HOWE, Elias, Juttioa, American inventor: b. Spencer, Mass., 9 July 1819; d. Brooklyn, N. Y., 3 Oct. 1867. He lived with his father, who was both farmer and miller, till 1836, work ing upon the farm and in the mill and attend ing the district school during the winters. He then learned the trade of a machinist, and ex perimented in inventing a sewing-machine. The model was completed in 1845 and the patent issued 10 Sept. 1846. A patent was also taken out in England, but from this the inventor realized nothing. After constructing four ma chines in the United States, he visited England in 1847, where he sold one of his machines with all his English rights for $1,250 to a corset manufacturer. He returned to Boston after two years entirely destitute, and resumed his trade for the support of his family. From this period until 1854 he was involved in expensive lawsuits, when the principal infringers of his patents acknowledged his rights, and arranged to manufacture sewing-machines under licenses from him from which he finally derived con siderable wealth. His patent was renewed in
1860 for seven years. Upon its second expira tion in 1867, the inventor refused an offer of another renewal. He served as a private in the 17th Connecticut Volunteers during the Civil War. After the war he founded a sewing machine plant in Bridgeport, Conn. He was the recipient of the Legion of Honor cross and many medals. Consult Anon., 'Elias Howe' (in Practical Magazine, Vol. V, p. 321, London 1875) ; Gifford, G., 'Argument, etc., for an Ex tension of E. Howe, Jr. 's Patent, etc.' (New York 1860) ; Holland, R. S., (Historic Inven tions' (Philadelphia 1911) ; Hubert, P. G., Jr., (New York 1893) ; Iles, G., 'Lead ing American Inventors' (New York 1912) ; Koehler, W., (Die Deutsche Nalunaschinen In dustrie' (Munich 1913) ; Neuburger, A., 'Er finder and Erfindungen) (Berlin 1913) ' • Roe, A. S.; (Elias Howe' (in New England Maga zine, n. s., Vol. XXXI, p. 356, Boston 1904) ; Talbot, F. A., about Inventions and Dis coveries' (New York 1916).