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Frederick Louis Maytag (1857-1937).
The farm boy's hard work and vision led to the production of the washing machine that became the top-seller. Today the name Maytag is known all over the world.
Maytag was born on a farm near Elgin, Ill., the oldest child of German immigrants Daniel and Amelia Maytag. They brought their children to Iowa in a covered wagon, settling near Laurel in Marshall County.
Their son worked on the family farm. At 24 and with little formal education, he took a job with a Newton implement dealer. By 1909 he owned his own farm implement company, which began marketing washing machines in 1910 because Maytag needed a product to sell in winter when sales of farm equipment were slow.Washers sold so well that Maytag discontinued selling farm equipment in 1923.
Maytag, who spent a great deal of his life on the road drumming up business, credited much of his success to inventor Howard Snyder, who as chief engineer at Maytag brought his expertise into making a wringer washer.
Sales took off later with the addition of an agitator that forced the water through the clothes.
Maytag - who called himself "F.L." - married Dena Bergman, and they had two sons and two daughters.
Maytag's philanthropy was evident: He gave Newton a 40-acre park and swimming pool. He built and donated the Maytag Hotel and spearheaded a theater and a water plant. He also built hundreds of houses for his workers, selling them on easy terms.
Maytag died of a heart ailment at his winter home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He left a $10 million estate.
It was estimated that up to 10,000 mourners attended Maytag's funeral. Those who could not fit into Newton's First Methodist Church were taken to four other churches and two halls.
Frederick Louis Maytag (1857-1937).
The farm boy's hard work and vision led to the production of the washing machine that became the top-seller. Today the name Maytag is known all over the world.
Maytag was born on a farm near Elgin, Ill., the oldest child of German immigrants Daniel and Amelia Maytag. They brought their children to Iowa in a covered wagon, settling near Laurel in Marshall County.
Their son worked on the family farm. At 24 and with little formal education, he took a job with a Newton implement dealer. By 1909 he owned his own farm implement company, which began marketing washing machines in 1910 because Maytag needed a product to sell in winter when sales of farm equipment were slow.Washers sold so well that Maytag discontinued selling farm equipment in 1923.
Maytag, who spent a great deal of his life on the road drumming up business, credited much of his success to inventor Howard Snyder, who as chief engineer at Maytag brought his expertise into making a wringer washer.
Sales took off later with the addition of an agitator that forced the water through the clothes.
Maytag - who called himself "F.L." - married Dena Bergman, and they had two sons and two daughters.
Maytag's philanthropy was evident: He gave Newton a 40-acre park and swimming pool. He built and donated the Maytag Hotel and spearheaded a theater and a water plant. He also built hundreds of houses for his workers, selling them on easy terms.
Maytag died of a heart ailment at his winter home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He left a $10 million estate.
It was estimated that up to 10,000 mourners attended Maytag's funeral. Those who could not fit into Newton's First Methodist Church were taken to four other churches and two halls.
