The McCormicks of International Harvester

This is a story of the McCormick family with its roots on a Virginia plantation in the 1830's. It is the story of Cyrus Hall McCormick and his family which evolved from that plantation to become one of the richest and most influential families in the US. The influence of this family has been felt around the world. The McCormick name can be placed alongside other influential family names such as Carnegie, Ford, Edison, Rockefeller, and J. P. Morgan. Cyrus H McCormick developed the reaper harvester machine which revolutionized farming worldwide. Cyrus, along with his brothers Leander and William established the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. This company rapidly expanded and eventually became the basis for the International Harvesting Co. which at one time was the fourth largest corporation in the United States. While there are many facets of the McCormicks which will be touched upon in this book, it concentrates on the family as it relates to the development, success and demise of the original International Harvester Company. The story of the McCormick family and the story of International Harvester are embedded and cannot be successfully separated. It is the story of the McCormick family members who served as the chief executive managers and chief operations managers of McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. and International Harvester. It also tells of other McCormicks who distinguished themselves through achievements of great wealth and social influence.