Margaret Fairbridge Barron
In 1849 a twenty-two year old pork merchant, Henry Milward, leaves County Waterford, Ireland, to make his fortune in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to a Waterford News article other bacon cutters were leaving to join him in this adventure. It states “...they have been able to send home large sums of money to their families.” At this time Cincinnati was emerging as one of the major meatpacking centers of the United States. By the mid 1800's, the city was known as "Porkopolis," because of the importance of meat packaging to the economy of Cincinnati.
Burnet House Hotel
In 1850 Henry is staying in the brand new 340 room Burnet House Hotel in downtown Cincinnati. Even the London Illustrated News was calling this “..the finest hotel in the world.” Also with him was his business partner Percival Piggott Oldershaw. The two had formed the Milward & Oldershaw Pork Packing Company and had just built a two acre packing house across the river in Newport, Kentucky. A Newport newspaper described the business; “A slaughter house, which will contain four thousand hogs, is on the upper floor, and the hog pens are on the roof. The building measures three hundred and sixty feet front, and runs back one hundred and sixty feet. It is doubtlessly the largest building for the purpose in the United States, and the proprietors assert with truth, that a more commodious or more excellently arranged establishment can no where be found.”
Even though they were a major player in the pork packing business it is not going well for them. By 1852 they are trying to sell the property to pay off debts. The problem was solved on Saturday night December 31, 1853 when the business caught fire. Even firemen from Cincinnati are ferried across the river to help but it is too late. Henry packs up and returns to the family business in Ireland and Oldershaw moves to Chicago.
In 1855 Henry heads to America after marrying a teenage Scottish lass named Margaret Fairbridge Barron from Edinburgh.
Milward moves to Chicago this time. Oldershaw had been doing picture framing work there, but joined him again in the pork business for the next six years. The new business, Milward & Company, also employes Mrs. Milward’s brother George Barron. The company speculates in the meat market and Henry appears in the Chicago papers regularly giving advice on market futures. Within five years his personal wealth is listed at almost a quarter million present day dollars. By 1870 his property is now valued at over $2 million and his home is listed at $500,000. Life is good.
When the Great Chicago Fire hits in 1871 Henry’s home and business are spared. He lives and works over a mile from the disaster. But in two years, at the leading edge of the 1873 Financial Panic, Henry’s speculations have turned bad. Very bad.
On June 24, 1873 a Henry Logan begins a suit of replevin (a procedure whereby seized goods may be provisionally restored to their owner) in the Circuit Court against Henry Milward, George Barron, the Chicago Dock Company, and Hibernian Banking Association, for the recovery of 6.459 pieces of short rib middles, now located in the warehouse No, 2 of the Chicago Dock Company, and of 8,858 pieces of short rib middles, in No. 3 of the same, valued at $28,200. ($600,000). Mr. Logan wins.
This, and other bad investments, causes Henry’s health to suddenly turn bad and he dies on July 21st. According to his obituary he was a great favorite with his associates. “I don’t believe any man on the Board of Trade had so many friends as Milward.” it stated.
Margaret and her brother return to Chicago, after having just left for a trip to Europe, to administer her husband’s estate. She discovers she will be poor. George Barron now takes over the company. Apparently he helps take care of his sister and the two go on their trip the next year.
Their ship to Europe, the S. S. Gallia
In 1876 thirty-eight year old Margaret took another European trip. This time her companion is William Dewar of Chicago. He was Scottish born like Margaret. Mr. Dewar has been a successful liquor distributor and book printer whose worth was over $200,000. He is also a Board Member of the St. Andrew’s Society that the Milwards have belonged to for years.
By 1880 the widow Milward has downsized and moved to South Chicago. The census shows she has two “boarders” with her. One is her brother and the other is William Dewar. William is now in the grain trading business with George. In October George Barron begins a suit for $900,000+ against George William Des Voeux, the recently appointed Governor of the Fiji Islands and later Hong Kong. Years earlier Des Voeux had speculated with Henry Milward in the grain market. He had won some and lost some with Henry. But after he lost over $300,000 of Henry’s money he only paid back some of it. George is now trying to recover the rest for the company and Margaret. Des Voeux offers $80,000 to settle it. The results are unknown.
Financially she is doing better and is still being courted by Mr. Dewar. She now appears in the papers as having parties at her home and busy doing other things. The Chicago Daily Tribune on July 31, 1881 has this mention about her;
NEW MUSIC
The Chicago Music Co.—“ Vaise Diletante,” written by Mrs. Henry Milward.
The other thing that happens during this July is a new business venture. She now goes into business with William Hobkirk and Henry C. Foreman. The new company is named Foreman, Hobkirk and Company and they are Chicago's new playing card manufacturer. (Listed in the Hochman as L28a)
By 1880 the widow Milward has downsized and moved to South Chicago. The census shows she has two “boarders” with her. One is her brother and the other is William Dewar. William is now in the grain trading business with George. In October George Barron begins a suit for $900,000+ against George William Des Voeux, the recently appointed Governor of the Fiji Islands and later Hong Kong. Years earlier Des Voeux had speculated with Henry Milward in the grain market. He had won some and lost some with Henry. But after he lost over $300,000 of Henry’s money he only paid back some of it. George is now trying to recover the rest for the company and Margaret. Des Voeux offers $80,000 to settle it. The results are unknown.
Financially she is doing better and is still being courted by Mr. Dewar. She now appears in the papers as having parties at her home and busy doing other things. The Chicago Daily Tribune on July 31, 1881 has this mention about her;
NEW MUSIC
The Chicago Music Co.—“ Vaise Diletante,” written by Mrs. Henry Milward.
The other thing that happens during this July is a new business venture. She now goes into business with William Hobkirk and Henry C. Foreman. The new company is named Foreman, Hobkirk and Company and they are Chicago's new playing card manufacturer. (Listed in the Hochman as L28a)
Sixty year old William Hobkirk was born in Scotland like Margaret. He had arrived in Chicago with quite a story. Mr. Hobkirk had been the trustworthy head of the Corn Exchange Bank in Waupun, Wisconsin, in 1875. In August the bank was hit with a lawsuit about Hobkirk's questionable bank investments in the grain market. Hobkirk had actually lost the bank's money and was trying to keep it quiet. The day after the lawsuit he fled to Chicago with the $17,000 ($400,000) from the bank vault and changed the combination to create a delay of being found out. In Chicago he got a bank loan of $14,000 ($350,000) and headed to Australia with Mrs. Hobkirk.
In July 1877 Mrs. Hobkirk suddenly appears in Waupun to make a deal for her husband to return. He is now in South America in Chile. The citizens feel it is a lost cause to try and recover any money. By November William returns and moves to Chicago. For the next 3 years his wife, a former actress, gives elocution lessons for them to have money to live on. William had a vineyard in California while he was on the run but that has now been lost due to frost damage.
But, somehow William comes up with $20,000 ($600,000) in late 1880 to buy a third interest in the Chicago Brewing Company. By 1881 he goes into business with Margaret. He may have known her through her husband when he was dealing in the Chicago grain market for the Corn Exchange Bank. The new corporation is known as Foreman, Hobkirk and Company.
The card company only lasts a year because the third partner, Henry C. Foreman, has gotten into financial trouble. William Hobkirk soon leaves Chicago to live out his life in Peabody, Kansas. But the next year, Foreman and two others incorporate the Chicago Playing Card Company. (Hochman L25) This business will spawn other playing card companies soon. But, that's another story coming in the near future.
Chicago Playing Card Company
Seeking to entice business away from New York City in the 1880s New Jersey Governor Leon Abbet promoted a rather revolutionary plan by rewriting its incorporation laws to make creating a business in New Jersey far easier than any other states. Incorporation in New Jersey could then be done quickly and easily, even by non-residents. In return New Jersey collects a franchise tax on the businesses which helps replenish its coffers drained mainly by Civil War debts.
Just after Foreman, Hobkirk & Company folds Margaret received an insurance policy settlement for $137,000 when her brother died. On May 9, 1883 Margaret takes advantage of New Jersey’s new law and registers a trademark there. She may has just become the first woman to ever design and trademark a Joker.
Just after Foreman, Hobkirk & Company folds Margaret received an insurance policy settlement for $137,000 when her brother died. On May 9, 1883 Margaret takes advantage of New Jersey’s new law and registers a trademark there. She may has just become the first woman to ever design and trademark a Joker.
Trademark: No. 10,712. Playing Cards.—M. F. Milward, Jersey City, N. J. "The figure of a king's jester, of such dress and attitude as will conform to this character, having in the left hand a card with the picture thereon of a jester and the word 'Joker.'"
In January 1884 Margaret, her boyfriend William Dewar and William Burten incorporate the Western Playing Card in Chicago. (Hochman L28c) On April 16th William and Margaret F. Milward finally wed in Chicago. In July 1885 Margaret's playing card company fails.
In 1888 Margaret has now had enough of Chicago. The Dewars head back home to Scotland and take up residence in Edinburgh. William Dewar becomes a successful hide and tallow merchant in town. Margaret dies a couple years after returning home and William passes away in 1905.
Margaret and William lived here (49 Minton Street) in Edinburgh