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| Birth: | 3 Aug 1811 in Halifax, VT |
| Death: | 8 Apr 1861 in Yonkers, NY |
| Sex: | M |
| Father: | Stephen Otis b. 20 Dec 1773 in Colchester, New London, CT |
| Mother: | Phoebe Glynn b. 10 Jul 1778 |
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Individual:
He died Apr. 8, 1861, at Yonkers, N. Y., of nervous depress
ion and diphtheria.
This comparatively unknown member of the Otis family has pr obably contributed more than any other man in the world to the most marvelous changes that have taken place in commercial and, in fact, in all architecture during the last half of the nineteenth century, not only in America, but throughout the entire globe; changes which in turn have affected the business, and even the social life of vast communities. For it was this Elisha G. Otis who was the original inventor of the fast passenger elevator, an innovation which rendered the skyscraper a commercial possibility, and without which there would never have been any demand for such high structures. Final improvement of his invention by his son, Chas. R., was granted a patent Jan. 15, 1861. Viewed beside the latest machines, even this was decidedly a crude affair; yet it is recognized as the first complete and practicable elevator, and the later work has been only improvements and adaptations to new conditions, until now it is the highest grade in the world. It appears, from records of the Patent Office that devices for a passenger elevator were filed as far back as 1834, but this machine, for which a patent was granted in 1861, was really the first complete and practicable elevator. It is used not only in America, but throughout the world. When these elevators were originally installed in the Eiffel Tower at Paris they were almost as much of a curiosity as the Tower itself. The business, using his inventions, was first carried on by his sons, and later by a great corporation bearing the Otis name. It is a company whose products now go, not merely to every civilized country in the world, but whose business for 1907 amounted to fifteen millions of dollars.
Elisha G. remained with his father upon the farm until be w as the age of eighteen; his tastes, however, being in the direction of mechanics rather than farming. When about nineteen years of age be requested of his father a gift of his remaining time. Shortly after he left his home in Halifax for the city of Troy, N. Y., where he assumed charge of the construction of the machinery in a large factory in that city. After four years' service in that capacity he started a factory of his own, but the undertaking not proving successful, he was obliged to give it up and accept the offer of a firm in Hudson City, N. J., to become Superintendent of its works in that place. In the following year, 1852, the business of this company was transferred to the location occupied by the Plow Works [later Federal Sugar Refinery] in Yonkers. Here he assumed entire guidance of the machinery department of what was then called the Bedstead Factory; also having charge of some of the buildings connected with the establishment. During the building and equipment of this factory it became necessary to construct an elevator for use on the premises, and during its erection Mr. Otis developed some original devices, the most important of which was one for preventing the fall of the platform in case of the breaking of the lifting rope. This machine attracted the attention of some New York manufacturers, and soon after he received an order for two or more of these machines to go to that city. This was the beginning of the elevator business, which later assumed such gigantic proportions. For a number of years he continued the construction of elevators, as he received orders for them, combining, however, very many branches of mechanical business.
Finally he severed his connections with the Bedstead Manufa cturing Company, and started on a general manufacturing business on his own account, leasing a part of their building for this purpose. At the opening of the World's Fair at the Crystal Palace, in New York City, Mr. Otis placed a small elevator on exhibition, containing the improvements made by him up to that time. He attracted considerable attention by getting upon the platform, running it up some distance, then cutting the rope, thus demonstrating the safety of his invention against accident and consequent loss of life. This action gave publicity to his invention, and from that time his business increased until at the time of his death, in April 1861, it had become the principal business of the works, and the Otis elevator was widely known.
He was a man of various attainments and great mental power . He was possessed of much mechanical and inventive ability, and could with equal facility and skill perform the duties of a journeyman mechanic, or direct large numbers of workmen in the line of any of four distinct trades. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, pursuing whatever he undertook with great enthusiasm, and never failing to accomplish his purpose within the time set. Business was to him a recreation and a pleasure, and many of his original ideas were the fruit of his leisure hours.
Among the inventions of Mr. Otis which have added luster t o his name, and which have formed the groundwork of many similar inventions in later days, are a machine for making blindstaples; an automatic wood-turning machine; a railway bridge for carrying trains across the river without impeding navigation, and at the same time doing away with the dangers of a draw;a very ingenious automatic steam plough, and a rotary oven for use in the manufacture of bread.
Prom early life he entertained ardent temperance and anti-s lavery views, and towards its close frequently gave utterance to the prediction that slavery would be swept from our country within ten years, a prediction which was verified within five years subsequent to his death. He was a member of the First Methodist Church, and was greatly beloved, not only by its people, but by the community at large, for the interest of which he was an ardent worker. He was a Whig in politics, later a Republican upon the organization of that party.
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