User:Laxfeenliz/Isaac Pennock

Isaac Pennock was a pioneer in the iron making business.He created the Brandwhine Iron Works & Nail Factory which is today the longest running steel mill in America. Today it is named ArcelorMittal. It has contributed steel to many building such as the World Trade Center and of which on April 11,2010 they brought back the reaming steel that stood after the attacks which was built in the mill.

He was born to proud farmer and strong Quaker Joseph Pennock Jr. Since his father was such a down home Quaker and farmer he believed from the beginning that Isaac's idea of being in the iron business would be very hazardous and financially risky and definitely would not be as secure as farming. Even though he honored his father to his families’ dismay he still continued into the iron making business.

From there Isaac noticed the long repression of the iron industry by Great Britain during the colonial period had resulted in a scarcity of both plants and products. There is when Isaac started the Federal Slitting Mill. The mill opened in 1790. The mill operated for many years proving much-needed iron products for the area. The mill was at Buck Run along a stream in Coatesville Pennsylvania. In 1810 Pennock joined Jesse Kersey to form a partnership. Kersey wanted to build a community on a portion of Moses Coates, founder of Coatesville, land where he could divide the turnpike frontage into lots to bring business into the village. Kersey was the son-in-law of Coates therefore it made it easy for both Pennock and Kersey to persuade Coates to sell them land. On July 2, 1810 together Kersey and Pennock bought 110 1/2 acres from Coates. The land had a saw mill on it which was changed into an iron works under the direction of Pennock and that is where the iron evolution began.He created the Brandywhine Iron Works & Nail Factory. Pennock’s partnership with Kersey continued until late 1816,that is when Pennock decided to buy out the interest of the property and became the sole proprietor of the property. Later, Pennock decided to offer his son-in-law Dr.Charles Lukens the property. First he declined but later on decided to lease it. Lukens and his wife and daughter of Pennock Rebecca took on the property. Rebecca and Charles renamed it to Lukens steel mill and they transformed it into a steel mill.To this day the mill is the longest running steel mill in America.