McCormick's dear ol' dad had indeed "invented" the reaper, and son Cyrus simply carried the invention forward. He moved operations to Chicago when the invention really took hold. One of the things I teach my students is the irony of two inventions in the antebellum era: Eli Whitney, a CT Yankee invented the cotton gin, ensuring the rise of slavery; McCormick invented the reaper, 250,000 of which were sold 1860-1865, assuring that northern boys could be deployed to the battlefield, helping the North win.
If you google Mccormick/reaper, there are several quite good websites with info on the reaper, replete with photos.
JDW, Ph.D.
VCU
-----Original Message-----
From: Liana Arias <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, Jan 11, 2011 9:38 am
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Cyrus McCormick more than a tinkerer?
Hello all,
I am trying to follow an oral lead that pointed to Cyrus McCormick, around 1833-34, in the Roanoke Valley area and designing and undertaking an addition and renovation of a home. Has anybody gotten any information (other than probably helping his own dad build their home in 1822, while a teenager) about Cyrus as a builder?
My tip came from an old lady who said a grandson of Cyrus visited her home here in Roanoke around the mid 1940's and told her that his grandfather Cyrus McCormick had renovated and added to it. There are a few other things that click in place there so, I don't want to dismiss it without proper research but it is hard to find Cyrus's whereabouts right around that time.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Liana Arias
A fan of this listserv
----- Original Message ----- From: "VA-HIST automatic digest system" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 12:00 AM
Subject: VA-HIST Digest - 6 Jan 2011 to 10 Jan 2011 (#2011-4)
> There is 1 message totalling 40 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. New Jamestowne book available
>
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 12:35:30 -0500
> From: "Levy, Suzanne S." <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: New Jamestowne book available
>
> =20
>
> =20
> The Jamestowne Century: A Collection of Essays=20
>
> Under the guidance of Henry C. Mackall, past Governor of the Jamestowne =
> Society and past Governor of the Washington & Northern Virginia Company, =
> a publication project was undertaken. The result, The Jamestowne =
> Century: A Collection of Essays touches nearly all facets of Virginia in =
> the Jamestown century, 1607-1699.=20
>
> St. Julien Ravenel Marshall, Jr. wrote the individual essays during his =
> nearly two decades as a Jamestowne Society Company Governor and these =
> were avidly appreciated by Company members when read at meetings and in =
> the Company newsletter.=20
>
> For this publication project, he authored additional essays and made =
> substantial editorial revisions and expansions. The result is an indexed =
> resource with numerous bibliographic notes that lead one to additional =
> information on a topic or point of information, comprised in 221 pages.=20
>
> The Washington and Northern Virginia Company has copies of the essay =
> collection for sale. The cost per copy is $21.00 plus $3.00 postage. =
> Checks should be paid to Washington and Northern Virginia Company and =
> sent to: Jacque-Lynne Schulman, 6649 McLean Drive, McLean, VA =
> 22101-4002.=20
>
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> End of VA-HIST Digest - 6 Jan 2011 to 10 Jan 2011 (#2011-4)
> ***********************************************************
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