Charles Henry Parr (March 18, 1868 – June 10, 1941) was an American mechanical engineer, inventor, and pioneer in the development of the gasoline powered agricultural

tractor A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or construction. Most common ...

and cofounder of Hart-Parr Company.

Early life and education

Parr was born March 18, 1868 in Wisconsin, the son of Martha and John Parr. He had five siblings. He attended high school at

Dodgeville, Wisconsin Dodgeville is a city in and the county seat of Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,984 at the 2020 census, making it the county's most populous city. Dodgeville is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hist ...

before attaining a degree in mechanical engineering from the

University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. Universities ty ...

, where he met his future partner

Charles Walter Hart Charles Walter Hart (July 6, 1872 — March 14, 1937) was an American mechanical engineer, inventor, and businessman. Together with Charles Henry Parr, he founded a company that produced a commercially successful line of gasoline-powered tractors. ...

. Both men graduated with honors.

Career

After graduation, and while still in Madison, Parr and Harr established a small engine company. They then moved to

Charles City, Iowa Charles City is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Iowa. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area. U.S. Routes 18 and 218, Iowa Highway 14, and the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railr ...

, where Hart was born, and started the Hart-Parr Company. In 1902, they developed a gasoline engine for tractors, and one year later invented the first known kerosene-run engine, which needed just 50% of the fuel that ran the gasoline engine. Also in 1903, they built the country's first internal combustion engine. For a time Hart-Parr tractors were a leading type, sold in the US and other countries. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, the company also made shells for the army. Parr left the company in 1923 to work for the Street Sweeper Company in

Elgin, Illinois Elgin ( ) is a city in Cook and Kane counties in the northern part of the U.S. state of Illinois. Elgin is located northwest of Chicago, along the Fox River. As of the 2020 Census, the city had a population of 114,797, the seventh-large ...

, but returned and stayed with Hart-Parr and the successor

Oliver Farm Equipment Company The Oliver Farm Equipment Company was an American farm equipment manufacturer from the 20th century. It was formed as a result of a 1929 merger of four companies: the American Seeding Machine Company of Richmond, Indiana; Oliver Chilled Plow ...

until his death in 1941.

Personal life

He married Gertrude Gates of

Beloit, Wisconsin Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 36,657 people. History Twelve men in Colebrook, New Hampshire, created the "New England Emigrating Company" in October 1836 and sent ...

in August 1898. They had a son and five daughters. He served on the library and school boards and was a leader of the First Congregationalist Church. He was also an active member of the

Freemasons Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

, including being high priest of the

Royal Arch Masons Royal Arch Masonry (also known as "Capitular Masonry") is the first part of the York Rite system of the Masonic degrees. Royal Arch Masons meet as a ''Chapter'', and the Royal Arch Chapter confers four degrees: ''Mark Master Mason, Past Master, ...

and commander of the

Knights Templar , colors = White mantle with a red cross , colors_label = Attire , march = , mascot = Two knights riding a single horse , equipment ...

. During a family vacation to Los Angeles, California, Parr died on June 10, 1941. Gertrude died months earlier on February 17, 1941. They are buried at Riverside Cemetery,

. His home, the

Charles Henry Parr House The Charles Henry Parr House is a historic building located in Charles City, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The 2½-story, vernacular frame structure was completed in 1902. The house's ...

, in Charles City, Iowa is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

. with

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parr, Charles Henry 1868 births 1941 deaths American mechanical engineers University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering alumni 19th-century American inventors 20th-century American inventors American business executives American Freemasons

Early life and education

Career

Personal life

References

Further reading

External links