He was one of the chief businessmen of Moline. Charles was born on March 28, 1837 in Hancock Addison Co. Vermont . When he was a year old his father John Deere moved the family to Grand de Tour, Illinois. At the age of twelve his father then moved the family to Moline. It was there that the John Deere Plow Works made the town of Moline famous.

Charles attended school in Moline then attended the Davenport Academy ( Iowa college) for two years. He then attended Knoxcollege in Galesburg for a year. After that year he moved to Chicago to attend Bell’s Commercial College where he graduated in 1853.

After graduating he returned to Moline and became an assistant bookkeeper in his father’s office. He continued as a bookkeeper and “traveling man” for the company until 1868 when the corporation of Deere & Co. was established. Charles became the vice-president and general manager. Under his management Deere & Co. Plow Works became the largest institution of its kind in the world.and made Moline a prominent name in the world of industry.

He married Mary L. Dickson on September 16, 1862 in Chicago. They had two daughters Anna C(Aug. 20, 1864) and Katherine M.(Oct. 1866)

Charles Deere was known as a shrewd, quick and very smart. He was considered a business genius with excellent business ability. He was very friendly, honest and well liked.

He was also the head of the Deere and Messur Corn Planter Works and a large stock holder of Dimock, Gould Co. As a member of Deere & Co. he had extensive interests in St. Louis, Kansas City and Council Bluffs. The the Gov. Cullom appointed him President of the Board of Labor Statistics of Illinois.

Charles died on October 29, 1907 the empire that he had helped build was then passed on to his son-in-law William Butterworth.

back to home