James B. Hill
Encyclopedia
James B. Hill was an American inventor.
Hill worked as a drainage tiler in northwestern Ohio in the 1870s and 1880s, during which time he devised a machine that he later named the Buckeye Traction Ditcher (U.S. Patent 523-790; July 31, 1894). The Buckeye allowed for the quick placement of drainage tiles to aid in cultivation. After ridding northwest Ohio of its Great Black Swamp
, Hill’s invention, produced by the Buckeye Traction Ditcher Company of Findlay, Ohio
, went on to drain large parts of Florida
and Louisiana
.
Finding his early machines bogged down by the mud of Louisiana
, Hill designed wheels that could travel over soft, wet earth. He termed this style of wheel "apron traction", and it became the forerunner for modern tank wheels (U.S. Patent 866-647; September 24, 1907).
Hill spent his last years breeding new varieties of corn
which could flourish in Louisiana, most notably "Hill’s White Cob Yellow Dent". While visiting business associates in Florida at the turn of the 20th century, Hill designed an early amphibious vehicle
.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
designated an original Buckeye Steam Traction Ditcher as an "International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark" in 1988. This organization also maintains Hill's gravestone at Maple Grove Cemetery in Findlay, on which a ditcher is engraved. An antique ditcher can be seen today at the Hancock County Historical Museum in Findlay.
Hill worked as a drainage tiler in northwestern Ohio in the 1870s and 1880s, during which time he devised a machine that he later named the Buckeye Traction Ditcher (U.S. Patent 523-790; July 31, 1894). The Buckeye allowed for the quick placement of drainage tiles to aid in cultivation. After ridding northwest Ohio of its Great Black Swamp
Great Black Swamp
The Great Black Swamp, or simply Black Swamp, was a glacially caused wetland in northwest Ohio, United States, extending into extreme northeastern Indiana, that existed from the end of the Wisconsin glaciation until the late 19th century...
, Hill’s invention, produced by the Buckeye Traction Ditcher Company of Findlay, Ohio
Findlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
, went on to drain large parts of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Finding his early machines bogged down by the mud of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Hill designed wheels that could travel over soft, wet earth. He termed this style of wheel "apron traction", and it became the forerunner for modern tank wheels (U.S. Patent 866-647; September 24, 1907).
Hill spent his last years breeding new varieties of corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
which could flourish in Louisiana, most notably "Hill’s White Cob Yellow Dent". While visiting business associates in Florida at the turn of the 20th century, Hill designed an early amphibious vehicle
Amphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
designated an original Buckeye Steam Traction Ditcher as an "International Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark" in 1988. This organization also maintains Hill's gravestone at Maple Grove Cemetery in Findlay, on which a ditcher is engraved. An antique ditcher can be seen today at the Hancock County Historical Museum in Findlay.
Family
Hill and his first wife Ella MacDonald had 10 children. Near his death, he boasted of having more than 100 descendants. These descendants are scattered throughout the United States, with the majority living in southern Louisiana (centering around Raceland) and northwest Ohio (centering around Toledo).External links
- H e a r t l a n d S c i e n c e - - The Ohio Academy of Science - at www.heartlandscience.org
- #133 Buckeye Steam Traction Ditcher (1902) - Landmarks at www.asme.org
- http://files.asme.org/ASMEORG/Communities/History/Landmarks/5509.pdf American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- http://steamtraction.farmcollector.com/Steam-Engines/Buckeye-Steam-Traction-Ditcher.aspx Steam Traction