American inventor, metallurgist, automotive pioneer, entrepreneur and industrialist, Elwood Haynes developed and built one of the first automobiles. For anyone, that would be more than enough for a lifetime achievement—but he was responsible for so many more invaluable contributions that endure to this day.

Haynes was born on October 14, 1857, in Portland, Indiana, the fifth of ten children of Jacob M. Haynes and Hilinda S. Haines Haynes. His family was of English descent.

Both of Haynes' parents were dedicated Presbyterians and outspoken prohibitionists and educated their children from a young age to avoid liquor. His mother was the founder of a local Women's Temperance Movement Union. His paternal grandfather Henry Haynes was a gunsmith and mechanic, and tutored Haynes about metallurgy. In 1866, the family moved from their two-room house in Portland into the countryside outside of town where they purchased a larger home to better accommodate their growing number of children.

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