The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-17
THE FIRST COTTON GIN.
Eli Whitney Operated his First Gin in This
County.
Hon. Marin Y. Cairin, IN -iuynsta Hvald.

as to the date when the first expert
mcnts were made in the United States
in growing the cotton plant Let it
suffice that it had been introduced md
sufficient progress made in the iii
vation Of upland and Of Sea Island
cotton TO interest the people deeply
in the utilization Of the plant. 1t was
valuable. No person questioned that
at all, but when confronted with the
fact that Il woman could pick the seed
from only one pound Of cotton in
day, persons interested became de-
pressed alinos: &c despair.
Men were at work as early as 1928,
l742, 17SS and 1890 industriously try
ing to solve the problem how to scpa-
rate the lint from the seed.
Planters, visiting at the hospitablc
home of Mrs. General Nathaniel
Greene, were in the habit Of discuss
ing the cotton situation The roller
gin by Mr.. Kinscy Borden, Of ST.
Paul's Parish, South Carolina, that
by Mr.. Bissct aud still anothcrby Mr..
Pottle, Of Georgia; the trcadle gin by
Mr. Joseph Eve each accomplished
certain results, but did not meet the
existing exigcncy.
Now, it happened that a young gen
tlcman, Mr.. Eli Whitney, was a mem.
Der of the Greene household, having
come down from the North for the
purpose Of taking the position Of head
master Of school near Mulberry
Grove. He arrived too late for that,
and, at the suggestion Of Mrs. Greene,
was devoting the greater portion Of his
time to reading law.
Visitors to the stately old mansion
came and went. Whatever the topic
of conversation, the possibilities of
the cotton plant Invariably claimed IL
large share Of attention.
Mrs. General Greene, cultured and
obscrvant, took Il lively intcrcstin the
pending problem. One day, to party
of visitors who seemed disposed to
make the cotton plant the leading
subject of conversation, Mrs. Greene
suggested that the matter be brought
to the attention Of Mr. Whitncy-hc
had so clearly shown he possessed tie
genius Of invention.
This T. Jughtful suggestion was in
stantly adopted. Mr.. Whitney had
rot seen either the seed, the plant or
the staple.
after Il little while d small batch Of
seed cotton was obtained and he begun
at ence to wrcstlc with the problem
Ne was net long iii grasping the situa-
tion, and in fixing upon the unknown
quantity, but he progressed slowly for
the reason that, being unable to pro-
cure suitable material or tools at Sa-
vannah, he had to draw his own wire
and make his own tools.
There came to the Greene mansion
about this time notable visitor from
Wilkes County. Mr.. Phineas Miller
by name. Incidentally, he manifested
a commendable degree Of interest in
Mr.. Whitney's efforts satisfactorily to
solve the problem that was so full of
of interest to all the planters round.
lie was, however, very much more
interested in the queenly and wealthy
widow Of General Nathaniel Greene.
Whitney-for you must bear in mind
that man who is putting his powers
Of invention to the test is lost to all
savc his misson-worked industri-
ously at his model. Between times
he etrodc about, or sought a quiet
nook in, the spacious grounds of Null
berry Grove, while his mind framed
the @odel, set it up, took it apart and
Beadjusted it. In short time, his
thoughts took tangible form. Mrs
Greene and Mr.. Miller were the only
persons who were permitted to sec the
model as it developed, step by step
This was in the latter part of 1892.
When tho new year dawned, Eli Whit
ney had triumphed, and, in the quiet
OF his chamber, in his own calm way,
doubtless, cried: Eureka.
He had perfected the machine and
was ready to test it, when, as all the
cyclopaedias inform US, the house in
which the gin was set up was broken
into and the machine stolen. This,
OF course, disconnected Mr.. Whitney
somewhat, but for brief period only.
The first model had been stolen, aud
would be used by the parties to the
theft in building gins after his pat
tern. He carried in his mind an i'm.
proved model which he quickly put
into form. In 1893, Whitney entered
.ck