McCormick, Cyrus H. (Cyrus Hall), 1859-1936

Chicago-based manufacturers and philanthropists.

Cyrus Hall McCormick, Jr. (1859-1936), was the oldest son of reaping machine inventor Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. After his father's 1884 death, Cyrus H. McCormick, Jr. took over as president of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, and continued in that role when the company merged with rival Deering Harvestor Company in 1902 to create the International Harvester Company. He married Harriet Bradley Hammond in 1889 and had three children. He retired as president in 1919, but remained as chairman of the board. Harriet died in 1921, and in 1927 Cyrus married Alice M. Hoit. McCormick's brother, Harold Fowler McCormick (1872-1941), also worked for International Harvester and served as vice-president from 1901-1919. He took over as president from his brother in 1919 and remained in that position until 1922, when he resigned and took up the new position of Chairman of the Executive Committee. Harold McCormick married Edith Rockefeller in 1895, with whom he had three children. They later divorced, and he married opera singer Ganna Walska in 1922; they divorced in 1931. He took over as chairman of the board from his brother in 1935. McCormick's son Cyrus H. McCormick III (1890-1970) began his career with the company in sales at its Wichita branch, then became branch manager, and eventually stepped in as vice-president of manufacturing in 1922 when his uncle resigned as president. He later became chairman of the company. He married Dorothy Linn in 1915. The McCormicks were devoted philanthropists, particularly in the Chicago area. They were active in and donated generously to organizations like the World War I War Fund, the Fatherless Children of France Society, the Y.M.C.A., the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Chicago Orchestral Association.

From the description of McCormick family financial records, 1890-1958. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 695694595