Isaac Singer, inventor of the Singer sewing machine, resided in Fredericksburg

Isaac Singer, before he invented the Singer sewing machine, was for a time, a resident of Fredericksburg, Ohio. He arrived there in 1844 with his wife and four children and was the owner and leading man in a theatrical troupe known as the Merritt Players. His stage name was Isaac Merritt.

The troupe was engaged in staging Shakespearean and temperance plays in churches, halls and tents. Apparently, while the troupe was in Fredericksburg, the players went broke. Mr. Singer took a job in a saw mill and while there, he invented a machine for carving wooden letters to use in printing posters, sale bills, signs, etc. He formed a company to produce this machine, but became dissatisfied with his sponsor and moved to Pittsburg in 1846. For many years, the original machine was used locally to make wood type for the early newspapers and printing businesses.

Mr. Singer invented the continuous sewing machine in 1850 on $40.00 of borrowed capital. He formed a partnership with Edward Clark who helped to organize the production and distribution. At that time, a family income averaged $500.00 per year and the machine cost $125.00. Clark instituted the first easy payment plan in American business with $5.00 down and $3.00 a month in payment for the machine.

From the publication, Wayne County Scrapbook, compliments of McIntire Davis & Greene Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill Street, Wooster.