Evening star., 1941-10-17
Harold F. Mccormick,
Son Of Inventor, Dies
In California Home
Former Harvester Co.
Head Wus Art Patron;
Wed Three Times
- the Associated Press.

- ths Associated Press.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calf, Oct. IT,
Harold Fowler Mccormick, son Of
Cyrus Hall Mccormick, inventor of
ths reaper, died yesterday of
cerebral hemorrhage. He was SO
years old.
Death followed an illness that
caused him to be bed-ridden much
of the time in recent years. He suf-
fered from arthritis and recurring
heart attacks and had to use a
wheel chair and be assisted by a
nurse.
At his bedside was Adah Wilson
Mccormick, 81, the nurse he mar
ried in 1888, and his son, Fowler
Mccormick, president of the Inter
national Harvester Co.
Miss Wilson was Mr.. McCormick'S
third wife. His first was Edith
Rockefeller, daughter of John D.
Rockefeller. This marriage united
two of the Nations wealthiest fami-
lies. Nine. Gamma Walska, Polish
singer, was Mr.. McCormick's second
wife but she spent most of her time
in Paris, apart from him, and they
were divorced in 1881
Romance With Opera Star.
Mr.. Mccormick became interested
IN Nine. Walska in 1920 at Havana.
She was appearing in ''ThaiS" in an
enterprise backed by her husband,
Alexander Cochran of YonkerS, N.
Y. Although the Havana audience
missed her and critics ridiculed her
voice, Mr.. Mccormick was convinced
she had talent and decided to take
her to Chicago for an appearance
in the Civic Opera, which he had
endowed richly.
Nine. WalSka'S Chicago rehearSalS
were too much for Director Mari
nuA however. He listened to her
three times and Cancelled her debut.
Shortly after, strife arose in the
Cochran-WalSka home, and when
he refused her request for an elab-
crate home in Paris she sued for
divorce. Six weeks after the decree
was granted she married Mr.. Nc
Cormick and he gave her the Paris
residence. He was her fourth
husband.
Mr.. Mccormick served an appren-
ticeship in his fathers International
Harvester Co, became vice preSi-
dent in 1902 and president in 1918
but relinqulShed the presidency four
years. later when the company was
reorganized and became chairman
Of the Board of Directors.
ReOrganized Opera Company.
He was trustee of the University
OF Chicago, the Mccormick Theo-
logical Seminary and after the Chi
cago Civic Opera Co. collapsed with
its chief sponsor, Samuel insult,
utilities magnate, Mr.. Mccormick
headed the organization Of its sue
cessor, the Chicago Opera Co.
In the World War Mr.. Mccormick
served as head of the Bureau of Co
ordination of Purchases for the A.
EFF.
Private funeral services will be
held here. Memorial services will be
conducted later in Chicago.
Inheriting genius for business and
invention along with large fortune,
Mr.. Mccormick became an acknoWl-
edged leader In Chicago's social and
financial worlds. He did much to
expand the harvester business
founded by his father. He was
patron of the arts and letters and
used his great wealth to further
variety Of interests.
Mr.. Mccormick three marriages
were widely chronicled, the first be-
cause 1t was to a daughter of John
D. Rockefeller, the second because
Of the colorful courtship that pre-
ceded 1t, the third because it was to
a woman nearly half his age who
nursed him through a serious illness.
Twice Sued by Women.
He was sued for s1,500,O0O breach
of promise after his divorce from
his second wife and for S2,000000
after his marriage to his third The
first suit was said to have been set
tied for $65,000.
Born in Chicago May 2, 1872, Har-
old Fowler Mccormick was the
younger of two sons of the harvester
inventor He followed his brother,
Cyrus H, jr, through Princeton
University, being graduated in 1895
After an apprenticeship in the
plants Of the Mccormick company.
he became vice president in 1902,
treasurer in 1906 and, II years later,
with the retirement of his brother,
president. When the company was
reorganized in 1922 he relinquished
the presidency for the Craftsmanship
OF the Executive Committee. He be-
came chairman of the Finance Com
mittee in 1882
. Mr.. Mccormick marriage to
Edith Rockefeller in 1895 united two
of the countries wealthiest families
-Four children were born to them
and the marital affairs of the three
who survived childhood, like that of
their parents, were attended by
widespread publicity. The younger
daughter, Mathilde, marred Max
Oser, a Swiss riding master consid-
srably her senior. Fowler startled
the society world by marrying Mrs.
Anne Fif) Stillman when she was