Among the many industrial plants that contribute to the prosperity of Rome, Oneida county, New York, and have made the city an important industrial center, that of the Rome Swivel Works is conspicuous because of the extent of the business it conducts and the special nature of its productions. William Von Dauber has been connected with the business many years, and has been the sole owner and manager since the business was established in Rome some years ago. He was born in Rome in 1881, the son of F. L. and Adelaide (Hower) Von Dauber, the father a native of Illinois, who moved from Chicago to Rome about 1875 and died in 1884; and the mother a native of Austria, who came to the United States when six years old with her parents. Some time after the death of Mr. Von Dauber she was married to Joseph Augustine, who died in 1911. She is still living and is eighty years old. By her first marriage she was the mother of seven children, five sons and two daughters, William Von Dauber of this review being her youngest child.
William Von Dauber attended the public schools of Rome until he was twelve years old, and then moved to Humaston, New York, where he remained until he was twenty-one years old, and then moved to Taberg, New York, where he entered the machine shop and assisted his stepfather in the manufacture of swivels. The firm was the first to manufacture box swivels in the United States. Mr. Von Dauber remained in Taberg with his stepfather until the latter died in 1911, after which he ran the business for his mother for a year, and in 1912 bought the business and moved it to Rome. The plant manufactures the original design of box swivel, has also added the barrel swivel, and was one of the first to produce this style in the United States. The plant also manufactures fancy swivels, such as cross-line, three-way and cod swivels, landing net bows of different sizes and collapsible, or, in brief, seven machine and stamp work specialties. During the World war the plant made swivels for aeroplanes. Mr. Von Dauber is a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Rome Chamber of Commerce and the Rome Automobile Club. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is on the board of stewards.
On May 16, 1905, in Blossvale, New York, Mr. Von Dauber was married to Miss Sarah Hatzinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hatzinger, an old family in the Mohawk valley section. Mrs. Von Dauber is interested in church circles, and is the mother of four children: Richard, Hazel, Frank and Bernard Von Dauber. Mr. Von Dauber enjoys outdoor sports, specially fishing, hunting and camping.