John Rich (1786-1871) of Woolrich
1786 October 16th. Born in Wootton Basset the son of John Rich and his wife Margaret Braine Wilson
Married Rachael L. McCloskey
1811 Emigrated from Liverpool. Found employment as a wool carder in a mill in Germantown, Penn.
1814 Rented a small woollen factory at Mill Hall, Penn
By 1830, he was able build his own factory, alongside a brook known as Plum Run, where he began to produce fabric, socks, coverlets and yarn. In 1845 Rich decided to expand, purchasing a large stretch of land in a remote part of Pennsylvania where he built a mill, as well as an entire town, including schools and shops. The Woolrich Company's headquarters are still there.[1]. He initially called the town 'Factoryville'. It later became 'Woolrich'.[2]
His first mill on Plum Creek, of three storeys, was built with partner Daniel McCormick in 1830, and operated there until 1845. The company moved to its namesake town when the water velocity of this creek proved insufficient. The three-story,
1871 April 04th. Died in Clinton, Pennsylvania