United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of Ohio

“ I entertain no doubt, without going into the details, for I have not had time to do that—I entertain no doubt that Shireman was the first and original inventor, and first to use the ratchets and pawls and the revolving axle, in combination with the lifting wheel adapted for horse-rake purposes, and with the rake head, rake teeth and other auxiliaries of the horse-rake, in combination with these elements of the machine, and that that combination was not contained in any prior machine. ”

“ Final hearing on pleadings and proofs. Bill in equity on patent for an “improvement in horse hay rakes,” granted to J. H. Shireman, October 8, 1867, and re-issued to J. E. Wisner, as his assignee, December 11, 1877. ”