Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1915-12-31
HINSDALE, N. H.
Pioneer Malsc- of Moving Machines.

Pioncor Maker of Moving Machines
Lorenzo Ste hirs S., one OF our old.
est and most respected citizens. pnaae,
peacefully to his eternal rest al DAD
o'clock Monday morning from the Of
fects of paralytic shock which he
suffered 10 days before. He had on
1oyed unusually good health until that
time for several years, retaining his
strength and faculties remarkably well.
Mr.. Stebbins was born in Vernon.
w., Nov. 10, 1927 son Of John and
Harriet (IIoughton) Stcbbins, being
one CT eight children, four boys and
Tour girls, only two of whom survive,
Mrs. l.. j. Bristol of New Haven,
Conn, and Mrs. NJ. S. Stockwell of
Berkeley Cal.
lie attended the district schools of
his native town, also Chester Acad.
envy in Chester, VT, thence returning
TO his home and coming to this town
in lS47 to learn the trade of machinist
in Holman S shop, later transferring
to the Newhall and Merrill factory.
After serving his apprenticeship he
worked at his trade few months in
Worcester, Mass, returning here to
work for his former employers. He
married Ellen o. Walton of Chester.
field, Aug IL, 1856, and Sept. 9 of the
same year he bought of John Merrill
one-half interest in the firm of New
hall and Merrill and began the in.
vention and manufacture of the Gran.
lite state moving machine under the
firm name of Newhall and Stebbins, a
name at one time familiar to every
farmer in New England
This field mower was the first ever
made and was successful from the
start, although many of the farmers
were slow to be convinced of its su-
periority over the scythe. However, in
u short time the demand exceeded the
capacity of the plant and at one time
nearly 1000 of the machines were
made annually, some Ct which are still
in operation after so years of service
and their adaptability for use on the
hill farms of New England is still un-
questioned.
The firm also invented, developed and
manufactured lawn mower in the
sixties which as far as known was also
the first on the market and which, like
the larger machine, gained a reputa-
ton for service which is unsurpassed.
After Mr.. Newhall s death, Mr. Stcb-
bins continued the business and when
he sold to stock corporation in 1908,
which took the firm name of the Gran
lite State Moving Machine company,
'No manufacture of lawn mowers was
beginning to supersede that of the field
mowers. Mr. Stebbins !hen retired
from active life and lived quietly in
his beautiful home, doing good in his
modest and unassuming way and spend
ing his declining years surrounded by
every comfort and attention by those
who cared for him. He and his wife
celebrated their golden wedding ami
versary in .Richfeld Springs, N. Y.
where they were visiting relatives
Mr.. Stebbins suffered his greatest
sorrow in 1910, when his wife was
taken away, and her loss was irrepara
bic. Mr. Stebbins was very much in.
terested in the welfare of the Congrega.
tional church, being deacon for many
years and contributing literally to its
support. He was never happier than
when entertaining visitors, who always
| found a hearty welcome.
Besides his two sisters he leaves ! !
nieces and two nephews, among them
being Roland Stebbins, Mrs. Agnes
/ Gray and Miss Eta Stebbins, the lat
ter being well known here through her
frequent visits, all of whom live at the
old homestead in Vernon.