John Deere

The company he founded continued following his death, and has become one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural and construction equipment in the world. Current issues for debate in Lauder are the town's expansion - whether it is needed or desirable - the location of a new primary school (and how soon one will be built), and the location and extent of wind farms on the surrounding hills. Deere died at home on May 17, 1886. The bus service to Edinburgh is good - but infrequent. Deere also served as Mayor of Moline for two years. Lauder is today strongly influenced by its proximity to Edinburgh as it is now considered to be close enough for people to commute into the capital for work. He served as President of the National Bank of Moline, a director of the Moline Free Public Library, and was an active member of the First Congregational Church. This means that, at the beginning of the 21st century, the population is approaching what it was at the beginning of the 20th century before the period of depopulation over the last 100 years.

Later in life, Deere focused most of his attention on civil and political affairs. The current population of the Burgh is around 1500 although it is rapidly expanding as 100+ new homes are being built on the southern boundary. In 1868, Deere incorporated his business as Deere & Company. By the 18th century the Maitlands had managed to acquire most of the properties which had belonged to the ancient Lauder family, although Windpark/Wyndepark and its Pele Tower remained in the hands of John Lauder of Winepark & Carolside, until about 1750. Deere once said, "I will never put my name on a product that does not have in it the best that is in me." As the business improved, Deere left the day to day operations to his son Charles. The Maitlands decided they would demolish this kirk as Thirlestane became even grander, and the Earl of Lauderdale had a new church erected circa 1688 in the centre of the Burgh. From the very beginning, Deere insisted on making high quality equipment. Near to the old Crown Fort stood the ancient parish church of St.Mary (a dependency of Dryburgh Abbey), in which many of the old Lauder family were interred, including two bishops.

By 1855, over 10,000 such plows were sold by Deere's factory. He commenced the building of the magnificent Thirlestane Castle upon that site, parts of the original walls of the ancient fort being included in the walls of the new ediface. In 1848, Deere dissolved the partnership with Andrus, and moved to Moline, Illinois because the city's location by the Mississippi River, and because it was a transportation hub. Eventually it was sold to a Cranstoun relation who sold it on to Chancellor John Maitland about 1589. In 1843 Deere partnered with Leonard Andrus to produce more plows to keep up with demand. The Crown abandoned this in the 16th century and it was given to Robert Lauder of that Ilk, who gave it to his daughter Alison as dowry when she married. The wrought iron plow had a steel share which made it ideal for the tough soil of the midwest, and worked better than other plows. Below the town stood the Crown Fort, a scene of many skirmishes over the years.

In 1837 Deere developed and began commercially manufacturing the first cast-steel plow. With the introduction of the feudal system to Scotland by David I, a barony of Lauderdale was chartered for the King's favourtie, de Morville, which covered an extensive amount of territory, but did not affect, as such, the Lauder family's properties as they were already held 'of the King'. Deere eventually came to the conclusion that a plow made out of highly polished steel and a correctly shaped moldboard would better be able to handle the soil conditions of the prairie. (He received at the same time The Bass Rock) This family erected a Norman keep, or Scottish Pele Tower (taken down in 1700) around which the present town grew. He found that cast-iron plows were not working very well in the tough prairie soil found in Illinois. Upon the defeat of Macbeth by Malcolm Canmore Sir Robert de Lawdre [Lauder] was granted extensive lands in and around the existing town, which included the ancient Forest of Lauder. As there were no other blacksmiths in the area, Deere had no difficulty finding work. Its name is unknown, but it was tiny.

Deere settled in Grand Detour, Illinois. The ancient settlement was further up the hills on the edge of the Moor. Facing bankruptcy, Deere sold the shop to his father-in-law, and departed for Illinois. The town recently celebrated 500 years of their official Royal Burgh charter, but references suggest that it was made a Royal Burgh much earlier, by King William I of Scotland,'The Lion'. By 1836 the couple had four children, with a fifth child on the way. Thirlestane Castle is just outside the burgh. In 1827 he married Demarius Lamb. Notable buildings in the town include the Tollbooth or Town Hall, which predates 1600.

He served a four-year blacksmith apprenticeship, and entered the trade in 1825. It lies on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills, on the Southern Upland Way. He received an education in a Vermont primary school. Lauder is a Royal Burgh in the Scottish Borders. After his father disappeared en route to England, Deere was raised by his mother. "Papers on Lauder" by G.Romanes, Galashiels, 1903. Deere was born in Rutland, Vermont, the son of William Deere. "Lauder and Lauderdale" by Thomson, 1900.

John Deere (February 7, 1804 - May 17, 1886) was the blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company - one of the largest agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the world. "The Grange of St.Giles" vy J.Stewart-Smith, Edinburgh, 1898.