Micajah C. Henley

Micajah C. Henley (1856–1927) was an American industrialist and inventor. He was a well known manufacturer of roller skates and bicycles sometimes known as "the roller skate king" or "king of roller skates".

He did not invent the roller skate but developed a ball-bearing skate wheel and a toe clamp fastened with a key. He patented his Chicago Skate in 1884, three years after he opened his factory in Richmond, Indiana. The Henley skates were made in Richmond until WWII. The Henley Roller Skate Works could turn out 2,000 pairs of roller skates in one day. Henley lived at 201 N. 14th Street in Richmond in his parents home.

He published a book of rules for roller skate Polo, as well as 16 rules for skating with your sweetheart. With a high quality product and great promotions, the space in the stable was extended 5 times. In 1880 he purchased the house at 201 N 14th Street, and doubled his shop space by including the carriage house there. His nephew suggested using ball bearings in the wheels which they patented in 1884. Product demand went wild; so he built a large two story factory on N 16th Street, which occupied most of a city block, and the Henley Bicycle Works was born. All three buildings are still standing in 2017.

Henley Bicycle Works Under the leadership of Henley, the workers at Henley Bicycle Works manufactured bicycles; roller skates; scooters; lawn furniture and lawn swings; iron working machinery; tools; boring, milling and screw driving machines used in wood manufacturing; gas meters; fence machines and lawn mowers. The company also provided nickel plating services.

In 1904, Henley expanded his business to include the automotive industry. He built an auto agency and service garage on Main Street where he commenced selling and servicing vehicles. In 1906, he sold the business (the Auto Inn) and leased the real estate to a firm named of Draper & Whitsell.

Death As Henley became notable and wealthy, he started wearing a lot of diamonds. 285,484 - 9-25-1883 Powered Screw Driver 319,712 - 6-9-1885 Roller Skate 320,352 - 6-16-1885 Roller Skate toe clamp 338,736 - 3-30-1886 Improved Roller Skate 338,738 - 3-30-1886 Tension Device for making Wire Fencing 383,730 - 5-29-1888 Power Drill 396,279 - 1-15-1889 Fence Making Machine 438,156 - 10-14-1890 Improved Lawn Mower 446,448 - 2-17-1891 Pulley Lathe 506,398 - 10-10-1893 5 Speed Transmission (to change Lathe Rotation Speed) 518,670 - 4-24-1894 Improved Lawn Mower 518,995 - 5-1-1894 Boiler Tube Cleaner 755,133 - 3-22-1904 Coliseum Chair (theater seat)