Fred William Stork, manufacturer, was born in Saginaw, MI on January 4, 1881 to William and Sophia (Reinke)Storch. Fred's Father, a native of Germany, came to this country in 1850 and engaged in farming in Michigan. Fred W.Stork received a grade school education in the Saginaw Public Schools. Fred's entire career was spent in Saginaw and he was one of Saginaw's pioneers in industrial development. In 1907, Fred founded the Stork Motor Company to manufacture marine engines for fishing tugs. As outboard motors began to replace engines in smaller craft, Stork turned the operations of his company to jig, tool, and fixture manufacturing in 1914, and in 1918 renamed the company Stork Engineering Company. In 1929, Fred and a group of Saginaw businessmen formed the Stork Oil Company and later the Stork family acquired the interests of the other founders. Also in 1929, Stork led a group in the organization of Saginaw Foundaries Company, an electric steel foundry. Fred was President of all three companies at the time of his death. Fred was also the owner of the Riverside Bearing Company, a brass and aluminum foundry, which he founded in 1923. Possessed of considerable inventive ability, he devised improvements in a number of mechanical devices. Fred originated a method of pressing fixtures into pistons in a completed shaft for rotary pumps; aided in developing the fifth wheel that provided stability for large truck trailers; and in 1925 perfected an oil pump jack. The last named was manufactured by the Stork Engineering Company and came into use throughout the USA. Fred also developed a profitable enterprise out of one of his avocational interests, the raising of Percheron and Belgian horses. In 1934, Fred purchased the Schwinck farm in Zilwaukee, MI and operated it as the Fred W. Stork & Son Ranch, where he bred and raised horses and later cattle. Fred was a member of St. John's Episcopal church, the Masonic Order(Knight Templar, Shriner), the Germania of Saginaw, and the Saginaw Gun Club. Fred enjoyed fishing and hunting for recreation. Fred married Elsie Anna Meyer in Saginaw on September 25, 1905. Fred and Elsie had five children, Fred William, Jr., (Phyllis Walch), Kathryn (J. Robert Grube), Ruth (Frederick John Stingel), Dorothy, and Earl Frederick. Earl passed away ten days after being born. Fred passed away in Saginaw, MI, on July 13, 1956.
Fred William Stork, manufacturer, was born in Saginaw, MI on January 4, 1881 to William and Sophia (Reinke)Storch. Fred's Father, a native of Germany, came to this country in 1850 and engaged in farming in Michigan. Fred W.Stork received a grade school education in the Saginaw Public Schools. Fred's entire career was spent in Saginaw and he was one of Saginaw's pioneers in industrial development. In 1907, Fred founded the Stork Motor Company to manufacture marine engines for fishing tugs. As outboard motors began to replace engines in smaller craft, Stork turned the operations of his company to jig, tool, and fixture manufacturing in 1914, and in 1918 renamed the company Stork Engineering Company. In 1929, Fred and a group of Saginaw businessmen formed the Stork Oil Company and later the Stork family acquired the interests of the other founders. Also in 1929, Stork led a group in the organization of Saginaw Foundaries Company, an electric steel foundry. Fred was President of all three companies at the time of his death. Fred was also the owner of the Riverside Bearing Company, a brass and aluminum foundry, which he founded in 1923. Possessed of considerable inventive ability, he devised improvements in a number of mechanical devices. Fred originated a method of pressing fixtures into pistons in a completed shaft for rotary pumps; aided in developing the fifth wheel that provided stability for large truck trailers; and in 1925 perfected an oil pump jack. The last named was manufactured by the Stork Engineering Company and came into use throughout the USA. Fred also developed a profitable enterprise out of one of his avocational interests, the raising of Percheron and Belgian horses. In 1934, Fred purchased the Schwinck farm in Zilwaukee, MI and operated it as the Fred W. Stork & Son Ranch, where he bred and raised horses and later cattle. Fred was a member of St. John's Episcopal church, the Masonic Order(Knight Templar, Shriner), the Germania of Saginaw, and the Saginaw Gun Club. Fred enjoyed fishing and hunting for recreation. Fred married Elsie Anna Meyer in Saginaw on September 25, 1905. Fred and Elsie had five children, Fred William, Jr., (Phyllis Walch), Kathryn (J. Robert Grube), Ruth (Frederick John Stingel), Dorothy, and Earl Frederick. Earl passed away ten days after being born. Fred passed away in Saginaw, MI, on July 13, 1956.
