HISTORY

Underwood Transfer Company

Underwood Transfer Company was founded in 1899 by Andrew Underwood, an Irish immigrant, who came to the U.S. in the 1880s.  Andrew was employed by Western Union to lay telegraph poles in the western part of the U. S.  In the 1890s he settled in Indianapolis and built a stable to house mules which he used to haul the wagons that transported telephone poles around Indianapolis.  In addition to renting mules to the city, Andrew used the mules and dray wagons to transport machinery received from the railroad yards and deliver them to factories in the area.  With the advent of the motor truck, the company replaced mule transportation and became motorized.  Andrew’s two sons, Donald and Edward, continued the business when their father passed away in the 1930s.

     In 1930 with the inception of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), the company obtained authority which allowed them to move machinery by truck to all parts of the U.S.  At the same time, the company continued to move and place machinery in factories around the Midwest.  Donald passed away in the 1950s, and Edward continued the business.

     In 1970, Clay Smith and Craig Coleman, Edward’s two sons-in-law, came into the business with Edward. The company built a new 60,000 sq. ft. building on 16 acres in 1971. Edward passed away in the early 1990s.

     Underwood’s 4^th generation continues a tradition of excellence in transportation, rigging and warehousing, operating out of their Indiana headquarters and serving industry through out the Midwest. 

     In 2004, Underwood Transfer Co., LLC was recognized by the Indiana Historical Society as a “Centennial Business”, for being in business over 100 years.