John Deere developed the first American cast-steel plow. He was
born in 1804 in Vermont. He learned about steel when working for a blacksmith.
When the settlers began moving west, the plows they had been using did
not work well in the prairie soil. The soil would stick to the plow and
the farmer would have to stop often and clean it. Soil did not stick to
John's steel plow. That made the farmer's work much easier.
Soon John was selling thousands of plows a year. He started his own plow
company in Illinois. His incorporated company is still in business today.
In fact, the name of his company is Deere and Company.
Below is an example of a steel plow like John Deere invented.
John Deere's invention had to be pulled by a horse or mule.
Research other great inventors at http://inventors.about.com
