James S. McCullough

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: HARVEY, MCCULLOUGH, SEYLAR

JAMES S. McCULLOUGH. Few counties possess a set of officials so popular as those of Champaign. The persons who fill the county offices, besides being men of honor and integrity, are gentlemen, whose social feelings and generous instincts have won them a warm place in the affections of the people of the county. None will gainsay that this is not true of James S. McCULLOUGH. The family with which Mr. McCullough is connected is one of the oldest in the United States. On his father's side he is of Scotch-Irish blood. The family became residents of the then colony of Delaware, long prior to the Revolutionary war, and settled in New Castle county; they subsequently removed to Cumberland, Pa., and settled at what was then known by the name of Conococheague settlement; it is now embraced in the county of Franklin. Here the father of John McCULLOUGH, the great- grandfather of James S, made a purchase of a tract of land, at sheriff's sale, about a year before what was generally termed Braddock's war. Shortly after the commencement of the war he removed his family to York county, where he remained until the spring of 1756. Soon thereafter they were alarmed by the Indian depredations in the neighborhood, and fled down to Antietam settlement.

On the 26th of July, 1756, the family returned to their former home, to gather a crop of flax. Their plantation was near Fort Loudon. John McCullough was eight years old at the time of which we write, and with a younger brother, five years of age. During the absence of their parents from the house, they were captured by a roving party of five Indians and one Frenchman, and carried into captivity. The privations and suffering they endured was great; he was compelled to undergo frequent punishments from the hands of his captors. Years after Col. Bouquet, with an army, invaded the Indian country, and soon after effected a peace with them, one of the terms of which was that the Indians should surrender all their prisoners, at that time numbering near two hundred souls, held by the Delawares and Shawanese tribes. They were finally delivered up and sent under strong guard to Pittsburg.

Young McCullough was taken home to gladden the hearts of his parents by one John Martin, who lived but a short distance from the residence of his father. He got home about the middle of December, 1764, having been in captivity eight years, four mouths and sixteen days. Previous to his return his father had sold the old plantation and purchased another place about four miles distant, upon which John McCullough was content to reside until his death. He raised a large family, became a useful citizen and a valued member of society.

James S. McCullough was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, May 4th, 1843. He is the eldest of nine children of Alexander W. and Elizabeth (SEYLAR) McCULLOUGH.

Alexander McCullough is also a native of the above county and state. In April, 1854, he removed with his family to Champaign county, Illinois, and engaged in farming, and is still living.

In August, 1862 James S. enlisted in company G, 76th regiment Illinois volunteers. They were mustered in at Kankakee, and immediately thereafter proceeded to the seat of war; they formed a part of the 2d brigade, 4th division, 16th corps, under command of Gen. Hurlburt. Afterwards served under the brave and gallant McPherson. He participated in all the battles in which the 76th regiment was engaged. He was wounded in the left arm at the battle of Fort Blakely in April, 1865. His arm was amputated the evening after the fight.

He was honorably discharged at Mound City, Illinois in July, 1865, and returned home. The September following he became a student in the High School of Urbana, and in 1867 he matriculated in the Illinois Soldiers' College at Fulton, Illinois; remained there about a year and a half; returned home, and in August, 1868, became a deputy in the county clerk's office during Capt. Clark's term; was also deputy during the incumbency of John V. Shuck. In November, 1873, Mr. McCullough was elected county clerk, without opposition, and re-elected in 1877, and is the present incumbent. In politics he is a Republican.

On the 26th of April, 1869, he was married to Miss Celinda HARVEY, the daughter of M. D. HARVEY, an old resident of Urbana; two children have blest their union, a son and daughter.