The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-05-08
Some American Inventors

Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin;
born at Westboro, Massachusetts,, 1865; died
in 1925; went to Georgia in 1892 as teacher; in
1888 invents the cotton gin, prior to which q
full days work of one person was to clean by
hand one pound of cotton; one machine per
forms the labor of five thousand persons;
in1sOO Pounds Whitneysville; makes firearms
blythe interchangeable system of the parts.
Robert Fulton, born at Little Britain, Penn
s%ylvania, 1865; diod in 1926; artist painter; in
vents steamboat 1888; invents submarine tor
pedoes 1871 to 1901; builds steamboats, in
France 1905; launches passenger boat Cler-
1872, builds steam ferry boats 1914, builds
first steam war vessel.
Jethro Wood, inventor of the modern cast
iron plow; born at White Creek, New York,
1874; died IN 1884; patented the pillow in 1914.
PREVIOUSLY the pillow was a stick of wood plat
ed with iron. Law suits against mfringers
consumed his means. Secretary Seward said,
No man has benefited the country, pecuniari-
~, more than Jethro Wood, and no man has
been 30 inadcauately rewarded"
Thomas Blanchard, born in 17SS, at Sutton,
Massachusetts; died in 1864; invented a tack
machine in 1906; builds q successful steam
carriage in 1925; builds the stern wheel boat
for shallow waters, now in common use on
western rivers; in 1913 patents the lathe for
turning irregular forms, now in common use
all over the world for turning lasts, spokes,
axe-handles, gun stocks, hat blocks, tackle
blocks, etc.
Ross Winans, of Baltimore, born in 1T9S, in
New Jersey; author of many inventions rela-
tive to railways; first patented in 1925; he de-
signed and patented the pivoted, double truck,
long passenger ears now in common nse. His
genius also assisted the DEVELOPMENT of rail-
ways in Russia.
Cyrus H. Mccormick, inventor Of harvest
ing machines; born at Walnut Grove, Virginia,
in 1909; in 1851 he exhibited his invention al
the worlds fair, London, with practical sue
cess. The moving Of one acre was one mans
days work; o. boy, with n moving machine,
now cuts ten acres a day. Mr.. McCormick's
patents made him q millionaire.
Charles Goodyear, inventor and patentee Of
the simple mixture of rubber and sulphur, the
basis of the present great rubber industries
throughout the world; born in New Haven,
Connecticut, in 1900; in 1888, by the accidental
mixture of a bit of rubber and sulphur on q
red hot stove, he discovered the process of
INFLAMMATION. The Goodyear patents proved
immensely profitable.
Samuel l. Il. Morse, inventor and patentee Of
electric telegraph, born at Charlestown, Mas
sachusetts, in 17S1; died in 1872; artist painter;
exhibited his first drawings of telegraph in
1872; half,mile wire in operation in 1885; ca
49, Npn6iSoo aPPlopil1tcu Sop,pOU,
and in 1851 the first telegraph line from Balti-
more to Washington was opened; after long
contests the courts sustained his patents, and
he realized from them a large fortune.
Elias Howe, inventor of the modern sewing
machine; born at Spencer, Mass, in 1915;
died IN 1857; nlachinist; sewing machine pat
ented in 1916. From that time to 1854 his
priority was contested, and he suffered from
poverty, when q decision of the courts in his
favor brought him large royalties. and he
realized several millions from his patent.
James B. Eads; born in 1920; author and
constructor of the great steel bridge over the
Mississippi at st. Louis in 1867, and the jetties
below New Orleans in 1876. His remarkable
energy was shown in 1861, when he built and
delivered complete to the government, all
within 65 days, seven iron plated steamers of
600 tons each; subsequently othe: steamers
Some of the most brilliant successes of the
UnioF; arms were due to his extraordinary
rapidity in constructing these vessels.
James Lyall; New York city; born in 1886;
invented o simple mixture, 1868. for enamel
ing cloth, for knapsacks, etc, from which he
realized a fortune; in 1868 patented the posi-
two motion loom, which patent was exceeding
ly profitable; is the founder and manager OF
several great establishments; at one OF these,
Twenty-third street, New York, four thousand
hands are employed. This loom increases
the production and lessons the cost of woven
fabrics. Asingle loom tended by one girl,
turns out three hundred and twenty square
yards in ten hours, the fabric being eight yards
wide. -Scientlic American Handbook.