46 JETHRO WOOD; 



matter was that weightier affairs demanded his 

 immediate and entire attention. One diffi- 

 culty was overcome only to develop another. 

 No sooner had he silenced the cavils of the 

 farmers and demonstrated the value of his 

 patent, than infringements upon his rights 

 threatened to, and actually did, rob him of the 

 fruits of his invention. " Uneasy rests the head 

 that wears a crown " of genius. 



The patent laws of that day were very im- 

 perfect, and there was a strong prejudice 

 against their enforcement. The cry of " no 

 monopoly " was raised. Mr. Wood had ex- 

 pended many thousands of dollars in perfect- 

 ing his patterns and getting ready to supply 

 the demand which he felt sure would arise for 

 his plows, many of which, during the first 

 few years, he gave away, that their value might 

 be established to the satisfaction of the public. 

 The stage of probation over, the plow makers 

 of the country, defiant of patent law, engaged 



