Thomas Edison
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Thomas Alva Edison (1847 - 1931)

Thomas Alva Edison
Born in Milan, Erie, Ohio, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , , , , [half], [half] and [half]
Husband of — married 25 Dec 1871 in Newark, Passaic, New Jersey, USAmap
Husband of — married 24 Feb 1886 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , and
Died at age 84 in West Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 29 Oct 2009
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Biography

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Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman.

Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847.[1][2][3][4][5][6],[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] He was the seventh and final child of Samuel Ogden Edison, Jr. and Nancy Matthews Elliott. When he was seven, the family moved to Port Huron, Michigan.[3] He was soon kicked out of school, because the teacher supposedly did not have a liking for him. His mother proceeded to homeschool him until he was 12. Young Thomas then stopped going to school and landed his first job was a "candy butcher" on the Grand Trunk Railroad. It was at the railroad where he would learn how to use the telegraph from the stationmaster. He worked as a telegraph operator from the age of 16 until he turned 21.

On 25 Dec 1871 in Newark, Passaic, New Jersey, USA Thomas was wed to Mary Jane Stillwell.[14][5] Their children were Marion Estelle Edison[15][5], Thomas Alva Edison II[16][5], and William Leslie Edison[17][5].

His second marriage came 24 February 1886 in Summit, Ohio when he was wed to Mina Miller.[18][8][6][11][12][19][20] Their children included Madeleine Edison[8][9], Charles Edison[21][8][9][19], and Theodore Miller Edison[8][9][19][10].

In 1876, Thomas established the world's first invention factory located in Menlo Park, New Jersey.[5][8][9][10][11][6] He developed the phonograph and the first light bulb in this factory. His had problems finding long-lasting filaments for his first bulbs, but with his great intelligence, he made carbonized Bristol board. Thomas also made an electrical system, which contributed most to the electrical system and light bulb systems in use today.

Thomas was always thinking of new ways to improve things. He was famously nicknamed the "Wizard of Menlo Park".

  • "My main purpose in life is to make enough money to create ever more inventions... The dove is my emblem... I want to save and advance human life, not destroy it... I am proud of the fact that I have never invented weapons to kill..."
  • "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

Near the time of his death, Thomas was spending time in Fort Myers, Florida.[12] Thomas Edison died on October 18, 1931 in West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey from complications of diabetes.[13] He was buried in Rosedale Cemetery, Orange New Jersey. He and Mina's remains were later exhumed and moved to Thomas' Glenmont Estate, now part of the Edison National Historic Site.[22]

Sources

  1. ↑ U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925: Author: Ancestry.com: Publication: Online publication - Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.Original data - Passport Applications, 1795-1905; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1372, 694 rolls); General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59 Ancestry Record uspassports #143095 Birth date: 11 February 1847 Birth place: Milan, Erie County, Ohio Residence date: Residence place: United States
  2. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census: Author: Ancestry.com: Publication: Online publication - Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data - Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls) Year: 1850; Census Place: Milan, Erie, Ohio; Roll: M432_676; Page: 92B Ancestry Record 1850usfedcenancestry #13541751 Birth date: abt 1847; Birth place: Ohio; Residence date: 1850; Residence place: Milan, Erie, Ohio
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 1860 United States Federal Census"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWDY-6LM : 14 December 2017), Alvah Edison in entry for Samuel Edison, 1860. Year: 1860; Census Place: Port Huron Ward 3, St Clair, Michigan; Ancestry Record 1860usfedcenancestry #45272325
  4. ↑ New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957: "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVR3-2DVZ : 11 March 2018), Thomas A Edison, 1873; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M237 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 175,733. Ancestry Record nypl #14110937 Birth date: abt 1847 Birth place: Origin date: Origin place: United States of AmericaArrival date: 25 June 1873 Arrival place: New York Departure place: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland Destination place: United States of America
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 1880 United States Federal Census: database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN8K-9S1 : 12 August 2017), Thomas A Edison, East New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district ED 132, sheet 279C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,790. Ancestry Record 1880usfedcen #36113160
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24F-HKMJ : 16 March 2018), Thomas Alva Edison, 1889; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #, Passport Applications, 1795-1905., 338, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  7. ↑ "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSL-LD3C : 11 March 2018), Thomas A Edison, 1889; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M237 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,027,775.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 1900 United States Federal Census: database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9J8-NRX : accessed 10 October 2019), Thomas Edison, District 2 West Orange town, Essex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 184, sheet 20A, family 379, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,968.Ancestry Record 1900usfedcen #31475017
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 1910 United States Federal Census, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKY7-8T6 : accessed 10 October 2019), Thomas A Edison, West Orange Ward 2, Essex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 225, sheet 22A, family 473, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 884; FHL microfilm 1,374,897.Ancestry Record 1910uscenindex #16297760
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 1920 United States Federal Census, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4RH-SQ3 : accessed 10 October 2019), Thomas A Edison, West Orange Ward 2, Essex, New Jersey, United States; citing ED 320, sheet 1A, line 22, family 4, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1038; FHL microfilm 1,821,038.Ancestry Record 1920usfedcen #18731823
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 1930 United States Federal Census: database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X464-2S9 : accessed 10 October 2019), Thomas A Edison, West Orange, Essex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 631, sheet 13A, line 7, family 248, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1344; FHL microfilm 2,341,079.Ancestry Record 1930usfedcen #19627925
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 1930 United States Federal Census: database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SY3P-DW2 : accessed 10 October 2019), Thomas A Edison, Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 10, sheet 3B, line 92, family 83, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 323; FHL microfilm 2,340,058.Ancestry Record 1930usfedcen #103117870
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ohio Obituary Index, 1830s-2009, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center: Author: Ancestry.com: Publication: Online publication - Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data - Hayes Presidential Center Obituary Indexers and Volunteers. Ohio Obituary Index. Database. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. https://www.rbhayes.org/main/ohio-obituary-index/ Ancestry Record ohobit #44566 Birth date: 11 Feb 1847 Birth place: Death date: 18 October 1931 Death place: West Orange, New Jersey
  14. ↑ Ancestry Family Trees: Publication: Online publication - Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Profile: #599714564 Cited in the family tree "Davis/Collins Family Tree" created by "ddavis59_10" Ancestry Profile: #685406144 Ancestry Profile: #1806389354
  15. ↑ "New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2SZ-VL95 : 10 March 2018), Thomas H Edson in entry for Marion Edson, 18 Feb 1873; citing Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States, Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton; FHL microfilm 494,172.
  16. ↑ "New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC5C-SL2 : 10 March 2018), Thos. A. Edison in entry for Edison, 10 Jan 1876; citing Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States, Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton; FHL microfilm 494,179.
  17. ↑ "New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC2R-489 : 10 March 2018), Thos. A. Edison in entry for Edison, 26 October 1878; citing Newark, Essex, New Jersey, United States, Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton; FHL microfilm 494,186.
  18. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VN3B-KH9 : 26 August 2019), T.A. Edison and Mina Miller, 24 February 1886; citing Marriage, Summit, Ohio, United States, v 5Pg 176, #1, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "New Jersey State Census, 1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9Q-8D5Q : 15 March 2018), Thomas A Edison, West Orange, 2 ward, Essex, New Jersey, United States; citing sheet #22A, household 447, line #9, New Jersey State Library, Trenton; FHL microfilm 1,465,525.
  20. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WY7-X4K : 10 February 2018), Thomas A. Edison in entry for Mina Miller Edison, 24 August 1947; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,133,779.
  21. ↑ "New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCRC-Y4G : 10 March 2018), Thomas A. Edison in entry for Chas. Edison, 3 August 1890; citing Orange, Essex, New Jersey, reference p 448; FHL microfilm 494,216.
  22. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 October 2019), memorial page for Thomas Alva Edison (11 Feb 1847–18 Oct 1931), Find A Grave: Memorial #1630, citing Edison National Historic Site, West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave .

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Images: 5
Thomas and Harriet Ann Edison
Thomas and Harriet Ann Edison
Edison's First Lamp 2 Cents US Postage
Edison's First Lamp 2 Cents US Postage
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Menlo Park Workshop
Menlo Park Workshop
Glenmont Mansion
Glenmont Mansion


Comments: 7

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Kuntz-859 Warren Kuntz
Newspaper article about people's reaction to a demonstration of his invention

"It Interests Them" in Pittsburg Dispatch. Pittsburg [Pa., 27 Sept. 1889. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024546/1889-09-27/ed-1/seq-2/

posted by Warren Kuntz
Piercy-1794 Frances (Piercy) Piercy-Reins
Thomas Edison talking about his early experiments with electric lamps in the 1870s. It was filmed at Edison's home in Ft. Myers, Florida, in 1929.

Retrieved from Rumble (Here;) Accessed 15 July 2022.

posted by Frances (Piercy) Piercy-Reins
Jordan-13977 Richard (Jordan) J
Watch the First Ever NYC Blizzard Caught on Film

Not only is this the first ever film of a blizzard in the Big Apple, it is probably the first ever film of any American blizzard ever.

Who made this? Edison Manufacturing Company. Their Manhattan studio was nearby, at 41 East 21st Street.

Madison Square Park, Manhattan February 17, 1902 - Edison Manufacturing Co.

The film opens with a steam pump fire engine racing past the camera followed by two more fire wagons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05zmWW-sDvU

posted by Richard (Jordan) J
Jordan-13977 Richard (Jordan) J
In the late 19th century, a Phylloxera epidemic essentially wiped out all grape vines in Europe. T. V. Munson developed the Phylloxera-resistant rootstock that re-established the grape vines and wine industry in Europe. In 1888, Munson was the second American, after Thomas Edison, to be named a Chevalier du Mérite Agricole by the French government. Today, all of the grape vines in Europe are of the Phylloxera-resistant rootstock that was developed by T. V. Munson.

Sherie S. McLeRoy, Dr. Roy Renfro, Grape Man of Texas: The Life of Thomas Volney Munson, 2004.

posted by Richard (Jordan) J
Brown-8212 Abby (Brown) Glann
Hey there profile managers,

We'll be featuring Thomas in the connection finder the beginning of October in anticipation of the new movie coming out featuring his work. I'll be by closer to Oct 1 to do some tweaking and sprucing to his profile, which you are most welcome to do as well.

Thanks! Abby The WikiTree Team

posted by Abby (Brown) Glann
Patricia (Long) Kent
Please add his Findagrave info to his bio:

He is buried at Edison National Historic Site, West Orange, Essex, NJ - Memorial # 1630

posted by Patricia (Long) Kent
Shockey-96 Charlotte Shockey
Very excited to know I'm a cousin of Thomas Edison through the Sperry line.
posted by Charlotte Shockey

This week's connection theme is Thanksgiving. Thomas is 11 degrees from William Bradford, 13 degrees from Peter Burnett, 13 degrees from Lydia Child, 24 degrees from Juan de Oñate y Salazar, 15 degrees from Martin Frobisher, 9 degrees from Sarah Hale, 24 degrees from Massasoit Wampanoag, 13 degrees from Ronald Reagan, 10 degrees from Franklin Roosevelt, 18 degrees from Isidor Straus, 12 degrees from Susanna Winslow and 17 degrees from John Woodlief on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.

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