Henry F. DeBardeleben
Henry Fairchild DeBardeleben | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Autauga County, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | December 6, 1910 (aged 70) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation | Industrialist |
| Known for | Founder of towns in Alabama; coal and iron industry pioneer |
Henry Fairchild DeBardeleben (July 22, 1840 – December 6, 1910) was a prominent American industrialist in the coal sector and a founder of towns in Alabama.
Early life
Born on July 22, 1840, in Autauga County, Alabama, Henry F. DeBardeleben was the son of a cotton plantation owner. Following his father’s death when Henry was ten years old, he relocated with his mother to Montgomery, Alabama, where he took up employment in a grocery store. At the age of sixteen, he became the ward of industrialist Daniel Pratt.
During the American Civil War, DeBardeleben served as a member of the Prattville Dragoons within the Confederate States Army.
Career
Following the conclusion of the war, Pratt appointed DeBardeleben as manager of the Helena Mines located in Helena, Alabama. In the 1870s, he played a key role in reconstructing the Oxmoor furnace. Upon Pratt’s passing in 1873, DeBardeleben inherited ownership of the Red Mountain Iron and Coal Company. He co-established Pratt Coal and Coke Company in 1878 with other investors and subsequently founded the Alice Furnace Company. Additionally, he was a co-founder of DeBardeleben Coal and Iron Company.
By 1887, his enterprise controlled approximately 150,000 acres dedicated to coal and iron mining operations, with an estimated worth of US$13 million. In 1891, this business merged with the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, where DeBardeleben assumed the role of Vice Chairman.
He held the presidency of the Alabama Fuel and Iron Company. Together with his sons, he developed coal and iron mining ventures in Margaret (St. Clair County), Acton (Shelby County), and established two mines in Acmar (St. Clair County). Notably, he was the pioneer producer of pig iron in the Birmingham vicinity.
DeBardeleben also founded the Bessemer Land and Improvement Company, which was instrumental in developing Bessemer, Alabama. His investments extended to Birmingham Rolling Mills and Birmingham National Bank.
Personal life
In 1863, during the Civil War period, DeBardeleben married Ellen Pratt, daughter of Daniel Pratt. After Ellen’s death in 1893, he entered into a second marriage with Katherine McCrossin in 1898. He was associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and supported the Democratic Party.
Death and legacy
DeBardeleben passed away on December 6, 1910, and was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Alabama Men's Hall of Fame in 1998.