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Article: Mccormick, Cyrus Hall
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History
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MCCORMICK, CYRUS HALL
Born in Virginia on February 15, 1809, Cyrus McCormick (1805
–
1884) obtained a grammar school education and assisted his father in the operation of a 1,200-acre grain and livestock farm. While working on
this farm McCormick invented a mechanical reaping machine that greatly decreased the amount of time it took to harvest wheat. He first developed his reaper in 1831 and spent the next 10 years perfecting it, making only a few, which were used on his father's farm.
By 1843, after bankruptcy and several unsuccessful attempts at a variety of business pursuits, McCormick finally decided to concentrate on making his fortune by producing and selling his reaping ...