Historical Significance

John Deere, an Illinois blacksmith and manufacturer, designed the first cast steel plow in 1837, which made it possible for the farmers on the Great Plains to plow the tough prairie ground. Known as "the Sod Buster," Deere's steel plow contributed to opening up the prairies for farming because it was able to cut through soil without clogging. Because the steel plow was able to cut through the soil easier, it did not need as much energy and could be pulled by horses instead of oxen. By 1855, John Deere was selling more than 10,000 steel plows a year.