McCORMICK, LEANDER J.
LEANDER J. McCORMICK DEAD - Leander J. McCormick, a member of the famous harvester machinery family, died of pneumonia at the Virginia Hotel in Chicago, Tuesday, February 20, 1900. Leander J McCormick  was born in Rockbridge County, VA in 1819, and was the son of Robert McCormick, the inventor of the reaper.
He inherited from his father, who was an inventor of rare ability with love for mechanics, and as early as 1845, had a one-third interest in the 75 reaping machines that was built end sold by the elder McCormick. In 1847, Leander McCormick went to Cincinnati and there engaged with his brother, the late Cyrus H. McCormick in the construction of 100 machines. In the following year, they had moved to Chicago. He and his brother, late in 1819, started the formation of the great industry which is now conducted by the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company.
The fire of 1871, however, destroyed all their pattern, apparatus and stock. At the same time Leander McCormick's handsome residence at Rushmid and Ohio streets, on the present site now of the Virginia Hotel, was burned.
The brothers rebuilt their plants and incorporated in 1879 under the name of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company. Leander took entire charge of the manufacturing department of the business and continued in that position down to the year of 1879, when the company became incorporated. Ten years later he retired from active business.
Mr. McCormick was an inventor second only in rank to his father, and during his long connection with the manufacture of the reaper made many valuable improvements in the machine. Among these were the seat on which a man could ride and rake the ground from the platform to the ground; the application of a long arm over the divider as a substitute for the oar that originally supported the reel and abstracted the free passage of leaning grain, and finally, the position of a scat for the driver who had originally ridden one of the horses.
His wife, whom he married in 1845, was Miss Henrietta Hamilton, daughter of John Hamilton, of Wesley Chapel, near this county. Mrs. McCormick died a few months ago.
Mr. McCormick was 81 years old, but, though, enfeebled by advanced age, and ailing since the death of his wife last November, he was not thought to be in a critical condition.
Robert Hall McCormick and Leander Hamilton McCormick, had two surviving sons, were at his bedside at the time of his death. His only daughter, Mrs. F. E. Goodhart, is absent in England,
Among Mr. McCormick's largo properties, which will aggregate about $5,000,000., were the following Chicago buildings: Virginia H del, Vicroria Hotel, Atlas block, Roanoke building,  Ely building, Cevlon building, McCormick block, Oxford building and the East x building. He also holds extensive interest in Lake Forest, including a fancy stock farm and summer residence.
(Lexington Gazette; February 28, 1900)

MITCHELL, WILLIAM
Mr. William Mitchell, an old resident of Faney Hill, who died at his home Saturday, was buried at the Natural Bridge Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock.
(The Lexington Gazette, Jan. 12, 1898)