inventor, manufacturer, b. Watertown, N.Y. He moved to Wisconsin in 1857, and lived for several years in Sheboygan and Neenah before moving to Milwaukee in 1882. In Milwaukee he organized the Manville Covering Co. (1886) to manufacture insulated boiler and pipe coverings which he had developed. He was president of this firm from 1886 to 1901 when it was consolidated with the H. W. Johns Manufacturing Co. of New York, manufacturers of roofing and covering materials. After consolidation, the company was known as the H. W. Johns-Manville Co. (Johns-Manville, Inc., after 1920, and Johns-Manville Corp. after 1927). Manville was vice-president of the new firm (1901-1920). He was granted five patents for various types of insulating materials (1886-1894). About 1911 he moved to New York City, where he served in executive capacities with company affiliates and with several other corporations. His three sons, Thomas Franklyn, Charles Rollins, and Hiram Edward Manville, also held prominent positions in the company and industry for many years. CHARLES ROLLINS MANVILLE, b. Neenah, was associated with the Manville Covering Co. from its inception, serving as secretary and treasurer until 1901, and as vice-president and general manager of the H. W. johns-Manville Co. in charge of the Milwaukee plants and western branches from 1901 until his death. He was widely known as an art collector. HIRAM EDWARD MANVILLE, b. Neenah, joined his father's firm about 1890, and served in various capacities until 1901. He moved to New York City in 1901, where he served as secretary of the H. W. Johns-Manville Co. (1901-1925), president (1925-1927), and chairman of the executive committee (1927-1939). In 1927 he sold the controlling interest in the business to J. P. Morgan and Co. He was known as a philanthropist, and contributed to various organizations and charities. THOMAS FRANKLYN MANVILLE, b. Neenah, was vice-president and general manager of the Manville Covering Co. (1886-1901). He accompanied his brother, Hiram, to New York City in 1901, and there served as president of the H. W. Johns-Manville Co. (1901-1924). He was chairman of the board of directors (1924- 1925), and served in executive capacities with affiliated companies and with many other large business and financial establishments. F. L. Holmes, et al., eds., Wis. (5 vols., Chicago, 1946); Natl. Cyclopaedia Amer. Biog., 24 (1935); N.Y. Times, Oct. 19, 1925, June 28, 1944; Milwaukee Journal, Dec. 30, 1920, Oct. 20, 1925, Nov. 28, 1927, June 28, 1944.Learn More
Dictionary of Wisconsin History
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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]
