Monjo Company
Encyclopedia
The Monjo Company was a New York City fur trading
business that obtained furs in the Canadian arctic, Alaska, and the Northwest United States, and sold them wholesale in New York City during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was among the eleven largest fur importers in New York.
, shortly after the Civil War
, in Brooklyn, NY, and became a substantial business by the early 1880s.
The company was located at 160 Mercer St, opposite Fireman’s Hall in 1884, when the building suffered a fire. Monjo losses in water damage totaled nearly $3000. By 1905, the company was located at 34-36 Houston St. and had become the American agent for A & W Nesbitt & Co. of London. The business later leased an 11000 sq ft (1,021.9 m²). storefront on West 25th street in New York City, and at one time was a partner in the Monjo, Murley & Hennessey, New York and London fur commission house.
, took over the business by the early 1900s. F. N. Monjo was born in Brooklyn, but moved to Stamford after he graduated from school.
In early 1906 the company purchased a whaling schooner, the Era, from the Thomas Luce Company
of New Bedford and hired Capt. George Comer
as its master. Comer wrecked the vessel shortly afterwards on the coast of Newfoundland.
The company’s second purchase was the A. T. Gifford
. Capt. Comer commanded this vessel during two voyages to Hudson Bay
during 1907-1912 hunting for whales and trading for furs, followed by Capt. James Wing in 1913, and finally by Capt. Arthur Gibbons in 1915. The Gifford met disaster with its entire crew killed in 1915 in Hudson Bay.
In June 1913, Monjo sent two traders, George Cleveland and Mr. Bumpus to establish a trading post at Cape Fullerton
. The post lasted until about 1919.
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
business that obtained furs in the Canadian arctic, Alaska, and the Northwest United States, and sold them wholesale in New York City during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was among the eleven largest fur importers in New York.
Founding
The Monjo company was founded by Nicholas F. Monjo, a Spanish immigrant from AlgiersAlgiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, shortly after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, in Brooklyn, NY, and became a substantial business by the early 1880s.
The company was located at 160 Mercer St, opposite Fireman’s Hall in 1884, when the building suffered a fire. Monjo losses in water damage totaled nearly $3000. By 1905, the company was located at 34-36 Houston St. and had become the American agent for A & W Nesbitt & Co. of London. The business later leased an 11000 sq ft (1,021.9 m²). storefront on West 25th street in New York City, and at one time was a partner in the Monjo, Murley & Hennessey, New York and London fur commission house.
F. N. Monjo and schooner purchases
N. F. Monjo’s son, Ferdinand Nicolas Monjo (1875–1929) of Stamford, ConnecticutStamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, took over the business by the early 1900s. F. N. Monjo was born in Brooklyn, but moved to Stamford after he graduated from school.
In early 1906 the company purchased a whaling schooner, the Era, from the Thomas Luce Company
Thomas Luce & Company
Thomas Luce & Company was one of the last American whaling companies on the east coast. Based in New Bedford, Massachusetts and founded by an Azorean immigrant, the Thos. Luce company operated thirty-six whaling voyages between 1886 and 1903 into the Atlantic Ocean and Hudson Bay.-Capt. Thomas...
of New Bedford and hired Capt. George Comer
George Comer
Captain George Comer was considered the most famous American whaling captain of Hudson Bay, and the world's foremost authority on Hudson Bay Inuit in the early 20th century....
as its master. Comer wrecked the vessel shortly afterwards on the coast of Newfoundland.
The company’s second purchase was the A. T. Gifford
A. T. Gifford (ship)
The A. T. Gifford was the last American schooner-rigged whaleship to cruise Hudson Bay. It caught fire and sank in late 1915. Although the captain and a few of his crew escaped the wreck, none survived the disaster.- Construction and Ownership :...
. Capt. Comer commanded this vessel during two voyages to Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
during 1907-1912 hunting for whales and trading for furs, followed by Capt. James Wing in 1913, and finally by Capt. Arthur Gibbons in 1915. The Gifford met disaster with its entire crew killed in 1915 in Hudson Bay.
In June 1913, Monjo sent two traders, George Cleveland and Mr. Bumpus to establish a trading post at Cape Fullerton
Cape Fullerton
Cape Fullerton is a cape and peninsula in Nunavut, Canada located on the northwest shores of Hudson Bay on Roes Welcome Sound and includes Fullerton Harbour...
. The post lasted until about 1919.