John Wesley was born in Hephzibah, Georgia back in 1864. In 1884, he attended Paine Institute, transferring to Brown University two years later. While at Brown he received a scholarship to attend the American School of Classics in Athens, Greece. He received an award for “excellence in Greek”. Receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1888 and in 1891 he received his master’s degree from Brown University. He returned to Augusta, Georgia teaching the Greek language and English at Paine College. In 1913, he was appointed president of Miles College. He died in 1923 at 59.What you may not know about John Wesley Gilbert is that he was the first African-American graduate of Paine College, the first African-American professor and the first African-American to receive a master’s degree from Brown Univ... 04/13/2018

Archibald was born in Kilsyth, Scotland back in 1814 to Robert and Margaret. In 1822, the family moved to Canada. When he turned 17 he built a gristmill, as was the common technology of the period the mill was built without nails. Wooden pins and mortises were used instead. He married Margaret in 1839. In 1845, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.By 1848, the family had settled in Salt Lake Valley. There in 1858 he completed his first mill for logging. All in all, he built 23 such mills in Utah. He claimed to mill the first logs ever in Salt Lake City. By then Archibald was a bishop with the LDS. He married 11 wives and fathered 48 children. He died in 1902 at 87. What you may not know about Archibald Gardner is that he was responsible for building 36 gr... 03/29/2018

Richard James Hart was born in Angri, Italy back in 1892. I don’t know when the family moved to the United States but, what I can tell you is the rest of the story. He left home at 16 and moved from Brooklyn to Nebraska. When World War I started he enlisted in the United States Army serving in France where he earned a commission as a lieutenant.After the war, he married and became a federal Probation agent in Homer, Nebraska. In 1926, he was a special agent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He was transferred to the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington where he was credited with the arrest of at least 20 wanted killers. Later he became a justice of the peace where he died in Homer, Nebraska in 1952 of a heart attack.What you may not know about Richard is that his birth name was James... 02/23/2018

Arthur Drumm was born in Marysville, Ohio back in 1929 to Francis and Evelyn.  When he was a youngster he worked on his father’s farm, graduated from Marysville High School in 1948 before joining the United States Marine Corp.   After his discharge, he returned to Marysville where he earned an apprenticeship in machinery.  In 1964, he started his own business receiving several patents for his inventions and improvements in the street sweeping industry.  By 1970, his business sold not only nationally but worldwide his inventions and improvements.  Some of his improvements and inventions were, sweeper brushes, rotary broom core assemblages, spiral brushes and brush bristle units.   His company was bought out by Dick Savage in 1985.  Shortly after the buy-out he started another company tha... 01/08/2018

Mary Wade was born circa 1777 at Southwark, London to George and Mary.  The family lived in poverty so you could find her sweeping the streets of London as a means of begging.  In 1788 Mary and a friend by the name of Jane Whiting stole some clothes from Mary Phillips, an 8 year old.  They sold most of the clothing to a pawnbroker, law officers found some of the clothing in her room and arrested her.  She was placed in Bridewell Prison where in 1789 she went to trial and was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.  Just two months later King George III commuted the sentences of all the women on death row.  She was transported to Australia, it took 11 months for the ship to make the voyage.  She was given her Certificate of Freedom in September 1817.  I do question this but it wa... 12/17/2017

Margaret Eloise was born in York, Maine back in 1838 to James and Hannah. When her father died the family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire. After receiving a basic education, she left school to work at a cotton mill.When she was 12 she witnessed an accident that resulted in a mill worker being killed by a steel-tipped shuttle. After a few weeks she invented a safety device that prevented this from happening in the future.Because of continuing health issues, she had to quit working at the mill. She held several jobs including home repair, photography and engraving. In 1867 she moved to Springfield, Massachusetts where she was hired by the Columbia Paper Bag Company. Thus, begins the rest of the story.She invented several items including lid removing pliers, a numbering machine, a windo... 10/29/2017

Helen Gahagan was born in Booton, New Jersey back in 1900 to Walter and Lillian. Following an argument with her father she was sent to the Capen School for Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts.In 1927, you could find her singing opera, touring Europe receiving critical praise. In1930, she married Melvyn however, she kept her maiden name. in 1935, had a starring role in the movie “She”. In 1938, she was in Vienna where she had coffee with a Nazi sympathizer. The experience sickened her that she immediately flew back to Los Angeles determined to strike out Nazism. However, what happened to her in 1944 will forever place her in the history books.Helen Gahagan Douglas was the first woman elected to the Congress from California. I’m sure it is lost to history however she also had an open love... 09/20/2017

Nathan Green was born circa 1820. His parents’ names have been lost to history however, in this case as is so many that really doesn’t matter. As the story goes sometime during the 1850’s you could find him working for a preacher, grocer and distiller named Dan Call.While the real story cannot be confirmed because back then it was by word of mouth he was taught well by Dan to be a distiller. Nathan was introduced to Jack when Jack was only 8 years old. Jack’s father told Nathan to teach Jack everything he could about being a distiller.So, it was Nathans goal in life to teach the young Jack everything he knew about the distilling process and so he did. For you see Nathan taught Jack how to distill and when Jack started his own distillery he brought Nathan with him. Now most of you have n... 08/31/2017

Thomas Davenport was born in Williamstown, Vermont back in 1802. He was by trade a blacksmith, but also an inventor.   In 1834, he invented something I know each one of you will recognize, more on that later.He got the idea when he visited an iron works plant in Crown Point, New York in 1833.  They were using a device which he bought one of them, took it apart to see how it worked and set about improving on the design.  Now let’s move on to the rest of the story.  the device he bought at Crown Point was an electromagnet. He received a patent in 1837 U.S. Patent No. 132 for his version of the electric motor.  He used the device to print The Electro-Magnetic and Mechanics Intelligencer which was the first newspaper printed using electricity.   He was also the first American who constructe... 07/29/2017

Marvin Lee was born in New York City back in 1927 to Henry and Fannie. He attended the Ethical Culture Fieldstone School and then the Phillips Academy. He served in the US Navy from 1944-45. In 1950, he received his B.A. in mathematics from Harvard and a PH.D. from Princeton in 1954.He worked at the MIT faculty from 1958 until his death in 2016 when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. Now you may be asking yourself who in the world is James writing about today. Well I’m writing about Marvin Lee Minsky. Name doesn’t ring a bell? That’s okay for now I’ll tell you the rest of the story. Here we go.He was the co-founder of MIT’s artificial intelligence laboratory. An author of several texts concerning AI and philosophy. Some of his inventions include the first head-mounted graphical display ... 04/21/2017

Ebenezer was born in Oxford, Massachusetts back in 1728 to Ebeneezer and Deborah. He lived most of his life in the area marring Jerusha in 1749. Together they had nine children. When he grandfather died in 1750 he inherited 200 acres building his home on that property.He was an active member of the local militia seeing battle in the French and Indian War. After the war, he ran a tavern and served as a town selectman for 25 years. When the American Revolutionary War started, he was in the neighboring town of Boston when he received the news of the Battle of Lexington. His regiment was adopted into the Continental Army in 1776. When the Siege of Boston had ended he was given command of the important Dorchester Heights position.In 1777 he was named brigadier general and saw action in the B... 04/05/2017

Bessica Faith was born in Beloit, Wisconsin back in 1875 to James and Elizabeth. She is written in the history book for a lot of reasons, some of which we will explore today.She was a musician, painter, linguist drove an automobile and wore bloomers. Back in those days it was a criminal offense but let’s move on. I have no information about her early childhood or education however, I can tell you she was a dentist, businesswoman and physician. She married Frank and lived in New Hampton New Hampshire before moving to Mineola, New York which is where we learn the rest of the story. it all started out in their living room and as finished in their yard. It was constructed out of bamboo and silk. For you see I’m writing about Bessica Faith Medlar however, you may know her better as Bessie Ra... 04/01/2017

Timothy was born in Worcester, Massachusetts to Daniel and Elizabeth back in 1739. Growing up on a farm his father owned known as “Little Packachoag Hill”. He was taught to be a blacksmith and was self-educated accumulating a little library.   When the winds of the Revolution came, it inspired young Timothy to forego the anvil for a musket.He eloped with Anna to Hampton returning as husband and wife, they had six children. He became one of the Patriot leaders in Worcester and a chief promoter of the Sons of Liberty. He was also involved in the American Political Society and a member of the Committee of Correspondence and in his spare time he became a delegate to the Provincial Congress. He was involved in the spy ring just prior to the Battle of Lexington and Concord.He was chosen as th... 02/11/2017

Fanny Jackson Coppin was born in Washington, D.C. back in 1837. At the age of 12 her aunt purchased her freedom and she spent the rest of her youth working for author George Henry Calvert. In 1860 she enrolled at Oberlin College in Ohio where in 1865 she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree.In 1881 she married Levi taking a trip to South Africa where she was involved in a variety of missionary work where she founded the Bethel Institute. Due to failing health she returned to Philadelphia where she died in 1913, she as 75. Now for the rest of the story.During her years at Oberlin College she taught evening courses for free African-Americans in reading and writing. In 1865 she served as the principal of the Ladies Department where she taught Greek, Latin and Mathematics. In 1869 she was app... 01/21/2017

Walter as born in Warragul, Victoria, Australia back in 1889. Sorry I do not have any information about his parents however, what I can tell you is the rest of the story. He apprenticed with a German immigrant, more on that later. He married Elsie in 1913, they had four daughters one dying in infancy.He took the pledge of the Independent Order of Rechabites in Melbourne effusing to enter public houses even for meals. Getting back to his apprenticeship in the mid 1930’s his business was so successful he moved to a more upmarket premise on Queen Street. He died in Frankston, Victoria Australia in 1967 at 78.You may be asking yourself who the heck is James writing about today. Well I’m so glad you’re thinking that for you see I’m writing about Walter Langcake. Now you may also be asking yo... 01/14/2017

Cave Beck was born in in London, England ack in 1623.  Educated at a private school and then on to St. John’s College, Cambridge earning a B.A. in 1641 and a M.A. in 1643.He was headmaster of Ipswich School from 1650-1657.  He went on to be rector of St. Helen’s and curate of St. Margaret in Ipswich.  Sadly, there is no information of his death however, records show that he was alive and doing well in 1697.So, you may be asking yourself what the heck is James writing about this obscure person for?  Well I’m a little touched for sure however, here is the rest of the story.  you see he wrote a book called “the Universal Character” published around 1657, it sought to invent a universal language that could be understood and used by anyone in the world, no matter of their native tongue.  The... 12/31/2016

Wallace Hume Carothers was born in Burlington, Iowa back in 1896 to Ira & Mary. He attended the public school system in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1915 he entered Tarkio College in Missouri, his major was in English however, he switched to chemistry. He was so good that before he graduated he was made a chemistry instructor. He graduated in 1920 with a bachelor of science moving on to the University of Illinois for his master of arts degree. In 1924 he received in Ph.D., moving to Harvard University being an instructor in organic chemistry.He left academia where he was paid 267.00 per month to work for DuPont where he was paid 500.00 per month. He experienced depression so much that he kept a cyanide capsule attached to his watch chain. He hated public speaking however, it was part of the job... 10/15/2016

Let’s go exploringMarcel Ravidat back in 1940 near Dordogne, France decided to go exploring along the countryside. What he found will have him forever to be written down in the history books, more on that shortly.After the discovery he returned with three friends acquis Marsal, Georges Agnel and Simon Coencas to show them what he had discovered. What he discovered has been described as the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistory”. What he discovered was the Lascaus cave. It is filled with prehistoric art including horses, bulls, deer, ibex, cats a rhinoceros and the legendary unicorn. Put there (according to scientists) to be around 17,300 years old during the Paleolithic time. It was open to the public in 1948 averaging 1.200 people per day visiting the cave. It was closed in 1963 to preserve th... 09/15/2016

McDonalds saved the day.I started traveling Monday July 25th with my bride. We’ve seen some amazing country and I am one tired puppy now. However, what I have found is for the most part all the people we’ve encountered have been pleasant and easy to get along with.So why the title to my blog today. Well we stayed at a local motel last night and the internet service as let’s say lacking a lot. When I called the front desk I guess I got the canned reply. Try to reboot it (internet service) is sometimes iffy. Now on the other hand the internet service cost me another $2.99. not that for the price of the room I’m complaining however when I buy something I fully expect it to work. Sadly, at 04:42 this morning (local time) my butt is setting in a McDonalds where they actually have internet se... 07/28/2016

  I like being “redd” it makes things go easier.   Being redd sure makes things go easier and I know that for a fact.  Now I knew of when I was not redd and things went downhill in a hurry.   Origin shows North England and Scottish so it’s been around for awhile.  I will be redd in 2012 will you?  The meaning of (red) is to put in order, make tidy.  If all your contracts addendums and other paperwork are in order there will be no problems at the closing table.  Now what say you? 01/13/2012