Arriving in the U. S. as an apprentice locksmith, one of his early jobs was with the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He came to Milwaukee to be a foreman for the Whitehall Sewing Machine Company. He and Alonzo Pawling started a machine shop which turned into the world famous manufacturer of overhead factory cranes and large mining equipment∼Born in Salmlutter Kreischlichtern, Hessen Nassau,Germany, a son of Constantine and Christina Harnischfeger, a tanner and farmer. Henry learned the locksmith trade, and immigrated to the United States in 1872. He went to work for the Singer Sewing Machine Company at Elizabeth, New Jersey, in the tool department from 1874 to 1881 where he first built the automatic screw machine. About 1882 he moved to Milwaukee to work for the Whitehall Sewing Machine Company as a toolmaker. This is where he met his future partner, wood patternmaker, Alonzo Pawling, and on December 1, 1884, Pawling & Harnischfeger Machine and Pattern Shop was formed. Three years later, in 1887 they helped rebuild and improve on a failed overhead traveling crane for the Edward P. Allis Company (Allis-Chalmers), which brought them other customers, and they now had a product of their own. In 1911 Pawling's health was failing, and Henry bought out his share of the company. In 1912 the company engineers designed a line of wheel and boom type-trenching machine... and excavator cranes. This turned P & H into one of the largest excavating companies in the World. After War 1, P & H introduced the first gasoline engine-powered dragline... Harnischfeger became a world leader in both mining and constructon. His son, Walter joined the firm in 1911 as an apprentice. It was in 1924 that the company was renamed the Harnischfeger Corporation with the trademark P & H remaining to honor both its founders.
In 1895 Henry married Marie E. Kauwertz, daughter of Frederick and Marie (Geyer) Kauwertz. Marie's grandfather was the Reverend Mr. Geyer, one of the prominent Lutheran clergymen of Wisconsin. Henry and Marie had four children, two of whom survived - Freida and Walter. Henry served as president until his unexpected death from a stroke, when his son, Walter became president in 1931.
Walter and his wife, Eleanor (McGehan) had two children, Henry and Elizabeth. In 1984 Harnischfeger reached its 100-year mark with Henry Harnischfeger (grandson) as its president. Henry passed away at age 70 in 1993, and the Harnischfeger Corp. continued under the holding company of Harnischfeger Industries in 1996, and is now again under the name of P & H Mining Corporation.
The Harnischfeger Mansion, which was built in 1895 is still standing at North 35th St. and West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.
In 1895 Henry married Marie E. Kauwertz, daughter of Frederick and Marie (Geyer) Kauwertz. Marie's grandfather was the Reverend Mr. Geyer, one of the prominent Lutheran clergymen of Wisconsin. Henry and Marie had four children, two of whom survived - Freida and Walter. Henry served as president until his unexpected death from a stroke, when his son, Walter became president in 1931.
Walter and his wife, Eleanor (McGehan) had two children, Henry and Elizabeth. In 1984 Harnischfeger reached its 100-year mark with Henry Harnischfeger (grandson) as its president. Henry passed away at age 70 in 1993, and the Harnischfeger Corp. continued under the holding company of Harnischfeger Industries in 1996, and is now again under the name of P & H Mining Corporation.
The Harnischfeger Mansion, which was built in 1895 is still standing at North 35th St. and West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.
Arriving in the U. S. as an apprentice locksmith, one of his early jobs was with the Singer Sewing Machine Company. He came to Milwaukee to be a foreman for the Whitehall Sewing Machine Company. He and Alonzo Pawling started a machine shop which turned into the world famous manufacturer of overhead factory cranes and large mining equipment∼Born in Salmlutter Kreischlichtern, Hessen Nassau,Germany, a son of Constantine and Christina Harnischfeger, a tanner and farmer. Henry learned the locksmith trade, and immigrated to the United States in 1872. He went to work for the Singer Sewing Machine Company at Elizabeth, New Jersey, in the tool department from 1874 to 1881 where he first built the automatic screw machine. About 1882 he moved to Milwaukee to work for the Whitehall Sewing Machine Company as a toolmaker. This is where he met his future partner, wood patternmaker, Alonzo Pawling, and on December 1, 1884, Pawling & Harnischfeger Machine and Pattern Shop was formed. Three years later, in 1887 they helped rebuild and improve on a failed overhead traveling crane for the Edward P. Allis Company (Allis-Chalmers), which brought them other customers, and they now had a product of their own. In 1911 Pawling's health was failing, and Henry bought out his share of the company. In 1912 the company engineers designed a line of wheel and boom type-trenching machine... and excavator cranes. This turned P & H into one of the largest excavating companies in the World. After War 1, P & H introduced the first gasoline engine-powered dragline... Harnischfeger became a world leader in both mining and constructon. His son, Walter joined the firm in 1911 as an apprentice. It was in 1924 that the company was renamed the Harnischfeger Corporation with the trademark P & H remaining to honor both its founders.
In 1895 Henry married Marie E. Kauwertz, daughter of Frederick and Marie (Geyer) Kauwertz. Marie's grandfather was the Reverend Mr. Geyer, one of the prominent Lutheran clergymen of Wisconsin. Henry and Marie had four children, two of whom survived - Freida and Walter. Henry served as president until his unexpected death from a stroke, when his son, Walter became president in 1931.
Walter and his wife, Eleanor (McGehan) had two children, Henry and Elizabeth. In 1984 Harnischfeger reached its 100-year mark with Henry Harnischfeger (grandson) as its president. Henry passed away at age 70 in 1993, and the Harnischfeger Corp. continued under the holding company of Harnischfeger Industries in 1996, and is now again under the name of P & H Mining Corporation.
The Harnischfeger Mansion, which was built in 1895 is still standing at North 35th St. and West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.
In 1895 Henry married Marie E. Kauwertz, daughter of Frederick and Marie (Geyer) Kauwertz. Marie's grandfather was the Reverend Mr. Geyer, one of the prominent Lutheran clergymen of Wisconsin. Henry and Marie had four children, two of whom survived - Freida and Walter. Henry served as president until his unexpected death from a stroke, when his son, Walter became president in 1931.
Walter and his wife, Eleanor (McGehan) had two children, Henry and Elizabeth. In 1984 Harnischfeger reached its 100-year mark with Henry Harnischfeger (grandson) as its president. Henry passed away at age 70 in 1993, and the Harnischfeger Corp. continued under the holding company of Harnischfeger Industries in 1996, and is now again under the name of P & H Mining Corporation.
The Harnischfeger Mansion, which was built in 1895 is still standing at North 35th St. and West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.
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