John Deere

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. Deere was born in Rutland, Vermont, the son of William Deere. After his father disappeared en route to England, Deere was raised by his mother. He received an education in a Vermont primary school. He served a four-year blacksmith apprenticeship, and entered the trade in 1825. In 1827 he married Demarius Lamb. By 1836 the couple had four children, with a fifth child on the way. Facing bankruptcy, Deere sold the shop to his father-in-law, and departed for Illinois.

Deere settled in Grand Detour, Illinois. As there were no other blacksmiths in the area, Deere had no difficulty finding work. He found that cast-iron plows were not working very well in the tough prairie soil found in Illinois. 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.

In 1837 Deere developed and began commercially manufacturing the first cast-steel plow. 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. In 1843 Deere partnered with Leonard Andrus to produce more plows to keep up with demand. 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. By 1855, over 10,000 such plows were sold by Deere's factory. From the very beginning, Deere insisted on making high quality equipment. 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. In 1868, Deere incorporated his business as Deere & Company.

Later in life, Deere focused most of his attention on civil and political affairs. 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. Deere also served as Mayor of Moline for two years.

Deere died at home on May 17, 1886. The company he founded continued following his death, and has become one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural and construction equipment in the world.

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The company he founded continued following his death, and has become one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural and construction equipment in the world. See also Land's End Airport. Deere died at home on May 17, 1886. There is a theme park at Land's End. Deere also served as Mayor of Moline for two years. The phrase Land's End to John o' Groats is frequently heard both as a literal journey and as a metaphor for great or all-encompassing distance. 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. The name has a particular resonance because it is so often used in outlining the length of Britain when races, walks and charitable events take place between Land's End and the Scottish village John o' Groats (the most northeasterly settlement in mainland Britain).

Later in life, Deere focused most of his attention on civil and political affairs. Offshore, midway between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly, is the supposed location of the mythical lost land of Lyonesse, referred to in Arthurian literature. In 1868, Deere incorporated his business as Deere & Company. The Longships, a few miles out, is a serpentine and quartz island. 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. Visible from Land's End is the Longships Lighthouse. From the very beginning, Deere insisted on making high quality equipment. Land's End (Cornish name: Pedn a Wollaz) is a headland on the Penwith peninsula, located near Penzance, Cornwall, at the extreme south-western tip of the British mainland.

By 1855, over 10,000 such plows were sold by Deere's factory. 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. In 1843 Deere partnered with Leonard Andrus to produce more plows to keep up with demand. 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.

In 1837 Deere developed and began commercially manufacturing the first cast-steel plow. 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 found that cast-iron plows were not working very well in the tough prairie soil found in Illinois. As there were no other blacksmiths in the area, Deere had no difficulty finding work.

Deere settled in Grand Detour, Illinois. Facing bankruptcy, Deere sold the shop to his father-in-law, and departed for Illinois. By 1836 the couple had four children, with a fifth child on the way. In 1827 he married Demarius Lamb.

He served a four-year blacksmith apprenticeship, and entered the trade in 1825. He received an education in a Vermont primary school. After his father disappeared en route to England, Deere was raised by his mother. Deere was born in Rutland, Vermont, the son of William Deere.