OBITUARY.
Judge John H. McCunn.
John H. McCunn, until recently a Judge
in the Superior Court, died suddenly, yesterday
morning at his residence, No. 208 West Twenty-
first-street. The event, when announced, pro-
duced a profound impression in the City, as Mr.
McCunn's removal from office had been so re-
cent. It appears that he returned home from
the State Capital on Wednesday night much
fatigued by the heat and his journey, being also
exceedingly excited mentally over the action of
the Senate in finding him guilty of malconduct
and malfeasance in office, and voting for his re-
moval from the Bench.
He expressed the opinion to his family "that
he would not live through the trial he was being
subjected to, and thought that he had been cru-
elly treated." He walked his room during a
great portion of the night, but at last was com-
pelled to go to his bed, an attack of pneumonia
having completely prostrated him. He
talked to his brother-in-law, Dr. Gano,
incessantly about his "disgrace," and it was
noticed with alarm by his friends
that he was rapidly growing worse.
He remained in bed all day Thursday and
Friday, and in the evening of the latter
day becoming very restless. This con-
dition continued until about 4 o'clock yester-
day morning, when the patient dropped
into a gentle slumber. Dr. Gano, who had been
in attendance, then left him for half an hour,
and on his return found him dead. His wife
and family, to whom he was greatly attached,
were in great distress at his sudden death, and
when the event became known his residence
was visited by a large number of his friends
and acquaintances.
John McCunn was born in Londonderry Coun-
ty, Ireland, in 1825, and was in his fifty-seventh
year of his age when he died. He was a self-
made man, his life being a somewhat remarka-
ble one. When a child he conceived a fondness
for a sailor's life, and at a very early age
shipped on board the ship Ironsides, and landed
in New-York in 1841, at the age of
sixteen years, without money or friends.
He could find nothing to do in this City, so pro-
ceeded to Philadelphia, and entered himself as
an apprentice to the cabinet-making trade. A
few years after he came back to New-York, and
worked at the business he had partly learned.
It did not suit his restless disposition, and as he
aimed at something higher, he determined to be-
come a lawyer. He accordingly called upon Mr.
Charles O'Conor, at that time a member of the
firm of Boardman & Benedict, and stated the
object of his visit. Mr. O'Conor, being im-
pressed by the young man, gave him a situation
as a messenger in his office, and afterward
took an interest in his advancement.
Having picked up a slight knowledge of law in
Mr. O'Conor's office he was admitted to practice
at the New-York Bar at the age of twenty-one.
When about twenty-three years of age he form-
ed a co-partnership with Mr. James Moncrief,
which partnership continued for several years
to the satisfaction of both parties, the business
of the firm being principally confined
to matters connected with commercial
and real estate transactions. Mr. McCunn
about this time became interested in politics, on
the Democratic side, with the object of securing
the position of Superior Court Judge. The
chances of his nomination appearing doubtful,
he threw the weight of his influence in favor of
his partner, Mr. Moncrief, who received the nom-
ination, and was elected. Mr. McCunn then
organized a new firm under the title of McCunn,
Swartout & Fine, and attached himself to the
Tammany Hall party, which subsequently
gave him the nomination for City Judge, and
he was elected to that office in 1860. He held
the position for three years. When the war be-
gan he left for Washington with the
Sixty-ninth Regiment as a Captain of
Engineers. Subsequently he obtained a com-
mission as Colonel of the Thirty-seventh Regi-
ment New-York Volunteers, which command he
recruited himself in this City. He behaved
with gallantry at Malvern Hills, and was bre-
vetted a Brigadier-General. Having made some
disrespectful remarks about his commanding
officer, he was ordered to be court-martialed,
which he avoided by resigning. Gen. McClellan
then issued a general order prohibiting him
from ever entering the lines of the army. He
was nominated by Tammany Hall in 1863 for
Judge of the Superior Court, and was elected,
taking his seat Jan. 1, 1864. He was re-elected
in 1870, holding the position until the 2d inst.,
when he was removed. In person Mr. McCunn
was agreeable and popular with the rougher
classes of society, being always anxious to keep
them favorable to him. As a politician, he was
mistrusted, even by those with whom he
labored.
Maintained by
Sue Greenhagen.
E-mail:
greenhsh@morrisville.edu