In 1842, Jerome Increase Case left his home in Oswego County, New York and headed to Wisconsin with six ground hog threshers. On his way west, Case sold five of the six threshers, keeping one for himself. A groundhog thresher had a spiked cylinder that rotated inside a concave side. These hand powered machines separated the straw from the grain, yet the grain still the chaff had to be cleaned from the grain by using a winnowing basket. Settling in Rochester, Wisconsin, Case began working to develop a machine that would more efficiently separate straw from the wheat kernels. To manufacture his machines, he planned to build a factory in Rochester but was denied water rights to set up a mill race and wheel on the Fox River. So, Case loaded up his business and moved to Racine, which became the hub of is farm equipment and machinery business. In 1880, Case incorporate the J.I. Case Threshing Company. Case was blessed with vision and an understanding that farmers needed a wide variety of equipment. Along with the threshing machines J I Case Company produced steam traction engines, gas engines, road machinery and even automobiles. Every company needs a trademark and in 1865, Case adopted the Civil War eagle “Old Abe”. Old Abe first appeared on an ordinary perch and later he perched on a globe signifying J I Case’ international reach. “Old Abe” is seen on the right side of the sign.