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Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson, John Fiske and Stanley L. Klos. Six volumes, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1887-1889 and StanKlos.com 1999. Virtualology.com warns that these 19th Century biographies contain errors and bias. We rely on volunteers to edit the historic biographies on a continual basis. If you would like to edit this biography please submit a rewritten biography in text form . If acceptable, the new biography will be published above the 19th Century Appleton's Cyclopedia Biography citing the volunteer editor.

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Cyrus Hall McCormick

McCORMICK, Cyrus Hall, inventor, born in Walnut Grove, Virginia, 15 February, 1809; died in Chicago, Illinois, 13 May, 1884. He was educated at common schools, and then worked ***%1+ his father on the farm and in workshops. At the age of twenty one he invented two new and valuable ploughs, but his chief invention was in 1831, when with his own hands he built the lirst practical reaping-machine that was ever made. As early as 1816 his father had attempted to construct a reaper, but it was a total failure. The son worked in an entirely different channel. He patented his reaper in 1834, and improvements on it in 1845-'7 and 1858. In 1847 he removed to Chicago, where he built large works for the construction of his inventions. Mr. McCormick was awarded numerous prizes and medals for his reaper, and in 1878 received for the third time, for his reaping and self-binding machine, a grand prize of the French exposition, and the rank of officer of the Legion of honor was conferred upon him. He was also, at that time, elected a corresponding member of the French academy of sciences, "as having done more for the cause of agriculture than any other living man." Reverdy Johnson said, in 1859: "The McCormick reaper has already contributed an annual income to the whole country of $55,000,000 at, least, which must, increase through all time." About this time William H. Seward said : " Owing to Mr McCormick's invention, the line of civilization moves westward thirty miles each year." In 1859 Mr. McCormick gave $100,000 to (ound the Presbyterian seminary of the northwest in Chicago, and he also endowed a iwofessorship in Washington and Lee university, Virginia. See " Memoir" (printed privately, Boston, 1884).

McCORMICK, Cyrus Hall, inventor, born in Walnut Grove, Virginia, 15 February, 1809; died in Chicago, Illinois, 13 May, 1884. He was educated at common schools, and then worked with his father on the farm and in workshops. At the age of twenty one he invented two new and valuable ploughs, but his chief invention was in 1831, when with his own hands he built the first practical reaping-machine that was ever made. As early as 1816 his father had attempted to construct a reaper, but it was a total failure. The son worked in an entirely different channel. He patented his reaper in 1834 and improvements on it in 1845-'7 and 1858.

In 1847 he removed to Chicago, where he built large works for the construction of his inventions. Mr. McCormick was awarded numerous prizes and medals for his reaper and in 1878 received for the third time, for his reaping and self-binding machine, a grand prize of the French exposition, and the rank of officer of the Legion of honor was conferred upon him. He was also, at that time, elected a corresponding member of the French academy of sciences, "as having done more for the cause of agriculture than any other living man." Reverend Johnson said, in 1859: "The McCormick reaper has already contributed an annual income to the whole country of $55,000,000 at, least, which must, increase through all time."

About this time William H. Seward said: "Owing to Mr. McCormick's invention, the line of civilization moves westward thirty miles each year." In 1859 Mr. McCormick gave $100,000 to found the Presbyterian seminary of the northwest in Chicago, and he also endowed a professorship in Washington and Lee university, Virginia. See "Memoir" (printed privately, Boston, 1884).

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