- He was an Ohio businessman who made a fortune in the late 19th century as inventor of the first combine with the blade mounted efficiently in front of the horse rather than pulled behind it.
- He devoted much of his wealth to charitable causes associated with the Methodist Church, and was the inventor of the "Akron plan" for Sunday schools, a building layout with a central assembly hall surrounded by small classrooms.
1874 - Interested in improving the training of Sunday school teachers, he worked with John Heyl Vincent to found what is now the Chautauqua Institution.