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Rogers, AR Real Estate News

By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William Barton was born in Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania back in 1754 to Thomas and Esther. He grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with the outbreak of the American War of Independence he went to England to study heraldry. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1779 where he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In 1787, William was elected to Benjamin Franklin’s American Philosophical Society. By 1800, William had moved back to Lancaster. In 1813, he published Memoirs of the life of David Rittenhouse. He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1814. He died in Lancaster in 1817.What you may not know about William is that not only was he a lawyer and scholar he along with Charles Thompson, designed the Great Seal of the United States. ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Barnes Neville was born in Ripley, Derbyshire back in 1887 to Charles and Edith. Attending school first at Christ’s Hospital and then at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ Grammar School. He left at 17 to start working at Thames Engineering Works then to J. Samuel White’s shipbuilders on the Isle of Wright. He graduated from the University of London External Program in 1922, with a degree in engineering. He was the first to use a geodesic design airframe (look that one up). With the outbreak of WWII, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service. It was during WWII where he left his mark in the history books, more on why in a moment.After the war, he worked for the Vickers-Armstrongs Research & Development Department working on futuristic aerospace projects. One of them the “Swallow” looks like one of ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
John H. Balsley was born in Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania back in 1823 to George and Sarah. His father was a carpenter by trade, so it was only right that he followed in his father’s footsteps, which of course he did. In the borough of Connellsville in 1825, a new borough office was created: Keeper of Ladders. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know. In any respect that title does not appear after 1831, due to a gap in records from 1835-1856. Anyway, back to my story for today. Although stepladders had been in use for many years what he did was to replace the round rungs with flat steps. He also invented a practical folding wooden stepladder. He received the first U.S. patent issued for a safety stepladder. He also invented the first adjustable table leg. Until tomorrow give someon...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Earl Elmer was born in Columbia Heights, Minnesota back in 1924. He was a self-described “nerd”. Being self-described as such he invented a rudimentary electroshock weapon while in school to fend off bullies. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1948 for the University of Minnesota Graduate School. In 1949, he formed his company on a 9-acre estate in Hawaii. That company is still in operation to this day. One of his inventions has saved countless lives, with more to come. It all started when Dr. C. Walton Lillehei operated on a child with blue baby syndrome. The hospital experienced a power blackout which the child died as a result of the blackout.What you may not know about Earl Elmer Bakken is that he invented the first external, battery-operated, transistorize...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Clara Gregory Baer was born in Algiers, Louisiana back in 1863 to Hamilton and Ellen. She graduated from high school in Louisville, Kentucky, enrolling at the Emerson School of Oratory, the Boston School of Expression and the Posse Normal School of Physical Education in Boston. After graduation, she was employed by the Southern Athletic Club to teach gymnastics to women.Not content with that she reached out to Newcomb College, now a part of Tulane University. She was hired on a trial basis for a physical education teacher, that position was made permanent where she stayed and completed a 38-year career.What you may not know about Clara is that she started the first teacher certification program in the South, as well as the first four-year degree program in physical education. She was al...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Francis William was born in Harborne, England back in 1877 to William and Fanny. After finishing high school at Harborne Vicarage he enrolled in Mason College. He received a scholarship to the University of Birmingham, graduating in 1910 with a Bachelor’s in Applied/Pure Science and a Doctorate in 1914.He started researching something, but due to the outbreak of WWI, it was delayed until 1919. On a private side he was a sportsman, cross-country skier and during the season an ice-skater. He was a very good piano, violin and cello player. He never married, except for his work. He was also a skilled photographer and astronomer.What you may not know about Francis William Aston is that he invented the mass spectrograph winning the 1922 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was a fellow of the Royal S...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Emik Avakian was born in Tabriz, Persia back in 1924. He was born with a severe case of cerebral palsy however this did not affect his cognitive abilities. The family moved several times seeking medical assistance for him. They finally settled in New York City where he became a naturalized citizen.Although he suffered from palsy he graduated Magna Cum Laude in physics and mathematics from Eureka College before continuing his education at Columbia University. After graduation he moved to Chicopee, Massachusetts where he remained for the rest of his life.   He died there in 2013.What you may not know about Emik is that because of his disability he invented a series of inventions. One of them was a typewriter that would produce a letter from breath rather than typing. It used four micropho...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Blanche Ames was born in Lowell, Massachusetts back in 1878 to Adelbert and Blanche.  She attended the Rogers Hall School in Lowell.  She earned a B.A. in Art History from Smith College in 1899.  In 1900, she married Oakes Ames (no relation) so she was then Blanche Ames Ames, I found that interesting.  Anyway, apparently, she was a talented artist as most of her paintings are now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harvard, Dartmouth and Columbia University.  In 902, she began illustrating Oakes Ames’s botanical publications, including his seven-volume treatise on orchids, which is still considered one the best researched to this day.  What you may not know about Blanche is that she held several patents, one of which was a hexagonal lumber cutter, another was a method for entr...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Juana Navarro was born in San Antonio de Bexar. While her exact birthdate is not known she was baptized on December 28, 1812. Her mother died in 1831, she was adopted by her cousin Ursula. In 1832, she married Alejo who was a relative of the family which had founded Victoria, Texas.She was at the Alamo when Santa Anna arrived to lay siege to the mission. Following the second day of the siege William Travis sent her to Santa Anna’s headquarters to negotiate an honorable surrender for the Alamo defenders. She returned to the Alamo giving Travis the news of their talks. The next day Santa Anna’s forces overwhelmed the defenders sparing seven women and seven children. In 1857, she was granted a pension for her services before and during the siege. She died in 1888. What you may not know abo...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Samuel Alderson was born in Cleveland, Ohio back in 1914, shortly after his birth the family moved to southern California. Apparently, he was a bright young man as he graduated from high school at 15. He continued his education at the University of California, Berkeley but he did not complete his doctoral dissertation.During WWII, he helped develop an optical coasting to improve the vision of submarine periscopes. He died at his Marina Del Rey, California in2005.What you may not know about Samuel is that he is best known for his development of the crash test dummy, toenail clippers, the cardboard box and the death-metal banjo. One last thing, he also built dummies to test the Apollo nose cone’s water landing capability.Until tomorrow give someone the free gift of a smile.
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William Adams was born in Gillingham, Kent, England back in 1564. His father died when he was young so he went to work at a shipyard. He spent twelve years learning shipbuilding, astronomy and navigation before joining the Royal Navy.He served under Sir Francis Drake seeing battle with the Spanish Armade in 1588 as master of the Richarde Dyffyde, a resupply ship. After the war, he became a pilot for the Barbary Company. In 1598, he set sail for the west coast of South America. In 1600, after 19 months at sea he arrived at the island of Kyusho, Japan. He helped the Japanese construct the Western-style ships. He died in Japan at 55.What you may not know about William is that he was the first of his nation to reach Japan. After settling in Japan, he was the first ever Western samurai. He i...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William Bridges was born in Woore, Shropshire, England.  As a young man, he apprenticed to the coach making firm of Baxter & Pierce of Long Acre, London.  Napoleon’s travelling carriage was brought there, after the Battle of Waterloo, where the young William made a drawing of it.  In 1819, he married Elizabeth the family moved to Valparaiso, Chile to seek their fortune.He found employment as a manager of Lord Cochrane’s estate.  In 1823, Elizabeth died giving birth to their second child, the child died also.  With their first son in tow he moved back to England working for Hobson & Co. as a coach maker.  It was then when he found his true calling.What you may not know about William Bridges Adams is that he patented an improved carriage spring.  With that invention, he was financially se...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Soren Sorensen was born in Midtjylland, Denmark back in 1879 to Hans and Sofia. When he was two the family moved to the United States to Perth Amboy, New Jersey. In 1904, he was working for a dye company. One of their products had an effect on people (more on that in a moment). He was able to isolate that product and opened his own company in Plainfield, New Jersey.Within a few years he was able to expand his empire. In 1928, he invented a prototype of something we can still find today. The invention was patented in 1932 during the Great Depression, however his company thrived. He died in Asbury Park, New Jersey in 1963, at 84.What you may not know about Soren Sorensen Adams is that the product he was able to isolate was a powder that caused people to sneeze. It was produced as the Cach...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Robert Henry was born in Bronx, New York back in 1922. He attended the Fordham Preparatory School graduating in 1939. He studied mechanical engineering at Villanova University prior to the outbreak of World War II. He served in the United States Army, after the war he worked at a machine shop before opening up his own company in 1949.In 1956 he married Josephine, the union produced two children. He contributed generously to the Catholic charities. In 1971, he was given the Order of Malta and the Order of the Holy Sepulcher. He died in 2003 from lung cancer, he was 81.What you may not know about Robert Henry Abplanalp is that he invented the currently used aerosol spray valve. He was the founder of Precision Valve Corporation which he started in 1949. By 1950 his corporation had sold som...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Frank Jr., was born in Bronxville, New York back in 1948 to Frank Sr., and Paulette. He obtained his primary education at a Catholic School. At the age of 15 his father gave him a gas card. He used that card to purchase tires, batteries and other related items only to return them to get the cash needed for dates. The total bill came to around 3.400.00.This guy was great, he devised a plan in which he magnetically printed his account number on bank deposit slips slipping them into stacks of real bank deposit slips. When a customer filled out one the money would be deposited to his account instead of the customers. Another one of his adventures was to pose as a doctor at a Georgia hospital under an alias. One other thing he also forged a Harvard University law transcript, passed the Louis...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Thomas Young was born in Little Britain, New York back in 1731 to John and Mary. He apprenticed to a local physician afterwards he began his own medical practice in Amenia, New York in 1753. He met a younger Ethan Allen teaching him a great deal about philosophy and political theories. He moved to Albany, New York in 1764, where he helped found the Sons of Liberty. In 1765, he moved again to Boston where he became a family physician to John Adams. He helped organize the Boston Tea Party, although he didn’t actively participate. In 1775, he moved to Philadelphia helping frame the state constitution.What you may not know about Thomas is that he helped frame a new name for the state of New Connecticut. He decided he would name it for the Green Mountains by using a combination of the words ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Hidetsugu Yagi was born in Osaka, Empire of Japan back in 1886.  He graduated from the Tokyo Imperial University, Faculty of Sciences in 1909.  He studied in Germany, England and the United States.  In 1919, he became a professor at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, where in the same year he attained the title of Doctor of Engineering.  He continued research on one subject for the remained of his life.  In 1926, he received patent rights to an invention that is still in use to this day.  he died in 1976 at 89.  On April 18, 1985, the Japan Patent Office selected him as one of the Ten Japanese Great Inventors.  Now, you may be asking yourself what did he invent?  Well I’m so glad you did for you see he invented an antenna used to capture short waves or ultra-short waves, what we now c...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Alfred Bitini was born in Manzana Village, Transkei back in 1893. He was a follower of Nelson Mandela who in 1944 visited his home in Sophiatown to help draft a new constitution. He was president-general of the African National Congress from 1940 to 1949. He died in 1962, his home currently serves as the Sophiatown Heritage and Cultural Centre. What you may not know about Alfred Bitini Xuma is that he was the first black South African to become a medical doctor. I know this one is short but sometimes you have to roll with the punches.Until tomorrow give someone the free gift of a smile.  
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Angus Gilchrist Jr., was born in Kaufman County, Texas back in 1914 to Angus Sr., and Nemo. He attended Highland Park High School, graduating in 1931. He received his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1938.   From 1938-40 he worked in the Texas oil fields. In 1940, he joined the Navy, being awarded six service stars for his service in the European and Asiatic theaters.Shortly after the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California Angus visited the theme park. He was involved in the civic development work for the University of Texas, Baylor University Medical Center and the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. He also worked with the State Fair of Texas and the National Conference of Christians and Jews.What you may not know about Angus Gilchrist Wynne is that he was the fou...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Momofuku Ando was born in Taiwan, Empire of Japan back in 1910. Raised by his grandparents, following the death of his parents. His grandparents owned a textile store and that the age of 22 he started his own. In 1933, he went to Osaka to study economics at Ritsumeikan University.After WWII ended he decided to remain a Japanese subject instead of a citizen of the Republic of China. In 1948, he was convicted of tax evasion serving two years in jail. In 1958, after many trials and errors he discovered something that forever changed his life and many others, more on that in a moment. In 1971, at 61 he had an epiphany that again made him a wealthy man. He died in 2007 at a ripe old age of 96.What you may not know about Momofuku is that he founded Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd. He is known a...
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