The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-05-16
CYRUS Il. MCCORMICK.

CYRUS H. MCCORMICK.
CHICAGO, May 14.-Early yesterday
morning Mr.. c. II. Mccormick, the million
ARE reaper manufacturer, died at his resi-
dence ON Rush street The deceased was
seyenty-fye years old and has been in bad
health for year. He has been resident
of Chicago ever since 1S47, and came to this
city from Virginia, where he was born in
1909. When but twenty one years old, he
invented the machine which has given his
name world wide repute and has CON
ferred upon mankind inestimable benefits.
Very little was done in The way of manu-
featuring the m achine till 1910, and in the
meantime the young inventor engaged in
the iron-smelting business, which offered
large Held for his ambition and need of
larger profit. His first patent was granted
In 1884, and additional patents were
granted for still more valuable improve
mentS in 1S47 and 1858. In 1859 Hon.
Reverdy johnson, in an argument before
the Commissioner of Patents, said that the
All annual income to the whole country of
$50, 900, 900 at least, which must increase
through all time.
as that of an inventor alone. He was an
active politician, and was for many years
high in the councils of the Democratic
party to which he adhered. For years he
has been member of the State and
National Committees, being Chair
man of the State Central Committee
in 1878, when his friend,
Samuel j. Tilden, was candidate
for the Presidency. Many years ago Mr..
Mccormick was proprietor of the Chica-
go Times, and he has occasionally had a
hand in the furtherance Of more than one
newspaper enterprise. In 1872 he became
proprietor of the Interior, the organ of the
Presbyterian Church in the Northwest, which
was then in semi-collapsed condition, and
he retained his pr0prietorship to the time Of
his death.
1t is generally supposed that Mr.. McCor-
mick was one of the wealthiest men in Chi
cago, his fortune being estimated at from
15,000,0 900 to $4,000, 000
CHARLES o'CoNoR.
NANTUCKET, Mass, May 14.-Charles
O'Conor, the veteran jurist, is dead He
breathed his last late Monday afternoon,
and was perfectly conscious TO the last,
when he suddenly exclaimed: My Godw
and expired The remains left here to,
day, in charge of friends of the deceased
for New York.
Charles O'COnor was born at New York
in 1894. He did not receive the benefit of a
university training, being educated at a
common school. At twenty he was admit
ted to the bar, and was looked upon as
rising legal light before he was thirty.
Among the important cases undertaken by
him during his lifetime were the Mason
will case and the great Forest divorce
suit. He married one of his clients, a
widow, but had no children, and sub
SeQuently he and his wife separated,
owing to religious differences. Mr.. O'Conor
was Democrat in politics. He died worth
about $l,000,000, which he accumulated
principally by his practice, but augmented
by well-advised transactions in real estate.
1t will be recollected that Mr.. O'Conor was
thought to be in adying condition some nine
years ago, and his recovery was regarded as
almost miraculous. In November, 1875, he
was taken seriously i'll, his malady being
atrophy or paralysis of the stomach, which
prevented him from taking nourishing food.
He grew weaker rapidly, and on the 9th
of the month his friends believed that death
was approaching, and at the patients re-
quest Cardinal McCloskey administered to
him the last rites of the Catholic Church.
On the Monday following, when report of
this reached New York, it was exaggerated
into an announcement of his death;
sketches of his life were pub
lished, and the courts adjourned
as mark Of respect. The false
statement was, however, speedily contra
dicted, and for month following bulletins
showing his condition were published daily,
nearly all indicating that his dissolution was
approaching. Even his physicians and
friends had abandoned all hope. For near
ly two weeks he was unable to retain any
food on his stomach, and at one time the
pulp of couple of pears was his only
food for several days. He refused to take
stimulants and appeared to be sustained
alone by his wonderful natural vitality. His
mental faculties were unclouded and he
suffered comparatively little. In January
Of the following year change for the bet
ter took place in his condition and he con-
tinued steadily 10 improve until he was pro-
nounced out Of danger on the 9th of that
month.