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Edison was born in 1847 in the canal town of Milan, Ohio, the last of seven children. His mother, Nancy, had been a school teacher; his father, Samuel, was a Canadian political firebrand who was exiled from his country. The family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, when Thomas was seven. He attended school briefly but was principally educated at home by his mother and in his father's library.
In 1859 Edison began working on a local branch of the Grand Trunk Railroad, selling newspapers, magazines, and candy. At one point he printed a newspaper on the train, and he also conducted chemical experiments in a baggage-car laboratory. By 1862 he had learned enough telegraphy to be employed as an operator in a local office.
From 1863 to 1867 he traveled through the Midwest as an itinerant telegrapher. During these years he read widely, studied and experimented with telegraph technology, and generally acquainted himself with electrical science.
Thomas Edison as a kid, could not speak until he was 4. When he was 4 however, he would question everyone on how this works and he would always ask, "Why" after they told him. When Edison was in school, the teacher and the other kids would call him "addled" which means slow witted. His mother heard of this comment and talked to the teacher about it. The dispute ended up in Edison becoming homeschooled by his mother.
Thomas Edison was married to Mary Stilwell, a 16 year old girl that he met on December 25, 1871. The couple had their first boy, Marion Estelle Edison, in 1873. Three years later, Mary gave birth to Thomas Alva Edison Jr. in 1876. The married couple then had one more child, William Leslie Edison in 1878. Sadly, 6 years after the birth of William, in 1884 Mary died.
Thomas Edison's death was a death to remember. He died on October 18, 1931 in West Orange, New Jersey. It is believed that Henry Ford told Charles Edison to keep his fathers last breath in a test tube, which is said to be in the Henry Ford Museum to keep as a momento.
In 1859 Edison began working on a local branch of the Grand Trunk Railroad, selling newspapers, magazines, and candy. At one point he printed a newspaper on the train, and he also conducted chemical experiments in a baggage-car laboratory. By 1862 he had learned enough telegraphy to be employed as an operator in a local office.
From 1863 to 1867 he traveled through the Midwest as an itinerant telegrapher. During these years he read widely, studied and experimented with telegraph technology, and generally acquainted himself with electrical science.
Thomas Edison as a kid, could not speak until he was 4. When he was 4 however, he would question everyone on how this works and he would always ask, "Why" after they told him. When Edison was in school, the teacher and the other kids would call him "addled" which means slow witted. His mother heard of this comment and talked to the teacher about it. The dispute ended up in Edison becoming homeschooled by his mother.
Thomas Edison was married to Mary Stilwell, a 16 year old girl that he met on December 25, 1871. The couple had their first boy, Marion Estelle Edison, in 1873. Three years later, Mary gave birth to Thomas Alva Edison Jr. in 1876. The married couple then had one more child, William Leslie Edison in 1878. Sadly, 6 years after the birth of William, in 1884 Mary died.
Thomas Edison's death was a death to remember. He died on October 18, 1931 in West Orange, New Jersey. It is believed that Henry Ford told Charles Edison to keep his fathers last breath in a test tube, which is said to be in the Henry Ford Museum to keep as a momento.