LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 q B 
 Ml 31m 
 cop. 3 
 
 I.H.S.
 
 Xke Life and Works 
 of 
 
 Robert McCormicK 
 
 Incluaing 
 
 His Invention or the Reaper 
 
 By 
 
 R. Hall McCormick 
 
 and 
 
 James Hall Snielas 
 
 1910
 
 PREFACE 
 
 We have long contemplated writing and compiling a history of our 
 Grandfather, Robert McCormick, and thus putting on record all the 
 known facts concerning his life, his work, and his inventions, and in 
 connection therewith furnishing all the evidence, long in our posses- 
 sion, relating to his invention of the McCormick Reaper, but have 
 postponed it from time to time, until now, by reason of the applica- 
 tion that has been made for the enrollment of his name in the "Hall of 
 Fame," it becomes necessary to furnish such information; therefore, 
 we have carefully taken up the subject, and on the succeeding pages 
 will be found all the facts we have at hand concerning Robert Mc- 
 Cormick, together with copies of letters, affidavits and statements in 
 our possession bearing on the question of his various inventions, but 
 principally and first of all relating to his great and inestimable in- 
 vention of the Reaper, and his earning thereby a right to an enduring 
 memory, and a place forever in the Hall of Fame. 
 
 R. HALL Mccormick 
 
 JAMES HALL SHIELDS
 
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 ANCESTRY 
 
 Robert McCormick was descended from that sturdy stock of 
 Ulster men who came over from Scotland and peopled the north of 
 Ireland in the reign of James I. of Scotland, and by their industry 
 and thrift they turned that wilderness into the most prosperous de- 
 pendency of the British Crown. They made themselves thereby 
 so much felt by the English in manufacturing and other industries, 
 that they caused the government to levy heavy and repressive taxes 
 on them for the protection of the Englishmen across the channel. 
 The result of this was that great numbers of those people emigrated 
 to America, and a very large per cent of them, after landing in Phila- 
 delphia, betook themselves to the frontier, and many of them settled 
 west of the Susquehanna River, before the Indians ceded the land to 
 the Penns in 1736. 
 
 THOMAS McCORMICK 
 
 the grandfather of Robert McCormick, was descended from that 
 Scotch Irish stock, to whom reference has been m.ade. He came to 
 America in 1735 and settled east of the Susquehanna in the vicinity 
 of Harrisburg, Pa. In 1742 he took out a warrant from the Penns 
 for a large tract of land located in Paxtang Township, and later he 
 removed to E. Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, Pa., 
 where he and his wife purchased two hundred acres of land. 
 
 Before coming to America, about the year 1728, Thomas McCor- 
 mick married Elizabeth Caruth, a daughter of Adam Caruth, who 
 afterwards was one of the first settlers east of the Susquehanna, in 
 Hopewell Township, Dauphin County, Pa. This Thomas McCor- 
 mick had three brothers, viz., Hugh, John and Samuel, who also 
 came to this country about the same time Thomas did, and became 
 large land owners and prominent pioneers in the same part of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 Thomas McCormick died about 1760, and his widow died in 
 1766, leaving a family of five sons and one daughter.
 
 ROBERT McCORMICK 
 
 the father of the subject of this biography, was the fifth son of 
 Thomas and Elizabeth Caruth McCormick, and was born in the 
 vicinity of Harrisburg, Pa., in 1738. He was a farmer, and citizen 
 of Cumberland County, Pa., where he and his two brothers took out 
 warrants for a large tract of land, near what is now Mifflin, in 
 Juniatta County, Pa., and resided there until 1779, when he sold 
 his property and moved with his family to Rockbridge County, 
 Va., and there he purchased the farm on which his son Robert was 
 born. He served his country in the Revolutionary War, and was 
 wounded in the battle of Guilford Court House. He was a weaver by 
 trade, as well as a farmer, and was a well known and well to do citizen 
 in the community wherein he lived. He was an Elder in the Presby- 
 terian Church and showed by his character and life that he was a 
 worthy descendant of his covenanter ancestors. 
 
 Robert McCormick married in 1770, Martha Sanderson, a 
 daughter of George and a granddaughter of Alexander Sanderson, 
 who were both well to do and well known farmers of Cumberland 
 County, Pa., their farms being located near Carlisle and not very 
 far distant from the McCormick homestead. He died in Rockbridge 
 County, Va., October 12, 1818, Martha, his wife, preceded him by 
 fourteen years. 
 
 Robert and Martha McCormick left a family of four sons and 
 two daughters, of whom the subject of this biography was the 
 youngest. 
 
 ROBERT McCORMICK 
 
 the youngest son of Robert and Martha Sanderson McCormick, and 
 grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth Caruth McCormick, was born 
 June 8, 1780, in a log house on his father's plantation, Walnut Grove, 
 Rockbridge County, Virginia. 
 
 Of him, his home, his life, his occupation, his executive and busi- 
 ness ability, his inventive and mechanical genius, and his family af- 
 fairs, his daughter, Mary Caroline McCormick Shields, as recorded 
 in her memorials, the original copy of which is in the possession of 
 her son states : 
 
 My father and mother were near the s.ame age, were exactly the same height — five 
 feet, eight inches tall. Father has often told me that ma was the prettiest woman in all 
 that country when a young girl, and there were those who knew her when she was 
 young who have equalled my father in praise of her beauty and who also talked to me 
 of her bright, cheerful disposition.
 
 Grandfather Hall gave to my motlier when she was married property which he 
 estimated at $i,ooo, and father, as I suppose, was not worth much more than the 
 amount given to ma by her father, and then lie was in debt to the heirs of grand- 
 father McCormick for their interest in the farm. The first misfortune that ciune to 
 them was a few years after their marriage, the burning of a large new barn which had 
 been finished just in time to store away tlieir whole year's hard earnings, all the wheat 
 and other grains, also the hay, which was needed for the winter feeding of their stock, 
 and two of their best horses. A bad man in the neighborhood was tried in court for 
 setting fire to the barn, but, while no one doubted his guilt, the evidence was not quite 
 sufficient to convict him. 
 
 Father was anxious to provide each of his sons with a farm so as to have them 
 settled near to him, so he bought a farm about a mile and a half south of us on which 
 was a saw mill ; he being a natural mechanic himself attended this saw mill a great deal 
 and enjoyed it. He would walk to it in the morning, it being down hill all the way, 
 and ma would send his horse for him in the evening, he having taken his lunch with 
 him, and he always had other work carried on on this farm as well as the farm on 
 which we lived. 
 
 The next investment father made was in buying a farm about nine miles west of us 
 on which there was also a good saw mill and this farm father purchased as well as the 
 one he had bought previously on account of the south river running through it, which 
 would enable its owner to have any kind of manufacturing establishment, the motive 
 power being abundant and inexpensive. 
 
 In the winter of 1830 and '31 there was a great deal of talk and a great deal in 
 the papers on the subject of raising hemp. There was only one thing that seemed to 
 prevent its being made a very profitable product by farmers, and that was the difficulty 
 of working it. My father went to work and invented a hemp break and a horse power 
 by which it was operated, and in the fall of '31 I saw that machine in operation, break- 
 ing hemp, and I never saw anything perform its work more beautifully; it was cer- 
 tainly a perfect success. In the fall of '31 Brother Cyrus went to Kentucky to intro- 
 duce this machine, as hemp was more extensively cultivated in Kentucky than \ irginia. 
 Brother Cyrus remained in Kentucky through the winter. The trip did not amount to 
 anything but it cost father a good deal of money. Father never did anything more with 
 the hemp break. I remained at school at the Rev. James Morrison's until the last of 
 March, 1832. The first of May, '32, father took me to school to Staunton, and I was 
 accompanied by four other girls from our church, Cynthia Morrison and Margwet Mc- 
 Nutt, who had been my roommates during the previous winter, and then Margaret Rice 
 McNutt and Ann Eliza Houston. 
 
 In June Brother Cyrus came down to Staunton to see me, and I remember how 
 overjoyed I was to see him, as I had not seen him since the day he left for Kentucky 
 and he had not returned when I left home for school. Brother Cyrus returned home 
 that night and I did not see any of the family again until the first week in July. 
 
 Being brought up in the countrj- where my companions were chiefly my father and 
 mother, my brother and sisters, my attachment for my home was verj' great, and Mr. 
 Thacher, who was principal of the Seminar}', gave us a week of vacation beginning ist 
 of July. I remember how happy I was to get home and our home was a cheerful, happy 
 home. 
 
 While I was at home a young gentleman from Staunton, a brother of a very inti- 
 mate friend and schoolmate of mine, called to see me, and as we sat in the parlor ma 
 came in and asked us to walk wnth her to the field back of the orchard where my father 
 was tr)ing a machine which he had invented to cut wheat. Father and ma and others 
 present were delighted with the operation of the reaper. This machine had a reel which 
 drew the wheat in and the wheat was cut by a vibrating sickle and fell on the platform. 
 A man walking along beside this platform raked off the wheat in bundles the size ready 
 for binding. This was in the summer of 1832; I was then a few months over fifteen 
 years of age. The last of September my school closed and, although I was anxious to 
 go to school longer, father thought he could not afford the expense.
 
 My father had been experimenting for several years with his machine to reap 
 wheat and regretted each year that the shortness of the time of harvest prevented his 
 experimenting as much as he desired to do. In the harvest of 1833 I saw this reaper 
 cut wheat again in the field near to Mr. John Weirs. I walked to the field with a 
 gentleman who was stopping for a few days at my father's. At that time and at my 
 age I did not think much about the value of machinery ; I did not realize as I might 
 have done the great invention and the great natural inventive genius of my dearly be- 
 loved father. As Cousin William McCormick, who lived v.'ith us for several years, 
 about this time, said, My old uncle never failed in anything he ever undertook. 
 Father invented several machines which he built at home, — made money by building 
 and selling them, but never patented. Brother Cyrus was the first born of my parents; 
 he was a smart boy and always very much indulged by my mother. It seemed to me 
 that ma thought his opinion on every subject was just right, and if she differed with 
 him on any subject he never rested until he had convinced her that he was right. 
 Whatever Brother Cyrus wanted, if he could not get his way from father, he always 
 went to ma and through her he was generally successful. Brother Cyrus never liked to 
 work on the farm and I remember when I was about twelve years of age of his having 
 a great desire to be rich and of his trying to find some means of accumulating money, 
 not liking the life of a farmer. Ma persuaded Father to give the invention of the 
 reaper to Brother Cyrus, and it took a great deal of persuasion too. Ma's argument 
 with father was, 'I am sure I would rather give the honor of the invention to my son 
 than to have it myself.' Father said, 'but I owe it equally to the other children.' Ma 
 replied: Cyrus has promised me that if the reaper is made a success all the children 
 shall be interested in it and I know he will keep his word. 
 
 (Signed) Mary Caroline Shields. 
 
 Robert McCormick was a man of very great energy, and deter- 
 mination of cliaracter, but withal of a most kind and generous dis- 
 position, and was very highly esteemed as an upright, reliable citizen, 
 a man of high moral worth, and one whose word was as good as his 
 bond. He was not a communicative man but kept his business and 
 purposes pretty much to himself. 
 
 When advised by his lawyer (The Hon. John Letcher, afterwards 
 Governor of Va.) at one time when in financial trouble (brought 
 about through the rascality of his partner) that he could legally 
 evade paying debts that were pressing him, by putting his property 
 out of his hands, his reply was No; I would rather die and leave my 
 children without a cent, than it should ever be said that their father 
 had done a dishonest act. 
 
 Throughout his life he took great pleasure in the acquirement of 
 historical and scientific knowledge. He was very fond of astronomy. 
 He subscribed to the leading magazines of the day, and kept himself 
 well posted in all that was transpiring about him. 
 
 He was a man of remarkable mechanical genius, and seldom failed 
 to accomplish what he undertook. Having blacksmith and carpenter 
 shops of his own, and being himself naturally a good workman with 
 almost any kind of tools, it was no hard matter for him to make what- 
 ever he desired of either wood or iron.
 
 HIS FIRST REAPER 
 
 The first record of Robert McCormick's endeavors in the line of 
 invention was in the construction of a reaping machine about the 
 year 1809 or 10. But although many of the principals of that ma- 
 chine were substantially the same as those of chief importance in 
 nearly all of the present reaping machines, nevertheless, it was too 
 crude and imperfect to be a success. Again in the period between 1816 
 and 1826, he was known to have given much time and thought to the 
 construction of another machine or machines for cutting wheat, and 
 in outline and general form, a machine which he built during that 
 period was like the two wheeled reaper which afterwards became 
 an accepted standard type. The description of this machine as given 
 by Leander McCormick was as follows: 
 
 It had two wheels as carriers, with gearing, a cutting apparatus, and platform 
 to receive the grain in the rear of cutting apparatus. The cutters, however, were sta- 
 tionary and curved. The machine had vertical reels (very similar to the vertical reels 
 used at the present day) to sweep the grain across the cutters, and when cut, the grain 
 was delivered on a platform in the rear of the cutters and with an endless apron carried 
 across the platform and delivered to one side of the machine. The horses walked along 
 at the side of the grain, drawing the machine, being attached to the same by shafts or a 
 pole. This machine, like its predecessor, on account of vital defects was not a success, 
 but had the main features that are used in the construction of all grain and grass cut- 
 ting machines of the present day. The parts of this machine were for many years 
 stored away in the loft of the old Malt House, on the home farm, and were familiar 
 objects to those about the farm. 
 
 THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL REAPER 
 
 Robert McCormick's daughter Mary Caroline has stated many 
 times that her father invented and built the first successful wheat cut- 
 ting machine. That that machine was constructed and operated on 
 his farm in 1831, 32 and 33. That she witnessed these machines of his 
 own invention and construction cut wheat in 1832 and 1833, success- 
 fully. That her cousin William Steele McCormick, and her brothers, 
 Cyrus and Leander and a man named Sam Hite worked with her 
 father in his shops, building reapers, and other machinery. 
 
 The following description of Robert McCormick's Reaping 
 Machine as constructed by him in 1831 and 1832 was dictated by 
 Leander J. McCormick and was approved by Mary Caroline Shields 
 and is further vouched for by Wm. Steele McCormick and numerous 
 witnesses: 
 
 In its main features this machine embodied the vital principles of all successful 
 grain cutting machinery of the present day. It was drawn by two horses that walked 
 in front of the main frame, and close to the standing grain. It had one main driving
 
 wheel in the main frame, and a grain wheel at the outer end of the platform. It had 
 a cutter bar attached to and back of which was the platform on which the grain fell. 
 The grain was cut by a vibrating sickle and drawn in to the sickle and cast down upon 
 the platform by a revolving overhanging reel, which had slats or ribs which dipped into 
 the grain in front of the sickle. The grain divider of this machine was a long pointed 
 piece of wood extending som.e five feet forward of the cutter bar, with an upright post 
 some ten inches forward of the sickle, to support the grain end of the reel. The entire 
 side of the machine, from the point of the divider named, to the rear corner of the plat- 
 form, and across the back of the platform, was surrounded with an upright canvass, 
 about three feet in width. The grain was raked off at the side in bundles by a man who 
 walked beside the machine. The driver did not ride on the machine but on one of the 
 norses that drew it. Robert McCormick manufactured the^e machines from year to 
 year on his own home farm until the date of his death. 
 
 In 1834 or 5, there were three of these machines built, one of 
 which was sold to John Umphries. About a year later there were 
 seven machines built, several of which were sold. In 1840 Abraham 
 Smith, of Rockingham County, bought a machine. 
 
 In 1844 there were 25 built. 
 
 In 1845 there were 50 built. 
 
 In 1846 there were 75 built. 
 
 In the year's business of 1846, Robert McCormick gave to his son 
 Leander J. McCormick a one-third interest. It will thus be seen that 
 Mr. McCormick continued to be actively engaged in the manufac- 
 ture of his reaping machines until his death in 1846, and his last 
 will and testament dated June 22, 1846, shows that he left his two 
 daughters each the profits on ten machines that were sold that year, 
 and that his son Cyrus was to be paid fifteen dollars on each machine 
 sold the same year. 
 
 Under the subsequent heading of ROBERT McCORMICK the 
 Inventor of the McCormick Reaper, Review of the Evidence in 
 proof thereof, will be found fuller details in regard to his invention, 
 together with all testimony extant on the subject. 
 
 OTHER INVENTIONS OF 
 ROBERT McCORMICK 
 
 The following information is compiled from statements made by 
 Leander J. McCormick and Mary Caroline McCormick Shields: 
 
 In the winter of 1830-1, there was a great deal of talk and much in the news- 
 papers on the subject of raising hemp. Only one thing seemed to be in the way of its 
 becoming a very profitable product, and that was the difficulty of cheaply and profit- 
 ably reducing the fiber to its required marketable shape. Acting on this seeming de- 
 mand, Robert McCormick invented a very ingenious and perfect working hemp break, 
 and in connection with it a horse power, by which it was worked, and in the fall of 
 1 83 1, he operated it, and it was pronounced a perfect success. He also invented another 
 machine for cleaning the hemp when broken. The excitement over hemp raising, how-
 
 ever, died out, the demand for the machines never amounted to much, althou^li a num- 
 ber of them were built and sold, one or two being sold in Kentucky by his son Cyrus, 
 whom he sent there in the fall of i8ji to introduce them, as hemp was cultivated more 
 extensively in Kentucky than in Virginia. 
 
 Mr. McCormick in\entcd and manufactured a very ingenious threshing machine, 
 which had a vertical shaft, through which arms were framed, and on which was a rim 
 or wheel, of about five feet in diameter, having a plain on its top surface on which bars 
 were made fast to form beaters; over these bars was suspended a stationary section, on 
 the under side of which there were bars, between which and those on the plain of the 
 wheel below the grain was threshed. He also had in connection with this thresher 
 a horse power of peculiar construction, which consisted of a ring or platform of logs 
 about thirty feet in diameter, on which was a roller about fifteen feet long, extending 
 from the center over the platform ; the outer end of this roller was perhaps two feet in 
 diameter, and was pivoted in a center post, which post revolved by the turning of the 
 roller. On the inner end of this roller was a large band wheel, and on the top of the 
 center post was a pulley. The belt from the band wheel had its direction changed to 
 the pulley above by the use of intermediate pulleys. With this machine he afterwards 
 used bevel gearing. 
 
 He also built a clover sheller of stone, resembling an ordinary mill somewhat, but 
 never did anything with it except for his own use. 
 
 He also invented and made a blacksmith bellows, which was of a tub form, and of 
 which he built and sold a large number. 
 
 He also invented a water power that worked by confined pressure, something on 
 the principal of a steam engine. 
 
 He is also said to have invented and manufactured and sold a hillside plow, the 
 evidence of which is su?tained by the statements of his son Leandcr and his daughter 
 Caroline and is further attested by William S. McCormick in his letter of Nov. 7, 1878, 
 where he says, As to his hillside plow, the two mould boards were attached together, 
 but could move under the beam, so that it formed the land side in going one way and 
 the other, going the other way, but the shear moved only a little, and had a cutter on 
 both ends. Again J. H. Rush in his letter of Nov. 20, 1894, to Leander J. McCormick 
 says, I remember you spent a greater part of your early life with your father in the 
 shops, in building machiner>- of different kinds, reapers, threshers, horsepowers, Smith's 
 bellows and plou'?. 
 
 HIS BUSINESS POSSESSIONS 
 
 As has been shown, Robert McCormick was successful and pros- 
 perous in his own business afifairs, and besides the two farms he and 
 his wife had acquired by purchase and by inheritance, he had ac- 
 quired two additional farms, one of three hundred acres and the 
 other of five hundred acres, and in addition he had two flour mills 
 and two saw mills on his farms, together with a distillery, blacksmith 
 and carpenter shops. 
 
 It will thus be seen that he was a man of great business and ex- 
 ecutive ability, as well as an inventive genius, when the extensive 
 operations he had on hand constantly are well considered. For many 
 years he carried on farming on these four farms aggregating in all 
 about 1,800 acres, and at the same time, operated his two flour mills, 
 and two saw mills, and kept his carpenter and blacksmith shops busy 
 manufacturing various kinds of machinery of his own designing and
 
 invention. In all of these operations he had employed during much 
 of the time from 20 to 30 slaves, besides many white men. 
 
 About 1822 he built himself a new and commodious brick house 
 on his homestead, which house is still standing. 
 
 THE IRON FURNACE BUSINESS 
 
 About the year 1834 Mr. McCormick engaged with his son Cyrus 
 and a man by the name of Black in the Iron Furnace business, which 
 proved to have been the one great mistake of his life. They had 
 bought and operated what was known as the "Cotopaxi Furnace" 
 which was situated on the South River about two miles from Mr. 
 McCormick's house. Mr. McCormick furnished almost the entire 
 capital for conducting the business, and the money of the concern was 
 kept in a bank in Richmond. After several years of ill success came 
 the financial panic of 1837. At this time Black drew their money 
 out of the bank, amounting to about $12,000.00; and also put his 
 property out of his hands. Thus there was no cash available to meet 
 the indebtedness of the firm, and their rascally partner could not be 
 made to give up one dollar of the funds he had embezzled. In this 
 dilema the furnace had to be closed down and Mr. McCormick had 
 to bend every energy to the liquidating and settling the claims of the 
 firm's creditors, the entire amount of the losses, from the business, 
 and the defalcation, aggregating about $18,000.00. 
 
 HIS RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS 
 
 As has been heretofore stated, Robert McCormick was a strong 
 religious character, inheriting his convictions from a long line of 
 ancestry, his father being an elder in the Presbyterian Church he 
 and all his father's family, as well as all his own children were mem- 
 bers of that communion; and his daughter, Mary Caroline, became 
 the wife of a Presbyterian clergyman. 
 
 It is interesting to note his thoughtfulness on religious subjects, 
 illustrating that he did not take all the doctrines as laid down by 
 his religious teachers, v/ithout reserve; illustrating which an extract 
 from a letter to his brother George McCormick, dated Rockbridge 
 County, Va., Dec. 7th, 1822, is of interest: 
 
 We have been taught Calvinistic doctrine from our youth, but it is really a hard 
 doctrine to compare with that reason which the Deity has given us for our guide. Many 
 tenets are introduced by our teachers to prove Calvinist tenets, one of which I will make 
 a few remarks on, which is that of the potter and the clay. He having power out of 
 the same lump to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor. This we must ad- 
 mit as fact, and if the vessel made to dishonor continues in the station for which it was 
 intended has it violated the intention of the maker? Surely not; because upon his own 
 plan, it has exactly answered the purpose for which he made it. And if the being so 
 formed be cast into eternal misery it is possible reason would say he is more to be pitied 
 than faulted.
 
 BLACKSMITH'S BELLOWS, INVENTED BV KOBT. McCOKMICK
 
 HIS CLOSING DAYS 
 
 About the time he was beginning to once more get free from debt, 
 Robert McCormick was caught out in a heavy snowstorm, in com- 
 ing home from the South River farm, where he had been looking 
 after the shipment of reaping machines to Lynchburg. He became 
 chilled, taking a very severe cold, which settled on his lungs, and 
 from the effects of it he never recovered. 
 
 He died at his home in Rockbridge County, Va., on July 4, 1846, 
 and was buried in the old Providence Grave Yard. His wife, Mary 
 Anna, died at her daughter Amanda's (Mrs. Hugh Adams) house, 
 on June i, 1853, after ten weeks' confinement to her bed with typhoid 
 fever. 
 
 Robert and Mary A. (Hall) McCormick had issue eight chil- 
 dren, viz., 
 
 L Cyrus Hall, b. Feb. 16, 1809, m. Nettie Fowler, Jan. 26, 1858. 
 Died May 13, 1884, at his home in Chicago, 111. 
 n. Robert Hall, b. May 24, 1810, died June 28, 1826, at home 
 in Rockbridge Co., Va. 
 HL Susan Jane, b. Aug. i, 1813, died June 27, 1826, at home in 
 
 Rockbridge Co., Va. 
 IV. William Sanderson, b. Nov. 2, 1815, m. Mary Ann Griggsby, 
 
 June, 1848, d. Sept. 27, 1865, at Jacksonville, 111. 
 V. Mary Caroline, b. Apr. 18, 18 17, m. Rev. Jas. Shields, May 
 II, 1847. Died March 18, 1888, at her son's home iii 
 Highland Park, 111. 
 
 VI. Leander James, b. Feb. 8, 1819, m. Henrietta Hamilton, Oct. 
 6, 1845. Died Feb. 20, 1900, in Chicago, 111. 
 VII. John Prestley, b. Nov. 8, 1820, died Sept. 4, 1849, at his 
 mother's home in Va. 
 VIII. Amanda J., b. Sept. 17, 1822, m. Hugh Adams, May 8, 1841;. 
 Died Oct. 12, 1891. 
 The three brothers and two sisters are all buried at Graceland 
 Cemetery, in Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 HIS INVENTION OF THE REAPER 
 
 For seventy-nine years those best acquainted with Robert McCor- 
 mick, his life, genius and accomplishments, have maintained that to 
 him was due the credit for the first conception and invention, and 
 the subsequent improvement and final perfection of his grain reaping 
 machine. As there has been conflict of opinion among some of the 
 later descendants of Robert McCormick as to the right and credit 
 for this great and inestimable invention, it becomes a duty to make 
 a collection of the evidence which establishes him as the Inventor 
 of the McCormick Reaper.
 
 Robert McCormick 
 
 The Inventor or 
 
 Xne McCormick Reaper 
 
 Review ox tne Evidence in 
 Proor Tnereor
 
 PROOF OF INVENTION 
 
 Abundant evidence exists to prove that Robert McCormick was 
 the inventor of the McCormick Reaper, and that the first successful 
 machine was constructed and operated by him on his own farm in 
 the harvest of 183 1, 32 and 33. 
 
 The pages following contain a synopsis of this evidence with 
 brief comment thereon. 
 
 THE FIRST EXPERIMENTS 
 
 Robert McCormick, born July 13, 1802, nephew of the Inven- 
 tor, a son of William McCormick and Mary Steele, under date 
 of 1 8th February, 1879, states: 
 
 That his first recollection of the McCormick reaper was in 1809. When he was 
 a small boy his father told him that his brother Robert had invented a reaping machine 
 to be drawn by horse power. 
 
 That in 1825 or 1826, Robert McCormick (his uncle) told him he had in- 
 vented a reaping machine, and he got it out of his Malt House and put it up in his 
 yard. That it was con-tructed with small circular saws, which bent to the side and 
 deposited by bands. This machine was used on Robert McCormick's farm in 1825 and 
 26. Afterwards Robert McCormick obtained an entire sickle, which worked by a 
 crank. He then invented and adopted the reel. 
 
 From repeated conversation with Robert McCormick and from his personal knowl- 
 edge of the facts, he declared that Robert McCormick was the inventor of the reaper 
 and is entitled to the credit of the invention. 
 
 Cyrus Hall McCormick declares in a statement dictated by him 
 in 1874 that his father 
 
 Robert McCormick invented and operated a reaping machine in the harvest of 
 1816. His machine did then cut and lay the grain in sv/ath very well, but he laid it 
 aside, and did not again try it until the harvest of 1 83 1, when he made another trial of 
 it, resulting in his entire abandonment of it, as an unsuccessful experiment. 
 
 Cyrus McCormick is the only witness on record to state that his 
 father, Robert McCormick, took his old machine that he invented 
 and built in 18 16 again into the harvest field in 1831. Every other 
 witness describes the machine he operated in a field on his own farm. 
 in 1831, which he had been working on for several years, as a verv 
 different machine from any he ever previously constructed, as we will 
 see by perusing the testimony following. 
 
 Leander J. McCormick states: 
 
 That the parts of an old machine, invented and constructed by his father, Robert 
 McCormick, in 1820, were stored in the old Malt House, and were familiar objects
 
 with those about the farm. This machine had two wheels as carriers, with gearing, a 
 cutting apparatus, and platform to receive the grain in rear of cutting apparatus. The 
 cutters were stationary and curved. The machine had vertical reels to sweep the grain 
 across the cutters, and with an endless apron the grain was delivered at the side of the 
 machine. The horses drew the machine, being attached by shafts or a pole. 
 
 William Steele McCormick, a nephew of the Inventor, who 
 lived with and worked for Robert McCormick from the spring 
 of 1829 until the fall of 1831, states in his affidavit of Jan. 5, 1880: 
 
 I am intimately acquainted with the invention of the McCormick reaper. I saw 
 this great machine progress step by step from the unsuccessful experiment my Uncle 
 Robert McCormick first tried prior to the fall of 1828 or spring of 1829. . . . 
 This machine was a small two-wheeled reaper, drawn by a horse in shafts, with sta- 
 tionary' cutters. This failed to work and it was laid aside by uncle. 
 
 Again in a letter dated Nov. 28, 1878, he says, 
 
 My dear old uncle had made a small machine before I went to live with him 
 ind the crooked cutter came around horizontally, but it did not work well, and /;;• 
 never did anything more nith it after I came to live with him. I lived there 'till 
 ibout the last of the year of 1831. 
 
 William Steele McCormick's statement is in direct contradiction 
 of the statement that Robert McCormick again tried his old machine 
 built in 1816, in the harvest of 1831, for he (Wililam S.) explicitly 
 states that Robert never did anything more with it after he came to 
 live with him, which was in 1829. 
 
 The statement has been made that the old machine which Robert 
 McCormick buil: in i8t6 was again tried by him in the harvest of 
 183 1, when he discarded it, and abandoned his idea of inventing a 
 wheat cutting machine. 
 
 The above statement of William Steele McCormick shows that 
 the 18 16 machine was abandoned by Robert McCormick in the spring 
 of 1828, and that a new machine was invented, constructed and put 
 into operation by Robert McCormick in 183 1; and William Steele 
 McCormick shows that the description of this machine contained 
 all the essential elements of all future reaping machines. 
 
 Mary Caroline, the daughter of Robert McCormick, born in 
 1817. states: That it was a matter of family knowledge that her 
 father had invented, built and experimented with one or more reap- 
 ing machines from a very early date, beginning before she was born, 
 and that he so continued until his efforts were crowned with success 
 by the m.achine he invented and built in 183 1, and operated that and 
 succeeding years. 
 
 Henry Shultz states: 
 
 I remember having heard my father say that Robert McCormick worked on it 
 (the reaper) in his father's lifetime, and his father (Robert McCormick, Sr.) would
 
 tell him, Ah, Robert, it is of no use to trj' and make a machine to cut wheat, that woulii 
 be the Devil's work 
 
 Robert McCormick, Sr., died Oct. 12, 18 18, so this tradition 
 would go to corroborate the testimony that his son was busily engaged 
 on his reaper idea before that date. 
 
 By these witnesses it is established that Robert McCormick 
 invented and constructed one or more machines prior to 183 1; and 
 in the general features, the witnesses all seem to agree, although they 
 dififer as to their dates. 
 
 THE REAPER OF 1831 THE FIRST 
 ENTIRELY SUCCESSFUL MACHINE 
 
 Cyrus Hall McCormick, states under date of Jan. i, 1848: 
 
 In the summer of i8jl, my father construeted a machine for cutting grain, upon 
 a principle entirely different from mine, and on which he had made experim.ents years 
 before; and by his experiment in the harvest of 183 1, he became satisfied that it would 
 not answer a valuable purpose, notv.'ithstanding it cut well in straight wheat. 
 
 There is evidently a conflict between the statements of Mr. Mc- 
 Cormick, the one in 1848 and the other in 1874, ^s in the latter he 
 states his father constructed a machine for cutting grain in l8jl, 
 while in the former he states, that in 1831 his father made another 
 trial of the same machine he invented and operated in 1816, and then 
 abandoned it. 
 
 It is noteworthy that there is no other witness on record to state 
 that there were two machines of entirely dififerent type constructed 
 and operated on the farm of Robert McCormick in 1831, one of 
 Robert McCormick's invention and the other of Cyrus McCormick's 
 invention. 
 
 Not another witness is on record to the statement that a machine 
 operated on the farm of Robert McCormick in 1831 was the same 
 machine or similar to the machine, he built and operated in 1816. 
 
 Not another witness has ever been found to state that any machine 
 invented, built, or operated by Robert McCormick in 1831 was a 
 failure. 
 
 The patent of June 21, 1834, taken out by Cyrus Hall McCormick, 
 covers a machine which the following testimony will fully describe. 
 That it was the machine which was invented by Robert McCormick 
 and given by him to his son, Cyrus, who patented it in his own name 
 is fully established by the testimony follov/ing. In so far as Cyrus 
 Hall McCormick states that his father "in the summer of 1831 con- 
 structed a machine for cutting grain" and operated it on his own
 
 farm in the summer of 1831, he is in harmony with all other wit- 
 nesses. 
 
 Again. William Steele McCormick states: 
 
 That in 1829 or 30 he was personally present when Robert McCormick con- 
 ceived the idea of his second reaping machine. He was the sole inventor of the whole 
 thing, for "I know it well. Myself and Sam Hite were the workmen, and did the work, 
 Cyrus, helping. This machine was drawn by horses in front. Had a master wheel 
 3 ft. in diameter; a vibrating sickle driven by a crank, which got its motion from gear 
 wheels from the main axle. The sickle was supported by projecting fingers about three 
 inches apart. Behind the sickle was a platform on which the grain fell, when swept 
 back by a revolving horizontal reel to the sickle, and cut, and was raked off by a man. 
 The reel was supported by posts at each end and driven by a band from the main 
 axle. We took it into a field and it cut well. I never heard his right as the inventor 
 of this machine questioned by anyone. I know that my uncle claimed the invention. 
 
 C. R. McCormick of Patterson, Mo., states: 
 
 That his father, Wm. Steele McCormick, had frequently related to him the 
 circumstances of his uncle Robert McCormick's invention and construction of the 
 McCormick reaping machine, as stated in his affidavit of Jan. 5, 1880, and his several 
 letters to Leander McCormick and Mar}' Caroline Shields. 
 
 S. Ellen McCormick Raney states that: 
 
 She coincides with her brothers' statements, and that she frequently heard her 
 father, Wm. Steele McCormick, make all the statements he made affidavit to on Jan. 
 ■i, 1880, as well as in his several letters referred to. 
 
 Leander J. McCormick describes the machine as invented, con- 
 structed and operated successfully in the year 1831 and 32, in almost 
 identical terms as Wm. Steele McCormick and says that his father 
 was the inventor of it, but gave the invention to Cyrus, and allowed 
 him to obtain the patent. However, in an affidavit dated Feb. 17, 
 1848, in the patent extension case of Cyrus H. McCormick, he and 
 his mother and his brother, William Sanderson McCormick, state 
 that "during the harvest of 183 1, C. H. McCormick did have con- 
 structed and put into operation a reaping machine for which a 
 patent was granted to him in 1834." Then they described this ma- 
 chine as identically the same machine described by Wm. Steele 
 McCormick, but they do not say m this affidavit that Cyrus was the 
 inventor of it. 
 
 In testimony taken by a Justice of the Peace, in the year 184S. in 
 the patent extension case of Cyrus H. McCormick, the following 
 question uas asked Leander by his brother Cyrus: 
 
 "State the harvest of what year I first had a reaping machine con- 
 structed, and describe it." 
 
 Ans. "In the harvest of the year 1831 ," and he then describes the 
 same machine as heretofore, but does not say that Cyrus invented 
 it. It will be observed, however, that William S. McCormick,
 
 nephew of Robert McCormick, states that "he and Sam Hite did the 
 work on the reaper of 1831, Cyrus helping." So that Cyrus did help 
 construct the reaper invented by his father. 
 
 Leander J. McCormick has also stated that he knew his brother 
 Cyrus, his cousin William Steele McCormick, and Sam Hite were 
 the workmen engaged with his father in building this machine. 
 
 Mary Caroline Shields, daughter of Robert McCormick, states: 
 
 In the summer of 1832 her mother asked her to walk with her to the field where 
 her father was trying a machine which he had invented to cut wheat. Father and ma, 
 and others present were delighted with the operation of the machine. It had a reel 
 which drew the wheat in and cut it by a vibrating sickle, and it then fell on a platform 
 and a man raked it oflF in bundles ready for binding. Again in the summer of 1833 
 she says she saw the same machine cut wheat. She further states ma persuaded father 
 to give the invention of the reaper to Brother Cyrus, and it took a good deal of per- 
 suasion too. Ma said Cyrus has promised me that if the reaper is made a success all 
 the children shall be interested in it, and I know he will do it. So he gave the inven- 
 tion to Brother Cyrus, and as long as ma lived she repeated to me when she had the 
 opportunity, and to sister Amanda the promise Cyrus had made her, and she told the 
 same to Henrietta. 
 
 This statement of Mrs. Shields that she saw a machine invented 
 by her father which he had been experimenting on for several years, 
 at work in the field in 1832 and 1833 clearly contradicts the statement 
 that Robert McCormick had abandoned his "idea" of a reaping ma- 
 chine after an experiment made in the field in 1831. Mrs. Shields 
 has also stated that her brother Cyrus, her cousin Wm. Steele Mc- 
 Cormick and Sam Hite were the workmen engaged with her father 
 in building this machine. 
 
 Henrietta Hamilton McCormick states: 
 
 I always understood Mr. Robert McCormick to have been the inventor of the 
 reaper. On a certain occasion Mrs. McCormick and her two daughters, Caroline and 
 jAxnanda, and myself being present, Amanda stated that her father had given the inven- 
 tion of the reaper to her brother Cyrus, under a promise from him that he would make 
 the whole family rich if he ever made anything out of it. Mrs. McCormick acqui- 
 esced in the statement by saying, I know Cyrus, I know Cyrus, I know he will do 
 w^hat he has promised if he ever makes anything out of it. 
 
 Rev. Horatio Thompson states : 
 
 He knew Robert McCormick from 1832, and that Robert McCormick was the 
 inventor of the original wheat reaper. I saw him at work on the machine in his shop. 
 His whole soul seemed to be absorbed in the work of the invention. All persons ascribed 
 it to Robert McCormick and to no other. 
 
 Zachariah McChesney, a cousin of Mrs. Robert McCormick, 
 states : 
 
 I never heard during the life of Robert McCormick any other name than his 
 associated with the invention of the reaper, although Cyrus was an efficient aid after the 
 invention in making sales. 
 
 Knew that Robert was engaged in studying and inventing the wheat reaper sev-
 
 eral years before it was put on the market. I bought one of the first reapers from 
 Cyrus, who acted as the agent for his father. 
 
 Col. Thomas Paxton, millwright and farmer, states: 
 
 Was intimately acquainted with Robert McCormick from 1827 to liis death. 
 Worked for him. Have no doubt myself Robert McCormick was original inventor of 
 the machine. This was the general opinion of the community and was justified by the 
 constant and unremitting labor and attention he bestowed on the machine, and his 
 known ingenuity and skill in working and inventing. That he at one time said to Rob- 
 ert McCormick: Mr. McCormick, this is not Cyrus' invention, it is yours, is it not?' 
 He replied at once, 'Yes, but I intend to give Cyrus the benefit of it. 
 
 John H. B. Schultz states: 
 
 I knew Robert McCormick all my life and worked for him putting up reapers in 
 the spring of 1845. Always understood he was the inventor of it. Have absolute 
 knowledge that Robert McCormick was the inventor of the vibrating cutter, and the 
 reel. Lived wn'thin two miles of him and knew him well. 
 
 Henry Shults states: 
 
 Remember Robert McCormick well. Was frequently in his shop and saw hin^ 
 at work. Always heard it said that he invented the reaper. 
 
 Thomas H. McGuffin states: 
 
 Was born and raised within a mile and a half of Robert McCormick. He was 
 the inventor of the reaping machine beyond all doubt. The opinion of the neighborhood 
 was that he was the inventor of the McCormick machine. 
 
 A. Horace Henry states: 
 
 I have often heard my father say that Mr. Robert McCormick was the inventor 
 of the McCormick reaping machine. 
 
 Wm. Steele states: 
 
 Was raised within six miles of Robert McCormick's home and visited with his 
 family all my early life. It was well known that he had invented a successful reaping 
 machine. 
 
 John H. Rush states: 
 
 Knew Robert McCormick and all his family well. Lived within a mile of his 
 home. Was often in his home and shops. Was intimately acquainted with his family. 
 He had been experimenting with a machine for cutting grain for many years, and it 
 was well known by the neighbors that he, Robert, was the real inventor of the reaper. 
 His son, Cyru=, made great efforts in introducing it. 
 
 James E. A. Gibbs (inventor of the Wilcox and Gibbs Sewing 
 Machine), states: 
 
 Was born and raised within four miles of the McCormick farm, and from earliest 
 recollection remember of hearing that Robert McCormick was trying to make a reap- 
 ing machine. Saw the work on the reaper in the shops before any of them were of- 
 fered on the market. Saw one at work in a back field. Up to this time never heard of 
 anyone bring called its inventor but Robert McCormick. As to inventions made by Cy- 
 rus I know nothing. Of my own knowledge, and the universal opinion of all citizens 
 in this section, Robert McCormick had so far made and perfected the reaper as to make 
 it a practical working machine before Cyrus took hold of it.
 
 Serena M. C. Hogshead (a daughter of Dr. John McChesney, 
 who was a first cousin of Mrs. Robert McCormick), states: 
 
 She often heard her father speak of the McCormick reaper, invented by Robert 
 McCormick, and due alone to his inventive genius. Her father was born in 1789 and 
 u-as Robert McCormick's family physician from 1814 to 1850, and would confirm the 
 testimony giving the credit of its origin to Robert McCormick, as he knew much of 
 the reaper and its progress for many years. 
 
 Joseph Anderson, (colored), who was a slave of Robert McCor- 
 mick, and who later became the property of Cyrus H. McCormick, 
 to whom he belonged until he became free, states: 
 
 I know of my own knowledge that Robert McCormick is the real inventor of the 
 first successful machine, that he was the inventor of the first machine in w^hich the 
 sickle had a vibratory or crank motion, and that had a revolving reel with the horses to 
 draw the same, of these facts and statements I can say nothing less in justice to truth, 
 for I know it to be a fact, and am obliged to give the statements as the facts are. 
 
 Dr. N. M. Hitt, one of Cyrus McCormick's witnesses in the 
 Patent Extension Case of 1848, states on March 17, 1848: 
 
 During the summer of 1831 I saw Mr. Robert McCormick and Mr. C. H. Mc- 
 Cormick engaged in building a reaping machine, which he afterwards saw operate in a 
 piece of wheat on Robert ]\IcCormick's farm in the latter part of July, 1 83 1. Then 
 he goes on to describe the same machine William Steel McCormick testifies he worked 
 on the construction of for Robert McCormick, and which he declares was the sole in- 
 vention of Robert McCormick. 
 
 This was not Robert McCormick's machine of 18 16 that Dr. 
 Hitt saw. From the nature of Dr. Hitt's statement he must have 
 seen Robert McCormick and Cyrus at work on this same machine 
 some time before harvest in 1831, as he said he "saw them engaged 
 in building" it and asked them to let him know when it was "com- 
 pleted," so that he might "see it operate." He says nothing about any 
 other machine having been operated by Robert McCormick, but 
 clearly indicates that Robert was engaged in the work of building the 
 one he afterwards saw at work, and he furthermore does not state 
 who invented that machine. Thus Dr. Hitt's testimony shows that a 
 reaper which Dr. Hitt saw Robert McCormick at work on in the 
 summer of 1831, was subsequently operated in a "piece of wheat," 
 and he describes that machine as having been "drawn by horses." 
 It, therefore, w^as not the machine described as the one Robert oper- 
 ated in 1816, — but evidently was the same machine all other wit- 
 nesses testify to having seen at work on Robert McCormick's farm in 
 1831. 
 
 Dr. Hitt's testimony, however, is clearly in harmony with William 
 Steele McCormick, and every other witness on the question of the 
 description of the only machine that was successfully operated on
 
 Robert McCormick's plantation in 1831, and Robert McCormick in- 
 vented and constructed that machine. 
 
 In another statement said to have been prepared by Cyrus H. 
 McCormick in 1874, he sets forth the following claims in regard to 
 his invention of the Reaper. 
 
 After speaking of his father's varied qualifications as a farmer, 
 mechanic and inventor, he says: 
 
 In the harvest of i8ifa he invented and operated a reaping machine. His ma- 
 chine did then cut and lay the grain in swath very well, (as did Bell's of Scotland 
 subsequently) when the grain stood up straight, and was not tangled. Nevertheless, 
 my father then perceived such difficulties in the way of the practical success of his 
 machine that he laid it aside, and did not again try it until early in the harvest of 1 83 1, 
 when he made another trial of it, resulting in his entire abandonment of it, as an un- 
 successful experiment. 
 
 At this point, then twenty-two years of age, having been present, and having 
 closely watched the operation of my father's machine, I applied myself to the study of 
 the principles and difficulties so far demonstrated in the construction of a 
 successful reaping machine; and suffice it to say that, in a very short time 
 I had made in a crude manner, and satisfactorily tested, the principles of cutting, 
 in a field of rye,* on my father's farm, and that I had my new machine more com- 
 pletely made, with the addition of the gathering reel, and with a better arranged divider, 
 ready for the trial in a neighboring field of late oats, during the same harvest, in which 
 I then cut, very successfully, six or seven acres of the crop. * * * And here, 
 at my old home, it is proper to say that the fact may appear, — singular as it might 
 seem in the close relations that existed between my father and myself in these matters, 
 and contrary I believe to the opinions of some — there was no resemblance whatever 
 between any two single features of our machines. His machine, for example, was pro- 
 pelled by horses from the rear, (as was Bell's also ten years later). Mine, except 
 one built as an experiment for the harvest of 1834, was drawn by the horses placed in 
 front, and at the side of the crop to be cut. His delivered the grain in swath while 
 mine delivered in gavels. His divided and separated the grain being cut at several 
 different places along the cutting line, the cutting being done by short hooks, sepa- 
 rately, at each such division. * * * 
 
 *NoTE. In his previous statement it was "a little wheat left standing." 
 His cutting was done by a series of serrated hooks, fixed on the front edge of a 
 frame placed in front of the horses, and at right angles to the line of cutting, the 
 grain being forced across their edges by means of vertical cylinders, with projecting 
 teeth on their peripheries, revolving horizontally, and kept in motion by as many 
 leather bands, connected to the cart wheels in the rear; mine by a reciprocating straight 
 sickle, placed at the front edge of a platform, and moved literally (laterally) by a 
 crank, the grain being supported at the edge by fingers while being cut. His machine, 
 without a platform, removed the grain, laying it in a swath by means of the leather 
 straps, with nails as teeth in them referred to ; while with mine the grain was collected 
 on the platform by the gathering reel, from which it was deposited on the ground in 
 gavels ready for the Binder. 
 
 In the summer of 1831, my father constructed a machine for cutting grain upon 
 a principle entirely different from mine, and on which he had made experiments years 
 before; and by his experiment in the harvest of 1 83 1 he became satisfied that it would 
 not answer a valuable purpose, notwithstanding it cut well in straight wheat. Very 
 soon after my father had abandoned his machine" (which he has just stated was after 
 experimenting with it in the harvest of 1831) "I first conceived the idea of cutting 
 upon the principle of mine, viz. : with a vibrating blade, operated by a crank, and the 
 grain supported at the edge while cutting, by means of fixed pieces of wood or iron 
 projecting before it, etc.
 
 A temporary experimental machine was immediately constructed, and the cut- 
 ting partially tried with success, in cutting without a reel, a little wheat left standing 
 for the trial; whereupon the machine was improved, and the reel," — which I had in 
 the meantime discovered — "attached and soon afterwards" (the same harvest) "a very 
 successful experiment was made with it in cutting oats, in a field of Mr. John Steele, 
 neighbor to my father. The machine at the time of this experiment contained all the 
 essential parts that were embraced in the patent of June 21, 1834. 
 
 Then he goes on to describe the machine, which description coin- 
 cides with the description given by several witnesses of the machine, 
 invented, constructed and operated by Robert McCormick in the 
 harvests of 1831-2-3. 
 
 The grandchildren of Robert McCormick, the children of Will- 
 iam S., Mary Caroline, Leander J., and Amanda J., state that by 
 tradition from their parents, uncles and aunts, they have always un- 
 derstood that R.obert McCormick was the original inventor and con- 
 structor of the first successful Reaping Machine which he operated 
 on his own home farm successfully in 183 1-2 and 3. That it was not 
 the first machine he ever built, but that it was the first entirely suc- 
 cessful machine, and that at the earnest entreaty of their grand- 
 mother (Mary A. McCormick) he (Robert McCormick) gave the 
 patent to his son Cyrus, with the understanding that if he made a 
 success of it the whole family should be enriched by it and that 
 thereby Cyrus H. McCormick acquired the patent that was issued 
 to him in 1834. 
 
 From the foregoing long array of credible witnesses, and from 
 the tradition of his grandchildren, and the historical facts that are 
 recorded of him, it would seem to be established beyond all shadow 
 of doubt that — 
 A. — Robert McCormick was a man of diversified genius. 
 
 A man of extraordinary executive ability. 
 
 A man of varied interests. 
 
 A successful man in many departments of industry. 
 
 A man well posted in scientific matters and events of his day and 
 generation. 
 
 A man well known, highly respected and looked up to by the com- 
 munity he lived in. 
 
 And in every way a very unusual man. 
 B. — That Robert McCormick invented and constructed many dif- 
 ferent articles of machinery, and manufactured and sold them from 
 his own home shops to his advantage and profit. 
 
 C. That Robert McCormick invented and constructed one or more 
 
 reapers previous to 1826, which he laid aside as not a success. 
 
 D That Robert McCormick invented, constructed and operated
 
 a reaper, with great success, in the harvests of 183 1, 1832 and 
 1833, the description of which machine is fully authenticated. That 
 all of his family knew this machine was his invention and his alone, 
 and that so far as known all his neighbors and friends knew he was 
 the original inventor of that machine; that his son Cyrus patented in 
 1834 a machine which was in its main and principal features the same 
 as the machine described as having been invented, constructed and 
 operated by Robert McCormick in the harvests of 1831, 32 and 33; 
 and his brother and sisters declared that his father gave the inven- 
 tion to Cyrus. 
 
 E. — That Robert McCormick manufactured, and continued to 
 experiment on and improve, in shops on his own home plantation, 
 from year to year, on and after 1834, reaping machines constructed 
 after the pattern of the machine built by him in 183 1 ; and sold such 
 machines to farmers in his own and distant neighborhoods; almost 
 every year, so far as now known, increasing the number he made and 
 sold, until the time of his death in 1846, during which year 75 ma- 
 chines were built by him, 60 of which were sold. And furthermore, 
 the principal features of Robert McCormick's machine of 183 1 and 
 thereafter are the fundamental features of all successful reaping and 
 mowing machines of the present day. 
 
 F. — The fact seems, therefore, to be well proven by the evidence we 
 have at hand that: 
 
 Robert McCormick, after successfully inventing, constructing 
 and operating a reaper in 1831-32-33, gave the invention of that 
 machine to his son, Cyrus Hall McCormick; and the latter obtained 
 a patent for same dated June 21, 1834. 
 
 In proof of this contention, we have only to refer to the testimony 
 herewith attached by Leander James McCormick, Mary Caroline 
 Shields, Henrietta H. McCormick, Col. Thomas Paxton, Robert 
 McCormick (nephew of Robert, Jr.), Wm. Steele McCormick, and 
 lastly by the tradition of the grandchildren of Robert McCormick. 
 
 This contention harmonizes entirely with the testimony of all the 
 witnesses collected to substantiate the fact of Robert McCormick's in- 
 vention, and is not in antagonism with anv of the testimony (except 
 his own) produced by Cyrus Hall McCormick to prove his inven- 
 tion of the reaper.
 
 >J^ELL EARNED FAME 
 
 No Persian scythe bearing cliariot ever cut such a swath, porten- 
 tious for the destiny of all mankind as this first reaper did, when 
 it left in its wake the assurance of abundant food, more ease and more 
 prosperity to countless men throughout the earth. 
 
 No Roman charioteer ere won a victory commanding the plaudits 
 of so great a throng as did this plain but earnest and far seeing hus- 
 bandman, who, after more than twenty years of thought and work, 
 wherein he made slow progress, with much and oft discouragement, 
 at last, however, reached the goal of his ambition, thereby command- 
 ing the plaudits of not only those who knew him in his own day and 
 age, but also that of countless millions yet unborn, for the great boon 
 his efiforts had secured for them and theirs. 
 
 Therefore, in con.sideration of the remarkable labors and achieve- 
 ments of Robert McCormick, culminating in the invention of the 
 first successful reaping machine ever produced, which has, in its 
 evolution, become one of the greatest boons to civilized mankind, 
 enabling the farmers of the entire world to harvest their crops with 
 such ease, rapidity and economy that the staple food of all modern 
 nations has been both cheapened and multiplied many fold, so that, 
 the reaper of to-day is indispensable in the problem of the feeding of 
 the peoples of the nations of the earth. We, the descendants of Robert 
 McCormick, claim that by his great contribution to the arts and 
 crafts in the contest for human honors, he has won the Golden Chal- 
 ice, gained the Victor's Crown, and earned a place immortal in the 
 Hall of Fame.
 
 Copies of 
 
 Letters, Personal Statements 
 
 ana 
 
 Affidavits 
 
 In testimony of 
 
 Tke Invention of tke Reaper 
 
 By 
 
 Rotert McCormick 
 
 Tte Originals are in tke possession of eitber R. Hall McCormick 
 or James Hall Skields
 
 I trust that these papers will long be preserved and that hidden truths can at all 
 times be brought to light in justice to my beloved father, Robert McCormick. 
 
 (Signed) L. J. McCormick. 
 May 7, 1891. 
 
 I simply wish to endorse all of these papers, (as it might be asked who these 
 writers were) as they were all of my truest and best friends and that of each one of my 
 father's family. 
 
 (Signed) L. J. McCormick.
 
 A Memorial of the Early History and Invention of the 
 
 McCormick Reaper, as Detailed by Robert McCor- 
 
 mick of the County of Rockbridge and State 
 
 of Virginia, Aged Seventy-Six Years. 
 
 AFFIDAVIT OF ROBERT McCORMICK, A NEPHEW 
 OF ROBERT McCORMICK, THE INVENTOR 
 
 Please state your earliest recollection of the invention of the McCormick reaper. 
 
 My first recollection of the invention of the McCormick reaper was in i8og. When 
 I was a small boy, my father told me that his brother, Robert, the fatlier of Cyrus H. 
 and L. J. McCormick, had invented a reaping machine to be drawn by horse power, 
 but that their father discouraged the work at the time. In 1825 or 1826, Robert Mc- 
 Cormick, the father of Cyrus H. and L. J. McCormick, came to me and told me he had 
 invented a reaping machine, and requested me to go over to his house and look at it. I 
 went over to Robert McCormick's and he got the machine out of the malt house and 
 put it up in the yard. The reaping machine was constructed with small circular saws, 
 eight or ten inches in diameter, which bent the grain to the sickle. It was caught by 
 bands carried to the side and deposited by the bands. 
 
 During the harvest of 1825 or 6 this machine was used on Robert McCormick's 
 farm, but the great objection to this machine was when the grain was dry and very 
 ripe it got fastened in the bands. 
 
 After the harvest, Robert McCormick obtained an entire sickle which worked by 
 a crank. Robert McCormick then invented and adopted the reel. 
 
 I am prepared to declare from my personal knowledge of the facts that Robert 
 McCormick, the father of C. H. and L. J. McCormick, is the inventor of the Mc- 
 Cormick reaper. 
 
 Robert McCormick had repeated conversations with me about his invention, and I 
 know that he is entitled to the credit of this invention. 
 
 Robert McCormick might have patented his reaper eight or ten years before it 
 was patented ; he then gave the right to the patent to C. H. McCormick, his son. 
 
 Given under my hand this Eighteenth day of February, 1879. 
 
 (Signed) Robt. McCormick. 
 
 Attest: 
 
 S. McCormick. 
 M. S. McCormick. 
 
 LETTER OF "WM. STEELE McCORMICK 
 TO LEANDER J. McCORMICK 
 
 Patterson, Wayne Co., Mo., Nov. 7, '78. 
 Dear Cousin: 
 
 Yours of Oct. 28th just to hand and found me and my wife just able to be up, 
 but I will try and write you. 
 
 Now as to the reaper, you know I was personally present, living there with your 
 pa when the thing was first concoted and put into operation; Sam Hight and myself 
 were the men that did the work, Cyrus helping also, but as to the invention of the ma- 
 chine, that was my dear old Uncle's and none else. In several cases in putting it up 
 he would speak to me in doing it thus and so, as I was his right-hand man, but he 
 was the sole inventor of the whole thing for I know it well. 
 
 I was living with him for some time before he tried the wheat cutter; the first
 
 thing I helped him to do was to try a water power to work like steam from the Old 
 Mill trunk, but it would not work. Next we tried a horse hemp brake which did ex- 
 ceedingly well, and next was the wheat cutter and it was all from his own head. He 
 was the greatest genius I ever saw, at least I looked upon him as such. 
 
 I made a neat model for the bellows and went with him and Cyrus to Wash- 
 ington to get a patent for the same, and there was not a single model in the patent 
 office for cutting wheat. 
 
 Give my kindest regards to all. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 (Signed) Wm. S. McCormick. 
 
 LETTER OF 'WM. STEELE McCORMICK 
 TO LEANDER J. McCORMICK 
 
 Patterson, Wayne Co., Mo., Nov. 7th, 1878. 
 Dear Cousin: 
 
 Yours of October 28th just came to hand and found myself and wife in feeble 
 health. I will, however, answer your letter and give you such facts as I can call to 
 mind or gather up in regard to the early history of the McCormick Reaper. 
 
 My uncle, Robert McCormick, had built a small two wheeled reaper with sta- 
 tionary cutters drawn by a horse in shafts, which failed to work, and he laid it aside 
 before I went to live with him, which was in the Fall of 1828 or in the Spring of 
 1829. I was personally present when Uncle Robert conceived the idea of his second 
 machine, myself and Sam Hight were the workmen and did the work, Cyrus helping; 
 but as to the invention of the machine, that was my dear old Uncle Robert's and none 
 else. In several cases in putting it up he would speak to me in doing it thus and 
 so as I was his right-hand man, but he was the sole inventor of the whole thing for I 
 know it well as I was living with him for some time before he tried this second wheat 
 cutter. 
 
 The first thing I helped him to do was to try a water power to operate like steam 
 from the old mill trunk, but it would not work; next we tried a horse power and 
 hemp brake which did exceedingly well, and next was his second wheat cutter, and 
 all was from his own head; he was the greatest genius or natural mechanic I ever saw, 
 at least I looked upon him as such. The machine was drawn by horses in front of the 
 standing grain and it was built on one master wheel (say three feet in diameter) and 
 ran out into the grain to the right, the length of the sickle cut by a horizontal crank 
 motion from the main wheel. The reel worked by a band over the cutter put in 
 motion by a crank from the master wheel. The wheat was thrown down on a platform 
 behind the cutter by the reel and raked off by hand. You know the blacksmith bellows 
 my Uncle Robert invented was made and in operation in his shop before I went there 
 to live in 1828; as to his Hill Side Plough the two moldboards were attached together 
 but could move under the beam so that it formed the land side in going one way and 
 the other going the other way, but the shear moved only a little and had a cutter on 
 both ends. Yours, 
 
 (Signed) Wm. S. McCormick. 
 
 LETTER OF 'WM. STEELE McCORMICK 
 TO LEANDER J. McCORMICK 
 
 Patterson, Wayne Co., Mo., Nov. 28th, 1878. 
 Dear Cousin: 
 
 Yours of the 23d inst. has just come to hand and I am just able to be up. 
 
 As to the machine, from the best information I can get from my old torn books, 
 the work in making the first reaping machine was done at your father's in the year 
 1829; I made bellows at your father's in the year 1830 after we came back from Wash-
 
 ington City where your father, Cyrus and myself had gone for the purpose of getting 
 a patent for the reaper. My age at that time was 25 years. The machine was pretty 
 much the old reliable, the horses hitched to it the same way, at least the old reliable 
 was made from it ; the sickle or cutter was vibrating and cut with a crank motion 
 and the reel or rake turned wnth a band over the cutter and threw the wheat on the 
 platform and when there was sufficient for a bundle it was raked off by hand. 
 
 My dear old uncle had made a small machine before I went to live with him 
 and the crooked cutter came 'round horizontally but it did not work well, and he 
 never did anything more with it after I came to live with him. He never made but the 
 one machine while I lived with him; I lived there till about the last of the year 1831, 
 I was making bellows all the time. 
 
 I believe I have given you about all the information I can respecting the first 
 wheat cutter made by your father. 
 
 So no more for the present, but remain 
 
 Your most affectionate cousin, 
 
 (Signed) Wm. S. McCormick. 
 To L. J. McCormick, Chicago, 111. 
 
 P.S.: My impression was, before I left the State of Virginia, that my uncle had 
 given it to Cvrus, but I do not think I got it directly from him. 
 
 Wm. S. McCormick. 
 
 AFFIDAVIT OF W^M. STEELE McCORMICK 
 
 My name is William S. McCormick. I am seventy-six years of age. I was born 
 in Augusta County, Virginia. I am intimately acquainted with the invention of the 
 McCormick Reaper. I saw this great machine progress step by step from the unsuc- 
 cessful experiment my uncle Robert McCormick first tried prior to the Fall of 1828 
 or Spring of 1829 when I went to live with my uncle Robert McCormick. 
 
 This machine was a small two-wheeled Reaper drawn by a horse in shaft, witli sta- 
 tionary cutters. This failed to work and it was laid aside by Uncle. 
 
 And I was personally present when my old uncle Robert McCormick, the father 
 of C. H. and L. J. McCormick, first conceived the idea of his second reaping machine, 
 subsequently patented. This was in 1829 or 1830. I, myself, and one Samuel Hite, 
 were the men that did the work for Robert McCormick while he invented and ex- 
 perimented vnth the rrachine. I know that Robert McCormick was the 'ole inventor 
 of the Reaping Machine. His skillful brain invented each parcel of the Reaper in 
 the order I now name: the machine was drawn by horses in front by the standing 
 grain, it had a master wheel, say, three feet in diameter, the sickle was vibrating and 
 driven by a crank which got its motion from gear wheels from the main axle, the sickle 
 was supported by projecting fingers about three inches apart. Behind the fickle there 
 was a platform on which the grain fell, when it was swept back by the revolving hori- 
 zontal reel to the sickle and cut, and was raked by a man. The Reel was supported 
 by posts at each end and was driven by a band from the main axle. 
 
 The foregoing described machine was invented solely and alone by my uncle 
 Robert McCormick. This I know; there can be no doubt of it whatever. I wa; 
 present. I lived with my uncle and worked with him on this machine. He gave his 
 orders and they were followed by myself and other workmen. He made his sug- 
 gestions and we followed them. I know that the conception and creation was wholly 
 from his own brain. I never heard his right as the inventor of this machine ques- 
 tioned by any one. nor did I hear any one ehe at that time claim any of the inven- 
 tion ; on the contran,-, I know that my uncle Robert McCormick claimed the in- 
 vention of the machine. My uncle Robert ^McCormick was endowed with a mind 
 skilled and inventive and he had invented other matters. 
 
 Ix Witness of the foregoing statement, I have hereunto set my hand this 
 5th day of January, 1880. 
 
 (Signed) Wm. S. McCormick.
 
 Wayne County 
 State of Missouri 
 
 Personally appeared before me a Notary Public within and for the County of 
 Wayne, State of Missouri, on the 4th day of March, 1880, Win. S. McCormick, who 
 being duly sworn says that the foregoing statement is true in substance and in fact. 
 
 In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official 
 seal at my office in Wayne County, the day and year first above written. My term of 
 office as a Notary Public will expire Nov. 30th, 1881. 
 
 (Signed) DeWitt C. Bugg, 
 
 Notary Public. 
 
 LETTER OF \^M. STEELE McCORMICK 
 TO MARY CAROLINE SHIELDS 
 
 Patterson, Mo., Feb. 27th, 1883. 
 Caroline Shields: 
 
 My Dear Cousin — I have just received yours of the 7th inst. and I have hardly 
 words to express my gratitude to you for the same. Well it found my family all well 
 but myself. I have been very feeble for some time. I took a bad cold some time ago 
 and something like neuralgia in one of my legs so I could hardly get about for some 
 time, but I am better now and can get about a little. 
 
 My family consists my wife, my youngest son, Cyrus, and his wife. He has been 
 five months married. My oldest son, Theodore, joins places with me, has five chil- 
 dren and is well fixed and is doing well. Charles R. lives about two miles off, has 
 four children and is well to do and is getting rich for this country. My daughter 
 Ellen has four children, the wife of Judge Rainey of Greenville and he is doing well. 
 My son, John, has six children. He will take the homie place at half of its value, 
 and will take charge of his mother and me. My oldest daughter, Lucy, married C. R. 
 Rice, a Methodist Preacher. They have five children, some grown. They are living 
 in Kansas and are doing well. He is a good Preacher. 
 
 Now I will say something about my dear old Uncle, your father. I never can 
 forget his love and kindness to me. I went to live with him in the Spring of 1829. 
 He was the greatest natural genius and mechanic I ever saw. He never failed to 
 do anything he wished. He invented a hemp brake and a horse power to operate it, 
 which wa=; a perfect success. I was personally present when your father conceived 
 the idea of his reaper (not his first one). It failed and was thrown aside before I went 
 to live with him. Sam Hite and myself were the workmen at the time, Cyrus helping 
 also. The pattern was made for the master wheel and carried down to his furnace 
 and cast. And Uncle made the cutter bar in his own shop and he was the sole inventor 
 of the whole machine, and we took it into the field and it cut well. The wheat was 
 thrown on the platform by a reel turned by a cape and raked off by hand. 
 
 My dear cousin, I have not seen you since we were young and I can only look 
 back on you as I last saw you. But I am now old and feeble and feel and know that I 
 must soon be numbered amongst those that were. I am 79 years of age and have but 
 little of this world's goods, but I thank my Heavenly Father that this earth is not my 
 home. I have one not made with hands eternal in the Heavens. Oh when I look 
 back to your and my youthful age and remember the prayers of that dear old sainted 
 father of yours for you and me when we were young, wild and giddy, I cannot feel 
 thankful enough for the hope of meeting such dear loved ones at my Savior's right 
 hand where we will no more take the parting hand. That hope to me is my all. 
 
 Give my kindest regards to Amanda and tell her I would be glad to receive a 
 letter from her and yours and her picture to hang up in my room with the rest of 
 5'our father's family. Write soon and give all that would interest your old sincere 
 friend and cousin, 
 
 Wm. S. McCormick. 
 To Mnry Caroline Shields.
 
 LETTERS OF C. R. McCORMICK AND 
 MRS. ELLEN McCORMICK RANEY 
 
 Home, Pattersox, Wavne Co., Mo., June i6, 1910. 
 Mr. R. Hall McCormick, Chicago, III. 
 
 De.vr Covsix — I have read the letters of my father, William Steele McCormick, 
 addressed to your father under dates of Nov. 7th and Nov. 28th, 1878, and also the 
 statement made under oath by my father, dated Jany. 5th, 1880, as well as the copy 
 of a letter written by my father to his cousin Mar)' Caroline Shields, dated Feby. 
 27th, 1883, and I am glad to state that all the circumstances therein related con- 
 cerning the construction and invention of the McCormick Reaping Machine and the 
 part my father took in working on that machine under the instruction of his uncle, 
 Robert McCormick, have been related to me by my father many times during his life 
 time. My father frequently told me that his uncle Robert seemed always to have the 
 ideas in his mind of just what he desired to make and instructed my father just what 
 to make and how to make it as he went along. ju>t as though he had the entire com- 
 pleted machine in his mind. My father always said that his uncle Robert was a natural 
 born inventor. V^en' trulv yours, 
 
 (Signed) C. R. McCormick. 
 
 Maplehlrst, Wayne Co., Mo., June i6th, 1910. 
 I have read the foregoing also the letters and affidavits therein referred to and 
 am glad to concur in all that my brother, Charles, has stated. I have frequently 
 heard my father make all the statements referred to concerning the construction and 
 invention of the McCormick Reaper, and the part he (my said father, Wm. Steel Mc- 
 Cormick) has taken in the construction of same under the direction of his uncle Robert 
 McCormick. My father's mind was particularly clear in regard to things which oc- 
 curred in his early life, and his recollection of what occurred during the two years 
 that he lived at his uncle Robert McCormick's made a great and lasting impression 
 on him so that he talked much about his uncle Robert and his invention of the Reaper. 
 
 (Signed) S. Ellex McCormick Raxey. 
 
 AFFIDAVIT OF HENRIETTA MARIA McCORMICK. 
 WIFE OF LEANDER McCORMICK 
 
 I was married October 22, 1845. I had previously gone to school with Amanda 
 McCormick, and became acquainted with my husband, Leander J. McCormick, at her 
 wedding May 8th, 18-15. I "'^ one of her bridesmaids. 
 
 I was well acquainted with Robert McCormick's family, my father having also 
 been well acquainted with them. I always understood Mr. Robert McCormick to 
 have been the inventor of the Reaper. I learned for the first time, shortly after our 
 marriage, that he had given the invention of the Reaper to his son Cyrus. On a cer- 
 tain occasion Mrs. McCormick, her two daughters, Caroline and Amanda, and myself 
 being present, Amanda stated that her father had given the invention of the Reaper 
 to her brother Cyrus, under promise from him, that he would make the whole family 
 rich if he ever made anything out of it. Mrs. McCormick acquiesced in the statement 
 by saying, "I know Cyrus, I know Cyrus. I know he will do what he has promised, 
 if he ever makes anything out of it." 
 
 Shortly after our marriage my husband told me that he had made a valuable 
 invention in the Reaping Machine and that he had written to his brother Cyrus at 
 Brockport, New York, describing the same. Some twenty- years aftenvards, I saw 
 and read this same letter with descriptions and drawings of the Raker's Stand, which 
 Leander found among some of Cyrus' old papers which had b?en left at Walnut Grove, 
 the Old Homestead. The letter showed the cancelled postage and was addres-ed in 
 his own handwriting, to his brother Cyrus H. McCormick, Brockport, New York, 
 in the summer of 1845.
 
 The letter referred to was afterwards burned in our residence in the Chicago 
 Fire of October gth, 1871. I remember distinctly the place in the bureau drawer 
 where the letter was kept. 
 
 August 10th, 1846, after Mr. Robert McCormick's death, we removed to the 
 South River Farm, which my husband inherited from his father, he having given it to 
 Cyrus and taken it back on account of having had to pay Cyru^' losses in the iron 
 business, in which he and Cyrus were interested, with a man by the name of Black. 
 
 In witness whereof, I hereunto affix my signature, Chicago, August, , 1898. 
 
 (Signed) Henrietta M. McCormick. 
 Witnesses : 
 
 A. J. Haffey^ 
 
 Fred Grier. 
 
 I know the signature of Mrs. Henrietta McCormick and witness it. 
 
 Frances Haggerty^ 
 
 Katie Kavanaugh. 
 
 AFFIDAVIT OF HORATIO THOMPSON 
 
 Rev. Horatio Thompson, D.D., saj's as follows: 
 
 Q. Please give your age, residence and profession. 
 
 A. My age 80 years. Residence, Fairfield, Rockbridge Co., Virginia. Occupation 
 — Minister of the Gospel of the Associate Reformed Synod. 
 
 Q. Were you acquainted with Robert McCormick, formerly of Rockbridge 
 County, and father of C. H. McCormick and L. J. McCormick, of Chicago; if so 
 how long did you know him before his death ? 
 
 A. I was acquainted v\dth him from 1832 until his death. 
 
 Q. Are you acquainted with Col. Thomas Paxton, West of Fairfield ? What 
 is his standing in the County in which he lives, as a gentleman of high standing and 
 sterling integrity? 
 
 A. I think his character covers all that. 
 
 Q. Do you know anything of the early history and invention of the ^IcCormick 
 Wheat Reaper? If so, please give a brief statement of the invention and the name 
 of the inventor, the source of your information and th.e time at which it commences. 
 
 A. I am sure I never heard the name of the inventor of the McCormick Wheat 
 Reaper questioned before the death of Robert McCormick. 
 
 Robert McCormick was the inventor of the original Wheat Reaper. This I un- 
 derstood more than forty years ago. I saw him at work on the machine in his shop ; 
 his whole soul appeared to be absorbed in the work of this invention. People spoke 
 of him as being engaged in a foolish undertaking. All persons ascribed it to Robert 
 McCormick and to no other. No other name was in those days associated with the 
 inventor, than that of Robert McCormick. 
 
 I heard Robert McCormick speak himself of the invention of the Wheat Reaper, 
 and he told me that he had every reason to believe it would be a success, if he could 
 get it arranged to suit himself. 
 
 This Wheat Reaper of Robert McCormick's is the same improved upon by 
 C. H. and L. J. McCormick and now manufactured in Chicago. 
 
 Given under my hand this 9th day of September, 1878. 
 
 (Signed) Horatio Thompson. 
 Attest : 
 
 Mrs. F. N. Davis, 
 
 Eliza Thompson. 
 State of Virginia 
 Rockbridge County 
 
 Personally appeared before the undersigned, Horatio Howe Thompson, a Justice 
 of the Peace, in and for the County of Rockbridge and State of Virginia, in the County 
 aforesaid. Rev. Horatio Thompson, who being duly sworn, declared on oath that he
 
 WATER PUWER, INVENTED BY RuBT. McCORMR'K
 
 subscribed the forcfroing statement bearing date tlie 9th day of September, 1878, and 
 further declared that the facts tlierein set forth of his own knowledge arc true, and 
 the facts therein set forth derived from the information of others he believes to be true. 
 Given under my hand this September the ist, 1880. 
 
 (Signed) H. H. Thompson, J. P. 
 
 AFFIDAVIT OF ZACHARIAH McCHESNEY 
 
 Zachariah McChesney says as follows: 
 
 Q. Please give your age, residence and occupation. 
 
 A. Age 82 years. Spring Hill. Farmer. 
 
 Q. Were you acquainted with Robert McCormick, formerly of Rockbridge 
 County, and father of C. H. McCormick and L. J. McCormick? If so, how long did 
 you know him before his death ? 
 
 A. I was acquainted, and well acquainted with him, from my earliest childhood. 
 I knew all his family. We were distantly related. 
 
 Q. Do you remember anything of the early history and invention of the Mc- 
 Cormick Wheat Reaper? If so, please give a brief statement of the invention and 
 the name of the inventor, the source of your information and tlie time at which it 
 commences. 
 
 A. I knew that Robert McCormick, the father of C. H. and L. J. McCor- 
 mick, was engaged in studying and inventing this Wheat Reaper several years before 
 it was put in markets. Cyrus and Leander were then boys. Some persons spoke of 
 Robert's efforts as folly; others spoke of his ingenuity. I heard persons say that in 
 making his experiments with his Reaper, he worked it in the night — to avoid observa- 
 tion I suppose. I am satisfied that Robert McCormick was the original inventor of 
 the McCormick Wheat Reaper; there was no doubt about this at the time he was 
 engaged in inventing it and at the time it was put in market. 
 
 I never heard during the life time of Robert McCormick any other name asso- 
 ciated ^vith the invention than that of Robert McCormick, although Cyrus, his son, was 
 an efficient aid and agent for his father after the invention and when the machine was 
 put on the market in making sales of the Wheat Reaper. 
 
 I bought one of the first Reapers from' Cyrus, who acted as the agent for his 
 father. I cannot now give the year in which I first heard of Robert McCormick's ef- 
 forts to invent the Reaper. This invention of Robert McCormick is the original 
 of the now improved McCormick Reaper manufactured in the City of Chicago by 
 Cyrus and Leander, Robert's sons. 
 
 In Witness Whereof I have affixed my name to this paper this 9th Sep- 
 tember, 1878. 
 
 Attest : 
 
 B. F. Cochran, 
 Adam McChesney. 
 
 (Signed) Zach. J. McChesney. 
 
 AFFIDAVIT OF COL. THOS. PAXTON 
 
 Col. Thomas Paxton says as follows: 
 
 Q. Please give your age, residence and occupation. 
 
 A. My age is 77 years. West of Fairfield in Rockbridge County. Occupation, 
 Millwrighting formerly, now Farming. 
 
 Q. Were you acquainted with Robert McCormick of Rockbridge County, the 
 father of C. H. and L. J. McCormick? If so, was your acquaintance intimate v>ith 
 him and his family and how long did you know him before his death? 
 
 A. I was acquainted and intimately acquainted with Robert McCormick and 
 knew all his family well. I knew him first in 1827 or 8 and knew him until lili
 
 death. He was not a communicative man. He always kept his counsel and business 
 and purposes pretty much to himself. Although at times he would speak somewhat 
 of his business to his personal friends. 
 
 Q. Do you remember anything of the early history and invention of the Mc- 
 Cormick Wheat Reaper? If so, please give a brief statement of the invention, the name 
 of the inventor, the opportunities you had of learning, the sources of your informa- 
 tion and the time at which it commences. 
 
 A. The first of my recollection is, although I think I heard frequently before, 
 that Robert McCormick was inventing a Reaper. I was working for Robert McCor- 
 mick. I saw Mr. Robert McCormick frequently standing over the machine and musing 
 and studying. On one occasion he had the machine in the yard, he was standing study- 
 ing over it, drawing down, as was his habit, his underlip. Finally he called me to 
 him, the machine did not work to suit him, and asked me my opinion about some 
 change he intended making in his Reaper. I was a millwright and working in the 
 yard near him. I gave him my advice as far as I could, and then as he stood there 
 studying, I remarked to the old gentleman: "Mr. McCormick, this is not Cyrus' 
 invention, it is yours, is it not?" He replied at once: "Yes, but I intend to give 
 Cyrus the benefit of it." 
 
 I have no doubt myself that Robert McCormick was the original inventor of the 
 machine. 
 
 It was the general opinion of the community around and about Robert McCormick 
 that he was the inventor, and this was justified by the constant and unremitting labor 
 and attention Robert McCormick bestowed on the machine and his known ingenuity 
 and skill in working and in inventing. He invented a Threshing machine and I erected 
 one of them, that was run by water. 
 
 This Reaper invented by Robert McCormick is the same one improved, that is 
 now being manufactured by Cyrus H. and Leander J. McCormick in the City of 
 Chicago. 
 
 Given under my hand this loth day of Sept., 1878. 
 
 (Signed) Thos. S. Paxton. 
 Attest: 
 
 John H. Potter, 
 
 P. A. Paxton. 
 
 LETTERS OF JOHN H. B, SCHULTZ 
 
 Greenville, Sept. 26, '94. 
 Mr. L. J. McCormick: 
 
 Dear Sir — I was born March 23d, 1815, and was raised about two miles from 
 your father's residence, consequently knew him all my life as long as he lived, and 
 worked for him in his shop at putting up reapers in the Spring of 1845. Then your 
 father told me the invention was a family concern, but I always understood that your 
 father Robert McCormick was the inventor of it. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 (Signed) John H. B. Schultz. 
 
 Greenville, November 15, 1897. 
 To Mr. L. .1. McCormick, Chicago, III: 
 
 Father says that your father was the first man that ever invented a horse power 
 Reaper, and he knows that he was the founder of the first one ever used fince the 
 days of Adam and Eve. Robert McCormick was the inventor of the vibrating motion 
 to the cutter and the reel. Having absolute knowledge of the above facts, I give them 
 to you for what they are worth. 
 
 My age is 83 ; I lived within two miles of your father and knew him well as long 
 as he lived. Yours truly, 
 
 (Signed) J. H. B. Schultz.
 
 LETTER OF HENRY SCHULTZ 
 
 Greenville, Sept. 27, 1894. 
 Mr. L. J. McCormick: 
 
 Dear Sir — I am nearly 72 years old, remember your father well and ahvaj-s 
 heard it said that he invented the Reaper, and was frequently in his shop and ,'aw him 
 and yourself at work. I never recollect of seeing C. H. McCormick in the shop or any 
 where else. I understood that he, C. H. McCormick, helped to make some improve- 
 ment on it just before he «ent to Chicago. I also remember having heard my father 
 say that he, Robert McCormick, worked on it in his father's lifetime, and your grand- 
 father would tell him. Ah, Robert, it is of no use to try to make a machine to cut 
 wheat, that would be the Devil's works. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 (Signed) Henry Schultz. 
 
 LETTER OF THOS. H. McGUFFIN 
 
 Alone, Va., Oct. 26, 1894. 
 Leander J. McCormick, Esq.: 
 
 Dear Sir — ^According to my promise I write you a few lines. I am seventy- 
 eight years old. I was born and raised within one and a half miles of Mr. McCormick's. 
 A reaping machine at that day would be m.uch talked about, and I do well know 
 that the opinion of the neighborhood was that Robert McCormick, your father, was the 
 inventor of the McCormick machine. As both parties are now dead, you may as well 
 put the saddle on the right horse, for Mr. Robert McCormick, your father, was the 
 inventor of the McCormick Reaping Machine beyond all doubt. 
 Yours very respectfully, 
 
 (Signed) Thos. H. McGuffin. 
 Mr. McCormick: 
 
 At the request of Mr. McGuffin, I have written this letter for him, as he is in 
 ver>- feeble health and at present cannot write very well. I have often heard my father 
 (Capt. Jas. Henn.) say that Mr. Robert McCormick was the inventor of the Mc- 
 Cormick Reaping Machine. Yours truly, 
 
 (Signed) A. Hor.-\ce Henry. 
 
 LETTER OF W^M. STEELE 
 
 MiDDLEBROOK, Va., Jany. 22, 1895. 
 Dear Leander: 
 
 As there has been discussion for sometime upon the question who invented the 
 Reaper. I think it may be of satisfaction to you that I should state my personal 
 knowledge as to this. Having been raised about six miles from your father's home, 
 and having visited with your father's family all my early life, I had many oppor- 
 tunities of knowing much of the histor\- of the Reaper. It was well kno\vn that your 
 father had invented a successful reaping machine. With reference to what is called 
 the Raker's Stand, I know of my own knowledge that you were the inventor. I 
 cannot believe that your brother Cyrus ever claimed that he had anything to do with 
 its origin. It was a fortunate thing for the farmers of this and other countries that 
 Robert McCormick lived long enough to originate and develop a successful Wheat 
 Reaping Machine. 
 
 As Washington was the Father of his Countrj', so was Robert McCormick the 
 Father of the Reaper, and will live in the hearts of a grateful people. 
 
 Yours, etc, 
 
 (Signed) Wm. Steele. 
 Witnesses : 
 
 A. H. Steele, 
 
 S. McC. HOGSHE.'U).
 
 LETTER OF JOHN H. RUSH 
 
 Steele's Tavern, Augusta Co., \'a., Nov. 20th, 1894. 
 Mr. Leander J. McCormick: 
 
 In accordance with your request, I write to say that I knew your father, Mr. 
 Robert McCormick, and all of his family well. My father's family lived within a mile 
 of his home. I was often in and about his home and shop?. Was intimately acquainted 
 with the various members of his famil)'. I went to school with you. I remember 
 you spent a greater part of your early life with your father in the shops, in building 
 machinery of different kinds, reapers, threshers, horse powers. Smith's bellows and 
 plows. Your father, Robert, had been experimenting with a machine for cutting grain 
 for many years and it was well known by his neighbors that he, Robert, was the 
 real inventor of the reaper. His son Cyrus made great efforts in introducing it, and 
 I remember that jou invented the stand for a rake to ride and do the raking and that 
 you were always «-orking and improving the machine. To your raker stand is due its 
 success. I cannot believe that Cyrus would have said that he was its inventor. 
 
 My age is 73 years. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 (Signed) John H. Rush. 
 
 LETTER OF JAS. E. A. GIBBS 
 
 Raphine, Va., May 31, 1899. 
 Mr. Leander J. McCormick: 
 
 Dear Sir — In answer to your letter asking what I know about the invention of 
 the McCormick Reaper, I will state that I was born and raised within four miles of 
 the McCormick farm and from my earliest recollection, I remember of hearing that 
 Robert McCormick was trying to make a reaping machine. My father being an 
 invalid, at an early age I was called upon to make many trips to Midway to the mill 
 and store, always passing the farm and shops, and having a mechanical turn of mind, 
 I took every opportunity to see the work on the Reaper, as it was then called ; at a 
 very early date and before any of these machines were offered on the market. I had 
 the satisfaction of seeing one at work in a back field, and young as I was, I was 
 one of the first to prophesy success for the invention. Up to this time I never heard 
 of any one being called its inventor than Robert IMcCormick, and his name only 
 was used in connection with it. I know of a shipment of machines later and 1842 via 
 Richmond and New Orleans to Springfield, Illinois (about the time Cyrus and you 
 removed to the West) which were for Cyrus and in which he took a deep interest. 
 As to inventions made by Cyrus, I know nothing; but of my own knowledge and the 
 universal opinion and belief of all of the citizens of my age in this section, would go 
 to prove that Robert McCormick had so far made and perfected the Reaper, as to make 
 it a practical working machine before Cyrus took hold of it. My early recollection 
 coupled with my father's and others' knowledge of its history is positive proof of its 
 origin and progress. Yours very truly, 
 
 (Signed) Jas. E. A. Gibbs. 
 Witnesses : 
 
 N. Wyatt, 
 
 W. C. Marshall, Jr. 
 
 LETTER OF SERENA M. C. HOGSHEAD 
 
 Oak Hill, March 7, 1899. 
 Mr. Leander J. McCormick: 
 
 Dear Sir — I write to say that I have often heard my father. Dr. John McChes- 
 ney, speak of the McCormick Reaper, invented by your father, Mr. Robert McCor-
 
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 mick, and speak also of how hard he labored to make a success of his conceived idea 
 of a reaping machine, which was ridiculed at the time by his neighbors and friends as 
 something utterly impossible — but which has resulted, as the world knows, in one 
 of the greatest achievements of the nineteenth century, and due alone to the inven- 
 tive genius of your father. My father dated from April nth, 1789, and was nearly 
 related to the family. He was their family physician from 1 814 to 1850, and in- 
 timately acquainted with Mr. Robert McCormick and spoke of how hard he labored 
 to bring it into working condition and make a success of his conceived idea of a reaping 
 machine, which has resulted as the world knows in one of the greatest inventions of the 
 age. My father knew much of the reaper and its progress for many years, and when 
 he was living could relate incidents in its history and would confirm the testimony 
 giving the credit of its origin to Mr. Robert McCormick. 
 
 (Signed) Seren.\ M. C. Hogshead. 
 Witnesses : 
 
 Maggie T. Hogshead, 
 
 Mary B. Hogshe/\d. 
 
 TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH ANDERSON 
 
 Being asked the question as to my knowledge and recollection of who was the 
 original inventor and maker of the first successful McCormick machine. 
 
 I know of my own knowledge that Mr. Robt. McCormick, the father of C. H. 
 and L. J. McCormick, is the real inventor of the first successful Machine, that is, that 
 he was the inventor of the first machine in which the sickle had a vibratory or crank 
 motion and that had a revolving reel with the horses to draw the same. 
 
 Of these facts and statements I can say nothing less in justice to truth for I know 
 it to be a fact and am obliged to give the statement as the facts are. 
 
 Very truly yours. 
 
 His 
 March i6th, 1881 Joseph X Anderson 
 
 Greenville, Augusta Co., Va. Mark. 
 
 Witnesses : 
 
 C. W. Guthrie, 
 
 J. P. B. Woodward. 
 State of Virginia 
 
 Court 
 County of Augusta 
 
 This day, Joseph Anderson, colored, whose name or mark appears to the fore- 
 going writing, personally appeared before the undersigned, a Notary Public for said 
 Count)' and State and made oath that the statements made in said writing are correct 
 and true in every particular as therein stated, and that the said statements are made of 
 his own knowledge, and the said Joseph Anderson further acknowledged his signa- 
 ture thereto before me — and he further states that he believes himself to be in his 
 73d year. 
 
 Given under my hand and Notarial Seal this 3d day of August, A. D., 1881. 
 Joseph B. Woodward, Notary Public 
 for Augusta Co., Va. 
 
 Joseph Anderson was a slave of Robert McCormick's, but later was owned by 
 Cyrus H. McCormick to whom he belonged thereafter until he became free. He 
 was about the same age as Cyrus McCormick. 
 
 COPIED FROM THE McCORMICK EXTENSION CASE 
 OF 1848 
 
 House of William S. McCormick, March 17th, 1848. 
 Agreeable to an order made on the 23d ult by the Board of Commissioners for
 
 extending pattents, and according to notice given to Obed Hussey of Batimore, by C. H. 
 McCormick of this place, Dr. N. M. Hitt. 
 
 Appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, in, and for, Augusta County, Va. 
 as a witness to testify in relation to certain matters touching the invention of a Reap- 
 ing Machine in which said Hussey & McCormick have conflicting claims & interests 
 said witness after first being duly sworn, states as follows — Viz said Hussey & McCor- 
 mick being present: 
 
 Question by C. H. McCormick 
 
 What do you know relative to the conftrur.tion of a reaping Machine invented 
 by me 
 
 Ans. During the summer of 1 83 1 I saw Mr. Robert McCormick & Mr. C. H. 
 McCormick, engaged in building a Reaping Machine and Requested them to let me 
 know when they got it completed, that I wished to see it operate, they did so and I came 
 to their plantation and saw it. — to the best of my recollection in the Latter part of 
 July 183 1. It was drawn by a horse or horses, I do not recolect v.hich, with wheels. 
 Cut with a strait sickel blade. Set in motion by a Crank & the wheet fell upon a 
 platform and to the best of my recollection it Cut about six feet wide, the Horse that 
 drew the Machine Walked forward and on one side of the wheat. 
 
 Question by Mr. Obed Hussey 
 
 Are you posative as the year in which you saw it Operate. 
 
 Ans. Just as posative as I am, of sitting upon the Chaire on which I now sit. 
 
 N. M. Hm 
 
 I hereby cirtify that the foregoing depositians of Dr. N. M. Hitt was duely taken 
 as it appears before me, said Hussey & McCormick being present, and I have sealed 
 up the same & directed to the Commissioners of Pattents this 17th day of March — 
 1848 
 
 James Henry, J. p. 
 
 Testimony of James Hall Shields 
 
 Concerning the Invention of 
 
 the McCormick Reaper 
 
 This is to certify that I, James Hall Shields, of Highland Park, 
 Lake County, Illinois, son of Rev. James and Mary Caroline Shields, 
 and grandson of Robert McCormick, was born in Juniatta County, 
 Penna., in 1849. 
 
 After the death of my father, which occurred on Aug. 19, 1862, 
 I came to live in Chicago, accompanied by my mother and sister 
 Amanda, and resided there continuously until July, 1886, when I re- 
 moved to Highland Park, Illinois. 
 
 From April, 1868, until November 31, 1882, (excepting about a 
 year and a half, from the summer of 1873 to the spring of 1875,) I 
 was continuously in the employ of my uncles C. H. and L. J. McCor- 
 mick in the office of the reaper works, and for the last few years of 
 my service I had entire charge of the printing and advertising, as 
 well as holding the position of purchasing agent for the company; 
 and thus I became very familiar with all departments of the reaper 
 business. I was from my boyhood on the most friendly terms with 
 both my uncles Cyrus and Lcander McCormick, but as I saw much
 
 more of my uncle Leander I was on the most intimate terms with 
 him, and continued so until the time of his death in February, 1900. 
 
 Uncle Leander talked a great deal with me and with my mother 
 and others in my presence concerning his father and mother and 
 early home life, as well as of all his business affairs, and he frequently 
 related to me the story of his father's inventive genius and spoke of his 
 various inventions, such as a horse power, a hemp brake, a blacksmith 
 bellows, a machine for cleaning hemp, a threshing machine, a clover 
 sheller, a water power, etc., but principally and above all others of 
 his invention of the reaping machine. 
 
 About the year 1894 ^Y Uncle Leander McCormick showed me a 
 number of models he had made of various machines his father, Rob- 
 ert McCormick, had invented, and I have frequently seen these same 
 models in his office, and since his death in the office of his son, R. Hall 
 McCormick, in whose possession I have again seen and identified them 
 this day. 
 
 These models consisted of a reaper, which Uncle Leander told me 
 was invented, constructed, and operated by Robert McCormick in 
 1831 ; a tub shaped bellow's; two different kinds of hemp brakes; one 
 stalk cutter with a cone shaped horse power attachment; one crush- 
 ing machine, with horse power attachment; one hydraulic engine. 
 
 About the year 1886 I wrote out descriptions of some of these in- 
 ventions under the supervision of Uncle Leander, and by his instruc- 
 tion, of which the following is a verbatim copy: 
 
 The first record of Robert McCormick's endeavors in the line of invention was 
 in the construction of a reaping machine about the year 1809 or 10. But although 
 many of the principles of that machine were substantially the same as those of chief im- 
 portance in nearly all of the present reaping machines, nevertheless, it was too crude and 
 imperfect to be a success. 
 
 The next effort he made in the same line that is known of was about the year 
 1820, when he constructed another machine for cutting wheat, which was in out- 
 line and general form almost exactly like the two wheeled reaper of the present day. 
 It had two wheels as carriers, with gearing, a cutting apparatus, and platform to re- 
 ceive the grain in the rear of the cutting apparatus. The cutters, however, were 
 stationary' and curved. The machine had vertical reels (very similar to the vertical 
 reels used at the present day), to sweep the grain across the cutters, and when cut 
 the grain was delivered on a platform, in the rear of the cutters, and with an endless 
 apron carried across the platform and delivered to one side of the machine. The horses 
 walked along at the side of the grain, drawing the machine, being attached to the same 
 by shafts or a pole. 
 
 This machine, like its predecessor, was not a success, but had the main features 
 that are vital in the construction of all grain and grass cutting machines of the present 
 day. 
 
 The parts of this machine were for many years stored away in the loft of the 
 old malt house, on the farm, and were familiar objects to those about the farm. 
 
 The third efifort in the reaping machine line was crowned with success. In its 
 main features this machine embodied the vital principles of all successful grain cutting
 
 machinery of the present day. It was drawn by two horses that walked in front of the 
 main frame, and close to the standing grain. It had one main driving wheel in the 
 main frame, and a grain wheel at the outer end of the platform. It had a cutter bar, 
 attached to and back of which was the platform, on which the grain fell. The grain 
 was cut by a vibrating sickle, and drawn in to the sickle, and cast down upon the plat- 
 form by a revolving overhanging reel which had slats or ribs which dipped unto 
 the grain in front of the sickle. 
 
 The grain divider of this machine was a long pointed piece of wood extending 
 some five feet forward of the cutter bar, with an upright post some ten inches forward 
 of the sickle, to support the grain end of the reel. The entire side of the machine, 
 from the point of the divider named to the rear corner of the platform and across 
 the back of the platform, was surrounded with an upright canvas about three feet in 
 width. The grain was raked off at the side in bundles by a man who walked along 
 beside the machine. The driver did not ride on the machine but on one of the horses 
 that drew it. 
 
 The last named machine Uncle Leander frequently told me was 
 built in 1 83 1, in grandfather's shop on his home farm, and was suc- 
 cessfully operated in a field on his farm that and succeeding years. 
 Uncle Leander also stated that his father gave this machine to his 
 son, Cyrus, and that it was patented by Cyrus in 1834. He also stated 
 that his brother, Cyrus, worked in the shop under his father's direc- 
 tion, in the construction of parts of this machine, and that his cousin, 
 William S. McCormick, and Sam Hight, were the principal work- 
 men in his father's shop at that time in the making of this reaper. 
 
 Uncle Leander also stated frequently to me that the only differ- 
 ence between the machine as invented and constructed by his father 
 in 183 1, and the machine patented by his brother Cyrus in 1834, was 
 that Cyrus attached the horses to the rear of the machine, as shown 
 and described in his patent, whereas Robert McCormick never con- 
 structed a machine to be propelled on that plan. 
 
 My mother, Mary Caroline Shields, also frequently talked with 
 me about her father and his great inventive genius, and in all her con- 
 versation in relation to her father's invention of the reaping machine 
 she coincided with the statements I have related as being given me by 
 Uncle Leander in regard to the description of the machine invented 
 by her father. She also stated to me many times that she saw this 
 machine cut grain in the harvests of 1832 and 1833, and that she knew 
 it to have been the sole invention of her father — also that her father, 
 at the earnest entreaty of her mother, gave the invention of the ma- 
 chine to her brother Cyrus under the explicit promise from Cyrus 
 that if he ever made a success of the reaper all the family should be 
 enriched by it. 
 
 In this connection my mother made the following statement to 
 me, which I wrote out in 1886:
 
 Father never failed in anything he tried to do. He invented several machines 
 which he built at home, and made money by building, but never patented. Ma per- 
 suaded father to give the invention of the reaper to brotlier Cyrus, and it took a great 
 deal of persuasion too. Ma's argument with father was, I am sure, I would rather 
 give the honor of the invention to my son than to have it myself. Father said, but I 
 owe it equally to my other children. Ma said, Cyrus has promised me that if the 
 reaper is made a success all the children shall be interested in it, and I know he will 
 do it. So he gave the invention to brother Cyrus, and as long as ma lived she repeated 
 to me when she had opportunity, and to sister Amanda, the promise Cyrus had made 
 her, and she told the same to Henrietta. 
 
 My mother in her statements to me also coincided with the state- 
 ments of others to the effect that it was a matter of family knowledge 
 and tradition that her father had invented, built and experimented 
 with one or more reaping machines from a very early date, beginning 
 before she was born, and that he so continued his efforts in that direc- 
 tion until his labors were crowned with success by the machine he 
 invented and built in 183 1, and operated that and succeeding years. 
 Also, that he continued to be actively engaged in experimenting on, 
 improving and building his reaping machines until the time of his 
 death in 1846, and that Uncle Leander McCormick worked with his 
 father in the shops building reapers, blacksmith's bellows, and other 
 machinery. Again, my mother and Uncle Leander McCormick both 
 told me that their father had invented, manufactured and sold a hill- 
 side plow, but they never gave me any description of it. 
 
 In my close and intimate association with my cousins (the sons 
 and daughters of my uncles, William S. and Leander J. McCormick, 
 and Aunt Amanda Adams) we have often talked over the subject of 
 my grandfather Robert McCormick's inventions, and it was our com- 
 mon understanding and tradition that Robert McCormick was the 
 original inventor of the reaper, and that he gave the invention to his 
 son, Cyrus Hall McCormick, who took out a patent for the same in 
 June 21, 1834. 
 
 Again in reference to Robert McCormick's various inventions, 
 under the instruction of L^ncle Leander McCormick, I wrote out in 
 1886 the following descriptions of other inventions made by his 
 father, Robert McCormick. 
 
 "In the winter of 1830-1, there was a great deal of talk and much in the news- 
 papers on the subject of raising hemp. Only one thing seemed to be in the way of its 
 becoming a very profitable product, and that was the difficulty of cheaply and prolitably 
 reducing the fiber to its required marketable shape. Acting on this seen.ing demand, 
 Robert McCormick invented a ver\^ ingenious and perfect-working hemp break, and in 
 connection with it a horse power, by which it was worked, and in the fall of 1831 he 
 operated it, and it was pronounced a perfect success. He also invented another ma- 
 chine for cleaning the hemp when broken. The e.vcitement over hemp raising, how- 
 ever, died out, the demand for the machine^ never amounted to much, although a 
 number of them were built and sold, one or two being sold in Kentucky by his son
 
 Cyrus, whom he sent there in the fall of 1 83 1 to introduce them, as hemp \^■as cul- 
 tivated more extensively in Kentucky than in Virginia. 
 
 Robert McCormick also invented and manufactured an ingenious threshing 
 machine, which had a vertical shaft, through which arms were framed, and on which 
 was a rim or wheel, of about five feet in diameter, having a plane on its top surface 
 on which bars were made fast to form beaters; over these bars were suspended a sta- 
 tionary section, on the underside of which there were bars, between which and those 
 on the plane of the wheel below the grain was threshed. He also had in connection 
 with this thresher a horse power of peculiar construcion, which consisted of a ring 01 
 platform of logs about thirty feet in diameter, on which was a roller about fifteen feet 
 long, extending from the center over the platform ; tlie outer end of this roller was 
 perhaps two feet in diameter, and was pivoted in a center post, which post revolved by 
 the turning of the roller. On the inner end of this roller was a large band wheel, and 
 on top of the center post was a pulley. The belt from the band wheel had its direction 
 changed to the pulley above by the use of intermediate pulleys. With this machine 
 he afterwards used bevel gearing. 
 
 He also built a clover sheller of stone, resembling an ordinary mill somewhat, 
 but never did anything with it except for its own u'e. 
 
 He also invented and made a blacksmith bellows, which was of a tub form, 
 and of which he built and sold a large number. 
 
 He also invented a water power that worked by confined pressure, something 
 on the principle of a steam engine. 
 
 At my request my mother wrote, in a little memoranda book, at 
 considerable length the story of her ancestry, her early home life, and 
 many incidents concerning her father and mother, including her 
 knowledge of her father's inventions, which book I have in my pos- 
 session. 
 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereto set my hand this 
 twelfth day of September, A. D. 1910. 
 
 JAMES H. SHIELDS. 
 State of Illinois 
 
 Cook County f ' * 
 
 Personally appeared before me, a Notary Public, within and for the Count>- 
 of Cook, and State of Illinois, on the I2th day of September, A. D., igio, James Hall 
 Shields, who being duly sworn says that the foregoing statement is tme in substance 
 and fact. 
 
 In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official 
 seal the day and year above written. 
 
 Jas. J. Powers, 
 
 Notary Public. 
 
 Testimony of R. Hall McCormick, 
 
 Concerning Invention of the 
 
 McCormick Reaper 
 
 This is to testify that I, R. Hall McCormick, son of Leander J. 
 and Henrietta M. Hamilton McCormick, and grandson of Robert 
 McCormick, was born in 1847 in Rockbridge County, Virginia. 
 
 As the different members of the family were intimately associated
 
 with each other, the principal topic of conversation was in regard to 
 the reaper, its progress and invention, and 1 was told many times that 
 the reaper was invented by Robert McCormick in 1 831, he having 
 spent many years experimenting with various reapers, but he had 
 never brought one to a state of perfection until 183 1, when he made it 
 a successful machine, and this was the tradition of the family. 
 
 A model of this machine, together with models of other inventions 
 of Robert McCormick, are in my possession, which were made by 
 J. C. Seyl, a model maker, under the direction of my father in 1894; 
 he gave them to me, and told me at the time that they were models of 
 the inventions of his father, Robert McCormick, including improve- 
 ments he had added. On one of these models is shown the rakers' and 
 drivers' seat, the grain or castor wheel, (which avoided its plowing 
 into the ground when the machine turned a corner,) the divider 
 (which divided the cut from the standing grain), the shipper (that 
 threw the machine in and out of gear), and the bridles (on which the 
 machine could be changed to higher or lower cut) . All these im- 
 provements to the reaper my father told me he had added to the ma- 
 chine. 
 
 In all my intimate relationship with the different members of the 
 family, I never heard the invention of the McCormick reaper attrib- 
 uted to any person than Robert McCormick. 
 
 By family tradition I learned that from 183 1 on the machines 
 were manufactured in Virginia continuously up to 1846, my grand- 
 father and father making them while Cyrus took charge of the sales, 
 and introduced them throughout the country, and William S. looked 
 after the farming interests. Different members of the family have 
 often told me that my grandfather had given the invention of this 
 machine to his son Cyrus, who obtained a patent on it in 1834, after 
 he had changed it so that it was pushed by a horse from behind in- 
 stead of being pulled by a horse in front. 
 
 I also heard from the different members of the family that my 
 grandfather was regarded as an inventive genius, having invented 
 and constructed many other useful machines, some of which he pat- 
 ented and some of which he did not. Among them were horse-pow- 
 ers, hemp-brake, blacksmith's bellows, threshing machine, clover- 
 sheller, water-power and hillside plow. 
 
 The first machine I personally remember was called the OLD 
 RELIABLE, and I always understood it was the original machine 
 with certain improvements, which I have heretofore described as 
 added by my father. This machinery was taken to London in 1851 and 
 received the leading honors of the Exposition.
 
 As I have stated above, immediately upon the arrival of my 
 father in Chicago in 1848 he took charge of the mechanical depart- 
 ment of the reaper works, and when William S. came to Chicago in 
 1849 he assumed charge of the office and establishing of agencies for 
 selling machines. The original contracts between Cyrus H., William 
 S. and Leander J. McCormick are in my possession. 
 
 On leaving college I connected myself with the firm of C. H. 
 McCormick & Brother, but my active work did not begin until the 
 fall of 1871, when I took a position on a salary, and was admitted as a 
 member of the firm in 1874. I remained with the firm until the in- 
 corporation of the business in 1870, when I was assigned to the posi- 
 tion of assistant manager of the manufacturing department. I was 
 active in the harvest field and made improvements which were pat- 
 ented and used on both reapers and binders. 
 
 I personally conducted the field trials at the Centennial Exposi- 
 tion in 1876 and thus took an active part in introducing to the public 
 the self binder, one of the greatest labor-saving inventions of the age. 
 Shortly after the company's incorporation, I retired from active par- 
 ticipation in the business. 
 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereto set my hand and seal this 
 tenth day of September, Nineteen Hundred and Ten. 
 
 R. Hall McCormick. 
 
 Affidavit of Katharine Medill McCormick 
 
 Wife of Robert S. McCormick, 
 Formerly Ambassador to Austria, Russia and France 
 
 I was married to Mr. Robert S. McCormick, a grandson of 
 Robert McCormick the inventor, in June, 1876. At that time the 
 inventor's two daughters, Mrs. Shields and Mrs. Adams, and his 
 two sons, Mr. Cyrus H. McCormick and Mr. Leander J. McCor- 
 mick, were all alive, also my mother-in-law, widow of William S. 
 McCormick. I always lived on aflfectionate and friendly terms 
 with all of these and saw them constantly, as we dwelt in the same 
 neighborhood. I never heard at any time, until within the last few 
 years, any word that could possibly question the fact that Robert 
 McCormick was the inventor of the Reaper. My husband, Mrs. 
 Shields, Mrs. Adams, my mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Leander J. 
 McCormick, each and every one always stated that Robert McCor- 
 mick, the grandfather of my husband, was the inventor of the 
 McCormick Reaper, and this was accepted as tradition in and
 
 throughout the whole family. Many times they told me the story 
 of the horses running away with the machine in the field and cutting 
 a swath, thus proving itself to his doubting neighbors. I knew 
 Mr. Cyrus H. McCormick intimately, and in all the years of our 
 acquaintance, I never heard him claim to have invented the Reaper. 
 
 Katharine Medill McCormick. 
 Subscribed and sworn to before me this tvventy-first day of Sep- 
 tember, A. D., 1910. EmelYxX L. Kemper, 
 [seal] Notary Public. 
 
 Mary Caroline (McCormick) Shields under 
 date of January 17. 1883, writes: 
 
 In the \^inter og 1830 and '31 there was a great deal of talk and a great deal in 
 the papers on the subject of raising hemp. There was only one thing that seemed to 
 prevent its being made a verj- profitable product b\' farmers, and that was the dif- 
 ficulty of working it. My father went to work and invented a hemp break and a 
 horse power by which it was operated, and in the fall of '31, I saw that machine in 
 operation, breaking hemp, and I ne\-er saw anything perform its work more beau- 
 tifully; it was certainly a perfect success. In the fall of '31 brother Cyrus went to Ken- 
 tuck}- to introduce this m.achine, as hemp was more extensively cultivated in Ken- 
 tucky than Virginia. Brother Cyrus remained in Kentucky through the winter. The 
 trip did not amount to anything but it cost father a good deal of money. Father 
 never did anything more with the hemp break. I remained at school at the Rev. Mor- 
 rison's until the last of March, 1832. In June brother Cyrus came down to Staunton 
 to see me, and I ren-cmber how overjoyed I was to see him, as I had not seen him 
 since the day he left i r Kentucky and he had not returned when I left home for school. 
 
 Being brought i:p in the countrj- where my companions were chiefly my father 
 and mother, my brothers and sisters, my attachment for my home was ver\- great, and 
 Mr. Thacher, who was principal of the Seminar}", gave us a week of vacation begin- 
 ning 1st of July. I remember how happy I was to get home and our home was a 
 cheerful, happy home. 
 
 WTiile I was at lome a young gentleman from Staunton, a brother of a very in- 
 timate friend and schoolmate of mine, called to see me, and as we sat in the parlor 
 ma came in and asked us to walk wn'th her to the field back of the orchard where my 
 father was trj-ing a machine which he had invented to cut wheat. Father and ma 
 and others present were delighted with the operation of the reaper. This machine had 
 a reel which drew the wheat in and the wheat was cut by a vibrating sickle and fell 
 on the platform. A man walking along beside this platform raked off the wheat in 
 bundles the ready for binding. This was in the summer of 1832; I was then a few 
 months over fifteen years of age. The last of September my school closed and, although 
 I was anxious to go to school longer, father thought he could not afford the expen'^e. 
 My father had been experim.enting for several years with his machine to reap wheat 
 and regretted each year that the shortness of the time of har\-est prevented his ex- 
 perimenting, as much as he desired to do. In the han-est of 1833 I saw this reaper 
 cut wheat again in the field near to Mr. John Weirs. I walked to the field with a 
 gentleman who was stopping for a few days at my father's. This man's name was 
 Gray and, although he was a devoted admirer of mine. I perfectly hated him. At 
 that time and at my aee I did not think much about the value of machiner>'. I did 
 not realize a« I might have done the great invention and the great natural inventive 
 genius of my dearly beloved father. As cousin William McCormick, who lived with 
 us for several years, about this time, said. My old uncle never failed in anything
 
 he ever undertook. Father invented several machines which he built at home, made 
 money by building and selling them, but never patented. Brother Cyrus was the first 
 born of my parents ; he was a smart boy and always very much indulged by my mother. 
 It seemed to me that ma thought his opinion on every subject was just right and 
 if she differed with him on any subject, he never rested until he had convinced her that 
 he was right. Whatever brother Cyrus wanted if he could not get his way from 
 father he always went to ma and through her he was generally successful. Brother 
 Cyrus never liked to work on the farm and I remember when I was about twelve 
 years of age of his having a great desire to be rich and of his trying to find some 
 means of accumulating money, not liking the life of a farmer. Ma persuaded father 
 to give the invention of the reaper to brother Cyrus, and it took a great deal of persua- 
 sion too. Ma's argument with father was, I am sure I would rather give the honor 
 of the invention to my son than to have it myself. Father said, But I owe it equally 
 to the other children. Ma replied, Cyrus has promised me that if the reaper is made 
 a success all the children shall be interested in it and I know he will keep his word. 
 
 Mary Caroline Shield.s. 
 
 Last Will and Testament of 
 Robert McCormick 
 
 I, Robert McCormick, of the County of Rockbridge, and State of Virginia, do 
 make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making 
 void all other wills heretofore m.ade by me, in the manner and form following, viz: 
 
 1st: I desire that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid as soon after 
 my decease as practicable. 
 
 and : I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary, one-third part of my estate in 
 lands during her natural life, and my negro woman Hannah, and Preston and Eras- 
 mus, and also my barouche and harness to be disposed of by her as she may think 
 proper. 
 
 3rd: I give and bequeath to my daughter Amanda two beds, bedsteads, and furni- 
 ture and a suitable outfit for housekeeping and the proceeds of ten machines made and 
 sold this season, with their profits or losses after deducting all expenses of building, and 
 a family of negroes, viz: Sally, her two children, Mary and and 
 
 (which family I estimate at a thousand dollars) together with the sum of two thou- 
 sand five hundred dollars, including any sum I may have given to her or paid for 
 Hugh Adams since her marriage, to be paid as follows, viz: Five hundred dollars on the 
 first day of Septem.ber next, and the balance in equal annual payments of (say five 
 hundred dollars) it being understood that a part of this legacy (say one thousand dol- 
 lars) has and will have been paid before the first of September next. 
 
 4th : I give and bequeath to my daughter Caroline her living on the plantation in 
 a comfortable style so long as she remains unmarried (she devoting her care and atten- 
 tion to the interest of her brother) also two beds, bedsteads, and furniture and a suit- 
 able outfit for housekeeping, and the proceeds of ten machines, made and sold this 
 season, with their profits and losses, after deducting all expenses of building, etc., and the 
 further sum of two thousand and eight hundred dollars, bearing interest atter the first 
 day of June, 1847, and payable in four equal annual installments of seven hundred dol- 
 lars each, after and on the first day of January, 1848; and also a family of negroes, 
 viz: Peggy, her three children — Fanny, Amos and a sucking child. 
 
 5th: I give and bequeath to my son Cyrus H. my negro boy Sam, and girl Emily, 
 and I hereby acknowledge myself indebted to him in the sum of one hundred and fifty- 
 nine dollars and seventy-two cents upon a settlement made on the third day of February, 
 1846, as also in the further sum of fifteen dollars on each machine made and sold 
 this season, the sale of which may or will have been actually received. 
 
 6th: I give and bequeath to my son Leander in addition to the plantation already 
 deeded to him, a bed, a bedstead and furniture and my negro man Dick, and also the
 
 proceeds of one-third of all the machines made and sold this season, after deductini; all 
 expenses in building, delivering, etc., said machines, about which there exists a specific 
 agreement, also a bay horse seven years old, a little sorrel mare three or four years old, 
 and a bay horse now in his possession. 
 
 7th: I will and bequeath to my son John a horse, saddle and bridle, and my 
 negro boy Rufus and the sum of three thousand dollars to be paid to him in six equal 
 annual installments of five hundred dollars each, the first to fall due one year after my 
 decease, giving to my executor the privilege of extending the time on any or all these 
 installments four years, should his circumstances in his estimation require it (without 
 interest). 
 
 8th: As regards the legacy of two thousand eight hundred dollars left to my 
 daughter Caroline in Article 4., upon further reflection I desire that it bear no interest 
 so long as she remains on the plantation. 
 
 9th : I will and bequeath to my son William S. all the residue of my estate both 
 real and personal of ever\- kind and description requiring him to pay all my just debts 
 and the foregoing legacies : and lastly, I do hereby appoint my son William S. McCor- 
 mick executor of this, my last will and testament, written on a sheet of letter paper, 
 and respectfully request that the worshipful, the County Court of Rockbridge require 
 no security of him for his executorship. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 
 my hand and affixed my seal this 19th day of June in the year of our Lx>rd one thou- 
 sand eight hundred and fortj^-six. 
 
 Robert M. McCormick. 
 
 Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us who have signed in presence of each 
 other. 
 
 Note — ^The alteration of the word two to four in the third page and eighteenth 
 line and the addition of the words 'uithout interest in the 19th line made before acknowl- 
 edged. 
 
 In testimony of the above, I, Robert McCorm.ick, have hereunto set my hand and 
 afBxed my seal this tsventj'-second day of June, 1846. 
 
 Robert McCormick (seal). 
 
 In presence of us. 
 
 Thomas McCorn.ick, 
 
 John H. Rush, 
 
 Isaac Hall. 
 
 At Rockbridge Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery September iS, 1848. 
 
 The last will and testament of Robert ^IcConnick, deceased, was proved by the 
 oaths of Thomas McCormick and John H. Rush witnesses thereto, and ordered to be 
 recorded, and on the motion of William S. McCormick, the executor therein named, 
 who made oath thereto and without security' according to the directions of said will 
 entered into and acknowledged his bond in the penalty of fifteen thousand dollars con- 
 ditioned according law directs, certificate was granted him for obtaining a probate 
 of the said will in due form. 
 
 Teste— Samuel McH. Reid, Clerk.
 
 Chicago, Ills., Sept. 12, 1910. 
 This is to certify that I, R. Hall McCormick, have now in my 
 possession the originals of the following named letters and affidavits 
 numbered from i to 21, inclusive, and that the following are copies 
 of same and are true and accurate copies in every respect: 
 
 1 Affidavit of Robert McCormick, dated Feb. 18, 1879. 
 
 2 Letter of Wm. S. McCormick, dated Nov. 7, 1878. 
 
 3 Letter of Wm. S. McCormick, dated Nov. 7, 1878. 
 
 4 Letter of Wm. S. McCormick, dated Nov. 23, 1878. 
 
 5 Affidavit of Wm. S. McCormick, dated Jany. 5, 1880. 
 
 6 Letter of C. R. McCormick, dated June 16, 1910. 
 
 7 Letter of S. Ellen McCormick Raney, dated June 16, igio. 
 
 8 Affidavit of Henrietta M. McCormick, dated Aug. — , 1898. 
 
 9 Affidavit of Horatio Thompson, dated Sept. 9, 1878. 
 
 10 Affidavit of Zach. J. McChesney, dated Sept. 9, 1878. 
 
 11 Affidavit of Thos. S. Paxton, dated Sept. 10, 1878. 
 
 12 Letter of John H. B. Shultz, dated Sept. 28, 1894. 
 
 13 Letter of John H. B. Shultz, dated Sept. 15, 1897. 
 
 14 Letter of Henry Schultz, dated Sept. 27, 1894. 
 
 15 Letter of Thos. H. McGiiffin, dated Oct. 26, 1894. 
 
 16 Letter of A. Horace Henry, dated Oct. 26, 1894. 
 
 16 Letter of Wm. Steele, dated Jan. 22, 1895. 
 
 17 Letter of John H. Rush, dated Nov. 20, 1894. 
 
 18 Letter of Jas. E. A. Gibbs, dated May 31, 1899. 
 
 19 Letter of Serena McC. Hogshead, dated Mch. 7, 1899. 
 
 20 Aff.davit of Joseph Anderson, dated Mch. 16, 1 881. 
 
 21 Affidavit of Jame? Hall Shields, dated Sept. 12, 1910. 
 
 R. Hall McCormick. 
 
 Chicago, 111., Sept. 12, 1910. 
 This is to certify that I, James Hall Shields, have now in my pos- 
 session the originals of the documents hereafter specified, and that 
 the succeeding copies are true and accurate copies of same: 
 
 Letter of Wm. Steele McCormick dated Feb. 27, 1883. 
 Statement of Mary Caroline Shields dated Jan. 17, 1883. 
 
 James Hall Shields. 
 
 B-T
 
 To "Whom It May Concern : 
 
 This is to certify that I, William Trautmann, in 1894, while in the employ of Mr. 
 J. C. Seyls, then proprietor of the Chicago Model ^Vorks, located at 179 E. Madison 
 Street, Chicago, 111., personally constructed a number of models for Mr. Leander J. 
 McCormick. Some of these models were constructed from Patent Office drawings, and 
 missing parts were supplied by Mr. McCormick, and the others were built from in- 
 structions given by him personally. Among other things he told me that they were all 
 inventions of his father, Mr. Robert McCormick. These models consisted of two 
 reapers (made and invented by Robert McCormick) ; two different kinds of hemp 
 breaks; one water-power (hydraulic) engine; one stalk cutter with a peculiar cam- 
 shaped horse-power attachment ; one crushing machine with horse-power attachment, 
 and one tub-shaped bellows. 
 
 On January 12, 1909, I identified the models in the office of Mr. R. Hall Mc- 
 Cormick, 145 La Salle Street, Chicago, as the original models referred to, and which 
 I constructed under the super\ision of Mr. Leander J. McCormick, and the photo- 
 graphs of same (numbered from one to eight), and which bear my signature, I certify 
 to be photographs of the original models above referred to, and which are now in 
 possession of Mr. R. Hall McCormick, at his office above mentioned. 
 
 Witness my hand and seal thi< 15th day of January-, 1909. 
 
 Wm. Trautmann. (seal) 
 
 This day appeared before me Mr. William Trautmann, who first being duly 
 sworn on oath states that he has read the foregoing, and that it is correct to the best 
 of his knowledge and belief. 
 
 Geo. a. Schmitt, 
 
 Notary Public. 
 Jan. 15, 1909. 
 
 To "Whom It May Concern : 
 
 This is to certify that I, J. C. Seyl, proprietor of the Chicago Model Works in 
 1894, located then at 179 E. Madison Street, Chicago, under instructions from Mr. 
 Leander J. ^IcCormick, cau'^ed to be constructed the models referred to in the fore- 
 going affidavit signed by William Trautmann, and that said William Trautmann was 
 employed by me at that time, and that he constructed the said models as set forth in the 
 foregoing instrument, under the personal supervision of Mr. Leander J. McCormick, 
 who told me that they were inventions of Mr. Robert McCormick, his father. I have 
 identified the photographs of the above mentioned models, and as evidence thereof, I 
 also have affixed my signature to each of said photographs. 
 
 Witness my hand and seal this 15th day of January-, 1909. 
 
 J. C. Seyl. (seal) 
 
 This day appeared before me, Mr. J. C. Seyl, who states on oath that he hasi read 
 the foregoing instrument, by him subscribed, and that it is correct to the best of his 
 knowledge and belief and that he knows the contents thereof. 
 
 Geo. a. Sch.mitt, 
 
 Notary Public. 
 Jan. 15, 1909.

 
 ^m^mim 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS-URBANA 
 
 Q,9,M131M C003 
 
 THE LIFE AND WORKS OF ROBERT MCCORMICK I 
 
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