Time Traveler: Collecting Horse-Drawn Wagons

By Loretta Sorensen
Published on April 1, 2008
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A peddler’s wagon.
A peddler’s wagon.
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A Triumph Special wagon made by John Deere. After World War I, the John Deere Triumph was advertised as a “wagon that will meet the most popular requirements for a good wagon at a moderate price.” It was equipped with a 10-foot-6-inch double box. Spring seat and footboards were offered as options.
A Triumph Special wagon made by John Deere. After World War I, the John Deere Triumph was advertised as a “wagon that will meet the most popular requirements for a good wagon at a moderate price.” It was equipped with a 10-foot-6-inch double box. Spring seat and footboards were offered as options.
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A portion of J.R.’s collection of spring seats.
A portion of J.R.’s collection of spring seats.
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A rare Deere & Webber Co. spring seat.
A rare Deere & Webber Co. spring seat.
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Another John Deere wagon in J.R.’s collection.
Another John Deere wagon in J.R.’s collection.
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 A John Deere wagon (complete with spring seat) from the collection of J.R. Pearson.
 A John Deere wagon (complete with spring seat) from the collection of J.R. Pearson.
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This dray wagon is one of J.R.’s favorites.
This dray wagon is one of J.R.’s favorites.
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The horse-drawn hearse built by J.R. and his friend Loren Schrier. “We’ve had a lot of compliments on it,” J.R. says.
The horse-drawn hearse built by J.R. and his friend Loren Schrier. “We’ve had a lot of compliments on it,” J.R. says.
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J.R. restored this Standard Oil tank wagon.
J.R. restored this Standard Oil tank wagon.

Just one buggy ride with a friend in 1990 convinced J.R. Pearson that he needed to find his own horse and buggy so he could enjoy the experience of a leisurely drive at his own convenience.

“It was so peaceful and quiet,” the northwest Iowa farmer remembers. “We just went for about half a mile. When we got back to my farm, I told my friend, ‘I have to have one of these.’ He told me he’d sell me that one.”

That’s how J.R. acquired his first horse-drawn vehicle, a John Deere Reliance buggy. In the following years, J.R.’s woodworking skills led him to build wagons for the horses he was buying. After making a few vehicles of his own, he became interested in wagons he saw at auctions.

“The first wagon I bought was a John Deere,” he says. “I didn’t plan that, it just happened. It cost me $75. But since I started out with John Deere, I stayed with it until I had a whole series of John Deere wagons.”

J.R. has acquired 16 triple-box wagons made by a variety of companies and sold by Deere & Co. as early as 1881, including Old Hickory, Mitchell, Moline, Fish Bros., Wisconsin, Standard, Smith and Davenport. His John Deere collection includes four triple-box wagons, an Ajax, Triumph, Triumph Special, regular John Deere and several 802s with flare boxes. Other pieces in his collection are from the Stoughton, Newton and Moline lines. J.R. also has a Standard Oil wagon he restored, as well as a dray wagon and peddler’s wagon.

“I have 35 spring seats with different wagon company names on them,” he says. “One is a Deere & Webber, which is pretty rare. I have John Deere wagons that range from the old triple boxes to the 802 and 953. I even have three John Deere flare boxes, which could someday be scarce.”

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