S. Straight & Co. records
Scope and Content
The Straight & Co. records include one account book, a letter, two ledgers, and three journals, all detailing the various business transactions of the company. The collection also includes a price list for the Straight, Deming & Co.
Dates
- Creation: 1855-1904
Creator
- S. Straight & Co. (Organization)
Restrictions on Access
The collection is open for research use.
Restrictions on Use
The collection is open for research use.
History of S. Straight & Co.
S. Straight & Co., a cheese and butter manufacturing company, was founded in Hudson, Ohio by Seymour Straight and his son, W. B. Straight in 1867.
The S. Straight & Co. was founded in 1867 by Seymour Straight (1816-1896) and his son, W. B. Straight. Seymour Straight was born in Charlotte, Vermont in 1816 and spent most of his childhood in western New York and later moved with his family to northeastern Ohio. In 1845, he moved to Cincinnati and took a business education course at Bartlett's Commercial College. After working for a store for a few years, Seymour Straight borrowed money to start a produce commission business in Cincinnati. His business eventually led to a partnership with Judge William S. Deming, a cheese dealer in Ashtabula County. Deming and Straight founded "Straight, Deming & Co.," one of Straight's first forays into the cheese and butter commission business. In 1867, Seymour and his son, W. B. opened two cheese factories in Hudson, Ohio and established the S. Straight & Co. The Straights continued to buy factories, eventually operating over a dozen in the Hudson area. One of Straight's factories was housed in the old Pentagon building (demolished) on the corner of College and Aurora and another was housed in what now is known as Hayden Hall on the Western Reserve Academy campus. S. Straight & Co. produced and sold cheese all over the country until 1892. Throughout his career, Seymour Straight was also involved in politics and was an outspoken abolitionist. He later helped found Straight University (now: Dillard University) in New Orleans. For a full account of Straight's life, see: The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century (Cincinnati and Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Company, 1876).
Biographical / Historical
The S. Straight & Co. was founded in 1867 by Seymour Straight (1816-1896) and his son, W. B. Straight. Seymour Straight was born in Charlotte, Vermont in 1816 and spent most of his childhood in western New York and later moved with his family to northeastern Ohio. In 1845, he moved to Cincinnati and took a business education course at Bartlett's Commercial College. After working for a store for a few years, Seymour Straight borrowed money to start a produce commission business in Cincinnati. His business eventually led to a partnership with Judge William S. Deming, a cheese dealer in Ashtabula County. Deming and Straight founded "Straight, Deming & Co.," one of Straight's first forays into the cheese and butter commission business. In 1867, Seymour and his son, W. B. opened two cheese factories in Hudson, Ohio and established the S. Straight & Co. The Straights continued to buy factories, eventually operating over a dozen in the Hudson area. One of Straight's factories was housed in the old Pentagon building (demolished) on the corner of College and Aurora and another was housed in what now is known as Hayden Hall on the Western Reserve Academy campus. S. Straight & Co. produced and sold cheese all over the country until 1892. Throughout his career, Seymour Straight was also involved in politics and was an outspoken abolitionist. He later helped found Straight University (now: Dillard University) in New Orleans. For a full account of Straight's life, see: The Biographical Encyclopaedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century (Cincinnati and Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Company, 1876).
Extent
1 Linear Feet (1 folder and 6 volumes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Records of the S. Straight & Co., a cheese and butter manufacturing company once based in Hudson, Ohio.
Statement of Arrangement
Materials have been arranged by date.
Subject
- Straight, Deming & Co. (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the S. Straight & Co. records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Polly Reynolds
- Date
- 2024
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English, Latin script
Repository Details
Part of the Hudson Library & Historical Society Repository