Elisha Graves —, American inventor of an elevator who died in 1861 (4)
I believe the answer is:
otis
(Other definitions for otis that I've seen before include "Miss -- Regrets, Cole Porter song" , "lift company" , "---- Redding, 1941-67, soul singer" , "Company providing lifts" , "Cole Porter's miss who was "unable to lunch today"" .)