Portland in Jay County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Elwood Haynes (1857-1925)

Elwood Haynes Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, June 3, 2023

1. Elwood Haynes Marker

Inscription.

Elwood Haynes (1857-1925). . , Educator - Inventor - Metallurgist - Industrialist - Auto Pioneer , . 1857 Born in Portland, IN on October 14, son of Jacob M. Haynes and Hilinda S. Haines Haynes, and attended Portland Community Schools for grades 1-10. , . 1881 Graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA. , . 1881-1884 Portland High School teacher (1881), Portland High School Principal (1882-1884). , . 1884-1885 Attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. , . 1886-1890 Managed Portland Natural Gas and Oil Company and acknowledged as an authority on natural gas. , . 1887 Married Bertha Lanterman. Two children, Bernice and March, survived. , . 1880-1890 Invented several devices instrumental to success of natural gas industry. , . 1890 Supervised design and construction of first long-distance natural gas line built in the United States by Indiana Natural Gas and Oil Company. , . 1892 Moved family to Kokomo, IN. , . 1894 Designed and constructed one of the first gasoline engine-powered automobile to be driven on a road in the United States. The "Pioneer" was test driven near Kokomo on July 4, 1894, at approximately 7 mph for a distance of several miles. The Haynes Pioneer is on display at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. , . 1894 Joined Elmer and Edgar Apperson to create the Haynes-Apperson Company located in Kokomo. , . 1905 Established Haynes Automobile Company in Kokomo and by 1909 was building 650 cars priced between $2,500 and $5,500. Company closed in 1925. , . 1907 Patented a metal he created and named "Stellite". Later worked on alloy he called "stainless steel" and received patent. , . 1912 Founded Haynes Stellite Company in Kokomo which supplied Stellite to medical tool manufacturers for construction of surgical instruments. When World War I started, Stellite was used for airplanes and ammunition casings. Due to ability to withstand high temperatures, it later became an integral component of American spacecraft. , . 1922 Awarded John Scott Legacy Medal for inventions that improved the quality of life in a significant manner. , . 1925 Awarded Gold Medal by National Automobile Chamber of Commerce for contributions to the auto industry. , . 1925 Died on April 13, 1925 in Kokomo, IN, at age of 67. , . 1944 The SS Elwood Haynes, a Liberty Ship built during World War II, named in his honor., Mural made possible by: , The Portland Foundation , Jay County Historical Society, Inc. , Portland Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 928, Mural Planning Committee: Randy Fisher, Chair; Barry Hudson; Tom Young; and John Coldren , Muralist: Pamela Bliss, This plaque provided by the Portland Rotary Club ,

Educator - Inventor - Metallurgist - Industrialist - Auto Pioneer

• 1857 Born in Portland, IN on October 14, son of Jacob M. Haynes and Hilinda S. Haines Haynes, and attended Portland Community Schools for grades 1-10.
• 1881 Graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA.
• 1881-1884 Portland High School teacher (1881), Portland High School Principal (1882-1884).
• 1884-1885 Attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.
• 1886-1890 Managed Portland Natural Gas and Oil Company and acknowledged as an authority on natural gas.
• 1887 Married Bertha Lanterman. Two children, Bernice and March, survived.
• 1880-1890 Invented several devices instrumental to success of natural gas industry.
• 1890 Supervised design and construction of first long-distance natural gas line built in the United States by Indiana Natural Gas and Oil Company.
• 1892 Moved family to Kokomo, IN.
• 1894 Designed and constructed one of the first gasoline engine-powered automobile to be driven on a road in the United States. The "Pioneer" was test driven near Kokomo on July 4, 1894, at approximately 7 mph for a distance of several miles. The Haynes Pioneer is on display at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
• 1894 Joined Elmer and Edgar Apperson to create the Haynes-Apperson

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Company located in Kokomo.
• 1905 Established Haynes Automobile Company in Kokomo and by 1909 was building 650 cars priced between $2,500 and $5,500. Company closed in 1925.
• 1907 Patented a metal he created and named "Stellite". Later worked on alloy he called "stainless steel" and received patent.
• 1912 Founded Haynes Stellite Company in Kokomo which supplied Stellite to medical tool manufacturers for construction of surgical instruments. When World War I started, Stellite was used for airplanes and ammunition casings. Due to ability to withstand high temperatures, it later became an integral component of American spacecraft.
• 1922 Awarded John Scott Legacy Medal for inventions that improved the quality of life in a significant manner.
• 1925 Awarded Gold Medal by National Automobile Chamber of Commerce for contributions to the auto industry.
• 1925 Died on April 13, 1925 in Kokomo, IN, at age of 67.
• 1944 The SS Elwood Haynes, a Liberty Ship built during World War II, named in his honor.

Mural made possible by:
The Portland Foundation
Jay County Historical Society, Inc.
Portland Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 928

Mural Planning Committee: Randy Fisher, Chair; Barry Hudson; Tom Young; and John Coldren

Muralist: Pamela Bliss

This plaque provided by the Portland Rotary Club

Erected by

Photographed By Tom Bosse, June 3, 2023

2. Elwood Haynes Marker

Portland Rotary Club.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 13, 1925.

Location. 40° 26.175′ N, 84° 58.696′ W. Marker is in Portland, Indiana, in Jay County. Marker is at the intersection of West Arch Street and U.S. 27, on the right when traveling east on West Arch Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portland IN 47371, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Elwood Haynes (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wall of Dreams (about 700 feet away); American Legion Post No. 211 Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jay County W.W. I and W.W. II Honor Roll (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major General John P. C. Shanks (approx. 0.2 miles away); First National Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jay County Veterans Honor Roll (approx. 0.4 miles away); In Honor of our Nation's 200 Years (approx. 7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, June 3, 2023

3. Elwood Haynes Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 68 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 4, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.