Harry Clayton Stutz (September 12, 1876 in

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

– June 26, 1930) was an American

automobile A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarde ...

manufacturer, entrepreneur, self-taught engineer, and innovator in the

automobile industry The automotive industry comprises a wide range of companies and organizations involved in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and selling of motor vehicles. It is one of the world's largest industries by revenue (from 16 % such ...

. He was born in 1876 about east of Indianapolis, near

Ansonia, Ohio Ansonia is a village in Darke County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,174 at the 2010 census. History Ansonia was founded in 1845 under the name of "Dallas." The village initially grew slowly; significant expansion only came after th ...

, to farmer Henry J Stutz and his wife born Elizabeth Schneider. On finishing his schooling he moved to

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater D ...

, and after working for Davis Sewing Machine and

National Cash Register NCR Corporation, previously known as National Cash Register, is an American software, consulting and technology company providing several professional services and electronic products. It manufactures self-service kiosks, point-of-sale termin ...

opened a machine shop and repair business in 1897, the next year he married Clara Marie Dietz. Clara and Harry had one daughter.Stutz, Harry Clayton, ''American National Biography''
accessed onlineSeptember 15, 2018
/ref> Stutz grew up caring for and repairing agricultural machinery on the family farm. Automobiles and engines fascinated him. Stutz built his first car in 1897, and then in 1900 a second auto using a gasoline engine of his own design and manufacture. He set up Stutz Manufacturing Company to build these engines selling it in late 1902 to Lindsay Automobile Parts Company of Indianapolis and he moved there along with the business. With two others he established Central Motor Car Company but moved on to the Schebler Carburetor Company at the end of 1904 to sell their carburettors.Larson, C. (2000, February). Stutz, Harry Clayton (1876-1930), automobile manufacturer. ''American National Biography.'' Ed. Retrieved 21 Sep. 2018, fro

/ref> Bear Cat Indy500 (cropped)

In 1905 he designed a car for the

American Motor Car Company The American Motor Car Company was a short-lived company in the automotive industry founded in 1906, lasting until 1913. It was based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The American Motor Car Company pioneered the "underslung" design. ...

. He moved again in 1907 to take up the appointment of chief engineer and factory manager at Marion Motor Car Company. At Marion he became one of the company's racing drivers. He formed Stutz Auto Parts Company in 1910 to manufacture his transaxle. Becoming well-known for his activities he came to the attention of the founders of the Indianapolis racetrack and helped design their own car. Caught up in the excitement around the up-coming 500 mile race, the first at the new racetrack, within just five weeks he built his own car and entered it in the race. His car was placed 11th at the finish having stopped only for tires and fuel. He immediately set about putting his Bear Cat into production. To accomplish that Harry founded Ideal Motor Car Company renamed in June 1913 Stutz Motor Car Company (of Indiana). Stutz Motor's racing program was very successful winning the (unofficial) national championships each year up to 1916 when they withdrew from competition. To find more capital for his prospering business he fell in with a New York stockbroker, Allan A Ryan, and in 1916 Stutz Motor Car Company of America was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Ryan now controlled the business. Uncomfortable with Ryan's business style Harry Stutz resigned in the middle of 1919 and started again by founding his H. C. S. Motor Car Company. He also began making fire engines. The fire engine business fared better than his H. C. S. Motor Car Company. He divorced his wife in 1925 and married Blanche Clark Miller. Harry seemed to lose interest in both businesses and with his new wife he moved to Orlando, Florida. After 2 years under the control of creditors his businesses were liquidated. In 1929 he designed a 4-cylinder engine for the Stutz-Bellanca Airplane Company. Harry Stutz suddenly collapsed and died of a ruptured appendix in Indianapolis in the summer of 1930. He is buried there at

Crown Hill Cemetery Crown Hill Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. The privately owned cemetery was established in 1863 at Strawberry Hill, whose summit was renamed "The Crown", a high point ...

References

The Automotive Hall of Fame Inductee Page
retrieved on: August 26, 2006. {{DEFAULTSORT:Stutz, Harry C. American automotive pioneers American people of German descent American founders of automobile manufacturers 1876 births 1930 deaths Burials at Crown Hill Cemetery Businesspeople from Indianapolis