A Guide to the Cyrus Hall McCormick Letter, 1854 #22121e

Library of Virginia

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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Trenton Hizer

Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Cyrus Hall McCormick Letter, 1854. Accession 22121e. Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased, 22 April 1943.

Biographical/Historical Information

Cyrus Hall McCormick was born 15 February 1809 in Rockbridge County, Virginia, to Robert McCormick (1780-1846) and Mary Ann Hall McCormick (1780-1853). Like his father, McCormick invented farm implements. While his father failed in inventing a reaper for wheat, Cyrus McCormick succeeded. In 1847, he established a factory at Chicago, Illinois, and became a successful businessman. McCormick owned newspapers, became involved in the Democratic party, and contributed to educational and charitable causes. He married Nancy Maria Fowler (1835-1923) of New York, and they had 7 children.

Scope and Content Information

A letter, dated 20 December 1854, from Cyrus H. McCormick (1809-1884) to "my faithful servant Joseph," (Jo Anderson) (1809-1889) granting his slave's request to work where he pleases, thanking him for past services and discussing his future. McCormick asks him to decide what he wishes to do.