Statue of Cyrus McCormick- Pauline Marting

Cyrus McCormick was born in Rockbridge County in February of 1809 and became an inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. From 1864 to his death in 1884, McCormick was on the board of and a huge benefactor to Washington and Lee University. There is even a rumor that the reason that McCormick donated so much money to the university was so that he could have his name placed on it as George Washington did. Unfortunately, as the story goes, no one voted to rename the University "Washington and McCormick," so all he received was a statue that stands on the front lawn of the school.

 

                                         Here he stands, looking out over the lawn

The statue reads, "Cyrus Hall McCormick, 18090-1884, Native of Rockbridge County Virginia, He Liberated Agriculture, Befriended Education and Advanced the Cause of Religion. Trustee and Benefactor of Washington and Lee University." 

McCormick is also accredited with the invention of the reaper, which he designed in 1831. He patented the product in 1834. He moved to Chicago in 1847 to 'reap' the benefits of the midwestern plains using his new invention, as he heard of the larger size of farms in the Midwest. The reaper was a success and brought him much fame across the United States, and in 1851 it won the Gold medal at London's Crystal Palace exhibition. By 1856, he was known all over the world for his invention. After his death in 1884, he was buried in Chicago's Graceland cemetery.