Lunsford Richardson was born in Selma, North Carolina back in 1854. Can’t tell you about his parents or early education as I could not find that out. What I can tell you is that he attended Davidson College where he graduated with highest honor in Latin around 1875. After graduation, he taught at The Little Rover Academy before getting his pharmaceutical degree.After graduation, he bought a drugstore in Selma where he developed something that we still use to this day. He moved to Greensboro where he developed several other home remedies. He also used a main product which he imported from Japan. In 1898, he sold his drugstore and formed his own company.He died in 1919, at 65. What you may not know about Lunsford is that he was the founder of Lunsford Richardson Wholesale Drug company, th... 06/07/2018

Joseph Guilherme was born in Fall River, Massachusetts back in 1937 to Joseph and Maria. Graduating from Durfee High School, he continued his education at Harvard College graduating from there in 1958. Moving to Paris to futher his studies he graduated from L’Ecole Normale de Musique.During the lean years you could find him playing a piano in the local bars around the Boston area before moving to New York City. There he met someone you may have heard about that forever changed his life. That someone was a man named Jim Henson. As they say the rest is history.Joseph Guilherme Raposo is most famous for lyricist for a children’s television series called Sesame Street, which he wrote the theme song for. Some others you also may have heard of Bein Green, C Is For Cookie to name a few. He als... 05/31/2018

Jacob Wilson was born in Fairfield County, Ohio back in 1843. In 1861, he joined the United States Army as a private in Company K, 33rd Ohio Infantry. He saw combat in the Battle of Ivy Mountain. He and 21 others under the command of James J. Andrews infiltrated the Confederate lines hijacking one of their locomotives. All were captured and imprisoned. All in all, he was beaten 110 times in an attempt to make him talk. He escaped and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1863, making first lieutenant in 1864. After the war he returned to Kenton, Ohio where he remained a cabinet maker. In 1908, walking home from the county courthouse he suffered a heart attack and died. He is buried in Grove Cemetery in Kenton.What you may not know about Jacob Wilson Parrott is that he was the first re... 05/05/2018

John Patchett was born in Lincolnshire, England back in 1797. He moved to the United States when he was 20 to Pennsylvania. He married Esther in 1820, taking up farming. The family moved several times, first to Ohio, then to Illinois and Iowa. During the California Gold Rush the family moved again to Hangtown, California.He wasn’t successful for gold mining however, he did know one thing and that was farming. So, in 1852 he purchased 16 acres which later grew to 200 acres. He died in 1876. What you may not know about John Patchett is that he is credited as the first person to plant a commercial vineyard in the Napa Valley, also he built the first wine cellar in the Napa Valley. Until tomorrow the next time you uncork that bottle of vino remember who started the whole thing, a person who... 05/04/2018

John Henry was born in Dayton, Ohio back in 1844. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1867. From the day he graduated until 1870, he worked as a canal toll collector. In 1870, you could find him managing the Southern Ohio and Iron Company. In 1882, he invested in a company and by 1884 he and his brother bought the company, (more on that in a moment). In 1893, he constructed the first “daylight factory” with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that could be opened to let fresh air in. He was a harsh business owner, firing people that could not tell him why the flags were flying that day or how to ride a horse properly. During the Great Dayton Flood of 1913, he organized the building of 300 flat-bottomed boats, saving thousands of people while using his building to house, feed and provide medical c... 05/03/2018

Esther Hobart was born in Tioga County, New York back in 1814, orphaned at an early age she worked as a seamstress and ran a successful millinery business.   In 1841, she married Artemus, three years later just short of her 30 birthday he died. In 1868, she married John moving to South Pass City, Wyoming Territory.She was appointed to a post which made history in 1870. She died in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1902, she was 87. What you may not know about Esther Hobart Morris is that she was the first woman Justice of the peace in the United States. She held that office for 9 months. One of the first arrests she signed off on was the clerk who refused to hand over his court documents. She had her husband arrested for assault and battery. She was also known as the “Mother of Woman Suffrage”. She ... 04/12/2018

This is a post my wife wrote.  You just can't make this one up.  Hope you enjoy My son asked me to go by and check on his sweet little girl Daisy today while he was out of pocket.  You can see that she’s a stubborn little girl with a mind of her own and that was okay.  I’m used to stubborn children. I went happily, let Daisy out and was patient as she wandered and rested and played and completely ignored me and my commands but I stayed for a few minutes and as I was leaving she followed me to the front door and dashed in between my legs and tore down the street like she’d been shot from a missile launcher.  My very first thought; “How do I tell Andy and Tracy that I’ve lost their pride and joy?  So, I tear out the front door screaming like a panicked banshee!  “DAISY!  DAISY!  DAISY!  C... 04/05/2018

Sherman Mills was born in Oneonta, New York back in 1896 to George and Josephine. This is going to be difficult without getting right to the heart, so let’s get started. He went to three Universities and did not graduate from any of them. His father died in 1924, with him being the only child he was an instant multi-millionaire.He never married, spending his time exploring a variety of interests. I don’t have the space to tell you about all of his accomplishments however, I’ll do my best so here we go.When WWI started he was rejected because of poor health, determined to help the war effort he did some amazing things. He developed a camera that was inside the lens making the speed so fast it was a significant improvement. He also developed the camera that was taken to the moon. He was a... 03/25/2018

Leon Forrest was born near Syracuse, Nebraska back in 1869 to Seymour and Mate. He attended a grammar school in Lincoln, Nebraska. At 11 you could find him working as a telegraph messenger and at 17 he was a telephone exchange manager for the Nebraska Telephone Company.Things changed for him in 1888 by something he saw, which of course is the rest of the story. After seeing this item, he built one of his own. When he showed it to E.A. Benson he was hired on the spot as the company’s agent for the western part of Nebraska. He invented an attachment for the item. He sold his patent to Mr. Benson for $500.00. in 1900, he went into business with Eldridge Johnson incorporating in 1901. I hope by now you’re wondering what he saw that changed his life, well it was a phonograph. The company tha... 03/12/2018

John Roswell was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa back in 1944 to Roswell and Anne. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s in American History and a Master’s in Journalism. In 1971, you could find him in Miami, Florida where he wrote for The Miami Herald. He moved to Minneapolis in 1978 writing for The Saint Paul Pioneer Press.He won a Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing and the American Society of Newspapers Editors award in 1989. He started writing fiction and thus his place in history was secured. He is a very prolific writer. So, do you recognize the name of John Roswell Camp? Still doesn’t ring a bell? How about his pseudonym name of John Sandford? Yep, that’s him, only now you know the rest of the story. Until tomorrow keep a smile on your face and a penny in your pocket 02/24/2018

You really didn’t say that, did you?This past December I helped my son in looking for a home. While I usually do not like to work with family or friends what can I say, it happens.He had found a home (new construction) that we made an offer on. He drove by it daily and nothing was being done. Then his lender got involved after the initial inspection. She sent an email to the other agent advising him they would not release the funds until certain things were done. That prompted a call from the listing agent.While I’m not an angel the language he used I haven’t heard after retiring from law enforcement. As he was spouting off words that would ban me from this sight, I just listened. Once he was through I phoned my son. He told me to write a termination of contract which I was in the proce... 02/19/2018

Frank Mason was born in Corinth, Maine back in 1845. Records do not indicate when the family moved however, in 1885 he married Laura in Iowa. In 1886, he settled in Atlanta, Georgia with his business partners David Doe, Ed Holland and John Pemberton where he opened a new business the Pemberton Chemical Company.He served as treasurer, secretary and director of advertising for the company. He retired in 1914. He died in Atlanta, Georgia in 1923 at 78. What you may not know about Frank Mason Robinson is that he thought up a name for the product the Pemberton Chemical Company manufactured. The name we all still know to this day; do you recognize it? Coca-Cola. The first year in business the company sold 25 US gallons, the following year it had increased to 1.049 gallons. I wonder how many g... 02/11/2018

Pierre Jean Robiquet was born Rennes, Kingdom of France back in 1780. I don’t have anything to add about his childhood or upbringing however, apparently he was a very smart man. The first article I can find about him was he worked as a pharmacist in the French armies during the French Revolution.He lectured in chemistry in 1811, the same year he was promoted to Deputy Professor in History. In 1814, he was promoted to a full professor and in 1824 he was Treasurer. In 1833, he was one of the founders and first President of the Societe del Prevoyance des Pharmaciens.What you may not know about Pierre is that he laid the founding work in identifying amino acids. In 1806, he isolated the first amino aide asparagine. In 1832, he was the first to discover codeine. All in all, he wrote 15 artic... 02/10/2018

Donna Belle was born in Denison, Iowa back in 1921 to William and Hazel. While she was attending Denison High School her chemistry teacher gave her a book that changed her life.  Now you may be asking yourself what book was that.  Well I’m so glad you did, maybe you’ve heard of the book before “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”Talk about a life changer, it vaulted her to get a lead in a school play, was voted Campus Queen and graduated in the top 10 of the 1938 class.She moved to California attending the Los Angeles City College.  While there she performed in various stage productions.  She had hoped to become a teacher however, she signed with MGM after she made it clear she was going to finish her education.  As they say the rest is history.Donna Belle Mullenger went on to win... 01/26/2018

Wilhelmina Frances Cahill was born in Sydney, Australia back in 1851 to James and Elizabeth.  She married Lancelot in 1872, moving with her husband who ran a cattle station west of Mackay, Queensland.  The family moved to Boonooroo in 1880 where they were the first European settlers in the area.In 1890, you could find her teaching swimming where she was the first female to do so in Central Queensland.  She taught more than 700 females the art of swimming.  Her husband died in 1899.  It was while she was living in the remote parts of Queensland she decided to start writing, thus the rest of the story.Wilhelmina Francis Rawson was the first female to write a cookbook in Australia, writing recipes and household hints for life in colonial Australia.  She died in 1933 at 81 in Sydney.  Until... 01/18/2018

David Ward was born in Springfield, Ohio back in 1857 to Robert and Harriet.  He attended public schools in Springfield and attended college at Wittenberg.  I could not find if he actually graduated. He moved to Maitland, Missouri and that is where the rest of the story begins. In 1878 his father Robert obtained 1,597acres there and he sent David to farm the land.  It was there David invented something that is still in use today, mind you a lot of modifications have been made to it.  David was an implacable warrior against alcoholic beverages, seen on his honeymoon David and his wife Lola attended a temperance convention.   In 1896, he first used his invention using a pump stock and an oak post, you'll need to read the last to see what that one was  He did patent his invention however, ... 12/26/2017

Cleveland Abbe was born in New York City back in 1838 to George and Charlotte.  From what I’ve read he excelled in mathematics and chemistry.  By 1858 he was teaching engineering at the University of Michigan, not bad for someone at 20.  Anyway we’ll move forward.   By 1860, he received another degree from City College.  When the Civil War started he tried to enlist but could not pass the eye exam as he suffered from myopia.  By 1864 he had his third degree.  In 1864 you could find him working at the United States Naval Observatory.  In 1868, he was working at the Cincinnati Observatory.   My word count is fast approaching as it would take there-four days to write about the accomplishments of Cleveland, so I’ll jump to the point. Cleveland developed a system of telegraphic weather repor... 12/24/2017

Charles Rumney was born in Crumpsall, Manchester back in 1883 to Charles and Margaret.  I have nothing else to write about his childhood, but in this post that is not important.In 1896 you could find him as a cadet aboard the HMS Britannia, by 1898 he had advanced in the ranks to midshipman.  He kept advancing through the ranks until 1906 when he was appointed Officer Commanding Torpedo Boat No. 81.  In 1910 he was transferred to the HMS Foresight as the ship’s First Lieutenant.In 1911, he was one of just four officers selected to receive training. After just 71 minutes he completed the program by 1912 he was promoted to Commander of the program. When WWI started he patrolled the countryside with two cars, nine men and one machine gun.  Okay what you may not know about Charles Rumeny Sa... 12/18/2017

John Looney was born circa 1782 however, the true date of his birth is unknown.  I searched and could not find who his parents were.  It is believed he was born in the NE corner of Alabama but even that is unknown.The first we learned of him is when he showed up during the Creek War from 1813-1814 serving as a Corporal as part of the Morgan’s Regiment under Andrew Jackson.  In 1815, he married Betsy moving to Arkansas and then into Oklahoma. He died in 1846 at the Fuller Hotel in Washington D.C.  What you may not know about John Looney is that he was a Native American Cherokee.  Exactly how he got his name is unknown, but he was the Chief of the Western Cherokee Nation. As such he helped negotiate a new Constitution for the Indian tribe in 1839.  Until tomorrow keep a smile on your face... 11/23/2017

Hattie Lawton was born circa 1837 however, there is no documentation as to where she was born.  There is also no documentation as to if that is her real date of birth, as it is just mere speculation.What I can tell you of course is the rest of the story, so let’s get to it.  You could find her working for a man by the name of Allen Pinkerton in 1860.  She was part of the Female Detective Bureau formed by Pinkerton that same year.  Her job was to “worm out secrets’ by means unavailable to male detectives.  Apparently, she was good at her job.In 1861 she was stationed in Perryville, Maryland where she was involved in the uncovering of an assassination plot against President elect Abraham Lincoln known as the Baltimore assassination plot.  Later that same year she was sent to Richmond, Vir... 11/09/2017