Harvey S. Firestone, who founded one of the world's largest tire and rubber companies, was born in 1868 on a farm near Columbiana in northeastern Ohio. He was a typical farm boy who worked in the fields and helped to look after the farm animals.

Young Harvey attended a one-room country school not far from his home. At school and about the neighborhood he played with other boys who lived on farms. Farming was the only life which he knew and someday he planned to become a farmer himself. He was particularly fond of farm animals.

When Harvey was ten years old, he attempted to grow and sell vegetables to earn money to buy himsself a horse. His efforts were disappointing, but later his father gave him a horse. Several times he helped his father trade horses and decided that someday he should like to become a horse trader.

All the while Harvey's teacher and parents were eager for him to obtain a good education. Finally he went to live with his grandparents in Columbiana where he could attend high school. Three years later he graduated, after which he briefly attended a business college in Cleveland to prepare for a job.

Young Firestone tried several jobs and finally went to work for his cousin Clinton, who owned a large buggy factory, the Columbus Buggy Works, in Columbus, Ohio. Later he went to Detroit, Michigan, to help his brother Elmer, who was in charge of a branch sales office for the buggy company.

Soon young Firestone, noting the growing interest in automobiles, began to see a future in rubber tires. He persuaded two friends to join him in purchasing the Victor Rubber Tire company in Chicago. Before long he sold his interest in this small company and moved to Akron, Ohio.

In 1900 Firestone founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Through his intimate association with this company, he achieved greatness in the rubber industry. Much of his success may be attributed to his inventive nature, his constant desire to improve the quality of his product.

In writing this book, Adrian Paradis has told the intriguing story of an American farm boy who carved for himself an illustrious career. Harvey S. Firestone looked ahead and saw a growing rubber industry, which was to revolutionize transportation in the world. In fact he was one of the pioneers who helped to bring this revolution about.

From the dust jacket