The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-10
INVENTOR EDISON'S COURTSHIPS.
How lie Encounteredand Proposed to the Lady
Who Became His First Wife.

hV" AAS o III 4 IUpuccU W tuG nhuY
Who Became His First Wife.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. a.-The announcement of
the coming wedding of Thomas A. Edison recalls
a story told me some time ago by an old teleg-
rapher of this city, who used to work with Edit
son when he was unknown to fame. AT that
time Edison was not particular as to his looks or
dress. He was then working for fame and often
appeared in the New York Office without a era
vat and unshaven. But he has braced up since
then, and is now a most careful man as to his an
pearance.
When he first invented his stock quotation
ticker he advertised for a number Of young
ladies to come to his workshop and learn how ia
operate the machine. The advertisement proved
to be one that sealed his fate. for among the
ladies who came to answer it he found his frst
wife. The morning the advertisement appeared
a number of ladies of various ages presented
themselves in answer to it. Mr.. Edison exam
ined them as to their ability, and then took them
on to the workshop where the ticker was.
Among the number was q very pretty, modest
looking young lady. Edison looked at her and
somewhat startled her by asking her if she really
wanted to learn how to operate the ticker
She replied, YES" Then Edison looked at her
for a minute and said: Would not YOU rather
get marriedW The girl blushed and did NOT
answer. Edison did not wait long, but said:
How would you like to marry meqe Again ha
paused. but before she could answer he contin.
ued: Just you go home and ask your mother
about the matter. I'll give you a week ia
decide
The young lady went home. and in a short
time Edison married her. He prepared his
home at Asbury Park sumptuously for his BRIDE.
and after the wedding went directly there. That
night a friend called and found Edison in his
workshop tinkering at something.
why" exclaimed the visitor, 81 thought you
were married today"
Edison looked up and said. as if a new thought
had struck him: $50 / was"
"Well, don't you think you ought to be at
home with your brideP asked the visitor.
Eyes, 1 suppose 1 ought" said Edison; sI1l go
right home now" and he went. His married
life with his first wife was a very happy one.
The Girl Who Is To Become Mrs. Edison.
Akron (o.) Special.
The announcement that Thomas 4. Edison,
the famous inventor, is soon to marry Miss Nina
Miller, of this city, has created no little surprise
and comment here among all classes. The
prominence of the brides father, and the still
more celebrated name of Mr.. Edison, make the
marriage one of unusual interest. The wedding
trician and inventor and the daughter
of Lewis Miller, the inventor OF
the Buckeye mower and reaper. will
be performed at the mansion of the Miller fami-
ly in this city on Feb. "a The officiating clergy
man will be the Rev: DR.. E. K. Young, pastor Of
the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Akron.
assisted by Rev. DR.. j. II. Vincent, of Plainfeld.
n. J. Only the immediate friends of the family
will be present, on account of the failing health
of Mrs. Miller, mother of the bride. Immediate
ly after the wedding Mr.. Edison and his bride
will travel by special car to Jacksonville, Fla.
whence they will proceed to Fort Meyers, Fla.
where he has built a handsome villa, to be used
as his winter home. Here they will remain until
the close of April, when they will return to Ohio
for a brief visit. In May Mr.. and Mrs. Edison
will go to Llewellyn Park, N. j., where the in
ventor has fitted up a palatial home of rare ele-
gance and beauty. costing, it is said, about
$3.50. 600.
Miss Miller is the second daughter of Lewis
Miller, the inventor. She will be twenty years
of age in March next. Miss Miller is of me-
dunn height, with a well-developed figure. brown
hair. blue eyes, very large and expressive, and
has a beautiful, peach-like complexion. She
graduated from the Akron high-school a couple
of years ago. and spent the following GUNNER
in Europe. She is an excellent musician, and or
late has acquired a taste for painting and other
arts. Although she has no less than ten broth
ers and sisters, she is the first child in the FAM
lily to be led to the hymeneal altar. Fer older
sister. Miss Jennie Miller, has been engaged TO
be married for some time.
Mr.. Miller's fortune at the present time ia es-
timated at s., 500, 600. In less than thirty years
he has amassed this enormous sum. He was
born in 1888, in Stark county, Chic. 1t the age
OF eighteen he was q country apprentice to the
only ~plasterer in the entire county. He was 3
poor lad, his parents being farmers from Penn
s~ylvania. He never saw the inside of q school
house when q boy, except for two weeks. In 1850,
when the mowers and reapers were first intro.
duced, young Miller began some experiments ia
the business. Having a little money, he took ID
to Canton and became a partner OF Ephraim
Ball, then just starting in the reaper and moweg
business.
About 1863 he started an independent concern
in Akron, under the firm name of Aultmau,
Miller d Co., and in a short time the BuckeyG
reaper and mower and the Miller patent bindeE
became known all over the world. AS q poll
tician Mr.. Miller has been Democrat, Repub-
lican and Greenbacker by turn. He gave every
year a part of his income to the church, and
rose to be one of the foremost Methodists in the
United States. In connection with DR.. Vincent
he established the assembly and summer school
known as the Chautauqua Circle, at Lake Chau-
tauqua.
There is a little romance connected with the
engagement of Mr.. Millers daughter. Mr. Edi-
son paid his first visit to Chautauqua last year
and delivered a lecture. While there he was
the guest of Mr.. Miller. who, as president of the
Assembly, entertains many prominent visitors
at his summer cottage. 1t was here tlast sum-
mer) that Mr.. Edison met the charming daugh-
ter of the Ohio millionaire. She at once capti-
waited the inventor and they became great
friends.
How Millionaire Waddingham Yves Swindied.
New HAVEN. Conn, Feb. 9-Eive years ago
Wilson Waddingham, millionaire of California,
began the erection of a $500, 900 residence at :
West Haven, and engaged as his supervising
architect and disbursing agent James Scott. q
Salt Lake City Mormon. Recently Mr. Wad-
bingham had reason to believe that Scott was