MCDERMOTT, Augustin Sylvester

MCDERMOTT, Augustin Sylvester. (Dubuque, IA, Sept. 18, 1834--Dubuque, IA, July 6, 1906). First white male born in Dubuque. McDermott farmed until 1854, when he came to Dubuque and learned the carpenter's trade. On the 5th of June, 1855, he left the city and traveled to Rice County, Minnesota with a squad of men under Gen. James Shields. They founded a trading post and engaged in trading with the Indians all through the country as far up as Lake Superior. McDermott remained in Minnesota until the fall of l857, when he returned to Dubuque.

On March 1, 1864 he left Dubuque and crossed the plains to Virginia City, Nevada where he arrived on July 10th. He was involved in gold mining until October 15th when he crossed the mountains into Idaho and made his way to Idaho City. There he opened a carpenter shop. Later he traveled through Oregon, Washington, California and British America.

On October 31, 1866, he returned to Dubuque and resumed farming until 1881.

In the spring of 1881, McDermott formed a partnership with James MCCANN. They sold agricultural implements until McCann was elected Sheriff of Dubuque County. The partnership was then discontinued. Mr. McDermott was alone in business until 1893 when he was joined by Thomas F. Biggins to establish the firm of McDermott & Biggins.

The McDermott Cultivator: Image courtesy: http://the8words.com/?attachment_id=743

In 1871 McDermott patented the McDermott Cultivator and began their manufacture. One of the organizers of the McDermott Cultivator Company, he continued to improve his machine and as early as 1868 had attached a spring to the cultivator which he patented. He was also issued several other patents.

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Source:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1894, p. 182

Irish in Iowa. Online: http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/irelandbios13.htm#mcdermott