William E. McCormick

William Edward McCormick (April 17, 1831 – March 12, 1900) was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York.

Life McCormick was born on April 17, 1831, in Ithaca, New York. He was the son of Jacob Miller McCormick, a veteran of the War of 1812 and prominent Ithaca resident, and Catherine Conrad. His maternal side was of Dutch ancestry. His paternal great-grandfather was Joseph McCormick, a Scotch-Irish immigrant who lived near the Giants' Causeway in County Antrim and came to America in 1760.

McCormick later moved to New York City, where he intended to practice law, but Augustus Whiton, the superintendent of the Eastern Division of the Erie Railroad, convinced him to accept a position with the Erie Railroad. He would come to work for them for fifteen years. In 1856, he moved to Port Jervis, initially as a fuel agent for the Delaware Division and later as resident engineer and paymaster. He later worked with the freight department in New York City and Chicago.

In 1873, McCormick married Mary Gertrude Broadhead of Port Jervis. Their son Frank died young. McCormick was a member of the Presbyterian church and led the singing for more than 30 years.

McCormick died at home on March 12, 1900. He was buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery.