Adam H. Sarver

Who was Adam H. Sarver

?

Adam Hass Sarver ,

a business executive, was associated with General Motors Corporation of Detroit, Michigan, for twenty years. In addition to his various business interests, he was prominent in church affairs and philanthropical activities.

Born: at Sarver, Butler County, Pennsylvania, on December 25, 1866

Most of the Sarvers in this country came to the colonies about 1799 from southern France, Germany, and Switzerland. They were Lutheran or Quakers and immigrated due to religious persecution. The earliest Sarver to settle in Pennsylvania was Philip Sarver who settled near present day Sarver on land granted him for service in the Revolutionary War.

The son of John Frank and Agnes Elizabeth (Kirkpatrick) Sarver. Adam’s father was a farmer. Adam and his 7 brothers and sisters worked on their family farm.

(farm value in 1870 = $2,200.)

Adam H. Sarver was educated in Butler County Public Schools and at Old Prospect Academy from 1887-1892. He taught school in Buffalo Township, Pennsylvania before becoming a traveling salesman.

Married: Ottie Pillow September 1891

Born: Eleanor Sarver, January 1895 Daughter of Adam H. and Ottie Sarver 1900: Adam H. Sarver works as a

traveling salesman for Leighner-Martincourt, buggy, wagon, and sleigh dealers in Butler, PA.

1888: Adam H. Sarver goes into business for himself handling local sales for the Durant-Dort Buggy Company as well as starting a 45 year association and close friendship with W.C Durant. (founder of General Motors). When W.C. Durant’s firm began the manufacture of automobiles, Mr. Sarver was awarded the agency franchise for Western Pennsylvania.

1907-1917: Adam H. Sarver serves as general manager and distributor for the Pittsburgh branch of Buick.

1910: Adam H., Ottie, and Eleanor Sarver living at 309 Main St. Butler, PA

1918: Chevrolet merges into General Motors (GM) Corp. and Scripps-Booth goes with it. Scripps-Booth becomes the 7th car division of GM, producing luxury motor cars.

1917: Adam H. Sarver becomes President of the Scripps Booth Corp. the leading automobile factory of General Motors in Detroit, MI.

1916: W.C. Durant and his Chevrolet Co. take control of the Scripps-Booth Motor Company.

1918: Adam H. Sarver moves to Detroit, living at the Staler Hotel

1919: Adam H. Sarver and his family, wife Ottie, daughter Eleanor and husband Harold Allen family move to 655 Chicago Blvd. Detroit, MI

After disappointing sales, GM liquidates Scripps-Booth in 1922.

Died: Eleanor (Sarver) Allen Jan 1920 buried in Sarver Vault, North Cemetery, Butler, PA

1917 – 1921: Adam H. Sarver, President Scripps-Booth Corp.

1920: Sarver family including servant living at 655 W. Chicago Blvd. Detroit, MI

1924: after Scripps-Booth Corp. is dissolved Adam H. Sarver becomes Director of Durant Motor Inc. Detroit – Flint Co.

Died: Ottie Sarver November 26, 1937 buried in Sarver Vault, North Cemetery, Butler, PA

1930: Adam H. Sarver retires from Auto Industry. Living with wife and servant at 655 W. Chicago Blvd. Detroit, MI. Home value $50,000.

1935: Adam H. Sarver and wife move to 1995 Balmoral Dr. Palmer Woods Detroit MI

1936: Adam H. Sarver serves as V.P of Universal Cooler Corp. which he organized in 1927.

1941: Adam H. Sarver serves as president of the Detroit Council of Churches

1950-51: Adam H. Sarver serves as president of the Boys Clubs of Detroit.

1951: Adam H. Sarver receives the Boys’ Clubs of America Silver Keystone Award.

1955: Boys Clubs of Detroit Quincy Ave. Building renamed the Adam H. Sarver Club.

Married: Margaret (Pillow) April 1957

Died: Margaret Sarver November, 24 1959

1964: Boys Clubs of Detroit Redford Club renamed Adam H. Sarver Club.

Died: Adam H. Sarver September 11, 1960 in Palm Beach, Florida. Buried in Sarver Vault, North Cemetery, Butler, PA ( 94 years old )

In addition to the B&GCSM - Adam H. Sarver Club,

Adam Hass Sarver is remembered as a noted philanthropist leaving a long

charitable legacy including:

• purchasing a Detroit hotel and operating it as a low-cost home for working women.

• Giving a $170,000 (1938) gift to Butler County Hospital to construct the Sarver Hall for nurses.

• Additionally giving the hospital 365 shares of GM stock worth $16, 998 (1957).

• Awarding large gifts to the YMCA & YWCA.

• Serving as Vice President of Goodwill Industries of Detroit.

• Serving as trustee of the Dodge Community Home and the YWCA.

• Especially interested in church work, serving as the president of the board of trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Detroit and donating $50,000 to construct a Sunday school building for the church.

• And through his retirement to Palm Beach, FL he joined and served as the chairman of the Royal Poinciana Chapel assuming an important role seeing the historic Chapel through difficult times. A bronze plaque placed in the Royal Poinciana Chapel in his honor, reads:

“Adam H. Sarver, Servant of God and man.”

SourcesU.S Census (Ancestry. COM)

Detroit Directories (Burton Historical Collection)

Encyclopedia of Biography vol. xxxii page 419-421 (Library of Michigan)

Resources of the Michigan Archives

Resources of the Automobile History Library at the Skillman Library, Detroit

Old Car Factories - http://detroityes.com/index.html

History of Butler County Pennsylvania http://www.rootsweb.com/~pabutler/1883/83-27.htm

Origin Sarver Name http://www.jenforum.com/sarver/messages/772.html

The Scripps-Booth Register: http://home.earthlink.net/~scrippsbooth/sb.html

CHEVROLET’S EARLY HISTORY http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/chevytalk/GMhistory/earlychevhistory.htm