James Hartness

Born in 1861, James Hartness was an American inventor, engineer, and industrial leader best known for his work in precision manufacturing. He built his career in Springfield, Vermont, where his ideas and patents helped improve machine tools and industrial production, and he became closely identified with the Jones & Lamson Machine Company.

Hartness was also active in public life. He served as the 59th governor of Vermont from 1921 to 1923, bringing to politics the practical outlook of an engineer and businessman. Beyond industry and government, he pursued a wide range of interests, including aviation and astronomy, which added to his reputation as a deeply curious and energetic thinker.

He died in 1934, leaving behind a legacy that reaches beyond business success alone. He is often remembered as one of those early twentieth-century figures who seemed equally at home in the workshop, the governor’s office, and the laboratory.