Chapter 2 



Anthofiy Harkness and the 

 Ci?icmnati Locomotive Works 



The founder of the Cincinnati locomotix-e industry, Anthony 

 Harkness, was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, on July 10, 1793.12 

 He learned the machinist trade in the prosperous industrial town of 

 Paterson, New Jersey. Part of his apprenticeship was spent with 

 Thomas Rogers, who was to become one of the best known loco- 

 motive builders in this country. By about 181 8 Harkness had risen 

 to the superintendency of a cotton factory. Due to the financial 

 panic of 181 9, howev^er, he migrated to Cincinnati to seek employ- 

 ment, believing that conditions might be better in the West, where 

 there was a demand for skilled mechanics. His hopes were not well 

 founded, for hard times had hit Cincinnati; discouraged, he left 

 the city and tried his hand at farming. This proved a failure, for 

 he had little interest in agriculture and soon tired of the isolated 

 farm life. At about this time, the early 1820's, he met another 

 Cincinnati mechanic, James Goodloe, with whom he formed a 

 partnership. On the northeast corner of Broadway and Pearl 

 Streets they opened a small machine shop and copper foundry. 

 On the second floor of the building they also established a mill for 

 spinning wool and cotton. The partnership ended in 1827 because 

 they were "... two men so much alike that they could not agree." i^ 



'- This account of Harkness' life is based, unless noted otherwise, on information 

 supplied by Mrs. Richard T. Keys, whose husband was a descendant of Harkness, 

 and on the obituary of him in the Cincinnati Daily Gazette. May 12, 1858. 



13 Moore, Autobiographical Outlines, p. 49. 



