biography
| name: |
Gibbs, James Ethan Allen
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| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1829–1902)
|
| biography:
| Inventor, born in Rockbridge Co, Virginia, USA. The great-grandnephew of Ethan Allen, he worked in machine-carding and wool-carding businesses before he experimented with sewing machines. In 1857 he patented the chain-stitch single-thread sewing machine, and in partnership with James Wilcox (1858–60, 1865–90) concentrated on improving his device. He made gunpowder for the Confederate army (1861–5). He later retired to his farm (1890), which was eventually named ‘Raphine’ (‘to sew’ in Greek). |
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