A machinist in Rockford commenced taking contracts for building reapers.

The evidence

• “Broad street; came, October, 1865, to Rock Co.; a native of Stratford, Orange Co., Vt., born Jan. 9, 1826 ; left Vermont in 1847 ; went to Manchester, N. H., in 1851, and learned trade of machinist; went to Lowell, Mass., and worked at his trade; left in 1854, went to Rockford, 111., worked at his trade until 1859, that time commenced taking contracts for building reapers, etc., etc. Studied dentistry under Dr.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/18-bios-beloit.md, PDF p. 750 / book p. 754

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources