The U.S. Patent Office records show December 1, 1885 as the first time Dr Pepper
was served. It was formulated by Brooklyn-born pharmacist Charles Alderton (below)
in Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas. Store owner Wade Morrison was 
the first to taste test the drink. Patrons of Morrison’s soda fountain soon learned of    
the new drink and began ordering what was called a “Waco”. Alderton gave the
formula to Morrison who then named it Dr Pepper. It was introduced nationally
at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

Charles Courtice Alderton

 
Old Corner Drug Store

 
Miller Hutchison

Miller Reese Hutchison (1876–1944) was a electrical engineer and inventor. He
invented the first electrical hearing aid, called the Acousticon (below). His interest
in a hearing aid stemmed from a childhood friend who was deaf from scarlet fever.

Hutchison attended attended classes at the Medical College of Alabama to study 
the anatomy of the ear. In 1905 he turned over the rights for the Acousticon to 
Kelley Monroe Turner (shown below). Turner improved hearing aids, such as 
adding a volume control.  

The portable Acousticon hearing aid powered by batteries in 1906

Kelly Monroe Turner in 1912

          Robert Fulton (November 14, 1765 – February 24, 1815) 

Fulton is recognized as the American pioneer of the steamboat. Although John
Ftich completed the first successful trial of a steamboat in 1787, it was Fulton
who is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful
steamboat. 

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Schick (above) was a inventor and 
entrepreneur who successfully patented the first electric razor on November 6,
1923. He started the Schick Dry Shaver, Inc. razor company. His electric dry
shaver reached the market in 1929.

 
The Reynolds Rocket ballpoint pen

Businessman, Milton Reynolds formed the Reynolds International Pen
Company, producing the first ballpoint pens and beating Eversharp to
market. It went on sale at Gimbles department store in New York City
on 29 October 1945 for $9.75 each. This pen was widely known as the
Reynolds Rocket into the late 1950s.