Martha Wright was born in Pierce City, Missouri back in 1912. After attending public schools, she went on to the University of Missouri earning B.A. continuing her education, she graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1940.After graduation, she worked in private practice, for the American Automobile Insurance Company and as Ordnance District contract negotiator. She was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. In 1954, she was elected as a Democrat from Michigan’s 17th congressional district.What you may not know about Martha Wright Griffiths is that she was the first woman to serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the first woman elected to the United States Congress from Michigan. She was “instrumental” in including the prohibition of sex discrimi... 07/26/2017

Daniel Baird was born in Worcester, Massachusetts back in 1825 to Rufus and Betsey. His father was a farmer and manufactured wooden plows. Daniel worked on the farm, attending public schools until he was 18.When he turned 18 he started working with his brother Edwin as an apprentice. Of course, that is the beginning, of the rest of the story. He married Cynthia in 1847. Her father objected so the coupe eloped, they had 4 children 3 boys and 1 girl. In 1854, he partnered with Horace and Courtland to develop a lever pistol and the first repeating rifle.In 1856, they produced a small revolver using the new Rimfire cartridge patented in 1854. In 1865, Horace retired and sold his shares to Daniel making him the sole owner of the company. You may not know who Daniel Baird Wesson is or Horace ... 07/13/2017

Powell Weaver was born in White County, Tennessee back in 1797. He started working for the Hudson Bay Company as a young man. In 1830, he travelled to the Rocky Mountains on a trapping expedition. That adventure took him to Taos, New Mexico which he used as a base for this trapping and trading.Among the Taco people his name was changed to the more-familiar Spanish speaker as Paulino which was changed again by English speakers to Pauline. He settled ear Banning, California in 1845, living there for more than ten years. In 1846, he was recruited to be a scout for the Mormon Battalion serving the military off-and-on for the next 20 years as a scout and intermediary between the Army and Indian tribes.In 1862, Native Americans showed him where gold could be found near La Paz, Arizona. Just a... 07/11/2017

Crispus Attucks was born in Framingham, Massachusetts back in circa 1723. Speculation is that his father was Prince Younger, his mother was Nanny Peterattucks however, it is just that mere speculation. Over the decades historians have argued whether he was a Native American slave, freeman, merchant seaman or dockworker. Regardless what happened to him will forever place him in the history books.Eyewitnesses testimony did not refer to him as “black” nor as a “Negro”, the Bostonians simply viewed him as being of mixed ethnicity. For you see on March 5, 1770 he happened to be in Boston, Massachusetts when the infamous “Boston Massacre” happened. What is written about him is that he was the first American killed in the American Revolution.His body was carried to Faneuil Hall, where it lay i... 07/06/2017

Edwin Holmes was born in West Boylston, Massachusetts back in 1820 to Thomas and Sally.   He started in business selling household items and entrepreneur. In 1853, he applied and received a patent for something that had never been thought of before, which of course is the rest of the story.Initially people were skeptical about using his invention as his business at first did not go over well. In order to improve his business, he packed up and moved to New York in 1859 in search of a bigger market. He targeted businesses instead of homes. By 1866 there were some 1,200 devices installed in businesses. In 1877, he established the first network of the devices monitored by a central location.Inn 1878, he became the president of the newly established Bell Phone Company. He found out he could ... 06/28/2017

Lawrence Joshua was born in Brewer, Maine back in 1828 to Joshua and Sarah. He was very involved in his church, singing in the choir. Entering Bowdoin College in 1848 he learned to red ancient Greek and Latin. While he suffered from a speech impediment he graduated in 1852.Apparently, the speech impediment left him as he continued his education at Bangor Theological Seminary I Bangor, Maine. Upon his graduation, he began his career as a professor of rhetoric also going on to teach every subject in the curriculum expect science and math.When the Civil War started he enlisted in the 20th Maine Regiment with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Fighting in the Battle of Frederiksberg and the Battle of Chancellorsville afterwards he was promoted to full colonel in 1863. It was not until the Batt... 06/21/2017

Emilia Plater was born in Vilnius, Russian Empire back in 1806 to Franciszek and Anna. Her parents divorced when she was 9. She moved in with some relatives who provided her with a well-rounded education.In 1823, one of her cousins was forcibly conscripted into the Imperial Russian Army, thus it galvanized her pro-Polish and anti-Russian attitude. After the November Uprising she became a vocal supporter of the anti-Tsarist sentiments. She was one of only around a dozen females to join the Uprising.She cut her hair, donned a uniform organized a group of around 280 infantry, 60 cavalry and several peasants. She joined forces with Karol Zaluski fighting at the battle of Prastavonial and several others. She was placed in command of the 1st company of the Polish-Lithuanian 25th Infantry Regi... 06/20/2017

This one is going to be short compared to my normal blogs. Joseph Buford was an inventor and wealthy business man. Reaching only the fifth grade I do not know if he even completed it. I have no data as to his place of birth, parents or which school he attended. What I can tell you of course is the rest of the story.Where he got the idea was from the C-shaped jaws of the larva of the timber beetle. You see he invented what is now knows as the chipped type chain for chain saws. He and his wife founded “The Oregon Saw Chain Co. in 1947 most all chainsaws except for some Stihl saws use his invention to this day. Almost forgot I’m writing about Joseph Buford Cox. Not bad at all considering his education. Until tomorrow keep a smile on your face and a penny in your pocket. 05/30/2017

Polly Baca was born in Weld County, Colorado back in 1941 to Jose and Leda.  When she was 3 the family moved to Greeley, Colorado.  She graduated from the Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.She joined the “Young Democrats” of the university as a volunteer for congressional campaigns.  After graduation, she worked as an editorial assistant for a trade union newspaper in Washington, DC. In 1962, she worked for the Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks.  In 1967, she was recruited to work for President Lyndon Johnson as a public information officer for a White House Interagency Committee.She became an assistant to the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.  She moved back to Colorado where in 1974 she won Colorado’s 34th district seat in the ... 05/08/2017

The year was 1360 during the Hundred Year’s War. King Edward III of England led his army of 10,000 men to the gates of Paris. There were many noblemen who was also there. They were met by the defenders of Paris led by Dauphine of France. The English could not breach the defenses, so after a week they left for the City of Chartres leaving a waste to the countryside.It was Easter Monday on April 13th, when the English arrived at Chartres. The English began to lay siege to the town but the French held. That night, the English made camp close to the city to plan for the next day’s battle. A storm materialized during the night, lightning killed several people, then came the hail with dropping temperatures.All in all, about 1,000 troops and 6,000 horses died during the storm. Edward was convi... 04/14/2017

Sandor was born in Sklabina, Slovakia back in 1879. His family emigrated to Chicago when he was five. As a young man, he was an amateur boxer fighting under the name of “Dan Donnelly”.   He won several amateur championships at the Chicago Athletic Association.His first real job was selling newspapers, eventually he became a reporter for the Chicago Morning News. In 1904, at the suggestion of a friend he began selling cars, although he couldn’t drive. And as they say the rest is history. He had an epiphany due to all the trade-ins for newer models. So, he founded the Yellow Cab Company in Chicago in 1915. The distinctive yellow cabs became popular, which he franchised throughout the United States.BTW Sandor Herz changed his name to John D. Hertz. Not only did he start the Yellow Cab Comp... 04/12/2017

Frances was born in Bedfordshire, England back in 1609/10 (no record of exactly when) to Lewis and Elizabeth. I don’t know her upbringing, schools she attended or much of anything else except for the rest of the story. Anyway, she married William with whom she had four children. William died at an early age and she soon married Jeremy. They left for American settling in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. With Jeremy, she had seven children. Are you keeping count?Jeremy became President of the colony for a year however, he also died when all of his children were still minors. So, what was Frances to do but marry another guy by the name of William (different William of course). She died in 1677 and was buried in the Common Burying Ground in Newport. Her headstone reads: “Here Lyeth ye Body of Mrs.... 03/20/2017

Today I’m writing about Paddy. I can’t tell you the whole story as it would take a week’s posting due to my word limit. He was born in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland back in 1915. Attending Regent House Grammar School and then off to Queen’s University at Belfast where he studied law.Just prior to the outbreak of WWII he joined the Supplementary Reserve in Newtownards assigned to the Light Anti-Aircraft Battery. Following Churchill’s call, he volunteered and was commissioned as a lieutenant with the 11th Commando unit see action during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.Because of his leadership during that campaign he caught the attention of Captain David Stirling however, he was under arrest for striking a superior officer. His release was secured and he became an early member of a force t... 03/07/2017

Melvin Earl was born in Daleville, Indiana back in 1923 to Owen and Blanche. Graduating from Anderson High School in nearby Anderson, Indiana he went to work for Delco Remy until being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943.He served in Europe as a private first class in Company B of the 1st Battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge near Soy, Belgium. He was sent on a reconnoiter mission killing three German snipers and silenced four machine gun emplacements. Just a week later he was wounded in the neck by shrapnel. I’m writing about Melvin Earl “Bud” Biddle.He died in 2010 at 87 on the 66th anniversary of the start of the battle in which he was awarded his medals. He is buried in Anderson’s Memorial Park Cemetery. For his actions, he received the Me... 02/14/2017

He was born in Oildale, California back in 1937 to James and Flossie. His father died of a brain hemorrhage in 1945 which affected him during his childhood and for the rest of his life. To help him cope with the loss his brother gave him his used guitar. He committed several criminal offenses like theft and writing bad checks. When he was 14 he ran away hitching rides on freight trains and hitchhiking to Texas with a friend. He returned the same year where he was arrested for robbery. After his release, he worked at several odd jobs, driving a potato truck, short order cook and a hay pitcher to name a few.In 1957 he tried to rob a Bakersfield roadhouse and sent to Bakersfield jail, he tried to escape at which time he was sent to San Quentin Prison in 1958. While in prison he learned, hi... 01/03/2017

Thomas Ward was born in New Rumley, Ohio back in 1845 to Emanuel and Marie.  In 1861 he enlisted in the Union Army at 16 serving in the early campaigns of the Civil War as a private in the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry.He saw action at numerous battles including Stones River, Missionary Ridge and during the Atlanta Campaign.  He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in Company B of the 6th Michigan Calvary.  T 20 he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel.  Some more campaigns he was involved in which he will forever be in the history books for are for his actions during the Battle of Namozine Church and the Battle of Sailor’s Creek.  For his actions, he is noted for being a two-time recipient of the Medal of Honor.This places him as the first soldier to receive the dual honor, bei... 12/24/2016

Francis William was born in Harborne, Birmingham, England back in 1877 to William and Fanny. Educated at Harborne Vicarage School and Malvern College. From 1896 he researched organic chemistry in a private laboratory at his father’s house.His interest to fermentation chemistry and he worked for the W. Butler & Co. Brewery from 1900-03 when he returned to the University of Birmingham as an Associate. He received a scholarship and as such continued research with the discovery of X-rays and radioactivity. A never-ending longing for knowledge kept him active as with the invention of motorized vehicles he built a combustion engine of his own in 1902. Just to give you an example of how talented this man was he was involved in cross-country skiing, skating, cycling, swimming, golf (my favorite... 12/08/2016

Franklin Flint Thompson was born in Moncton, Colony of New Brunswick, British Canada back in 1841. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the 2nd Michigan Infantry volunteering in Flint, Michigan. Serving as a field nurse campaigns under the command of General McClellan that included the First and Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, the Peninsula Campaign and Vicksburg to name a few.A friend of his James Vesey was killed in an ambush so he took the open spot to avenge his friend’s death. He took this time to work as a spy disguises. He would use silver nitrate to dye his skin black and wearing a wig he would walk into the Confederacy disguised as a black man by the name of Cuff. After the war, he received an honorable discharge. In 1896 he received a government pension of $12.00 per mont... 11/27/2016

First time ever I got the telemarketer to hang up on me. "Hello, this is Jack calling about a problem you're having with your computer." "Okay", I answer. And Jack wants to know if I'm the owner of the computer in our house. "No", I say. "Then I'd like to speak with the owner." Again I tell him no. "Why not", Jack is persistent. I continue to repeat no to anything he asks me. "Why do you continue to say no when you don't even know what I want?" I broke into a loud crazy laugh and told him, "You're crazy, Jack. You can't talk to her because she's dead. I KILLED HER!" To which Jack answered, "You're the crazy one!" And in a hushed whisper I say, "Jack, you're right." Jack hung up on me. I'm quite sure another Jack will call me again tomorrow from another number in another country but just... 11/17/2016

Mary Frances was born in Dry Ridge, Kentucky back in 1931 to William and Sarah. Because of her boundless energy her grandfather gave her a nickname (more on that later). The family moved to Erlanger, Kentucky in 1947 where Mary met Betty Jack at Dixie Heights High School.They sang together at Decoursey Baptist Church and later Detroit radio station WJR. In 1953 one of their songs make number 1 and spent 8 weeks on the country charts. In 1953 Mary and Betty were involved in a major car accident. The crask killed Betty. Betty’s sister Georgia took bettys place and they continued to record until in 1956 Mary decided to retire and get married thus ending the duet. She returned to music in 1958 and as they say the rest is history. So, for you music lovers of that time period I’m sure you’ve ... 10/31/2016