CYEUS HALL McCORMICK 



the factory to be rebuilt, or did she want him 

 to retire from active business life ? She, think- 

 ing of her son, said "Rebuild." At once 

 McCormick became the most buoyant and 

 confident citizen in the ruined city. His great 

 spirit was aroused. He called up one of his 

 attorneys and sent him in haste to the docks to 

 buy lumber. He telegraphed to his agents to 

 rush in as much money as they could collect. 

 Every bank in the city had been burned, so for 

 a time this money was kept by the cashier in a 

 market basket, and carried at night to a private 

 house. There was one day as much as $24,000 

 in the basket. Before the cinders were cool, 

 McCormick had given orders to build a new 

 factory, larger than the one that had been 

 burned down. More than this, he had also 

 given orders that his house in New York should 

 be sold, and that a home should be established 

 in Chicago. Chicago was his city. He had 

 seen it grow from 10,000 to 325,000. And in 

 this hour of its distress he tossed aside all other 

 plans and gave Chicago all he had. 



His unconquerableness gave heart to others. 



[152] 



