The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-05-22
TWO BUSY LIVES EMBED.
Death of Cyrus n. Mccormick,
the WelI-known Reaper
Manufactur
Charles O'Cenor, the Celebrated Law.
yer, Joins the Silent Ma
jority.

Cyrus Hall Mccormick, the well-lnown
millionaire and inventor. and proprietor OF
the famous Mccormick reaper died ut his
home in Chicago on the 18th of May.
Cyrus H. Mccormick was born in Rock
bridge County, Va, Feb. ID, 1902, and was
consequently rs years old. His parents
were of Scotch Irish descent, and he inner
tied from his fnther an inventive turn of
mind that did him great service while he
was yet young man. Born on farm, no
early saw that agriculture was not keeping
pace with mechanics and manufactures in
inventions for the relief Of labor, and when
10 years old he begin his inventions for the
improvement of farm work by constructing
CRADLE" which he used in the harvest
field with success. His father had previ-
ously invented a reaper. but, failing to at
tain the success hoped for. it was laid
aside The son observed the defects and pa
tiently went to work to remedy them. In
1881 he achieved his aim and gave to the
world the first practical reaping machine.
He built it with his own hand, and tested it
in the harvest field. Although successful
in his attempt, he did not at once embark
in the manufacture, but kept adding i'm
provements from time to time. About this
period he became interested in the smelling
of iron, and engaged in that business until
reverses came upon him, and he removed to
Cincinnati in 1874, where he made arrange
ments to manufacture the reaper. I've
years later, discovering Chicago to BIO a
better field for the establishment of such q
business, he ut once began the work. In
1913 he made and sold 700 machines, in the
following year 500; since then the annual
sales have regularly and rapidly increased
until now not less than $4,000 are sold
ID l. Iglx
in an arguments before the Commissioner
of Patents in 1859, said that the Mccormick
reaper had already contributed an ANIMAL
income to the whole country of 500, 600, 600,
which must increase through all time. The
world mt large has not been slow TO honor
Mr.. Mccormick for what he has done for
agriculture. Medals and decorations have
been bestowed on him by the crowned heads
Of Europe, and ut every international worlds
fair ever held he was awarded superior hon
ors for his inventions.
He was the founder Of the Presbyterian
Theological Seminary of the Northwest,
and at its inception bestowed 800, 900 to
endow professorship in it, and from time
to time, as occasion required he increased
his donations, SO that they more than tripled
the original gift. Recently he learned that
the seminary required enlargement and
houses for the professors, ana gave SlOO,
600 for the purpose. He gave to the Wash
ington and Lee College, of Virginia. and
few but himself know how many struggling
churches. colleges. and schools arc indebted
to his generosity for means of maintenance.
In view of his beneioence, and the world
wide reputation of his reaping- machine,
perhaps no other name liz more widely
known than that of G.. II. Mccormick.
Mr. Mccormick was an active politician.
and stood high in the councils of the Demo-
CRITIC party. to which he adhered. In 1872
he bought the Interior, the organ. of the
Presbyterian Church in the West, and has
retained the ownership ever since. The
value of the estate left by the deceased is
estimated in the neighborhood of $50. 900,
000. Whatever the exact figures, he was
one of the wealthiest-if not the wealthies,
men in Chicago.