EDWARD DENISON EASTON

Easton, Edward Denison, lawyer, capitalist, organizer of the talking machine business; born Gloucester, Mass., April 10, 1856; son of Denison Mitchell and Mary (Lyle) Easton; educated in public schools of Arcola and Waters Seminary of Paterson, N.J.; graduated from law school of University of Georgetown, 1889; married, first, Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 1876, Hattie Kaldenbach ; second, May 24, 1883, at Washington, D.C., Helen Mortimer Jefferis; children: Mortimer D., Mrs. Charles W. Woddrop, Mrs. Earl Godwin, Mrs. Clarence E. Bradburn (U.S.A.), Mrs. Norris M. Mumper. Studied shorthand at home in Arcola, and became expert stenographer, doing newspaper and court work for New York papers; was reporter and assistant editor, 1873-4, of Hackensack (N.J.) Republican; became stenographer for U.S. Light-house Board, Washington, D.C., 1874; reported Guiteau trial and Star Route trials for Government, the debates of Congress, and nearly every event of national importance for fifteen years. Admitted to bar of Supreme Court of District of Columbia in 1889 and made corporation law a specialty. With inventions of graphophone, made development of talking machine industry a life work. Organized Columbia Phonograph Co., 1889, and became its president; in 1893, when company consolidated with American Graphophone Co., was made president and counsel of both companies. Headquarters of business were removed from Washington, D.C., to New York, 1897. Also president Burt Co., Volta Graphophone Co., Water Power Securities Co.; vice-president Hackensack Trust Co.; vice-president Hackensack Hospital Association ; trustee Arcola Methodist Episcopal Church. Recreation : Automobiling. Clubs : Arcola Country (director), Hackensack Golf, Oritani Field. Res.: Arcola, N.J. Office : Woolworth Bldg., N.Y. City.

Biographical sketches from the book, Men of 1914

Submitted by Deborah Crowell