Saginaw Daily Courier – May 6, 1892 (Page 3)
OBITUARY.
-------
James J. McCormick.
-------
We are pained to announce the death of one of the oldest residents of the Saginaw Valley, Hon. James J. McCormick, which sad event took place at Bay City, Monday morning, Nov. 25th. Mr. McCormick had been ailing for some months and for a couple of weeks past had been seriously ill. Sunday's Journal, however, announced his improvement and when on Monday the new was communicated from one to another that he had passed away, the intelligence was received with incredulity. We learn that he arose and dressed himself; a short time before his discease, and remarked that he felt much better. It was but a few minutes, however, before he was taken with a fainting fit, and within ten minutes was a corpse.
Mr. McCormick was one of the oldest settlers in the valley, having emigrated to Michigan and taken up his residence in the Saginaw county about the year 1837 or '38. In 1840 he engaged in the manufacture of lumber, in which business he has continued until within a year past. We believe that there is now no one engaged in the lumber business in our valley, who can trace back to the commencement at so early a date. Mr. McCormick has proved an energetic and successful business man, and his enterprising spirit is shown in such substantial monuments as the elegant block on Water street which bears his name, the beautiful opera house, one-third of which was erected by him, and his own magnificent dwelling near the southern limit of the city. In the year 1860, Mr. McCormick was elected Mayor of Bay City, a position he filled with honor to the city and credit to himself.
As a Free Mason and Knight Templar Mr. McCormick was well known as one of the most earnest and enthusiastic among the membership, and his memory will ever remain green in the hearts of his brethren. The fraternity is indebted to his foresight and enterprise for the beautiful and commodious hall occupied by Bay City Lodge, Chapter and Commandry.
We trust ere we go to press, to be able to announce the time and date of the funeral obsequies, which will be conducted under the auspices of Bay City Commandry Knights Templar and will no doubt be attended by a large number of our citizens.
Since writing the above we learn that the funeral will be held on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. We have heard it suggested that an attendance of a large number of old residents of the Valley would be highly appropriate, and gratifying to the friends of the deceased.
