John's Later Life

He sent for his family in late 1838, and his family embarked on the six-week journey to Grand Detour. John made his own company and made more steel plows. He moved his operation to Moline, Illinois in 1848. Within a couple of years, John's production was 1600 plows a year. He later passed over management of the business to his oldest surviving son, Charles. In the 1850s John became interested in politics and agreed to be chairman of the county convention. In 1865, his wife, Demarius died. The next year, John traveled to Vermont to marry Demarious' sister Lucenia. In 1873, he became the 2nd mayor of Moline. When his two year term was up, he and his wife frequently visited Vermont. He died on May 17 1886, at 82 years old.