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Life of Henry Ford

In todays world we couldnt imagine life without vehicles or an easy way of


transportation. Henry Ford revolutionized transportation and the American industry with his
inventions. He also created the assembly line creating jobs for thousands.
Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1864 on a farm in a rural town west of Detroit. His
parents were William Ford and Mary Litogot. He had two brothers and two sisters. Their names
were Margaret, Jane, William, and Robert.
When Henry was in his early teens his father gave him a special pocket watch. He took
the pocket watch apart and reassembled it. Others were very impressed. At age 15 Henry would
disassemble and reassemble the timepieces of friends and family, gaining the reputation of a
watch repairman.
Ford was devastated when his mother died in 1876. His father expected him to
eventually take over the family farm, but he disliked farm work. He later wrote, "I never had any
particular love for the farmit was the mother on the farm I loved." (
In 1888, Henry married Clara Ala Bryant and briefly returned to farming to support his wife
and son, Edsel. Three years later Ford decided it was time to work with his real talent, machinery.

He was hired as an engineer for the Edison Illuminating Company. In 1893 he was promoted to
chief engineer. While he worked there Ford developed a plan for a horseless carriage. In 1896 he
constructed his first model, the Ford Quadricylce. The Quadricycle consisted of a light metal frame
fitted with four bicycle wheels and powered by a two-cylinder, four-horsepower gasoline engine. In the

same year Ford attended an Edison executive meeting and found himself presenting his plans to
Thomas Edison. Edison liked the idea. He encouraged Ford to build a second, better model.

Determined to improve his first the prototype, Ford sold the Quadricycle in order to
continue building other automobiles. Over the next couple of years he received backing from
various investors. Fords partners, eager to put a passenger car on the market, grew frustrated
with his constant need to improve. Ford left the company in 1902 to establish the Ford Motor
Company.
A month after the Ford Motor Company was established, the first Ford car was
assembled. The Model T was designed to appeal to the multitudes. It was light, fast and strong.
Ford had found and used a stronger steel within the Model T which was much stronger than any
other available steel at the time. When the Model T became very popular it started selling
quickly. Ford had to develop a new way of manufacturing. In 1913 he added a motorized
assembly to the Company. According to About.com, The motorized conveyor belts moved the
car to the workers, who would now each add one part to the car as the car passed them.
(About.com Editors) The assembly line created many jobs and helped a lot of people. This
system also made the Model T a lot cheaper to make.
Although the Model T had made Henry rich and famous he still looked to
improve. In 1914, Ford introduced a $5 a day pay rate for his workers, which was nearly double
what workers were paid in other auto factories. Ford believed by raising the workers pay, the
workers would be happier and work faster, and would stay with the Ford Motor Company.
Throughout the rest of Henrys life he worked at the Ford Motor Company with his son,
Edsel. Over the years they had many disagreements and grew apart. According to About.com,
Edsel died from stomach cancer in 1943, at age 49. In 1938 and again in 1941, Henry Ford

suffered strokes. On April 7, 1947, four years after Edsel's death, Henry Ford passed away at age
83. (About.com editors)

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