Automobiles, engines, and tractors. The Illinois Quad Cities was an early 20th century tech hub, racing to put the internal combustion engine on roads and farms.
The Illinois Quad Cities: A Different Kind of Motor City
Author: Neil Dahlstrom
John Deere archivist and historian. Author of The John Deere Story, Lincoln's Wrath, and the upcoming book on the birth of the farm tractor.
Did William Butterworth Oppose John Deere’s First Tractor?
For decades, William Butterworth, John Deere's third president, has been the scapegoat, the person to blame for Deere's “late” entrance into the tractor business. I think it’s time to let him off the hook. Deere's tractor development program began in 1912. The industry at that time was nascent. There were thirty-one manufacturers with industry sales … Continue reading Did William Butterworth Oppose John Deere’s First Tractor?
Top Ten John Deere History Books
'Tis the season for a list, and in the spirit of the season, here are my top ten books about John Deere history. I’ve spent twenty years providing historical research services in the John Deere Archives, and over time, strong subject trends appear. Based on those requests, here are my top ten books on the … Continue reading Top Ten John Deere History Books