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First Steel Plow, The

CITY:

Grand Detour

COUNTY:

Ogle

DEDICATED BY:

The Illinois State Historical Society

DEDICATION DATE:

January 1, 1963 at 6:00:00 AM

The marker is located in Grand Detour on the grounds of John Deere Interpretation Center at 8334 South Clinton Street.

In his blacksmith shop located on this lot, John Deere made the first successful steel plow in 1837. In contrast to previous models, Deere’s plow, with its steel share and carefully shaped mold board, turned the sticky black earth polishing itself clean and thus helped open the vast rich prairies to agricultural development.

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