Deere & Company
Our activities as a nation are industrial, not military.
American history can furnish no subject more inspiring than the
achievements of men whose life stories are told in the growth of the
industries which they alone created, especially when those industries have
developed into national or international importance, as a result of
constructive policies.
Military achievement is a fruitful source of patriotic inspiration, but
should he drawn upon with caution. It is fitting that on-coming
generations should draw a portion of their inspirations from the soldiers
of industry among whom they must cast their lot.
Men who build up great industries, give employment to working men, and
wrest trade from foreign countries, should be as much objects of national
admiration as military heroes.
After all, the real civilization of a country is measured by its
industries and not by the size or efficiency of its armies.
Progress results from the birth of new desires and the growth of new
necessities. Satisfying these new desires and supplying these new
necessities call forth men of genius who devise the ways and means and lay
the foundations for new industries.
The necessity for, a plow that would scour in the black, sticky prairie
soil of the west enlisted the genius and energy of John Deere, who
invented the steel plow, which is now the corner stone of the great
manufacturing industry of Deere and Company. Like other men who have
achieved success, he had an uphill fight. The story of the pluck and
energy displayed and of the obstacles over-come until success was finally
realized, constitutes an important chapter in our history.
While John Deere did not begin work on the steel plow until after he was
thirty years of age, his previous experience had much to do with his
success in this, the greatest effort of his life. He was a natural
mechanic and a thoroughly trained blacksmith. He also gained considerable
experience that proved helpful in later years, while making hoes and other
farm tools.
In 1837 Mr. Deere joined the great stream of hardy settlers then pouring
into the west, where opportunities for gaining fortune seemed unlimited.
He landed in Grand Detour, Illinois, with his experiences and about
seventy-five dollars in cash.
He immediately began to work at his trade, and coming in daily contact
with fanners soon learned that their greatest need was a plow that would
scour in their soil. His active mind began to work on the problem of
producing such a plow, and is was not long before he had a solution. The
first steel plow was constructed. It proved a success. A new epoch in
agriculture was ushered in and a new and great industry dates from that
time.
The expression, "new epoch," is used advisedly. In 1837, when John Deere
built his first. steel plow, American farms did not produce enough to
supply home consumption. The ground was possessed of virgin fertility. but
implements were so crude that the vast areas available could not be
prepared profitably for seeding. The steel plow did more than any other
agency to turn the tide of affairs. Now, thanks to its use, this country
is the greatest exporter of food stuffs, our farms producing a large
surplus over and above our daily wants. The handling of this surplus
provides employment for an army of working men and is the basic support of
most of the great industries for which we are justly famous.
The industry created out of an idea in a private blacksmith shop, has
grown hand in hand with agriculture until it has attained the present
imposing magnitude of Deere and Company. Its products are known the world
over and the name of John Deere ranks with those of Fulton. Watt, Whitney
and others of equal importance.
Strange as it may seem, the first difficulty in marketing the new steel
plows was to get farmers to try them. Several manufacturers had taken
advantage of the demand for a self-polishing plow, to market plows which
were said to scour, but in reality would not.
John Deere stenciled his plows "self polisher," and displayed them in
front of his shop. Passing farmers would look at them and remark:
"self-polisher be d___d, there never will be a plow that will scour in
this prairie soil." Mr. Deere on hearing such a remark would ask,
"stranger, where do you live?" On being told, he would reply, "take this
plow home with you and try it. If it does not scour. I will send and get
it without any expense to you. If it does scour, I want you to pay me for
it." Even such liberal terms interested only a few at first, the rest
preferring not to be bothered with trying an implement which they were
sure would not work. Only two plows were put out in 1838, and but ten in
1839. After this, however, the demand increased very rapidly and the great
difficulty was to supply it. In fact, at no time has the demand for John
Deere plows been completely supplied, which accounts for the steady,
healthy growth in their manufacture.
It soon became apparent that Grand De-tour, because of its lack of power
and transportation facilities, was not a suitable place for a large plow
manufacturing industry. In those days there were no railroads. Water was
the only economical source of power and avenue of transportation.
Mr. Deere, together with Mr. Tate, his foreman, traveled about the country
looking for a desirable location. They finally decided on Moline,
Illinois, and moved there in 1847, being attracted by the excellent water
power and transportation facilities afforded by the Mississippi River at
that point.
The manufacture of plows was begun immediately, and by the Autumn of 1848,
the business had grown to such an extent that it became necessary to form
a more efficient organization. Mr. J. M. Gould, who was then a member of
the firm of Deere, Tate and Gould, proceeded to organize the office force,
and establish a system of accounts. He also took hold of the selling end
of the business, and carried out the plans for financing the company on a
larger scale than before.
Merchants in those days would not buy plows outright, as they did other
articles of merchandise. It was, therefore, necessary to leave the plows
at the various agencies to be sold on. commission. They were to be paid
for at the time of sale, but many farmers gave their notes instead of
cash. Dealers would not advance anything on these notes and it was
necessary to wait until their maturity in order to get money.
In the face of such conditions, and the lack of local banks, it was often
difficult to finance the firm. Money had to be borrowed mostly from
individuals. Largely for these reasons, there was no pay-day for the
employes. Plows were traded to the merchants of Moline, Rock Island,
Davenport, Muscatine and other nearby towns and orders given on them to
the workmen for what they wanted. Money was never paid out for wages,
unless an employe left or was discharged. In such cases, any wages due
were settled for in cash.
It was also difficult to transfer money, because exchange could be
purchased only occasionally. In the summer time money was sent to St.
Louis for this purpose by the steamboat clerks, but in winter, even this
convenience was cut off.
Another difficulty was to get the plows to the various agencies. It was
necessary to ship them by river to distributing points and then haul them
by team to the merchants throughout the interior. This was a slow and
uncertain process, but the only one available.
These illustrations serve to show the inconveniences that, in those days,
handicapped the conduct of a business of more than local consequence.
However, each difficulty and discouragement was surmounted. John Deere
plows were winning their way and the firm gathered additional strength
with every victory over these adverse conditions.
In 1852, both Mr. Tate and Mr. Gould retired from the" firm, and Mr. Deere
continued the business alone. The demand for his plows steadily increased
and the output was increased as fast as possible, but could never be made
to equal the demand, a condition which still exists. In 1857 ten thous-and
plows were manufactured. This was considered an enormous output in those
days, and it was, conditions considered.
By 1868 John Deere's business had grown to such proportions that a more
complete organization of the manufacturing and selling departments became
necessary. Accordingly Deere and Company was incorporated, with John Deere
as president, C. H. Deere, his son, as vice-president and general manager,
and S. H. Velie as secretary.
Deere and Company's growth has always been steady, sure, and in response
to a demand for its products that has retrained in advance of its ability
to supply. . The company has grown from an idea developed in a little
country blacksmith shop, through the factory stage, into a great industry
with magnificent manufacturing and selling organizations. It is a fitting
monument to John Deere, its founder, and C. H. Deere, whose genius for
organization made it the great industry it now is.
Today the floor space of Deere and Company's factory equals the area of a
good sized farm and a complete implement is turned out every thirty
seconds of the working year. In addition to this, over a million plow
shares are made annually to equip John Deere plows already in use. This
one item alone exceeds the entire output of many plow factories.
Facilities are ample for shipping fifty complete car loads of implements a
day. The system of overhead tracks, upon which implements and parts are
conveyed from one department to the other, is so perfect that no handling
is necessary from the time they leave the paint shop until in front of the
car door for shipment.
Great distributing companies have been organized in the principal centers
throughout the country, some of these companies being the largest of their
kind in the world.
The Deere organizations furnish a livelihood to about twenty thousand
people, and cover the civilized world in their operations. Wherever the
American citizen goes, he finds that John Deere plows have preceded him.
Agricultural success makes the railroads possible and keeps the wheels of
industry and commerce in constant motion. The steel plow made agriculture
a success. It emancipated the farmer from bondage to the soil, enabled him
to build public schools in which to educate his children and comfortable
homes in which to enjoy the comforts of life.
When history finally casts up events and determines what is worth while,
the faces of John and C. H. Deere will be seen in the hall of fame.
The industry which the one created and the other developed will be an
object to which every true American will point with pride.
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908