Henry M. Leland -- Designer of the Cadillac and Lincoln Automobiles

Born in Barton on February 16, 1843 to a hard working farm family, Henry Leland carried into his life the strength and quality of his familys work ethic adding to it his gift and love for precision. By 1890, Leland was in Detroit where he had become chief engineer at Cadillac. Known as one of the worlds foremost automobile engineers, he won the Dewar Trophy twice:1909 for the concept of interchangeable parts; in 1914, with C.F. Kettering, for the automobile self-starter. At 74, he formed the Lincoln Motor Company to build aircraft engines for use in World War I. In 1919 he developed the Lincoln automobile. Henry Leland died March 26, 1932.