David R. Barton (b. 1805) began making planes soon after moving to Rochester, NY, to learn nail making. In 1848, after several failed partnerships, he went out on his own. Within two years, he expanded and employed 50 other plane makers. From 1856 to 1861, he employed prison labor in Kingston, Ontario. After a fire destroyed his factory in 1865, he formed D.R. BARTON & CO. with the Mack brothers. In 1874, the Macks took over control. After David Barton's death the following year, the brothers renamed the firm MACK & MACK. They used the D.R. BARTON & CO. trade name through 1939.