Lyman Reed Blake (1835 - 1883)

Born 24 Aug 1835 in South Abington, Massachusetts, United States

Died 3 Oct 1883 at age 48 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Lyman was born on Aug 24, 1835 to Samuel Blake and Susanna.^[1]

Lyman had worked for Isaac Singer in his Singer Sewing Machine Co. Lyman set up sewing machines in the numerous shoe factories in the northeast of the United States during the 19th century. By 1856, Lyman as a co-owner of a shoe factory and developed improved ways to construct the shoes.

In 1850 at the age of 14, he lived in Abington, Massachusetts with his parents and sisters; Clarissa (age 26), Arathusa, (age 21), and Catherine, (age 16).^[2]

By July 1858, Lyman had developed a sewing machine for helping attach the soles of shoes to the upper part of the shoe. No longer would hand sewing be the method, but with machines to switch, making the manufacturing cost of shoes much less. He later sold the invention of the shoe sewing machine to Gordon McKay.

Lyman died on Oct. 5, 1883 in Newton, Massachusetts^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC7B-C9N : 4 December 2014), Lyman Reed Blake, 24 Aug 1835; citing ABINGTON,PLYMOUTH,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0873756 IT 1-2.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD9Q-LJ3 : 12 April 2016), Lyman R Blake in household of Saml Blake, Abington, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; citing family 517, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N75W-ZZH : 10 March 2018), Lyman R. Blake, 05 Oct 1883; citing Newton, Massachusetts, v 347 p 324, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 960,224.

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