John Wilkinson (Franklin automobile)
| John Wilkinson | |
|---|---|
John Wilkinson in 1947
|
|
| Born |
February 11, 1868 Syracuse, New York, United States |
| Died | June 25, 1951 (aged 83) Syracuse, New York, United States |
| Education | Cornell University |
| Occupation | Mechanical engineer, Inventor, Business |
| Spouse(s) | Edith Belden (Known as DeeDee) |
| Children | Helen Wilkinson Blagbrough (1897-1947), Anne Belden Wilkinson Sherry (1899-1997), John Belden Wilkinson (1905-1951) |
| Parent(s) | Joshua Forman Wilkinson (1829-1889) Louisa B. Rayner |
John Wilkinson (February 11, 1868 - June 25, 1951) was born in Syracuse, New York. He invented the air-cooled motor which was used in the Franklin (automobile) produced by H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company where he was chief engineer and designer from 1902 to 1924.
He was a native of Syracuse and a member of an established, respected, wealthy family. His grandfather, John Wilkinson (1798–1862), was one of the original pioneers of Upstate, New York. As a young man, Wilkinson, Sr. was a city planner and named the newly incorporated village, Syracuse.
He was the son of Joshua Forman Wilkinson (1829–1889) and Louisa B. Rayner and youngest of five children. His father was named after Judge Joshua Forman, the founder of the village of Syracuse who was a personal family friend. "J. Forman" Wilkinson served as a soldier in the Civil War with the 149th Infantry of New York State volunteers.
After the war, J. Forman Wilkinson had formed a partnership with his brother, Alfred Wilkinson, and established a bank named Wilkinson & Company; however, it failed on December 9, 1884, when John Wilkinson was an adolescent.
His grandfather, John Wilkinson settled in the area on the Southside of Onondaga Lake in Central New York, where he was a lawyer and the first Postmaster of Syracuse. He acquired some farm land, extending for some distance around where the Globe Hotel stood. The property remained in the family until April 1889, when they sold it to satisfy the creditors of a failed banking endeavor, Wilkinson & Company. At that time, John Wilkinson of Chicago filed deeds in the County Clerk's office, conveying to him, the residences of both brothers (on James Street) and the building which "has since become known in court as the Globe property."
...
Wikipedia