This one is going to be short, so let’s get to it. Harriet Ruth Brisbane was born in Charleston, South Carolina back in 1834 to William and Julia. The family moved to New England prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1854, she married Cadwallader. The union produced four children.Moving again to Staten Island, New York around 1860 where she lived until 1890. In 1890, she moved the family to Paris, France then to London, England. She died in 1918.What you may not know about Harriet Ruth Brisbane Tracy is that she held at least 27 different patents. Between 1868 to 1915 her inventions included at least 6 elevators and 17 sewing machine patents. Her first one was for a crib attachment for bedsheets. One of her patented elevators was put into everyday use at the 1893 World’s Columbian ... 09/18/2018

John Taliaferro was born in Newport, Kentucky back in 1860 to James and Maria. He attended Indiana University for a year before he was appointed to the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1882. After graduation, he was assigned to the 2nd Artillery as a second lieutenant. In 1890, he was moved to the Army’s Ordnance Department where he spent the remainder of his military career.At the beginning of the Spanish-American War, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel assigned to Tampa, Florida as Chief Ordnance Officer. he arranged for the informal formation of a Gatling gun unit with fifteen of them along with a generous supply of ammunition which played a significant role in the Battle of San Juan Hill. I could write more about the man however that would be a three-day event. He re... 09/11/2018

Jack Crawford was born in St. Louis, Missouri back in 1922 to Melburne and Dorothy. He enrolled at the Olin Business School in St. Louis in 1940. When WWII started he dropped out joining the U.S. Navy. He was a pilot flying a F6F Hellcat fighter from the USS Essex and the USS Enterprise. During the war, he earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Navy Air Medal.At the conclusion of WWII, he was discharged returning the St. Louis where he started a delivery service. In 1948, he worked for the Lindburg Cadillac dealership in St. Louis where he moved up the ranks becoming the sales manager. In 1957, he started his own company with $25,000.00, targeting certain people. His business was so successful that in 1969, he expanded his operations outside of St. Louis. As they say the rest i... 09/01/2018

Bet ya didn’t know this one. John Stafford was born in Gloucester, Great Britain back in 1750. He attended the Gloucester Cathedral School where he became a boy-singer. He went on to further his career at the Chapel Royal, London. By the 1770’s, he had gained a reputation as a composer and an organist.In 1784, he became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal and in 1802 was recognized as the Master of the Children. In 1805, he became a lay-vicar of Westminster Abbey. In his spare time, he collected antiques as well as songs and books for his growing library. He began to publish his “A Collection of English Song in 1779. His library included the Old Hall Manuscript, a copy of Ulm Gesanbuch from 1538 plus a collection of works that went back to the 12th century. What you may not know about John ... 08/31/2018

William Symington was born in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Scotland back in 1764. His parents wanted him to join the ministry, but he had other ideas. His passion was to be an engineer. So, in 1785, while working at a local mining company he so impressed his boss that he was sent to the University of Edinburgh in 1786 to learn the trade.Apparently, he learned his trade well because in 1787 he obtained a patent that of course would forever place him in the history books. On another note, he was also a successful coal mine manager. He was hired to oversee the mine at Falkirk. His salary was a hundred pounds per year and a house on the estate. In 1829, in ill health and deep in debt he moved to London to live with his daughter, he died in 1831.What you may not know about William is that h... 08/30/2018

Kyota Sugimoto was born in Okayama, Japan back in 1882. He entered the Training Institute for Communication Technology in Osaka, Japan in 1900. After graduation, he started working in the letterpress technology field, who exactly he worked for is lost to history however, that is not relevant to the rest of the story, or is it?His invention contained 2,400 characters arranged by classification on a character carriage. He obtained a patent #27877 first in Japan and later in the USA patent #1245633. Now you may, may, mind you be asking yourself what in the world did he invent. Well I’m so glad you asked that question. Kyota invented the first ever Japanese typewriter, although some changes have been made it was the basis for the current typewriter used. Frankly with all the characters invo... 08/24/2018

Stuart Fergusson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland back in 1940 to Charles and Millie. The family moved to Liverpool, England where he attended Park View Primary School. He attended Liverpool College of Art. He worked as a bin man on the Liverpool Corporation’s waste collection trucks.It was while he attended the Liverpool College he met someone whom we all know, more on that shortly. He was an accomplished artist and a guitar player. His friend wanted to start a band and asked Stuart to play bass guitar, which of course he did. However, that was a sore subject with another member of the newly formed band. So, in 1961 he decided to leave the band and go back to his first love, that of course was art.While in art class he collapsed complaining of headaches which left him temporarily blind.... 08/23/2018

Peter Stretch was born in Leek, Staffordshire, England back in 1670. He emigrated to America in 1703. Shortly after arriving in the states he began to practice his trade (more on that in a moment). In 1715, he purchased some property at the corner of Front and Chestnut Street in Philadelphia where he opened up his shop. In 1719, he purchased another property at Second and Chestnut where he built his home. He lived in that home until his death in 1746.He purchased other properties including 300 acres in Gloucester County as an investment for the growing population. Being a part of the Quaker Community, he was influential and served as a member of the Common Council from 1708 until his death.   What you may not know about Peter Stretch is that he was a clockmaker by trade. One of his cloc... 08/18/2018

Squire Maugridge Jr. was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania back in 1744 to Squire Sr. and Sarah. In 1749, the family moved to Rowan County, North Carolina. When he was 15 he was sent back to Pennsylvania to learn how to be a gunsmith. He returned to North Carolina 5 years later.In 1779, he moved to the settlement at Falls of the Ohio later to become Louisville. He served two terms in the Virginia legislature. He acquired a large track of land where he remained until his death in 1815. What you may not know about Squire Maugridge Boone is that he was the brother of another famous Boone, Daniel Boone that is. He also founded the first settlement in Shelby County, Kentucky in 1780. Until tomorrow my wish for you is to have a great day filled with a lot of smiles and a laugh or two thrown ... 08/11/2018

Russell Games was born in Argos, Indiana back in 1896, graduating from Argos High School in 1914. He continued his education at the Western Military Academy graduating in 1915. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1921.After graduating he joined Owens-Illinois Glass Company in Toledo, Ohio. He invented something in 1933 that we still use to this day and I’m sure into the future. He retired in 1963 and died a year later, exactly why I will never retire.Anyway, he also served on the Materials Advisory Board of the United States National Research Council, consulted on industrial application for NASA. He served as Director of Park National Bank and was a trustee of Denison University from 1959 until his death.Now many of you may be wonderi... 08/02/2018

Joseph Clois was born in Marlton, New Jersey back in 1920. Sorry I do not have any information as to who his parents were, but of course that is not the rest of the story. He received his B.A., M.A. and Ph. D in organic chemistry from Duke University in the 1940’s. During WWII, he worked for the government to develop a drug to counter malaria for the troops overseas. In 1946, he worked for DuPont as a researcher.He was assigned with a group for a project to synthesize a synthetic elastomer to replace rubber. The project was shelved for a few years before Joseph made a breakthrough, and as they say the rest is history. He worked on the project over the next several years before it hit the market in 1959. That product is still in use to this day. He retired from DuPont in 1980. In 1998, h... 07/23/2018

Dana Shires was born in Coral Gables, Florida back in 1932. Sorry but I don’t have any information about his father or mother. He graduated from Lee High School in Jacksonville. After graduation, he spent three years in the Marine Corps. In 1954, he enrolled at the University of Florida graduating in 1957, continuing his education in Gainesville, graduating with a MD in 1961. While at lunch one day he had a discussion with the Gators assistance coach Dewayne Douglas. Their discussion centered on the players’ suffering from dehydration.In 1982, he founded a company for the production he co-invented after that discussion with Dewayne, as they say the rest is history. The company he founded was LifeLink.What you may not know about Dana Shires is the company he founded produces something I ... 07/19/2018

Louise Hilma Ballerstedt was born in Austin, Texas to a German Immigrant family back in 1919. After high school, she attended the University of Texas earning her Bachelor’s degree in 1939. She married Grier in 1941. The family produced three sons. While raising them she attended Southern Methodist University at night earing her law degree in 1952.After graduation, she worked as an assistant district attorney in Dallas County. In 1954, she was put in charge of child support and juvenile court. While in that capacity she learned married women had fewer right in Texas than single women. One of her quotes was “When a man and woman married, they were one, and he was the one. She practiced law for more than 50 years. She died in 2011.What you may not know about Louis Hilma Ballerstedt Raggio ... 07/13/2018

Dorothy Shaver was born in Center Point, Arkansas back in 1893 to James and Sallie. The family moved to Mena when she was 5. She graduated from high school in 1910. She went on to the University of Arkansas graduating in 1914, after graduation she began her teaching career which ended in 1914.In 1916, she moved to Chicago with her sister Elsie, a year later the sisters moved to New York City. Her sister Elsie began making dolls out of bandage cotton painted in pastel colors, which Dorothy began to sell to Lord and Taylor. The company ran by Samuel Reyburn set the sisters up with a workshop producing the dolls for the next 4 years.Samuel hired Dorothy in 1921, she established an interior decorating service later to be elected to the store’s board of directors in 1927. By 1931 she founded... 07/11/2018

Mary Katherine was born in Baltimore, Maryland back in 1738 to Giles and Sarah. Her father was postmaster in New London, Connecticut. In 1775, she became postmaster of the Baltimore post office. She held that office for 14 years until 1789. From 1809 until 1816, she sold books, stationery and dry goods. Sadly, she died in 1816 at a young 78. What you may not know about Mary Katherine Goddard is that she was the second printer of the Declaration of Independence, her publication of the Goddard Broadside was the first to print that document which contained the names of the signatories. So, tell me did you know that one?   Until tomorrow keep a smile on your face and a penny in your pocket. You’ll be richer than most people in the world. Who knows you may be given a smile back, trust me it’... 07/04/2018

Edwin Beard was born in Eastington, Stroud England back in 1796 to Charles and Mary. Although I can’t find any records of his education, when you read the rest of the story, he was well educated man. In 1830, he designed a pistol which was more technically advanced than Colt’s patent of 1836. He worked in the cotton mills when he first got the idea for a new invention. He patented his invention in 1830, while it has been consistently being improved upon the basic concept remains. It took another 10 years to create a machine that would be worked by animals and another 60 years before one was built by using a steam-engine. Now you may be asking yourself what in the world did he invent. Well I’m so glad you did. For Edwin Beard Budding invented the first lawn mower. It even included a try ... 07/02/2018

Robert Shirtiff was born in Plympton, Massachusetts back in 1760 to Jonathan and Deborah. His father was reported as lost at sea however, some historians believe he abandoned his family. Not having funds to keep her family together Robert was sent to live with relatives.His formal education was little to none, so he learned to read and write from the other siblings he was sent to live with. In 1782, he joined the Army in Middleborough, Massachusetts using the name of Timothy Thayer. He could not make the meet up with his company and had to repay the bonus he collected. In 1782, he reenlisted again in Uxbridge, Massachusetts joining the 4th Massachusetts Regiment.In 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed and the soldier were mustered out. He received an honorable discharge, however he was ... 06/30/2018

Sylvester Howard was born in Francestown, New Hampshire back in 1823 to Merrick and Susan. When he was 12 he made a stationary steam engine, even though he had never seen one in person. At 14 he built a locomotive engine, only to see one later in Nashua.He left Francestown to work as a machinist in several locations winding up in Worcester. In 1854, he moved to Boston. He was a truly driven individual as you will soon find out, so let’s get to it. In 1861, he invented a Handstitch Sewing Machine and a hot air engine. During the Civil War, he worked at the Springfield Armory. While there he invented the first shotgun choke, which varies the spread of the shot. In 1882, he was granted a patent for a repeating shotgun.What you may not know about Sylvester Howard Roper, is that he is most n... 06/22/2018

David Edward was born in Lafayette, Indiana back in 1871 to George and Susanna. He attended primary school. His parents took him on a steamboat ride, he made his way to the engine, thus begins the rest of the story. He was fascinated with the machinery. During his senior year of high school his path was set. In 1889, he enrolled at Purdue University focusing on a degree in engineering.Graduating from Purdue as a mechanical engineer in 1893 he set about inventing some things we still use to this day, so let’s get to it. His first invention was the automotive steering gear. He raised money to build the Purdue Memorial Union, a football stadium, then helped to build the Lambert Fieldhouse. All in all, he held 88 patents involving building materials and automotive mechanisms. He was once qu... 06/18/2018

Ole Christensen was born in Arthus, Denmark back in 1644 to Christen and Anna. Few records exist of him prior to 1662 when he graduated from the Cathedral school of Aahus. He moved to Copenhagen where he attended the University of Copenhagen.After graduation, he was employed by the French government under the rule of Louis XIV. In 1681, he returned to Denmark where you would find him as a professor of astronomy at the University of Copenhagen. In 1683, he introduced the first national system for weights and measures.Are you ready, try to keep up because here we go. Ole Christensen Romer developed the first temperature scales around 1708. He invented the first street lights (oil lamps) he also made the first quantitative measurement of the speed of light. In 1700, he persuaded the king t... 06/12/2018