The Erie and Michigan Telegraph Company was formed by Francis Ormand Jonathan Smith to connect Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee. Smith was a partner in ownership of the Morse patent. John James Speed was assigned to construct lines west of Detroit in 1845.[1] The first portion was constructed by Jeptha Wade in 1847. Speed was named president when the company was organized, and later Ezra Cornell became president.
References edit
- ^ James D. Reid, The Telegraph in America, New York, Arno Press, 1974, pp. 268-281