124 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



The hanging post of the gate projects two or three 

 inches below the bottom slat, and is rounded off to a 

 point which stands in a hole bored about an inch deep 

 in a block, set nearly even with the surface next to the 

 post which the gate hangs to, or if that post is hewed, 

 a shoulder may be left, in which a hole can be bored 

 with a very short handle auger. The top of the hanging 

 post projects six inches above the upper slat, and is made 

 round, and is kept to its place by a tough hoop, nailed 

 to the gate post. I can make and hang two or three such 

 gates in a day, and the expense is very trifling. When 

 a hinge breaks, it is easily repaired without running to 

 the blacksmith. I consider a gate, "a labor-saving piece 

 of machinery," and I think none would do without them, 

 if they knew how cheap they could have them. 



There is another great labor-saving machine, that I 

 am astonished how any farmer can do without. It is 

 the humble wheelbarrow. If this was some new inven- 

 tion, every one would be running after it — at all events, 

 when he used it. 



Forgive me, if I have become tedious, and accept the 



kind respects of your friend, 



Solon Robinson. 



Lake Court-House, Ind'a, Jan. 24, 1840. 

 Robinson : Early Will 



[Ms. in Harry Robinson Strait Papers, Gary] 



[February 25, 1840] 



This is the last Will and testament of Solon Robinson 



of the County of Lake and State of Indiana — 



Item 1 st It is my will that my wife, Mariah Robinson, 



should be my Executor, and that she may appoint any 



person whom she may elect as her co-executor, to do 



which she is hereby fully authorised — Should my wife, 



however, die before proving this will, I appoint my 



oldest son then living at my death, if he is 21 years of 



age, and resident near my family, and possessed of a 



good education and a fair moral character; which the 





