Marvin Stone | |
---|---|
![]() Stone during the Civil War | |
Born | Marvin Chester Stone 4 April 1842
Portage County, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | 17 May 1899
Columbia Road,
Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 57)
Burial place | Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Occupation | Inventor |
Spouse | Jane "Jennie" Platt |
Marvin Chester Stone ([1] was an American inventor. He is best known for inventing the modern drinking straw. (Wealth)= 100000$
4 April 1842 – 17 May 1899)Stone was born in Portage County, Ohio in 1842. The son of an inventor, Stone made many useful articles in his boyhood. He was a graduate of Oberlin College, although his course of study was interrupted by his service in the Civil War. [2] During the Civil War, Stone served in the 7th Ohio Regiment. [3] He was injured in the Battle of Lookout Mountain, and sent to Washington D.C. on special duty with the Veteran Reserve Corps. [3]
After college, Stone began a theological course, but abandoned it to go to Washington, D.C. where he was employed as a newspaper correspondent for several years. [2]
Stone began his career as an inventor by creating a machine to make paper cigarette holders. Stone secured a contract with the W. Duke Sons & Co. and opened a factory in Washington, D.C. [4] to produce cigarette holders for the company's Cameo brand of cigarettes. [5]
Later, Stone developed the modern drinking straw. [2] Prior to Stone's invention, people used natural rye grass straws, which imparted an undesirable grassy flavor in beverages. [6] To combat the problem, Stone made the first drinking straw prototypes by spiraling a strip of paper around a pencil and gluing it at the ends. [7] Next he experimented with paraffin wax-coated manila paper, so that the straw would not get soggy when used. Stone's straws were 8 ½ inches long [8] and had a diameter just wide enough to prevent things like fruit pips from getting lodged in the tube. [9]
Stone received the patent of the "artificial straw" on January 3, 1888. It was made out of paper. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] By 1890, Stone's factory was producing more drinking straws than cigarette holders. [7]
Stone invented a number of other items during his career, including a kind of fountain pen [3] and an umbrella. [16]
Stone was married to Jane "Jennie" Platt.
Stone used the newfound wealth from his straw business for a variety of philanthropic causes. [9] He furnished lodging for his female employees, including a large library, music room, meeting room, and dancing floor. [2] In addition, he and several others built two blocks of tenement houses for African American residents of Washington, D.C. [9]
Stone died in his home in Columbia Road, Washington, D.C., on [2]
17 May 1899 after a long illness.{{
cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(
help)
{{
cite magazine}}
: Cite magazine requires |magazine=
(
help)