Bartholomew-Clark-Johnson County IN Archives Biographies.....McCormack, P. H. 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 21, 2007, 10:30 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) HON. P. H. McCORMACK. Among the prominent and influential men of Columbus none rank higher or have had a more active and successful career than has P. H. McCormack, who for over thirty-years has been closely identified with the city's business and social interests, and for the same length of time he has been one of the largest contractors of Indiana. Like many other of Indiana's adopted citizens who have won honorable positions and found fortune within her borders, Mr. McCormack is a native of the Emerald Isle, he having been born near the city of Limerick, County Clare, Ireland, on March 27, 1842. When he was six years old his parents, John and Mary (O'Neal) McCormack, came with their little family to the United States. They settled at Nashville, Tennessee, and in that city lived the balance of their lives, the mother dying there in 1859, at the age of fifty-five years, and the father dying there in 1865, at the age of seventy years. The subject was reared to manhood in Nashville, Tennessee, and received a good education in the schools of that city. At about the age of seventeen years he began an apprenticeship at the marble cutter's trade, and the knowledge of the trade there gained has proved of lasting benefit to him in his subsequent extensive building operations. In 1862, before reaching his majority, Mr. McCormack entered the employ of the federal government on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad and continued in the government service until the close of the Civil war. In 1867 he came to Indiana, locating first at Utica, removing thence in 1869 to Franklin, and locating permanently in Columbus in 1871. He continued bridge building until 1870, after having put up at least twenty bridges in Bartholomew and Johnson counties. In 1871 he began general contracting on a large scale and for over thirty years has been one of the leading contractors of Indiana, during which time he has erected many of the most important public buildings throughout the state, as well as in other states. Among the buildings of especial note he has erected are the following: County jail at Franklin, Indiana; Rose Polytechnic School at Terre Haute, Indiana; court house at Columbus, Indiana; court house at Crawfordsville, Indiana; court house at Ann Arbor, Michigan; court house at Washington, Indiana; court house at Nashville, Indiana; court house at Clarksville, Tennessee; court house at Anderson, Indiana; court house at Rushville, Indiana (one of the finest in the state); the Indiana state asylums for the insane at Evansville and at Logansport; the Indiana state reformatory at Jeffersonville (which is one of the largest and finest penal institutions in the United States). He also erected the St. Denis, the leading hotel of Columbus, of which he is the owner. Ever since he has been a citizen of Columbus Mr. McCormack has taken an active interest in the building up of the city and her industries, and few if any other individuals have done more in this direction than has he. With but few exceptions he has contributed money and time to the project of establishing the present industries of Columbus, many of which he is still interested in. As a public-spirited and progressive citizen, he has long been accorded a place in the front rank by his fellow citizens. Mr. McCormack has long been a leading member of the Democratic party of Indiana and prominent in its organization, especially so in local and district affairs. He has several times been honored by the party by selection for important positions, the duties of which he discharged in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned. In 1880 he was elected to a seat in the Indiana legislature, and was re-elected in 1882, resigning, however, during his second term on account of his large business interests. In 1884 he was a delegate to the Democratic national convention, held at Chicago, and in 1888 he was an unsuccessful candidate before the Democratic state convention for treasurer of state. He has also held membership on both the Democratic state and congressional committees. In his political career he has been guided by his convictions, which he has always been ready to maintain in a fearless manner. Throughout his political life he has given his unreserved support to the grand principles that underlie true Democracy. He has been positive in his beliefs, and has shown marked ability, tact and discrimination as a party leader, traits of character which have given him prestige and influence in the inner circles of his party's organization. As a citizen and man of affairs Mr. McCormack is probably at his best. He is progressive and liberal in his views, always working for the best interests of the community. As a business man he is shrewd and far-seeing, possessing ability more than ordinary, part of which is inborn and the balance the result of his long experience with men and weighty measures. Personally he is by nature genial and affable, kind and sympathetic, a stanch friend, yet a generous foe. He is sincere and strong, in his convictions, and has the happy faculty of making friends and keeping them. In 1868 Mr. McCormack was married to Margaret Clark, a native of Kentucky, and to their union the following children were born: Margaret and Harry. Mrs. McCcrmack died in 1876. In 1877 Mr. McCormack married Margaret Farrall, who was born in Columbus, and to this union children were born as follows: Catharine married Timberman Griffith, of Columbus: Nora, Raymond E. and Anna M. Mr. McCormack is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and is a Knight Templar, having served as eminent commander of Columbus Commandery. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and was the second exalted ruler of that lodge. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/mccormac731gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb