Arthur Garford

Arthur Lovett Garford (04 August 1858, Elyria, Ohio – January 23, 1933) was a noted industrialist, inventor and politician. Today, Garford's home serves as the Hickories Museum and home of the Lorain County Historical Society.

Business interests

Inventor of padded bicycle seat

Garford was a 1875 graduate of Elyria High School and began his career as a cashier and bookkeeper before he started the Garford Manufacturing Company in Elyria in 1892 and became the inventor of the first padded bicycle seat, [http://patents.ic.gc.ca/cipo/cpd/en/patent/34890/summary.html Canadian Patents Database, CA Patent 34890 awarded August 22, 1890)] known as the "Garford Saddle". Over 1 million saddles were sold in the first few years which allowed Garford to form the American Saddle Company.

Automobile industry

After his success in the bicycle industry, Garford moved onto automobiles and formed the Automobile & Cycle Parts Company in 1893. The company changed its name to Federal Manufacturing Company and within a few years Garford resigned his interest in it and went onto form the Garford Company. The Studebaker Company became interested in Garford's automobile parts company and together they formed a partnership. Garford engaged to become president or founder of several manufacturing firms including the American Lace Manufacturing Company, the Republician Printing Company and the Cleveland Automatic Machine Company.

Political interests

By the early 1900s, Garford had gained wealth and a repution as a businessman. He helped found the first Chamber of Commerce in Elyria. In 1896 and again in 1908, Garford served as an Ohio delegate to the Republican National Convention. He ran and lost a bid for Ohio Governor in 1912 [http://books.google.com/books?id=17GPX-nlYJYC&pg=PA887&lpg=PA887&dq=arthur+garford+ohio+gubernatorial+race&source=web&ots=d-q5xk1oq0&sig=45ADqzZQWiv96qTErx-OGyKM51M&hl=en The Britannica Year Book By Hugh Chisholm (page 887)] and the U.S. Senate under the Progressive Party. [http://publications.ohiohistory.org/ohstemplate.cfm?action=detail&Page=0069135.html&StartPage=121&EndPage=156&volume=69&newtitle=Volume%2069%20Page%20121 Ohio History, Vol. 69, pg 135]

References