Firestone was founded by Harvey Samuel Firestone, American businessman and industrialist born December 20, 1868 in Columbiana County, Ohio, who founded Firestone Tire and Rubber Company on August 3, 1900 in Akron, Ohio, which was then center of rubber industry. Harvey Firestone started with 12 employees making solid rubber tires for carriages, then pneumatic tires for automobiles, and grew company into one of largest tire manufacturers in world, known as one of Big Four tire companies with Goodyear, Goodrich, and Uniroyal. Firestone was close friend of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, forming friendship group called Vagabonds with Ford and Edison taking camping trips together, and became main tire supplier for Ford Model T, pioneering mass production. Firestone was innovator, developing first non-skid tread and balloon tires. He died February 7, 1938 in Miami Beach, Florida, leaving company to family. His sons Harvey Jr. and others continued company. Firestone's granddaughter Martha Firestone married Henry Ford's grandson William Clay Ford, linking families. Harvey Firestone's legacy includes Firestone Farm in Ohio and Firestone brand still sold today under Bridgestone ownership since 1988 acquisition, with Firestone Complete Auto Care chain and Firestone Industrial Products. So Firestone founded by Harvey Samuel Firestone in 1900 in Akron, Ohio.
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