George C. McCormick

page 594

No paper in Monroe county, Iowa, publishes more news, is more public spirited in its support of all measures affecting the town and county or enjoys more fully the backing of the citizens of the county, as shown by the large and representative subscription list, than the Albia Republican, whose success is the result of the efforts of its enterprising and energetic editor, G.C. McCormick. And it is most fitting to record the life history of the journal and its owner in this book of biography of two of Iowa’s most progressive counties.

Mr. McCormick comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who came to America before the Revolution, members of the family taking part in that war, also in the war of 1812, the Mexican and Civil wars, so that they may be listed among the patriotic families of America. The first ancestors settled in Virginia, then migrated west to Indiana, and from there to Iowa, in 1867. The parents of our Monroe county editor were Mont and Hattie McCormick; the former was a farmer and veterinarian and served three years in Company A, Fifty-ninth Indiana, during the Civil war; his wife was a school teacher and a most estimable woman, as the lasting influence she exercised over her children proved.

It was after his parents had taken up their residence in Sandyville, Warren county, Iowa, that George C. McCormick came into the world, on October 20, 1872. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and now that he is on the fair road to success he might have considered that an incumbrance rather than a benefit. But he was industrious from the start, and the fact that the first eighteen years of his life were spent on a farm probably had much to do with the shaping of his character and subsequent development.

At the age of eighteen he moved to College Springs, Iowa, and entered the preparatory department of Amity College at that place. As he was not afraid of hard work, he paid his way through school by doing chores for his board, teaching school and acting as general agent for a book company, and notwithstanding such restrictions he went through with his class and graduated in 1897 with the degree of Ph. B., having covered the general collegiate course of studies. He had already decided to make a career of journalism, and three months before graduation had bought the College Springs Current Press. He published this paper until January, 1899, when he bought the Albia Republican and removed to Albia in order to enter upon his duties as editor and publisher.

Mr. McCormick is a man of push and ability, and he has, in the short time he has owned it, made his paper the official organ of the county and has placed it on a firm financial basis, so that it is a paying property. The paper, like its editor, is straight Republican in politics, but on the questions of general policy that are continually before the people for settlement it advocates progress and the general welfare of all. In 1902 he built a two-story printing office, and the entire office has been newly equipped in the last four years, so that there are few country newspapers anywhere which are better fitted up for their work. The paper is a six-column quarto, all home print, and the average circulation for 1902 was 2,204 copies.

Mr. McCormick is one of the whole-souled, genial gentlemen who make friends everywhere they go, and his hitherto successful career is due to these and other solid elements of character. He early learned how to work hard and effectively, and this happy quality, combined with his enthusiasm, makes him a winner in whatever field of endeavor he may engage. While he has advocated the principles of the Republican party and thus has been able to be of much assistance to his party, he has never chosen to enter the field of politics, and prefers to devote himself to his business. He is a member of the Methodist church, belongs to the Masons, the Woodmen and the Yeoman fraternities, and is a willing helper in all branches of social and religious work. On June 22, 1897, Mr. McCormick was married at College Springs, Iowa, to Miss Carrie Sherman, the daughter of S.L. Sherman. She was born and reared at College Springs, Page county. They have one son, Paul Sherman McCormick, who was born August 12, 1901.