The death of Andrew McCornack on Tuesday morning came as a great surprise and a shock to many friends. Mr. McCornack has suffered from rheumatism for the past two or three months but his friends did not think there was anything more serious. A short time ago he took to his bed and did not rally, passing away early Tuesday morning.

Funeral services were held from the M.E. church this afternoon which was filled to overflowing by friends and citizens. The GAR veterans and the WRO were there in a body, Mr. McCornack having been an officer in the local post for many years. He was accorded a military funeral participated in by the members of the American Legion of Monticello. The casket was covered with beautiful flowers and with Old Glory, a flag that the dead veteran loved beyond everything. For years he has been an honored and most useful member of the M.E. church, serving as Sunday School superintendent for twenty years. He will be greatly missed not only by his immediate family but by a host of friends in this town who knew his worth.

Andrew McCornack was born April 2, 1844 near Elgin, Kane County, Illinois. His parents were John McCornack and Martha Malinda McMillan both of Scotch parentage. If the child is father to a man, I am sure he was a robust lusty. Andrew grew to manhood on his fathers farm, and in August 1862 enlisted in Co. I, 127th Regt. of Illinois Infantry to serve in the great war of the rebellion. He was as good a soldier has he had been a farmer lad.

His regiment was sent to Memphis, Tenn.; and was assigned to Grant’s army under the immediate command of Gen. W.T. Sherman. Here he participated in all the maneuvers and battles of that active, untiring commander.

He helped to dig Grant’s great ditch and was along with Sherman on the expedition to Young’s Point and was in the movement against Vicksburg from start to finish. He was on the skirmish line that drove in the rebel pickets as Grant closed in on the doomed fortress.

It is recorded that Private Andrew McCornack fired the first shot over the walls of Vicksburg, aimed at an officer who was riding along the works. At the first assault on the city young McCornack was a comrade, made himself conspicuous for noble courage and fearlessness by carrying from the field several wounded comrades in the midst of a perfect hail of shot and shell.

May 22nd, preceding the second great assault on the fortress a number of volunteers were called for to lead an assault and McCornack was quick to respond.

Soon after Vicksburg surrendered, Andrew was promoted to sergeant in his company and given a furlough to visit his home.

Congress voted him a “medal of honor” for his conspicuous gallantry. Young McCornack was along with Sherman on that wonderful flanking campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and for one hundred and ten consecutive days was constantly within range of the enemy’s bullets and shells. He marched with Sherman from “Atlanta to the sea” and up through the Carolina’s and Virginia to Washington. His regiment was detailed to forage for the “Army of the Tennessee” and on that great march they reveled in horses and cattle and in the turkeys and sweet potatoes which the old song has made famous.

After the grand review at Washington his regiment was soon mustered out and McCornack returned to his home near Elgin, Illinois. He was a modest man and one would scarcely believe, to look at him, that his young life was so thrilling and wonderful.

Shortly after leaving the army, Andrew, following Horace Greeley’s advice, “went west.” He settled in Monticello, Minn.

On May 8, 1919, Mr. And Mrs. McCornack celebrated their golden wedding which was a most joyful event to all who participated.

All the children except Mrs. Mott of North Dakota, and Mrs. Moulton of Washington, were present at the funeral and two sisters, of of Cleveland, Ohio and the other of Elgin, Illinois.