June 26, 1834: John W. Carhart, Methodist preacher and inventor, was born in Coeymans, N.Y. In 1871, Carhart moved to Racine where he continued to preach and practice medicine. It was Carhart's mechanical skills, however, that brought him notoriety. In 1873, Carhart designed and built a steam-propelled automobile nicknamed the Spark. He was named as the father of the automobile by the "Horseless Age" magazine in 1903.