Whitcomb L. Judson Whitcomb L. Judson Whitcomb L. Judson (March 7, 1846 – December 7, 1909) was an American machine salesman, mechanical engineer and inventor. Judson invented the zipper in the 1890s. Judson was born in Chicago, Illinois. According to the 1860 census, he lived in Illinois, and served in the Union army. He enlisted in 1861 at Oneida, Illinois in the Forty-Second Illinois Cavalry. Judson attended Knox College in his hometown Galesburg, Illinois. He was found in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1886. In 1886 and 1887 the Minneapolis city directory identifies Judson as a "traveling agent" — a traveling salesman working probably for
Phoebe Judson Lynden was officially incorporated. Holden Judson was elected its first mayor. Phoebe Judson outlived all her children except the two eldest, Annie and Bonta. She outlived her siblings, raising their orphaned children Elsie, Edward, Joel, and Don (whom she raised until her death). On October 26, 1899, Holden died at the age of 71. Judson died on January 16, 1926 of natural causes. The entire city of Lynden was shut down (with stores closed and schools dismissed) on January 18 in honor of her funeral and death. Phoebe Judson Phoebe Goodell Judson (October 25, 1831 – January 16, 1926; sometimes