John
Daniel
Hertz
Sr.
Born in Sklabina, Hungary
Son of Jacob Hertz
and Katie (Schlessinger) Hertz
Husband of
Francis (Kesner) Hertz
— married
[date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants 
Died
at age 82
in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Profile last modified
| Created 22 Nov 2008
This page has been accessed 6,403 times.
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Biography
John Hertz came with his parents and siblings from Sklabina, Hungary, to America in 1882 on the ship SS Herman. They settled in Chicago, Illinois.
He first worked for a newspaper selling papers and then as a reporter in Chicago. He began selling automobiles in 1904.
When used cars came into the lot, he developed the idea of a cab company with inexpensive cars for everyday people. His taxicabs had lower rates than standard cabs.
In 1907 he had a fleet of seven cars. By 1915 he had formed the Yellow Cab Company in Chicago.
The company became very popular and was franchised across the United States. In 1924 he took over a car rental company and named it Hertz Drive-UR-Self Corp.
John became a self-made millionaire by age 30. Both his businesses were purchased later by General Motors and John became a member of the board of directors of GM.
In 1953, John purchased the rental car company back from General Motors and ran it himself, naming it Hertz-Rent-a-Car.
In California and Kentucky, he raised thoroughbred race horses.
He established the Hertz Foundation to fund education for the sciences.
John died in Oct. 8, 1961, in Los Angeles, California.[1]
Sources
- ↑ New York Times: "John D. Hertz Is Dead on Coast; Led Yellow Cab and Rent-a-Car; Founder of 2 Concerns Was 82 -- Owned Noted Horses, Including Count Fleet"
- Wikipedia: John D Hertz"
- Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 7, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_247; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0385; FHL microfilm: 1374260
- Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 6, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_309; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 304
- Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index, 1871-1920
- U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925
- Find A Grave: Memorial #7657035
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Comments: 1
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Karen (Kraus) Harbert
Karen (Kraus) Harbert
I am trying to get him connected to the big tree and adding sources.
posted
by Karen (Kraus) Harbert
John is 25 degrees from Isaac Asimov, 25 degrees from David Attenborough, 26 degrees from Bill Bryson, 19 degrees from Richard Dawkins, 34 degrees from Bengt Feldreich, 40 degrees from Ruth Gates, 27 degrees from Stephen Hawking, 34 degrees from Julius Miller, 24 degrees from Bill Nye, 26 degrees from Magnus Pyke, 30 degrees from Carl Sagan and 24 degrees from David Randall on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
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Categories: Notables | United States of America, Notables | Business Leaders | Philanthropists | Automotive History