James Withers Sloss (April 7, 1820 – May 4, 1890) was a planter, industrialist, and the founder of the Sloss Furnaces, and a leading figure in the early development of Birmingham, Alabama.
Sloss was born Limestone County in northern Alabama. His parents were Scotch-Irish. Though he had little formal education, he bought a store in Athens, Alabama. By successfully handling his store and his plantation, he quickly became one of the richest men in the state. After serving as a colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, he became president of the railroad line between Nashville, Tennessee and Decatur, Alabama. He became a leading figure in encouraging Alabama's industrial development after the Civil War, and in 1871 he persuaded the Louisville and Nashville Railroad to finish a line of railroad track between Birmingham and Decatur.
Work in Birminghamedit
Sloss knew that all of the ingredients needed to make pig iron were present in Birmingham. Along with Henry F. DeBardeleben and James Aldrich, Sloss formed the Pratt Coal and Coke Company. It later became the largest mining operation in the area, the remnants of which today include the Sloss Mines. Through the work of the company, Sloss became the first person to show that pig iron could be made in Birmingham purely from Alabama's iron ore, coke, and limestone.[1] Again working in conjunction with DeBardeleben, Sloss founded a furnace company in 1880 and started construction in 1881. It opened in 1882 under the name of the "City Furnaces," though it is today known as Sloss Furnaces. Sloss retired in 1886.
He also served as the president of the Birmingham water works.[1]
Legacyedit
Sloss's success in bringing a railroad to Birmingham transformed the new community into a thriving city.[2] Because of the deal that Sloss brokered with them, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad invested $30 million (~$815 million in 2023) in mines, steamships, and other Alabama industries in the 1870s.[2] Sloss was so influential in the development of the city of Birmingham that the Birmingham press suggested in 1881 that he be elected the state Governor:
His excellent business qualifications, brilliant intellect, splendid character, and fine executive ability, all combined, make him the grandest man in Alabama today for our chief executive. He is the very personification of Christian manhood and integrity, possessing the qualifications of head and heart which we should emulate.[3]
^ ab. Archived from the original on 2006-12-30. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
^. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
External linksedit
Sloss Industries History Page
January 01, 1970
james, sloss, james, withers, sloss, april, 1820, 1890, planter, industrialist, founder, sloss, furnaces, leading, figure, early, development, birmingham, alabama, bornjames, withers, sloss7, april, 1820mooresville, alabamadied4, 1890, aged, birmingham, alabam. James Withers Sloss April 7 1820 May 4 1890 was a planter industrialist and the founder of the Sloss Furnaces and a leading figure in the early development of Birmingham Alabama James SlossBornJames Withers Sloss7 April 1820Mooresville AlabamaDied4 May 1890 aged 70 Birmingham AlabamaNationalityAmericanOccupationIndustrialistSpouse s Mary Bigger 1842 Her death Martha Mattie Lundie 1872 1890 His death Children12Parent s Joseph Sloss and Clarissa Wasson Contents 1 Early life 2 Work in Birmingham 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editSloss was born Limestone County in northern Alabama His parents were Scotch Irish Though he had little formal education he bought a store in Athens Alabama By successfully handling his store and his plantation he quickly became one of the richest men in the state After serving as a colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War he became president of the railroad line between Nashville Tennessee and Decatur Alabama He became a leading figure in encouraging Alabama s industrial development after the Civil War and in 1871 he persuaded the Louisville and Nashville Railroad to finish a line of railroad track between Birmingham and Decatur Work in Birmingham editSloss knew that all of the ingredients needed to make pig iron were present in Birmingham Along with Henry F DeBardeleben and James Aldrich Sloss formed the Pratt Coal and Coke Company It later became the largest mining operation in the area the remnants of which today include the Sloss Mines Through the work of the company Sloss became the first person to show that pig iron could be made in Birmingham purely from Alabama s iron ore coke and limestone 1 Again working in conjunction with DeBardeleben Sloss founded a furnace company in 1880 and started construction in 1881 It opened in 1882 under the name of the City Furnaces though it is today known as Sloss Furnaces Sloss retired in 1886 He also served as the president of the Birmingham water works 1 Legacy editSloss s success in bringing a railroad to Birmingham transformed the new community into a thriving city 2 Because of the deal that Sloss brokered with them the Louisville and Nashville Railroad invested 30 million 815 million in 2023 in mines steamships and other Alabama industries in the 1870s 2 Sloss was so influential in the development of the city of Birmingham that the Birmingham press suggested in 1881 that he be elected the state Governor His excellent business qualifications brilliant intellect splendid character and fine executive ability all combined make him the grandest man in Alabama today for our chief executive He is the very personification of Christian manhood and integrity possessing the qualifications of head and heart which we should emulate 3 He is buried in Birmingham s Oak Hill Cemetery References edit a b History Sloss Industries Corporation Newsletter a b Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Archived from the original on 2006 12 30 Retrieved 2007 01 18 Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Archived from the original on 2007 02 16 Retrieved 2007 01 18 External links editSloss Industries History Page Sloss Furnaces page on James Sloss Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Sloss amp oldid 1175846747, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
