John Froelich

In this village, John Froelich built the first gasoline tractor that propelled itself backward as well as forward, an achievement with far-reaching effects on modern agricultural history. It moved out of this village and into the world in 1892. Later that year, Mr. Froelich joined with others in organizing the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company, which later became the John Deere Tractor Company.

Iowa · United States