Stetson, John B.

Stetson, John B. (Batterson) (1830–1906) manufacturer; born in Orange, N.J. Born into a family of hatters with 11 siblings, Stetson learned the trade and set out on his own. Ill health forced him west where a life outdoors restored him, and in 1865 he moved to Philadelphia and opened a hat factory. He achieved success by relying on his own taste for style and by building a reputation for quality. At his death, he left an industrial plant employing 3,500, with production of two million hats and employee benefits such as profit-sharing, bonuses, and a company hospital. An active and generous Baptist, he wintered in De Land, Fla., where he supported the De Land Academy whose name was changed to the John B. Stetson University.