He was deaf from childhood after numerous ear infections and a serious bout of Scarlet Fever. He never allowed his disability to stop him from becoming one of the most prolific inventors in American history.

Thomas was just 7 years old when his family moved to Michigan and he began selling candy and newspapers on the trains. This is when he discovered he enjoyed being in business and went on to form 14 more companies. One of those companies he created was General Electric, which is a still in existence.

Thomas Edison had six children with two wives. With first wife Mary, he became a father to Marion, Thomas Jr and William. Mary died early and left him with three young children so he married Mina and they had three children together, Madeline, Charles, and Theodore. Charles would grow up to become the governor of New Jersey. Theodore the only one to earn a college degree and followed in his fathers footsteps with 80 patents in his name.