A Brief History of the Plainville Canning Company Part 1

100 years ago, Daviess County produce was shipped far and wide

Washington cannery of the Vincennes Packing Corporation circa 1930. It now functions as home to the Washington city garage and various city offices on East 21^st Street

During the first half of the 20^th century, Plainville area residents and businessmen Nathan Killion, his son Ernest Killion and Ollie Gilliant working with local farmers, built a canning business that spanned over fifty years.

The Civil War had introduced canned food to thousands of American soldiers. The canned provisions had a long shelf life and its ability to be easily transported and distributed created an increased public demand for all types of canned food. To accommodate the growing demand for commercial canned goods, local farmers in many locations began forming small cooperative canning companies. Daviess County was no exception.  

        Newspapers report as early as 1898 Daviess County citizens were attempting to establish a local cannery. In September of 1903, Elnora minister S.S. Davis is reported to have established a small canning factory in Elnora. By November he is proud to have canned 200 two-pound cans of corn and 3000 three-pound cans of tomatoes. Interestingly, tomatoes and tomato products would soon become a major commodity grown, packed and shipped from Daviess County.

        Also in November 1903, Washington residents meet and establish the Washington Canning Company with the Washington Democrat reporting “…nearly all stockholders are farmers of Washington Township.” O. M. Vance, Likens Littell and George Hopkins are named as executives of the venture. “The very latest canning machinery will be purchased.” The news item continues “The factory will can corn, tomatoes, pumpkin and fruits, and will give employment to a large force of men, women and boys, but the principal benefit of such a factory lies in the fact that the farmer be afforded and excellent market for his produce…”

  Construction is started on a canning factory in Washington in December 1903. It is built on the Southeast corner of East Van Trees and N.E. 15^th Street. A small item in the Washington Democrat reports “the cold weather is interfering with the progress of brick work on the five-story of the Seating company (eventually the Hincher factory). Work on the canning factory goes merrily on.” Plans are made for the new facility to be operational by harvest season 1904. 

1909 Sanborn Insurance Map showing location of first canning factory in Washington

Photograph reported to be Washington Canning Company in the early 1900s.

Also, during the summer of 1904, Elnora’s local cannery is reported to be receiving upgrades, including a new roof, in anticipation of a healthy harvest season.

The September 24^th, 1904 edition of the Washington Democrat reports “The manager of the canning factory is experiencing some difficulty in securing a sufficient number of girls. He proclaims “It’s the women that do the work in a canning factory.” Indications are 1904 was a very prosperous year for the local canneries.  

News reports indicate the 1905 season was also a successful year for the local canneries. In July, Washington’s canning factory is upgraded with “a new cooling room and equipment with tomato canning expected to begin July 20th. It is expected to can 150,000 one-gallon cans of tomatoes during the season.”  In October, the Elnora cannery is working “all times” to keep up with the supply of produce.

Elnora Canning Factory date unknown

In 1909 Daviess County businessmen and landowners Nathan Killion, his son, Ernest Killion and Ollie Gilliant organize the Plainville Canning Company and construct a cannery in Plainville, 30 feet wide by 140 feet long - beginning a venture that will continue for over 50 years.

Plainville canning factory date unknown

There are now at least three canneries in Daviess County. Detailed information on their ownership changes and production information during these early years is difficult to find.

A fire destroys the original Washington Canning Factory at 15^th and Van Trees on December 21st, 1910. The fire was said to have been reported by the night watchman of the Hincher Company. The canning factory had been engaged earlier in the day putting up samples of pork and beans, preparing the facility to can them throughout the winter. Newspapers report that although the city fire department did respond, the building was a total loss. News articles point out that due to the fact the factory sat on one of the highest points in town, the water pressure was so weak it would only stream 10 feet from the firehose nozzle. A new canning factory will eventually be built in Washington, along what is now Memorial Ave and N.E. 21^st Street.

As mentioned earlier, detailed information on the county’s canneries’   ownership changes and production statistics during the years 1910-1920 are scarce and vague. The early 1920s will bring all three of these local canneries together and with the partnership of Vincennes resident Claude Greeg, in the next few years a major industry will supply employment opportunities to area residents and also a local market for farmers to sell a profitable crop.

During the early part of the 20^th century, The Dyer Packing Company of Vincennes had become a very successful business being “the largest exclusive packers of pork and beans in the country.” It was known for its quality and consistent flavor.

The company changed hands in early 1917 and by early 1923 the Dyer Packing Company is dissolved and its production facilities, equipment and assets are sold at public auction to Claude Greeg.

Also early in 1923, the owners of Plainville Canning Company, Ernest Killion Sr., Nathan Killion and Ollie Gilliat organize the Tecumseh-Plainville Packing Company offices in Washington, Indiana. They partner with Mr. Gregg to form the Vincennes Packing Corporation with each receiving 25% of the company stock equally, and continue to operate Tecumseh-Plainville Packing company as a separate unit.     

As mentioned previously, Washington’s second canning factory was built circa 1920 a little further east, at N.E. 21st street along what is now Memorial Avenue. It was operated by the Purepakt Products Company. It was a large facility with the main building measuring 40 feet wide by 600 feet long. In 1921, both the Washington and Elnora factories have been acquired by The Tecumseh and Plainville Packing Company.

1921 Sanborn map of the second cannery at Memorial Ave and 21^st Street

Within two years, The Tecumseh and Plainville Packing Company claims it is “the third largest producer of catsup in the country.” In 1925, the company has a contract to supply 120 carloads of tomato pulp to the Campbell Soup Company. It also ships two carloads of catsup to England and one to France.

Actual catsup labels from the local canning company

In the winter of 1926, the Tecumseh and Plainville Packing company also is reported to be packing up to 30,000 cans of hominy a day at its canneries. New equipment is ordered to increase total output of all factories. Also that year, the company reports shipping “a carload catsup to France and a consignment to China.”

Can label for Plainville Hominy

1926 is also a year of expansion for the company. Late in 1925, it purchases the Rider Packing Company of Seymour. This acquisition adds canneries from Seymour, Crothersville, Hayden, Medora, Kurtz, and Freetown - previously operated by Rider - to those already operated by The Tecumseh and Plainville Packing Company- Vincennes, Washington, Plainville, Elnora and St. Francisville, Illinois, eleven total - with Vincennes and Washington being the largest of facilities operated. It is at this time the offices of the Tecumseh and Plainville Packing Company are moved from Washington to Vincennes. The Tecumseh and Plainville Packing Company and Rider Packing are renamed Mid-West Packing Company in January 1927 and operate independently under that corporate entity. Mid-West Packing is renamed in February 1927 to the Vincennes Packing Corporation. The original four directors/equal partners; Plainville area residents E. Killion, N. Killion, O. Gilliat, and Vincennes’s C. Gregg remain in control of the company throughout this expansion. 

In October the company’s local canneries were engaged in producing catsup and tomato soup at Vincennes and Washington with Plainville concentrating on chili sauce and puree. Elnora is reported to produce “Tomato paste in small cans sold to the Italian community”.

Business continued to be strong for the company. Catsup is reported to be bottled at the rate of 300 bottles per minute. By 1928 production numbers are as follows:

640,010     Cases* of canned goods shipped

300,000     Cases* of bottled goods shipped

                                            *24 items per case

  30,000     Bushels of hominy corn shipped

125,000     Gallon cans of sauerkraut shipped

The company consumed 18,793 tons of tomatoes, 728 tons of green beans, 2237 tons of corn and 5833 tons of pumpkin. A total of 989 railcar loads of canned and bottled goods were shipped far and wide by the company in 1928.

Over the years, the brand names of the products changed often. Brand names such as “Alice of Old Vincennes”, “Baby Alice”, “Class A”, “Dixie”, “Vinco”, along with many private label brands for customers were produced.

          The company appears to not only survive the Great Depression, but grows and invests heavily into its business. It is reported that in the 1930s, the factories are “enjoying their most prosperous era”. The two largest plants, Vincennes and Washington are working year-round. They are kept busy canning tomato soup and pork and beans through the winter months.

Vincennes Packing Corporation was an early canner of tomato juice. Note the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on the brochure.

This article was compiled by Chris Palmer for the Daviess County Historian Team. Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon.