By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
NORTH ENGLISH – On Sept. 21, the English Valleys History Center featured a performance by Quad Cities actor Greg Bouljon, who impersonated Iowa businessman Willard Velie. Bouljon, acting in character, told the life story of Velie, the grandson of titular farm implement manufacturer John Deere. He explained that Velie worked as vice president at his family’s company and also managed his own businesses, including carriage and wagon manufacturer Velie Carriage Company and later the automobile manufacturer Velie Motor Company. Veilie was also an early airplane manufacturer. Bouljon explained that Velie died in 1928; the death of his son and successor, Willard Veilie Jr., a year later, as well as the beginning of the Great Depression, spelled the end of the Veilie Motor Company.
