The House of Hayden W. Wheeler & Co, 2 Maiden Lane, New York, was one of the oldest and most respected firms in the American jewelry industry. Hayden W. Wheeler (1830 – 1904) joined the firm founded in 1851 by Charles E. Hale. After six years with the Charles E. Hale company, Wheeler received a share in it in 1857. From that time on, the firm became known as Charles E. Hale & Co.

Later, Lewis A. Parsons also acquired a share in the firm, and in 1867 the firm changed its name to Wheeler, Parsons & Co. When Henry Hayes joined the firm in 1877, its name was changed to Wheeler, Parsons & Hayes. Under this name it gained a high reputation in the jewelry business, both for the superior workmanship and for the principles that dominated its policy.

In 1888, Lewis A. Parsons and Henry Hayes retired, and Hayden W. Wheeler continued the business under the name Hayden W. Wheeler & Co. Willard H. Wheeler, Hayden Wheeler’s son joined the firm in 1896, as did Hayden H. Butts (1856 – 1929) and Oliver G. Fessenden (1855 – 1921). Hayden W. Wheeler died in 1904, and the three men managed the business, which was later incorporated.

New Owners of Hayden W. Wheeler Co., Inc

In May 1919, Hoefer Jewelry Co., Kansas City, purchased the stock of Hayden W. Wheeler & Co., but did not change corporate life. The personnel remained the same, except that the old corporate officers retired. Many who had worked for the house for 18 to 30 years remained part of the organization.

Among them were Newton H. Rogers, Charles W. Bridgman, Arthur L. Nichols, Frederick W. Thorne, W. J. Cochran, Edward B. Downs, Walter A. Morris, John A. Patterson, and others. Addison W. Roubaud, Arthur H. Schmitt, and John R. Wilcox.

Another significant figure in the company was William Ellison, who served on the company’s management board from 1989 to 1938, when he served as vice president of Hayden W. Wheeler & Co. When Hayden W. Wheeler & Co disbanded in 1938, he founded his own jewelry business in New York.

The new Hayden W. Wheeler & Co. operated under the direction of William H. Joers (1882 – 1931). William led the two companies until his death in 1931.

Hayden W. Wheeler & Co Jewelry