Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-08-28
ISAAC MERRITT SINGER.

This eminent mechanlcla0 died at
his residence at Old Paignton, near
Torquay. England on the 23d day of
July, 1875, in the sixty-fourth year Of
his age. "
1t rarely happens that great me-
ehanieal inventor permanently identi-
fes his name with the useful inventions
he gives to the world. The men OF
talent too often seize upon and carry
off the fame which properly belongs to
the men of genius. Still more rarely
does it occur that the meritorious in
ventor secures the pecuDiary rewards
which justly pertain to the highest
efforts OF the mind.
The subject of this notice was so
fortunate as to achieve, in both re-
spects, a grand success. His name
and reputation wiz be perpetuated by
a great manufacturing corporation
whose beneficial operations extend
over the whole civilized world. and he
died in the possession and enjoyment
of colossal fortune. His father was
German a mill-right by trade; his
mother a native of Rensselaer, County,
New York, where the future inventor
was born. At an early day the family
removed TO 0swego, butthe father met
with little success in his business, and
the son, when about twelve years of
age, with very imperfect school educa-
iion aud no money, departed from a
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
maintained hlmself as a machinist, but
he never served any regular appren-
ticeship, aud never pretended to be an
accomplished artisan. His mind ma
turally employed itself about novel
means of reaching important results,
and for many years, while engaged In
inventions, it was his practice TO en-
ply the simplest materials, such as a
steel wire bent TO some peculiar shape,
or piece of sheet iron cut to some
strange form, or pine stick curiously
Whitfield with pocket knife, 10 eluci-
date the principles of some of the most
useful aud curious mechanical devices
The inventions being thus made, and
the method of operation distinctly
shown, any skilled artisan readily put
them into permanent form. At one
time Mr.. Singer was engaged in the
employment OF the MeSsrs. Hoe. in
the cts of New York, as machinist,
and then devoted his leisure hours TO
study for the stage. He enjoyed the
acquaintance, and, to limited ex-
tent. the instruction of Placide, Pow
cy, Clarke and others. who then adorn-
cd the stage of the old Park theatre.
During several years he was a the
atrical manager, and gave frequent
representations of plays in the interior
cities of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New
York. In certain line Of charac-
tiers, he is said to have acted with
much success. To the close of his
life he had an ardent love for theat-
ricals aud music. and in the splendid
mansion, which he had built within
the last few years, theatre, complete
In all its appointments, was included.
While he was still young man he
invented u steam drilling machine,
which was used with much advantage
In the construction of various railways
aud canals. Subsequently he invented
i machine for carving wood, metals.
or marble. While endeavOring to in-
troduce this invention to public notice
and use, his attention was casually d.
rected to the sewing machine. At
that time, 1850, though several patents
on sewing devices had been granted in
this and other countries, no practical
machine capable of profitable employ
ment TO do ordinary work had ever
been produced.
Up to that time sewing machines
had been experimental merely aud had
failed TO be useful. In eleven days
the first Singer sewing machine was
invented and built complete. Ii con-
tanned much that was new and useful,
subsequent improvements, for which
numerous patents were obtained, ad-
ded greatly to the value of this ma
chine but II was successful and prof.
table from the beginning to all con-
cerned in it and. against all competi-
ton, has steadily and continuously in
creased in public favor, thus estab-
fishing the reputation of the inventor
and securing him vast fortune. In
1860, Mr.. Singer retired from the act
i've management of business, aud since
that time had resided mainly abroad.
After several years residence in Paris, |
he went. with his family, to England, |
and finally purchased an estate and !
settled dOwn at Old Paignton, near
Torquay, in DevonShire. The last
Years of his life were devoted to the |
improvement of that property, where
he dispensed liberal hospitality, aud
TO the poor Of that neighborhood his |
death will be severe bereavement.