William Sanderson McCormick
Encyclopedia
William Sanderson McCormick (1815–1865) was an American
businessman who developed the company that became the major producer of agricultural equipment in the 19th century. The business became the International Harvester
corporation after his death.
Although he died relatively young with most of the fame going to his brothers, his extended McCormick family
continued to be influential in the politics and business of Chicago
.
, in Virginia
.
His father was Robert McCormick (1780–1846) and mother Mary Ann (Hall) McCormick.
He was educated in public schools and took an interest in business. When the family farm had financial problems in the panic of 1837
, he took over its management and made it profitable again. When his father died in 1846, his older brother Cyrus McCormick
and younger brother Leander J. McCormick
left to start a factory to produce the mechanical reaper
s that had been developed on the farm, while he was left to take care of the estate.
He married Mary Ann Grigsby (1828–1878) on July 11, 1848, daughter of Virginia planter Reuben Grigsby of Hickory Hill plantation
.
In 1850, William, his wife, and infant son moved to Chicago
to join his brothers in the family business, first on a salary basis. The California Gold Rush
had created a labor shortage, which was good for demand, but also caused turnover in the factory employees. William managed the day-to-day operations of the business while Cyrus was often traveling or pursuing patent infringement lawsuits. William tried to mediate between Cyrus (who claimed all the credit as "inventor") and his brother Leander, who was now in charge of technical aspects of product development.
In 1859 he negotiated a formal agreement giving him and Leander one fourth interest in the company, and renamed it "C. H. McCormick & Brothers."
The onset of the American Civil War
brought new demand, but stress from another labor shortage. McCormick bought real estate in downtown Chicago which proved to be a wise investment. The family was attacked in the press as being southern sympathizers. In fact, the family never adjusted to the brutal cold of winters in Chicago. Brother Cyrus worsened the conflict by funding conservative newspapers to battle the liberal major publishers that were tied to local politicians. Cyrus traveled to Europe in 1864 where he successfully promoted international sales.
Outwardly McCormick was described as "of a cheerful disposition, quick spoken, ... a most interesting and agreeable man". However, he suffered from "nervous dyspepsia" and his mental state deteriorated. Various treatments for his mental illness such as bland diets or water cures proved ineffective. In April 1865 he stated simply to Cyrus "I am extremely nervous". He continued to manage the business until checking into the Illinois State Asylum
in Jacksonville, Illinois
in August 1865. He died there on September 27, 1865. His widow cashed in her share of the business, moved back to Virginia, and left the children with their uncles in Chicago. He was buried in Graceland Cemetery
, and replaced as general manager by Charles A. Spring, Jr.
The McCormicks had five children (and one who died young):
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who developed the company that became the major producer of agricultural equipment in the 19th century. The business became 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...
corporation after his death.
Although he died relatively young with most of the fame going to his brothers, his extended McCormick family
McCormick family
The McCormick family is a family of business people and politicians from the United States.They descend from Robert McCormick and Mary Ann Hall.Below is a list of members:...
continued to be influential in the politics and business of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Life
William Sanderson McCormick was born November 2, 1815 on the family estate known as Walnut GroveCyrus McCormick Farm
The Cyrus McCormick Farm and Workshop is on the family farm of inventor Cyrus Hall McCormick known as Walnut Grove. Cyrus Hall McCormick improved and patented the mechanical reaper, which eventually led to the creation of the combine harvester...
, in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
His father was Robert McCormick (1780–1846) and mother Mary Ann (Hall) McCormick.
He was educated in public schools and took an interest in business. When the family farm had financial problems in the panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
, he took over its management and made it profitable again. When his father died in 1846, his older brother Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
and younger brother Leander J. McCormick
Leander J. McCormick
Leander James McCormick was an American farmer, inventor, manufacturer, and businessman. Although born in rural Virginia, he later owned vast amounts of real estate in downtown Chicago.-Life:...
left to start a factory to produce the mechanical reaper
Reaper
A reaper is a person or machine that reaps crops at harvest, when they are ripe.-Hand reaping:Hand reaping is done by various means, including plucking the ears of grains directly by hand, cutting the grain stalks with a sickle, cutting them with a scythe, or with a later type of scythe called a...
s that had been developed on the farm, while he was left to take care of the estate.
He married Mary Ann Grigsby (1828–1878) on July 11, 1848, daughter of Virginia planter Reuben Grigsby of Hickory Hill plantation
Hickory Hill (Glasgow, Virginia)
Hickory Hill is a historic estate in Rockbridge County, Virginia.The main house at Hickory Hill was built from 1823 to 1824 for Reuben Grigsby who was born June 6, 1780.He was one of many children, cousin to educator Hugh Blair Grigsby ....
.
In 1850, William, his wife, and infant son moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to join his brothers in the family business, first on a salary basis. The California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
had created a labor shortage, which was good for demand, but also caused turnover in the factory employees. William managed the day-to-day operations of the business while Cyrus was often traveling or pursuing patent infringement lawsuits. William tried to mediate between Cyrus (who claimed all the credit as "inventor") and his brother Leander, who was now in charge of technical aspects of product development.
In 1859 he negotiated a formal agreement giving him and Leander one fourth interest in the company, and renamed it "C. H. McCormick & Brothers."
The onset of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
brought new demand, but stress from another labor shortage. McCormick bought real estate in downtown Chicago which proved to be a wise investment. The family was attacked in the press as being southern sympathizers. In fact, the family never adjusted to the brutal cold of winters in Chicago. Brother Cyrus worsened the conflict by funding conservative newspapers to battle the liberal major publishers that were tied to local politicians. Cyrus traveled to Europe in 1864 where he successfully promoted international sales.
Outwardly McCormick was described as "of a cheerful disposition, quick spoken, ... a most interesting and agreeable man". However, he suffered from "nervous dyspepsia" and his mental state deteriorated. Various treatments for his mental illness such as bland diets or water cures proved ineffective. In April 1865 he stated simply to Cyrus "I am extremely nervous". He continued to manage the business until checking into the Illinois State Asylum
Jacksonville Developmental Center
The Jacksonville Developmental Center is an institution that currently serves developmentally challenged clients and is located in Jacksonville, Illinois.-History:...
in Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County....
in August 1865. He died there on September 27, 1865. His widow cashed in her share of the business, moved back to Virginia, and left the children with their uncles in Chicago. He was buried in Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road...
, and replaced as general manager by Charles A. Spring, Jr.
Charles A. Spring, Jr.
Charles A. Spring, Jr. was a prominent Chicago capitalist during its transition from a frontier town of 30,000 in the 1850s to an industrial metropolis of more than 1.7 million at the turn of the 20th century...
The McCormicks had five children (and one who died young):
- Robert Sanderson McCormickRobert Sanderson McCormickRobert Sanderson McCormick was a United States diplomat. Born in rural Virginia, his extended McCormick family became influential in Chicago.-Life:...
(1849–1919) served as U.S. AmbassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Austria-HungaryAustria-HungaryAustria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He married the daughter of Chicago TribuneChicago TribuneThe Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
publisher Joseph MedillJoseph MedillJoseph Medill was an American newspaper editor and publisher, and politician. He was co-owner and managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, and was Mayor of Chicago.-Biography:...
, and children included U.S. Senator Joseph Medill McCormick, and publisher Robert R. McCormickRobert R. McCormickRobert Rutherford "Colonel" McCormick was a member of the McCormick family of Chicago who became owner and publisher of the Chicago Tribune newspaper...
. The Tribune had been a major attacker of the family during the war. - William Grigsby McCormickWilliam Grigsby McCormickWilliam Grigsby McCormick was an American businessman of the influential McCormick family in Chicago.He was a co-founder of a college fraternity.-Life:William Grigsby McCormick was born June 3, 1851 in Chicago....
was born June 3, 1851 and was one of the five founders of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1869. He married Eleanor Brooks on October 23, 1873 and had seven children before dying on November 29, 1941. Son Chauncey Brooks McCormickChauncey McCormickChauncey Brooks McCormick was an American businessman and art collector in the McCormick family.-Life:His mother was Eleanor Brooks, daughter of Walter Brooks of Baltimore....
(1884–1954) was the father of Brooks McCormickBrooks McCormickBrooks McCormick was a member of the American family that ran International Harvester and a noted philanthropist and equestrian. He was the chief executive officer of International Harvester in the 1970s, and was the final member of the McCormick family to lead the company that they had founded.-...
(1917–2006) who was the last McCormick to lead the family firm. - Emma Louise McCormick (October 14, 1854 – March 4, 1893) married Perry H. Smith on June 18, 1878.
- Anna Reubenia "Ruby" McCormick (May 22, 1860 – 1882) married Edward Tyler Blair on May 29, 1882 and was the mother of banker William McCormick Blair (1884–1982).
- Lucy Virginia McCormick (April 11, 1865 – ?) married Samuel Rountree Jewett on October 9, 1888.