John Deere

About

American entrepreneur who invented the steel plow and founded Deere & Company.

Before Fame

He began working as a blacksmith's apprentice at age 17.

Trivia

His company John Deere was worth more than $40 billion in 2010.

Family Life

He had nine children - Francis Albert, Jeanette, Ellen Sarah, Frances Alma, Charles, Emma Charlotte, Hiram Alvin, Alice Marie and Mary Frances - from two separate marriages.

Associated With

He and Henry Ford were both Gilded Age entrepreneurs.