Granville T. Woods, 1856 - 1910

Granville Woods is commonly referred to as "The Black Edison". He was born on 23 April 1856 in Columbus, Ohio. He attended school until he was 10 years old, which was rare for African Americans in those years. He would later attend night school and take private lessons to increase his education. Mr. Woods worked for numerous companies, including the Iron Mountain Railroad and the Danville and Southern railroad. he was chief engineer of the steamer Ironsides, and later he established his own company, the Woods Electric Company of Cincinnati. He studied electrical engineering in his spare time.

In 1875 he moved to New York City, believing that there were more opportunities for him there. He worked in a machine shop and took college courses in the evening, studying both electrical and mechanical engineering. He eventually earned a college degree.

His list of inventions is impressive. He received over 45 patents for these inventions. He is well known for his Multiplex Railway Telegraph, which he patented in 1887. This allows communication for trains with the stations and with other moving trains so that they would know exactly where they were at all times, thus avoiding accidents. Thomas Edison would challenge this patent, but Mr. Woods prevailed.

Mr. Woods' inventions were well-received, being purchased by companies such as American Bell Telephone Company, General Electric and Westinghouse Air Brake Company.

He passed away in a New York hospital on 30 January 1910, at the young age of 53. He was very poor when he died, despite his great success as an inventor. Some suggest that his fortunes were spent on legal fees defending his patents.