In this regular feature, we’ll explore the early inventors and businessmen behind today’s most popular tractor brands. Today, we’ll look into Cyrus McCormick, one of the men whose name appears on early Farmall tractors.
Cyrus McCormick got his start with horse-drawn reapers. Together with his father and brothers (and possibly also with the help of a slave and someone else’s design – history is unclear), Cyrus invented the mechanical reaper. He patented his design in 1834 and moved to Chicago a couple of years later to begin manufacturing the machines. McCormick’s reaper was a good design, but his salesmanship and business savvy is what really set him apart from the competition. His business prospered, and the McCormick family quickly became one of the leading families of Chicago.
Behind every great man stands a woman, and Cyrus was no exception to this adage. He married Nancy Fowler, a woman 25 years his junior, in 1858. Nettie (the nickname she prefered) had a mind for business herself, and took part in Cyrus’s work. This was very unusual for a woman of her time, but Netty’s perseverance and business acumen played a pivotal role in what would become the International Harvester company.
When the Great Chicago Fire struck, the McCormick factory was a total loss. At this point, Cyrus was 62 years old and incredibly wealthy – he could have easily ended the business and retired. But Nettie insisted on rebuilding, both for the sake of the Chicago workmen who depended on the factory for their livelihoods and for the sake of her sons, who she didn’t want to see grow up “in idleness.” Nettie convinced her husband – they sold their home in New York (where they had been living at the time of the fire) and returned to Chicago to rebuild. Until her husband’s death in 1884, Nettie was the effective (although unofficial) head of the company.
Nettie and Cyrus were great philanthropists during their marriage, but once Cyrus had passed and the reigns of the business were in the hands of his son (Cyrus Jr.), Nettie devoted even more of her attention to doing the most good possible with her substantial wealth. Nettie and Cyrus were devout Christians, and Nettie believed quite strongly that she was responsible to God to use her wealth to honor Him. She gave to hundreds of charitable organizations both in the United States and abroad. Many of the organizations she gave to, like the McCormick Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, and the Pacific Garden Mission, are still in operation today. A private giver, much of her generosity wasn’t known until years after her death.
Next time you see an older Farmall tractor, I hope you’ll take a moment to notice the name “McCormick” on the decal and think of Cyrus and Nettie. And if your tractor’s decals say “McCormick-Deering,” don’t worry! We’ll talk about William Deering and the merger that created International Harvester soon.
To read more about Cyrus and Nettie McCormick, visit the Philanthropy Roundtable or PBS.
Dick Magruder says
thank you for publishing this article. Very interesting facts and that you allowed the name of God to be lifted up is awesome. May y’all be a Blessed.
dave raymond says
The story behind Mc Cormickdeering farmall decal seemed like it left alot out of the story and only talked about McCormick and not deering. I would live to read the rest of the article and so would my son.
Thank you
Dave Raymond
Suzette Thomas says
Hi Dave! I’m glad you liked the article. Don’t worry – I have lots more to say about the Deering family. They’ll get their own story told soon. Thanks for reading!
Rachel
Scott wood says
Rachel then my understanding is that Farmall was the name of model? McCormick at that time was the company and Internatioal Harvester became the combination of all or to that effect.
Suzette Thomas says
Hi Scott! You’ve got the hang of it. The Farmall brand tractors were manufactured by the International Harvester Company – which was created in 1902 when J. P. Morgan (founder of Chase Bank) merged the McCormick Harvesting Company, the Deering Harvesting Company, and a couple of smaller companies. That’s why you have so many different names and decals on a Farmall tractor – the company history is really interesting!
Rachel
linda sampsel says
I have a Mccormick-Deering pressure cooker/pressure canner. I am not able to find any info on. Can you help?