Administrative/Biographical History
According to an advertisement found in the collection’s scrapbook, the Sycamore Wagon Works was the successor to Shipman, Bradt & Co. The Sycamore Wagon Works was established on January 20, 1904 to “to manufacture vehicles and other articles similar thereto.” William Smith, Harrison F. Gleason, and George W. Dunton formed the company with capital stock of $60,000. Frank C. Patten and Harrison F. Gleason each bought 200 stocks and Will Smith and S.E. Bradt each bought 100 stocks. Will Smith, M.D. Shipman, H.F. Gleason, Thos. L. Halloran and Frank C. Patten were elected Board of Directors. The name changed to DeKalb Wagon Company on April 30, 1912 and moved to 229 W. Garden Street in DeKalb, Illinois. On February 26, 1941 the name changed to the DeKalb Commercial Body Corporation. The Company was listed in the 1969 DeKalb City Directory but the property was listed as a vacant lot in the 1971 Directory.
