Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-12-08
AN EVBNTFUL LIFE
Was That Of Mrs. Lealder ].
Mccormick, Of ClicaGO.
A NATIVE OF ROCKBRIDGE.
Travelled With Her Husband by
Stage to the Windy City--Inter-
esting History Of Her Family and
Their Success in the World.


| Their Success in the World.
THE SPECTATOR last week, owing
to the crowded condition of its col
umns, had to be content with giving a
brief notice of the death of Mrs. Lean.
der J. Mccormick, which occurred in
Chicago on the Goth of last month. AS
she was so well known in this section
of Virginia we take pleasure in pub
fishing the following particulars of her
death, as well as a brief sketch of her
lief and that of her illustrious family:
Mrs. Leander J. Mccormick died in
Chicago at the Virginia Hotel of cere-
bral apoplexy, on November 26th. Her
funeral took place at the Fourth Pres
byterian church at II o'clock the next
morning and was conducted by DR.. D.
G. Marquis, of Mccormick Seminary.
The burial was at Graceland.
Mrs. Mccormick was n years old
and had been in failing health several
years. She is survived by her husband
and two sons-R. Hall McC Cormick and
L. Hamilton Mccormick G oodhart, of
Hadlow Castle. Kent England.
Henrietta Maria Mccormick, the
daughter or John and Elizabeth Ham
ilton, was born N Kockbridge county,
Va. in 1922. Her childhood was spent
on the homestead, 12 miles from Natu-
raj Bridge, and her school days began
at nearby schOolhouse. Reminiscent
ces of this period, preserved in vol
ume of her own authorship, relate the
trials of study on hard straight backed
benches from 7:30 'clock in the morn
ing until 6 at night.
At the age of IA she was sent to
boarding school, the Ann Smith Ac
ademy, in Lexington. In 1S40 she |
graduated from the academy and, after |
with her parents five years,
she was married to Leander James
Mccormick, of Walnut Grove, Rock
bridge county.
In October, 184S, Mr.. Mccormick /
sold his property preparatory to en-
tering partnership in the harvester
business with his brother, Cyrus H.
Mccormick, in Chicago. With their
infant son, Robert Hall. Mr.. and Mrs.
started on horseback in
the midst of binding snowstorm.
At Steele's Tavern they took the
stage to New Y York. From Albany they
proceeded west, and arrived in Chicago
November 20. They soon began house
keeping on the north eide of the river,
in the then city of 10000 persons.
Later Mrs. Mccormick spent con-
time abroad, and was inter
ested throughout her life in artistic
pursuits. At the request of her friends
she published two volumes of genealo.
gies and "reminiscences relating to her
family and that of her husband.
Leander J. McCormick, her husband,
became connected with the manufac-
ture of reaping machinery about 1848.
His father, Robert Mccormick, had
worked for many years trying to per-
feet a reaping machine, but failed to
succeed. In 1881 Cyrus Hall McCor-
mick, son of Robert and brother of
Leander j., succeeded in building
successful reaping machine, the first
that had ever been produced. He OBJ
tained patents upon it three years
later and made Improvements from
time to time up to the building OF the
works in Chicago in 1847.
On account of this invention Cyrus
H. Mccormick was made member of
the French Academy Of Science and
was given the rank of an officer in the
Legion of Honor.
The Mccormick family became MIL
lionaires through the manufacture of |
farm machinery, and have given lib
orally to educational institutions. Cy-l
rus H. Mccormick founded seminary
in Chicago and endowed a professor
ship in Washington and Lee Universi-
ty. Leander J. Mccormick gave to |
the University of Virginia fine re-
fracting telescope and erected the Nc
Cormick Observatory there.
Mrs. Mccormick was devoted mem |
ber of the Presbyterian church. and in |
all the relations of life. was distin-
guished by beautiful and lovable |
traits of character, that endeared her
to all who came within the sphere of |
her acquaintance. She was eminently
charitable.