John Hibbard - Business Career

Business Career

After graduating from Michigan, Hibbard worked as a metallurgical engineer. In 1887, he accepted a position with The John Davis Co. in Chicago. In December 1889, Hibbard married Josie W. Davis, the daughter of John Davis for whose company he was employed. He was the company's vice president from 1889 to 1901. When John Davis died in 1901, Hibbard became the company's president. He remained as the company's president until 1909, after the company was taken over by the United States Steel Corporation. By 1906, the company had grown to have millions of dollars in annual business. In 1907, the company' steam-fitting operation was incorporated as the Davis Construction Co. with Hibbard as the president.

While associated with The John Davis Co., Hibbard also served as the president of the Chicago Metal Trades Association. In July 1904, McClure's Magazine wrote:

"The Chicago Metal Trades Association is an organization of more than one hundred manufacturers, employing 15,000 men. It's president is John D. Hibbard . . . Mr. Hibbard is the genius of the association, a man of enthusiasm and earnestness, a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a training in fair play on the college ball field."

Hibbard was an opponent of unionism and went through "no fewer than seventeen strikes in as many years" at The John Davis Co. The American Employer noted that, in 1904, as president of the Chicago branch of the National Metals Trade Association, Hibbard "successfully fought a stubborn strike of machinists." By 1907, Hibbard also served as the president of the Central Supply Association. From 1909 to 1912, he was the president of the North American Securities Co.