Page History: John Trefts
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John Trefts has been a foremost figure in the iron industry of Buffalo for half a century. He lived in Pittsburg when a young man, and learned there the trade of an iron molder. His long residence in Buffalo began in the year 1845, when he took charge of the foundry department of the Buffalo Steam Engine Works. He remained with this concern and its successors nearly twenty years, acquiring stock in the company, and taking an important part in the business. The panic of 18o7 brought disaster to the
Buffalo Steam Engine Works, as to thousands of other concerns; and the business was reorganized under the style of
George W. Tifft, Sons & Co. Mr. Trefts remained with the new firm seven years, and contributed very materially to the success of the business in that period. Chiefly through his skill as an iron worker and knowledge of iron ores, the Tifft firm was able to carry through profitably in l860 a contract for the manufacture of the rails used in laying the first street railway in Buffalo.
A greater degree of historical interest attaches to Mr. Trefts's connection with the petroleum industry. Soon after Colonel E. L. Drake "struck oil" in August, 1859, near Titusville, Penn., and thereby set in motion one of the greatest industrial forces of the century, Mr. Trefts interested himself actively in the oil business both as an operator and as a manufacturer of mechanical appliances used in the production of oil. He made the castings for the engine used to pump the Drake well. In 1860 he associated himself with P. S. Willard, and leased a part of the Shaffer farm, not far from Colonel Drake's original discovery. In operating their well here they used the first engine that ever drilled with a rope, as well as the first set of jars ever employed in oil production. These jars were invented by Mr. Willard, and were ill adapted to their purpose, so that the well was not a success, resulting in a "plugged hole." Relic hunters interested in the subject may pleasantly employ themselves in excavating these jars, as they are still in their untimely grave, buried under $1800 worth of experience.
Mr. Trefts's next venture was on the Ham McClintock farm, near Oil City. In attempting to drill this well his workmen became discouraged, and were disposed to abandon operations, so that Mr. Trefts took charge of the work personally. After dislodging three sets of tools left in the well by former drillers, he vindicated his faith by discovering a well that yielded 200 barrels of oil a day. A few weeks after this he succeeded in completing the well-known Van Slyke well on the Widow McClintock farm. He had no interest in this well, which was owned by John Van Slyke and C. M. Farrar. Work had been abandoned on the well, but Mr. Trefts felt so confident that oil could be found there that he undertook further explorations at his own expense. His judgment proved excellent, as the well produced 200 barrels of oil a day.
These ventures in the oil country had not interfered with Mr. Trefts's regular occupation at the Tifft works in Buffalo. On the contrary, his experience as an actual producer of oil helped him materially in later life as a manufacturer of the various machines used by oil operators. In other parts of the business as well Mr. Trefts was accordingly, with Chillion M. Farrar and Theodore C. Knight, under the style of
Farrar, Trefts & Knight, for the purpose of establishing a foundry, machine shop, and general iron works. In 1869 Mr. Knight retired from the firm; but the other partners, under the well-known style of
Farrar & Trefts, have carried on the business ever since. Their resources at first were slight; but their experience, energy, and character ensured ultimate success. The business expanded year by year until now the firm is known throughout the iron trade as one of the most successful concerns in its line in the country. Boilers of all kinds, propeller wheels, steam engines, iron and brass castings, and a multitude of special mechanical appliances used in various industries, are some of the famous " F & T." products. The works of the concern occupy three acres of valuable land in Buffalo.
Information Sources
- The Men of New York, Western Section, Vol. 1, 1898, pages 331-332