The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-01-22

Tyler Home invented the spring bed.
Elias Howe was lame, lazy and shiftiess For
years after he married his wife supported him and
their children by sewing His wifes patient IN
dustry no doubt led him to think OF ways to light
en- her toll and the sewing machine was the 70
suit. When he took out his patent he sold half
interest In IL for $500 TO the man from whom he
rented a garrett Eleven days after the granting
OF the patent he assigned the other half interest
over TO his father. nomnaliy for $1,000. but
really 60 satisfy claims for small sums the father
had given to him
To support his family he became locomotive
engineer He was not much Of success as an
engineer and lost his Job. That was fortunate
although he did not think so at the time
His brother had been sent TO England 10 intro
duce the sewing machine and thought be was
doing wonderful piece OF business when he sold
the English rights for 1880. There was one
saving clause In that bin OF sale II provided
mat the inventor should get SIS for every ma
chine sold.
Elias Howe with his wife and three children
followed his brother 90 England. He got work At
tla week at manufacturing HIS own machines
lie was so incompetent as a worker that he wma
discharged For two years he was poverty
stricken and only escaped Jail in England by tab
Ing the poor debtors oath Through the charity
OF sea captain he and bis family were brought
back To America
Two weeks after his return HIS wife died owing
70 the prlVauon To which she had been subjected
Destitute and forlorn Howe driftad abou, sro,n
place To place Ills father took pity on him and
tscohFeyed the half interest In the patent 10
Elias Then Howe took advantage OF the fact
thAt various persons we're infringing on his pat,
ens and sued them. For four years the suit.
dragged along. Howe won most OF them ana eoI
iec'ea $4,000 In one instance, With this money
ne repnrehAsed the half interest he had sola %
The owner Of the garnet for $500
IhAt was one OF the few sensible things he ever
oid In business way. When be died In 1867 NJ
the age OF forty-eIght he left $1,000 600
Ri whitney invented the cotton gin He was n
Nem EngiAnder who went south. and on the plan.
tAuon OF Gen. Nathaniel Green OF Revolutionary
fame saw ths slaves separating the lint from the
ooeton seed BY hand. Few things ths, came
from the brain Of many have worked A greater
revolution than the cotton gin. Without injury
20 the noer cuts the lint from the seed and pilae
Il into the frame in which later Il IL baled
FROM his invention which may be classeA a.
one OF the ten most important IN history Whitnsy
never got dollar OF profit Immediately upon
the Introduction OF the gin dozens Of persons
pirafed the invention. whitney tried 20 protsot
MS legal rights and soon became involved IN a
lot OF lawsuits. Some OF them he won withou,
much trouble. some OF the more important were
carried from court 10 court and were draEged ON
tnierminably.
The affair became one OF the scandals n, IN.
time Mr. Whitney disguised with The protrne,es
ana expensive litigation, nearly AZ the end OF hta
financial resources and despAIring OF ever TettInw
Justice In the courts determined to let the world
have the benefit Of his invention without uront IN
himself The state Of Georgia in recognition OF
NhAt it had benefited through the gin voted $50.
V"e 10 him. That DID not cover the legal costa
the lawyers fees and the time be had given "a
tue creation OF the gin but with this money he
embarked In business in New England IN the man
ufActure Of firearms. and made enough money 70
live In comparative ease