Near McGregor in Clayton County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Blacksmith Shop

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 16, 2022

1. Blacksmith Shop Marker

Inscription.

John Froelich invented the very first successful gasoline powered tractor able to proplel itself backward and forward, in 1892, right here in this village named after the Froelich family. The blacksmith, William Mann, assisted with the creation of this first traction engine. Early 1893 John Froelich headed up the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company. In 1913 this company built the Waterloo Boy. John Froelich’s tractor became the forerunner of the John Deere Tractor Company.

John Froelich Nov 24, 1849 - May 23, 1933

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 43° 0.424′ N, 91° 19.291′ W. Marker is near McGregor, Iowa, in Clayton County. It is on Froelich Rd, on the left when traveling east. marker is at the Froelich Museum off Rd X32 at US 52 River Bluffs Scenic Highway /Hiawatha Pioneer Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24397 Froelich Rd, Mc Gregor IA 52157, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northeast Iowa — the Driftless Area

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and in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: John Froelich (a few steps from this marker); The Iron Clad Store & Post Office (a few steps from this marker); The Froelich Train Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); National, Iowa Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.1 miles away); McGregor / Ringling Brothers (approx. 7½ miles away); Bat Caves (approx. 7.6 miles away); Point of Discovery (approx. 8 miles away); Pikes Peak Overlook Landscape Interpretation (approx. 8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McGregor.

Blacksmith Shop and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 16, 2022

2. Blacksmith Shop and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2022, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 384 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 3, 2022, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.