Anson Stager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anson Stager
|
|
|---|---|
Anson Stager
|
|
| Born | April 22, 1825 Ontario County, New York |
| Died | March 26, 1885 (aged 59) Chicago, Illinois |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861 - 1866 |
| Rank |  Colonel Brevet Brigadier General |
| Commands held | Military Telegraph Department |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | President of Western Electric Manufacturing Company |
Anson Stager (April 20, 1825 - March 26, 1885) was an important American businessman and military officer. He helped start Western Union, a famous telegraph company. He was also the first president of Western Electric, a company that made electrical equipment. During the American Civil War, he was a Union Army officer. He led the U.S. Military Telegraph Corps, which was very important for communication during the war.
Biography
Early Life and Telegraph Work
Anson Stager was born in Ontario County, New York, in 1825. When he was 16, he started working for Henry O'Reilly in Rochester, New York. O'Reilly built telegraph lines, and Anson learned a lot about them.
He became a telegraph operator in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. By age 21, in 1846, he was in charge of the first telegraph office in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1848, he became the chief operator for "National lines" in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here, he made important improvements to how telegraph batteries and wires were set up.
In 1852, Stager was promoted to superintendent. He also became the first general superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company. This company was formed by combining several smaller telegraph companies in 1856.
Civil War Service
When the American Civil War began in April 1861, Anson Stager was asked to help. The governor of Ohio, William Dennison, Jr., wanted him to manage telegraphs in southern Ohio and along the Virginia border. Stager agreed and quickly created a special cipher (a secret code). This code allowed him to send secure messages to people who had the key, like the governors of Illinois and Indiana.
In October 1861, Stager was called to Washington, D.C.. He was put in charge of the Military Telegraph Department. This department managed all government telegraphs during the war. He stayed in this role until 1866. He continued to lead the department as a civilian until September 1868. For his important service during the war, he was given the honorary rank of brevet brigadier general of volunteers.
Later Career
In 1869, after his military service, Stager moved to Chicago, Illinois. There, he became the president of Western Electric. This company made electrical equipment.
He also served as president of the Chicago Telephone Company. Later, he became president of the Western Edison Company. He helped these two companies combine into one larger company.
Anson Stager passed away in Chicago, Illinois, on March 26, 1885. He was survived by his three daughters.
