Benjamin Franklin was born in Ripley, New York back in 1841 to Anson and Susan. Both of his parents died when he was eight so his uncle raised him. He received his M.D. for Cleveland Medical College, studied surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1863, he served as a battlefront surgeon for the Union Army in the Civil War.
After the war, his medical practice was not doing well so he went to work in Pennsylvania’s oilfields, he was also a real estate speculator. He and J.P. Morris bought out a company located in Melrose, New York. He moved to Akron, Ohio relocating his business there. He was the first person in Akron to own a telephone.
His company started producing water hoses wrapped with cotton to prevent freezing. He died in 1888, he was only 46. The company that he and J.P. Morris bought out was the Hudson River Rubber Company. What you may not know is that Benjamin Franklin Goodrich bought out J.P. Morris changing the name of the company to B.F. Goodrich. that’s right an orphaned boy at eight founded one of the well-known producers of tires. In 1994, Michelin bought the Uniroyal-B.F. Goodrich tire business.
Until tomorrow please keep that smile on your face, it may make someone’s day and of course keep that penny in your pocket.
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