Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-05

and from 1855 to 1886. 2.S2s, in seven years
more than doubling the total that had
been accruing for the previous ninety
eight years. And from 1895 until 1910
there were 2sl5 patents more, bringing
the total number up to S59e. as stated.
The Pioneer.
The first patent granted TO a woman in
this country went to Mary KIes for a
process Of straw and silk weaving. The
patent was issued May 5, 1909, before
the system OF numbering patents went
Into vogue. The second patent given a
woman was issued more than six years
later. Miss Mary Brush had an idea for
improving corset. and on July 81. ISIS,
received her patent on that invention.
Patent No. to a woman went to Miss
Sophie Usher, four years later. and on
September IL, 1919. she became the owner
OF United States patent on a process
for making violet water and cream Of
tartar into toilet lotion.
Not until the eighth patent to a woman
came to issue did madame leave such
womanly subjects as weaving, kitchen
utensils. clothing and cosmetics for the
sterner arts. On May %. 1875. one Phoebe
Collier procured q patent on saving
wheel fellies, which apparently inspired
another woman to leave her sphere for
an excursion into mans domain. 30 that
when Miss Elizabeth II. Buckley took
her patent home with her, the ninth is
sued to q woman. she had sole rights to
a certain way Of making q sheet-iron
shovel-this was February o. Is2s.
Unfortunately, the great patent office
fire destroyed many early documents and
copies Of patents, 50 that much informa- !
ton about these early issues is hard TO |
get. II is q pity that We do not know
what Miss Harriet Cook had in mind
when she received the fifteenth patent
granted to woman. February %, 1888.
for ''calash balloon for ladies'" Is II
an article Of dress? Or an airship? One
suspects hustle. but speculation has no
place about 20 serious a matter as a
patent
First Certificate Issued.
The first numbered patent TO 20 TO a
woman was No l.075, on February 2, 1853.
% Eliza Ann B. Judkins for a method Of
shedding" Whether shedding" indi-
'ated some early depilatory process or a
manner Of putting up outbuildings or re-
ers to taking the heart out Of fibers Of
Iome sort, II not known.
The great civil war which flooded the
'atent office with devices of all sorts
'pplicahle to carnage and bloodshed from
inspired citizens. who desired thus to
ID their country lat price, while safely
'eing taken care of back home, had
title Influence in stimulating women 10 {
invent. But few patents granted during Z
hose years were to women. and Of those
ew but a scant half dozen have any
caring on the war. Martha Wills Of I
rochester. N. Y, received Patent No. !
l.s4S in 1851. for bandage. and Clarissa I
'rtain Of St Joseph. Mich Patent No. 9
's4se for an improved ambulance. in
" Apparently having an eye more TO
Military beauty than the care Of the In
ired. one Sarah Morsmsn OF Cleveland,
Is paid for Patent No. o .5s7, In the
ame year on an improved military cap.
ut Mary c. Ross and Louise Anderson, !,
ie first Of New York and the second :
st. Louis. were more tender hearted :,
iss Ross took two consecutive patents :,
so and AGA. on Imminent and saIve. :
speetively, while Miss Anderson :
fought Of the old soldiers and took :.
,s6s on rheumatic liniment-an three -
these patents being dated November :
1851 :.
There axe few scattering patents to a
omen to the end Of the Eaz, one for q