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William Sylvis is the founder of the Iron Molders’ International Union (IMIU) and the former president of the National Labor Union (NLU). Sylvis is also a well known leader of the American Labor Movement, a social movement consisting of labor unions pushing for better working conditions, protection, and wages. The Philadelphia native worked as an iron molder and in reaction to the iron industry wages being cut, formulated a group of iron molder unions to create the IMIU in 1863. In 1868, Sylvis was elected president of the National Labor Union. He died on July 27, 1869.

Birth/Childhood

William Sylvis was born on November 26, 1828 in Armaugh, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, to Nicholas Sylvis and Maria Mott. Nicholas’s profession was wagon making, a skill he would teach to all twelve of his children. The town of Armaugh didn’t hold much need for the wagon making profession, so Nicholas and his family left and traveled the country in search of work. He would move eventually move his family back to Pennsylvania and settle in the city of Susquehanna. In the 1830s, to gain political influence, a Whig party politician B.F. Pawling befriended Nicholas, providing the Sylvis family with a home while Nicholas traveled the country in search of work. There was no record proving Nicholas returned or if Maria survived long enough to live in the home given to the family. What is known is Pawling took William in at the age of eleven and trained him in farm chores in exchange for the use of his books and any education Pawling could afford.

Work Life

At the age of eighteen, he started an apprenticeship at Forest Iron Works with no formal education. After Forest Iron Works went out of business, Sylvis found himself traveling the country again in search of work and place to establish himself. Along his travels, he eventually settled in Philadelphia, PA and found work at the Cresson Foundry. Though Sylvis had become an expert at stove and hollowware molding, he also had a special talent in organizing and motivating workers to push for better work conditions and hours. He had been deeply inspired by the Temperance Movement, a movement urging the reduced use of alcohol, and also a friend of Susan B. Anthony. He was also a Sunday school teacher in Methodist church for many years, showing he was also religiously influenced. With the iron industry growing in the mid-1800s, skilled iron molders hired helpers to increase output at cheaper costs resulting in their wages cut. In 1857, Sylvis joined the Journeymen Stove and Hollow-Ware Moulders’ Union of Philadelphia as they went out on strike demanding better compensation. He was elected secretary with in few months. In that position, he would gather other leaders of iron molder unions in other cities to strengthen the change in workers’ conditions.

American Labor Movement

Background

The formation of work labor union began in the late 1820s in efforts by employers and other agencies to influence changes in workers’ conditions, wages, and hours. The movement first gained momentum in the early 1800s. In 1806, Journeymen boot-makers and shoe-makers from Philadelphia were put on trial and convicted of criminal conspiracy. This influenced a standard outlook towards organized work disruptions until 1842, when the Supreme Court of Massachusetts rejected the principle of criminal conspiracy. In 1833 however, journeymen carpenters in New York struck out for higher wages leading to one of the first organization in the General Trades’ Union of New York. This also led to much opposition from business owners and politicians. Many different strikes and movements became successful and created new working standards like no longer than ten hour work days and higher wages.

Iron Molder’s International Union

In 1859, drafted a constitution of a future national union along side a dozen different iron molder unions. Sylvis was elected treasurer. The formation of the union was placed on hold due to the Civil War. Sylvis served in the Union army and after the war reorganized efforts to create the new organization. In 1863, Sylvis and 21 locals formed the Iron Molder’s International Union (IMIU), where he was elected president. His first activities consisted of a campaigning tour across the country, persuading iron molders to not allow political views, race, or religious differences divide them. This action would rally over 8600 workers to join the IMIU.

National Labor Union

In 1866, Sylvis would join other reformers in forming the National Labor Union, an organization aiming reforming industrial order in the US. In 1868, he was elected president of the NLU and rallied over 300,000 workers to join the organization. He would also strive to unite working men and women until his death.

Family

Along his travels for work, Sylvis would meet and marry Amelia Thomas. The couple settled together in Philadelphia, PA. They had four children, all boys: Henry Clay born April 11, 1852, Oliver Perry born August 23, 1855, Lewis Clark April 8, 1857, and John Martin born August 30, 1859. In 1865, Amelia died. The following year, a saddened Sylvis would move to the town of Hollidaysburg and marry Florrie Hunter, a local eight years younger than him. The couple and Sylvis’ remaining family would move back to Philadelphia had have a son, Casper Dent.

Death

On, July 27, 1869, William Sylvis would die of severe inflammation of the bowels. He would leave behind his second wife, Florrie Hunter and his five children. His last words was "If it pleases God to take me, I have no fear of death: I believe I am grounded in the true faith: Christ has pardoned my sins. Glory to God, I am going home to Christ: I know my sins are all forgiven." He was 41 years old.

Remembrance

When Sylvis died, he was dubbed a “labor’s champion” who devoted his entire life to the cause of labor unions. News of his death poured in condolences among labor workers and even people like revolutionary socialist Karl Marx. However, it left his family in distraught, noting Sylvis never took a money for his work with labor unions. The union would gather money for his funeral expenses and a small stipend for his wife. Sylvis has a historical marker on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus. It reads the following: “American labor pioneer. Born in Indiana County, 1828. Founder, National Union of Iron Molders, 1859. President, National Labor Union, 1868-1869. Sylvis strove for unity among working men and women regardless of race or nationality. He died, "labor's champion," 1869.”