The Monticello Express from Monticello, Iowa • Page 337

Monticello (Iowa) Express, July 10, 1965 D-7 t. -4 1 Farm mac nes THRESHING crews once worked throughout Jones county, using threshers such as the one at right. Steam engines (left) were used Operators of this outfit included Matt Tasker (insert an left) and Fred Tasker: (right), was not identified. Sieveka. Wyoming).

olh One of the early farms established machinery was run with steam in the Monticello area was the De- power. Fifty hay loaders were witt C. Jewett farm on the Jones- made the first year and shipped to This farm all parts of Iowa. remained in the same family for Charles moved to Sand Springs more than 100 years until purchased to last Delaware county line. operate the factory until the spring by Robert Wahl, well- early 1890's when he sold the hay known dairy farmer, who lives on an loader for $30,000 to the Rock adjoining farm.

Island Plow Company, Rock Island, Dewitt Jewett and his wife Nancy 111. arrived at Bowen's Prairie, then -9 This company later became a part located northeast of Monticello, on Co. Saturday, March 9 1856, coming from Watertown, N. Y. The of the Minneapolis-Moline OTHER INVENTIONS couple stayed at Bowen's Prairie for 17 days until Dewitt Dewitt Jewett developed many another contrivance in his back room of the Among assisted by a relative had completed workshop on the first fl a "Shanty." (The first house on farmhouse.

Most of these were for the farm was referred to in this use on the family farm, manner by Nancy in a dairy which these were: she kept). A cattle gate that allowed cattle The shanty was located on a small to go into It served as prevented them getting out. until a more made with perpendicular bars that be built. A hung on a hinge. When cattle walked in, the bars swung back and the other buildings cattle could not come back.

rise near a brook. a pasture or field but It was temporary quarters suitable house could building house, spot barns was and selected and a were constructed. The Jewetts did A large cistern from rock on the not move into their new home until farm, built deep enough to keep it from freezing. He built a small 1859. INVENTS HAYLOADER Dewitt was well-known for his ingenuity and inventive genius.

His most famous invention was the Jewett hayloader patented in 1866. tank nearby with a siphon and float and the tank was always full of cistern water. An oat bin with an elevator consisting of a barrel and rope pulled a horse. When he wanted up by His first hayloader was a derrick oats out he had a spout in the affair. It would take up the hay basement he could open and let the that had been raked in bunches in oats run into a wagon.

the field. It was worked by a horse A state curtain for use at school and rope, the horse pulling the der- programs which could be rolled up rick from one bunch to another. Finally, he made a hay loader that and down by turning a crank. Humane horseshoes which locked hooked on a hay rack and took the on the horsels feet instead of being hay out of the swath and elevated nailed onto the hoof. The locking it onto the rack.

People became device was not successful and the shoes would not stay on the horse. A mechanical horse leg action was identical to that of a real interested in the hay loader and its fame spread far and near. All wanted to see it work, so a demonstration was arranged on the neighboring Cameron Greer farm. This horse. All he needed was a gasoline engine to enable it to go trotting resulted in eight orders for the down the street.

But, alas, it is doubtful if he knew much about loader. Jewett and his son Charles made asollne at that time. these on the farm. Finally he had so He had other ideas for overland many orders he decided to build a travel under all conditions. One factory in Sand Springs.

Factory of them was a walking beam device. The man in the middle (Photo courtesy of Mrs. Pauline All it needed was a gasoline engine. FORWARD IDEAS It seemed that D. C.

Jewett could He make anything or fix anything. He made nails. made shoes. have mod pme made harnesses. He made furniture.

spread to He could devise He built buildings. complex mechanical contrivances stone your rus only dextrous me- requiring not chanical skill but the rear quality years he even of invention. ERT SCA UARA made his own teeth. Jewett also had forward ideas He seldom sold oth about things. his grain when it was harvested.

He would store it and wait for favorable prices. When there was a crop failure all the neighbors went Jewett for corn and oats. -4035 The Jewetts retired from the farm and moved to Monticelo. 1883 MO OWA 1 rt fctitftf AL HANSSEN LARRY MARTINSEN 424 EAST OAK MONTICELLO, ESTABLISHED IN IOWA 1961.