Erie and Michigan Telegraph Company
The Erie and Michigan Telegraph Company was formed by Francis Ormand Jonathan Smith to connect Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee. Smith was a partner in ownership of the Morse patent.  John James Speed was assigned to construct lines west of Detroit in 1845.  The first portion was constructed by Jeptha Wade in 1847.  Speed was named president when the company was organized, and later Ezra Cornell became president.

References

See also
Timeline of North American telegraphy

Telegraph companies of the United States