John Deere: Founder and President 1837-1886

The man who developed the first commercially successful, self-scouring steel plow.

The story of John Deere, who developed the first commercially successful, self-scouring steel plow, closely parallels the settlement and development of the midwestern United States.

Deere was born in Rutland, Vermont, on February 7, 1804, the third son of William Rinold Deere and Sarah Yates Deere. In 1805, the family moved to Middlebury, Vermont, where William engaged in merchant tailoring. In 1808, he boarded a boat for England, in the hopes of claiming an inheritance and making a more comfortable life for his family. He was never heard from again, and is presumed to have died at sea.

Raised by a mother on a meager income, John Deere's education was probably rudimentary and limited to the common schools of Vermont. At the age of 17, he apprenticed himself and learned the trade of blacksmithing, which he carried on at various places in Vermont.

In 1837, facing depressed business conditions in Vermont and with a young family to care for, Deere traveled alone to Grand Detour, Illinois, to make a fresh start. Resourceful and hard working, his skills as a blacksmith were immediately in demand.

The new pioneer farmers struggled to turn heavy, sticky prairie soil with cast iron plows designed for the light, sandy soil of New England. John Deere was convinced that a plow that was highly polished and properly shaped could scour itself as it cut furrows. In 1837, he created such a plow, using a broken saw blade.

By 1841, Deere was producing 100 of the plows annually. In 1843, he entered a partnership with Leonard Andrus to produce more plows to meet increasing demand.

In 1847, Deere dissolved his partnership with Andrus and moved the business to Moline, which offered advantages of water power, coal and cheaper transportation than to be found in Grand Detour. In 1850, approximately 1600 plows were made, and the company was soon producing other tools to complement its steel plow.

In 1858, Deere transferred leadership of the company to his son, Charles, who served as its vice president. John Deere retained the title of president of the company, but now turned his attention to civic and political activities.

John Deere was active in public life throughout his career in Moline. Among other roles, he was the second president of the National Bank of Moline, served as a director of the Moline Free Public Library, was an active member of the First Congregational Church and served as the city's mayor for two years.

John Deere died on May 17, 1886, at his home in Moline.

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