John E. Underwood

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Notes: During his studies in Chemistry, John was a pupil of Michael Faraday, famous English physicist and chemist, whom he admired immensely. For many years he was in business in London manufacturing inks. His wife and youngest child died in 1865. He came to America in 1873 with some of his children and his second wife, Mrs. Nunn (with whom he had no children). They settled in New Durham, NJ where he converted a large barn at the end of the garden into a factory manufacturing inks of all kinds. Many large businesses began purchasing his products. He invented the Underwood Safety Paper which took ink well, but was too expensive for a large market. When the first typewriter was placed on the market, the manufacturer asked John to invent an ink for the ribbons. This he did, and expanded production into ribbons, carbon paper, and other typewriter supplies.

   When John Underwood died in 1882, he left the business to his sons John T. and Frederick Wills who had been helping him run the company.