John Andrew McCormick (1842 - 1921)

Born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1842. At age 11 his family emigrated to Chicago in the area of what is now downtown Chicago, on what is now land owned by University of Chicago. There his father roped cattle on a farm. At age 16, the family all moved to Paw Paw, IL (1858).

In this country, his family name changed from Cormac to McCormick.

In 1859, at the request of his father he went to Texas to look for a sister, Julia (Jude) McCormick Handrahan. The 1860 Census finds him, age 18, and his brother Patrick, age 24, working on the farm of Patrick Lalway (located south of Shabbona).

But after the Civil War broke out he fled home from Texas back to Illinois. On August 16, 1862, he enlisted for the War at Dixon, IL. He was 20 and a farmer when he and his brother, Thomas age 23, joined the 105th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment which mustered into federal service on September 2, 1862. The roster of Company E reflects that John was 5 ft. 6-1/2 inches tall, had dark hair and dark eyes. When he mustered out on June 7, 1865, John probably already suffered from hemorrhoids, a numb left side, and a problem right ankle.

Following his service in the army, he worked more than four years before marrying Julia Cargan in 1870. They purchased a farm adjacent to his parents farm, near what is now Leland Road. In 1871, word was received that the CB&Q Railroad was coming to Shabbona, so John built the first hotel in the village in 1872, where he lived and worked, with his family also living in the hotel. In 1877 the hotel was heavily damaged by fire. Thanks to an insurance policy a second hotel was built, and a house was built nearby where the family lived. That house still stands today.

More about the hotel in Shabbona as told by a daughter: The railroad men, and travelers having to wait to catch other trains, ate and slept in the hotel. There was a long, narrow porch across the front, and an office, a counter behind which was a cabinet which held cigars and tobacco and oil lamps for each room. A round table was used for card games, and in the sitting room (or parlor) was a set of bookcases with glass doors and a drawer at the bottom which held books the travelers could borrow during their stay. "Mother's fondest wish had been to see the day when they would be out of the hotel, because father always ate with the men at the hotel, and we ate when we could. She wanted us to be a family again." (as told by daughter Martha McCormick McMenamin, 1975, at Pine Acres Nursing Home, DeKalb, IL) After the first hotel sustained fire damage on March 21, 1877, the family built a large house near the new hotel. "Mother", Julia Cargan McCormick, died in 1889 in childbirth (her 9th) at age 44.

As he aged, John's medical conditions worsened. By the early 1900's, he suffered from severe rheumatism, a bad back, and an almost useless right ankle and foot. He needed a cane to walk and could barely get out of a chair alone. During the winter months, he would spend weeks in bed with hemorroids (piles). Later, a modular tumor was diagnosed in his left thorax and he developed valvular heart disease. In 1911, John's monthly Army pension came to $ 24.00.

After the war, he settled in Shabbona, IL, as one of its pioneers. There he was a hotel proprietor, was in the livestock business after his wife, Julia Cargan, passed away in 1889, and was a leading citizen. He was Commander of Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Post No. 463 when he died in 1921 at age 79.

From "Portrait and Biographical Album", DeKalb County, Illinois, 1883:

“John A. McCormick, proprietor of the Shabbona House and dealer in live stock, is a Native of Ireland. He was born in the County of Tipperary, May 7, 1842. His parents, Daniel and Mary (Farrell) McCormick, emigrated with their family to Upper Canada in 1853; in 1855 they removed to Chicago; in the spring of 1859 to Paw Paw Township, this county, and the following year John A. went to Texas, where he was employed at railroading, at Galveston and near Houston.

In the Spring of 1861, after the breaking out of the late war, he made his escape to the North, returning to his home. In August, 1862, at Shabbona, he enlisted as a Private in Co. E, 105th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was attached to the Army of the Cumberland under Gen Thomas, and was in all the engagements participated in by his Company until he was discharged, at the expiration of his term of enlistment, in June, 1865.

He then engaged in farming in Clinton Township, this county, until December, 1872, when he came to Shabbona and erected the “Shabbona House,” which he has conducted as a hotel to this date. Although it is the only hotel in the place it is well kept, and the proprietor succeeds well in his business as landlord.

Mr. McCormick was married at Aurora, Ill., April 24, 1870, to Miss Julia Cargan, daughter of James and Bridget (Lalway) Cargan. She was born in the county of Meath, Ireland, Aug 23, 1845, and emigrated to America with her uncle, Peter Lalway, in 1858. They have a family of six children living, all girls, viz. Mary Elizabeth born in Clinton Township, DeKalb County, Ill., Feb. 16, 1871; Nellie, same place, Sept 12, 1872; Teresa, born May 13, 1874, died five days afterward; Eva, born Feb. 9, 1876, at Shabbona; Lucy born March 10, 1879, died Aug. 31, following; Kate, born May 10, 1880; Martha, Dec. 23, 1882, at Shabbona; and Julia, same place, Feb. 3, 1884.

Mr. McCormick is a member of the Village Board of Trustees, and an officer of T. S. Terry Post; No. 463, G. A. R. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion both himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church.”

Enlisted along with his brother Thomas, on the same day together, on 13 Aug 1862, for the Civil War at Dixon, IL, into: Company E, 105th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. M. V. Allen and Col. Daniel Diesten, to serve three years.

The history of the 105th Regiment Infantry, and his involvement is as such:

Organized at Dixon, IL and mustered in, 2 Sep 1862, as a Private of Company "E" Moved from Dixon to Camp Douglas, IL 8 Sep 1862 Thence to Louisville, KY 30 Sep - 2 Oct 1862

Attached to Ward's Brigade, Dumont's 12th Division, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862 Ward's Brigade, Post of Gallatin, TN, Dept of the Cumberland, to June 1863 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Reserve Corps, Dept of the Cumberland, to August 1863 Ward's Brigade, Post of Nashville, TN, Dept of the Cumberland, to January 1864 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April 1864 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland and Army of Georgia, to June 1865

Service / Battles:

08 - 13 May 1864 Demonstrations on Resaca, Georgia, 14 - 16 May 1864 Battle of Resaca, Georgia 19 May 1864 Cassville 23 - 25 May 1864 Advance on Dallas 25 May 1864 Burnt Hickory

Operations about line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Altoona Hills: 26 - 29 May 1864 Dallas, GA 26 - 29 May 1864 New Hope Church, GA 02 - 06 Jun 1864 Allatoona Hills Battle

10 June - 2 July 1864 Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain: 11 - 14 June 1864 Pine Hill, GA 15 - 17 June 1864 Lost Mountain 15 June 1864 Gilga or Golgatha Church, GA 17 June 1864 Muddy Creek 19 June 1864 Noyes Creek 22 June 1864 Kolb's Farm 27 June 1864 Assault on Kenesaw Mountain

03 July 1864 Marietta, GA 04 July 1864 Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground 05 - 17 July 1864 Chattahootchie River 19 - 20 July 1864 Peach Tree Creek, Georgia 22 Jul - 25 Aug Siege of Atlanta 26 Aug - 2 Sep Occupation of Chatahootchie River Bridge 02 Sep - 13 Nov 1864 Occupation of Atlanta

15 Nov - 10 Dec 1864 Sherman's March to the Sea 10 - 20 Dec 1864 Seige of / Engaged at Savannah

29 Jan - 24 Apr 1865 Campaign of the Carolinas, including; 03 Jan 1865 Near Hardeesville, S.C. 02 Feb 1865 Lawtonville, S.C. 03 - 05 Feb Salkahatchie 21 Feb 1865 Winsboro, S.C. 11 Mar 1865 ???? Battle

15 - 16 Mar 1865 Averysboro, Taylor's Hole Creek, N.C. (lost 6 killed, 16 wounded) 19 - 21 Mar 1865 Battle of Bentonville, N.C. 24 Mar 1865 Occupation of Goldsboro, N.C.

Advance on Raleigh: 10 - 14 Apr 1865 Raleigh, North Carolina 26 April 1865 Bennett's House

Surrender of Johnston and his Army

29 Apr - 19 May 65 March to Washington, D.C. via Richmond, Virginia 24 May 1865 Took part, Grand Review, Washington, D.C., military pageant

7 Jun 1865 Mustered out, Washington, D.C. 17 July 1865 Discharged, Chicago, Illinois

For many years following the War, John, and his brother, Thomas, were proud members of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).

OBITUARY:

John A. McCormick was born May 7, 1842, in the County of Tipperary, Ireland. He died at Shabbona, February 9, 1921. He was eleven years old when his parents emigrated to Canada. Six years later he settled with his parents in Paw Paw Township, DeKaIb County. The following year he went to Texas, where he was employed when the Civil War broke out. He made his escape to the north and in 1862 enlisted in Company “E” 105th. Illinois Voluntary Infantry. He served three years in the army, being in Sherman's March to the sea.

After the war he engaged in farming in Clinton Township. He was married to Miss Julia Cargan and settled in Shabbona as one of its pioneers in 1872. He conducted a hotel here for some twenty years and was also engaged in the livestock business. Mrs. McCormick died in 1889. Mr. McCormick was a member of the T. S. Terry Post No. 463, G. A. R., of which he was commander at the time of his death.

He leaves five daughters: Elizabeth, of Shabbona; Evelyn, Julia and Mrs. John O’Connor of Chicago; Mrs. John McMenamin of DeKalb. The funeral was held at St James Church, Lee, at 10 a. m. February 11, interment at Calvary Cemetery.

Few of the pioneers of this community enjoyed a wider acquaintance than Mr. McCormick. His genial, friendly temperament made him exceedingiy popular among his towns people, while the business in which he was engaged so many years was the means of extending his acquainlance far and wide.

He always took great interest in the growth and development of Shabbona and never tired of relating experiences concerning the early history of the town. He was an exceedingly well read man and very loyal to his country, as he was likewise in domestic and friendly relations. None who knew him well can forget the great interest with which he followed the maneuvers of the late war, nor his many characteristic and forceful comments upon autocracy and imperialism. He was a true blue American whom we should hold in grateful memory.