Part 19

"Berkshire, Kane County, Ill., "August 6, 1849.

"We, the undersigned, having seen Mr. Hussey's reaper work at cutting grass and grain, think it preferable to McCormick's or any other machine that we have seen. It cut wheat that could not be cut with McCormick's reaper or a cradle. We are well acquainted with McCormick's machine.

"P. A. HIXBY, JOHN GRIGGS, JR., JOHN GRIGGS, HARRY POTTER, JOHN SHIRWOOD, SETH SHIRWOOD, DAVID SHANKS, ABRAHAM SHIRWOOD, JAMES HESS, ALSON BANKER, D. C. WRIGHT, ELISHA WRIGHT."

"Oswego, Ill., "August 2, 1849.

"This may certify that I cut a lot of Black Sea Wheat with Mr. O. Hussey's Reaper; the wheat was so badly lodged that no McCormick Reaper or Cradle could cut it; Mr. Hussey's Reaper cut it clean and laid the bundles out of the track in good order for binding. I have seen the work done by this machine in grass; it was as good work as ever I saw done by a scythe, or better. For my choice I should rather have my grass cut by the Reaper than by the scythe. Every farmer ought to have such a machine, and every farmer I hear talk about it says the same.

"PHILIP YOUNG."

"Sugar Grove, "August 8, 1849.

"This may certify that we have seen Mr. O. Hussey's machine operate in clean grain, and where weeds were very tall, large and thick. In the former, it operated as well as any machine we have seen; in the latter, it worked to a charm, even where it was impracticable to cut with one of McCormick's Reapers.

"HARRY WHITE, L. B. SNOW, CHAUNCEY SNOW, SULLIVAN DORR, HIRAM TUBS, DWIGHT SPENCER, SAMUEL WARD, A. LOGAN."

"Springfield, Ill., "Dec. 25, 1850.

"Mr. Obed Hussey, Baltimore, Md.:

"Dear Sir:--I have used one of your Mowing and Reaping Machines, and consider it the best machine I ever saw, and never intend to do without one, if it is possible to get one, even if I have to go to Baltimore and remain at the shop till one can be made. I do candidly believe if I had had one ten years ago I would now feel like a much younger man; and cheerfully recommend them to all who have grass or grain to cut, as a machine that will do their work in perfect order, neatness, and with ease to all employed.

"JOHN SIMMS, "Four miles west of Springfield, Ill."

"Utica, Lasal Co., Ill., "Dec. 14, 1850.

"Obed Hussey, Esq.:

"Dear Sir:--I received your Reaping and Mowing Machine in time for harvest, and used it for harvesting and for mowing. I am fully satisfied that your machines are the best yet offered to the farmers of this State. I have mowed about four hundred acres, a great portion of which was wild prairie, very frequently running against stones and ant heaps with sufficient force to throw both driver and raker off the machine, without injury to the machine. Why your machine is preferable to any other, is, after you have cut your different kinds of grain, fully as well as can be done with any other machine, with not over fifteen minutes' work, you can take the same machine into your meadow or on to the prairie, and cut your grass at the rate of ten acres per day, cutting closer and cleaner than can be done with a scythe. With proper care, your machines will last fifteen or twenty years, with trifling repairs.

"Respectfully yours,

JAMES CLARK."

"Island Grove, Sangamon Co., Ill., "December 25, 1850.

"Mr. Obed Hussey, Baltimore, Md.:

"Dear Sir:--Last summer I received two of Hussey's Mowing and Reaping Machines; one from your own shop in Baltimore, and the other manufactured in this State. Unfortunately for me, I retained the one manufactured in this State, and with some difficulty succeeded in cutting about two hundred acres of wheat and grass. The one from your shop I let Mr. John Simms have, who cut his wheat, oats and hay (about seventy-five acres) with perfect satisfaction and ease, most of it with two horses, and without being obliged to grind the knives. After Mr. Simms finished his harvest he let Mr. James D. Smith, of Island Grove, have it, who cut about three hundred acres of grass with it, the machine giving perfect satisfaction.

"Very respectfully yours,

"EDWARD J. ENO."

"Carrolton, Green Co., Ill., "Dec. 27, 1850.

"I procured one of Mr. Hussey's Reaping and Mowing Machines from Baltimore last spring; I cut eighty acres of wheat, and ten acres of oats, and fifty acres of timothy with it, to my entire satisfaction--after which I cut sixty acres of cloverseed with it in less than five days. I could not have saved the cloverseed without the machine, so I consider I saved the whole cost of the machine in the saving of the cloverseed alone.

"SAMUEL THOMAS."

"Springfield, Ill., "Dec. 25, 1850.

"Mr. Obed Hussey, Baltimore, Md.: