Record #:

8400

Author(s):

Arthur, Billy

Abstract:

Junius L. Clemmons, a native of Clemmonsville, developed a system of dots and dashes that could be sent through copper wire. Clemmons developed his communications device in 1833 and sent the design to a Mr. Page, who was a professional electrician in Washington, D.C. Clemmons never heard back from Page. In 1837, Clemmons read a newspaper article that told of Samuel Morse and Page creating a telegraph system. Clemmons then discovered that Page worked in the U.S. Patent Office and could not issue a patent to himself. Page, therefore, used his friend, Samuel Morse, and earned a patent to the telegraph. Clemmons wrote an article in the Washington Globe claiming that he was the true inventor of the telegraph. Page admitted receiving Clemmons design, but he denied copying it. Clemmons forgave Page for his betrayal and enjoyed a successful law firm in Kentucky, becoming the oldest practicing lawyer in the nation before his death.

Source:

The State (NoCar F 251 S77), Vol. 52 Issue 11, Apr 1985, p11, por

Subject(s):

Clemmons, Junius Lynch, 1813-1910; Telegraph--History

Record #:

9926

Author(s):

Grigg, Ivey F.

Abstract:

The first long distance phone call in North Carolina was made on April 14, 1878 from Raleigh to Port City (now Wilmington). It was placed between two telegraph operators over existing telegraph lines and there were extra extensions on each end so that observers could listen. Twelve years later, John Schenk, Jr. brought the first telephone exchange to the Piedmont to serve his Cleveland County Cotton Mill at Lawndale.

Source:

The State (NoCar F 251 S77), Vol. 40 Issue 8, Sept 1972, p15-16, il

Subject(s):

Telephone--History; Telegraph--History