Horace Elgin Dodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horace Elgin Dodge
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| Born | May 17, 1868 Niles, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | December 10, 1920 (aged 52) Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
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| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit |
| Known for | Founding Dodge Brothers Company which became present-day Dodge |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Thompson Dodge |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | John Francis Dodge (brother) |
Horace Elgin Dodge Sr. (born May 17, 1868 – died December 10, 1920) was an American pioneer in making cars. He was a co-founder of the famous Dodge Brothers Company.
Contents
Early Life and Business Beginnings
Horace Dodge was born in Niles, Michigan, on May 17, 1868. His father owned a shop where metal castings were made and machines were repaired. Horace and his older brother, John Francis Dodge, were always together. They were known for being clever and once even built a working high-wheel bicycle from old parts!
In 1886, the Dodge brothers moved to Detroit, Michigan. They found jobs at Murphy Boiler Works, a factory that made large metal boilers. Later, in 1894, they worked as machinists at the Canadian Typograph Company in Windsor, Ontario, just across the Detroit River.
In 1896, Horace Dodge married Anna Thompson in Windsor, Ohio. Anna was from Dundee, Scotland. Horace and Anna had a son, Horace Jr., and a daughter, Delphine.
While his brother John was good at sales and managing, Horace was a very talented mechanic. He loved to invent things and was always tinkering. He even invented the first ball bearing that could keep dirt out. In 1897, John helped them get a deal with an investor to start making bicycles.
After a few years, they sold their bicycle business. In 1901, they used the money to open their own machine shop in Detroit. Soon, their company started making parts for the growing automobile industry. They even got a contract to make transmissions for Oldsmobile and the new Ford Motor Company.
Building Automobiles
In 1902, the Dodge brothers won a contract to build transmissions for the Olds Motor Vehicle Company. This helped them build a strong reputation for making high-quality parts. However, the next year, they turned down another contract from Olds. Instead, they decided to make engines for Henry Ford's new company. This deal also gave them a share in the new Ford Motor Company.
The Dodge brothers invested in Ford's business, and over time, Ford actually owed money to the Dodge Brothers. By 1910, Horace and his brother were so successful that they built a large new factory in Hamtramck, Michigan.
For ten years, the Dodge brothers' company was a main supplier for Ford. John Dodge also worked as a vice president at Ford. But in 1913, the Dodge brothers ended their contract with Ford. They wanted to focus all their energy on making their own Dodge car.
They introduced their first car, the Dodge Brothers 30, in November 1914. During the buildup for World War I, they also started building motor trucks, ambulances, and other vehicles for the United States military. After the war, their company made and sold both cars and trucks. In 1919, Henry Ford bought back the Dodge brothers' shares in Ford Motor Company for $25 million.
Horace Dodge was recognized for his contributions to the car industry. He was added to the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1981.
Personal Life and Interests
Even though they were very wealthy, the Dodge brothers were known for being a bit rough around the edges. This made them not always fit in with the fancy rich people of Detroit. In 1912, Horace Dodge built a large red sandstone mansion in Grosse Pointe called Rose Terrace. This huge home had beautiful gardens and a boat dock overlooking Lake St. Clair.
Later, a second Rose Terrace was built in the 1930s for Horace's wife, Anna, and her second husband. This mansion was considered one of the most grand homes in Grosse Pointe. The Dodges also bought a big winter home in Palm Beach, Florida. Horace's wife, Anna, had studied music, which helped them become accepted by the city's social groups. Horace and Anna Dodge became big supporters of the new Detroit Symphony Orchestra. They played a very important role in building Orchestra Hall.
Horace Dodge loved speedboats and yachting. His strong interest in boat engines led him to create a marine division as part of their car business. He bought several large and luxurious steam yachts. The last one, named the Delphine after his daughter, was a huge 257.8-foot (78.6 m) vessel. Its construction started in 1920 but was finished in 1921, after Horace had passed away. Over the years, the Delphine had many adventures, including being used as a United States Navy patrol boat during World War II. Today, after being fully restored, the Delphine sails the Mediterranean Sea as a luxury charter yacht.
Later Years and Legacy
In January 1920, Horace's brother, John, sadly died during the influenza epidemic. He was buried in the family's Egyptian-style mausoleum in Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery. Horace also caught the flu that December. After several times getting sick again, he died from complications of the disease at age 52 in Palm Beach, Florida. He was buried next to his brother in the same mausoleum. His wife, Anna, lived for another fifty years after him.
In 1925, Horace and John Dodge's widows sold their car business to a group of investment bankers for $146 million. When Anna Thompson Dodge died in 1970, she left money to the City of Detroit to build the Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain. This fountain was designed by the artist Isamu Noguchi and opened in 1978 as part of the city's Hart Plaza. Horace E. Dodge Jr. died in 1963 when he was 63 years old.
