Mason Jerome Metcalf

  General Notes:

Mason Jerome Metcalf, Inventor, was born in Fairfax, Maine, Oct. 18, 1807; son of Solomon and Hannah (Donnell) Metcalf; grandson of Simeon Metcalf, and a descendant of the Rev. Michael Metcalf, son of the Rev. Leonard Metcalf, for many years prior to 1616 rector of Norwich cathedral, Norfolk county, England.
Michael, the first in America, a Puritan, came from Yarmouth to Boston with his wife Sarah and nine children in 1637, and settled at Dedham. Solomon Metcalf was a school-teacher, and with his family went from Maine to Zanesville, Ohio. The family returned to Litchfield, Maine, and the son completed his education in the academy at Monmouth, Maine.
Mason engaged in the manufacture of stencils in Boston, at the same time conducting three mills at Monmouth. He was married, Nov. 13, 1834, to Hannah Elizabeth, daughter of John and Rosalinda (Straw) Welch of Monmouth. He resided alternately in Boston and Monmouth until 1864, and thereafter at Monmouth.
He invented a method of producing letter stencils by means of dies; a form of fence made of slabs from saw-mills, which was widely adopted, and a fan wheel for ventilation. He experimented with models for flying-machines, the principle involving the use of a fan wheel or propeller. Another device was a plough having a revolving cylinder with curved teeth, that could turn up the soil and at the same time pulverize it. He never patented an invention.
He was one of the organizers and the first deacon of the Congregational church of Monmouth. He died in Monmouth, Maine, July 23, 1883.
(The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VIIsubmitted by Janet Ariciu.)

1850 Monmouth, Kennebec, Maine
Mason, Hannah and ch: Lorettus and Marilla

Find a Grave Memorial ID: 75013515

Mason married Hannah Elizabeth Welch, daughter of John Welch and Rosalinda Straw, on 19 Oct 1834 in Litchfield, Kennebec County, Maine. (Hannah Elizabeth Welch was born on 10 Aug 1812 in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Maine, died on 17 Nov 1883 and was buried in Monmouth Center Cemetery in Monmouth, Maine.)

  Marriage Notes:

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