Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-09-20
The CHRONICLE.
written for the CHRONICLE.
EIAnh nu.n I.-n..An

Fitch; The Inventor.
1t has been said that there is some
thing of interest in the life of every
man, and especially is this true of
those who have during some portion
OF their lives been noted for their eff
forts to advance the worlds progress,
by improvements calculated to add to
the happiness or wealth of mankind.
There is, perhaps, little of interest
in the youthful days of Fitch but a
seem as prelude, or introduction to
that latter period, when his name and
fame were not confined to the banks
of the Delaware, but crossed the Att
lantic; andr were fully commented
upon by the journals Of Europe as.
we'll as America, and whatever may,
be the decision as to his merits as an
inventor, it cannot be denied that his
efforts served to turn the attention of
mechanics and engineers in the same
direction, resulting in a rich harvest
to the world. - p -a.l.E i-l
The subject of this sketch was born
in Windsor, Conn, Jan, 21, 174S, old
style. His boybOod was passed be-
tween farm labor and school. He
seems to have had a natural aptitude
for mathematics, and strong desire
to acquire an education, but there was
10 sympathy with his tastes, by
parents or friends. Geography, ATith-'
metio and Surveying, as then taught,
comprised his knowledge of books.
He tired of farm labor, and engaged
himself as an apprentice at clock
making. His master gave him but
little opportunity for learning the art.
The close of his apprenticeship found
him with a limited knowledge of
brass working, and without skill as 3
clock, or watch maker. He however,
had faith in his own ingenuity, and
soon commenced business on his own
account, and after a time became 8
proficient in such work. During this
time he had been married to Lucy
Roberts, Of Sfmsbury, a lady several
years his senior. Their married life
being an unhappy one, in a few
months he resolved to leave her.
After closing Lis business matters, he
left home with no fixed plans, and
only eight dollars in his pocket.
tiAfter few months wandering, Ihe
settled down at Trenton, M. By
means of his mechanical skill and
Yankee shrewdness, he found him
self at the breaking out of the Revo-
lutionary war, with property valued
at eight hundred pounds sterling
money. 80
In the political dispute between the
Colonies and Great Britain, Fitch be-
came strong partizan on the Ameri-
can side. He received a Iieutenancy
commission in the first company or
ganized at Trenton. Some trouble
having arisen IS to the rank of Off
GERS, and feeling aggrieved at the re-
suit, he accepted the position of gun
smith offered him by the Committee
of Safety of the Province of New
Jersey, and was of more service to the
State, than he could have b,en in the
field. He followed the business of
armorer until the approach Of the
British rendered further labor dan
gerous. His business being broken
up and tools destroyed, he engaged In
furnishing goods to the army until
Philadelphia was evacuated by the
British troops. In few months his
savings amounted to some $40, zoo.
Continental money deprecated in
value until it was worth only one
hundred in specie. He then solicited
and received an appointment as sur
veyor at Richmond, Va, and i'm
mediately went to Kentucky, by
way of Wheeling. - =
On one Of his trips to Kentucky
and Ohio, he was taken prisoner by
the Indians, near the Muskingum,
and was carried to Detroit, and de-
livered 10 the British commander OF
that post. After being a prisoner
some nine months, be was exchanged,
having been carried down the Lakes
and the st. Lawrence and around to
New York by Sea.
In the spring Of 17S5, his attention
was drawn to the subject of propellink
boats and carriages by steam. In 3
few months, his plans and models
were prepared. The following winter
was spent In laying his projects before
the legislative bodies of different
states, and petitioning for a law Civ
ing him especial privileges in build
ing and using boats propelled by fire
and steam. The Legislature of New
York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vir-
ginia, each passed law at various
times, giving him exclusive right in
the construction and navigation Of
such boats. -l15 az
A company was formed at Philadei-
phia to test the plans of the inventor.
The nrst great difficulty was the con-
struction of steam engine. At this
time there were but three engines. in
America. 1t was machinery which
the mechanics were scarcely able to
furnish. In all the subsequent efforts
Of the steamboat company, their igno-
rance Of the respective proportions of
the boiler, cylender and other parts
Of the engine gave much embarrass-
ment. 1t is not strange that such
should have been the case, for the
engineers had but just succeeded in
turning the yibratoEy motion of the
piston intoa rotary one. It was only
in 1892 that Watt patented his double
acting engine. These two improve
ments being the means of increasing
its value immensely. AT this time
no engineer had determined The sci
entific relations and proportions of
an engine, and the company soon
found themselves only making expert
ments being instructed by the failure
Of different portions. of their ma
chinery. - A,5 ---
In the summer of 1786 skiff steam
boat was built, which was so far
success as to satisfy the members of
the company that the invention might
be made useful. A new and larger
boat was Immediately ordered. A re-
of the steam boat COM
pany was effected under the stimulus
Of the right granted TO Fitch BY diff
ferent states, and the success IN the
so far made
In 17S7 the engine was completed,
but on trial, so many detects were
found, that it was taken up from IFS
foundation, and set up again. No
sooner was one defect remedied than
appeared, yet in spite Of all
these, the boat had been moved at the
rate Of four miles an hour. As a final
result. It was found that the machinery
was not powerful enough to make It
successful as a packet boat on the
Delaware. Funds were again raised
and various plans and experiments
were tried, but it was not until April, |