The "Black Edison"
Granville T. Woods
(April 23, 1856 - Jan. 30, 1910)
Known as the "Black Thomas Edison," Granville T. Woods taught himself electrical and mechanical engineering while working in railroad machine shops and steel mills. In his career, he received more than 60 patents and established his own company.
Born a free man in Columbus, Ohio, on April 23, 1856, Woods attended school until he was 10. His thirst for knowledge drew him to night school and private lessons.
Working as a fireman in 1872 on the Danville & Southern Railroad in Missouri, Woods worked his way up to engineer and studied electronics on the side.
By 1874, Woods would move to Springfield, Ill. and work in a rolling mill. He then moved East working part-time in a machine shop and taking a mechanical engineering course.
He took an engineering job aboard the Ironsides, a British steamer, and became Chief Engineer within two years. Woods moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to look for better opportunities.
It was there that Woods would revolutionize the railroad industry. As an electrician, he invented 15 appliances for electrified railways, receiving his first patent for a steam boiler furnace in 1884.
Three years later, Woods made train communication between the station and other trains possible by patenting the Synchronous Multiplex Railway Telegraph. Saving countless lives, the Synchronous Telegraph used concepts from both the telephone and telegraph to relay messages faster.
Woods' invention took the railroad industry by storm and caught the eye of Alexander Graham Bell who eventually bought the invention, but not without controversy. Thomas Edison sued Woods claiming he invented the Synchronous Telegraph first. Woods won the case and became known as the "Black Edison".
With Bell's purchase of the telegraph, Woods was able to become a full-time inventor. To the dismay of Edison, Woods won in court again, this time over the rights to certain electrical inventions. Edison eventually offered him a job. Instead, Woods formed his own company, The Woods Electrical Company of Cincinnati.
Woods pioneered a system for overhead electric conducting lines for railroads. This new system had no exposed wires, secondary batteries or slotted causeways. He is also responsible for the automatic air brake for trains and pioneering tunnel construction for underground railways.
Woods died in New York on Jan. 30, 1910 after an amazing life overcoming obstacles to follow his dreams.