Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-05-13
SEWING MACHINE
INVENTED BY GOULDING BUT
HOWE GOT THE CREDIT.
Goulding Was Native of South
Carolina, and Designed the Ma
chine While at College.

! chine While at College.
An interesting story that has more
| than the ordinary earmarks of truth
was tumbled upon by the Greenvill,
Daily News correspondent while
rambling around in the vicinity OF
historic old Abbeville. Here is the
story:
Back in the 3O's there were in the
old university at Athens. Ga, two
young men who both became after
ward Presbyterian ministers of more
than local renown. One was a quiet
student, who devoted his heart and
mind to his books and aetcrward
became. in connection with his minis
terlal work, professor in old Frs
Kin College at Due West.
The other. a young man of rest
less. energetic, inquiring turn of
mind, was always trying to solve
some problem. the solution of which
would Tighten the burdens of the
working people. Among his new
fangle" machines was one which
would do the needlework of the
family in much quicker time than
many seamstresses could accomplish
1t. He was enthusiastic about his
invention. 1t was a crude machine
but it did the work-a simple lock
stitch mechanism turned by hand nd
mounted on a stand table or what
ever was convenient. His pride i'm
his machine was such that he show
cd II. and discoursed upon it on all
occasions.
There came one winter between
1880 and 1881. a young man from
the North to winter in Georgia. The
inventive young student. who was
afterward the Rev. Francis II. Could
ing. of Georgia. showed his machine
to his Nor horn friend after their
acquaintan' !!c was struck 10 soc
It's possibiliti 5, and it's valno and
upon his return North nnpropri1tcd
the design. mechanism and vaole
machine to his own use without the
e1vance or consent of his Southern
friend, and patented the first sew
ing machine. The young Northern
er was Elias Howe
Young Goulding was amazed and
horror struck at what deprived him
of his rights, for being n boy of but
moderate means he had not yet funds
TO take out letters patent on his ma
chine.
This story was told by the daugh-
ter of young Goulding's classmate
above preferred to, the late Rev. Will
liam McWhorter.
In his teachings in schools and
colleges whenever he saw Elias Howe
mentioned as the inventor Of the sew
ing machine, he would always close
the book and tell the class The story
above given. always ending with the
statement: "Now. boys, always re-
member it was not Elias Howe who
invented the sewing machine, but
the Rev. Francis r. Goulding. n
South Carolina boy at Athens. Ga.
University, whose design was appro-
priated without leave or license by
Elias Howe who saw IT while on a
visit TO Georgia"
This story he urged his daughters.
who became teachers, to tell their
classes also. That Justice might he
done to the GENUS of Francis X.
Goulding. a student of Athens Uni
versity between 1880 and 1895. who
was the inventor of and maker of
the first sewing machine. William
| McWhorter and Francis r. Gould
ing graduated at Athens. Ga, in
1875.
The two daughters Of the Rev
William McWhorter lived near Alb
neville and have often heard the
story from their fathers lips, and
know that ne was a io!low STUDENT
OF Mr. Goulding.
The Greenville News would like
to hear from any Of the defendant:
of the Rev. Francis II. Goulding, and
with them assist in making n some.
what tardy atonement to his honor.