San Francisco County

Biographies

THE PHOENIX IRON WORKS

JOSEPH K. FIRTH & EDWARD A. RIX

THE PHOENIX IRON WORKS is the outgrowth of one of the first iron-working establishments on the Pacific coast. In 1849 Jonathan Kittredge started a blacksmith shop on the edge of the beach in the young city of San Francisco, doing a prosperous business in that line for some years, when he gradually drifted into the manufacture of safes and locks, and housesmith work, which he continued until his death in 1885. In 1878 Mr. Edward A. Rix, a native son, and a young man of energy and fine business capacity, became a partner of Mr. Kittredge and started to manufacturing machinery. After the decease of the latter Mr. Rix bought his interest in the plant and tools and formed a copartnership with Joseph Firth, a natural mechanical genius and educated draughtsman. Managed by this combination of talent and energy the business grew rapidly, soon developing into one of the prominent productive industries of the city. At one time the firm gave considerable attention to the manufacture of locomotive engines, of which they have built ten in one year. Of late they have made a special feature of compressed-air and hydraulic machinery, of which they are the leading manufacturers. They also do a large business in architectural iron work and have executed buildings on the coast. The firm is now, August, 1890, doing the iron work on the Crocker building on Market and Montgomery streets, amounting to about $180,000. Their plant, which is situated at 225 First street, covers an area of 60 x 275 feet, and embraces first-class machinery to the value of $80,000 or $90,000. The firm employs 50 to 100 skilled workmen.

Edward A. Rix is the son of Alfred Rix, a California pioneer of 1852, and a prominent attorney of San Francisco. Edward was born thirty-five years ago, opposite the Palace Hotel in what is now the Bay Oyster House. Possessing a business turn of mind, and a talent for mechanics, he followed the natural bent of his mind in selecting manufacturing as a pursuit. He married Miss Kittredge, also a native of California.

Joseph K. Firth, came to California from Michigan, his native State, when a lad of seven years. In 1871 he commenced to learn the trade of pattern-making at the Pacific Iron Works, and during his six years of connection with that firm he also studied and became an expert mechanical draughtsman. He left there to take the position of mechanical draughtsman and assistant engineer in the Almaden Quicksilver Mine, Santa Clara county. Subsequently he returned to the city and was employed as mechanical draughtsman for the Fulton Iron Works for a number of years, which position he resigned to accept that of assistant engineer at the Union Iron Works. While in that capacity Mr. Firth prepared the drawings and specifications for the Market and Sutter Street Cable Railway. He also superintended the work of putting in the machinery in the new Union Iron Works and lighted the first fire in that vast establishment. Soon after this he closed negotiations with Mr. Rix, forming the present copartnership in August, 1885. Their works were then located on Fremont street, near Market; but two years later the firm built and moved into their present commodious quarters.

Mr. Firth is a prominent member of the Mason order, being an officer in the Golden Gate Commandery, Knights Templar. He has passed the Patriarchal chairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is one of the Board of Trustees of the Mechanics’ Institute. He married the daughter of Mr. James W. Whiting, a California pioneer of 1849 and an old resident of San Francisco.

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker.

Source: “The Bay of San Francisco,” Vol. 2, Pages 461-462, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.

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