Individual Details
Elmer Ellsworth McCormick
(5 Jan 1888 - 11 Dec 1948)
Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, September 12, 1948, Front Page, Col. 7: McCormick, Engineer at Deere's Dies. Elmer McCormick, 58, 2408 West Fourth street, for the past 17 years chief engineer of John Deere Tractor works, died unexpectedly yesterday in Milwaukee, Wis., where he was attending a meeting. He and several other colleagues from Waterloo had been attending the American Tractor meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineer, had left last Sunday for Milwaukee. He had been expected to return Sunday or Monday, but became ill Friday afternoon and was taken to Columbia hospital there. Cause of death, which occurred at 10 a.m. was a heart attack. McCormick had suffered previously from a heart ailment, but had been pronounced in good health by his physicians.
His work with John Deere began in 1909 when he was a student at the University of Illinois in Campaign. during summers he was employed in the plant at Moline, Ill, and after his graduation in 1914 he continued with the firm. When Deere & Co. purchased the plant in Waterloo from Waterloo Gas Engine Co., he came here as general sales manager and held that post until 1928. He was then assistant chief engineer. In 1931 he ascended in the chief engineer's job and had retained it since.
Mr. McCormick was born March 31, 1890 [1888], in Eylar, Ill., son of Seth and Louisa McCormick. He received early education in Pontiac, Ill. schools. He was a member of First Presbyterian church, B. P. O. Elks lodge 290, Waterloo Rotary club and a charter member of Sunnyside Country club. He also was active in the American Society for Automotive Engineers as counselor and former vice president and member of the tractor technical committee of that group. He served as Deere & Co. representative on the engineering advisory committee for the Farm Equipment institute and as chairman of the power control subcommittee of this group. He was listed as a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. During World War II he served on the engineering advisory committee of the war production board.
Surviving are his mother, Louisa and a sister, Miss Martha McCormick, both of 2408 West Fourth street; a brother, Seth, Chicago; a niece Miss Helen Louise McCormick, who lived in his home, and an aunt, Mrs. M. H. Craven, Pontiac, Wis. His father preceded him in death when Elmer McCormick was a youth. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed, burial will be in Odell, Ill. The body is at Locke funeral home.
His work with John Deere began in 1909 when he was a student at the University of Illinois in Campaign. during summers he was employed in the plant at Moline, Ill, and after his graduation in 1914 he continued with the firm. When Deere & Co. purchased the plant in Waterloo from Waterloo Gas Engine Co., he came here as general sales manager and held that post until 1928. He was then assistant chief engineer. In 1931 he ascended in the chief engineer's job and had retained it since.
Mr. McCormick was born March 31, 1890 [1888], in Eylar, Ill., son of Seth and Louisa McCormick. He received early education in Pontiac, Ill. schools. He was a member of First Presbyterian church, B. P. O. Elks lodge 290, Waterloo Rotary club and a charter member of Sunnyside Country club. He also was active in the American Society for Automotive Engineers as counselor and former vice president and member of the tractor technical committee of that group. He served as Deere & Co. representative on the engineering advisory committee for the Farm Equipment institute and as chairman of the power control subcommittee of this group. He was listed as a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. During World War II he served on the engineering advisory committee of the war production board.
Surviving are his mother, Louisa and a sister, Miss Martha McCormick, both of 2408 West Fourth street; a brother, Seth, Chicago; a niece Miss Helen Louise McCormick, who lived in his home, and an aunt, Mrs. M. H. Craven, Pontiac, Wis. His father preceded him in death when Elmer McCormick was a youth. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed, burial will be in Odell, Ill. The body is at Locke funeral home.
Events
| Birth | 5 Jan 1888 | Mount Auburn, Christian Co., Illinois |  | ||
| Marriage | 12 Sep 1909 | Eagle Grove, Wright Co., Iowa - Georgia Luella Packman | | ||
| Residence | 1910 | Age: 22; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head - Grant, Wright Co., Iowa | | ||
| Residence | 1920 | Age: 32; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head - Erin, Hancock, Iowa, USA | | ||
| Residence | 1930 | Age: 42; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head - Geneva, Franklin Co., Iowa | | ||
| Residence | 1935 | Hampton, Franklin Co., Iowa | | ||
| Residence | 1 Apr 1940 | Age: 52; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head - Hampton, Franklin Co., Iowa | | ||
| Death | 11 Dec 1948 | Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin | | ||
| Alt name | Elmer Earl McCormick | | |||
| Burial | Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, Hamilton Co., Iowa | | |||
| Research Notes |  |
Families
| Spouse | Georgia Luella Packman (1890 - 1962) |
| Child | Harley E McCormick (1910 - 1984) |
| Child | Esther McCormick (1912 - 1962) |
| Child | Merle M. McCormick (1918 - 1962) |
Notes
Research Notes
Mr. McCormick's obituary left off his wife and children. His age was off by 2 years. He was not buried at O'dell, Illinois.Endnotes
10. Ancestry.com, U. S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015).
11. Ancestry.com, Public Member Trees (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006), Database online..
12. Obituary of Elmer McCormick, Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, September 12, 1948, Front Page, Col. 7.
14. Find A Grave.