The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-30
JOHN DEERE.

Among the self-made men of the
West there is no moro notable example
than the subject of this sketch. John
Deere was born in Rutland, VT, Febru-
ary z, 1904. His parents were both ma
tives of England who emigrated to Can
ada, and afterwards settled in Vermont.
lie had very limited opportunities for
carly education, being, as were most
boys of those times, obliged to work in
place of attending school. AT sixteen
years of age, ho was apprcnticed to Cap
tain Benjamin Lawrence, at Middlebu-
ry, VT, to learn the blacksmith's trade,
and when he was twenty-three, he was
married to Demarius Lamb. AS he had
become master of his trade, he began
business on his own account conducting
1t at different towns in Vermont, until
1887, when he removed to Illinois, and
located in Grand dc Tour, Ogle county,
and at once resumed his former occupa-
tion. Mr.. Deere being an observing
man, saw that the country needed a bet
ter quality of plows, and undertook
himself to improve upon the old cast
iron and wooden mouldboard plows
thcnIin use. Having procured some saw
plate steel from Chicago, he proceeded
to hammer out with his own hand on
the anvil, the first cast-steel plow that
was ever made, and the only kind that
would turn the alluvial soil of the Miss
issipi valley. 1t was an era in plow
making. Up to this time, q plow that
would not clog was unknown, and it
was such stride forward, and found
such welcome from the farmers of the
country, that from then until now the
problem has been how to supply the de-
mand for the John Deere plows. The
plow was success, and made its man
ufacturer money, which was used as
fast as made, for many years, in enlarg-
ing works and perfecting still greater
improvements. The same energy char
acterized his business management that
was apparent in his shops, and he ex-
tended his trade to remote points, To
better accommodate the wide and con.
tinually increasing trade, he sold out
his Grand dc Tour shops, and removed
to Moline, ILL.,, in 1S47, where is per-
haps as fine a water power as there is in
the world, and where the Mississipp
river and its tributaries, and the grea
railroads afford the greatest facilities
for obtaining raw materials for the
shops, as well as distributing the finish
ed plows to the markets of the world,
and the doors of the farmers. The
house of Deere IL Co., Moline, ILL.,, OF
which Mr.. Deere is the founder and its
present head, is one of the largest man.
ufacturing concerns in the country, and
probably the largest plow manufacture
ing firm in the world, making, as they
do, over 100 different kinds. Although
Mr.. Deere is getting well along in years
he is in the enjoyment of good health
and vigor, and has not withdraw
wholly from the activities of business
though he has educated a corps of aidl
in the work that can take up his mantle
when he lays ii off, and not only rctail
for the house its present status, bu
keep it in the vanguard of progress.
lie is member of the Congregation
al church and gave six thousand dol
lors towards building a church in Mo
line. He gives to the American Sunda,
School Union two or three hundred
dollars year to establish Sunda,
schools in the far west, and pays th
Union seven hundred dollars to suppor
a missionary to travel and take care @
these Sunday schools. AS he has live,
in Middlebury, he feels an interest i
its institutions and generously gave fl
I ty dollars towards building the chape
and Sunday school room tor the Episcc
pal church of this place.