Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts ; . Sewell, bornborn March 18, 1796, died unmarried, October26, 1818. 5. Rebecca, born November 4, 1797,died September i, 1800. 6. Sarah, born May3, 1800, died September 28, 1829; married,October 15, 1821, George Hartwell, of Ma-son, New Hampshire. 7. Levi, born March19, 1802; resided in Ohio. 8. Joel, see for-ward. All the sons of Asa Whitney were success-ful mechanics not only as workmen but as in-ventors. His oldest son Asa first settled inNew York state, where he beca
Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts ; . Sewell, bornborn March 18, 1796, died unmarried, October26, 1818. 5. Rebecca, born November 4, 1797,died September i, 1800. 6. Sarah, born May3, 1800, died September 28, 1829; married,October 15, 1821, George Hartwell, of Ma-son, New Hampshire. 7. Levi, born March19, 1802; resided in Ohio. 8. Joel, see for-ward. All the sons of Asa Whitney were success-ful mechanics not only as workmen but as in-ventors. His oldest son Asa first settled inNew York state, where he became superin-tendent of the Mohawk & Hudson invented and made the first locomotivetruck wheels which were set in front of thedriving wheels of the John Bull, the firstlocomotive introduced into this country fromEngland. They are in general use at directors of the road hitherto run byhorses were about to abandon the use of thenew locomotive, as it shook and damaged the• track very much. Asa Whitney begged themnot to do this, and offered to make the newmachine operate without injury to the light. I JOEL WHITNEY MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 1955 track equipment for $500. It was a difficultpiece of work for those days, as proper toolswere not in existence. The work was suc-cessfully accomplished at West Point aftermaking special tools designed by brother of Asa, Joel Whitney, traveled toAlbany from Massachusetts to see the new lo-comotive work which it did successfully not-withstanding the clouds of smoke and cinderswhich enveloped the passengers, the cars be-ing all open to the weather. Asa Whitney wascommissioner of canals while in New Yorkand his reputation as a railroad engineer stoodvery high. For several years he was presi-dent of the Reading railroad when it wassuccessfully managed. From 1842 to 1847he was with W. H. Baldwin, of Philadelphia,engaged in building locomotives on a largescale. This firm was the foundation of thepresent great company, the
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