Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-25
WAGON COMPANY
SOLD To DEERES
Business Founded by Rock Is
land Pioneer Changes Own
ership After so Years.
LONG CLOSELY RELATED
Name and Organization to Continue,
With Exception of President w.
A. Rosenfield, Who Retires.

Negotiations that have been pend
ing several weeks between Deere &
Co. and the Moline Wagon company
were consummated today in the trans
fer of the stock and plant of the latter
to the Deere interests. The sale price
is not announced, although 1t is under
stood to have been in excess of
100000 The change in ownership is
effective today. w A. Rosenfield,
president of the Moline Wagon COM
ipany, gave out the following state
lment:
1.-The Moline Wagon company has
been acquired by Deere & Co. Of Mo
line. Negotiations have been pending
for some time, and a proposition ten
dered by Deere & Co. has been accept
ed by the stockholders of this COM
pany.
THE new owners are our largest
customers, purchasing about rs per
cent of our annual output. and as such
are the logical owners of this business.
Drift of the Times.
I'm this day of large undertakings,
it is proper and advisable for large
buyers to control the manufacturing
plants, thus making economies in ad-
ministration, expense, etc.
Because of the close business rela-
itions Of the two companies, CO ing
period Of over 80 years, the poliL Of
both are, In essential features, ide IL
cal. The success Of these policies ~
evidenced by the combined growth of
the plants, and under new manage
ment. there is every reason to believe
the growth will be more rapid in the
future"
Mr.. Rosenne1d to Retire.
With reference to the foregoing, VIII
liam Butterworth, president Of Deere
& Co., said:
"Mr. Rosenfield's statement covers
the situation. Our only regret In &C
curing this business is that Mr. Ro-
senfleld has signfied his desire to
eventually withdraw from it's manage
,ment and business relations of the
most pleasant character, having their
inception with Morris Rosenfield, and
continuing uninterruptedly for so many
years, may thereby be terminated"
Norris ROsenneId Founder.
The late Morris Rosenf1eld, father
of the retiring head Of the concern,
was the founder of the Moline Wagon
company. It had its beginning on
Nineteenth street, Moline, in the early
fifties in a frame shop Of dimensions
of 60x80. Associated with Mr.. Rosen-
field was James First The partner
ship continued until 1872, when stock
company was formed with Mr.. Rosen-
field as president. He remained 1T the
head of the business until 1898, in
which year the son, w. A Rosenfield,
succeeded to the presidency, the foun-
der of the business dying the year fol-
lowing From 1872 until 1884 Charles
A. Benser was a stockholder and Off
Ger in the company. His death &C.
Cured in 1884, and four years later his
interest in the wagon company was &C
quired by Mr. Rosenfield. The bust
ness, under the intelligent manage
ment of its founder, enjoyed a rapid
and substantial growth. The location
was changed to the present site, on
Third avenue, Moline, where the pres
ent plant occupies liz acres of
ground, covered by Is buildings.
capitalization is Now 81 100000.
On the incorporation of the company
in 1872 the capitalization was 100000.
In 1884 this was increased to 100000.
and in 1907 it was made $1,000,O00.
The stock of the company was owned
by the Rosenfield estate, distributed
among Mrs. Julia Rosenfield, Wild
ow of Morris Rosenfield, and her three
children: Walter A. and Charles D.
Rosenfield of this city, and Mrs. Irene
Strauss of New York Several Of the
old employees of the company are the
holders OF small blocks of the stock.