Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company

Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company

Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company General Office
Industry	Zinc industry
Founded	1858
Founder	F. W. Matthiessen & Edward Hegeler
Defunct	1978
Headquarters	LaSalle, Illinois

The Matthiessen and Hegeler (M&H) Zinc Company was a zinc production firm headquartered in LaSalle, Illinois. At its peak, it stood as the largest zinc manufacturing facility in the United States, transporting ore from mining regions in Wisconsin and Missouri to coal fields in Northern Illinois. Both the company and its founders played a pivotal role in shaping the communities of LaSalle and Peru.

History

Frederick Matthiessen and Edward Hegeler first crossed paths at the Mining Academy in Freiberg, Saxony. Recognizing an unmet need within the American zinc sector, they emigrated in 1856 to investigate mining prospects across Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Their selection of LaSalle, Illinois was strategic due to the availability of coal necessary for smelting zinc ore and its advantageous rail links to Wisconsin's zinc deposits. Support from LaSalle’s mayor was instrumental in securing railroad agreements. The facility commenced operations in 1858 but temporarily halted during the Civil War before resuming by 1863 to supply zinc for wartime applications. A rolling mill was introduced in 1866.

Following incorporation in 1871, M&H rapidly expanded to dominate a substantial portion of the US spelter market, becoming the leading zinc producer nationwide between 1881 and 1910. By 1880, the workforce numbered 570 employees amid increasing competition from regional zinc enterprises. This growth also stimulated ancillary industries such as sheet metal fabrication and weather stripping manufacturing.

The discovery of natural gas near Kansas zinc deposits in 1896 shifted industry attention westward, presenting challenges to M&H’s market leadership. Nevertheless, M&H pursued expansion by establishing a smelting plant in Joplin, Missouri, in 1913 and acquiring multiple subsidiaries throughout eastern North America by the mid-20th century.

Leadership transitioned to Edward Hegeler's daughter, Mary Hegeler Carus, who directed the company from 1903 until 1936. As a trailblazing female engineer educated at both the University of Michigan and Bergakademie Freiberg, she demonstrated progressive and effective management during her tenure. In 1924, the Hegeler-Carus family secured full control by purchasing out the Matthiessen shares. Concurrently, Julius and Herman Hegeler established separate zinc enterprises in Danville, Illinois.

Coal extraction activities ended in 1936. During the mid-1900s, M&H expanded through acquisitions including Meadowbrook Corporation near Clarksburg, West Virginia, and New Castle Chemical Company near Pittsburgh, formerly owned by Dow Chemicals. However, labor disputes and operational inefficiencies adversely affected profitability during the 1960s. The company ceased zinc smelting operations by 1961 and discontinued sulfuric acid production by 1968, continuing only rolling processes until eventual closure. The original LaSalle facility has since been designated a superfund site.

Hegeler furnace

In 1881, M&H secured a patent for an enhanced version of the Hegeler furnace, building upon earlier Belgian and Silesian models. This innovation lowered coal consumption, improved ore utilization, reduced labor expenses, and generated commercially valuable sulfuric acid, thereby strengthening the company's position in zinc manufacturing.

Employee relations

Throughout the 1920s, M&H fostered positive labor relations, recognized for prioritizing workplace safety, offering competitive wages, and instituting an eight-hour workday as early as 1885—well ahead of mandated regulations. The firm provided employees with housing loans and encouraged their participation in management decisions. Unlike many peers, M&H experienced no strikes until 1936, a change attributed to decreased worker involvement following Matthiessen’s passing in 1918.

Zinc uses

Zinc played a critical role during World War I, being utilized in the production of ammunition, weaponry, sheet metal, and boilers. After the war, its applications broadened to include automotive components, brass fabrication, linoleum flooring, batteries, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and rubber tire manufacturing.

Subsidiaries

M&H operated several subsidiaries:

• Zinc Roofing and Ornament Company (Chicago; ceased operations in 1874)
• LaSalle and Bureau County Railroad (established 1876), providing plant connectivity to major rail networks
• Barnes Zinc Products (founded 1919; acquired in 1928), later renamed Barnes Metal Products Company supplying tools to retailers such as Sears and Ace Hardware
• Apollo Metal Products (active in the 1920s; relocated to Chicago by the 1940s)
• Sherbrooke Corporation (1959–1971), a phosphoric acid production facility sold in 1971
• Walker Metal Products Company (operated from 1968 to 1972)

Family impact

Frederick Matthiessen, co-founder of M&H and mayor of LaSalle, made significant contributions to local civic development including water systems, electric lighting infrastructure, libraries, and schools. He also donated his Deer Park estate for public use as Matthiessen State Park. Beyond zinc manufacturing, he was involved in brick production, machinery businesses, and reorganized the Western Clock Manufacturing Company (Westclox). His family financed the Matthiessen Memorial Auditorium in 1918.

Edward Hegeler, co-founder and business visionary with philosophical interests, founded the Open Court Press to promote philosophical literature in America, encompassing Eastern religious works. He invested in regional glass manufacturing and constructed the Hegeler-Carus Mansion—now recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Additionally, he gifted several parks to the city of LaSalle.

Edward Hegeler’s grandson, Edward Carus, established the Carus Chemical Company in 1916 as an independent venture separate from M&H; this company continues to operate today.

Notable employees

• Fritz von Frantzius, bookkeeper
• C. Bai Lihme, company President and son-in-law of Edward Hegeler
• William Donald Scherzer, engineer