Cyrus McCormick's father invented the first horse-drawn crop reaper and was experimenting with a design for a mechanical reaper when he turned the experiment over to his son. Cyrus took a look at his design and made a few changes to make the mechanical reaper fully functional and obtained a patent in 1834.
After numerous attempts to sell the product in his local area, he went to Chicago in 1847 to form the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. His company flourished when the railroad came to Chicago, which allowed him to ship his machines via rail. During the Chicago Fire of 1871, his building was burned down, but he constructed a larger building with the idea of overseas shipping in mind.
Cyrus Hall McCormick died on May 13, 1884. The business was nearly equal in assets with the Deering Harvesting Company; the decision was made to merge and form the International Harvester Company.
McCormick, Cyrus ... his company until 1880, when his son, Cyrus McCormick, Jr., assumed control. Cyrus McCormick, Sr., died in 1884. By the time of McCormick's death, his company had produced approximately six million reapers, had lessened the amoCyrus McCormick, Jr., assumed control. Cyrus McCormick, Sr., died in 1884. By the time of McCormick's death, his company had produced approximately six million reapers, had lessened the amoCyrus McCormick, Sr., died in 1884. By the time of McCormick's death, his company had produced approximately six million reapers, had lessened the amount of work ... http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=260
Kay, Cyrus Cyrus Kay Surnames: Entwistle, Fagen (Fagan) Hilts, Mead Region: Herkimer Co., NY Source: History of the Mohawk Valley - Gateway to the West - 1614-1925 Covering The Six Counties of Schenectady, Schoharie, Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer and Oneida. http://www.darcisplace.com/darci/kay-cyrus.htm
