John C. McCaddon (1884)

MCCADDON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/30/2020 at 06:56:48

Iowa City, Iowa
May 5th, 1884

John C. McCaddon, third son of Capt. J. W. and Lucretian McCaddon, was born near Lexington, Mo., August 22d, 1846, and died at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, May 3d, 1884.

He, while yet an infant, came with the family to this city in 1859 here he grew up to manhood among us, and here he formed that character for manliness and business tact, which endeared him to all who knew him, and made him so useful a man during his short life. He has served in all capacities in the express business from messenger boy, through all its grades up to agent in responsible places and great trusts.

In Kentucky and Tennessee as train messenger, and as agent. Then in Colorado at Pueblo as agent of the Denver & Rio Grande Express Co., and at last for the same company at Salt Lake City, where his useful career has ended in early death.

The writer who knew him well from long associations upon railroad surveys, pens this poor tribute to his memory in grateful remembrance of his many kindnesses and manful attentions to his duty.

We labored together for three long, busy, and disappointing years on the Iowa Northwestern Central R.R., afterwards in Dakota on lines of the C.C. and N.W. railway, and here it was, that Jack’s kindly and cheerful disposition manifested itself through all trials and hardships, and when others were recreant to their trusts, and proved themselves to be false friends, Jack was ever faithful.

Nor was this all for he had the courage to stand with his life for those who trusted him.

The writer well remembers a time when on the Great Sioux Indian reservation the camp was twice attacked in the night time by lawless, desperate men and that Jack, as he was familiarly called by all who knew him, was always foremost among those who, gun in hand, came with alacrity to the front line, and returned the enemy’s fire with all the coolness and heroism of a true and tried soldier. Through long months of severe labor and hardships, no one heard him utter a complaint, nor did he give any one trouble, but his kindly acts and cheery disposition endeared him to all his companions.

Four brothers, two sisters, and his aged mother survive him who together with a wide circle of friends mourn his untimely departure. He will be buried by the side of his father at the town of Dexter, in this state next Wednesday, May 7th. Death with ruthless hand has torn from us a dear friend and we can but give our kind words and mingle our tears in his memory.-------------O. W. Irish