http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Samuel_Firestone

Harvey Samuel Firestone (December 20, 1868 – February 7, 1938) was an American businessman, and the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, one of the first global makers of automobile tires.

Family background

Firestone was born on the Columbiana, 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 Thal, Austria 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-acre (360,000 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.

Education and career

After graduating from Columbiana High School, Firestone worked for the Columbus Buggy Company in Columbus, Ohio before starting his own company in 1890, making rubber tires for carriages.

Death

Firestone in 1931In 1938, Firestone died peacefully at his vacation home in Miami Beach, Florida at the age of 69.

The Millionaires' Club

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.

Honors

The main library of Princeton University 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.