Leonard Andrus founded the village of Grand Detour, Illinois, in 1835 and served as an adjudicator of land claims, ferry operator, carrier of mail and travelers, first commissioner of schools in Ogle County, manufacturer, vestryman, and legislator. In 1837 Leonard Andrus and John Deere built the first Grand Detour steel moldboard plough. The new plough was made in Deere's shop in limited numbers until about 1843, when Andrus established on this site a plough manufactory that he operated until his death in 1867. At different times his partners included John Deere, H.H. Paine, O.C. Lathrop, Amos Bosworth, and Theron Cumins. The product of this enterprise stimulated farm development throughout the prairie states and was the basis of the steel plow industry.

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Grand Detour, Illinois · USA