Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 304 - 305  

ALEXANDER McCORMICK. Quite a number of the lending and prominent citizens of Sedgwick County are of alien birth, and have transported to this land of fertility and plenty the thrifty habits of their native country. Among these there is none that is better known or more widely respected than the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He is an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Ohio Township and resides on section 4, where he settled in 1883. 

     Beneath the humble roof of his parents, Francis and Ann (McKenzie) McCormick, and under the shadow of the mountains of Scotland, Alexander McCormick was born Aug. 15, 1843. He is one of a family of nine children, of whom the following still survive: Dougald, who is living in Waco Township, this county; Francis, a resident of Wichita; John, who is living in Glasgow, Scotland; Donald, living in England; Janet, at home, in Scotland, and Alexander, the subject of this sketch. In his youth the latter received the elements of that education which is so dear to his countrymen, and was reared to manhood in his native land. In the spring of 1862 he left fair Scotia's heaths and braes, and taking passage at Glasgow on a steamer, after a voyage of eleven days on the stormy Atlantic, landed at Montreal, Canada, settling at Guelph, Ontario. He resided for about three years in that city, where he was engaged in the blacksmith trade, which he had learned of his father, working for the firm of Mills & Melvin, who were the leading foundrymen of Guelph. At the expiration of that time he came to the United States, and for a short time in 1865, was in the employ of Cyrus McCormick, the inventor and manufacturer of the reaper which bears his name, at Chicago, Ill. 

     In 1866, the subject of our sketch being seized with the Western fever, went to Montana, where he was engaged, principally, in mining for a period of some ten years. In 1876 he came to Sedgwick County, Kan., and for a short time made his residence with Nicholas McCormick, who then resided near Wichita. He removed to Ohio Township during the year 1880, and for about three years lived on the southeast quarter of section 4, from which he removed to his present farm. The latter consists of 160 acres of most excellent land, all of which is well improved and highly cultivated, and a very valuable estate. Besides it, Mr. McCormick has an interest in property in the city of Wichita. 

     The marriage of our subject took place April 7, 1878, at which time he entered into a matrimonial alliance with Josie Cartwright, a native of Sangamon County. Ill., who was born Jan. 14, 1842. 8he is a daughter of Valentine C. and Cynthia (Scott) Cartwright, and the granddaughter of Rev. Peter Cartwright, the noble and widely known pioneer preacher of Illinois. Valentine Cartwright was one of the prominent men of Central Illinois, to which he had removed from his native State, Kentucky, with his father, when but a boy. He removed to Sedgwick County in 1873, and was numbered among the pioneers of Waco Township, and died in that locality, Oct. 30, 1886. He was one of the most prominent citizens of the county, and at one time was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for member of the State Legislature, but the politics of this portion of the State being averse to that party, he was not elected, notwithstanding the large complimentary vote he received. The mother of Mrs. McCormick was a native of Illinois, and the mother of nine children, of whom the following eight are still living: Thomas B., a resident of Waco Township; Carrie E., wife of S. D. Pallett, of Wichita; Hattie J., Mrs. D. O. Williams, of the same place; Charles A., of Salem Township, this county; Albert B., residing in California; Minnie P., wife of J. L. Nessley, of Wichita; Walter L., living in Wichita. The father of Rev. Peter Cartwright, and the great-grandfather of Mrs. McCormick, was one of the gallant band of heroes who fought under Gen. Washington during the Revolutionary War. 

     Being independent of party line Mr. McC. usually casts his ballot for the man, and not for measures. In the fall of 1887 he was the candidate on the Labor Reform ticket for Sheriff of Sedgwick County, but was defeated in the race for office by the present incumbent, W. W. Hays, his party not being so thoroughly organized at that date as it has since been. Both he and his estimable wife are sincere and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and possess the warm esteem and confidence of the entire community. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, his name being upon the rolls of Wichita Lodge No. 99. Around the domestic hearth of our subject and his wife there are gathered their little family of three interesting children, who are being trained up under all the good influences of a Christian mother's care. Their names are as follows: Ernest L., who was born Aug. 4, 1879; Frank N., whose birth took place Aug. 7, 1881; and Lottie S., who made her advent on the 7th of May, 1884.

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