McCormick, N. B., lawyer and member of Congress, was born in Fayette county, Pa., Nov. 20, 1847 and reared upon a farm. He received his education in the public schools of his native county, where he lived until twenty years of age. In 1867 he decided to start in life for himself and came west. He first took up land in Marion county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and stock raising, until 1877, when he removed to Phillips county, Kan., and settled upon a homestead. His great ambition was to become a lawyer and he began to read law while farming for a living. In 1882 he was admitted to the bar and within a short time formed a partnership with S. W. McElroy, under whom he served as deputy county attorney for four years. He was elected county attorney of Phillips county in 1890 and reëlected in 1892, serving in that capacity four years, but refused a third nomination. In 1896 he was nominated for Congress by the Populist party and elected. After serving one term in Congress he retired from politics and gave his attention to his law practice.