Gen. James Loraine Geddes (1827-1887)

GEDDES

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/10/2015 at 10:15:04

From Nevada Representative February 23, 1887

General Geddes.

Gen. James L. Geddes, on of Iowa's most distinguished soldiers and citizens, died at his residence in Ames, Monday morning, Feb. 21, 1887, after illness of two weeks. His age was sixty years.

Gen Geddes was born in Edinburg, Scotland, March 1827. At the age of ten, he came with this father's family to Canada. Eight years later he returned to his native land and soon after entered the British Military Academy at Calcutta, East Indies. He remained in this institution about two years, and then enlisted in the British army of the East, and for seven years served with recognized skill and bravery in the historic campaigns of Sir Hugh Gough, Sir Charles Napier, and Sir Colin Campbell. In q854 he returned to Canada commissioned by the Queen a Colonel of cavalry, and organized a regiment. He soon, however, became dissatisfied with his surroundings; resigned his commission, and in 1857 came to Iowa, and located on a farm in Benton county, which has since been his home.

In August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 8th Iowa infantry, but entered the field as it Lieutenant Colonel. His military service throughout the great struggle for the preservation of the Nation was a high order, exceptionally and historically so, at Shiloh and the capture of the Spanish Fort.

Gen. Geddes has been identified with the State Agricultural College at Ames in various positions for the past fifteen years, and with benefit to the institution and credit to himself. At the time of his death he was its Treasurer and Agent in charge of its endowment lands. His funeral services were largely attended at Ames yesterday, under the direction of the G. A. R. Post. In addition to the usual services on such occasions, tender and eloquent eulogies were pronounced by Prof. Wynn, Speaker Head, J. S. Clarkson, and Judge Rothrock. The remains of the soldier citizen were taken to Vinton for burial. Iowa does well to honor and mourn so noble a son.

In the same issue of the paper:

--A large delegations of the Nevada Post, G. A. R. attended the funeral of Gen. Geddes, at Ames, yesterday.