and the Miehle Printing Press.
Personal life
He married Thirza (in some places spelled Thyrza) Wilhelmina (née) Furrow on September 18, 1884. They had one son born June 10, 1889; he was also named John William Kiser. It was reported that Kiser had amassed a fortune of $8 million (approximately US$200 million, adjusted for inflation as of December 2021) by the time of his death. Kiser had an interest in sailing and, in 1923, commissioned a 157-foot steel motor yacht from Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft. The 375-ton vessel was purchased by the Maritime Commission and was used in the navy during World War II.Death
Kiser spent his time in St. Paris, Ohio, and New York and Chicago. He died October 31, 1916, in Chicago Illinois, at theBlackstone Hotel
The Blackstone Hotel is a historic 21-story hotel on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Balbo Drive in the Michigan Boulevard Historic District in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. Built between 1908 and 1910, it is on the Natio ...
and his body was sent back to St. Paris for burial.
References
External links
John William Kiser at Find a Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiser, John William 1857 births 1916 deaths 19th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American businesspeople Businesspeople from Ohio Businesspeople from Chicago People from Champaign County, Ohio American industrialists