admin WILLIAM FRANZ WENDT, President of the Buffalo Forge Company, is head of one of the largest manufacturing enterprises of its kind in the world, and is a leading personality in the business and industrial life of Buffalo. He is the son of William Franz and Louise (Weichman) Wendt, and was born in Buffalo July 2, 1858. He was educated at Public School No. 32 and at the Central High School. His first experience in business was as a bookkeeper for R. W. Bell & Company. In 1878 Mr. Wendt purchased an interest in the Buffalo Forge Company, which was organized by Charles F. Brunke and Charles Hammelman in 1877, to manufacture the portable forge invented by Mr. Hammelman. At first Mr. Wendt occupied himself with the financial management of the concern, and acquired a sound knowledge of the technical part of the business. The products of the establishment were originally turned out by different machine shops, but in 1880 the company obtained a suitable manufacturing plant, purchasing from Pratt & Co. a building at Broadway and Mortimer streets. The concern became widely known throughout the United States and Canada, and the demand for its products grew rapidly. In February, 1883, the interest of Charles Hammelman was purchased by William F. Wendt, and the business was continued as before until 1888, when Henry W. Wendt was admitted partner. In 1900 the Buffalo Forge Company was incorporated with a capital of $500,000; in 1901 the capital was increased to $l,000,000, and in 1906 the concern was capitalized at 11,250,000. Ground adjoining the plant was bought, and a substantial foundry and pattern shops, a storage building and machine shops were constructed. In the early period of the enterprise if two portable blacksmith’s forges a week were made, it was thought a good output. Today the establishment turns out two carloads a day and more if necessary. The fan principle used in the forges has been successfully applied in the heating and ventilating apparatus, draught appliances for large boiler plants, and equipments for cleaning gases in blast furnaces. The concern also makes heavy railroad forges, high pressure blowers, simple and. compound engines and other appliances. Sales agencies are maintained in the chief cities of the country, with branch offices in London, New York, and Paris, and a store in Chicago. In 1902, the George L. Squier Manufacturing Company was purchased, with a view of developing foreign trade, and is engaged in the manufacture and exportation of sugar, coffee and rice machinery, promising to be one of the most important branches of the business owned by the Wendt brothers. The Buffalo Steam Pump Company was purchased by the Buffalo Forge Company in 1904. The plant is in North Tonawanda, and there has been erected and added to it three brick and steel fireproof buildings. The concern is engaged in the manufacture of steam and fire pumps, water works pumping engines and the latter day centrifugal turbine multiple pumps for high lifts and high heads.
Mr. Wendt is owner of two important trade journals, “The American Blacksmith” and “La Hacienda,” the latter publication being in Spanish. He is a Director of the Citizens’ Bank and the Western Savings Bank, and is one of the ten men who built the first electric railroad from Buffalo to Tonawanda in 1888.
In politics Mr. Wendt is a Republican, and one of the leaders of the party in Erie County. He took a prominent part in the affairs of the Republican League, in the active days of that organization.
Mr. Wendt is a 32d degree Mason and is affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge and the Scottish Rite bodies. He is President of the German Lutheran Home, a member of Holy Trinity English Lutheran Church and of the Buffalo Orphan Asylum, and has served as Real Estate Commissioner of the German Young Men’s Association.
November 8, 1882, Mr. Wendt married Mary Gies of Buffalo. Their children are two daughters, Gertrude Mary, and Margaret Louise.
SOURCE: Memorial and Family History of Erie County New York; Volume I