John Darwin Mallette

MALLETTE, CHASE, HARRIS

Posted By: Jean Wenke, volunteer
Date: 2/26/2009 at 17:45:56

John Darwin Mallette, son of Liveus and Mary Mallette, was born Feb. 29, 1844, in Adams county, Ill., twenty miles east of Quincy. When four years of age he removed with his parents to Iowa, residing the first two years at Ft. Madison, then moving to Bonaparte. In the year 1851 he accompanied his parents to Kansas and after three years residence there, returned to Bonaparte.

In 1862 he enlisted in Co. D., 38th Iowa Infantry. He engaged in five battles at Arkansas Post, took part in the siege of Vicksburg, then in 1863 while in the performance of his duty in the south he suffered a sunstroke, was sick with fever and spent five months in the hospital at Memphis, Tenn. He was honorably discharged at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis on March 4, 1864.

Upon his return home he was employed as wall guard at the penitentiary at Ft. Madison for four months. Returning to Iowa, he operated a coal mine for ten years, then went to Montana where he spent forty years in mining and prospecting.

In 1913 he returned to Bonaparte where he made his home with his sister, Mrs. Frances Chase, until his death on Oct. 14, 1925, at the age of 81 years, 7 months and 5 days.

He has suffered for a number of years from the effects of a paralytic stroke received while in Montana which made him practically an invalid since Dec. 1924.

He leaves to mourn their loss, a sister, Mrs. Frances Chase of Bonaparte; a niece, Mrs. Vera Harris, of Keokuk; and two grand nephews, John Leonard and Joseph Harris, also of Keokuk.

Funeral services were held at the home of his sister, Mrs. Chase, on Friday afternoon, Oct. 16th, Rev. Jas. McKierman in charge, assisted by Rev. Samp. Burial in Bonaparte cemetery.

From Dorothy Watson's scrapbook, Bonaparte, Iowa Library