Daniel Best
Encyclopedia
Daniel Best was an American adventurer, inventor, and entrepreneur known for pioneering agriculture machinery and heavy machinery.
. 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, desiring 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.
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, where he discovered his calling as an inventor.
to combine harvester
s. His first invention, patented April 25, 1871, was a portable grain cleaner and separator, prior to this, farmer
s 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.
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 some now call a steam tractor
, 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 in North America.
Around 1891, Daniel began to experiment with gas engines
to replace the steam engine
s 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 tractor and his new gas-powered engine. Not only did the gas-powered engine win, but it pulled the steam tractor around the block. As word spread of his dependable traction engines, he received more and more orders from clients all around the world. At this time, Daniel was selling $400,000 worth of machinery per year.
("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.
, who also manufactured tractors and had trademarked the Caterpillar brand, merged to form the Caterpillar Tractor Company. Leo became the chairman of the board
of this new company, a position he held until 1951, overseeing its growth into the largest manufacturer of heavy machinery and farm equipment
worldwide.
in Oakland
Early years
In 1839, Daniel Best’s father, John, moved the family to MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. There he built a saw mill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
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
Lee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 35,862 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,205 housing units, of which 14,610 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, here they took up farming and raised stock. In 1859 Daniel, desiring adventure, and wanting to follow his brother, joined a wagon train
Wagon train
A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. In the American West, individuals traveling across the plains in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance, as is reflected in numerous films and television programs about the region, such as Audie Murphy's Tumbleweed and Ward Bond...
heading west to Fort Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
, employed as an ox tender and a sharpshooter.
Life in the West
As was the case for many other AmericansUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of his day, the West changed Daniel Best’s life — but not how he expected. Along the way, he went from fighting Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
to befriending Indians. Once the wagon train reached its destination, Daniel went his own way to try his hand at gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
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
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
. 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
Sutter County, California
Sutter County is a county located along the Sacramento River in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of state capital Sacramento. Sutter County is part of the Greater Sacramento CSA....
to work with his brother, Henry Best, on his ranch, where he discovered his calling as an inventor.
Inventions
Over a period of forty-three years, Daniel Best received 41 patents, ranging from an improved washing machineWashing machine
A washing machine is a machine designed to wash laundry, such as clothing, towels and sheets...
to combine harvester
Combine harvester
The combine harvester, or simply combine, is a machine that harvests grain crops. The name derives from the fact that it combines three separate operations, reaping, threshing, and winnowing, into a single process. Among the crops harvested with a combine are wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn ,...
s. His first invention, patented April 25, 1871, was a portable grain cleaner and separator, prior to this, farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s 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
Threshing
Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of cereal grain from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it. It is the step in grain preparation after harvesting and before winnowing, which separates the loosened chaff from the grain...
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
Product lining
Product lining is the marketing strategy of offering for sale several related products. Unlike product bundling, where several products are combined into one, lining involves offering several related products individually. A line can comprise related products of various sizes, types, colors,...
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.
Traction engine
Traction engine
A traction engine is a self-propelled steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin tractus, meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any traction engine is to draw a load behind it...
, what some now call a steam tractor
Steam tractor
A steam tractor is a vehicle powered by a steam engine which is used for pulling.In North America, the term steam tractor usually refers to a type of agricultural tractor powered by a steam engine, used extensively in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.In Great Britain, the term steam tractor...
, to pull his combine harvesters. He first purchased the rights to build a successful steam traction engine from Remington of Woodburn, Oregon
Woodburn, Oregon
Woodburn is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated in 1889, the community had been platted in 1871 after the arrival of the railroad. The city is located in the northern end of the Willamette Valley along Interstate 5 between Portland and Salem...
in 1888. He immediately began to make improvements until his engines were known as the strongest, most dependable, and longest-lasting engines in North America.
Around 1891, Daniel began to experiment with gas engines
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
to replace the steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
s on his tractors. He developed his first gas-powered tractor in 1896. To prove its superiority, he staged a tug of war
Tug of war
Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...
between his steam tractor and his new gas-powered engine. Not only did the gas-powered engine win, but it pulled the steam tractor around the block. As word spread of his dependable traction engines, he received more and more orders from clients all around the world. At this time, Daniel was selling $400,000 worth of machinery per year.
Retirement
In 1908, at the age of 70, Daniel retired. His son, Clarence Leo BestC. L. Best
thumb|Patent drawing of the C. L. Best autotractor from 1915Clarence Leo Best , usually known as C. L. Best, was a pioneering tractor company executive. C. L. Best founded the C. L. Best Gas Traction Company in 1910 thumb|Patent drawing of the C. L. Best autotractor from 1915Clarence Leo 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.
Caterpillar Tractor Company
In 1925, the C. L. Best Tractor Company and the Holt Manufacturing CompanyHolt Manufacturing Company
The Holt Manufacturing Company traces its roots to the 1883 establishment of Stockton Wheel Service in Stockton, California, United States. Benjamin Holt, who was later credited with patenting the first workable crawler tractor design, incorporated the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1892...
, who also manufactured tractors and had trademarked the Caterpillar brand, merged to form the Caterpillar Tractor Company. Leo became the chairman of the board
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of this new company, a position he held until 1951, overseeing its growth into the largest manufacturer of heavy machinery and farm equipment
Farm equipment
Agricultural machinery is any kind of machinery used on a farm to help with farming. The best-known example of this kind is the tractor.-Soil cultivation:*Cultivator*Cultipacker*Chisel plow*Mulch tiller*Harrow**Spike harrow**Drag harrow...
worldwide.
Family and personal life
On 29 August 1872, Daniel Best married Meta Johanna Steinkamp in Marysville, Yuba County, California. They had nine children including Leo. He was interred at Evergreen CemeteryEvergreen Cemetery (Oakland, California)
Evergreen Cemetery is a cemetery, crematorium and mausoleum in Oakland, California, near the Eastmont Town Center and Mills College. The cemetery is on a small hill, with a large combined mausoleum, crematorium and chapel at the top of the hill. It is the second largest cemetery in Oakland, after...
in Oakland
See also
- Best Manufacturing CompanyBest Manufacturing CompanyThe Best Manufacturing Company of San Leandro, California was a manufacturer of farm machinery, now probably most well known for its steam tractors....
- C. L. BestC. L. Bestthumb|Patent drawing of the C. L. Best autotractor from 1915Clarence Leo Best , usually known as C. L. Best, was a pioneering tractor company executive. C. L. Best founded the C. L. Best Gas Traction Company in 1910 thumb|Patent drawing of the C. L. Best autotractor from 1915Clarence Leo Best...
— son of Daniel, and founder of new company from 1910 to 1925
External links
- Photo of 1896 Best steam tractor + combine harvester (plus Daniel Best himself)
- Photo of Daniel Best – (appears on several sites, this seems the clearest)
