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Back ground
- Born in Williamstown, NY 1819
- Became a manager of a threshing coupany at the age of 16.
- Founded what is now CNH Industrials
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Early Life
In 1840, Jerome started a small business threshing his neighbors' crops with the horse-powered devices. -
Early Life
In the summer of 1842, he bought six of the machines on credit and traveled first to Chicago by ship. On his way north to Rochester, Wisconsin he sold five and kept one for his own business. Through the winter he worked on improvements to the thresher, but the new model was not ready for the 1843 harvest. -
Early Life
By May 1844, the new model which did a better job of fully separating the grain was working. Since Rochester did not have water power available, he moved to Racine, Wisconsin. -
Racine
He first manufactured the machines in a small shop in Racine, and then built a three-story brick factory in 1847 on the Root River. -
Racine
By 1855 the plant covered several acres, including a private boat dock on Lake Michigan. In 1856 he was elected mayor of Racine, declined the re-nomination the next year, but was elected again in 1858 and 1860. -
Racine
He often financed the machines with high interest rates. This worked until the panic of 1857 and unreliable state-issued paper money caused many customers to default. Case accepted animals, supplies, and land instead of cash. At the start of the American Civil War, farmers would often walk away from their debts to enlist, sometimes not returning. -
Horse
As he turned over the business to other partners, he spent more time on breeding race horses on his Hickory Grove Farm. Harness racing was the sport of choice among the wealthy in the 1880s. One of his favorite horses was named Jay-Eye-See, a pun on Case's initials. The black gelding, broke the mile trotting record of 2:10 at Narragansett Park in 1884 -
Horse
After winning many other races, the horse was injured and retired in August 1889. -
Death
- Passed away December 22, 1891
- Buried in Mound cemetery in Racine
- Known as one of the leaders of the Agricultural Revolution
