Rock Island

The Rock Island Plow Company roots can be traced back to 1855 when it was part of the Buford & Tate Company; Tate was an early associate of John Deere. In the early 1900s, Rock Island broadened its product offerings and acquired Heider Tractor in 1916. The company introduced innovative tractor designs in the late 1920s, but faced challenges during the Great Depression. Ultimately, Rock Island was sold to J.I. Case in 1937.