Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-05-30
WEBSTER CITY
INVENTORS !
Residents Of This City Have
Contributed Largely to
Field Of 1nven-
ton.
LIST OF THE NAMES v y
Old Timers Among Inven.
tors.-The First Type
= writer.


Webster City has contributed largely
in her day to the field Of inventions.
She has literally been the birthplace of
scores of inventions. Some Of these
have been of great practical value and
have made their inventors a perpetual
source Of income. But far greater
number of them were either valueless
after few years use, OF else were
unscrupnlously appropriated by smooth
investigators for large factories which
are ever on the lookout for new ideas
and new inventions.
Old residents will disagree with
points of this article. Some will re-
member inventors left out of the list.
But the following is as near as can be
ascertainel, a complete list Of Webster
City people who have obtained patents
upon their inventions. A very few of
these did not obtain patent.
The First Typewriter.
Abner Pceler was probably the first
Inventor Of the town. In 1867 or lSiS
he invented the typewriter, which IL
unquestionably the first typewriter ever
invented Peeler, who was known to
residents as Charlie Wright" perfect
I'd an invention for writing with type
Which was operated with one hand. 1t
yas n crude affair, to be sure, but easily
the first invented. 1t attracted the at
tentiOn of his employer, Wm A. eros
lev. who together with Samuel Baxter,
encouraged the young man to make n
model of the machine. CrOsley accom-
panied the young man ana the model
TO Washington to take out patent.
The attorney who drew up the papers,
did not make the description cover the
real principle involved. and in this res
pect the patent was faulty. 1t was
easily discovered by others and later
PATENTS were procured by the Hall
Typewriter Company, which in reality
belonged to Abner Peeler. The inven.
tor. like most inventors, had little bust
ress ability, but was undoubtedly a
great genius. He later invented an
engraving machine, knitting machine.
and still later an improvement for the
Singer sewing machine.
An Air Gun.
What would two years ago or more
have been considered as the worlds
greatest inventiOn-an air Sur--was
the most wonderful of his inventions.
By the irony OF fate, Peeler was born
too early to use this invention. The
gun merely shot compressed air. But
it shot compressed air with such force
that from a comparatively great dis
trnce, one could shoot hole through
n tree with compressed air. Men are
living here today who remember the
gun and the incident Of his attempt TO
secure patent. Mr.. Pceler took the
gun to Washington to secure patent.
Uncle Sam looked upon that gun as an
instrument of assassinatiOn--an illegal
md anarchiStic invention and with
black brOws he broke the gun across his
kree, condemned the inventive thought
md told Peeler If he ever had any
more such thoughts, invcntively speak
ing, Uncle Sam would come west 10
Webster City himself, and show him
what the government could DO II IT
wanted.
That was the end of the mir gun.
but smoscless powder was not so great
an invention. Peeler also invented a
YelOcipcde with monster wheels about
ten feet high. The operator sat on a
scat about half the wheels height,
working the thing with his feet and
guiding with Il lever-wheel. This was
4 speedy contraption and with every
revolution OF the large wheels would
gu almost like lightning over the ground
Hut before the inventor had brake at
fachcd. he came to grief on windy
day. He started the velOcipede from
M over the hill upon which the court
house now stands, toward the east.
while a high west wind was blowing.
AS he came over the brow OF the hill,
he lost control Of IFS machine and lit
orally ran away with himself, running
the machine almost over his own house.
which was in the vicinity of the city
park. He smashed the velOcipede and
himself rather badly and that was the
last he tried the three wheeled cart.
Peeler was a genius, but his work was
Invariably appropriated by others.
Other Inventions.
w. l.. Clark, an old newspaper man
OF the city, invented folding step
ladder.
William Howell, pioneer black
smith. invented splendid pillow, but
unfortunate choice Of u business part