In 1871 , the factory burned down in the Great Chicago Fire , but McCormick heeded his wife 's advice to rebuild , and it reopened in 1873 even as McCormick 's health declined , so she took a greater role in the family 's business as well as philanthropic affairs . In 1879 , brother Leander changed the company 's name from " Cyrus H. McCormick and Brothers " to " McCormick Harvesting Machine Company " . He wanted to acknowledge the contributions of others in the family to the reaper " invention " and company , especially their father
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
Cyrus McCormick