West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
LAWN MOWERS

Lawn mowers were first used in West Liberty about the year 1886. Edward Harrison, who lived on his ten acre tract at the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of section twelve, his home being the home now occupied by Mrs. Mary Kirby on North Columbus street, brought to West Liberty the first lawn mower with a cutting reel. It was a crude and heavy arrangement with a large cylindrical power wheel at the rear, getting its power to a cutting reel extended somewhat to the front.

W. W. McClun and A. H. McClun, who for years operated a clothing store under the firm name of McClun Brothers, brought the next lawn mowers to West Liberty. Their lawn mowers showed some improvements over the one used by Edward Harrison, but were crude as compared to those used at the present time. These mowers had a skeleton, or a wire squirrel cage power wheel at the rear, getting its power to the cutting reel also extended to the front.

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