The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-08
SEWING MACHINE
INVENTED BY GOULDING BUT
HOWE GOT THE CREDIT.
Goulding Was Native of South
Carolina, and Designed the Ma
chine While ut College.

Carolina, and Designed the Ma
chine While at College.
An interesting story that has more
than the ordinary earmarks of truth
! was tumbled upon by the Greenville
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, Ca, 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 afterward
became, in connection with his minis
terial work, a professor in old Frs
kin College at Due West.
The other, young man of rest
! less, energetic, inquiring turn of
mind, was always trying to solve
some problem. the solution 0f 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
it. He was enthusiastic about his
invention. 1t was crude machine,
but it did the work-a simple lock-
stitch mechanism turned by hand and
mounted on a stand table or what
ever was convenient. His pride in
his machine was such that he show
ed it, 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 R. Gould
ing, of Georgia, showed his machine
to his Northern friend after their
acquaintance. He was struck to see
it's possibilities, and its value and
upon his return North appropriated
the design, mechanism and whole
| machine to his own use without the
advance 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 hin
of his rights, for being 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 referred to, the late Rev. Viii
liam McWhorter.
In his teachings in schools anC
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 stor!
above given, always ending with the
statement: "Now, boys, always re
member it was not Elias Howe wht
invented the sewing machine, bu
the Rev. Francis R. Goulding,
South Carolina boy at Athens, Ga.
University, whose design was appro
priated without leave or license b!
Elias Howe, who saw it while on
visit to Georgia.
This story he urged his daughters
who became teachers, to tell theil
classes also. That justice might b'
done to the GENUS of Francis K
Goulding, student of Athens Uni
versity between 1880 and 1885. wht
was the inventor of and maker o
the first sewing machine. william
McWhorter and Francis R. Gould
ing graduated at Athens, Ga, II
1885.
The two daughters of the Rev
William McWhorter lived near Alb
beville and have often heard thu
story from their fathers lips, ant
know that he was fellow student
Of Mr.. Goulding.
The Greenville News would llke
to hear from any of the defendants
of the Rev. Francis R. Goulding, and
with them assist in making some
what tardy atonement to his honor.