This harvester was built by McDonald & Co., which in its heyday was the largest manufacturing company west of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1847 by Angus McDonald, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, and Alexander Laughlin, the company produced a variety of agricultural machinery, from plows and threshing machines to reapers and mowers, all sold under the Wooster brand, like this Wooster Clover Huller. The firm’s manufacturing plant, warehouse, and offices were located on South Walnut Street between West Liberty and South streets, where the main branch of the Wayne County Public Library is now located. The plant covered five acres and employed 200 men. In 1871 it produced more than 2,500 machines.
The impact of a severe recession that began in 1873, coupled with a lack of working capital, high debt load, and a long-running patent lawsuit that was ultimately decided against McDonald & Co. in 1874, led the firm into insolvency in 1875.
This particular Wooster Clover Huller is most likely the only one left in existence. It was given to the Wayne County Historical Society of Ohio by George D. Ewing, of Millersburg, Ohio in May of 1975.
