New-York tribune., 1868-11-06


against the lneiiicacy of the laws, the fourteen
years 1or which the first patent granted expired.
Dut, III 1885, he succeeded in getting renewal for
Ia years more. In the meantime. however, he had
spent large private fortune, and become heavily IN
Nolved. His invention had brought him literally
hothlng but plentiful crop OF Lawsuits, Wnicn
seemed TO spring mp III every furrow his pl0w had
traced. In 1894 he died pecnniarly ruined,
Notwithstanding all his disappointments. his life
was singuary bright and genial His serene. cqua-
bic disposition proof against all trials. Many
persons yet living remember HIN as one whose beau,
tlful sunny nature adversely could cl0nd, and
whose broad, loving philanthropy no iltreatnent
could sour In the event of reaping the deserved
ward for his invention he bad resolved to establish
a fund for a system of publlc schools III the State of
New-York, and he seemed to feel as much dsappont-
ment at the failure OF this scheme rs at his own
community of Friends was of benignant and
winning presence, conrtly grace of manner, and
tender atiectonate heart.
After his death his son Benjamin who received the
invention as legacy continued his efforts To wrest
all his fathers failures had proceeded from the inad-
eqnacy of the patent laws, which were almost worth
less Ia protect the rights of the inventor Even
patent is worth little until II has been fought
through the Supreme Court of the United States In
those days So many obstacles were thrown i'll the
were so formidable. that Eli Whitney, In trying TO
establish his right . the cation gin in Georgia
court, while his machine was doubling aud trebjng
the value of lands through the State had tins eXpe-
rience which is given III his own words a" had
great difficulty in proving that the machine had been
used in Georgia, although at ne same momem mee mtre
thr,e separate sets Of this machinery ~ motion whin
ffty yards OF the building ia hich M6 court sat- dnd az
50 that The rdtling Of the chcCis WdS distinctly heard
on the steps Of the Court House"
Similar difficulties had met Jethro Wood in his
suits: SO his resolved TO strike Mt the root
of the evil by securing n reform IN the laws. lie
accordingly went 10 Washington. where he remained
through several seasons, always working 10 tins end
Clay Webster and John Quincy Adams, all oi whom
had known IethrO Wood and his invention, aided ms
son powerfully with their votes aud counsel, ana he
succeeded in securing several important changes h
the patent laws , ,
Then he returned TO New-York and commenced
suit TO resist encroachments on his right. ana the
wholesale manufacture of his plow by those VINO re-
| fused TO pay the premium to the inventor. Inc
| and formidable combinations Of its manufacturers
! united their capital and influence against Benjamin
| Wood. William H. Seward, then practlclng iaw'
was retained Woods counsel, and the piow makers
engaged all the talent they could muster 10 oppose
| him. ,
Heretofore il had never been contradicted that
Jcthro Wood was the originator of the Plow ln use
! hut now his right 10 the invention was denied ana
il was alleged that his Improvements had oeeh lore
| stalled by other makers. Again ana again the case
| was adjourned and Europe and America were ran
sacked for specimens of the different pows which
We're declared TO include his patent.
| Wood also obtained from England samples OF the
| plows of James Small and Robert Ransom. lio
searched New-Jersey to fl the Peacock, pow which
similar shape TO his fathers. Everywhere IN that
! State ne found Woods pow" IN use. but he cond
near farm house he discovered one of the old
,"Newbold-Peaeock plows' lying under fence al,
! lapidated and rust-eaten. We don't use II any
more" the farmer replied to his inquiries iTT,,Si
| you sell this ~ asked Wood. well. yes
And Wood, glad to get IT At almost any Prce Gi:
! evident anxiety. two three times the prlce ol
new pillow, and added the old one TO his specimens
| This motley collection of implements was brought
into court and exhibited to the judges. AT last after
the ease had dragged its slow length along through
many terms and the paintli was nearly worn ORR out out
| cSion arrived. The combination oi plow-makers
feared that the case would 20 in Woods favor, and
made every effort TO keep him ont of court that he
might lose il by default During his long entangle-
ment in the law, he had contracted many debts
and one of his opponents had managed 10 pnr-
chase several of these accounts. just before the
case was to he heard for the last time, this worthy
plOw manufacturer, attended by sheriff, and armed
with n warrant Ia arrest Wood for debt appeared M
the front door of his house. Fortunately Wood had
had a few minutes warning and slipping ont at the
back door he made ms way under cover 0f app1ach-
ing darkness To the house OF q friendly ncigno
There he procured horse and started Tor Albany iJO
miles distant, hearing every moment IN fancy the
| gathering of hOOfs at his heels. -
As if fortune could not be sufficiently ill-naturcd;
| his horse proved vicious and unnanageaDle ana
thrice in the tedious journey threw the rder from ms
saddle upon the frozen earth, 50 lnufng him that he
was barely able 10 20 Oh.
! On arriving al Albany he found himself not mo-
ment too soon. The ease had an lnmedla.c % hsIiIg
and after three days trial the Circuit Court decideu
unequiyOcay that the plow now III genera nse over
| the country was unlike any other wnlch hah , pI' ~
produced that the Improvements which rendered
| so effective due TO Jethro Wood, ana that All
manufacturers must pay his heirs for the privilege OF
| making IL.
! This was a great triumph but it was the late
Autumn of ls4j and the last grant Of the patent had
| little than year 10 run. Wood again repaired
| TO Washington to apply for a new extension, Dut
the eXcitcmcnts Of 50 long a contest had bcen 700
| much for him. Just he had RECOMMENDED ms ei
forts they were forever ended Whle talklng WIN
one Of his friends. he suddenly fell dead IRON heaIt
disease aud the patent expired without renewal
The last male heir Ia the invention wac no more
On settling the estate. was lound th"i VINE hot
a yestige remained Of the large fortune owned by
Jethro Wood when he began his career. hss man nre
hundred and Gfty dollars Rad crr teeH Teccctd from me
artHiOR. ,if, t,o,r
daughters Of Jethro Wood alone remained To repre-
sent the family. In the Winter 0i 1913 the TWO
Younger sisters went 10 Washington 10 pcttlon Con
ess that bill might be passed fOr tielr lcIci, III
view OF the inestImable services OF their iatncr
o the agricultural interests Of the country webster
declared that he regarded their father rs pupic
benefact0r,' and gave them hs most eilclent aiu
CLAW warmly cspOused their cause and the Nenefabic
Joilu Quincy Adams, with his trembling hand-then
20 enfeebled by age that he rarely used the pen
wrote them Kind notes heartily 1yhpniIe I'M, ,r WIN
them. On one memorable day. while thcy were IN
the House gallery. Mr.. Adams, at his desk on the
floor wrote them briefly IN relation to thelr case
few minutes later he was struck Win the lata at
fack undey which he exclaimed, This ~ the last oi
earth am content" and was borne DYING 10 me
Speakers room. The tremulons lines, the last his
hand ever traced found OH his desk aud DENY
| cred 10 Miss Wood >,
A bill providing that in these four heirs shonld
rest for seven years the exclusive right OF making
| and vending the improvements III the CONSTRUCTION
Of the cast-iron plow; aud that twenty i've col.s VI
each plOw might be cXacted from all VINO mamgiac-
| tured it, passed the Senate unanimously. But Wash
! ingtOn already swarmcd with plow manufacturers.
The city Of Pittsburgh alone sent five TO look after
| their interests. Money was freely used and the
members Of the House Committee whOwcrc to report
the bill were assured that during the y years oil
| wealth, and wished TO keep up amonopoly. The two
| quiet ladies' fresh from the retirement of Quaker