Joseph M. Truman, when young, attended the school of Benjamin Cathrall, on Mulberry (now Arch) Street, which prepared him for early entering his father's shop to learn tin-plate working; and being of an enquiring mind and having a good memory, he read considerably in scientific and mechanical works, and was well versed in Chaptall's chemistry. Soon after reaching his majority he joined the Harmony Fire Co., and for some years was quite active; being at his death the senior honorary member. In 1816 he planned an engine which the company ordered built by Perkins & Jones at a cost of $900, and when the company became members of the Fire Association, in 1820, Joseph Truman and Benjamin C. Parvin were chosen delegates. He took an active interest in other bodies; was one of the earliest members of the Franklin Institute, and in 1818 united with the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, in which his grandfather, Joseph Moore, had been so useful. When the more modern movement of Wm. Ll! oyd Garrison was started he engaged in it with much earnestness; was president of one of the societies about 1834 and his wife was one of the original members of the Female Anti-Slavery Society. He was chosen a manager of the Pennsylvania Hall when its erection was decided upon, and so continued till its affairs were settled--it having been burned by a pro-slavery mob. Although a great admirer of Henry Clay's financial policy, yet in 1844 he found he could not support him--a slaveholder, and therefore voted for Birney and Morris, and continued on the side of freedom till his death. He as well as others of the family had an inventive talent He originated a peculiar shaped nail, extensively used by tin-plate workers, and in 1831 took out a patent for leaded tin for roofing purposes, but directly after it was announced British manufacturers shipped leaded sheets at a greatly reduced price. He and his brother George, who had become his partner, patented a lamp, the original of the solar lamp, which had a very extensive sale about 1840-50. They being also associated in the expressing and refining of oils and lard, experimented on cotton seed, producing an oil sweet and nice as olive oil, and had it on exhibition at the Franklin Institute's exhibit; about which time the Free Trade convention met in Philadelphia, and Chief Justice Marshall and other southerners attending were elated over the discovery, and it was quickly heralded through the South. A company was projected in Camden, N. J., and a lawyer named Foxall dispatched to make arrangements for a supply of the seed, but his report was that while hitherto the seed had been considered a nuisance it could not now be purchased at any reasonable price for manufacturing. One of the bottles of oil was stolen from the exhibition and deposited in the Patent Office, evidently to prevent the issuance of a patent. Numerous inquiries were made as to the process of manufacture, but as no comp! ensation was offered the secret was not divulged. Joseph M Truman served as a member of the Guardians of the Poor, the board having charge of the almshouse as well as the out-door relief. When residing in Spring Garden he was elected by the Whig party to fill an unexpired term in its board of commissioners.