John Niven McCunn (I45453)
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Personal Facts and Details
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| Birth | 10 December 1858  32 ,Glasgow, Scotland |
| Death of father | 5 March 1862 (Age 3) James McCunn Sr (I45439) (Age approx. 36) - [Relationship Chart] |
| Death of mother | 14 December 1901 (Age 43) Janet Niven (I45440) (Age 75) - [Relationship Chart] |
| Death | 12 January 1936 (Age 77) Ridgefield, ,Connecticut |
| Last Change | 31 January 2007 - 14:54:05 Last changed by: dcoplien |
Notes
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Biographies Union Fox River Valley J H Beers & Co. Chicago 1895 Page 270 JOHN NIVEN McCUNN The sons of Scotia whose suggestive motto "Senco me impune lacessit" emblazons every battle torn banner, are to be found the wide world over, occupying, many of these exalted positions in every sphere of life, in literature, arts and sciences, no less than in the several professions, civil and military; "formost in war, first in peace". The subject of this memoir is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born December 10 1858 of time-honored ancestry. His grandfather McCunn was a sea-faring man and was drowned off the wild and rugged coast of Scotland while acting as pilot on a vessel. His son James, father of our subject was born at Gourock Lanarkshire, Scotland, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner which he successfully followed many years, in the latter days of his life conducting a grocery business; but when he was only thirty six years old, death intervened and deprived his wife of a loving husband, and their four "weanies" of a devoted father. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and of considerable enterprise, upright and conscientious, and a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. His widow, Mrs Janet McCunn, who was a daughter of John and Mary (Kirkwood) Niven, natives of Paisley, Scotland having decided, in her widowhood, to come to America with her little family, set out by the SS "St David" of the Allen Line, in April 1870 (our subject being then about eleven years old). Arriving at Point Live opposite Quebec, Canada on May 6th. From there they came direct to Wisconsin, making their first home in the Western World in Portage County whither James McCunn the oldest son (now a farmer in that County) had preceded them. John N McCunn had received some elementary education in Glasgow and after coming to Wisconsin he attended district school, also the high school at Waupaca, afterwards teaching for a season or so, at the same time keeping up his studies. In 1882 he entered Milton College, intending to take a full collegiate course; but impaired health prevented his completing it. During the Summer of 1883, he visited his old home in Scotland and on his return to Wisconsin he resumed his studies, and again taught school, after which he became general agent for "Johnstons Encyclopedia" his territory covering all Northern Wisconsin, while his headquarters were at Green Bay. In 1887 he bought half interest in the Green Bay Business College and before the expiration of a year he had complete control of the institution to which he was soon enabled to give his exclusive attention. After taking charge he made a complete change in the general economy of the college, among other innovations having added a Shorthand department, and in the Spring of 1888 furnished the rooms with new fixtures etc. In the Spring of 1893, Prof McCunn erected the largest and most expensive college building in the State, exclusively for a business college, it is a three story structure built of red pressed brick, having brown sandstone facing, the entrance being adorned with polished granite pillars basemount being of limestone. The entire building is heated with steam and lighted with electricity, in fact Green Bay Business College is the most thoroughly equipped institution of its kind in the West and as a whole is worthy of the pride of that ambitious city. In 1884 after his return from his visit to Scotland, the above alluded to Prof. McCunn was married in Waupaca to Miss Florence Ida Pipe a native of Waupaca County Wisconsin and daughter of Thomas Pipe, ex Mayor of Waupaca an honored pioneer and business man. To this union were born three children; Ethel May, Florence Verna and Walter Thomas. The mother of these passed from earth January 10, 1889 and in October 1890 our subject married Miss Ada Montgomery, daughter of John Montgomery an extensive farmer of Washington County Penn. where she was born. She was educated in the ladies seminary in Washington PA, after which she taught school in her native County and in the Green Bay Business College one year, by this second marriege of the Professor there is one child now living, Harold Montgomery. Prof. McCunn has been an active and useful citizen of Green Bay ever since coming to the place, and has closely identified himself with it's civic affairs. At the present time serving as a member of the City Council. Socially he is a member of the Business Mens Association, Royal Arcanum, B.P.O.E. and K of P in which he was installed Chancellor Commander in January , 1894. Politically he is a Republican, his first Presidential vote having been cast for Garfield. Green Bay owes much to just such enterprising young men as the subject of the sketch who has brought his young and active life to aid in forming the nucleus around which, in time will cluster the metropolis of Northwestern Wisconsin. In the building up of his Business College alone he has been the success of bringing to Green Bay many enterprising young people who have benefited by the example set them by their upright principal. |
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