Righter and Sutton Lumber Company Records

Collection

Identifier: MS 036

Staff Only

Summary

This collection contains, business correspondence, legal and financial documents, and orders relating to the lumber business of Washington Righter and his partner Nelson Sutton of Columbia, PA during the period 1847 - 1879.

Dates

1847-1879.

Creator

Righter and Sutton Lumber Co. (Columbia, Pa.) (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

Access unrestricted.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Photocopying and publication may be restricted by copyright. except by permission of copyright holder..

Biographical / Historical

Little information is known about Righter and Sutton Lumber Company. It is believed that Washington Righter (1799?1879) was originally a tanner by trade and came to Columbia, Pa. from Chester County between 1827 and 1834. In 1834 he established himself in the lumber business in Columbia. By 1847 Righter went into partnership with Nelson Sutton (a partnership which appears to have ended in 1858 with the death of Mr. Sutton) as Righter and Sutton. He later (about 1864) formed a partnership with his sons Washington, Jr. (d.1902) and Joseph C. Righter as the firm, Washington Righter?s Sons. The company opened a wholesale and retail lumberyard in Philadelphia in 1873, continuing until 1881 when they began a wholesale lumber business in Williamsport. In 1887 the company purchased the Piper Sawmill in Williamsport and continued under the name Righter, Benedict & Co., changing the name in 1889 to W. Righter?s Sons & Co.