In 1911 G. W. Elliot, originally from Owatonna, Minnesota, started work on building a tractor factory in De Smet, South Dakota. He had lived in De Smet since 1883 and designed and patented the “Dakota” tractor. He and his son Paul traveled as far as Texas to give multiple demonstrations of the tractor. It weighed 4,000 pounds, which was considered a small tractor, and could still pull 21 tons. This new small tractor was a hit! In 1913 G. W. and his son Paul took the tractor to demonstrate its abilities in Mitchell, South Dakota. They had been invited by the “Mitchell Commercial Club” who were interested in having a tractor factory in Mitchell. By 1914 orders were coming in to De Smet from around the world. That year J. D. Pierson, of De Smet, took on the sales part of the business so G. W. and Paul could focus on the manufacturing side of things. Business continued to grow. …show more content…
(This is the current location of South Dakota Livestock Sales on highway 20) The Elliots would manufacture the tractors while the Pope-Wheelock Manufacturing Company would make parts of the traction engine. The name of the tractor was to be changed from the “Dakota” tractor to the “Elliot”. The “Elliot” was to be a version of the “Dakota” with modern features and improvements. In 1918 Pope–Wheelock Manufacturing dropped the Wheelock from its name and became Pope Manufacturing. This new venture between the Elliots and the Popes would happen in a brand new building that could not have been built faster. On March 20, 1918 the factory was open and ready to begin making