Jacob B. Crowell was a school teacher, construction worker, bricklayer, industrialist, and businessman.  He was born in Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania in March 1817.  Crowell came to Greencastle in 1836 to work as a bricklayer and to work other jobs in the building trade, which he did for about 10 years. In addition to these jobs, Crowell also taught for one or more terms between 1845 and 1850 at the limestone, one-room Brown’s Mill schoolhouse, which was built in 1836.  Each day, Crowell walked the round trip from Greencastle to teach the children in that part of Antrim Township.

In 1845, Greencastle’s first factory, a foundry business, was built by George Bradley and Edward Chappel.  It was located in the area where the former Leiter’s Hardware and Implement business was located at the southwest corner of South Carlisle and West Franklin Streets.  This hill was called “Foundry Hill” and is still known as that today.  The pig iron for molding was most likely acquired from any of the many iron furnaces in the county.

Until this time, Greencastle’s economy was dependent upon skilled, individual craftsmen. In circa 1830, the town had a cooper, a silversmith, a coffee mill maker, a potter, a distiller, a pan maker, a whitesmith, several carpenters, two weavers, two chair makers, five tailors and three cabinet makers (who were also undertakers), three shoemakers, two hatters, and two saddlers.

The establishment, in Greencastle, of this first factory in the middle of the 19^th century was indicative of what was occurring across the nation at that time - the beginning of industrialization. 

In 1850, Crowell bought out Chappel’s interest in the business. The company made plows, stoves, farm bells, and custom made castings for equipment used on local area farms. The firm became known as Bradley and Crowell.

A third partner, Franklin Keller, was added in 1857.  Because of his interest in farm equipment, the production of grain drills and hay rakes, which were both horse drawn, were added to the production line.  The factory employed about 10 to 20 laborers. 

A fire destroyed the buildings on “Foundry Hill” in 1861 and temporary structures were built to house the business.  Also in 1861, Crowell bought out the interests of both Bradley and Keller and moved the factory to South Cedar Lane, next to the area’s first steam powered sawmill that was owned by Rev. Edwin Emerson, Gen. David Detrich and William H. Davison. These three men of Greencastle were on the cutting edge of the new technology for that era, and weren’t afraid to take the chance of investing in it. Established in 1860, the saw mill made lumber for doors, door sashes and other construction needs.  From this time forward, neither factories nor mills would need to rely on water power to run their machinery.  Until the introduction of steam power, all the grist and lumber mills had to be located nearby a water source, most of which were located in the township.

Both the foundry and the steam-powered sawmill in Greencastle changed the economic demographics of Greencastle.  Even in the beginning, with only 10-20 employees, each business could out produce any of the skilled town’s craftsmen. Of course, the industries established in other towns in Franklin County and beyond also had a detrimental effect on the local skilled craftsmen. Everyday family needs such as, furniture, hardware, clothing, hats, shoes, stoves and many more items were being brought into town, and were being sold at lower prices than the costs being charged by the craftsmen.  In addition to general stores, which still prospered, specialty stores started to open in town in which mass-produced items were sold.  The local artisans could not compete with mass production.

By the time Crowell moved his business, Emerson and Detrich had been bought out by James C. Austin.  Then Crowell, in 1862, bought out Austin and the company became known as Crowell and Davison.

During the early years of the Civil War the demand for labor saving farm equipment increased greatly.  More workers were hired at Crowell and Davison and the number of grain drills and hay rakes made was the highest in the company’s history.  Improvements were made to the grain drill such as, a fertilizer spreader attachment.  The company still made corn shellers, rakes, plows, bells and stoves.  The saw mill also prospered in supplying construction materials – lumber, prefabricated doors, frames, and sashes. Crowell and Davison Company was the area’s main building contractor.

In 1870, Crowell & Davison dissolved their partnership and Jacob Deardorff and Crowell both purchased Davison’s half interest. In 1874, a nephew, Joseph E. Crowell, bought out Jacob Deardorff’s quarter interest in the J. B. Crowell & Co., the name under which it had been known since 1870.

For a second time, fire destroyed almost all of the company’s buildings in 1875, which were constructed of wood. The buildings included the foundry, the saw mill, and the office and storage buildings. Rebuilding began right away while the company worked under temporary housing.

By 1890 Crowell owned the controlling interest in the company and it became known as the Crowell Manufacturing Company.