John Froelich facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Froelich
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| Born | November 24, 1849 |
| Died | May 24, 1933 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Inventor |
| Known for | Inventing the first gasoline-powered tractor with forward and reverse gears |
John Froelich (born November 24, 1849 – died May 24, 1933) was an American inventor. He created the first successful gasoline-powered tractor that could move both forward and backward. This invention changed farming forever. He also received several special documents called patents for his ideas about tractors and engines.
Contents
John Froelich's Life and Big Idea
John Froelich was born in 1849 in Giard, Iowa. His parents were Henry and Kathryn Froelich. His father, Henry, came to America from Germany in 1845.
John grew up in a small town called Froelich, Iowa. This town was named after his father. When he was young, John managed a place where grain was stored, called a grain elevator.
Farming Challenges and a New Invention
Froelich also ran a business that separated grain from plants, called threshing. He traveled across Iowa and South Dakota, working on farms. At that time, most threshing machines used steam power. These machines needed a lot of coal to run.
In 1892, John faced a problem: he couldn't find enough coal for his steam engine. So, he decided to invent something better. He worked with a blacksmith named Will Mann.
They took a one-cylinder gasoline engine and put it onto a machine frame. Froelich then added his own special gears. This new machine was the first successful gasoline-powered tractor. It could move both forward and backward!
Testing the First Tractor
After building their new tractor, Froelich and Mann took it to Langford, South Dakota. They connected it to a J.I. Case threshing machine.
Their invention worked great! In just 52 days, they threshed an amazing 72,000 bushels of grain. This showed everyone that gasoline tractors could really work.
Starting a Company and Moving On
In 1893, Froelich and some other investors started a company. It was called the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company. It was based in Waterloo, Iowa.
However, the company didn't sell many tractors. They only made four, and two of those were returned because customers weren't happy. So, in 1895, the company stopped making tractors. They changed their name to Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company and started making other types of engines instead.
John Froelich left the company that same year. He moved with his wife and four children to Dubuque, Iowa. There, he worked for different engine companies. He also invented a new type of clothes-washing machine. He called it the Froelich Neostyle Washer, and it made him quite successful.
Later, he moved to Marshalltown. Finally, in 1929, he settled in St. Paul, Minnesota.
John Froelich's Lasting Impact
John Froelich passed away in St. Paul in 1933. Many people didn't know about his important invention at the time.
Years later, in 1939, the small town of Froelich remembered his invention. Today, you can visit the Froelich Tractor & 1890s Village Museum there. This museum is located where John Froelich built his very first gasoline tractor.
John Froelich's amazing invention helped create modern farming. His work also helped make Waterloo an important place for making engines in the early 1900s.
