William Butterworth (December 18, 1864 - June 1, 1936) served as both president and chairman of Deere & Company.
William Butterworth (December 18, 1864 - June 1, 1936) served as both president and chairman of Deere & Company.
Butterworth was born in Maineville, Ohio, to Congressman Benjamin Butterworth, and graduated from Lehigh University and studied law at the National University School of Law in Washington D.C. [1]
In 1892 Butterworth married Katherine Deere, daughter of Charles Deere (and granddaughter of John Deere). She was the niece of architect Merton Yale Cady. He joined Deere & Company the same year as an assistant buyer. In 1897 he was elected treasurer, and became president after the death of Charles Deere in 1907.
Deere & Company underwent many changes during Butterworth's tenure. In 1910 the board of directors reorganized the company's factories into one unified entity, giving birth to the modern Deere & Company. In 1912 Deere began manufacturing combine harvesters. In 1918 the company purchased Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company and the rights to produce their tractors. Butterworth also implemented a pension system and a benefit and disability program for Deere & Company's employees. [2]
Butterworth retired in 1928 and became the first Chairman of Deere & Company's board, a position he held until his death in 1936. [3]
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