The little-known John F. Cordeal

McCook has been the home of a large number of “statesmen” over the years, some very well known to all of us because they went on to be senators, governors, etc., but over the next couple of columns I’m going to introduce you to John F. Cordeal who, though he didn’t find his way to Washington, D.C., was perhaps one of our more brilliant minds and well known for his legal expertise, his lectures and his knowledge of the history of Southwest Nebraska.

From the June 24, 1898, McCook Tribune: “The commencement exercise of The Northwestern University of Evanston held on the evening of June 16th, at the Auditorium in Chicago were of more than passing interest to McCook boys.”

“One of their friends, John F. Cordeal, was among the graduates of the law school and achieved during his course there a remarkable record.”

“Entering the university with no other educational preparation than that of a thorough home training seconded by his patience and industry Mr. Cordeal found himself in class with men who had already graduated with honors at universities like Yale and Harvard and Princeton.”

“Taking his work with classmates trained at the best schools of this country the McCook boy not only held his own, but, without thought of competition or striving for place, actually passed his fellow workers and finished with the honors of his class.”

“Not only this; but he did the regular three years work in two years and was given the highest markings on examinations for the final year in the whole school. In the examinations on “Trusts”, he received the only A in the class; there was but one A given the previous year.”

“A thesis on ‘The Tribal Relations of the Cherokee Nation with the United States Government’ won for him the most valuable prize awarded, the English and American Encyclopedia of Law, in some thirty-eight volumes.”

“This record is now of less importance to Mr. Cordeal than those ambitious boys of McCook who are apt naturally to repine at their lack of advantages. It is safe to say that none of them enjoy fewer than this boy did, and the instance only proves, after all, that the ambition and determination are the only absolutely essential factors to success.”

“I believe there are more boys in Red Willow county who will be heard from in their due time; certainly this case may well inspire them to work unremittingly for success. FRANK H. SPEARMAN”

John did not immediately return to McCook and in fact a notice in the Tribune in 1901 told of the formation of a corporation in Chicago that would be the beginning of the Chicago & Western Railroad with track running between Chicago and Aurora, IL., John F. Cordeal being one of the original incorporators.

If the weather is keeping you at home, go onto our web site, www.swngs.org, and do research on our free pages. It is extremely hard for our volunteers to keep the library open when the roads are bad so please check our Facebook page for announcements before going to 322 Norris Ave, Rooms 2-7, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m.!