John B. Stetson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John B. Stetson
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John Batterson Stetson
May 5, 1830 |
| Died | February 18, 1906 (aged 75) |
| Occupation | Hatter |
| Known for | Invented the cowboy hat |
| Children | John Jr. |
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John Batterson Stetson (born May 5, 1830 – died February 18, 1906) was an American hat maker. He is famous for inventing the cowboy hat in the 1860s. He also started the John B. Stetson Company. This company made many hats, and their hats are often just called "Stetsons" today.
John Stetson was born in New Jersey. He was one of 12 children. His father also made hats. John worked with his father when he was young. Later, John became very sick. His doctor thought he might not live long. Because of this, John left the hat business. He decided to travel and see the American West. He wanted to see it before it was too late.
While traveling, he met many people. These included cowboys and cattle drivers. John noticed their hats were not very good. Many wore old, dirty caps. He wondered if a new type of hat could be better. He thought a lightweight, waterproof hat made of felt would be perfect for the West.
The First Cowboy Hat: Boss of the Plains
In 1865, John Stetson moved to Philadelphia. He started making hats there. He wanted to make hats that would work well for people in the West. He created a new style of hat. He called it the "Boss of the Plains."
These new hats were light in weight. They were a natural color. They had a four-inch tall crown and a four-inch wide brim. A simple strap was used as the hatband.
Stetson knew what Westerners needed. Their old hats, like coonskin caps or straw hats, were not practical. His new hat was made from waterproof felt. This made it very strong. The wide brim kept the hot sun out of people's eyes. It also protected their necks.
People quickly loved the "Boss of the Plains" hat. It was the first real cowboy hat. One person said it was like an umbrella. You could use the crown to water your horse. The brim could be used as a cup for water. It also made a good fan. This was useful for fires or moving cows.
Before Stetson, cowboys wore all sorts of hats. None were made for their tough life. The "Boss of the Plains" changed everything. Stetson later made other famous hats, like the Carlsbad. It had a special crease down the front.
His hats became known as "Stetsons." He put his company's name in gold on every hatband. The Stetson quickly became the most famous hat in the West. All the tall, wide-brimmed felt hats that came after it were inspired by Stetson. They became a symbol of the cowboy.
The Stetson hat meant high quality. Many famous Western figures wore Stetsons. These included Buffalo Bill Cody and Calamity Jane. Even The Lone Ranger wore one. The company also made hats for police, like the Texas Rangers. U.S. soldiers and many U.S. Presidents also wore Stetson's Western hats.
Building a Great Company
John Stetson built his company into one of the biggest hat makers in the world. His hats won many awards. As his company grew, he needed good workers. At that time, hat workers often moved from job to job. Many also missed work often.
Stetson believed in treating his workers well. He thought this would make them stay. He wanted to give them stable lives. So, he offered special benefits to his employees. This was very unusual for the time.
Stetson made sure his workers had a clean and safe place to work. He even built a hospital for them. He also built a park and houses for his 5,000 employees. These actions helped him build a huge factory in Philadelphia. It grew to 25 buildings on about 9 acres of land.
By 1915, nine years after Stetson died, the company was still growing. It had 5,400 employees. They were making 3.3 million hats each year!
Giving Back to the Community
John Stetson earned a lot of money from his business. But he also wanted to help others. Near the end of his life, he gave almost all his money to charity.
He built schools for children. He also helped build colleges. These included Temple University and Stetson University. He also helped start the YMCA in Philadelphia.
Stetson gave a lot of money to the DeLand Academy in DeLand, Florida. In 1889, this school was renamed John B. Stetson University in his honor. In 1900, Stetson University started Florida's first law school. It is called Stetson University College of Law.
In 1878, Stetson also helped start the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission. This place helps people who are homeless. It provides a place to sleep and food. The mission has grown and still helps homeless people in Philadelphia today.
John Stetson owned a large house in DeLand, Florida. He died there in 1906. His house is over 8,000 square feet. It mixes different styles like Gothic and Moorish. You can visit it today. Stetson is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Pennsylvania.
