38 JETHRO WOOD; 



Iron Plow," from its entire abandonment of 

 wrought iron in its construction, needed no 

 change to be the noblest gift ever made to 

 agriculture. In the ideal, hope had ripened 

 into full fruition. And now, at this day, 

 looking at the matter in the light of the past, 

 seeing the absolutely incalculable benefits 

 of the invention, it seems almost incredible 

 that the American people, then even more 

 than now, a nation of farmers, should not 

 have hailed the new plow as an unspeakable 

 boon, especially the community in which he 

 dwelt, for Cayuga county then, as now, 

 under a high state of cultivation, was and is 

 peopled by a population of much more than 

 average intelligence. But an in ventor, like " a 

 prophet, is not without honor save in his own 

 country." His neighbors gravely shook their 

 heads at " Jethro's folly." With almost en- 

 tire unanimity they agreed that the new con- 

 trivance would never work. His trials and 



