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not patented until 1857. The inventor
who first reached satisfactory results in
this field was Allen B. Wilson, a native of
Cortland County, New York. While
working at his trade as cabinetmaker in
Adrian, Michigan, in 1847, he conceived
the idea of a sewing machine. He knew
nothing of what others had thought or
done in this direction. In 1848, in Pittsfield,
Massachusetts, while still working
at his trade, he completed the drawings
of his machine, and in the spring of the
following year finished his model. Although
not a machinist and not able to
procure suitable tools, he made with his
own hands every part of the machine,
whether of wood or metal. Authorities
agree that "this was the first machine
ever constructed, meeting to any extent
the requirements of a sewing machine."
This machine enabled the operator to
control at will the direction of the stitch-
ing, and thus to sew continuous seams of
any length, either straight or curved.
Continuing to improve and invent, he obtained
patents in 1850, 185 1, 1852, and
1854. The important improvements were
developed after Mr. Wheeler became interested,
and with his cooperation and
suggestion. Impressed with his first
views of Mr. Wilson's achievement, Mr.
Wheeler contracted with Messrs. E. Lee &
Company, of New York, then controlling
the patent, to build five hundred machines
at Watertown, Mr. Wilson agreeing to remove
to that place and superintend their
manufacture. Shortly afterwards, rela-
tions with Lee & Company ceased, and a
partnership was formed between Messrs.
Warren, Wheeler, Woodruff, and Wilson,
under the title "Wheeler, Wilson & Company,"
for the manufacture of sewing ma-
chines. They manufactured the original
"Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machines,"
and made them successful. This was
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
largely due to the efforts of Mr. Wheeler,
who became the mercantile head of the
company, and led the improvements into
practical lines. The introduction of the
machine, placing it in factories and workshops
and demonstrating its value in fam-
84
ilies, was carried out under his control.
Opposition, prejudice and disbelief melted
away before enterprising activity and perseverance.
In a brief period the machine
was in operation in New York and other
cities. In October, 1853, the business was
reorganized as a joint stock company under
the title "Wheeler & Wilson Manu-
facturing Company." The capital of the
corporation was one hundred and sixty
thousand dollars, the patents being valued
at one hundred thousand, and the machin-
ery at sixty thousand. The new subscrib-
ers to this stock, the foundation of the
fortunes of so many, enjoyed the profits
of the business without any cost whatever
to themselves, as they gave their notes for
the stock, but were never called upon to
pay any part of them, as Mr. Wheeler
financed the business, providing whatever
cash was necessary, and the notes were
paid by the profits of the business as they
became due. For a year or two Mr.
Wheeler acted as the general manager.
In 1855 he became president, and filled
that office during the remainder of his
life.
About the time that the Wheeler &
Wilson machine began to attract public
attention, the sewing machine invented
by Isaac M. Singer became known, also
the Grover & Baker sewing machine. All
these machines contained principles that
Elias Howe thought were covered by his
patents, and he commenced suits which
brought them together in defense. While
these were being contested, with the best
obtainable legal talent in the country on
all sides, Mr. Wheeler proposed that, as