MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Edward Huber (1837-1904), known as Marion’s “Father of Industry,” left an indelible mark on American industry and agriculture with his mechanical genius, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. His legacy continues to inspire and educate at the Huber Machinery Museum.
Huber co-founded the Huber Manufacturing Company and the Marion Steam Shovel Company with Henry Barnhart and George King. These companies, along with numerous spin-offs, employed hundreds of workers and played a pivotal role in the industrial development of Marion.
Huber revolutionized American agriculture with his invention of the “revolving hay rake,” which allowed one man to do in three hours what three men could do in a day. He also pioneered the production of affordable steam tractors and modern gasoline-powered tractors.
Beyond his industrial contributions, Huber was a community leader who helped establish more than a dozen local entities, including a bank, a library, and an electric company. A philanthropist at heart, he supported local charities and was well-connected with other famous American influencers of his time, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Henry Firestone.
Today, many of the machines produced by Huber Manufacturing are on display at the Huber Machinery Museum, located on the Marion County Fairgrounds. The museum showcases Marion’s industrial history and features displays of Marion Steam Shovel items and a “shoe” from the crawler-transporter used to move rockets to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.
The museum is open for visitors and tours on Saturdays from 1 – 4 p.m. and by appointment. Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Volunteers, including Ed Huber, the great-great-grandson of Edward Huber, bring history to life and keep this museum open.
For more information, visit the Huber Machinery Museum’s Facebook page.