Frederick Louis Maytag I (July 14, 1857 – March 26, 1937) also known as F. L. Maytag, founded the Maytag Company, which eventually became the Maytag Corporation which was acquired by the Whirlpool Corporation in 2006.
Birth
F.L. Maytag was born July 14, 1857 in Elgin, Illinois. The eldest of 10 children born to German immigrants, Amelia Tonebon (1837-1905) and Daniel William Maytag (1833–1900) he original spelling of their name was Maitag "May Day" prior to immigrating to the United States, and was "Americanized" to "Maytag" upon arrival The full set of children were: Frederick Louis Maytag I (1857–1937); Lewis R. Maytag (1859–1943); Martha M. Maytag (1861-1955); Theodore Henry Maytag (1864–1931); Jacob E. Maytag (1866-1908); Emma Maytag (1869–1956); Daniel C. Maytag (1872–1956); Helena Maytag (1875–1881); Anna A. Maytag (1877–1964); and Viola Maytag (1880–1966).In the
1880 US Census
The United States census of 1880 conducted by the Census Bureau during June 1880 was the tenth United States census.Jefferson, Iowa Daniel's mother Mary Maytag (1800–?) is living with them. When ten years old F.L. traveled in a covered wagon with his family to a small farm near
Laurel, Iowa
Laurel is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 220 at the time of the 2020 census.
History
Laurel was platted in 1880 by Conrad Weissenburger, and it was incorporated in 1902. The city was named after Laurel, Ohio, b ...
In 1893, F.L., his two brothers-in-law, and George W. Parsons each contributed
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
600, for a total of
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
2,400, to start a new farm implement company named Parsons Band-Cutter & Self Feeder Company. This company produced threshing machines, band-cutters, and self-feeder attachments invented by Parsons.
F.L. Maytag eventually took sole control of the firm and renamed it the Maytag Company. As Maytag grew, F.L. forayed into other businesses such as the
Maytag-Mason Motor Company
The Maytag-Mason Motor Company of Waterloo, Iowa manufactured ''Maytag'' automobiles from 1910 to 1912. The company's founder was Frederick Louis Maytag I, who is better known for his development of the Maytag washing machine company.
History
Mr ...
automobiles. In the 1910s, F.L. left the day-to-day company operation in the hands of sons Elmer Henry Maytag and
Lewis Bergman Maytag Lewis Bergman Maytag I (August 24, 1888 – August 8, 1967) was a Maytag Corporation president. He was the son of founder, Frederick Louis Maytag I, and he had a brother, Elmer Henry Maytag. Lewis graduated from Iowa State University in 1910 wit ...
, to concentrate on other business areas including innovations of a washing machine with a gas powered motor branded as the Multi-Motor and a washing machine with an agitator that forced the water through the clothes branded as the Gyrafoam. These inventions proved extremely valuable as by 1927, Maytag was producing more than twice the washers of its nearest competition and had outperformed the industry with growth doubling for five consecutive years.
Even after Elmer Henry Maytag became Maytag's president in 1926, F.L. was active in promoting Maytag products, and ensuring worker happiness and often greeted employees by asking, "Is everybody happy?"
Mr. Maytag was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1995.
An active member in his Masonic Lodge - he was a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, Newton, Iowa, receiving degrees on April 23, May 14, and raised a Master Mason on Sept. 13, 1887.
Marriage
F.L. married Dena Bergman, and they had two sons and two daughters. F.L. donated a park and swimming pool to the city of Newton, Iowa, now named Maytag Park and Maytag Pool. He built and donated the Maytag Hotel and spearheaded a theater and a water plant. F.L. also built hundreds of houses for his workers, selling them on easy terms.
Death
In 1937, Frederick Maytag died of a heart ailment at Good Samaritan Hospital, near his winter home in
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...
. He left a
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
10 million estate (equivalent to $ million today).
A special train brought mourners from the
east coast
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to Newton, Iowa, and an estimated 10,000 factory workers and salesmen formed a line five blocks long to observe the casket processional. Those who could not fit into the First Methodist Church were taken to four other churches and two halls.
He is buried in
Newton Union Cemetery
Newton most commonly refers to:
* Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist
* Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton
Newton may also refer to:
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* ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film
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, Newton, Jasper County, Iowa.
Quotes
* "In all business, there is a factor which cannot be compensated for in dollars and cents or computed by any measure. It has no relation or connection with the mercenary and is represented only by the spirit of love which the true craftsman holds for his job and the things he is trying to accomplish."
* "Is everybody happy?"
See also
*
F. L. Maytag II Frederick Louis Maytag II (January 8, 1911 – November 4, 1962) was President and, later, Chairman of the Maytag company. In the early 1940s, he and Robert E. Maytag (born 1923), both sons of Elmer Henry Maytag, created a cheese plant and sto ...
*
F. L. Maytag III
Frederick Louis "Fritz" Maytag III (born December 9, 1937 in Newton, Iowa) is the former owner of Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco and is Chairman of the Board of the Maytag Dairy Farms (maker of Maytag Blue cheese). He is also the owne ...