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... Stephen McCormick. Fauquier County, Virginia.
Stephen McCormick, the inventor of the McCormick plow, was born on his father's farm on the Upper Rappahannock, in Fauquier County, Virginia, August 26, 1784, and died in the same county, August 28, 1875, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. S. G. Catlett, of Catlett, Va. He is buried on his old farm, at Auburn, some five miles west of Warrenton.
Mr. McCormick was the youngest son of John McCormick and Elizabeth Morgan, his wife, and sprang from that family of McCormicks, who were present at the siege of Londonderry, and afterwards removed to Pennsylvania, and from thence to Virginia. His mother was of the family of the famous American General, Daniel Morgan.
It is said that young Stephen was a remarkably intelligent and handsome youth, fond of out-door sports, healthy, strong and well developed, for his age, and that when his father desired that he should make the law his profession, he flatly refused. His energetic mind and body, his mechanical and inventive genius sought delight in other active and congenial pursuits, so he preferred the farm and the shop. He became greatly interested in the construction of a grist mill on his father's farm, and when a mere youth, made a number of successful experiments in the dressing of the nether millstone,
which greatly increased the producing power of the mill. This was highly appreciated by the neighbors, who, at that day, depended entirely upon old-fashioned water mills for flour and meal. About this time his father gave him a fine young horse, and coming upon him rather unexpectedly, one day, was greatly fretted to catch young Stephen engaged, with his young companions, in running a horse race. The old gentleman became irritated, ordered Stephen to the house, required him to hitch his horse to a plow and go to work, remarking to him that he would give him some more useful and profitable employment. Stephen took hold of the plow handles, ran a few furrows, and becoming so disgusted with the old clumsy wooden implement, ceased work, and declared he would make a better. He succeeded, after some years, and produced the scientific, shapely and valuable plow that bears his name.
The difference between the old and the new, among other things, consisted, in changing the wooden mold-board, then in use, to a cast- iron one — the whole cast in one piece, and reaching from the share to the beam, and giving the new mold-board a new contour, or face, over which the earth would more easily pass. It decreased the draft, deepened the furrow, and pulverized the soil more thoroughly, thus increasing the amount of plowing that could be done in a day and improving the quality thereof. This plow revolutionized the cultivation of the soil in the Piedmont and valley sections of Virginia, where the face of the country is generally rocky and hilly. It decreased the labor and added to the incomes of the farmers. It was first used about the year 1816, and patented about 1820; was largely manufactured in Virginia and elsewhere, and remained the Standard for years. Slight changes in it were afterwards made, mostly to avoid the patent, yet the essential principles of the plan were retained, and it is still said of it : "The McCormick plow was a great invention ; it was by far the best of its day, and, in fact, as successful as any made now." When Generel LaFayette visited this country in 1824, Mr. Mc Cormick presented him with a plow, which he carried to France and had entered in a plowing match at Paris, where it took the premium as the best.
The subject of this sketch was twice married. His first wife was Miss Sarah Barnett, of Fauquier, whom he married in February, 1807. To them were born three sons, viz :
- L. James,
- John Ambrose, and
- William,
All of whom left Virginia in their youth, James going to South Carolina, where he wrote and published a higher school arithmetic, which was highly appreciated and used in the schools there. The other two moved to Iowa and died many years ago. Their mother died about 1814, and is buried at Auburn, Virginia.
The second wife was Miss Elizabeth M. Benson, third daughter of James Benson, Esq., and Dulciebella Berry, his wife, of Stafford County, Virginia. This marriage occurred on February 29, 1816, and by it were born to him,
- Richard Henry,
-Willis Berry,
-Robert Lysander,
-Agnes,
-Judith,
-Dulcie,
-Mary,
-Stephen and Elizabeth, (twins), and
-Virginia.
The sons all died, after reaching manhood, without issue, except Willis Berry, who, in 1840, married Miss Virginia Millan, only daughter of Capt. George Millan, of Fairfax County, Virginia. To them were born eight sons and daughters, and in 1858, he, with his family, removed to Texas, and settled in Colorado County, near to the spot, where now stands the flourishing little city of Weimar. He and his wife both departed this life a few years ago. The eldest son, George, resides now at Columbus, Texas, where he has been engaged in the practice of the law since the war. The second, Stephen, is at Weimar, and is the Postmaster of that city, under President Cleveland's appointment. Both married in Texas and have large families.
Of Stephen McCormick's daughters,
-Agnes married Judge Duncan, of Missouri;
-Judith, the Rev. Mr. Pratt, of Minnesota;
-Dulcie, the Rev. H. C. Cushing, of Prince William, Va. ;
-Elizabeth, S. G. Catlett, of Catlett, Va. ;
-Virginia, a Mr. Johnston, of Union, W. Va.
-Mary died when quite young and is buried in the family graveyard at Auburn, Va.
Stephen McCormick, as it were, inherited his religious belief from his ancestors. He was, for many years, a devoted Old School Presbyterian. He devotedly loved his native State and her institutions, and in his old age, used to laughingly boast that he "had voted for every democratic nominee for the Presidency, from Thomas Jefferson to Jefferson Davis." His character was that of an honest, candid and fearless man. He neither sought difficulties nor avoided them. He was a kind and most humane master ; the friend of the poor and the needy, and during the life of his last wife his home was noted for hospitality, and he and she, for their Christian charity. ...
