Alexander Legge
Encyclopedia
Alexander Legge was a prominent American business executive, serving as president of International Harvester
from 1922-1933. He performed public service during World War I
on the War Industries Board
and at the Versailles Peace Conference, and again during the Great Depression
on the Federal Farm Board
.
to Alexander and Christine (Fraser) Legge. His parents and older sister Christina had emigrated to Wisconsin from Scotland
in 1857. Legge and his family moved to Colfax County, Nebraska
in 1876 where his father went into the cattle business. Legge worked with his father in farming and later tried his hand as a cowboy in Wyoming
. Because of a lung condition he was forced to find a job that would allow him to be outdoors, but wouldn't expose him to dust or hazardously cold temperatures.
. He got to know Harold Fowler McCormick
when Harold took over the management of the business in the Nebraska area. In 1899, Harold McCormick returned to Chicago to become vice president of the McCormick Company. He called Legge to Chicago and appointed him head of McCormick's worldwide claims collection division. In 1902, when McCormick was merged into the International Harvester
Company Legge was promoted first to assistant manager of sales and then general manager of the new company.
In 1919, Harold McCormick was elected president of the International Harvester Company. In 1922, Harold McCormick resigned the presidency to become chairman of the Board of Directors. At this point, Alex was elected president of the International Harvester
Company (he held the position until his death in 1933). That same year he successfully defended the company in an anti-trust suit, allowing them to retain a dominant position in the farming industry. Standardization of farm implements was another major contribution he made during his tenure.
selected Legge as vice chairman of the War Industries Board
. When the war ended, he was part of the mission developing the economic section of the Treaty of Versailles
. June 6, 1923 - Alex was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
.
From July 1929 to March 1931, Legge served as Chairman of the Federal Farm Board
under President Herbert Hoover
.
Before Legge's death, he and his friend Frank Lowden, the former Illinois
governor, established the Farm Foundation
. Part of Legge's estate was used to fund and launch this foundation in 1933.
where they continued to entertain until Katherine's death in 1924.
In 1923 Legge became very ill during an antitrust suit. He was hospitalized in California. Katherine spent most of her time with him, and thus catching her meals 'on the fly' from area restaurants. She contracted Typhoid. Katherine died in 1924. Upon the death of Katherine in 1924, Legge took the 53 acres (214,483.6 m²) of land and established the Katherine Legge Memorial. This property was used as a retreat devoted to rest, recreation and welfare for women employed at International Harvester. A lodge was built on the property in 1927 (designed by Harold Zook).
Legge died on December 3, 1933. Services were held at the 4th Presbyterian Church at 880 N Michigan Ave, Chicago on December 6, 1933. His ashes were taken to the Katherine Legge Memorial to be interred with his wife's ashes.
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
from 1922-1933. He performed public service during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
on the War Industries Board
War Industries Board
The War Industries Board was a United States government agency established on July 28, 1917, during World War I, to coordinate the purchase of war supplies. The organization encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques to increase efficiency and urged them to eliminate waste by...
and at the Versailles Peace Conference, and again during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
on the Federal Farm Board
Federal Farm Board
The Federal Farm Board was actually created in 1929, before the stock market crash on Black Tuesday, 1929, but its powers were later enlarged to meet the economic crisis farmers faced during the Great Depression. It was established by the Agricultural Marketing Act to stabilize prices and to...
.
Early life
He was born January 13, 1866 in Dane City, WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
to Alexander and Christine (Fraser) Legge. His parents and older sister Christina had emigrated to Wisconsin from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1857. Legge and his family moved to Colfax County, Nebraska
Colfax County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,441 people, 3,682 households, and 2,592 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 4,088 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
in 1876 where his father went into the cattle business. Legge worked with his father in farming and later tried his hand as a cowboy in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. Because of a lung condition he was forced to find a job that would allow him to be outdoors, but wouldn't expose him to dust or hazardously cold temperatures.
Career with International Harvester
In 1891, Legge went to work as a collector for the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company branch office in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. He got to know Harold Fowler McCormick
Harold Fowler McCormick
Harold Fowler McCormick, Sr. was chairman of the board of International Harvester Company.-Biography:He was born on May 2, 1872, the sixth child of Cyrus McCormick, inventor and manufacturer of the mechanical reaper; and Nancy Fowler McCormick.He graduated from Princeton University in 1895...
when Harold took over the management of the business in the Nebraska area. In 1899, Harold McCormick returned to Chicago to become vice president of the McCormick Company. He called Legge to Chicago and appointed him head of McCormick's worldwide claims collection division. In 1902, when McCormick was merged into the International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
Company Legge was promoted first to assistant manager of sales and then general manager of the new company.
In 1919, Harold McCormick was elected president of the International Harvester Company. In 1922, Harold McCormick resigned the presidency to become chairman of the Board of Directors. At this point, Alex was elected president of the International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
Company (he held the position until his death in 1933). That same year he successfully defended the company in an anti-trust suit, allowing them to retain a dominant position in the farming industry. Standardization of farm implements was another major contribution he made during his tenure.
Other ventures
In 1917, President Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
selected Legge as vice chairman of the War Industries Board
War Industries Board
The War Industries Board was a United States government agency established on July 28, 1917, during World War I, to coordinate the purchase of war supplies. The organization encouraged companies to use mass-production techniques to increase efficiency and urged them to eliminate waste by...
. When the war ended, he was part of the mission developing the economic section of the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
. June 6, 1923 - Alex was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
.
From July 1929 to March 1931, Legge served as Chairman of the Federal Farm Board
Federal Farm Board
The Federal Farm Board was actually created in 1929, before the stock market crash on Black Tuesday, 1929, but its powers were later enlarged to meet the economic crisis farmers faced during the Great Depression. It was established by the Agricultural Marketing Act to stabilize prices and to...
under President Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
.
Before Legge's death, he and his friend Frank Lowden, the former Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
governor, established the Farm Foundation
Farm Foundation
Farm Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit organization that provides non-partisan policy research and forums relating to agribusiness. Its headquarters are in Oak Brook, Illinois....
. Part of Legge's estate was used to fund and launch this foundation in 1933.
Family
Legge married Katherine McMahon Hall in 1908(They had no children). In 1916 Legge bought 53 acres (214,483.6 m²) of land from the Enos M. Barton estate. He started construction on a large house, but had to abandon the project when the U.S. entered into WWI and subsequently banned private building. About 1921, the construction of their dream home on 53 acres (214,483.6 m²) essentially abandoned. The Legges bought a large house in Hinsdale, IllinoisHinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
where they continued to entertain until Katherine's death in 1924.
In 1923 Legge became very ill during an antitrust suit. He was hospitalized in California. Katherine spent most of her time with him, and thus catching her meals 'on the fly' from area restaurants. She contracted Typhoid. Katherine died in 1924. Upon the death of Katherine in 1924, Legge took the 53 acres (214,483.6 m²) of land and established the Katherine Legge Memorial. This property was used as a retreat devoted to rest, recreation and welfare for women employed at International Harvester. A lodge was built on the property in 1927 (designed by Harold Zook).
Legge died on December 3, 1933. Services were held at the 4th Presbyterian Church at 880 N Michigan Ave, Chicago on December 6, 1933. His ashes were taken to the Katherine Legge Memorial to be interred with his wife's ashes.