South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-08-13


This eminent mechanician, as announ.
ced in our last number, died at his resi-
dence at Old Paigfston, near Torquay,
England, ON the 23rd day OF July. 1873.
in the sixty-fourth year OF his age. We
copy from one OF our exchanges the fol-
lowing sketch of the life of the deceased !:
1. rarely happens that a great me-
chanical inventor permanently identities
his name with the useful inventions he
gives to the world. The men of talent
too often seize upon and carry of the
fame which properly belongs to the men
Of genius. Still more rarely does it oc-
cur that the meritorious inventor secures
the pecuniary rewards which Justly per-
tain to the highest efforts Of the mind.
The subject Of this notice was 50 for
tunate rs TO achieve, in both respects, q
grand success. His name and reputa.
ton will be perpctuated by great man.
ufacturing corporation, whose beneficial
operations extend over the whole civiliz-
ed world, and he died in the possession
and enjoyment OF colossal fortune
His father was . German, o millwrfght
by trade; his mother q native OF Rens.
salaer county, New York, where the flu
ture inventor was born. At an early
day the family removed to Oswego, but
the father met with little success in his
business, and the son, when about twelve
years OF age, with very imperfect school
education and no money, departed from
home to which he never returned.
From that time forth, he fought the
battle Of life alone. He soon turned his
attention to mechanical work, and main
tanned himself as a machinist, but he
never served any regular apprenticeship,
and never pretended to be an accom-
plished artisan. His mind naturally EN-.
ployed itself about novel means Of reach
ing important results, and for many
years. while engaged in inventions, it
was his practice to employ the simplest
materials, such as a steel wire bent to
some peculiar shape, or n piece of sheet
iron cut to some strange form, or n pine
stick curiously whitfield with pocket
knife, TO elucidate the principles Of some
of the most useful and curious mechani-
cal devices. The inventions being thus
made, and the method Of operation dis
tinctly shown, any skilled artisan readi-
ly put them into permanent form. AT
one time MI. Singer was engaged in the
employment OF the Messrs. Hoe, in the
city of New York, as a machinist. and
then devoted his leisure hours to study
for the stage. He enjoyed the acquain-
lance, and. to n limited extent, the in
struction of Placide, Povey, Clarke and
others, who then adorned the stage of
the old Park theatre.
During several years he was theat-
rical manager, and gave frequent repre-
sensations of plays in the interior cities
of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York,
In certain line OF characters, he is said
to have acted with much success. To
the close of his life lie had an ardent
love for theatricals and music, and in
the splendid mansion. which he had built
within the last few years, a theatre, COM
plete in all its appointments, was in
cluded.
While he was still q young man he in
vented q steam drilling machine, which
was used with much advantage in the
construction of various railways and ca.
nails. subsequently he invented n ma
chine for carving wood, metals or mar
bles. While endeavoring to introduce
this invention to public notice and use,
his attention was casually directed to
the sewing machine. Atthat time1 $500
though several patents on sewing devil
ces had been granted in this and other
countries. no practical machine capable
of profitable employment to do ordinary
work had ever been produced.
T., 10 hot al. ha1
been experimental merely and had fail
ed to he useful. In eleven days the first
Singer sewing machine was invented and
built complete. It contained much that
was new and useful, subsequent improve
ments, for which numerous patents were
obtained, added greatly to the value of
this machine but it was successful and
profitable from the beginning to all con-
cerned in it,and, against all competition,
has steadily and continuously increased
in public favor, thus establishing the re-
putation OF the inventor and securing
him a vast fortune. In 1860, Mr.. Singer
retired from the active management OF
business, and since thst time has resided
mainly abroad. After several years
residence i'm Paris, he went, with his IA
mily, to England, and finally purchased
an estate and settled down at Old Paign-
ton, near Torquay, in Devonshire. The
last years of his life were devoted TO the
improvement OF that property, where he
dispensed liberal hospitality, and to
tho poor Of that neighborhood his death
will be q severe bereave meut.
IVThere are now in the United States
40 noe Peat OfT1caa Tn Wosf Viruinia