Andrew J. Beard ------- Inventor of the Automatic Car Coupler

 



Born in 1849, Andrew Beard spent the first fifteen years of his life as a slave on a small farm in Eastlake, Alabama 

A year after he was emancipated, he got married and became a farmer in Pinson, a city just outside Birmingham.

Despite his lack of formal education, was successful in several ventures. In 1872, after working in a flour mill in Hardwicks, Alabama, Beard built his own flour mill, which he operated successfully for many years

 In 1881, he patented a new plow design, which he later sold in 1884 for $4000. After the sale of his first patent, Beard returned to farming. In 1887, he patented a second design plow design, which he sold for $5,200, and invested his earnings into real estate.