The company was founded in 1891 by William Sutton and Emil Alexander, who had previously founded the Laclede Car Company in 1883 also in St. Louis, and had both got their start working in the streetcar business at St. Louis' horsecar manufacturer, the Brownell Car Company.
William Sutton and Emil Alexander founded the company in 1891; they had previously established the Laclede Car Company in 1883 also in St. Louis. Both began their careers in streetcar manufacturing at St. Louis' horse-drawn car manufacturer, Brownell Car Company.