Detail Timeline:

​1794 - Daniel Root, son of Jacob was born. Daniel married Madalene Mylin in 1834. They had a son Benjamin Mylin (B.M. Root)  Root born 10 July 1840 in Lancaster County. We believe Daniel and son Benjamin are the D. Root Son & Company proprietors.

1876 – D. Root Son & Company., Mount Joy, Pa. had steel and iron plows, cultivators and agricultural steels as listed on page 26 of the “International Exhibition. 1876 Official Catalogue, Philadelphia.

1886 – B. M. Root moves to York, Pa.

1887 1 Jan – Benjamin Root Sr dies late of East Hempfield Township. His will was duly proven on 5 Jan 1887 and the court issued letters that son Abraham F. Root and M.G. Musser (married to Mary Ann daughter of Benjamin) were the executors. As part of the court proceedings, The Chickies Iron Company was awarded $587.05 on 12 Sep 1884 from the estate of Benjamin M. Root who was the executor of his father’s estate, Daniel Root. Proceedings show D. Root, Son & Co. and the family members were partners. The following shows how/why Martin purchased the Root Plow Works was from the estate of Martin’s brother-in-law Benjamin and his father-in-law’s estate.  Source: “Lancaster Law Review” Vol. VIII Monday, April 13, 1891 pages 153-156.

1888 - Martin G. Musser purchased the Root Plow Works in 1888, located in the borough of Mount Joy and moved it to Mountville, where it was incorporated and became known as the Mountville Manufacturing Co. Martin was elected its first president, serving as such until 1896, when he was elected register of wills of Lancaster County. Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa. 1903, Published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 868-869. Martin G. Musser was born 19 Jan 1842 Lancaster County, died 16 Oct. 1926 (aged 84), Mountville, buried Mountville Cemetery. His wife was Mary Ann Root Musser born 2 March 1840, died 12 June 1891 (aged 50-51) buried in Mountville Cemetery. Do you see her maiden name is Root and the company name was Root Plow Works?

The plant was built in the southwest part of Mountville, near the railroad tracks.

Confirmation for year or incorporation is from the 1928 catalog No. 7, 62 pages: "Well Made Farm Machinery Since 1888." The list of products includes, "Corn Shellers, Corn Planters, Poultry Troughs, Hog Troughs, Shovel Plows, Wood Saws, Shovels, Bag Trucks, Land Rollers, Hay Tedders, Plows, Potato Diggers".

1888 – Michael G. Shindle was one of the incorporators of the Mountville Manufacturing Co. Michael was the general manager and secretary from the start in 1888, until he resigned the office in 1895. Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa. 1903, Published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 671.

1888 – Charles C. Seitz is listed as one of the incorporators of the Mountville Manufacturing Co. He was a director for three years, but resigned Aug. 4, 1900. Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa. 1903, Published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 416.

1896 - Mountville Manufacturing Co. attended the Trenton Exposition. A note for “new and useful improvements are being made in their corn and fertilizer planters for the coming spring.”  Reported in “The Cultivator & Country Gentleman” page 794 Oct. 8 1896.

1900 April 4 - issue of “The Star”, Reynoldsville, Pa. the following was reported: “Almost the entire plant of the Mountville Manufacturing Company, near Lancaster, Pa., was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of between $50,000 and $100,000.”

1903 – John M. Froelich is listed as one of the originators and organizers of the Mountville Manufacturing Co., served as one of its first directors and is now (1903) its president. Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa. 1903, Published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 404-405.

1903 – John F. Charles is listed as a stock holder and director of the Mountville Manufacturing Co. Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa. 1903, Published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 706-707.

1903 – Christian F. Charles is listed as a director of the Mountville Manufacturing Co. Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa. 1903, Published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 246-247.

1903 – John N. Lehman is listed as an investor of the Mountville Manufacturing Co. Biographical Annals of Lancaster Co., Pa. 1903, Published by J. H. Beers & Co., page 777.

1918 Sept 17 - issue Harrisburg Telegraph reported: “John M. Frolich Dies Marietta, Pa., Sept. 16. – John M. Frolich, of Mountville, aged 85 years, president of the Mountville National bank, the Mountville Brick Company, and Mountville Manufacturing Company, died Sunday night after two days illness. He was a member of the United Brethren Church. Four children and two sisters survive.” The brick factory was next door to the Mountville Manufacturing Co.

1926 – Henry Fisher took over management of the struggling Mountville Manufacturing Company in 1926 (founded in 1888). Fisher learned of an Ohio company that was forced into bankruptcy that had an innovative model of ensilage cutters. Fisher obtained these ensilage cutters and was able to bring Mountville back to profitability. Fisher hires Irl Alonzo Daffin, from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, as a salesman, Raymond “Bucky” Buckwalter, a farmer from Warwick Township to work in the Mountville office.
 
1927 October 6 - Iron Trade Review page 889 reported: Mountville, Pa. – Mountville Mfg. Inc. has been incorporated with $66,000 capital to manufacture agricultural implements – William S. Martin, Calvin Miles Kendig and Edward I. Froelich.

1932 – A.M. Dellinger Co. (Lancaster, Pa.) purchased the Mountville Mfg. Co. line of machinery, however they did not buy the land or building of the Mountville Mfg. Co.

1942 - Mountville Manufacturing Co. land/building was bought in 1942 by New Holland Machine Co.

Mountville Manufacturing Company

Over the years New Holland Machine Company and Sperry Rand Corporation purchased other companies. One of the three prominent companies purchased was: Mountville Manufacturing Company of Mountville, Pa. This section provide insight on what these companies made/sold. We are looking for additional publications to add to this section.

Summary timeline:  (Detail timeline is at the bottom)

1888 - D. Root, Son & Company sold off Root Plow Works to Martin G. Musser. (Estate sale)

1888 - Martin moves Root Plow Works from Mt. Joy, Pa., to Mountville and it becomes Mountville Manufacturing Company

1900 – Big fire and burns almost the entire plant.

1926 – Henry Fisher takes over management

1927 – Incorporates for $66,000

1932 – A.M. Dellinger Mfg Co. purchases the product line – not the building

            (A.M. Dellinger Mfg. Co. was bought out by New Holland Machine Co. 1948)

1942 – New Holland Machine Company purchases the building

​Click on an image and it will enlarge and you can scroll through the other images (Left and Right arrows on the sides of the image). 

Mountville Manufacturing Company - Agricultural Implements

Mountville Manufacturing Company - Repair Price Guide (Lists Products)

Mountville Manufacturing Co Post Cards

1891 Map of Mountville Manufacturing Company

New Holland Hit and Miss Engines