Harry Clayton Stutz

Background

Harry was born on September 12, 1876 on his father's farm at Ansonia, Ohio, United States. He was the son of Henry J. and Elizabeth (Snyder) Stutz.

Education

After receiving a public-school education he learned the machinist trade.

Career

Upon finishing his apprenticeship at the age of twenty-one opened a small machine shop in Dayton, Ohio. The automobile, which was then beginning to appear on city streets, appealed to him strongly and he was one of the first residents of Dayton to secure and drive one. He kept himself informed as to its development while continuing to repair and manufacture farm pumping engines.

In 1903 he made his first step into the automobile industry by accepting the management of the Lindsey-Russell Axle Company at Indianapolis, Indiana. To enlarge his experience he subsequently worked for the G. & J. Tire Company and the Schebler Carburetor Company of Indianapolis.

It was during the six-year period from 1913 to 1919 that the Stutz automobile gained its greatest reputation, and between 1913 and 1915 Stutz cars were the leaders in most of the important automobile races.

In 1924 Stutz abandoned the automobile field temporarily and devoted his attention to airplane engines; at the time of his death he was negotiating with airplane manufacturers for the use of a four-cylinder airplane engine of this design. Stutz was greatly interested in sports, particularly in trap shooting, and was reputed to be one of the best shots in his section of the country.

He was also a collector of sporting firearms and had one of the foremost collections in the United States. After disposing of his automobile interests he made his home in Orlando, Florida.

He died in the night of June 25, 1930, in a hospital in Indianapolis, following an operation for appendicitis.

Achievements

• Harry Clayton Stutz was engineer and factory manager of the Marion Motor Car Company, and designed the first "underslung" pleasure car, which was manufactured by that company. After continuing with his designing work for the succeeding years, Stutz combined the Auto Parts Company and the Ideal Motor Car Company into the Stutz Motor Car Company, and served as president until 1919, when he disposed of his interests and joined with Campbell in the organization of the H. C. S. Motor Car Company of Indianapolis for the manufacture of inexpensive automobiles and taxicabs.

Connections

He was twice married: on October 25, 1898, to Clara M. Dietz of Dayton, from whom he was divorced; and in 1925 to Blanche Clark of Indianapolis, who with a daughter by his former marriage survived him.

Father:

Henry J. Stutz

Mother:

Elizabeth (Snyder) Stutz

Wife:

Clara M. Dietz

Wife:

Blanche Clark

associate:

Henry Campbell