Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Boyden, Seth, 1788-1870

Inventor; born in Foxboro, Mass., Nov. 17, 1788; was educated at a district school. His mechanical inclination led him to pass much time experimenting in a blacksmith shop. He first devised a machine for making nails and files. Later he designed a machine to split leather, and in 1815 took it to Newark, N. J. and engaged in leather manufacture. In 1816 he made a machine to cut brads, and afterwards invented patent leather, which he manufactured until 1831, when with a system of his own he began making malleable-iron castings. In 1835 he gave his attention to steam-engines, and both changed the crank in locomotives to the straight axle and made the cut-off to take the place of the throttle-valve. He went to California in 1849, but meeting with no success, returned to New Jersey, engaged in farming, and produced a variety of strawberry never before equalled in size or quality. He spent the greater part of his life in Newark, N. J., where a statute of him has been erected. He died in Middleville, N. J. March 31, 1870.