Beriah Swift

"The Lanebro company was the successor to the Lane Brothers Company of the same city, with origins back into the 19th century. Coffee grinders were an essential household tool in the 1800's. In 1845, Beriah Swift built a factory in Millbrook, New York to manufacture his own patented coffee mill, partnering with his cousins William and John Lane under the name Swift and Lane in 1855. The firm became the Lane Brothers in 1866."

• Source - http://progress-is-fine.blogspot.com/2013/04/vanished-tool-makers-l...

"The Lane Brothers manufactory actually had its start in Harts Village, Millbrook about 1808, and was an outgrowth of Beriah Swift's inventions and the Swift coffee, spice and drug mills which were first produced in the Town of Washington community. In 1845, Mr. Swift build a coffee mill factory on a part of the Oakleigh Thorne property between Millbrook and Washington Hallow, the first and only enterprise of its kind in the country. Attached to his works was a s,all foundry to cast such parts of his inventory as were required. Me Swift died in 1866 but his sons carried on the business.

The inventive skills of the Lanes, particularly William J., were nourished in the Beriah Swift enterprises. Swift was credited with inventing a cutting machine which was used in the dye-wood industry, and locally by the Innis dye works, in North Water Street."

• Source - Year Book of the Dutchess County Historical Society, Volumes 50-55 by Duchess County Historical Society, p. 45.

"But this patent of Miles's is indeed onlt the securing in England of the patent of Beriah Swift of Washington, N.Y., and the result of the American patents of 1806, 1810, and 1814. B. Swift is the real inventor of the oscillating shears-cylinder, whose improvements called forth a succession of inventions and constructions in America..."

• Source - Bulletin, Volume 12 by National Association of Wool Manufacturers, p. 13.

"In his family were five children: Zebulon and his twin brother, Lemuel, who was a farmer of Washington town; Bariah, a machinist and inventor; Robert, who had large business interests in Millbrook, including a sawmill; and Deborah, who died unmarried. The family belonged to the Society of Friends."

• Source - Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Dutchess and Putnam, New York: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families, Volume 2, p. 693. Find a Grave memorial