Hamilton Disston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamilton Disston
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| Born | August 23, 1844 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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| Died | April 30, 1896 (aged 51) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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| Resting place | Laurel Hill Cemetery |
| Occupation | Industrialist, Real estate developer |
Hamilton Disston (born August 23, 1844 – died April 30, 1896) was a very important businessman. He was an industrialist, meaning he ran big factories. He also developed real estate, which means he bought and sold land to build on. In 1881, he bought a huge amount of land in Florida – 4 million acres! That's bigger than the entire state of Connecticut.
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Early Life and Family Business
Hamilton Disston was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of nine children. His father, Henry Disston, was a very successful businessman. Henry Disston invented many things for machines and saws. He even built a community around his steel factory.
Hamilton left school at age 15. He decided to learn the family business instead. Their saw factory was already a huge company.
In 1878, Hamilton and his brothers took over the company. It was called Henry Disston & Sons. Hamilton became the main leader. The company had 2,000 employees. They made millions of hacksaws and files every year.
Hamilton didn't just stick to saws. He also invested in other businesses. He put money into a chemical company and a railroad in China. He also bought land in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and invested in mining in the western United States.
Dreaming Big: Florida's Swamps
In the 1880s, Hamilton Disston became very interested in Florida. Back then, Florida was mostly covered in swamps and wetlands. These areas had many mosquitoes and other pests. It was hard to grow crops or build towns there.
Hamilton Disston had a huge idea. He wanted to drain these swamps. His goal was to turn them into good farmland and busy towns. He believed this would make Florida a wonderful place for farmers and new settlers.
In 1881, Disston made a deal with Florida. He bought four million acres of land. He paid only 25 cents for each acre! This was the biggest land purchase ever made by one person in American history.
Why did Florida sell so much land so cheaply? The state needed money badly. By selling land to Disston, Florida hoped he would drain the swamps. They also hoped he would bring in new people and help the state's economy grow.
Draining the Land
Hamilton Disston hired many engineers and workers. Their job was to build canals and drainage systems. These systems would help drain the swamps. They used huge machines called dredges. Dredges are like giant floating shovels. They scooped up mud and water. Then they dumped it on the sides of the canals.
Disston's main plan was to drain the Kissimmee River area. This river flows into Lake Okeechobee. He wanted to remove the extra water from the Everglades too. The canals were designed to send water from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie River. From there, it would flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Other canals sent water to the Gulf of Mexico.
Dredging started near Lake Okeechobee in 1881. Draining the swamps was very hard work. It cost millions of dollars and took many years. But Disston was determined to make his Florida dream come true.
Even with all his efforts, Disston didn't fully drain the Kissimmee River area. He also couldn't lower the water around Lake Okeechobee and in the Everglades as much as he wanted. He had to sell many of his investments for much less than he paid.
Building New Towns
As Disston drained some of the swamps, new land appeared. This land was great for growing crops. Farmers could grow citrus fruits, vegetables, and sugarcane. Disston encouraged farmers and settlers to move to Florida. He wanted them to start new lives there.
He also helped build new towns in the drained areas. Disston planned to create a major city near Tampa Bay. He founded the town of Tarpon Springs. He built a commercial pier and two hotels there. He used wood from his sawmill in New Jersey.
Tarpon Springs didn't become the big city he hoped for. So, Disston moved his efforts south. He started a town he called Disston City. He invested a lot in steamboats. He also built a wharf, a school, and the first hotel in that area.
His Final Years
On April 30, 1896, Hamilton Disston had dinner with the mayor of Philadelphia. He also went to the theater with his wife. The next morning, he was found dead. He was 51 years old. Most reports said he died of heart disease in his bed.
He was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Personal Life
Hamilton Disston was married. He had one son and two daughters. All of his children outlived him.
Quick Facts About Disston
- When Hamilton was young, his father almost fired him. He kept leaving the factory to work for a volunteer fire department!
- He bought 4 million acres of land in Florida.
- He paid only 25 cents per acre for that land.
- Disston's purchase made him the biggest landowner in the United States.
- In the four years after he bought the land, Florida added four times more railroad lines than in the previous 20 years.
- In 1889, he reportedly gave $17,000 in Christmas gifts to his employees.
- His family wasn't interested in his Florida projects. Banks took over his Florida land four years after he died.
Important Dates
- August 23, 1844: Hamilton Disston was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- 1878: Hamilton Disston took over Henry Disston & Sons after his father died.
- 1881: Disston bought four million acres of land in Florida for 25 cents an acre.
- April 30, 1896: Hamilton Disston died at the age of 51.
What He Left Behind
Even though he didn't fully drain the swamps, Disston's land purchase was very important for Florida. It helped Florida's economy grow. It also allowed important railroad builders like Henry Flagler and Henry Plant to build train lines. These lines went down the east and west coasts of Florida. This directly led to Florida becoming famous for tourism and citrus fruits.
Disston also had a big impact in Philadelphia. He was active in politics and gave a lot of money to good causes. But today, he is often remembered most for his efforts to drain and develop Florida.
Places Named After Him
Several places are named after Hamilton Disston in Pennsylvania and Florida:
- Disston Heights, a neighborhood in St. Petersburg, Florida
- Hamilton Disston School in Philadelphia.
- Hamilton Disston School in Gulfport, Florida.
- Lake Disston in Flagler County, Florida at 29°17′N 81°23′W / 29.283°N 81.383°W.
- Lake Disston in St. Petersburg, Florida at 27°46′30″N 82°43′4″W / 27.77500°N 82.71778°W.
- Disston Avenue in Tarpon Springs, Florida at 28°8′8″N 82°44′54″W / 28.13556°N 82.74833°W.
- Disston Avenue in Clermont, Florida at 28°34′28″N 81°45′0″W / 28.57444°N 81.75000°W.
- Disston Avenue in Tavares, Florida at 28°48′27″N 81°43′29″W / 28.80750°N 81.72472°W.
- Disston Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Disston Drive in St. Cloud, Florida at 28°16′22″N 81°14′25″W / 28.27278°N 81.24028°W.
- Disston Street in Tallahassee, FL [1]
- Disston Canal in Osceola County, Florida
Images for kids
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A canal dug by Disston's company, near a sugar plantation he owned around 1900.
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The Disston family tomb at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
