USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 35
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William Hodgson, Threshing Machine, April 28, 1794.
Joshua Hathaway, Hydraulic Machine, Oct. 29, 1794. Samuel Kellogg, Wool and Cloth Shearing Machine, Jan. 31, 1795.
Lester Fling, Machine for Manufacturing Nails, Dec. 19, 1797.
Charles Holden, Windmill, Jan. 24, 1798. Jan. 25, 1799.
Eliakim Spooner, Cultivator,
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ADAMS, RUFUS, Randolph, invented a steel spring pitchfork, about 1827. He kept the secret to himself, until some of the men whom he employed discovered it and started factories in Brookfield and Hart- ford, whence it spread throughout the United States. Before his invention was used, the sticks were cut in the woods and heavy forks were made from iron by the blacksmith.
BRADLEY. J. DORR, of Brattleboro, invented in 1852, a rotary pump, consisting of a piece of rubber tubing secured to the inside of a circular form, through which the water was pressed by a revolving wheel driving the water before it, as it was made to turn either by hand or power. Large numbers of these were made and found at the time a ready market. [A biographical sketch and portrait of J. Dorr Bradley will be found in Part I, page 138.]
DAVENPORT, THOMAS, Brandon. Among the most important inventions with which mankind has to do at the present time, is the use of electricity in its various phases. To Vermont belongs the credit of having given to the world the earliest suc- cessful harnessing of magnetism, or electro- magnetism as it was then called, or elec- tricity, as we now term it, through the inven- tions of one Thomas Davenport, a native of Williamstown. This ingenious man was by trade a blacksmith, and worked at his trade in Brandon until 1832, when he became in- tensely interested in magnetism, and many years lived, dreamed and worked, surrounded by his successful demonstration of his skill in the development of various electrical ap- paratus.
In 1834 he made an 'electric motor, set- ting it upon the top of an earthen drinking cup, which contained a battery which oper- ated the motor at the top. It had a horizon- tal revolving shaft, with the balance wheel at one end. He exhibited this model in New York to a syndicate of gentlemen who pro- posed to buy it. Among those whom they brought to examine it for the purpose of get- ting an opinion was Prof. S. F. B. Morse, who carefully examined it and then declined to give an opinion other than this : "It is certainly worthy of careful consideration, and the subject is one in which I feel a lively interest."
Davenport also invented a twenty-four- wire telegraph for the sending of communi- cations over long distances. This he had on exhibition in the city of New York, and it was also examined by Professor Morse. It consisted of an apparatus for the sending of an electric current over each wire and an- other set of apparatus for receiving and re-
DAVENPORT.
cording the same at the other end. This twenty-four-wire telegraph of Davenport's, which had a wire for each letter of the alphabet and which was examined by Pro- fessor Morse furnished the basis of the latter's invention.
Morse did not begin to think of a single wire until 1835. He had gone no farther than the thought of the use of magnetism with the wire, but when he saw the twenty- four-wire invention of Davenport, with the mechanism at one end for sending the electric current and the apparatus at the other for registering the signal, the problem was solved. What Morse did was to invent an alphabet enabling him to dispense with twenty-three of Davenport's wires and use the remaining one.
Mr. Davenport also exhibited his invention in 1835 at Middlebury College, then at the institution at Troy, presided over by Miss Willard, then at Princeton College, and also in New York, Springfield and Boston. Prof. Joseph Henry gave him a certificate attest- ing the originality of his invention. His first patent was dated Feb. 25, 1837, and was for the broad use of magnetism as a pro- pelling force for motive power. Mr. Ells- worth, then at the head of the patent office, on the 4th of July, 1838, wrote him that his was the first patent issued to anyone for such an invention.
In 1840 he began the publication of a newspaper in the city of New York, the print- ing press of which was driven by one of his electric motors, and in one of the editions he prints an editorial giving an estimate com- parison between the cost of steam when gen- erated by the use of wood, and power pro- duced from electricity, and showing by his logic a large balance in favor of electricity ; and then he adds, "The power of electricity is far superior to steam, and must and will triumphantly succeed," a prophecy which fifty years later is being fulfilled.
Among his inventions is that of a circular railway, a model two and one-half feet in diameter having been made in 1837, and sold to the Troy Seminary, presided over by Miss Willard, and it remained in Troy until two years ago, when it was procured by Professor Pope and presented by him to the Society of Electrical Engineers of New York. In that model, there is a stand for the bat- tery, a circular track, a magnetic field, re- volving armature, a divided commutator, the connection of the armature by means of a bevel gear with the track, embodying every essential element of the modern electric road. In fact, the divided commutator is the only successful means that has been de- vised of controlling the electric current.
The number of electrical inventions of this wonderful man was quite large, he ex-
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perimented in the making of motors for driving different kinds of machines, and ex- perimented with an electric piano, since then successfully developed.
Professor Pope, who has studied the work of this great mind, says that, at the average progress which attended his labors, six more months of work, logically, would have led to the production of the phonograph.
Mr. Davenport gave ten years of his life to this subject, but when Professor Page re- ported to the Congress of the United States that the cost of operating by electricity was vastly greater than that of steam, Davenport became discouraged, the want of public ap- preciation disheartened him, and he returned to Brandon in 1842, and resumed his toil at the forge and anvil. He was simply a few years in advance of his time.
FAIRBANKS, THADDEUS, of St. Johns- bury. The invention of a cast-iron plough in 1825 was the beginning of an inventive career that was singularly fertile, for the number and variety of inventions as well as their utility and influence upon trade and commerce. The trade in domestic hemp suggested greater convenience for weighing, a simple platform scale was constructed which proved so useful and accurate that its development into a commercial article soon followed. His first patent for this invention was taken out in 1831. The " knife edge" bearings which supported the platform and working parts, were so admirably disposed and the entire scale so carefully worked out, that the increasing trade caused the little mill to be speedily turned into a scale factory, and it in turn giving way to larger and more pretentious buildings, until the present establishment with its army of men, supporting a large and thriving village, is known wherever civilization has developed the need of accurate weighing machines. More than thirty-three patents were taken out upon the scale and the means of its pro- duction, for in the early days of this inven- tion exact duplication of parts was unknown and special machines for their rapid and accurate production must also be invented.
His fertile mind led him to improve the cooking stove and the ice refrigerator for the housewife. For more than sixty years he led this life of enquiry, and developed along many lines new and useful improvements, and at the ripe age of ninety, having com- pleted an improvement in hot water heaters, receiving with unusual delight his last patent, his light went quietly out. [A biographical sketch and portrait of Sir Thaddeus Fair- banks will be found in Part II, page 129.]
FIELD, ARTHUR, Springfield .- About 1830 invented an improvement in hoes.
The blade of his hoe was made of two layers of metal. On the inside, or top, was a thin layer of tempered steel, while the bottom consisted of a thin soft iron. The two were welded together. The soft iron, while it pro- tected the steel from breaking, was more ex- posed to wear, and as it wore away on the bottom edge, left the cutting edge thin and so acted as a self-sharpener. The hoes made by Mr. Fickl were lighter and had an improved socket for the handle. They were made by him as long as he lived, and were held in high esteem by fariners wherever they were used.
FULLUM, A. J., Springfield .- Invented and patented about 1852, an improved pro- cess of manufacturing dies, for stamping stencil plates and similar work, by grinding and cutting them into shape with burrs in- stead of filing them out by hand, by which the process of manufacture was greatly cheapened, and the form and utility of the implements improved, eliminating the wedge shape which the hand file always gave. He invented in 1860 a new method of stencil making, and in 1864 a sheep shearing device.
FISK, JAMES, Brattleboro .- About 1878 invented a contrivance by which a horse could be released from the wagon and a brake applied to the hub of the wheel for the stopping of a carriage.
GORE, JOHN, Brattleboro .- Was the inventor of a steam wagon or carriage, which he constructed and operated about the coun- try. It was driven by an engine of several horse power, and was an object of especial interest. It was seen during a period of several years running about the country, but finally was dismantled and put to other uses.
GOULD, WILLIAM, Brattleboro .- Was a man of peculiar fertility of mind in matters connected with waterworks and appliances. In 1856 he invented improvements in fire engines, but probably his greatest invention was in a machine for making lead pipe, and lead pipe with tin lining. This occurred be- tween 1840 and 1850. The machine was finally sold for old iron about 1880, although some of the minor parts of it are now at the old shop. As both of these inventions in- volved large interests and immense sums of money, it is singular that they never came into notoriety, but Dr. Rockwell says that J. Dorr Bradley took two strangers there to see the machine, who were in the interests of one of the parties of the lead or tin pipe litigation.
HARRIS, SILAS, Shaftsbury .- Was the first inventor and manufacturer of the modern
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carpenters' square. He began by cutting the plates out of old saws. In 1817 he came to Shaftsbury and engaged Stephen Whipple to forge them from bar stock, as he had a trip hammer. This business had been con- tinued by one and another, developing until there were four such manufacturing estab- lishments in Shaftsbury, which were consoli- dated some time since under the name of the Eagle Square Manufacturing Co., located at South Shaftsbury.
FULLER, LEVI K., Brattleboro .-- At the age of sixteen Levi K. Fuller, then a tele- graph operator at Bellows Falls, constructed a steam engine, having a valve of new and novel design. It was exhibited at the Wind- ham county fair and received a premium. This invention attracted much attention and introduced young Fuller to the world of in- ventors and mechanics.
Many of the most valuable inventions re- lating to, and improvements in the con- struction and operating of reed organs, are the result of his skill and thought, and for a third of a century he has devoted his efforts to this line of work in the interests of the Estey Organ Co. Not alone in this depart- ment have his efforts been crowned with suc- cess, but in telegraphy, steam engineering, car construction, and artificial ventilation, as well, he has originated in many other branches of mechanics and science, improve- ments and methods of value.
The manner of drying lumber and numer- ous other articles by means of the system widely known as the "Common-sense" Dry- ing Apparatus, is one of his inventions.
It has been said that the road to the patent office has been more frequently trod by this inventor than almost any other in Vermont, and but few men in the country have a larger list of patented inventions. Upwards of one hundred different patents attest the frequency with which the road to the patent office has been trodden by him.
HEDGE, L., Windsor, was an inventor with rare traits of mental activity ; his mind grasped the delicate details of machines of precision with startling accuracy. His first inventions are dated as early as 1815, for a spring pen ruler ; in 1817, a revolving ruler ; in 1825, a machine for ruling paper ; in 1835, a carpenter's rule joint ; followed by the wonderful machines for the marking of rules, so long employed by E. A. Stearns & Co., at Brattleboro, and later consolidated with the Stanley Rule and Level Co., New Britain, Conn. The machines made sixty years ago have not been surpassed in accu- racy in the marking of carpenters' measuring rules.
JACKMAN.
JACKMAN, ALONZO, Northfield. - Very soon after the successful inauguration of the electric telegraph, scientists every- where attempted to grapple with the prob- lem of using this means to connect conti- nents separated by water and thus bring the world into closer communication. Proba- bly the honor belongs to General Jackman of offering the first successful solution of this question.
His life was spent in the quiet retreat of Norwich University ; he was a mathema- tician of rare mental endowments and with- out a superior ; whatever he did in this matter was the legitimate result of his learn- ing, opportunity and scientific investigation.
In 1842 he devised the scheme and dem- onstrated its practicability by successful ex- periments; in 1843, while lecturing at the Windsor Academy, he was asked the ques- tion : "How is telegraphic communication carried on across large bodies of water?" He immediately answered that it was done by encasing the wires in india rubber. In 1846 Amos Kendall published an article calling upon scientists to investigate the problem, whereupon Professor Jackman im- mediately wrote him revealing his plan and offered the same for publication to prominent newspapers, who declined the same with thanks as being visionary and foolish. The Vermont Mercury, printed at Woodstock, however, published his article on the 14th of August, 1846 ; in this he proposed the use of a wire or wires coated with rubber and enclosed within a lead pipe ; in order to give the necessary strength he proposed to wind his cable with iron rings suitably connected with wires passing through holes in the bands and then he proposed to wind the whole with yarn to keep the strengthening material in place. It must be remembered that at this time the use of gutta percha was not known to the arts.
The manner of laying the cable was as follows : "Now let two steamers sufficiently large, each having seven hundred and fifty tons of said pipe judiciously coiled in the hold, accompany each other to a point half way between Boston and Liverpool, then let an artist splice the two halves of the appar- atus together, wire to wire, rubber to rubber, and pipe to pipe. Next let one ship head toward Liverpool and the other toward Bos- ton, and each put on steam and pay out pipe according to the circumstances of the case."
The wide circulation of this article through- out the world could not have failed to at- tract the attention of many readers, for it is precisely this plan that was adopted in 1857, when the British and American men-of-war proceeded to mid-ocean, and, splicing the cable, the Agamemnon started for the Irish coast and the Niagara for Newfoundland, and
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the dream of Jackman had been successfully accomplished by the commercial enterprise of Cyrus W. Fickd.
HOLTON, S., Middlebury. Invented a large number of intricate and interesting things entering into the whole question of the manufacture of cottons and woolens. Ile was also a jeweler and made an ivory watch, which is running to-day, and which is a great curiosity and an invention of re- markable ingenuity. He also invented a watch with the chronometer escapement. Ile also invented new devices in regard to clocks, and made the Garfield clock that was taken about the country for exhibition.
KEYES, ASA, Brattleboro. - Invented in 1850 the steam cutting machine for cutting slate used at the slate quarry at Guilford, an invention which at first bid fair to produce important results, but with the closing of the quarry, nothing further was done with it, al- though lately it is being revised and intro- duced in Pennsylvania.
MOREY, SAMUEL, Fairlee .- In the Life of Robert Fulton, by Knox, it is related that Samuel Morey, between 1790 and 1794, made experiments on the Connecticut river by propelling boats by steam. The facts appear to be these: Gen. Israel Morey, of Hebron, Conn., moved to Orford, N. H., in 1 765, and to Fairlee, Vt., in 1772. He soon after obtained a charter for a ferry between the towns of Fairlee, Vt., and Orford, N. H., across the Connecticut river. He had five sons and two daughters. The second son, Capt. Samuel Morey, is without doubt en- titled to the credit of having invented, built and operated a steamboat at his father's ferry, between Orford and Fairlee, in 1 790 to 1794, or more than fifteen years before Fulton constructed the "Clermont" on the Hudson river, and is the person alluded to in the biography of Robert Fulton.
Rev. Cyrus Mann, of Orford, N. H., states that he saw a steamboat made by Morey in successful operation on the Connecticut river at Fairlee, before 1793. He also states that he built a larger boat that ran from Hartford to the city of New York in 1794, where it was seen by Chancellor Edward and Judge Liv- ingston, and many others. He also affirms that Morey exhibited the same to Fulton and that there was correspondence between him and Fulton. Morey built a model of his steamboat and took it to New York and there exhibited it, as he claimed to Fulton, Liv- ingston and others, the model of which is now in existence and in the possession of his heirs.
The original engine in the boat which Morey first operated across the ferry at Fair-
lee, he afterwards placed in a larger boat which be constructed, called the "Annt Sally," and took to Fairlee Pond (now Lake Morey ), and plied it there ; but being unsuccessful in introducing it into commercial life, he be- came discouraged and sunk the boat in Fair- lee Pond.
Morey died in 1842 and down to the day of his death he claimed that he gave the idea to Fulton ; that at one time there was a bar- gain between them, and that, because of its non-fulfillment, he felt that he was greatly wronged, as well as having his invention misappropriated. In regard to this charge of Morey's, Prof. R. H. Thurston, in his Life of Fulton gives full credence to the claims of Morey as to the invention of 1790 and 1793 at Fairlee, accepting the story of William A. Morey, as published in the Provi- dence Journal in 1874.
Much of the correspondence between Professor Silliman of New Haven and Morey, and also of others, successfully established the claims. Some of this correspondence is in existence today. Knox, in his life of Ful- ton, accepts the statement of Morey's bi- ographer that he probably had a boat on the Connecticut river at Fairlee between 1790 and 1793, but in regard to the charge that he had exhibited the same to Fulton, it is claimed that Fulton was in France at the time the plans of the Clermont were made, and could not have known of what was tran- spiring in the New World with this Ver- monter.
Howe, in his "Eminent Mechanics," also accepts the statement that Morey did mature and operate a stern-wheel steamboat at Fair- lee, in 1793. This last author assigns to Fulton the position, not of having been the original inventor nor the perfecter, but as a successful person, who so satisfied the law of the state of New York as to receive its prize ; and as the first to establish a regular line of steamboats ; and by his genius and perseverance so improved them as to lay a solid foundation for those who came after him.
This places the success of Fulton entirely upon the commercial side of the enterprise, and takes him out of the category of an in- ventor, leaving the honor to others, which so far as 1790-'93 is concerned, the problem had been completely solved and was in prac- tical operation upon the waters of the Con- necticut.
Samuel Morey, who invented the steam- boat at Fairlee and Orford, was visited by Chancellor Livingston. The patent for this invention was issued to Morey and signed by the President, George Washington. It is singular in its phraseology ; it is a patent for the securing of power by means of steam. Morey, thinking if he could propel a wheel
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by steam he might do so whenever and to whatever it could be applied.
NICHOLS, GEORGE W., Randolph. -In 1827, while driving a team to Boston, passing through Andover, N. H., had the misfortune to break one of the runners of his sled. The next day was stormy and he conceived the idea of cutting off the other runner to the same length as the broken one, went into the woods and cut a short sled-crook, which he put in place of the broken runner, converted his sled into a traverse, and continued his journey with the other teams to Boston. He found on the way that with the wooden shoes he could get over the ground better than any other team, could turn shorter by this means, and could start his load when others failed, turn- ing out and getting back into the road with greater ease, and the next winter the teams on that route changed their sleds to the traverse system, setting their wagon bodies on them.
This is one of the most interesting inven- tions affecting the farming industry, truck- ing interests, and a multitude of vehicles. It is a good illustration of the native inge- nuity, readiness of resource so characteristic of a large class of our people who possess the ability to overcome difficulties in an un- usual degree.
PALMER, FRANK M., Brattleboro .- Among the remarkable things that have con- duced to the economical conduct of busi- ness and furtherance of social intercourse, and have greatly promoted the convenience of mankind, is the invention of the postage- stamp, emanating in Brattleboro about 1845, by the postmaster at Brattleboro, Mr. Pal- mer, who invented and caused to be made the first stamp for the prepayment of post- age in the general conduct of postal affairs.
Thomas Chubbuck, then of this place, a most skillful engraver, was the artist em- ployed to make the design, and engraved the same upon a block of wood. So valuable have these become that at the time of writ- ing this, one thousand dollars has been known to have been paid for a single stamp.
PIKE, SAMUEL, Brattleboro .- During the summer of 1861, when the war of the rebell- ion was making such heavy demands upon our army, invented a portable cannon, to be transported about the field by hand, which could also be used upon a light gun carriage, or upon the deck of a ship. In its best form it has since been worked out in the tripod class of small cannon, and in the rapid-fire form of construction now being introduced in the navy.
Mr. Pike was a gunsmith of rare talent. He was consulted by Samuel Colt in regard to the making for him of his revolver, and offered, for the sum of four hundred dollars, to construct the first revolver, agreeing to make it in good style, perfect in operation, and first-class in workmanship, one that should serve as a model to be copied in sub- sequent manufacture. Mr. Colt thought he could get it done cheaper, but afterwards told Mr. Pike of his error in judgment.
PORTER, FREDERICK, Springfield. In 1820 Mr. Porter, while engaged in card- covering by hand, invented a machine that would make the holes in the leather, bend the wire into proper shape, cut it off and in- sert it into the leather, suitable for cards. Work upon this invention was carried on under lock and key for many years, with the help sworn to secrecy.
SMITH, D. M., Springfield, was one of the brightest inventors that this state has ever had. He was the inventor of the spring clothespin in common use wherever washing is done.
The manufacture of hooks and eyes was carried on at Springfield for many years by the D. M. Smith Co., who used the machine of Mr. Smith, which was a marvel of ingen- uity, taking the wire from the reel, bending it into both a hook and an eye, and some of the machines went so far as to make the swanbill hook and eye, which contained a fastener, so that it could not be unhooked excepting by a dexterous hand. The same machine counted them, put them upon cards, and boxed them ready for market, although that part which related to the putting of the hooks and eyes upon the cards was done by one of the workmen, named Alvin Mason. A single machine to do this cost $20,000.
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