Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....McCall, James 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 8:08 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

JAMES McCALL.

The business of mining seems to be a good developer of manhood and of men. 
There have been some shining examples of this, and in all of the coal fields 
of America there have been many, less conspicuous individually, but in the 
aggregate confirming this statement incontrovertibly. In nearly every mining 
town in Illinois men have come to the front in public affairs. They have made 
their advent in the towns and earned their living and won the respect of their 
fellow citizens as wielders of the pick and shovel. Such a progressive miner 
is the gentleman whose name appears above.

James McCall, justice of the peace at Braceville, Illinois, and a well known 
citizen of Grundy county, was born in county Antrim, in the north of Ireland, 
July 8, 1838, a son of William and Alice (Lindsay) McCall. His parents never 
came to America, but lived and died in Ireland. His maternal grandmother, 
Agnes Loughen, came to America when she was ninety years of age, to spend her 
last days with her children, all of whom had come across the ocean except her 
daughter, Mrs. McCall. She died at the home of her son, Samuel Lindsay, at 
Cherry Valley, New York, at the great age of one hundred and eight years.

When the subject of this sketch was about fourteen years old, he went to 
Scotland and engaged in coal mining and continued in that occupation there 
until 1865. He married Mary English in 1863. In 1865, thinking to better his 
condition, he determined to come to America. He accordingly crossed the 
Atlantic to Nova Scotia, and for two years was steward on a vessel called the 
King of Tyre. His wife had remained in Scotland, and in 1867 he returned to 
that country. But in 1879 he came back, and went to Morris Run, Tioga county, 
Pennsylvania, where he engaged in his former business of coal mining. He 
removed thence to Coal Creek, Fountain county, Indiana, and from there in 1880 
to Braceville, Grundy county, where he has since resided, and where for some 
years he was employed in the coal mines.

Mr. McCall has served as justice of the peace since 1896 and has discharged 
his duties with honor arid credit. In his native country he belonged to the 
Conservative or Tory party in politics and since coming to America he has 
affiliated with the Democratic party, with which he has been in full accord. 
In all ways he commands the respect of his fellow citizens. He has shown 
himself industrious, honest, persevering and capable in business affairs. 
Every trust confided to him has been met so well and faithfully as to increase 
the esteem in which he has always been held by those who have known him and 
been familiar with his opportunities and the manner in which he has improved 
them.

Mr. and Mrs. McCall have seven children, two sons and five daughters; the 
eldest daughter, Jane, is the wife of George Gray. Alice is the wife of George 
Powers. Mamie is the wife of Lewis Ackerman. The other daughters are Lizzie 
and Agnes. The sons are named James and David McCall. Two other sons, William 
and Samuel, are dead. David McCall is a brakeman on the Northwestern Railroad. 
In a wreck of a freight train, caused by the breaking of a wheel, sixteen cars 
telescoped, and David was thrown from the head car of the train over the top 
of a telegraph pole, and after this high flight and heavy fall, escaped with 
but few bruises. It was a marvelous escape, especially as he weighs one 
hundred and seventy-five pounds. Socially the McCalls are favorites wherever 
they are known. Of sterling character which inspires confidence, they possess 
a hearty geniality that is winning and exhibit a real sympathy for the 
troubles of others that has won them numerous friends.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p704-706

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