Archive

Jacksonville History Center

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2016.062

Scope and Content

The collection contains the minutes, catalogs and memorabilia of the Florida Hardware Company. The original founder of Florida Hardware, George F. Drew was born in Alton, New Hampshire on August 6, 1827. In 1847 G.F. Drew opened a machine shop in Columbus, Georgia and sometime around then he became involved in lumbering in the State of Georgia. After relocating to Florida, he built what was reputed to be the largest sawmill in Florida. That was in 1865 around Ellaville, Florida on the Suwannee River. In 1875 he founded the Florida Hardware Company. G.F. Drew was elected as the 12th Governor of Florida. He held office from January 1877 until January 1881. G. F. Drew's election to the governorship of Florida occurred at the end of what was known as the "Reconstruction Era" in Florida. He is credited with significantly cutting taxes and expenditures, as another economic move, he established a convict lease system. After his term in office, he returned to private enterprise and resumed his activities in lumbering and hardware business. At one time he had eleven mills in operation. He served as the first president of the city's board of trade in Jacksonville. In 1885 he divested himself of Florida Hardware Company. He died in Jacksonville on September 26, 1900. In 1885, Jonathan Yerkes purchased Florida Hardware from Governor Drew. Jonathan Yerkes was the founder and principal in Yerkes & Plumb Tool Company of Pennsylvania (today know as "Plumb Tool"). The Yerkes family owned and operated Florida Hardware Company for 100 years. The many generations of Yerkes grew Florida Hardware to a leader in Florida. The Yerkes helped start many independent hardware dealers in business and they also helped many dealers survive the great depression. In 1985, Ralph J. Thieman Jr. of Quincy, Illinois purchased Florida Hardware Company from the Yerkes Family. Ralph Thieman was the third generation owner of the Quincy Hardware & Leather Company in Quincy, Illinois. Upon the purchase of Florida Hardware Company, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Also in 1985 he divested himself of the Quincy Hardware & Leather Company. The Thieman family continues to own and operate Florida Hardware Company today.

Collection

Florida Hardware Collection

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Archive Items Details

Date(s) of Creation

1886 - 1947

Title

Paperback Hardware Catalog with pictures, descriptions, and prices

Description

paperback book - catalog of hardware item from Wholesaler Florida Hardware Company, 16, 18, and 20 East Bay Street, Jacksonville, Florida. Telephone 57. The catalog listed item for sale to retail stores. Retailers would add 1/3 of cost to the item plus freight from Jacksonville to their store. Items listed with pictures, descriptions and price.

Creator

Florida Hardware Company

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 1

Subjects

Jacksonville History, Florida Hardware Company

Notes

Date: Sept. 1, 1921 Public Access

Title

Catalog Price List No.12 for Florida Hardware Company

Description

paperback catalog price list no.12 for Florida Hardware Company -part of back cover cut off - lower 1/4 of back top front cover torn

Creator

Florida Hardware Company

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 2

Subjects

Jacksonville History, Florida Hardware Company

Notes

Date: 1920 Public Access

Title

Florida Hardware Company Meeting Records 1886-1923

Description

Leatherbound book containing minutes of meetings dating from July 3, 1886 - March 21, 1923. Minutes of Geo F. Drew (?) Hardware Co. - so name at July 5, 1886 Board of Directors meeting Stockholders and Board Directors meeting July 18, 1891, meeting changed name to Florida Hardware Company Each meeting listed names of directors present last pages of book listed stockholders 1917, 1914, 1910, 1890, 1887, 1888

Creator

Florida Hardware Company

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 3

Subjects

Jacksonville History, Florida Hardware Company

Notes

Date: July 3, 1886 - March 21, 1923 Public Access

Title

Assorted Letters regarding the Florida Hardware Company

Description

assorted letters: 2 - notice of meeting of Stockholders, June 23, 1911 and August 23, 1929 -one notice of meeting of Directors, December 24, 1922 -letter from Secretary of State April 21, 1923, for charter of Florida Hardware Company -letter to Mr. Jno L. Doggett (?) -note on envelope Florida Hardware Co. discussing stock and being charter (?) -note on black (?) telegram listing directors and salary - no date -June1942 typed list of suppliers, dates, and cost of items in transit

Creator

Florida Hardware Company

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 4

Subjects

Jacksonville History, Florida Hardware Company

Notes

Date: June 23, 1911 Public Access

Title

Minutes(?)

Creator

Florida Hardware Company

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 5

Subjects

Jacksonville History, Florida Hardware Company

Notes

Date: 1923-1947 Public Access

Title

Certificate of Adoption of Corporate Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Securities

Description

Certificate of Adoption of Corporate Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Securities. Resolution passed September 5, 1936. Florida National Bank of Jacksonville N.A. Wakefield - Cashier, W.H. Goodman - Vice President and R.P. Markham - Assistant Cashier signed and sealed February 24, 1938 -notice to Corporations from Treasury Department of Internal Revenue Services -list of regulations to stamp tax on stock issued and transfer -Letter to Florida Hardware Company from the Florida National Bank. Jacksonvile, Florida February 28, 1938. Transfer of 28 shares of stock of Florida Hardware Company from D.U. Fletcher to Mrs. Anna Louise Chaplin Kemp

Creator

Florida Hardware Company

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 6

Subjects

Jacksonville History, Florida Hardware Company

Notes

Date: 1936-1938 Public Access

Title

Book of Stocks Issued by Geo F. Drew Hardware Co. 1886-1982

Description

Book of stock of Geo F. Drew Hardware Co. December 1886 - September 1982 issued December 1886 - September 1982

Creator

Florida Hardware Company

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 7

Subjects

Jacksonville History, Florida Hardware Company

Notes

Date: 1886-1982 Public Access

Title

Florida Hardware Company Brown Paper Bag

Description

Formerly accessioned as 1959.136.1

Creator

Florida Hardware Company

Container

Location JHS Archives Room 202 Container Box 1 Folder 8

Subjects

Jacksonville History, Florida Hardware Company

Notes

Date: 1886-1982 Public Access