Chapter XVII: Elias Howe, Jr

The first sewing-machine--Birth of Elias Howe--A poor man's son--Raised to hard work--His first employment--The little mill-boy--Delicate health--Goes to Lowell to seek his fortune--Thrown out of employment--Removes to Cambridge--Works in a machine shop with N.P. Banks--Marries--A rash step--Growing troubles--A hard lot--Conceives the idea of a sewing-machine--His first experiments unsuccessful--Invents the lock stitch and perfects the sewing-machine--Hindered by his poverty--A hard struggle--Finds a partner--His winter's task--His attic work-shop--Completion of the model--Perfection of Howe's invention--Efforts to dispose of the invention--Disappointed hopes--Popular incredulity--Becomes an engine driver--Amasa Howe goes to England with the sewing-machine--Bargain with the London merchant--Elias removes to London--Loses his situation--The rigors of poverty--Returns to America--Death of his wife--Fate's last blow--The sewing-machine becomes better known--Adoption by the public--A tardy recognition--Elias Howe sets up in business for himself--Buys out his partner's interest--The sewing-machine war--Rapid growth of the sewing-machine interest--Earnings of the inventor--A royal income--Honors conferred upon him--Enlists in the United States Army--A liberal private--Last illness and death.

CHAPTER XVIII.

RICHARD M. HOE.

Growth of the art of printing--Birth of Richard M. Hoe--Sketch of the career of Robert Hoe--He comes to America--His marriage--Founds the house of "Robert Hoe & Co."--The first steam printing presses--He retires from business--Richard M. Hoe is brought up in the business--The mechanical genius of the house--The new firm--Richard Hoe's first invention--Obtains a patent for it--Visits England--Invents the double-cylinder press--Demand for increased facilities for printing--Mr. Hoe's experiments with his press--His failures--How the "Lightning Press" was invented--A good night's work--Patents his invention--The first "Lightning Press"--Demand for it--Rapid growth of the business of the firm--Statement of the operations of the house--Personal characteristics of Richard M. Hoe--The "Lightning Press" at work.