[1] Francis Wolle invented the first bag-making machine in 1851, forming the basis for the Union Bag and Paper Company.
In his words, "pieces of paper of suitable length are given out from a roll of the required width, cut off from the roll and otherwise suitably cut to the required shape, folded, their edges pasted and lapped, and formed into complete and perfect bags."
He patented a more elaborate machine in 1855, and a third in 1858 with a provision "for preventing the loss of the strips of paper usually cut off in order to make the bottom lap or seam of the bag."
They had to be held open while being filled, and could not easily hold bulky items such as groceries and hardware goods.
[4] Wolle edited the exsiccata-like specimen series Freshwater Algae of the United States.