Background
House, Henry Alonzo was born on April 23, 1840 in Brooklyn. Son of Ezekial Newton and Susan (King) House.
House, Henry Alonzo was born on April 23, 1840 in Brooklyn. Son of Ezekial Newton and Susan (King) House.
Attended primary school, Pennsylvania. Studied architecture with father.
1 son, 2 daus. Worked in architect’s office, Chicago, 1857-1859. Returned to Brooklyn. Received 1st patent for partly self-operating farm gate, 1860.
Obtained (with brother James) several patents for development and improvement buttonhole-making machine, 1862-1863, sold machine to Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Company, Bridgeport, Connecticut, worked as experimenters and inventors for company, developing many sewing machine innovations, until 1869.
Designed 12 horse power Horseless Carriage, 1866. Awarded gold medals for their inventions at Paris Exposition, 1867.
Organized Armstrong and House Manufacturing Company to produce his numerous patented devices, 1869, continued manufacturing until factory destroyed by fire, 1889. Consultant to Hiram and Percy Maxim in England, others
Member Bridgeport Common Council, 1872.
Married Mary Elizabeth House, November 24, 1861.