Charles Henry Parr (March 18, 1868 – June 10, 1941) was an American mechanical engineer, inventor, and pioneer in developing the gasoline-powered agricultural
tractor
A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a Trailer (vehicle), trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or constructio ...
and cofounder of the Hart-Parr Company.
Early life and education
Parr was born March 18, 1868, in Wisconsin, the son of Martha and John Parr. He had five siblings. He attended high school in
Dodgeville, Wisconsin
Dodgeville is a city in Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. The population was 4,984 at the 2020 census, making it the county's most populous city. Dodgeville is part of the Madison metropolitan area.
History
In 1827 ...
, before attaining a degree in mechanical engineering from the
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. It was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved st ...
, where he met his future partner,
Charles Walter Hart.
Both men graduated with honors.
Career

After graduation, while still in Madison, Parr and Harr established a small engine company. They then moved to
Charles City, Iowa
Charles City is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Iowa, United States. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area. U.S. Route 18 in Iowa, U.S. Routes 18 and U.S. Route 218, 218, Iowa Highway 14, ...
, where Hart was born,
and started the Hart-Parr Company. In 1902, they developed a gasoline engine for tractors and one year later invented the first known kerosene-run engine, which needed just 50% of the fuel that ran the gasoline engine.
Also 1903, they built the country's first internal combustion engine.
For a time, Hart-Parr tractors were a leading type, sold in the US and other countries.
During
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the company also made shells for the army.
Parr left the company in 1923 to work for the Street Sweeper Company in
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin ( ) is a city in Cook County, Illinois, Cook and Kane County, Illinois, Kane counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located northwest of Chicago along the Fox River (Illinois River tributary), Fox River. As of the 2020 United Stat ...
,
but returned and stayed with Hart-Parr and the successor
Oliver Farm Equipment Company
The Oliver Farm Equipment Company was an American farm equipment manufacturer from the 20th century. It was formed as a result of a 1929 merger of four companies: the American Seeding Machine Company of Richmond, Indiana; Oliver Chilled Plow Wor ...
until he died in 1941.
Personal life
He married Gertrude Gates of
Beloit, Wisconsin
Beloit ( ) is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 36,657 people. Beloit is a principal city of the Janesville, Wisconsin, Janesville–Beloit metropolitan statistical area (Rock Co ...
, in August 1898. They had a son and five daughters.
He served on the library and school boards and was a leader of the First Congregationalist Church. He was also an active member of the
Freemasons
Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
, including high priest of the
Royal Arch Masons and commander of the
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, mainly known as the Knights Templar, was a Military order (religious society), military order of the Catholic Church, Catholic faith, and one of the most important military ord ...
. During a family vacation to Los Angeles, California, Parr died on June 10, 1941. Gertrude died months earlier, February 17, 1941. They are buried at Riverside Cemetery,
Charles City, Iowa
Charles City is a city in and the county seat of Floyd County, Iowa, United States. Charles City is a significant commercial and transportation center for the area. U.S. Route 18 in Iowa, U.S. Routes 18 and U.S. Route 218, 218, Iowa Highway 14, ...
.
His home, the
Charles Henry Parr House, in Charles City, Iowa is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
.
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References
Further reading
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External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parr, Charles Henry
1868 births
1941 deaths
American mechanical engineers
University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Engineering alumni
19th-century American inventors
20th-century American inventors
American business executives
American Freemasons