David McCullough
On Thursday morning, July 3d., 1884, in his 75th. year, at his residence on East Market Street, passed away from earth one who for over sixty-two years has been a resident of Mansfield -- Judge David McCullough. The demise of this old citizen demands at our hands more than a passing notice. Very few are left who were his contemporaries in 1822. If numbered they would scarcely exceed a score. His long continued residence, however, is by no means the best reason why THE HERALD regards it its duty to chronicle, at some length, his life and death. David McCullough was an affectionate husband, a kind father, a genial companion, an excellent citizen, and an honest man, and in all these varied relations he was loved, respected and honored. He came to Mansfield a lad, with very meager advantages or opportunities for education, and in his youth was set to work to acquire a trade, and thereafter carried on the business of tailoring for a great many years. In that business, as in everything else, he was neat, tasty, artistic to a degree that gave him prominence, not only in Mansfield, but throughout the county. On his marriage to Miss Catherine Tomlinson he established his home on the lot where he died. As the years came on a large family of thirteen children were born, and David McCullough practiced the economy, industry, and pursued his business with energy, so as to raise and properly educate his children; and never was there a father blessed with greater love than his daughters and sons bore him. The family circle was for many years unbroken by death, and the Judge would grow more cheery as he spoke of his baker's dozen around the family hearth stone. Then came the time when, one by one, the daughters were married and went out from the home circle, and nothing gave him more pleasure as they established their homes, than to visit first one and then another of his children. For many years husband and wife traveled life's way together, but in 1878, Mrs. McCullough was stricken with disease and death, and to relieve the sense of loneliness the Judge thereafter more frequently visited his children and remained with them for longer intervals of time; and so, as his children were in the far West and Southwest, opportunity was given him to see much of the Western country; but he invariably after a time turned his face eastward and sought the home of his youth. In truth, one of his strong traits of character was love for his old friends. In 1849 he was elected by the 46th. General Assembly of Ohio, an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county, and sat on the bench with Judge Stewart, Judge Barr and Judge Chew, and relinquished the office after the adoption of the present Constitution of the State. In 1855 he was elected County Treasurer and served for one term in that very responsible official position. For many years his party affiliations were in the old Democratic party, but on the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks, and was an active promoter of its principles. There was some thing very genial and attractive in our friend. When the younger man, prior to the Mexican War, he was active in the military organizations of our then growing town, and commanded the "Mansfield Blues" and independent company organized by Samuel R. Curtis, after his graduation at West Point, the same person who was Major General Curtis in the War of the Rebellion. There was much music in the soul of Judge McCullough and its outward manifestations were many. He was a member of the first band ever organized in Mansfield, and when the writer was a lad, he frequently heard David McCullough, Ezekiel Stokes and others making the air harmonious with the sweet melody of their voices. For many years he was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and his funeral obsequies were solemnized at Grace Church, on July 4th., at 4 o'clock p.m. Would that time and space permitted us to say more of our friend. For many years an active member of the Masonic Brotherhood, his whole life was one of fraternity with his fellow men, ever ready and always willing to do any duty required of our common humanity. He lived long, served his Maker, and loved his fellow man. Hail and Farewell. VERY SAD - Mr. M.W. Fleming, of Richmond, Ind., one of the sons-in-law of Judge McCullough, reached Mansfield, Thursday evening about 10 o'clock, and having saluted his wife with a kiss, turned to the window, when hemorrhage of the lungs occurred, and in a few moments, to the horror of his friends, Mr. Fleming bled to death. The next morning the body of the deceased, accompanied by his heart-broken wife, was transported to Richmond for burial.
From the Mansfield Herald, July 10, 1884, Vol. 34, No. 34