The following biography of John Franklin McCarney was published in: Pulaski County, Illinois Genealogy Notes Volume I 1988. Compiled by Wanda L. Atherton, Glenna Conant Badgley and Martha W. McMunn. Published by The Genealogy Society of Southern Illinois, C/O John A. Logan College, Carterville, Illinois 62918, pages 32-33.

"John F. McCartney

...John and Jane Brown McCartney, native Scotch, came to Trumbull Co., Ohio in 1840. John was a dissenting preacher. J. F. McCartney was born near Glasgow, Scotland 22 April 1834, and came with his parents to this country. He was a poor boy. He bought his time of this father at $50 a year from the age of 14, paid for his own schooling, worked as a janitor and at age 18 took charge of a school in West Pennsylvania. He then attended Kingsville Academy at Ashtabula, OH for special branches, taught winters and did farm work during summers.

In 1855, he came to Pulaski County, Illinois with thirty-one cents and worked in a saw mill and teaching school. Then he returned to Ohio for advanced courses in Vermillion Collegiate Institute in Ashland County and was given the chair of mathematics there. When J. F. was located at Caledonia, he married Elizabeth McGee, sister of Hugh and Francis M. McGee. They had two children: Lizzie and Marcus. Elizabeth died during the latter part of the Civil War while J. F. was away fighting. He taught school at Grand Chain, then back to Metropolis where he taught school, published the Promulgator, was district attorney, practiced law, farmed, helped to establish the First National Bank and was a member of the Christian Church. He married second Minnie Luekens, a native of Hanover, Germany. They had several children. He died 12 Nov 1908 at Metropolis, IL."

In addition to all of the accomplishments listed above, John was a successful military man. He was transferred amongst several Union units and finally rose to the rank of Captain in Co D, 56 ILL US INF.

John married his first wife Elizabeth McGee (sometimes spelled McGhee) McCartney about 1859-1860. She died 16 Sep 1864 and is buried at Grand Chain Masonic Cemetery in Pulaski County. They were the parents of Jane Elizabeth (also known as Elizabeth J.) McCartney Shaffer Stroud and Marcus Neeley McCartney. Both are buried here in Masonic Cemetery.

John married Wilhelmina Dorothea "Minnie D." Lukens 1 Mar 1866 in Massac County. They were the parents of: Wlhelmina Grace (Smith); John Clemens who died in infancy; Anna Louise (Slimpert); Harriet Eliza "Hattie" (Fouts); Caroline Dorothea (Weaver); Emma Lenora who died in infancy; Katherine "Kate" Lukens; Thomas Franklin; Hope Ellen (Jackson), and Frederick Clyde who died age 18.

John was the older brother of Robert Wilson McCartney, who is also buried here in the Masonic Cemetery. Robert, who was born in 1843, after their parents moved to Ohio, followed in John's footsteps, becoming a successful attorney, judge and state legislator. The two McCartney brothers were among the most influential citizens of Metropolis during their lifetimes.