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Gentry, AR Real Estate News

By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Thomas Tassell Grant was born in Portsea, Portsmouth, England back in 1795.  This one is going to be short, so hang on.  In 1829, he invented a steam-powered machine for making biscuits aboard ships in a hexagon shape saving a lot of waste over the conventional round ones.   For his invention, he was given a 2,000-pound grant by parliament. He also received a medal from King Louis Philippe as well as a gold medal from the Society of Arts, London.  However, in 1834 he invented a desalination plant that distilled fresh water at sea which advanced the sanitary and moral condition of the navy.  The first one was installed on the HMS Wye, it produced 10,000 gallons a day during the Crimean War. For that invention, he was knighted by Queen Victoria.  He died in 1859 from cancer.Your day is wo...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek was born in Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire back in 1908 to Jerzy and Stefania. When WWII started she made her way to London where she tried to work the Secret Intelligence Services for the British.  If I wrote about her adventures I could write about her for several days.What I can tell you is that she was finally accepted into the Special Operations Executive Branch (SOE) in 1940.  Her code name was Christine Granville. She worked in occupied Poland and France during the war. What you may not know about Maria is that she was the first female agent of the British to serve in the field and the longest-serving of all Britain’s wartime agents, which prompted the decision to recruit more women.  She became a naturalized Britain in 1946.  Sadly, she was...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Joseph Abraham Gottlieb was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York, back in 1918 to Jacob and Anna.  The family moved to South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when he was young.  He was drafted into the United States Army during WWII stationed in Fort Sam Houston in Texas.After being discharged he worked as a stand-up comedian. He could be seen on the Ed Sullivan Show (showing my age, but I do remember seeing him on stage).  He guest-hosted The Tonight Show for Jack Paar.  He stared in situation comedy series with his own show from 1961 to 1965.  He married Sylvia Ruzga in 1941, they were married for 58 years until her death in 1999 from lung cancer.  He died in 2007, he was 89.While you may not recognize the name, surely (if you’re old enough) you surely know him by his stage name of Jo...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Frank John Gorshin Jr., was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania back in 1933 to Frank Sr., and Frances.  He graduated from Peabody High School then attending the Carnegie Tech School of Drama.  When he was not studying he worked in the local nightclubs.  In 1953, he was drafted into the United States Army being posted in Germany as an entertainer for the Special Services division.After being discharged he had a long career in films, television and nightclubs.  He would smoke on an average 5 packs of cigarettes a day.  people were warned before entering the nightclubs about his smoking.  His last performance was in Memphis, Tennessee in 2005.  On his way, back to Los Angeles he had difficulty breathing.  When the plane landed he was taken to the hospital where he died the next day from lung...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Orville Harrison was born in Chateauguay, New York back in 1856.  I do not have any information about him until 1894 where he lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  He had no formal training but decided to start making mandolins in 1898.  He created a new style of the mandolin and guitar that actually followed the violin design.  He was granted a patent for that design.He started a business making them full-time in 1902.  In 1908, he was paid a salary of $500.00 per month.  He was in and out of the hospital from 1907 and 1911. Sadly, he was hospitalized again in 1916, and died in August of that year, he was 62.That company he started in 1902 was the Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Mfg. Co. Ltd.  Now if you haven’t figured it out I’m writing about Orville Harrison Gibson.  Some of his guitars bring a lot...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William Gascoigne was born in Middleton, Leeds back in 1612 to Henry and Margaret Jane.  Nothing is known about his early childhood, however he claimed to be educated at the University of Oxford, although no record of him attending has been found.In 1642, civil war broke out in England, William was commissioned as Provider for Yorkshire in the Army of King Charles I. William died in the Battle of Marston Moor, Yorkshire in 1644.What you may not know about William is that he was also an inventor.  He invented the first micrometer and the Telescopic sight.  Are you ready for this?  By placing the telescope on a sextant, he was able to measure the size of the Moon or other planets to a great deal of accuracy.  He realized that by introducing two points, whose separation could be adjusted u...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
James Bert Garner was born back in 1870. He graduated from Wabash College in 1893 with a Bachelor of Science degree, in 1895 he graduated with a Master of Science. After graduation, he taught at the University of Chicago. In 1897, he received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry.He then served as the head of the Chemistry Department at Wabash College for 14 years. He worked as a chemical engineer and professor at the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research from 1914 until his retirement in 1957. He died in 1960, he was 90.What you may not know about James is that in 1915, he invented the gas mask, that saved countless lives. He held many patents including one that extracted nicotine from tobacco and obtaining gasoline from natural gas.Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so gi...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Marcario García was born in Villa de Castanos, Mexico back in 1920. In 1924, the family moved to the United States living in Sugar Land, Texas. He worked as a cotton farmer. When WWII started he joined the United States Army, assigned to Company B, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division.On November 27, 1944, he was acting squad leader where his platoon was engaged with German troops near Grosshau, Germany. The platoon was pinned down my enemy machine gun fire. Despite being wounded he engage two enemy emplacements destroying them and capturing four prisoners. What you may not know about Marcario is that he was the first Mexican immigrant to receive the Medal of Honor. President Harry Truman bestowed that honor to him. After the war, he worked for twenty-five years as a counselor ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Ari Fuji was born near the United States Air Force base in Yokota, Japan. She graduated from the Toho Gakuen Girl’s High School before attending Rikkyo University where she studied law. After graduation, she moved to the United States to obtain her aviator’s license. Returning to Japan she was hired as a trainee in 1999. She was licensed as a first officer in 2000. What you may not know about Ari is that she was the first female pilot in command and the first female flight instructor in Japan. As of 2015 she is the only woman in Japan to be a PIA (pilot in command) of a commercial aircraft. Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Charles Fritts was born in the United States back in 1850, to who is a mystery. His education cannot be found or much of anything about his early upbringing. What I can tell you of course is the rest of the story, so let’s get to it. Talk about short this is it.Charles is credited for making the first working Selenium Cell, or solar panel back in 1883. It was installed on a New York City rooftop back in 1884. The only other thing I could find out about him is that he died in 1903, he was 53.Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
John Ripley Freeman was born in West Bridgton, Maine back in 1855. He attended the country school in his home town before studying civil engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received his Bachelor of Science at the Department of Civil Engineering in 1876. He also received his BSc in 1878.After he graduated, he worked at the Essex water power company. In 1886, he moved to Boston working for the Associated Mutual Fire Insurance Company as engineer and inspector. He was president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a member of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics during WWI. He died in 1932, he was 77.What you may not know about John is that he designed and helped build the Charles River Dam, ad...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Robert Foulis was born in Glasgow, Scotland back in 1796. I don’t have any data as to his parents, education until 1817. His first wife Elizabeth died in childbirth, afterwards he moved to Canada arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1818-1819. There he taught drawing classes and painted portraits in oil.In 1820, he moved to Saint John, New Brunswick where he was appointed deputy land surveyor in 1822. In 1825, he founded the Saint John Foundry. In 1853, while walking towards his house on a foggy night, he heard his daughter playing her piano. This gave him an idea which he will be noted for in the history books. It took him six years to develop. He died in 1866.What you may not know about Robert is that idea he had is still in use to this day. for you see he invented the steam-powered fo...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William Floyd was born in Brookhaven, Province of New York back in 1734 to Nicholl and Tabitha. I don’t have anything about his upbringing or education. His father died in1755, which left it up to William to take over the day to day operations of the family farm. With the onset of the American Revolutionary War he joined the Suffolk County Militia, rising to the rank of Major General.He was a delegate to the First Continental Congress and a member of the New York State Senate. In 1789, he was elected to the 1st United States Congress. He was the presidential elector in 1792 voting for George Washington and George Clinton. In 1795, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York but was defeated by John Jay. He died in 1821, he was 86.What you may not know about William is that when in Congre...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Evelyn Berezin was born in the East Bronx back in 1925. She attended Christopher Columbus High School, then to Hunter College in 1941. During WWII, she studied physics at New York University and at Brooklyn Polytech. She worked full-time at the International Printing Company while attending college. In 1946, she received her B.S. in physics.After graduation, she worked at New York University while holding a fellowship from the United States Atomic Energy Commission. In 1951, she worked with the Electronic Computer Corporation as head of the Logic Design Department. In 1957, Underwood typewriter Company purchased the Electronic Computer Corporation. In 1969, she founded the Redaction Corporation which became a public company. She sold that company to Burroughs Corporation in 1976. She di...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Charlotte Elliott was born in Berlin, Wisconsin back in 1883. She received her undergraduate degree in zoology at Stanford University in 1907. After graduation, she taught biology at the State Normal School in Spearfish. She continued her education receiving her master’s in plant physiology in 1913.She taught at the South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts for two years, afterwards she became a research assistant at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden before returning to the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she received her Ph.D. in 1942, she served as the president of the Botanical Society of Washington, she died in 1974.What you may not know about Charlotte is that in 1918, she became the first woman to complete the doctoral program in botany at the University of Wisc...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Jacob Wilbur Ehrlich was born in Montgomery County, Maryland. Don’t have any information about his childhood, but for this blog it really isn’t necessary. He earned his law degree and later a doctorate from Georgetown University. After graduation, he moved to San Francisco where for 50-years he served as a defense and divorce attorney. He also was the lead attorney for the San Francisco Police Officer’s Association. His slogan was “Never Plead Guilty.”What you may not know about Jacob is that in the early 1960’s he was the technical adviser for those of you who are old enough to remember “Perry Mason” TV series. The Perry Mason TV series was based on his own legal career. Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William A. Edelstein was born in Gloversville, New York back in 1944 to Arthur and Hannah. His father was in the United States Air Force, so he moved several times graduating from Glenbrook North High School in 1962. He received his Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Illinois in 1965.He continued his education at Harvard University with a master’s degree in physics in 1967. After his postdoctoral research in Scotland he worked for General Electric from 1980 to 2001. During his career he received 49 patents, he was named a fellow of the American Physical Society in 1988. He died of lung cancer in 2014, he was 69.What you may not know about William is that he was one of the key developers for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He was the primary inventor of the spin-warp...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Ibn al-Nafis was born near Damascus back in 1213. His parents’ names are lost to history. It is recorded that he studied theology, philosophy and literature. When he turned 16 he began his study in medicine for more than 10 years. In 1236, he moved to Egypt where he spent the rest of his life as the chief physician at al-Naseri hospital and al-Mansori hospital.He died in 1288.What you may not know about Ibn is that he was the first person to describe the pulmonary circulation of the blood, which pre-dates William Harvey’s work in 1628. Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers was born in Laeken, Belgium back in 1933. Educated at a Catholic school in Brussels. She decided at an early age to join the all-girl Guides Catholiques de Belgique. At 15 she became an avid Girl Guide when he bought her first guitar to play at evening events. She continued her education obtaining a diploma for teaching sculpture. From 1954 to 1959, she taught sculpture to young aspiring students.   in 1959, she entered the Missionary Dominican Sisters of Our Lady becoming a nun until 1966 when she left. She ran into finicial difficulties committing suicide in 1985.What you may not know the name Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers you may know her as The Singing Nun. She recorded “Dominique” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO7cD6qmydoIt still remains the first and only...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Benjamin Oliver was born in Washington, D.C. back in 1877 to Louis and Henrietta. He graduated from the M Street High School. His father was a messenger for the Interior Department and his mother was a nurse. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army at the start of the Spanish-American War. He was stationed in Chickamauga Park, Georgia, his unit was disbanded in 1899. That same year he enlisted as a private in Troop I, 9th Cavalry Regiment stationed in Fort Duchesne, Utah. In 1901, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Cavalry in the Regular Army. I won’t go into all the places where he served but suffice it to say he moved a lot. He retired in 1948 after 50 years of serving this Republic.What you may not know about Benjamin Olives Davis is that he was the first Afri...
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