Daniel Best

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Daniel Best (born March 20, 1838 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio) was an adventurer, inventor, and entrepreneur that left his mark on history by leaving a legacy of agriculture machinery that culminated with a business merger that launched an icon in heavy machinery.

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[edit] Early years

In 1839, Daniel Best’s father, John, moved the family to Missouri. There he built a saw mill and proceeded to cut lumber for the local pioneers to use in building their homes. The first nine years of Daniel's life were spent here and is probably where he received his interest in logging and machines.

In 1847, the family moved again to Lee County Iowa, here they took up farming and raised stock. In 1859 Daniel, itching for adventure and wanting to follow his brother, joined a wagon train heading west to Fort Walla Walla, Washington, employed as an ox tender and a sharpshooter.

[edit] Life in the West

As was the case for many other Americans of his day, the West changed Daniel Best’s life - but not how he expected. Along the way, he went from fighting Indians to befriending Indians. Once the wagon train reached its destination, Daniel went his own way to try his hand at gold mining followed by working in sawmills and eventually building his own sawmill.

While working in his sawmill, an accident occurred that changed the course of his life; he lost the first three fingers of his left hand. It was at this time in his life, as he would say later, that he began to use his head. He then moved to Sutter County, California to work with his brother, Henry Best, on his ranch. This is where he found his true calling as an inventor.

[edit] Inventions

Over a period of forty-three years, Daniel Best received 41 patents, ranging from an improved washing machine to combine harvesters. His first invention, patented April 25, 1871, was a portable grain cleaner and separator, prior to this, farmers had to haul their grain to town to have it cleaned and separated; now the cleaner and separator could be brought to the grain. This invention won first prize at the California State Fair in 1871.

While continuing to produce grain cleaners Daniel began experimenting with the idea of combining grain harvesting, threshing and cleaning in one machine. He was successful in 1885 when he sold his first horse powered combined harvester. This new addition to his product line gave him the capital and the means to move onto the next major invention. It was actually an improvement on an existing design, but is still one of his better known inventions.

[edit] Traction Engine

Daniel Best, as with most industrialists, was always looking to improve, simplify, or create pieces of equipment that would ease operations. It began when he saw the need for an improved traction engine, what we call a steam engine today, to pull his combine harvesters. He first purchased the rights to build a successful steam traction engine from Remington of Woodburn, Oregon in 1888. He immediately began to make improvements until his engines were known as the strongest most dependable and longest lasting engines around.

Around 1891, Daniel began to experiment with gas engines to replace the steam engines on his tractors. He developed his first gas powered tractor in 1896. To prove its superiority, he staged a tug of war between his steam engine and his new gas powered engine. Not only did the gas engine win, but it pulled the steam engine around the block. As word spread of his dependable traction engines, he received more and more orders from clients all around the world, from as far away as Russia. At this time, Daniel was selling $400,000 worth of machinery per year.

[edit] Retirement

In 1908, at the age of 70, Daniel retired. His son, C.L. Best ("Leo"), continued in his father’s footsteps, and with his father still giving advice, continued to experiment and improve on their tractors.

One improvement made was the track laying design. This type of tractor moved on rolling tracks instead of wheels. He made several different models, but two really stood out as notable. The two models; the 30 hp field tractor, and the 60 hp field tractor were well received and highly praised by the farming community. These tractors would eventually launch a new line of tractors that are still used today.

[edit] Caterpillar Tractor Company

In 1925, the C.L.Best Tractor Company and the Holt Manufacturing Company, who also manufactured tractors and was experimenting with the track laying design, merged together. Leo became the chairman of the board of this new company, a position he held until 1951, and oversaw it to become the largest manufacturer of heavy machinery and farm equipment world wide. The company they formed is called the Caterpillar Tractor Company.

[edit] References