The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Orton, Edward, Jr.

ORTON, Edward, Jr., American industrial chemist: b. Chester, N. Y., 8 Oct. 1863. He received (1884) the degree E.M. at Ohio State University and became (1884-88) chemist and superintendent of blast furnaces. The regular manufacture of high silicon alloy of iron, “ferro-silicon,” in the United States was introduced first by him, at the Bessie Furnace, New Straitsville, Ohio, 1887-88. In the latter year he entered the ceramic industries of Ohio, managing several plants till 1893. He was the first to start the agitation (1893) that brought into being (1894) the first United States school for teaching the technology of the clay, glass and cement industries and he was director till 1916. From 1902-06 and from 1910-16 he was dean of the College of Engineering of Ohio State University, and from 1899-1906 he was State geologist of Ohio. He has written ‘Clays of Ohio and the Industries Established Upon Them’ in Ohio Geological Survey, Vol. V (1884); ‘The Progress of the Ceramic Industry’ (1903), besides a number of technical articles and reports published in the periodicals.