CYRUS HALL McCORMICK 



the building of the first railroad from Chicago 

 to Galena. 



William Butler Ogden had been born in the 

 little New York hamlet of Walton, four years 

 earlier than the birth of McCormick. To use 

 his own picturesque words, he "was born close 

 to a saw-mill, was early left an orphan, chris- 

 tened in a mill-pond, taught at a log school- 

 house, and at fourteen fancied that nothing was 

 impossible, which ever since, and with some 

 success, I have been trying to prove." Once 

 in Chicago he quickly made a fortune in 

 real estate, and was generally looked to as the 

 leader in any large enterprise that promised 

 to help Chicago. 



He was a tall man of striking appearance. 

 At that time he wore no beard, and with his 

 keen eyes, high forehead, long straight nose, 

 and masterful under-lip, he would attract 

 attention in any assemblage. By his hospi- 

 tality and courtly manners he made many 

 friends for the city. Among his guests were 

 Webster, Van Buren, Bryant, Tilden, and Miss 

 Martineau. And when Cyrus McCormick 



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