The original "tractors" were called "steam traction engines", to distinguish them from the steam engines you would pull around with a team of horses to where yo

The original "tractors" were called "steam traction engines", to distinguish them from the steam engines you would pull around with a team of horses to where you needed them. There were a variety of earlier pieces of farm machines that could be driven by treadmills and belts; steam engines could naturally slot in as a drop-in replacement for the treadmills to power all of your equipment.