Jeremiah Wilkinson was an American inventor and farmer.
Background
Jeremiah Wilkinson was the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Amey (Whipple) Wilkinson and a descendant of Lawrance Wilkinson, a Quaker, who emigrated from England and settled in Providence, R. I, about 1645. Jeremiah was born on July 6, 1741 on his father's farm at Cumberland, R. I.
Education
He obtained a common-school education.
Career
He went to work on the farm. He was most interested, however, in the forge which had been erected by his grandfather, and he continued the local iron-forging business which his grandfather and father had conducted in connection with their farm activities. In addition, he mastered the gold and silversmith's art, and the wealthier residents of the community were accustomed to furnish him with coins which he would melt and convert into spoons and other articles. Another successful venture which he undertook at an early period in his life was that of making hand cards for carding wool and for currying horses and cattle. His skill in the production of properly treated iron wire for these cards yielded a superior product which was much in demand, and to supply it Wilkinson perfected a number of inventions to increase his speed of production. One of these was a hand-operated machine for cutting and making the four bends in the wire at one operation and punching the holes in the leather for the whole card at one stroke of the machine. Because of the difficulties of importing wire, after much experimenting he devised his own tools, plates, and dies and drew wire by horsepower - probably the first attempt at wire drawing in the colonies. Aside from these major articles Wilkinson made steel pins and needles, and it is said that his wife purchased a spinning wheel for three darning needles of her husband's manufacture. Though busy with his iron work, Wilkinson found time to carry on extensive farming and fruit-growing, in connection with which he also employed his inventive skill. For the production of corn syrup he devised a mill to grind the cornstalks, and then pressed them in a common cider mill. He spent the whole of his long life in Cumberland.
Achievements
Connections
He was twice married: first, to Hopie Mosier (or Mosher), by whom he had five children; second, to Elizabeth Southwick who had six children.