William Deere Sr. stuffed money in to an envelope as he waited for a ship to England. On a letter he wrote something like this "Dear Sarah, here is some money to help feed the children. Today I am going to London, signed, William Deere Sr." William Deere Sr. would never be seen again. Most people think that William Deere Sr. died of a deadly sickness that was running wild on the ship; others think that they crashed in a tempest. But the truth will still remain; John Deere would never get to really have any idea of what his father looked like
      John, who was only four when his father left probably didn't remember anything about his father. John Deere was born on February 4, 1804. John was the second youngest of the five Deere children. His two older brothers were William Jr. and Francis. John's other brother George was the youngest of the boys. John also had a sister named Betsy. Of course John still had his mother, Sarah, who did her best to keep the family alive. They never starved, but there were some times when dinner wasn't served. Sarah was a knitter and the boys helped. William and Francis would buy supplies, and John and George would deliver the finished items.
      John loved blacksmithing though, and his mom knew it. Everyday after he was done with his chores he would go and help the blacksmith for free. When John turned seventeen he was asked to become an apprentice blacksmith. John was happy, but he felt that there would be a problem. John would have to live in a different house while he worked there, and he was not sure if his mother would let him. Shockingly enough, his mom said he could go. John soon packed his bags and walked all the way to the house. The next day John was awoken at six AM. John was always the first one to get to the smithy and the last one to leave. Rumors were flying around that the blacksmith's daughter and John were in love, but John's mind was set on blacksmithing and blacksmithing only.
     By 1825 John had worked up a reputation. People that had ever seen him work said that he worked with a magic hammer. Farmers brought plows that were broken and when they got them back they were better than new. John was now twenty-one and had finished being an apprentice. He was getting job notices. Finally he narrowed it down to two. David Wells and Ira Allen. They were both respected blacksmiths', but he could not make up his mind. Finally he decided to work for both. It was an unusual arrangement, but neither smith complained. During this time John met a young girl named Demarius Lamb. John was very interested in this woman and began to write letters. Even though John did not spell well in his notes to her, she seemed not to notice. The next year John Deere's mother died. It was a hard time in John's life and Demarius helped him through it. John was determined to marry Demarius, but the $15 per month earned as a blacksmith could hardly support a wife. By 1825 John had worked up a reputation. People that had ever seen him work said that he worked with a

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