New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-09
IOUN MCCULLOUGH DEAD.
THE MAN AND THE ACTOR.
srrrcH OF HIS LIFE AND PROFESSIONAL cAhEh"-
HIS PARTS AND PLAYS.

~ olr,ost any public man OF his time' III many
W, vbercyer the English language Is spoken INC
70 that he IS lying cold in death VIII prlls WIN
.orso Of bitter personal bereavement McCu!-
= ono NJ those actors who speak from the Ho"I'
io"sH -, o,d thus almost without our knowledge
" o Ih,tants of our memories and an abiding por-
onr lives But the personal friends VINO sa" nm
ID rney and loved him as man, could alone Truly
~, how worthy he was TO be honored ana IoNeu' al"
AnO" entirely understand and appreciate the MAJ.
tIo Of the loss that these simple words recall 1neio
,os vanished from this world noble mind most Io'
,n heort strong and gentle spirit, an eXemplar VINO
,,,s cbeered and strengthened; and for many human
,rts NOT only of those who walked side by slde WIN
hin, in the tosome pathway of lie put OF Vnoso "V
from distance looked upon the benehceht power "N
the soothing gentleness OF his character anu MS
h world will be darker and loneler now that he Is seen
and heard more
"T1e made a Heaven about him here,
And took. now much, with him away
John Mccullough was born at place caHeu D'"Ac''
near to the town Of Coeraine, in Londonderry on Tue
of Ireland on 18th Of November 1e3-the
wear that is so memorable IN this century Tor us s'ociA
tion with tho death of great men, His parents "cIo
situated in humble circumstances and were poor. MS
father James Mccullough, was ga small iarIAer' i's
mother Mary died in 1914 leaving her son. Johh' ''I
lad Of twelve and three daughters, Jane mary nv
Elizabeth Their father was unable 10 proNuo lo'
children and shortly after the mothers death they were
lloso to seek their fortune in emigration to America
In the snric of si7 John and his sister Jane came 10
this country and, having cousin named JoAh MeC"'
Tough In Philadelphia they proceeued u 'n"V VIZ
where walking in Front-st., young John saw the 'iN0
of his relative upon sign, and, entering INC HouS'
claimed kindred there ana was Acknowledged 1n'S
cousin was charmaker and in this business ol VA,
making John Mccullough was now empioyeu' ms
father and the sisters Mary and Elizabeth, followed 10
America shortly after this time The father always an
unsuccessful man, but always independent in spirit
worked all the rest of his life as farmer IN inc clsH
borhood OF Philadelphia, seeming to prefer an Au"o
and station and declining to accept ala even
from his SON. in those days of prosperity when pres
entity arrived His death occurred at MOOrcstown, Bur
lngton Comfy New-Jersey in ISIS. Hcis remembers"
as a thin man, much smaller than his distinguished son.
and as speaking with heavy Orogue' lie ou hoV MAIN
Tain intimate relations with his children lie was
faithful worker and an honest man, bat he had no am
lton and he was reticent and imperative cLarGc
ter These ancestral pcculrities are to be noted IN
biography for whatever they may happen to SIGNIFY
Tie sisters Of john Mccullough were al marie" ~
America. Elizabeth his favorito sister, became the
wife Of Mr. Thomas Young and died az Dunino'e' rom
syyauia in 1869 Mary became the wiio OF MI James
smith and died 1t Statingou. in the same state Jane
was married 70 Mr. John WIrth, and she survives hoT
brother and is resident at Dmmorc. John AcC1AoUSh
himself shortly after lie came 70 Philadelphia, mdde
the acouaintanco Of Mss Lcttia McCar, daughter ~
Nj samuel AIcClair of Germantown ana TO her be was
married. April 3, 1919, by wcI-6noWn clergyman
the Rev. Dr Chandler locally somewhat noted
IL those days for the number Of his perform
ances ut the nuPtal altar Two children
we've born Of this marraee-James McCuIousL'
Jalv4, 1850 and William I. Johnson Mccullough DC
cernher2 1860. These two sons Of John McCnIoush
survive and arc living with their mother III PAi'ade'-
ulia Tho second bears tic rame OF
John McCllloughs first and always i'''-'
full and aTectiorate friend who knew
him throughout the struggles Of his early manhood ana
stood by him through an vicssitules TIL the last OF
"llIeronce and decay
When John Mccullough, youth Of fifteen, came 70
America De could read, butho could not WRITE Ae con-"
not pc correctly he had received no education ana A
was in total Ignorance of literature and art Dying AZ
the end Of tliry-eght years since then, he haa Dee
como O man Of large and varied mental ac-
ouiremonta. q scholar in the dramatic pro-
fession, ana tho most conspicuous and successful
heroic actor Of his time on the American stage
such career beginning IN obscure and Ignorant peANy
and ending in culture honorable emineuce prosperity
and permanent famc, is indeed extraordinary and ia
our dramatic annals assuredly must make John Nc
Cuuough memorable one Of the most remarkable men
OF this age.
No ancestor Of his was ever upon the stage Dramatic
faculty however is one OF the peculiar attributes Oh inc
Trsb race In NcCuough It was developed by the acct!
dent OF his meeting with "stagc-struck" workman lA
the shop Of tho Philadelphia charmaer This person,
whose "spoutugs" ana whose general yagares had at
first been suggestive of lunacy, made min acquainted Wth
tie tragedy OF Richard the Third; stimulated n him
q taste for reading Shakespeare; acquainted HIM
with the delights of rehearsal; introduced him al
theatrical society and finally took MN
to the theatre ITSELF The first dramatic
performance that he ever witnessed was. according to
his own best recollection, performance Of sMcIs
tragedy OF The Ap1state and 1t occurred IN the old
Arch street Theatre, in Philadelphia From this time
onward he read with aydity every play that he could
obtain; and, without the distinct Intention OF becoming
an actor-probably with no view whatever 20 the tut
ure but only natural relish for this pur'uitde-
voted his lie and thought to the study OF acting. One
Of his first steps toward the taken at this june
ture, was his anuatlon with THE BOOthcuiau ORA
matte Association" OF Philadelphia, local club which
held its meetings and gave its performances In the
fourth story OF an abandoned warehouse once sugar
refinery, and Of which the principal spirit at this
period was Mr.. Lemue r. eheweu, IN later years All
actor we'll known upon our stage throughout the cities
on the eastern sea-Doard Of America. Mccullough
took lessons III elecutiOn at this time, from
MI Lemuel White distinguished teacher Oh t.Hs
art; and no the house Of this gentleman he
met and became acquainted with the friend Of his
youth who has already been mentioned Mr.. william L.
johnson from whom he received not only sympathy but
il's ClIon, anu ne Sn - l,,iicd Ii th
education 10 ever his lot to receive. By
this adviser and cpmradc his mind was
tbe sce One OF HE books that he reid wa C,rbrrs's
Encyclopedia OF FL lish Literature, and Ia less than
month he had absorbed the whole Of IT, becoming 80
familiar with its contents that Ac could drscaut the
British Authors as II he had been trained for nothing
else-so eager was his zeal for knowledge and re-
tentiye was the memory Ia which he stored It,
BEGINNING HIS THEATRICAL CAREER.
McCulOugh's theatrical career, beginning IN 1857 and
ending l5s4 covered period OF tweuty-soveu years
His first engagement was made at the Arch Street
Theatre Philadelphia, under the management OF Will
lam wheatIey John Drew, ana his first appearance
thoro was made August 10. 1-j7 IN the little part Of
Thomas in "Thc Bellies Straagem.' His rise In the
dramatic profession gradual continuous, wen won
and well deserved In the early days Of tho American
stage It was far moro dicu 10 win position than II Is
in these times OF speculative theatrical management
when all the arts Of advertising pressed into the
business OF manufacturing fame. Every step OF the way
had then TO be made with toilsome effort There were
rnarr nstncIea 10 hn snrmnmned and many hard.hIps