Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-05-31
ELI WHITNEY.

The following extract from S!iIliman's
Journal Of Arts and Science, touching the
early history ofthis distinguished individual
a native of Massachusetts, we publish be.
cause we think many thousands of our rea.
would be glad to know something of tho in.
ven,or Of the Cotton Gin. We saw the
late residence Of this gentleman when in
Connecticut, and could but feel gratitude
and veneration for one who had saved the
South from so much dull employment. 1t
is painful 10 know that he was not properly
rewarded for his ingenuity Watchman Of
the South.
Eli Whitney, Esq, inventor ofthe Cotton
Gin, was born IN Westborough, Massachu.
sets, l765 ;--made a violin when he was
only twelve years old shortly after, he
took his fathers watch to pieces, and put it
together again unknown to mis- father, and
without any assistance. During the Revo.
tionary war his principal employment in
summer, was farming. and making wrought
nails in winter. What tim, he could re.
deem from his regular employment, he spent
in repairing violins, making long pins for
the ladies, TO faslen on their bonnets, in max.
ing walking canes, and in similar trials of
his mechanical ingenuity making his own
tools, and executing his jobs TO the entire
satisfaction of his employers. At the age
Of nineteen he was desirous Of liberal ed.
uca ion, but could not obtain his fathers COLI
sent. At the age of twenty three he entered
the Freshman class in Yale College. Qradu.
ated in 1892, and gave his father his note
for money advanced towards his education.
10 1888, he invented the Cotton Gin,a ma.
chine for cleansing seed from cotton ; and in
June of this y ar applied to Mr.. Jefferson,
then Secretary Of State, for patent. BY
this ingenious invention, the cotton-growing
districts were trippled in value. In January,
1898, he turned his attention to the manufac.
ture of muskels, and entered into contract
with the United States Go, ernment for the
manufacture of ten thousand stand of arms,
which at Is dollars and 40 cents
each, amounted to one hundred and
thirty.four thousand dollars. The site
which he purchased for his works, was at
the fsot of the celebrated precipice, called
East Rocf within two miles of New Haven,
This spot, now called Whitneyville, is justly
admired for the romantic beauty of its see.
merry. Such impediments retarded this un-
deriaking, that the entire business relating
to ihe contrac, was not closed until January,
1909. and the final balance due Mr.. Whit.
ney was only two thousand four hundred
and fifty dollars. So low was the state Of
the mechanic art IN the United States. atthat
time, that he had 10 rely mostly on his own
inventive powers, and TO manufacture his
own tools as he advanced; yet such was
the confidence of Government in his me-
chanical skill and serlng integrity, tha, they
advanced the necessary funds to carry on
the business. Mr.. Calhoun once said that
Government has saved at its two armories
twenty-five thousand dollars annually BY Mr..
Whitney's improvements in this branch Of
business.
In September, 1922. he experienced the
first attack of his complaint, which threaten.
ed his life an enlargement of the PROSTATE
gland. For three weeks the event was
very doubtful, during which time he suffered
occasionally paroxysms of pain, of from
thirty TO forty minutes ir continuance, even
beyond description. These were repeated
six or eight times in twenty-four hours. For
six weeks he was confined to his room, at
the end of which time he was able 10 walk
about The house. and ENJOY tho society Of
his friends. Early in January. 1923. he
had to endure another period ofsuffering no
less alarming and distressing than the for,
rer. With such alterations of awful suG
rrng and practical repose, he reached the
18th OF November, 1924, at which time his
'ltferings became almost unremitted, until
he 9th ofJanuary, 1925, when he expired;
his consciousness 10 the last, clos
ng his own eyes, and making an effort to
close his mouth. Hs funeral was attended
~ large concourse of mis- fellow-citzens,
Who assembled in one Of the churches,
where an appropriate religious service was
performed. His tomb is after the model Of
nat OF Scipo at Rome. The foundations Of
"e monument are laid at the hottom of the
'rave' on each side, and lower than the
;omn. An arch of stone is thrown over
ne coffin, and the structure then rises solid
IS an ancient temple. The material of ths
monument is the find sandstone of Chatham.
Connecticut. The several layers OF stone
re- composed each ofone stone only. On