Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 15, 1914
Young Musician Dies
Cornelius J. McHenry Jr. died this morning at 9 o'clock at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McHenry, 1001 Washington avenue, Upper Alton. The death of the young man, while not unexpected, came rather sudden to the family. He was 30 years old on the third of last December. The death of the young man is the tragic close of what he had hoped would be a happy event in his life. He was engaged to be married and at the time he was obliged to give up his work he was planning to get married and was seeking a house for himself and his bride. He was as much surprised as anyone when the specialist who examined him ordered him to discontinue work and give up his plans for marriage, at least for the time being. The death of Niel McHenry comes as a sad shock to a large number of friends of the family in Alton. It was known the last two weeks that he was failing rapidly, and that the end was not far off....The young man was unmarried and had lived with his parents and eight brothers and sisters all his life. He was a glassblower by trade, but had not worked at the trade since serving his apprenticeship. He learned the trade with his father in the Illinois Glass Works, and served his apprenticeship, but when his time was served he retired from the trade and had devoted his entire time since to music. Niel was a musician of much ability. He had learned to play the cornet when a very small boy, and at the age of 12 years he played with the old Standard Band of Alton. A short time later, when the White Hussar Band was organized he went into that band where he made a mark as a cornet player. When this famous Alton band made the trips that gave the band its reputation, Niel McHenry was one of the important musicians of the big band, although he was under 20 years of age. In 1901 he took a place in the Temple Theater orchestra, and since that time he has played regularly, either in the theater, Airdome or Hippodrome, with the exception of two or three seasons when he was away from Alton following vaudeville work. In 1909 he left Alton, taking a position with a traveling company, and as he was a good piano player he soon learned to play the steam calliope when a player was needed with his company. Two years ago a steamboat passed Alton carrying the company with which Niel was traveling, and as the boat sailed down the river he went on deck and played a serenade to Alton on the calliope. Later, he and his brother, Tom McHenry, traveled two years as "The Musical Macks," putting on a vaudeville act of playing many different instruments. On January 21, two years ago, the two McHenry boys played their last act in Edwardsville. Niel was sick, and he came home where he underwent an operation in St. Joseph's Hospital. It was stated at that time that his illness had developed a tubercular nature, and since the operation he never fully regained his health. He played in the Hippodrome orchestra, however, from the time that amusement place was opened until this fall, when his health completely gave out. In November his father constructed an out-of-doors room for him at the McHenry residence, and the young man lived in it exactly two months. He went into the open air home the 12th day of November and last Monday, January 12, he was taken into the house as it became evident that he could last only a few days more. He never gave up hope of recovery, and when he was taken back into the house Monday, he believed it was only because the weather promised to be too severe for him to stay out longer. Even up to the time of his death he did not realize that his end was approaching. He leaves beside his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McHenry, three sisters and four brothers, all of whom were with him at the time of his death. They are Mrs. Nellie Million of Springfield, the only one of the family who married; Misses Cora and Mamie; and Tom, Will, Edward and Charles McHenry. The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from St. Patrick's Church to Greenwood Cemetery.
Young Musician Dies
Cornelius J. McHenry Jr. died this morning at 9 o'clock at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McHenry, 1001 Washington avenue, Upper Alton. The death of the young man, while not unexpected, came rather sudden to the family. He was 30 years old on the third of last December. The death of the young man is the tragic close of what he had hoped would be a happy event in his life. He was engaged to be married and at the time he was obliged to give up his work he was planning to get married and was seeking a house for himself and his bride. He was as much surprised as anyone when the specialist who examined him ordered him to discontinue work and give up his plans for marriage, at least for the time being. The death of Niel McHenry comes as a sad shock to a large number of friends of the family in Alton. It was known the last two weeks that he was failing rapidly, and that the end was not far off....The young man was unmarried and had lived with his parents and eight brothers and sisters all his life. He was a glassblower by trade, but had not worked at the trade since serving his apprenticeship. He learned the trade with his father in the Illinois Glass Works, and served his apprenticeship, but when his time was served he retired from the trade and had devoted his entire time since to music. Niel was a musician of much ability. He had learned to play the cornet when a very small boy, and at the age of 12 years he played with the old Standard Band of Alton. A short time later, when the White Hussar Band was organized he went into that band where he made a mark as a cornet player. When this famous Alton band made the trips that gave the band its reputation, Niel McHenry was one of the important musicians of the big band, although he was under 20 years of age. In 1901 he took a place in the Temple Theater orchestra, and since that time he has played regularly, either in the theater, Airdome or Hippodrome, with the exception of two or three seasons when he was away from Alton following vaudeville work. In 1909 he left Alton, taking a position with a traveling company, and as he was a good piano player he soon learned to play the steam calliope when a player was needed with his company. Two years ago a steamboat passed Alton carrying the company with which Niel was traveling, and as the boat sailed down the river he went on deck and played a serenade to Alton on the calliope. Later, he and his brother, Tom McHenry, traveled two years as "The Musical Macks," putting on a vaudeville act of playing many different instruments. On January 21, two years ago, the two McHenry boys played their last act in Edwardsville. Niel was sick, and he came home where he underwent an operation in St. Joseph's Hospital. It was stated at that time that his illness had developed a tubercular nature, and since the operation he never fully regained his health. He played in the Hippodrome orchestra, however, from the time that amusement place was opened until this fall, when his health completely gave out. In November his father constructed an out-of-doors room for him at the McHenry residence, and the young man lived in it exactly two months. He went into the open air home the 12th day of November and last Monday, January 12, he was taken into the house as it became evident that he could last only a few days more. He never gave up hope of recovery, and when he was taken back into the house Monday, he believed it was only because the weather promised to be too severe for him to stay out longer. Even up to the time of his death he did not realize that his end was approaching. He leaves beside his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McHenry, three sisters and four brothers, all of whom were with him at the time of his death. They are Mrs. Nellie Million of Springfield, the only one of the family who married; Misses Cora and Mamie; and Tom, Will, Edward and Charles McHenry. The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from St. Patrick's Church to Greenwood Cemetery.
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 15, 1914
Young Musician Dies
Cornelius J. McHenry Jr. died this morning at 9 o'clock at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McHenry, 1001 Washington avenue, Upper Alton. The death of the young man, while not unexpected, came rather sudden to the family. He was 30 years old on the third of last December. The death of the young man is the tragic close of what he had hoped would be a happy event in his life. He was engaged to be married and at the time he was obliged to give up his work he was planning to get married and was seeking a house for himself and his bride. He was as much surprised as anyone when the specialist who examined him ordered him to discontinue work and give up his plans for marriage, at least for the time being. The death of Niel McHenry comes as a sad shock to a large number of friends of the family in Alton. It was known the last two weeks that he was failing rapidly, and that the end was not far off....The young man was unmarried and had lived with his parents and eight brothers and sisters all his life. He was a glassblower by trade, but had not worked at the trade since serving his apprenticeship. He learned the trade with his father in the Illinois Glass Works, and served his apprenticeship, but when his time was served he retired from the trade and had devoted his entire time since to music. Niel was a musician of much ability. He had learned to play the cornet when a very small boy, and at the age of 12 years he played with the old Standard Band of Alton. A short time later, when the White Hussar Band was organized he went into that band where he made a mark as a cornet player. When this famous Alton band made the trips that gave the band its reputation, Niel McHenry was one of the important musicians of the big band, although he was under 20 years of age. In 1901 he took a place in the Temple Theater orchestra, and since that time he has played regularly, either in the theater, Airdome or Hippodrome, with the exception of two or three seasons when he was away from Alton following vaudeville work. In 1909 he left Alton, taking a position with a traveling company, and as he was a good piano player he soon learned to play the steam calliope when a player was needed with his company. Two years ago a steamboat passed Alton carrying the company with which Niel was traveling, and as the boat sailed down the river he went on deck and played a serenade to Alton on the calliope. Later, he and his brother, Tom McHenry, traveled two years as "The Musical Macks," putting on a vaudeville act of playing many different instruments. On January 21, two years ago, the two McHenry boys played their last act in Edwardsville. Niel was sick, and he came home where he underwent an operation in St. Joseph's Hospital. It was stated at that time that his illness had developed a tubercular nature, and since the operation he never fully regained his health. He played in the Hippodrome orchestra, however, from the time that amusement place was opened until this fall, when his health completely gave out. In November his father constructed an out-of-doors room for him at the McHenry residence, and the young man lived in it exactly two months. He went into the open air home the 12th day of November and last Monday, January 12, he was taken into the house as it became evident that he could last only a few days more. He never gave up hope of recovery, and when he was taken back into the house Monday, he believed it was only because the weather promised to be too severe for him to stay out longer. Even up to the time of his death he did not realize that his end was approaching. He leaves beside his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McHenry, three sisters and four brothers, all of whom were with him at the time of his death. They are Mrs. Nellie Million of Springfield, the only one of the family who married; Misses Cora and Mamie; and Tom, Will, Edward and Charles McHenry. The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from St. Patrick's Church to Greenwood Cemetery.
Young Musician Dies
Cornelius J. McHenry Jr. died this morning at 9 o'clock at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McHenry, 1001 Washington avenue, Upper Alton. The death of the young man, while not unexpected, came rather sudden to the family. He was 30 years old on the third of last December. The death of the young man is the tragic close of what he had hoped would be a happy event in his life. He was engaged to be married and at the time he was obliged to give up his work he was planning to get married and was seeking a house for himself and his bride. He was as much surprised as anyone when the specialist who examined him ordered him to discontinue work and give up his plans for marriage, at least for the time being. The death of Niel McHenry comes as a sad shock to a large number of friends of the family in Alton. It was known the last two weeks that he was failing rapidly, and that the end was not far off....The young man was unmarried and had lived with his parents and eight brothers and sisters all his life. He was a glassblower by trade, but had not worked at the trade since serving his apprenticeship. He learned the trade with his father in the Illinois Glass Works, and served his apprenticeship, but when his time was served he retired from the trade and had devoted his entire time since to music. Niel was a musician of much ability. He had learned to play the cornet when a very small boy, and at the age of 12 years he played with the old Standard Band of Alton. A short time later, when the White Hussar Band was organized he went into that band where he made a mark as a cornet player. When this famous Alton band made the trips that gave the band its reputation, Niel McHenry was one of the important musicians of the big band, although he was under 20 years of age. In 1901 he took a place in the Temple Theater orchestra, and since that time he has played regularly, either in the theater, Airdome or Hippodrome, with the exception of two or three seasons when he was away from Alton following vaudeville work. In 1909 he left Alton, taking a position with a traveling company, and as he was a good piano player he soon learned to play the steam calliope when a player was needed with his company. Two years ago a steamboat passed Alton carrying the company with which Niel was traveling, and as the boat sailed down the river he went on deck and played a serenade to Alton on the calliope. Later, he and his brother, Tom McHenry, traveled two years as "The Musical Macks," putting on a vaudeville act of playing many different instruments. On January 21, two years ago, the two McHenry boys played their last act in Edwardsville. Niel was sick, and he came home where he underwent an operation in St. Joseph's Hospital. It was stated at that time that his illness had developed a tubercular nature, and since the operation he never fully regained his health. He played in the Hippodrome orchestra, however, from the time that amusement place was opened until this fall, when his health completely gave out. In November his father constructed an out-of-doors room for him at the McHenry residence, and the young man lived in it exactly two months. He went into the open air home the 12th day of November and last Monday, January 12, he was taken into the house as it became evident that he could last only a few days more. He never gave up hope of recovery, and when he was taken back into the house Monday, he believed it was only because the weather promised to be too severe for him to stay out longer. Even up to the time of his death he did not realize that his end was approaching. He leaves beside his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McHenry, three sisters and four brothers, all of whom were with him at the time of his death. They are Mrs. Nellie Million of Springfield, the only one of the family who married; Misses Cora and Mamie; and Tom, Will, Edward and Charles McHenry. The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock from St. Patrick's Church to Greenwood Cemetery.
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