John McGraw (merchant)

John McGraw (22 May, 1815 - 4 May, 1877) was a wealthy New York State lumber merchant, philanthropist, early benefactor and trustee of Cornell University.

Early years

John McGraw was born in Dryden, NY to Joseph McGraw and Jane Nelson McGraw, both natives of Ireland.

Career

He and his business partner, Henry W. Sage, together made a great deal of money selling lumber from forests in New York, Wisconsin and Michigan, and operating a large lumber mill in Wenona, Michigan, now part of Bay City, Michigan. They also co-founded the town of Wenona.

Family

He married Rhoda Charlotte Southworth in Dryden. She was born September 19, 1819, also in Dryden, the daughter of John Southworth of Salisbury, New York and Nancy Ellis Southworth of Dryden. She gave birth to his only daughter, Jennie McGraw. After Rhoda's death in 1847, he married her sister, Nancy Amelia Southworth in 1849.

Death

John died May 4, 1877 in Ithaca, New York. His daughter, Jennie inherited his large fortune.

Jennie's gift to Cornell

Upon Jennie's death, some of this fortune was bequeathed to Cornell. A dispute over this gift led to the Great Will Case, ultimately decided by the United States Supreme Court against Cornell in Cornell Univ. v. Fiske et al. (1890). His former business partner, Henry Sage, made a large donation to Cornell in the name of Jennie to replace the lost funds.

Legacy

The McGraw name graces the principal clock tower of Cornell. [ [http://www.jstor.org/view/00379808/ap030062/03a00030/0 "The Quad on the Hill: An Account of the First Buildings at Cornell"] by Kermit C Parsons "Journal of the Society of Architectual Historians" Vol 22 Num 4 pp. 214 (Dec 1963) ] Additionally, McGraw Hall is one of the buildings on the main arts quad of Cornell University. Among other uses, it was the first home of Cornell's business school, now known as the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management and located in Sage Hall.

References

ources

* [http://livingindryden.org/2004/06/the_mcgraws_of_irish_settlemen.html Dryden History Website]
* [http://bay-journal.com/bay/1he/people/fp-mcgraw-john.html Bay City, Michigan history page]
* [http://supreme.justia.com/us/136/152/case.html Supreme Court decision in Cornell Univ. v. Fiske et al. (1890)]
* [http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=:2555211&id=I3672 Family tree of John McGraw]
* [http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=:2555211&id=I1585&style=TEXT Family tree of his wife Rhoda Southworth]