The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-07-21
John McKune, Four Year Veteran of Civil War,
Meets Instant Death When Accidentally
Struck by Flyer.
SAW LEES SURRENDER TO GRANT
Victim Was Veteran of Fiercest Fighting at Vcksburg
Shiloh, Richmond and Appomattox-Cast
First Vote for Lincoln.

was on the track and the engine wasj
almost on him. Then he seemed to be /
straining to get off, but couldn't. til
was as if he was paralyzed or glued to
the spot. He wanted to cross but he's
couldn't"
The boys substantiated Mr.. McGill's
story and added that Mr.. McKuns
seemed confused or absent-minded."
Find Clippings in Pocket.
The boys statement is given added
color of truth by the fact that papers
were found in the veterans pocket
which seemed to indicate that he was
absorbed in new plans for his business.
They included scores of newspaper
clippings announcing his renewal Of
relations with the Kimball Piano COM
pany, with which he has been associ-
ated for more than forty years. Dur
ing the war the shortage of pianos had
forced him to give up the agency but
not his allegiance to the firm. He con-
tinued on their waiting-list and only
last week was informed that he had
been re-instated among their statesmen
and might hang out @the new sign" in
front Of the old piano shop.
"He was undoubtedly thinking about
that when he walked into the path Of
the train" Grand Army man com
FasnEed sis corning; "asyone who
went through four years Of open war
fare with General Grant wasn't afraid
of the little life that was left to him
even with hard times behind him and
shortening days ahead"
And Coroner Parker confirmed the
veterans judgment by handing down a
verdict of accidental death"
Four Years With Grant.
"Old John McKune," as he was
known to everyone, white and black, in
Kenosha, was one of the city's1 most
interesting personalities. A four-year
man in the Civil War, pioneer piano
salesman in Wisconsin, a genial politi-
cian of the old school, which still drew
it's slogans from the Blaine campaign,
he was not an individual but an insti-
tuition, standing staunchly for non-sec-
taRianism in national life and high in
tegrity in personal life. His most
characteristic remark was "Rum Has
Ruined Kenosha."
He was born in Brighton, December
! 8, 1912, the son of Cornelius and Mary
BIhdley McKune, the one from Dublin
the other from County Donegal. AS a
boy he was sturdy and determined,
which accounts for the fact that he
| left home to shift for himself when he
was not yet sixteen years old.
After several months as a cabin-boy
on the Mississippi he enlisted with Che
9Th Missouri Zouaves and served under
Grant at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and
| Vicksburg. In the fierce fighting
around the latter city his unit was cut
/ to pieces and he was invalided back to
Wisconsin. Restless as long as the
big fight was on and he wasn't in it, he
re-enlisted with the 9th New York and
went with Grant through Richmond to
Appomatox, where he witnessed the
surrender of General Lee.
Following the war he came back to
Kenosha and took up farming on his
fathers place near Brighton.
Veteran Piano Salesman.
In the early seventies he gave up
agriculture to sell farm machinery.
From this he turned to the sale of sew
ing machines, organs and pianos, which
he continued strenuously, successfully
until the accident Of Tuesday evening.
He was held in the highest esteem by
the Kimball company, with which he
was connected for almost half a cen
fury.
He was an ardent Mason and was at
one time very prominent in politics;
in fact, mention was recently made in
the News of his candidacy for sheriff
twenty-five years ago this spring.
On January Z, 1868, he married Miss
Mary Mccormick of Brighton, who sur
wives him and is near prostration with
grief over the accident which caused
his death. To this union seven chill
dren were born. three of whom are still
living: Mrs. A. B. Clifford, Racine;
Conrad McKune and Miss Alice Nc
Kune. both of Kenosha. Other sur
vivors are a sister, Mrs. Ellen Early Of
Chicago, and three grandchildren, Da-
vid Clifford of Racine, and Marion and
John McKune Of Kenosha.
Orders VIII Conduct Funeral
Although final funeral arrangements
have not as yet been made, it is con-
sidered probable that it will be held
at either the Hansen mortuary on Park
avenue or at the McKune home, 349
Lincoln street. Both the Grand Army
and the Masonic lodge will have large
delegations at the funeral to par%s
ticipate in the obsequies for their COM
rade. brother and friend.