John Batterson Stetson (May 5, 1830 – February 18, 1906) was an American hat maker who invented the cowboy hat in the 1860s. He founded the John B. Stetson Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1865, and it became one of the largest hat manufacturers in the world. The company's hats are now commonly referred to simply as Stetsons.
His philanthropy helped fund Temple University and Stetson University, as well as a YMCA and a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Philadelphia. His mansion, the John B. Stetson House, in DeLand, Florida, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Early life
Stetson was born on May 5, 1830, in Orange, New Jersey, one of 12 children. His father, Stephen Stetson, was a hatter and taught his son the trade. He never attended school but was taught to read and write at home by his mother. In the late 1850s, Stetson was diagnosed with tuberculosis and his doctor predicted he had only a short time to live. He left the hat-making business to explore the American West before he died.
He moved first to Illinois, and then to Saint Joseph, Missouri. In Saint Joseph, he worked in a brickyard and eventually became manager and part-owner; however the business was ruined in a flood. He attempted to enroll in the military during the American Civil War but was rejected due to his health condition. He accepted a position in a party travelling to Pike's Peak in Colorado. During the trip to Colorado, Stetson relied on his hat-making skills to turn animal pelts into felt for him and his travelling companions to use for water-proof tents and hats. He had the inkling of a future business when a bullwhacker bought one of his hats from him for $5. His health improved and he returned to Philadelphia to begin a hat making business.
Career
thumb|The [[Boss of the Plains style was one of the first cowboy hats created by Stetson]]
In 1865, Stetson moved to Philadelphia and founded the John B. Stetson Company to manufacture hats suited to the needs of Westerners.
Stetson went on to build the Carlsbad, easily identified by its main crease down the front. His hat was called a Stetson, because he had his name John B. Stetson Company embossed in gold in every hatband. The Stetson soon became the most well known hat in the West. All the high-crowned, wide-brimmed, soft felt western hats that followed are intimately associated with the cowboy image created by Stetson.
The Stetson cowboy hat was the symbol of the highest quality. Western icons such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, Will Rogers, Annie Oakley, Pawnee Bill, Tom Mix, and the Lone Ranger wore Stetsons. The company also made hats for the Texas Rangers, which became the first law enforcement agency to incorporate the cowboy hat into their uniform. Stetson's Western-style hats were worn by employees of the National Park Service, U.S. Cavalry soldiers, and U.S. presidents, Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission has expanded to provide more services, changed their name to Philly House, and is still active in support of the homeless population of Philadelphia.
thumb|The [[John B. Stetson House in DeLand, Florida]]
Stetson owned an mansion in DeLand, Florida, known as the John B. Stetson House. It is a mixture of Gothic, Tudor, and Moorish styles, and is open to the public for tours. Stetson died in his mansion and re-interred in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
The John B. Stetson Middle School in Philadelphia was built in 1915 and named in his honor.
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Sources
Further reading
- Arwood, Steve. (1994) Hats & the Cowboys Who Wear Them
- Carlson, Laurie. (1998) Boss of the Plains, the Hat that Won the West