In 1909 four Mielke brothers bought the remains of a steam traction engine.  They planned to use it to create the one-man gas tractor of their dreams.  After some experimentation they realized that they could build a better tractor if they started from the ground up. 

Their experiments led William Mielke to found the Farm Horse Tractor Works of Hartford, SD in 1911.  From then through 1918 his factory produced about 180 Farm Horse Tractors in South Dakota.  

Farm Horse Tractor Works was unique among other small tractor manufacturers: they had their own foundry. With the exception of the engine, they manufactured their own parts.  This made improvements and changes in the tractor design much easier.

By 1918 it became apparent that they needed more capitol to continue tractor production.  Businessmen from Guttenberg, Iowa came to Mielke with the promise of better facilities. In just the first month they raised $50,000 to bring the Farm Horse Tractor Works to their town. Only 70 tractors were manufactured during their four years of business in Gutenberg.

By 1922 the ever-increasing pressures from Fordson and International Harvester made it doubtful that the Mielke’s tractor company could ever be profitable.  With the announcement of a sheriff’s sale on March 12, 1923, Farm Horse Tractor Works closed its doors for the last time.

Joe Habeger of Madison, SD donated this tractor to the State Agricultural Heritage Museum.  As a result of this significant gift he received the 2002 Donor of the Year award.  Habeger is one of the founders of Prairie Village, a historic village with an annual threshing event every August, near Madison, SD.