Joseph Smith Invents the First Mold Board Plow in America, 1797

Joseph Smith Invents the First Mold Board Plow in America, 1797

Joseph Smith had an innate genius. He had a gift for mechanics. For thousands of years farmers had used tools made of wood to break up the soil. Joseph would invent a plow made of iron.

It was Joseph’s brother Robert, a surveyor by trade, who gave Joseph the idea. In the 1790’s Robert Smith became convinced that iron could be formed into the proper shape for a mold board. He and Joseph must have spent hours dreaming and talking over this idea.

Joseph began experimenting and pondering over the best curve for a plow mould board. His first attempts where whittled with a pocket knife, when he had nothing else to do. His desire was to design a mould board that would plow a smooth furrow and be of easy resistance. It took years but with the help of his friend George Kinsey, he made a pattern he felt would be successful. It was taken to Charles Newbold’s foundry in New Jersey. Castings were made.

The day of testing brought great excitement to the farming community in Buck’s County. A large crowd gathered around to watch the plow as it turned the furrow. They were not disappointed. They watched in amazement and delight as the plow cut into the soil and made beautiful furrows.

The historian Josiah B. Smith years later said, “It was a proud day for the maker of the plow.”

Joseph and Robert went into the plow business. Production began in 1797. The brothers were to make a dollar royalty on each one that was sold. The brothers used the family Pottery in Wrightstown as their shop. Robert applied for a patent, by filling out the proper forms and paying the required fee of $30. By this time England had heard of their activity and declared priority of right in the plow, by discovery and use. The case was taken to court and dismissed. The patent was granted to Robert Smith on May 19, 1800.

Joseph Smith decided to move the business. He purchased some property along the Delaware River below Erwinna in Tinicum Township where he established a manufacturing site powered by water. The Smiths built four dwellings, a grist mill, a saw mill, a smithery, and a plow shop. Joseph’s sons Mahlon, Jonas and Charles helped in the business. They named the place Smithtown. The principle business became the production of plows.

Even Thomas Jefferson took notice of the Smith’s business. He wrote a letter to Joseph Smith requesting his “best plow”. Joseph wrote back to the President, “All my plows are best plows!”

In 1803 the Smith’s sent 758 mold boards to Philadelphia. “After the business became established Joseph Smith paid his brother Robert half of the cost involved in getting the patent and the two men split the royalties.” The plows became popular, but the brothers had a difficult time collecting royalties. The plows were being made in so many places it was impossible to keep track of the manufacturing. Mahlon Smith said, “If we had received a dollar royalty on each plow for the patent, it would have made the family all rich and good for nothing.”

Charles Newbold, the foundry man who made the first mold board for the Smiths spent $30,000 trying to build a better plow but failed. It wasn’t until 1847 when Benjamin Wiggins of Upper Makefield applied mathematics to the design, that a better plow was manufactured.