 After lingering illness
which confined the deceased to the house for a
number of days during which time the end was
expected by those who are familiar with his
ailing physical strength death came to Hon.
George M. McCormick, better known as Milo
McCormick. The sad event took place at the home
of his son William McCormick, three miles
northeast of Collinsville, to which place he was
taken some weeks ago when his weakness seemed to
be such that he required the closest attention.
Although in poor health for a number of years and
on a number of occasions in that time compelled
to take to his couch for varying periods. Mr.
McCormick was a determined character who refused
to give up and after each illness he would again
insist on appearing on the streets and cheerfully
inform his friends that he was getting better. He
assured them that when spring again put on his
green robes and the earth took on a new vigor
that he would be frisky as a lamb, but the
infirmities of age were too great to overcome and
the worn spirit vacated its tenement of clay and
the soul winged it's light to it's Maker. A long
and useful life has been ended and the hardships
of the campaigns of the Civil War in which Milo
McCormick was an active participant in all
probability contributed not a little to the
shorting of life's span.Mr. McCormick served the people of
Madison County as treasurer in a most efficient
manner for two years from 1894 to 1898 and from
1902 to 1906. He was Senator from this district
in the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth general
assemblies.
George M.
McCormick is one of the honored veterans of the
Civil War who wore the blue in defense of his
country. He proved a valiant soldier faithfully
following the Old Flag for three and one half
years. He had always the same loyalty to his
duties and citizenship.
Mr. McCormick was
born in Clermont County, Ohio in November 1841,
and was the eldest child of Francis A. and Martha
A. McCormick. His parents were natives of the of
the Buckeye state, and there resided until 1856,
when they migrated to Madison county. Six months
later however, they returned to Ohio. In 1863
they again came to Madison county where they
lived until 1866, when they once more returned to
their native state where they continued to live
until called by Death.
Until eighteen
years of age, George McCormick attended the
public schools of Milford, Ohio, and there
acquired a good practical education. Prompted by
patriotic impulses he responded to the country's
call for troops, on August 19, 1861, enlisting
Company C., Second Ohio Infantry.
He was mustered in
at Camp Dennison and served for three years and
one half, being engaged in active duty during a
greater part of the time.
At the battle of
Chickamauga he was knocked senseless by a shell
and was left on the battlefield for dead, and for
over a year many of his comrades knew not that he
was yet among the living. His family also mourned
for him, as dead and had a funeral service
delivered for him at his Ohio home.
After being struck
by the shell it was some time before he regained
consciousness and was then captured by the
Confederate forces and imprisoned at
Andersonville. This was practically a burial so
far as any communication with the outside world
was concerned. He was there incarcerated for
fifteen months after which he was paroled shortly
afterwards and was mustered out at Columbus. He
advanced from private to corporal at the time of
his capture and was in line for further
promotion.
Mr. McCormick had
resided in Madison county continuously since
1867, with the exception of four years spent in
Missouri. He had always been identified with
farming interests and was a large producer of
corn, wheat, potatoes and livestock.
Mr. McCormick was
married on March 4, 1869 to Miss Lucretia Graham.
Their union was blessed with five children, four
of whom are living, being: William I., Wade and
George G. McCormick, of Collinsville and Mrs.
Charles Huskinson of Alton.
The funeral was
held in Collinsville, Wednesday afternoon from
the residence of W. C. Hadley, a long time friend
of the family. The services were under the
auspices of the Masonic fraternity of this city,
of which order the deceased had been an active
member. A large number of county officials and
other friends from Edwardsville and other parts
of the county were present. The Masonic lodge
attended in full regalia and an escort of the
G.A.R. also marched with the remains from the
house to the M. E. Church where Rev. J. H. Ford.
delivered the funeral oration, at the conclusion
of which the remains were taken to Glenwood and
placed at their last resting place. This
community has for years known and loved Milo
McCormick and his presence will be missed by many
who have formed for him a warm attachment in the
many years in which he has been a prominent
citizen, and the bereaved family will have the
sympathy of all in the sorrow which they are
called on to bear.
The state senate
of Illinois in the announcement of the death of
McCormick adjourned out of respect to the memory
of the deceased and passed the following
resolutions:
"Whereas , In
the inevitable course of events, it has happened
that a former honored and esteemed member of this
body, George Milo McCormick, has been called to
that undiscovered country, from which bourne no
traveler returns and
Whereas, by his
integrity, his genial disposition, his unvarying
courtesy and kindly conduct, he endeared himself
to all who knew him therefore be it
Resolved, By the
Senate, that we hereby express our deep regret at
the passing of our dear friend and former
associate, and that we hereby extend to his loved
ones, on whom the burden of his loss will fall
most heavily our heartfelt sympathy in this sad
hour of their bereavement and be it further
Resolved, That as
a mark of esteem to the deceased and our sympathy
for those who remain to mourn his loss, these
resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the
Senate, and a copy of the same, suitably
inscribed be delivered to his family: and be it
further
Resolved, That as
a further mark of respect, that the Senate now
adjourn."
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