Robert McCormick and Mary Ann Hall
Husband Robert McCormick 1
Born: 8 Jun 1780 - Walnut Grove, Rockbridge Co, VA 1 Christened: Died: 4 Jul 1846 - Walnut Grove, Rockbridge Co, VA 1 Buried:
Father: Robert McCormick (1738-1818) 2 Mother: Martha Sanderson (1747-1803) 3
Marriage: 11 Feb 1808 4
Wife Mary Ann Hall 4
Born: Christened: Died: Jun 1853 4 Buried:
Father: Patrick Hall ( - ) 4 Mother: Susan McChesney ( - ) 4
Children
1 M Cyrus Hall McCormick 5
Born: 15 Feb 1809 - Rockbridge Co, VA 5 Christened: Died: 13 May 1884 - Chicago, Cook Co, IL 5 Buried:Spouse: Nancy "Nettie" Fowler (1835-1923) 5 Marr: 26 Jan 1858 5
2 M Robert Hall McCormick 5
Born: 24 May 1810 5 Christened: Died: 29 Jun 1826 5 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
3 F Susan J. McCormick 5
Born: 1 Aug 1813 5 Christened: Died: 27 Jun 1826 5 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
4 M William Sanderson McCormick 5
Born: 2 Nov 1815 5 Christened: Died: 27 Sep 1865 5 Buried:Spouse: Mary Ann Grigsby (1828-1878) 5 Marr: 11 Jul 1848 5
5 F Mary Caroline McCormick 6
Born: 18 Apr 1817 - Rockbridge Co, VA 6 Christened: Died: 18 Mar 1888 - Highland Park, IL 6 Buried: - Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Cook Co, ILSpouse: Rev. James Shields (1812-1862) 6 Marr: 11 May 1847 6
6 M Leander James McCormick 6
Born: 8 Feb 1819 6 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Henrietta Maria Hamilton (1822- ) 6 Marr: 22 Oct 1845 - Locust Hill, Rockbridge Co, VA 6
7 M John Prestly McCormick 6
Born: 8 Nov 1820 6 Christened: Died: 4 Sep 1849 6 Buried:
8 F Amanda Joanna McCormick 6
Born: 17 Sep 1822 - Rockbridge Co, VA 6 Christened: Died: 12 Oct 1891 - Watkins, Schuyler Co, NY 6 Buried:Spouse: Hugh Adams (1820-1880) 6 Marr: 8 May 1845 6
General Notes: Husband - Robert McCormick
He was a man of strong character, of dignified bearing, of a retiring disposition, of unassuming manners, and of refined and cultivated tastes. In religion, he was a Presbyterian, and in his life exemplary. He was held in high esteem and respect by his neighbors, and was always a ready friend of those in need of counsel or assistance. He numbered among his associates many of the leading men of his day. His character and disposition were worthy of praise and imitation, yet he never sought the praise of the world. Rev. James Morrison said of him: "He was a man of remarkable mind, and that from him he had gotten many beautiful and original thoughts on the Bible."
He came by inheritance into the old homestead—Walnut Grove. His home was typical of Virginia life following the Revolutionary epoch. His wife was a devoted and self-sacrificing woman; like her husband, social and hospitable, and their home was a place where friends or strangers were always welcome.
His inventive genius was practical, and in every instance directed to the amelioration of the conditions of the age in which he lived. He invented a machine for breaking and cleaning hemp and flax which was used with much success in Virginia and Kentucky; a threshing machine, which proved highly satisfactory; a useful horsepower of novel design and skilful construction; a hydraulic machine; a clover sheller, and a blacksmith's bellows, which were introduced with general approval.
But his aspiring mind aimed at a still broader field of usefulness. For nearly forty years his life was devoted to one great, earnest purpose. It was his mechanical genius which conceived, devised and executed one of the greatest inventions which has assisted to carry forward American development. In 1809-10, he conceived and constructed a grain-cutting machine, which embodied the principles of the modern reaper, and may well be termed the foundation of the harvesting machine industry, since it combined the reel with which to carry the standing grain back to the cutting knife, and when cut, on to a platform, from which it was raked by a man walking alongside of the machine. This reaper embodied the combination of the reel, the cutting knife, the platform, the driving wheel, and the main frame to which the horses were attached. These, in connection with the revolving apron, for side delivery, which was added in 1816, make a combination of parts which form the vital principles of the perfected reaper of the present day. His original machine anticipated the inventions of Smith, of the Deanston Cotton Works, Perthshire, Scotland, Rev. Patrick Bell, Barran, William and Thomas Schnebly, Randall and Hussey. When he improved his combination by supplying the vibrating sickle, the reaper became a practical invention, which he continued to manufacture and use until the time of his death. But, bent upon developing his inventions, and without regard to the benefit which might accrue from them to himself and family, he, like others of that time, neglected the important step of taking out letters patent. In addition to his inventions, he displayed much administrative ability in the management of two thousand acres of land, operating at the same time a grist-mill and two saw-mills—the latter in connection with his manufacturing interests.
He was a man of marked individuality and versatility, and although his life-work led into the field of scientific inquiry, his mind was essentially practical and keenly alive to the current questions of his day.
1 Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896), Pg 249.
2 Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896), Pg 120.
3 Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896), Pg 120, 435.
4 Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896), Pg 300.
5 Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896), Pg 302.
6
Leander James McCormick, McCormick Family Record and Biography (Chicago, IL: Publisher Unknown, 1896), Pg 303.
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