[Illustration: JETHRO WOOD.] JETHRO WOOD, INVENTOR OF THE MODERN PLOW. A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE, SERVICES, AND TRIALS; TOGETHER WITH FACTS SUBSEQUENT TO HIS DEATH, AND INCIDENT TO HIS GREAT INVENTION. "No citizen of the United States has conferred greater economical benefits on his country than Jethro Wood--none of her benefactors have been more inadequately rewarded."--_Wm. H. Seward._ BY FRANK GILBERT. CHICAGO: RHODES & McCLURE. 1882. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882. By I. U. KIRTLAND, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY THE CHICAGO LEGAL NEWS CO. [Illustration: FAC-SIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL WOOD PLOW.] EXPLANATION OF THE FOREGOING FAC-SIMILE. SIDE VIEW of Plough. _A_ Mould-board, the form of which is claimed as new. _B_ Share claimed. _C_ Standard claimed. _DD_ Screw-bolt, and not confining the beam to the Standard. _a_, _b_, _c_, _d_, _e_, the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th sides mentioned in the specification. _g_, _g_. Excavation at the fore part of the mould-board to receive the share which fills it up and forms an even surface. _h_ Hole to receive the knob or head cast on the under side of the share, which, on being shoved up to its place, nooks under the mould-board at the upper side of the hole, and is held in its place by a wooden wedge driven between the knob and the lower side of the hole. _f_ Notches in the Standard to receive the latch i in elevating or depressing the beam. _s_, _t_, _v_. Straight diagonal lines touching the mould-board the whole distance. _u_ Vertical or plumb line touching the mould-board from top to bottom. _H_ Reverse side of the share. _x_ Knob to hold it fast to the mould-board. _y_ Side view of knob. _zz_ Shiplaps fitting under the point and edge of the mould-board. _k_ Another form of standard keyed on top of beam. Fig. 2d, landside view: _E_ The "landside". _F_ part of landside cast with mould-board. _mm_ Cast loops to hold the handles claimed. _n_ Head of screw-bolt held by a shoulder made by a projection from the mould-board and standard, through which the bolt passes up to the beam. _o_ Share claimed. _p_ Shiplap claimed. _G_ Inside view of landside. _r_ Tennon at forward end to fit into a dovetailed mortice on the inside of that part which is cast with the mould-board. PREFACE.