Ode to the Blacksmith

[Twertsy]

Recently, I have been on a quest to research, discover and document the earliest American vise makers. I have a page where I am keeping my notes on my website here: http://toolarchives.com/node/3922

This morning, again on the hunt for that earliest of American smiths, I ran across this poem entitled "On the Death of a Blacksmith" in the 5/2/1803 edition of "The Gleason" (newspaper) in Wilkes Barre, PA. I thought you all might enjoy the read.

[amecks]

Very nice!  Reminded me of Longfellow's "The Village Blacksmith". 
Al

[Lewill2]

Do you have a copy of "A Directory of Lancaster County Pennsylvania Blacksmiths"?  Published by MWTCA Area P August 2001. The book is copyrighted by the MWTCA.

[Twertsy]

Do you have a copy of "A Directory of Lancaster County Pennsylvania Blacksmiths"?  Published by MWTCA Area P August 2001. The book is copyrighted by the MWTCA.

No sir, I do not.  I pretty much rely on on-line sources such as the national archives, newspapers.com, ancestry, google books, and local library on-line archives.  The page I referenced above on my site relies on searches such as "vice maker," "vise maker," vise co," and so on.