Aaron Merrill Peasley ''(born Peaslee)'' (July 2, 1775 in

Newton, New Hampshire Newton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,820 at the 2020 census. History The sixth town to be granted from the Masonian land purchase of 1746, Newton was originally part of Salisbury, Massac ...

– April 6, 1837 in

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...

), was one of early America's foremost

button A button is a fastener that joins two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or by sliding through a buttonhole. In modern clothing and fashion design, buttons are commonly made of plastic but also may be made of metal, wood, or ...

makers.

Life

Peasley was born one of four sons born to William Peasley and Hannah Merrill. His father died in 1794 and young Aaron went to

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

to learn the

tool and die Tool and die makers are highly skilled crafters working in the manufacturing industries. Tool and die makers work primarily in toolroom environments—sometimes literally in one room but more often in an environment with flexible, semipermeable ...

trade. By the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

he was one of America's most well-known button makers, notably for his military uniform buttons. He lived and worked on Middle Street in Boston. His peak production years were in the early 1820s. In 1809, he married Lois Woodward in

Charlestown, Massachusetts Charlestown is the oldest Neighborhoods in Boston, neighborhood in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. Also called Mishawum by the Massachusett, it is located on a peninsula north of the Charles River, across from downtown Bost ...

. In 1818 he was awarded a patent for a reed attachment to

organs In a multicellular organism, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. In the hierarchy of life, an organ lies between tissue and an organ system. Tissues are formed from same type cells to a ...

. He also invented some valuable improvements in

calico Calico (; in British usage since 1505) is a heavy plain-woven textile made from unbleached, and often not fully processed, cotton. It may also contain unseparated husk parts. The fabric is far coarser than muslin, but less coarse and thick than ...

printing. About 1826 or 1827 he and his family resettled in

, where he was known as a skillful engraver and die-sinker. He was the owner of Peasley & Mead, noted for their skill in working with metal and wood. In his later years he owned the first "Pleasure Gardens" in Dayton, on the west side of Warren street, at the south side of Seely's Basin, near the present location of the

University of Dayton The University of Dayton (UD) is a Private university, private, Catholic research university in Dayton, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary (Marianists), Society of Mary, it is one of three Marianist universities in the U ...

. He envisioned parties to be taken to the garden by boat down the canal to the basin. After a trial of two or three years, it was closed as it was an idea before its time. He died in Dayton on April 6, 1837, aged 61. His buttons for

military uniforms A military uniform is a standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. Military dress and styles have gone through significant changes over the centuries, from colourful and elaborate, ornamente ...

are still sought after by collectors today.

References

List of all U.S. Patents and Patentees -- 1790 - 1829
- accessed November 29, 2005

- accessed November 29, 2005

- accessed December 4, 2005

External links

*
Will of Aaron M. Peasley
Montgomery County, Ohio (PDF) 1775 births 1837 deaths American manufacturing businesspeople Businesspeople from Boston Businesspeople from Dayton, Ohio American engravers {{Ohio-bio-stub