13 Facts About Henry Disston

Henry Disston was an English American industrialist who founded the Keystone Saw Works in 1840 and developed the surrounding Tacony neighborhood of Philadelphia to build housing for his workers.

Henry Disston's company became the Disston Saw Works and was the top manufacturer of hand saws in the United States during the late 19th-century and early 20th century.

Henry Disston's father invented a machine to make a special fine lace and was invited to introduce the machine to a mill in Albany, New York.

Henry Disston arrived in America, as a boy of 14 with his father and 16-year-old sister, Marianna.

Henry Disston left that company in 1840 and started his own saw-making business.

Henry Disston married Amanda Bickley but she died after giving birth to twins who only survived a few hours.

Henry Disston encouraged emigration from England to staff his factory with skilled workers.

Henry Disston constructed homes for his workers, and designed them in an effort to improve their surroundings from their former dwellings in Philadelphia.

The Henry Disston family owned more than 600 homes that were rented to workers and many others were built and sold to workers.

In 1879, US President Rutherford B Hayes visited Philadelphia and toured the Disston Saw Works factory.

Henry Disston was an early settler of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Henry Disston built a summer cottage for his wife and multiple business such as a bakery, a coal and brick yard, and a saw mill.

Henry Disston is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in the largest mausoleum in the cemetery.