Harvey Firestone
Encyclopedia
Harvey Samuel Firestone was an American businessman, and the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
, one of the first global makers of automobile tires.
, Ohio
farm built by his paternal grandfather. He was the second of Benjamin and Catherine (née
Flickinger) Firestone's three sons; Benjamin had a son and a daughter by his first wife.
Firestone's paternal great-great-great grandfather, Nicholas Hans Feuerstein, immigrated from Berg/Alsace/France
, in 1753, and settled in Pennsylvania
. Three of Nicholas's sons - including Harvey's great-great grandfather, Johan Nicholas - changed their surname to "Firestone". Firestone's birthplace was moved years later to Greenfield Village, a 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) historical site founded by Henry Ford
.
On 20 November 1895, Firestone married Idabelle Smith
, and had seven children. Andrew Firestone
, William Clay Ford, Jr.
(the son of Henry Ford's grandson William
and Harvey and Idabelle's granddaughter Martha), and Nick Firestone
are among their great-grandchildren.
, Firestone worked for the Columbus Buggy Company in Columbus, Ohio
before starting his own company in 1890, making rubber
tires for carriage
s.
In 1938, Firestone died peacefully at his vacation home in Miami Beach, Florida
at the age of 69.
Firestone, Ford, and Thomas Edison
were generally considered the three leaders in American industry at the time, and often worked and vacationed together. All three were part of a very exclusive group entitled "The Millionaires' Club."
is named Firestone Library in his honor. It is among the largest university libraries in the world. In 1973, Firestone was posthumously inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
. Firestone High School
in Akron, Ohio
, is named in his honor. He also has a memorial there.
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
, one of the first global makers of automobile tires.
Family background
Firestone was born on the ColumbianaColumbiana, Ohio
Columbiana is a city in Columbiana and Mahoning Counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 6,384 at the 2010 census.The Columbiana County portion of Columbiana is part of the East Liverpool–Salem Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Mahoning County portion is part of the...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
farm built by his paternal grandfather. He was the second of Benjamin and Catherine (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Flickinger) Firestone's three sons; Benjamin had a son and a daughter by his first wife.
Firestone's paternal great-great-great grandfather, Nicholas Hans Feuerstein, immigrated from Berg/Alsace/France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in 1753, and settled in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Three of Nicholas's sons - including Harvey's great-great grandfather, Johan Nicholas - changed their surname to "Firestone". Firestone's birthplace was moved years later to Greenfield Village, a 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) historical site founded by Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
.
On 20 November 1895, Firestone married Idabelle Smith
Idabelle Smith Firestone
Idabelle Smith Firestone was an American composer and songwriter.Born in Jackson, Michigan , she was educated at Alma College, Ontario. Her father, George, held the patent to the flour milling process....
, and had seven children. Andrew Firestone
Andrew Firestone
Andrew Boulton Firestone is an American TV reality show personality. He is the son of Brooks Firestone, a grandson of Leonard Firestone, and a great-grandson of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey Firestone and Idabelle Smith....
, William Clay Ford, Jr.
William Clay Ford, Jr.
William Clay "Bill" Ford Jr. , is the great-grandson of Henry Ford, and serves as the executive chairman of Ford Motor Company, Ford also served as the President, CEO, and COO until turning over those roles to former Boeing executive Alan Mulally in September 2006...
(the son of Henry Ford's grandson William
William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford may refer to:*William Clay Ford, Sr., grandson of Henry Ford, son of Edsel Ford and owner of the Detroit Lions*William Clay Ford, Jr., great-grandson of Henry Ford, son of William Clay Ford, Sr., chairman of Ford Motor Company...
and Harvey and Idabelle's granddaughter Martha), and Nick Firestone
Nick Firestone
Nicholas Stanley Firestone is an American former race car driver.A great-grandson of Harvey Samuel Firestone and Idabelle Smith, grandson of Roger and son of Peter, he graduated from Princeton University in 1989.Starting in Karts he moved to junior formula cars then the British Formula 2...
are among their great-grandchildren.
Education and career
After graduating from Columbiana High SchoolColumbiana High School
Columbiana High School is a public high school in Columbiana, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Columbiana Exempted Village Schools district.-Athletics:...
, Firestone worked for the Columbus Buggy Company in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
before starting his own company in 1890, making rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
tires for carriage
Carriage
A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...
s.
Death
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
at the age of 69.
The Millionaires' Club
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
were generally considered the three leaders in American industry at the time, and often worked and vacationed together. All three were part of a very exclusive group entitled "The Millionaires' Club."
Honors
The main library of Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
is named Firestone Library in his honor. It is among the largest university libraries in the world. In 1973, Firestone was posthumously inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
. Firestone High School
Firestone High School
Harvey S. Firestone High School is a public high school located on the northwest side of Akron, Ohio. It is one of seven high schools in the Akron Public Schools district. The high school currently offers programs such as the Visual and Performing Arts, International Baccalaureate Program, and...
in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, is named in his honor. He also has a memorial there.