Dates

• Existence: approximately 1835 - 1861

Administrative History

Morris L. Hallowell and Co. (approx. 1835-1861) was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania company that imported and sold silk and dress goods.

Morris L. Hallowell and Co. was founded in approximately 1835, at which point it was known as Hallowell and Ashbridge, by Morris L. Hallowell and William Ashbridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They described themselves as "importers and jobbers of silks and dress goods." When William Ashbridge retired in approximately 1838, Morris L. Hallowell formed a partnership with William Walton and changed the name of the business to Hallowell, Walton and Co. They remained partners until William Walton died in approximately 1845 and Morris L. Hallowell again changed the name of the company, this time to Morris L. Hallowell and Co. This name was sometimes shortened to M.L. Hallowell and Co.

Morris L. Hallowell and Co. gradually grew until its business interests extended throughout the American West and South. In 1853, a new storefront was purchased at 147 Market Street.

Morris L. Hallowell and some other members of his firm were fierce abolitionists. In the years directly before the Civil War, this caused some pro-slavery individuals and businesses to boycott Morris L. Hallowell and Co. and to convince others to do the same. The final blow came in 1861, when the Civil War broke out and, as a result, many Southern merchants repudiated the debts owed to Northern businesses, forcing Morris L. Hallowell and Co. to liquidate and close.

Citation:

"Record of a branch of the Hallowell family, including the Longstreth, Penrose, and Norwood branches", via WWW, June 25, 2018 (Hallowell and Ashbridge founded by Morris L. Hallowell and William Ashbridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and called Hallowell and Ashbridge; described themselves as "importers and jobbers of silks and dress goods."; William Ashbridge retired in approximately 1838; Morris L. Hallowell formed a partnership with William Walton and changed the name of the business to Hallowell, Walton and Co.; remained partners until William Walton died in approximately 1845; Morris L. Hallowell changed the name of the company to Morris L. Hallowell and Co.; grew until its business interests extended throughout the American West and South; Morris L. Hallowell and some other members of his firm were fierce abolitionists; this caused some pro-slavery individuals and businesses to boycott Morris L. Hallowell and Co. and to convince others to do the same; final blow came in 1861, when the Civil War broke out and, as a result, many Southern merchants repudiated the debts owed to Northern businesses, forcing Morris L. Hallowell and Co. to liquidate and close).

Philadelphia directories online, via WWW, June 25, 2018 (Hallowell and Ashbridge founded in approximately 1835; name was sometimes shortened to M.L. Hallowell and Co. M.L. Hallowell and Co.).

[M. L. Hallowell and Co. Importer and jobbers in silk goods, 147 Market Street, Philadelphia] [graphic] : Philadelphia Market Street. F. Moras, lith.; Levi Stokes builder; William Struthers stone mason; G. Runge, architect., via WWW, June 25, 2018 (In 1853, a new storefront was purchased at 147 Market Street; name was sometimes shortened to M.L. Hallowell and Co. M.L. Hallowell and Co.).

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