History of Shelby Center, (Orleans County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

Biography of Samuel Johnston

Samuel Johnston, inventor, was born in Shelby, Orleans county, N.Y., Feb. 9, 1835; son of Henry and Nancy (Crippen) Johnston. His earliest inventions were in farm machinery, those on harrows, bean harvesters, corn-planters and many other agricultural implements being widely employed by the farming community. His next inventions were on self-raking machinery for harvesting grain in 1856. These came into extensive use and were exported to all parts of the world. His principal inventions were on metals and metal workings, continuous moulds for castings, and methods of producing heat. His furnace for the production of heat from all natural fuels, at any desired temperature up to that of the electric furnace, was perfected in 1900. He was married, June 8, 1856, to Arsula S., daughter of Simpson and Minerva (Crippen) Vaughan, of Fort Ann, N.Y.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor