Riley Root (1795-1870) was a teacher, surveyor, inventor, and early settler of Illinois. This brass surveyor’s level is the model he submitted with his application for a patent issued in 1859. The arc has a 3-inch radius and is graduated by degrees. The inscription reads "Riley Root."
Ref: Riley Root, “Level,” U.S. Patent 26,621 (Dec. 27, 1859).
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