New Ashford, Massachusetts 01237
They came from the New England states personalities who left a
mark on early agriculture and country living. A quick and easy
refresher for Engine land readers.
Andrus, Leonard, born Cornwall, Vermont, 1805.
Founded Grand Detour Plow Works in Illinois in 1838, sold to Case
1919.
Adams, Alvin, born Andover, Vermont. Founded
Adams Railway Express Company, leading to the American Express
Company.
Babbitt, Isaac. 1792-1862, born Taunton,
Massachusetts. Perfected the well-known Babbitt metal also noted
for producing Brittania, copper, antimony pewter, tin and lead
products.
Babbitt, Tabitha. A Shaker sister of the
Harvard, Massachusetts, Shaker family, a Quaker sect. Invented the
circular saw. Made available to public as group did not believe in
patents.
Blake, Eli Whitney, born in Connecticut,
invented the stone crusher basic principles still used today.
Chapman, John, born 1774 at Springfield,
Massachusetts. The legendary ‘Johnny Appleseed’ who sowed
apple seed while wondering over the western reserve. Actually a
nurseryman who sold and gave thousands of apple trees to the
western pioneers.
Coes, Loring, born Worcester, Massachusetts,
made first monkey wrench, patented in 1841.
Corliss, George Henry, Providence, Rhode
Island, 1817-1888. Well known steam engineer, developed the Corliss
valve and Corliss steam engine. While claimed by Rhode Island, he
was born in Easton, New York.
Deere, John, 1804-1886, born Rutland, Vermont.
Had blacksmith shop at Middlebury, Vermont. Moved to Grand Detour,
Illinois. Developed the famous Deere plow, moved to Moline,
Illinois, the beginning of the now famous John Deere Company.
Deering, William, 1826-1913, born South Paris,
Maine. Manufactured grain binders using Appleby’s twine knotter
later became part of IHC.
Delano, Calvin, native of Maine, obtained first
patent on the riding hay-rake in 1849.
Downing, Lewis, Concord, New Hampshire, built
first Concord stagecoach in 1815. In 1835 formed partnership of
Abbott and Downing builders of the world famous stagecoaches.
Drake, Edward, born Castleton Corners, Vermont.
Drilled first oil well in the world at Titusville, Pennsylvania in
1859.
Fairbanks, Thaddeus, 1796-1886, born Brimfield,
Massachusetts. Patented platform scale in 1831, shortly after with
his two brothers founded the Fairbanks Scale Company of St.
Johnsbury, Vermont, leading to the later Fairbanks Morse
Company.
Glidden, Joseph F., Charlestown, New Hampshire,
invented barbed wire in 1876.
Goodyear, Charles, 1800-1860, born in New
Haven, Connecticut. Invented the process for making rubber elastic
and maintaining its elasticity through a wide hot to cold
temperature change.
Halladay, Daniel, Ellington, Connecticut.
Invented self-governing windmill in 1854.
Holt, Benjamin, born Pembroke, New Hampshire.
Active in Holt Bros. (wheel and wagon) Manufacturing Company,
Concord, New Hampshire. Went to California and formed progressively
Stockton Wheel Company, Benjamin Holt Company, Holt Manufacturing
Company, Caterpillar Tractor Company.
Howe, Elias, 1819-1867, born in Spencer,
Massachusetts, invented and patented sewing machine, sued Singer
and won large patent infringement suit.
Husscy, Obid, 1792-1860, born Nantucket,
Massachusetts. Patented the reaper in 1833, developed the principle
of the mowing machine cutter bar still in use today.
Lampson, Silas, Sterling, Massachusetts.
Patented scythe snaith.
Lane, Samuel H., native of Maine. Obtained
first patent on combine in 1828.
Legree, Simon, born and reared in New
Hampshire, this is not the fictitious Simon Legree of Uncle
Tom’s Cabin, he was noted for pioneering scientific
agriculture.
Morse, Charles H., born St. Johns-bury,
Vermont, 1833-1921. At 17 started as apprentice with Fairbanks
Morse Company, later became partner in Fairbanks Morse Co., and
before he died acquired controlling stock of F.M.
Pitts, Hiram & John, Winthrop, Maine.
Manufactured threshing machines with separator 1834-1837, then
moved to Buffalo, New York. The Buffalo Pitts Company and later in
Chicago, The Chicago Pitts Company.
Wells, Henry, born Thetford, Vermont, with
William Fargo born Pompey, New York, founded Wells Fargo Company in
1852.
Whitney, Eli, born Weather-borough,
Massachusetts, invented cotton gin, later formed a noted machine
company in Connecticut.
Wood, Jethro, born Dartmouth, Massachusetts,
lived in New York state, patented cast iron plow in 1814.
