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Gravette, AR Real Estate News

By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Christopher Miner was born in Manchester, Connecticut back in 1833. This one is going to be short compared to my usual history lessons. So, let’s get on to it. He worked for Samuel Colt at his factory where he learned all about the arms-making trade. He invented something around 1859 which of course will keep him in the history books.On august 18, `863 he walked into the White House, right pass the sentries and into Abraham Lincoln’s office. The next day he returned when Christopher, President Lincoln and Edwin Stanton walked outside near the Washington Monument where they engaged in target shooting. After that meeting the U.S. ordered 13,171 of his inventions.Christopher Miner Spencer invented the Spencer repeating rifle, one of the earliest models of the lever-action rifle. He also in...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Sidney Howe was born in Columbus, Ohio back in 1858 to John and Elizabeth. He attended Columbus public schools then he went to work in his father’s manufacturing business during his teenage year. By the time he was 14 he was considered to be an expert telegraph operator. He attended Capital University before enrolling at Ohio State University, he was a professor’s assistant helping other students in the physics department.He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1880. After graduation, he taught electrical engineering for two years. He moved to the University of Denver where he taught for five years. He opened his own company in 1889, and as they say the rest is history.Sidney Howe Short founded the Short Electrical Railway Company in Ohio. He received over 500 patents dealing ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William Roedel was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania back in 1854. He attended Franklin & Marshall College graduating in 1873. In the early 1890’s you could find him in Colorado working as a successful businessman. Visiting Chicago shortly after 1893 where he was first introduced to the Christian Science Church. He remained in the church for the remainder of his life. Holding positions of editor, director and treasurer of The Mother Church. He also wrote for the Christian Science Journal and Christian Science Sentinel. One of his other jobs was to travel lecturing on Christian Science, teaching classes on the subject. He died in 1939.What you may not know about William Roedel Rathvon is that he is the only person who was a known eyewitness to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address of the 10...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Mary Young was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania back in 1776 to William and Rebecca. Her father died when she was two years old. Her mother then moved the family to Baltimore, Maryland earning a living as a seamstress. In 1795, she married John and moved back to Philadelphia with her husband.They had four children however, only one made it to adulthood. Her husband worked for the United States Government traveling to London. He died in 1805 leaving Mary widowed at 29. She moved back to Baltimore with her daughter and lived with her mother. There she followed in her mother’s footsteps as a seamstress. She died in Baltimore, Maryland in 1857 at 81.What you may not know about Mary Young Pickersgill, is that she was a seamstress that specialized in flags. She was commissioned by Major Geo...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Hymen Lipman was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He emigrated to the United States arriving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1829. That’s about all I can tell you except for or course the rest of the story. Around 1840, he became the leading stationer in the Philadelphia area. In 1843, he opened the first U.S. envelope company in Philadelphia. He died in 1893 at 76. What you may not know about Hymen is that in 1858 he received a patent (U.S. Patent 19,783). That patent was for his invention of the first pencil with an attached eraser. Until tomorrow keep a smile on your face and a penny in your pocket.
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Elizabeth Robinson was born in Riverdale, Illinois back in 1911. She attended the Thornton Township High School. In 1928, she did something no other woman had done (more on that in a moment). Anyway in 1931 she was involved in a plane crash, when her body was found she was thought to be dead. She was transported to a local undertaker where they found her to still be alive.Taken to the hospital she was in a coma for seven months, and it took another six months before she could get into a wheelchair. It took two years before she could walk again. She died in 1999 at 87. Are you ready? Well here we go.While you may not recognize Elizabeth Robinson maybe you know her as Elizabeth Swartz. What you may not know about her is that she was the first American athlete and winner of the first Olymp...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Johnson William Richardson was born in Virginia. When he was young (exact age unknown) he was shanghaied onto a ship. He sailed the North Atlantic for several years before he found the opportunity to escape. He moved to St. Joseph, Missouri where he worked grooming horses.An opportunity came up for him in 1860, where he could ride a horse and not groom them. Of course, he took the job, thus insuring his place in history.Sadly, he died in 1862, he was 28. What he died from I could not find out but what I can tell you is the rest of the story. For you see Johnson William “Billy” Richardson was the first westbound rider for the Pony Express. Until tomorrow keep a smile on your face and a penny in your pocket.
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
The first Declaration of Independence.Okay, so this is a new one on me.  It is reported the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed on May 20, 1775 more than a year prior to the one we all know.  Its authenticity of course is disputed by scholars both for and against it. Some say it was an inaccurate rendering of the Mecklenburg Resolves, some say it wasn’t, thus the debate continues to this day.  It is also reported that Thomas Jefferson may have used them to author the American Declaration of Independence. Anyway, this is a new one on me.  For those who live close to Mecklenburg, North Carolina did you know this one?  Look it up and decide for yourself.  Let me know what you think. Have a great day
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Rowland Hussey was born in Nantucket Island, Massachusetts back in 1822.  At 15 you could find him working aboard a whaling ship.  While on that ship he had a red star tattooed on his hand.He opened a dry goods store in 1843 near downtown Haverhill, Massachusetts.  The store failed and was shut down.  He moved to New York City after marrying Louisa where the couple settled down.  Sadly, he died in 1877 while in Paris of Bright’s disease.What you may not know about Rowland Hussey is when he moved to New York City he opened another dry goods store.  He total sales for that first day was a whopping $11.08 worth of merchandise.  Of course, you probably already guessed it but if you haven’t the store he opened in New York City, R.H. Macy Dry Goods.  The logo of the store was the tattoo on hi...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
John Laurens was born in Charleston, South Carolina to Henry and Elanor. His father was a slave trader, one of the largest in the country.After the death of his mother his father sent him to England for his education. His interest was in science and medicine, but he yielded to his father’s wishes and studied law. When he returned to the colonies he joined General George Washington as a volunteer at the age of 23.He distinguished himself at the Battle of Brandywine. When General Charles Lee slandered Washington he challenged him to a duel. Neither man was killed however, Lee was wounded by Laurens shot. In 1779, he was involved in the Battles for Charleston and Savannah. In 1781, he accompanied Thomas Paine on a mission to France. When he returned later that year he was given command of ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Eliphalet Dyer was born in Windham Connecticut back in 1721. He attended Yale graduating in 1740. In 1746, he was admitted to the bar. He became involved with the local militia being elected to justice of the peace in 1747.During the French and Indian War, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel being part of the expedition that captured Crown Point from the French in 1755. The State of Connecticut sent him to New York for the Stamp Act Congress which was a precursor to the American Revolution.In 1776, he was elected a justice of Connecticut’s superior court holding that office until 1793, serving as Chief Justice after 1789. John Adams wrote about Eliphalet saying: “longwinded and roundabout, obscure and cloudy, very talkative and very tedious, yet an honest, worthy man, means and judges well”....
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Jake W. Ehrlich was born in Rockville, Maryland back in 1900.  He earned his law degree and later a doctorate at Georgetown University.  For much of his career he was an attorney for the San Francisco Police Officer’s Association.He defended prostitutes and police officer for much of his 50-year’s in the courts. People described him as self-loathing Jew with a racist attitude and disdain with just about everyone he deemed unworthy of his presence.  Unattractive and small in stature he made up for it with a big mouth and a know-it-all cocky attitude.  He was a chain smoker and had a bad drinking habit, associating with prostitutes while maintaining several adulterous relationships. His slogan was, “Never Plead Guilty.” He defended or represented several people you may have heard of like ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
John C. Babcock was born in Warwick, Rhode Island back in 1836. The family moved to Chicago in 1855. He worked for one of the largest architectural firms in Chicago contributing designs to Athenian mansions on Millionaire’s Row along Michigan Avenue.He served during the entire Civil War volunteering for the Sturgis Rifles as an enlisted soldier. However, it wasn’t long before he was offered a civilian position as a scout of the Army of the Potomac. He became a skilled interrogator of captured Confederates. He helped with the order-of-battle planning with topographical maps and made maps for General George B. McClellan.He was then moved to the intelligence section under Colonel George H. Sharpe and thus we can start to hear the rest of the story. No hidden names today and I still haven’t...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Emilie Du Chatelet was born in Paris, France back in 1706 to Louis and Gabrielle. Nothing is known about her education, there is speculation but nothing is really known, which makes the rest of the story incredible.Her brilliance was recognized when she very young which prompted her father to bring in Fontenelle who was secretary of the French Academie des Sciences who taught her about astronomy at 10 years old. she also was educated in fencing and riding. At 12 she was fluent in Latin, Italian, Greek and German.   She continued her education in mathematics, literature and science. Not that she had her hands full but it was noted she was also a dancer, played the harpsichord, sang opera and was an amateur actress..Her marriage was arranged her husband Marquis was 34 she was 18. They had...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Frank Dwight Baldwin was born in Manchester, Michigan back in 1842.  Sorry I can’t relate to you what he did as a youngster but I can tell you the rest of the story.  this is going to be short and sweet.  He joined the 19th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War fighting in all of his regiment’s battles from 1862 to 1865.  After the war, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army assigned to the 5th U.S. Infantry.  He saw action on the Red river in Montana in 1876, for his actions he was promoted to Captain.He also served with distinction during the campaigns against Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.  Serving in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War he was promoted to Brigadier General in 1902 and to Major General in 1906 when he retired from duty.  He died in ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Otis was born in Leeds, Maine back in 1830 to Rowland and Eliza. Otis attended Monmouth Academy and from Bowdoin College in 1850. At 19 he attended the United States Military Academy graduating in 1854 fourth in his class.He served in Troy, New York ad Augusta Maine before being deployed to Florida during the Seminole Wars. While in Florida he experienced a conversion to evangelical Christianity. Rising through the ranks he became known as “The Christian General”. His battle scars were numerous having fought in the First Battle of Bull Run, the Peninsula Campaign, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg to name a few. Winning the Medal of Honor for his actions.After the war, President Andrew Johnson appointed him to take charge of the Freedmen’s Burea...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Gouverneur was born in New York City back in 1752 to Lewis and Sarah. He enrolled in Columbia University at 12 and graduated in 1768 and went on to receive his Master’s degree in 1771. He was admitted to the bar in 1775.The same year he graduated he was elected to the New York Provincial Congress. After the Battle of Long Island in 1776 the British seized the family property for their military use. During the winter of 1776 he witnessed the conditions of the Continental Army which was appalling to him. He became a spokesman for the reforms in its training methods, and financing. In 1778 during the Conway Cabal some members of the Continental Congress tried to dismiss George Washington as Commander-In-Chief it was Gouverneur who casted the decisive tie-breaking vote in favor of keeping G...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Eleanor McClintock was born in Hartford, Connecticut back in 1902 to Thomas and Sara.  She could trace her ancestry back to an old American who made the journey on the Mayflower to the New World.  She was described as a tomboy and being an independent and solitary child.  She and her father were close but had a very difficult relationship with her mother beginning at an early age.The family moved to Brooklyn in 1908 where she graduated from Erasmus Hall High School.  she continued her education at Cornell, studying agriculture, she became fond of jazz and botany receiving her BS in 1923.  She continued her studies concentrating on something which she will forever be written down in the history books for (more on that shortly).  She received her PhD in 1927 from Cornell.In 1930 she was t...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Francis was born in Stratford, Virginia back in 1734 to Thomas and Hannah. He was educated at home and as far as I could research there was no formal training at any school or college. In 1772 he married Rebecca a 2nd cousin, once removed.He lived his entire life in Virginia between the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay area. He served in the Virginia State Senate from 1778 to 1782. He died of pleurisy in 1797 at his home in Richmond County, Virginia and is buried at Mount Airy Plantation near Warsaw, Virginia. Maybe you recognize one of his descendants Francis Lightfoot Lee. If you haven’t guessed it by now I’m writing about the first Francis Lightfoot Lee for you see he was a member of the House of Burgesses, an active protester of the Stamp Act, a delegate to the Continental ...
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By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
When you get tired of this just let me know and I'll move on.  This is another way of getting your message across to them.  I believe I'm making headway what do you think? Just when I thought my Indian tech support guys had had enough of my nonsense and it was safe to accept unidentified numbers again, I was wrong....oh so wrong. "Hello sir. This is Richard from Microsoft Windows to alert you to a problem that you're having with your computer. Am I speaking to the owner of the computer in your home?" "Yes." I answer. " I own my windows." Richard continues. "No sir. I am calling on behalf of Windows." "Are you wanting to install new windows in my house? I ask. "No sir. I'm calling about a problem with your computer." "Do you install the windows yourself or will you send somebody local?" ...
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