John William Kiser
John William Kiser was a 19th-century industrialist who owned the Monarch Cycle Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois. His company became one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in the world.
Early life
Kiser was born in St. Paris, Ohio, June 20, 1857. His parents were farmers George R. Kiser and Margaret Ellen Kiser. In 1884 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenburg College.Career
In 1889 when Kiser moved to Chicago, he had few resources, with his obituary in the American Artisan and Hardware Record later describing him as "practically penniless". That same year he took a job as manager of the Chicago Sewing Machine company. He rose to become the president of the company. Taking advantage of a boom in bicycle usage in the United States at that time, he and his partner Chandler Robbins then started Monarch Cycle Manufacturing Company to manufacture bicycles. The company, which was established with $500,000 in capital, built its factory at the corner of North Halsted and West Lake Streets in Chicago. The building was designed by John Mills II.In 1892, Monarch Cycle had only 35 employees and made 150 bicycles. By 1896 the company had 1200 employees, and they were producing 50,000 bicycles. At its peak, the Monarch Cycle employed around 400 engineers. The company sold bicycles worldwide.
In 1899 he sold his company to the Bicycle Trustjust before the sales crashed due to the emergence of automobile.
In 1902 he became the treasurer of the Phoenix Horseshoe Company of Chicago. By 1907 he was made president of the company. He was also the director of the First National Bank and the Miehle Printing Press.