 The company was founded by agricultural tool manufacturer P. P. Mast with a single magazine, "Farm & Fireside ("later the "Country Home"")" to sell farm tools and implements in 1877 in Springfield, Ohio.By 1881, Mast had relinquished control to John S. Crowell who expanded their company by purchasing "Home Companion" (later changing the name to "Woman's Home Companion").After P. P. Mast's death in 1898, Crowell obtained control of the company and established it as the Crowell Publishing Company.