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Person

John "Jack" Cull

Also Jack Cull · Jack Cull of Chicago · John Cull

Draft — sources verified, prose evolving

TypePerson
Born1919
Died1997
ErasModern era
On this page
Person
Born
1919
Died
1997
Work
Merchant mariner (third mate, watchman)
Parents
Michael Cull
Siblings
Roland Joseph Cull · Sally Cull Hammermeister
Eras
Modern era
Concepts
catholicismcommunitymaritime

Summary

John “Jack” Cull (1919–1997), a son of Michael Cull and Mabel (Connaghan) Cull, was named a godparent at William Jerome McDonough’s February 26, 1961 christening. Under his baptismal name, John, he appears in the Beacon’s 1955 merchant-marine notes as a third mate and watchman on Great Lakes steamers.

History

The March 1961 Beaver Beacon names “Jack Cull of Chicago” as a christening godparent — one of several island natives who had settled in Chicago but returned for family occasions. A May 1955 note, using his baptismal name, reports “John Cull boarded his ship at Manitowac, Wis. on April 4th,” serving as third mate on the steamer J.F. Schoellkopf Jr., and separately that John Cull had reported aboard the steamer John J. Boland as a watchman — evidence of a Great Lakes merchant marine career distinct from his brother Roland Joseph Cull’s Army service. His father’s September 1964 obituary names Jack among four surviving sons, alongside Roland, Ray Cull of Bay City, and Larry Cull, and confirms his Chicago residence. An April 1978 Beacon list of native islanders at that year’s Beaver Island St. Patrick’s Party in Chicago groups “Larry, Jack, Betty, Sally, Mable, Roland” under the surname Cull, placing Jack at a family gathering with his mother and siblings seventeen years after the christening this article documents.

Evidence and limits

The repeated Mike/Mabel Cull parentage and Chicago location bridge this record to John “Jack” Cull (1919–1997). The cemetery source supplies years only; no merchant marine service record has been checked to confirm the 1955 notices describe this same John Cull rather than another island man of the same name.

Open questions

  • Can Great Lakes merchant marine crew or licensing records confirm the 1955 third-mate and watchman postings as this same Jack Cull?

See also

Kin

Michael Cull1885 – 1964RolandJoseph Cull1938 – 2021Sally CullHammermeisterThis articleJohn "Jack" Cull1919 – 1997
Only relations stated in the sources are drawn; absence means unrecorded, not childless or unmarried.

Sources

  1. Names Jack Cull of Chicago as a godparent at William Jerome McDonough’s February 26 christening. A 1963 Beacon family notice identifies Jack Cull as a son of Mike and Mabel Cull, and a 1964 obituary repeats those parents and the Chicago location. These links match the cemetery entry for Jack Cull, baptized John; the cemetery gives only years.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1961-03_Beaver-Beacon
  2. The held six-page issue scan is paired with the OCR source and confirms the published notice or report; it does not expand the source-specific identity, event, or outcome claims.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · scans · beaver_beacon · issues · 1961-03_Beaver-Beacon
  3. Lists Jack Cull, baptized John (1919–1997), child of Michael and Mable Connaghan Cull.
  4. Reports "John Cull boarded his ship at Manitowac, Wis. on April 4th. He is a 3rd Mate on the Stmr. J.F. Schoellkopf Jr.," and separately that "John Cull reported aboard the Stmr. John J. Boland as watchman" on April 2 — probably the same John/Jack Cull under his baptismal name, documenting a Great Lakes merchant marine career distinct from his brother Roland's Army service.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1955-05_Beaver-Beacon
  5. Names Jack Cull, of Chicago, among the four surviving sons of [[person/michael-cull-1885-fisherman]] and Mabel (Connaghan) Cull, confirming his parentage and Chicago residence.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1964-09_Beaver-Beacon
  6. Lists "Larry, Jack, Betty, Sally, Mable, Roland - Cull" among native islanders attending the 1978 Beaver Island St. Patrick's Party in Chicago, grouping the same siblings named in the 1964 obituary together seventeen years later. The holding institution's portal restricts automated access; the archive holds a copy of this issue and can provide it on request.
    data1 · beaver-island-archive · beaver_beacon · 1978-04_Beaver-Beacon

Added 1 August 2026 · revised 4 August 2026. Recent changes

Cite this article

Beaver Island Archive, “John "Jack" Cull”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/people/john-jack-cull/, accessed [date], citing Beaver Beacon, March 1961, “Births.” (and 5 further sources listed on the page).

Last revised 2026-08-04. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.

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