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Private Line covers what has occurred, is occurring, and will ocurr in telecommunications. Since communication technology constantly changes, you can expect new content posted regularly.

Consider this site an authoritative resource. Its moderators have successful careers in the telecommunications industry. Utilize the content and send comments. As a site about communicating, conversation is encouraged.

Writers

Thomas Farely

Tom has produced privateline.com since 1995. He is now a freelance technology writer who contributes regularly to the site.

His knowledge of telecommunications has served, most notably, the American Heritage Invention and Technology Magazine and The History Channel.
His interview on Alexander Graham Bell will air on the History Channel the end of 2006.

Ken Schmidt

Ken is a licensed attorney who has worked in the tower industry for seven years. He has managed the development of broadcast towers nationwide and developed and built cell towers.

He has been quoted in newspapers and magazines on issues regarding cell towers and has spoke at industry and non-industry conferences on cell tower related issues.

He is recognized as an expert on cell tower leases and due diligence processes for tower acquisitions.

« Interviews at the IEEE site | | The Automatic Electric Company is still alive? »

November 11, 2002

Posted by Tom Farley & Mark van der Hoek at 12:16 AM

The background of Almon Strowger

Almon Strowger is the father of automatic telephone switching (internal link). Caroline Densham from the United Kingdom writes:

"Hello, Tom. I thought you might be interested in the background of Almon Strowger. Did you know his family came from England ? My hobby is genealogy and I have just linked my family with Almon and his ancestors in Suffolk, England. He is my fourth cousin. Here's some background, starting with Almon's grandfather's decision to move to America."

"About 1790 John Strogier married Charlotte Jennings, daughter of a titled man who disowned her, and this is the most likely reason why he and his wife decided to emigrate. Although a son from a prosperous family, John would have had great difficulty succeeding in Suffolk where his marriage had offended his rich and influential father-in-law."."

"For whatever reason, they did move to America, landing in Norfolk, Virginia. Charlotte gave birth to a child either aboard ship or in Norfolk. Both mother and child died. After her death, John sold personal belongings which consisted of very expensive household goods and moved to Hudson, New York, where he worked for Gouldrite Oil Company for a year. He then married Margaret Scott and had six children the eldest being Samuel Strowger born June 14,1797 in Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York."

"Samuel married his second wife Jane Clark on January 1st, 1827 and Almon was christened on October 19, 1839 in Penfield, Monroe County, New York. Almon had a varied career commencing as a trumpeter in the Civil War. The 1860 census shows him as farm hand in Reserve Township, Parke County, Indiana. The 1880 census lists him as a teacher. In 1889 he was an undertaker. On August 31, 1891 Strowger Automatic Telephone Exchange Company was founded with half the stock controlled by Almon Strowger and nephew Walter S Strowger. I hope you find these details of interest."

Best, Caroline Densham

Links:

http://www.roserpark.net/ (external link) Shows the grave of Almon Strowger

http://www.agcs.com/aboutv2/history/

index.htm (external link, now dead) History timeline at AGCS, showing how their company began with Strowger and his invention.

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