Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-05-16
Death of Cyrus q. Mccormick.
A NAN OF WORLD WIDE AGRICULTURAL
nAnSn nnNr

FAME GONE.
Cyrus Hall Mccormick, the inventor Of
the Mccormick reaper, died at Chicago
on Tuesday morning last. He was born
in Rockbridge on the edge of Augusta
county near Midway, and was probably
better known in Augusta than in his
native county. It was in d field near Mid
way that his first successful experiments
with his famous reaper we're made, and
at blacksmith shop in this city part of
the iron work of the experimental models
was made. His father had attempted to
invent reaper but it had proved fail
ure. The machine of the elder Meteor
| mick (l816-31) was pushed along in front
of the horses like the Scotch machine OF
Bell, (1826.) and had several features
which have been entirely abandoned. The
cause of his fathers ill success seems to
in new path, making a.machine which
embodied the principal features of the
harvester of the present day. The young
mans first machine was so hurrledly built
that it was used in the same year QS3l)
which witnessed the last trial of his faith
er's machine, the new reciprocating cut
ting knife being tried in a field of rye.
and, with the addition of the gathering
reel and better d1vider, in field OF late
oats the same season.
Nearly all of it's features were original
| in this machine, and entitle Cyrus Nc
| Cormick to be called the "father of the
reapng machine" The inventor cut with
this reaper fifty acres of grain in 1882 with
entire success. He took a patent for the
machine, June 2lst, 1884. and commenced
| making 1t for sale in 1889, the Intervening
time having been employed In gradually
improving the machine, each summer af-
fording short period for practical tests.
Public trials of the Mccormick and Hus-
sey machines we're made in the neighbour
| hood of Richmond, Va, in 1913, and GER
tifcates of superiority IN every case award
| ed to Mccormick. In 1S47 he moved to
| Chicago, where he afterwards resided.
| Mr.. Mccormick received the gold med
| al of the American Institute, New York,
| 1S45; the council medal for the most val
liable article contributed to the Worlds
Fair, London, Ill 1851 the grand gold
medal of the Paris Exposition the grand
gold medal, after nine days trial. at SYRIA
|
the London International Exhibition, in
1862; medals at Hamburg. Germany. and
Leeds, England, in 1868, in 1868 the per-
sonal decoration of Chevalier of the I'm
perial Order of the Legion of Honor, and
two bronze medals, the highest prize Civ
en- at the Centennial Exposition, in 1876.
Becoming Q raember of the Presbyterian
Church. in 1884, he took an active part in
church extension. In 1859 he founded
and endowed the 'PresbYterian Theologi-
cal Seminary of the Northwest, in Chi
cago. He also endowed professorships in
Washington Il Lee University, Licking
ton, Va, and the Union Theological Sem
mary near Farmville, Va. On questions
of UNCONVENTIONAL policy he welded a
vigorous pen, and in 1872 became the pro-
prietor of the "Interior," religious jour-
nal published in the interest of the Pres
byterian Church, with the intention Of
making it a first-class journal irrespective
of schools, and without regard to expense
or profit. To the Presbyterian Theologi-
cal Seminary of the Northwest, located at
Chicago, he first and last gave over $780,
900, and it is supposed he has further pro-
vided for the institution in his will.
The manufacture of the Mccormick
reaping machines is one of the important
interests of the city of Chicago. The fac
tory. commencing with small beginnings
in lS47, new covers twenty-one acres. In
1S49, 700 Mccormick reapers we're made
and sold; in 1849 the sales reached 1900;
since that time the sales have regularly
increased until now the product for sim
gle year exceeds 10000 machines, employ
ing between 300 and 1,5O0 men, besides
having altogether over 5000 persons en-
gagged in the sale and handling of the
reapers throughout the world. Indeed,
the prophecy of Reyerdy johnson. when
in 1859, in argument before the Commits
sioner of patents, he said the Mccormick
reaper had already 'contributed an annual
income to the whole country of $55, 900 900,
and which must increase throughout all
time," is likely to be verified.
Mr.. Mccormick was married in 1858 to
daughter of Melzar Fowler, niece of
Judge E. G.. Merck, of Detroit, highly
gifted and accomplished lady, who did
much to adorn and beautify a busy life.
Mr.. Mccormick had five children, three
sons and two daughters: the eldest, G. H.
Mccormick, being engaged in the active
business departments of the office and
works of the Mccormick Company.
Mr.. Mccormick always felt a deep in
terest in the home of his youth and it is
but a few months since he sent on and
purchased and put in repair the old home
stead in which he was born, and set an
agent to work to buy in all of the origi-
nal furniture which had been scattered at
sale. The old blacksmith shop in which
so many of the reapers had been designed
was newly rooted in for its better preser-
walton.