Manufactured in DeSmet, South Dakota
Founder: G. W. Elliot & Son
1913 Dakota Tractor
Manufactured in DeSmet, South Dakota
Founder: G. W. Elliot & Son
The
“Dakota” tractor was first manufactured in 1911, on the south edge of the
small prairie town of De Smet, South Dakota, made world famous as the home of
Laura Ingals Wilder. G. W. Elliott
and his son Paul began building “Dakota” tractors in a converted 2-story
livestock barn. Power for their
shop equipment came from a horizontal-shaft wind turbine of GW’s own design.
No production records exist for the years 1911 – 1918 while the company
was located in DeSmet but from testimonials and newspaper accounts of sales an
estimate of around 20 tractors seems appropriate.
Unable
to get the necessary funding for expansion, GW began looking for a new home for
his company. With the blessing of
Watertown businessmen and bankers, in 1918 GW made a deal with the Pope
Manufacturing Co. Watertown, South Dakota, to manufacture “Dakota” tractors
in a soon to be completed tractor factory.
Prior to this partnership Watertown had invested heavily in an Iowa
tractor manufacture, The Farmers Oil Tractor Co., building them a new factory on
the northwest side of town if they would relocate to South Dakota.
The factory was nearly complete when the deal feel through. GW’s “Dakota” tractor filled the vacancy and calmed
investors concerns.
Within the first year Pope Manufacturing Co. had taken over as manufacturer of the Dakota tractor. Over the next couple of years many newspaper articles were written about the up and coming company. Thanks to these articles much is known about the company’s plans and dreams but very little is known as far as sales and production go. In the February 24, 1919 Watertown Public Opinion newspaper the company sheds some light, dim light, on their tractor production numbers. “The production in 1919 was seven times greater than in 1918 and for 1920 will be ten times greater than 1919, according to present indications. Orders are now on file for over twice the number of tractors manufactured and sold last year.” 1922 was the last year for Pope’s “Dakota” tractor. The new tractor factory was abandoned and set empty for 18 years until it reopened as the South Dakota Livestock Sales Co.
