Not the First, But the Youngest

He was only 10 years old and his feet didn't quite reach the necessary operating equipment - but that didn't stop him from driving. 

The "he" in this story is Murray Shiffer , who was a prominent insurance agent in Johnstown back in the 1950's. The time goes back to 1911 when he was the youngest driver in the Johnstown area.

The car was a Flanders 20, EMF (Every Morning Fix). a forerunner of the Studebaker. Young Murray Shiffer won the car in a subscription contest held by the old Johnstown Leader (newspaper). 

Living with his parents in Twin Rocks, the young man had been sneaking his father's car out for trial runs, so when his big day came along he was well acquainted with the workings of the motor car.

In those days - all a driver needed in the way of a license was his owner's card. 

Armed with the card and his father's written consent he traveled to Johnstown to claim his prize and drive back to Twin Rocks.

The clever young man boosted himself up - with the assistance of two pillows at his back and six-inch blocks at his feet.

When he was driving through Prospect the chief of police stopped him - the young man explained how he was just won the car and the chief gave him permission to drive on - but to try to get home as quick as he could.
Murray sold his Flanders about a year later to a man in Wilkes-Barre - driving it himself for one last time to the drop off point.