John Deere

John Deere (Deere & Company) — Corporate History

Founding

John Deere was founded in 1837 by blacksmith and inventor John Deere in Grand Detour, Illinois, USA. In response to Midwest farmers' struggles with cast-iron plows that clogged in sticky prairie soil, Deere crafted the first commercially successful self-scouring steel moldboard plow from a polished steel saw blade—a breakthrough that revolutionized American agriculture.

Growth & Incorporation

In 1848, Deere moved the business to Moline, Illinois, on the Mississippi River, to take advantage of water power and river transport. The company was incorporated as Deere & Company in 1868. Under the leadership of John Deere's son, Charles Deere, the firm expanded from plows into a full range of farm implements. In 1918, Deere acquired the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, entering the tractor market with the iconic Waterloo Boy and later the Model D tractor.

Global Presence Today

Headquartered in Moline, Illinois, Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is now the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery, as well as a major producer of construction, forestry, and turf equipment. The company also operates a global financial services arm—John Deere Financial. Its leaping deer trademark, registered in 1876, is the longest continuously used logo among Fortune 500 companies.