Robert N. Cannon (1855-1898)

CANNON

Posted By: Alan Nicholson
Date: 3/29/2014 at 20:38:38

Paullina Times, 17 Mar 1898, p. 4

Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Cannon passed through Paullina Saturday evening bound for Philadelphia, Tennessee. A telegram summoned them to the bedside of R. N. Cannon, who was last week removed from a winter resort in North Carolina and taken home. When the news was spread that Mr. Cannon was dangerously sick, there were many anxious friends about town who wanted to learn of his condition. His associates here have been aware of his serious condition for some time, but the facts were not allowed to reach his home to cause unnecessary worry among his relatives. "Bob" Cannon has always been a friend of the town, and the general concern manifested and the words of sympathy uttered here are but faint expressions of the sorrow that fills the hearts of all in the knowledge that their best friend is in so critical a condition. That he may rally and eventually recover and again become one of us the wish of all his Paullina acquaintances.

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Paullina Times, 31 Mar 1898, p. 3

Answered the Summons
R. N. Cannon Passes Away at His Old Tennessee Home
At Philadelphia, near Knoxville, East Tennessee, at 10:00 o'clock on Monday evening, March 28th, Robt. N. Cannon of this place expired after an illness of about two years. The funeral was held yesterday and burial took place at the family burying ground.

No news could have caused the profound sorrow, no information could have appalled and crushed the hearts of our citizens, as did the telegram which on Tuesday morning announced the death of our friend. We say our friend, for he was a friend to all. His cheerful, genial, generous nature had endeared him to all, his extreme loyalty to his town and his love for the principles of right and justice; the depth of his reason and the warmth of his heart were the endearing elements of a simple yet perfect life.

Friends loved him for his faithfulness, his cheer, his unselfish solicitude, his integrity and his fraternal fellowship. It seems hard to recall our friend's departure from Paullina in July, 1896. He had been complaining of lung trouble for some time and decided to try western climate in the hope of relief. From the time he went away he gradually failed and nothing gave him hope. In the latter part of the winter he went to North Carolina to escape the spring season at Hot Spring, S. D. Only a short time was left for him and he was taken to his old home in Tennessee, where only a few short months since his father had left this earth, and it was not till then that his friends realized the near approach to the end. Consumption of the lungs - that bitter foe - had calmly brought face to face with death one whose courage never faltered and whose heart still throbbed with all the sympathy and all the kindness of healthy manhood. "Bob" Cannon never wronged an enemy nor deceived a friend. What grander tribute! It is said that Mr. Cannon was fully informed of his dangerous condition. He asked the doctors to tell him the truth, and he as thankful when informed that he had no chances of recovery. His state of mind was one of complete happiness and his left went on quietly and evenly.

Many expressions of sympathy and manifestations of grief have been sent to the relatives during the week, and some have been sent from abroad through friends here. The extended acquaintance of deceased extended through the northwest and his social and business standing here and elsewhere made the affair a subject of general conversation and universal regret. He was a member of Masonic order here and had reached the Knight Templar degree. The officers of the local lodge have been in receipt of many evidences of the sorrow with which the news of the death of their brother was received by the lodges of the surrounding towns where deceased was well acquainted.

Deceased was born at Philadelphia, Louden county, East Tennessee, December 25, 1855. Died March 28, 1898. Came to O'Brien county about the year 1880 or 1881. He had charge of Paullina Bros. ranches for a year or two. Shortly afterward removed to Tomah, Wisconsin, where he remained some time in business. We believe he also made a visit to Montana about this time. Returning here, he united in the grain and livestock business with Metcalf & Cannon. He has been identified with this firm ever since, although not giving his personal attention to the business since July, 1896. He is also interested in the firm of Cannon Bros. & Haase at Granville. The Hotel Paullina here is also the property of R. N. and C. C. Cannon. He leaves a mother, two brothers and two sisters as the nearest surviving relatives.

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Paullina Times, 7 Apr 1898, p. 3

Words of Sympathy
Comment of Northwest Iowa Papers on the Death of R. N. Cannon

Primghar Bell
Word was received here Tuesday from Paullina of the death of R. N. Cannon who passed from this life at 10 o'clock Monday evening at the home of his mother at Philadelphia, East Tennessee, after an illness of one year and nine months, his life having been slowly sapped away by consumption. Deceased was about 42 years of age, and was a member of the firm of Metcalf & Cannon. Ever kind and generous he was beloved by all, and his death takes from our sister town one of her earliest and most honored citizens. The people of Primghar send their sympathy to the bereaved community.

Alton Democrat
Robert N. Cannon of Paullina, well and favorably known in this county, died of consumption at the home of his mother in Philadelphia, East Tenn., last Monday night. "Bob" Cannon was one of the best fellows in the world and all his friends will be shocked to learn of his death. He was associated with Mr. Metcalf and his brother, Chas. Cannon, in the grain business at Paullina and Granville.

Granville Leader
R. N. Cannon or "Bob" as he was familiarly known, passed away at the home of his mother in Philadelphia, Tenn., last Monday night at 10 o'clock. He died of consumption which dread disease he had been struggling against for the past three years. "Bob" was well known at this place and Paullina and all who were best acquainted with him will feel keen sorrow at his untimely death. He was a noble character. He had that warm side to his nature which made everyone like, him, and everyone feel better for his presence among them. Everyone where he was known was his friend. No one ever heard of "Bob" Cannon taking an unfair advantage. The editor has known him for fifteen years and does not recall one word by anyone, save of praise, for him. Such men are indeed the exception and it is one of the sad decrees of fate that they are so often stricken. These are men whom it seems humanity most needs. But there is a power who knows best and to whose inexorable will be all must bow, though plucked from us are the warmest hearts and most admired characters. Many an unseen heart will ache over the death of "Bob" Cannon, which he in life, perhaps little dreamed of. Such is the power of true nobility.

Sheldon Mail
R. N. Cannon of Paullina, member of the firm of Metcalf & Cannon, and known throughout northwest Iowa, died at the home of his mother in East Tennessee, on Monday evening last. Deceased had large property interests in Paullina and Granville and was connected with two of the largest grain and stock firms in this portion of the state at these places. Paullina feels keenly the effect of this sad blow to their business and social interests and is in deep mourning over the loss of a firm friend of the town and a benefactor of its people. Consumption was the cause of death. The funeral was held yesterday (Wednesday.)

Resolution
Hall of Fulton Lodge, No. 499
A. F. & A. M.
Paullina, Iowa, April 6, 1898

Whereas: It has pleased our Heavenly Father to remove our beloved brother, Robert N. Cannon, from this lodge to that brighter lodge on high, be it
Resolved, that by his death, we as a lodge have lost a good, wise and able brother, a friendly counselor, an honorable, public-spirited and upright citizen, a man whom it was ever pleasant to meet, who always had a kind word of comfort and cheer for all, liberal in his views, yet firm in his convictions of right and justice; charitable towards all and generous to the needy.
Resolve - That we hereby tender to his relatives and friends our sympathy in their great bereavement, assuring them that, although his life was cut short in early manhood, yet the impressions he has left upon all who knew him are such as are calculated to enable and uplift the human race.
Resolved - That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of our lodge; a copy printed in The Paullina Times and one sent to the bereaved family; that the lodge room be draped in mourning for a term of thirty days.
Dr. E. Dudley
Alex Williamson
J. V. Adkins, Committee