John Lightfoot 1839-1910

LIGHTFOOT, GOODIN, KETCHAM, BEARD

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 6/26/2014 at 13:22:24

John Lightfoot.

John, commonly known as Jack Lightfoot was instantly killed about 3:00 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, July 10th, while returning from his farm with a load of corn. The accident occurred near the Howard Kelly home about half a mile north of town. He drove up in front of the Kelly residence and unloaded five bags of corn which he had promised Mr. Kelly, and the presumption is that the team started before he got entirely back on the wagon and threw him to the ground, the wagon passing just over his abdomen crushing his ribs. No one saw him fall. The Kelly family were in the back part of the house and were not aware that any one was at the front gate, but on looking out saw the team hitched to the loaded wagon running south without a driver, and hurried to the front gate to find Mr. Lightfoot lying but a rod or so from the gate. They immediately summoned Mr. Kelly who was working just below the house putting up hay, and when he and Ernest Beard, who was working just south of Mr. Kelly’s and was attracted by the running team, arrived on the scene they found Mr. Lightfoot dead. The team was not vicious but had a habit of starting before the driver could mount the wagon. While no one was a witness to the accident, the above is the most intelligent solution of the affair by those who were first there and viewed the circumstances.

Mr. Lightfoot has lived in Farmington for several years where he moved from a farm situated about four miles north of town. he has been prominent in the business affairs of the town being interested in the Van Buren Savings Bank and later in the First National Bank of which he was Vice President at the time of his death. He has all his life been an industrious and frugal man and succeeded in accumulating considerable property. His wife died about two years ago, since which time Mr. Lightfoot has lived alone. He was a familiar figure on the steets where he was frequently seen congregated with his old comrads [sic], having served in the civil war himself. He was of a social disposition and on this account was a very pleasant man to be with and will be greatly missed by everybody. Jack Lightfoot was a man who was scrupulously honest and was highly respected in this community and at large, for he was a citizen widely and favorably known in Lee and Van Buren counties where he has spent most of his life. He was one of the old settlers in the community, and his death in this sad way comes as a shock to all his friends and acquaintances.

John Lightfoot was born in England November 3, 1836, and came to America when he was nine years old. The Lightfoot family came as a member of the English colony which settled on the Big Mound prairie in the forties. This colony consisted of the Lightfoots, Wares, Batemans, DeRosiers, Beards, Atkinsons, Sivils, and others whose names are still prominent in the affairs of the community. Mr. Lightfoot grew to manhood there and made a home for himself and continued to live there until he came to Farmington with the exception of a short time when he lived in Bonaparte. He moved to Farmington some years ago but only lived here a couple of years when he moved to a farm which he had bought about four miles from town. He came back to town the last time about 17 years ago and bought the home on 4th street where he has continued to live ever since until his death.

He was married to Mary Goodin Dec. 25, 1867, at the home of William Goodin in Farmington. Mr. and Mrs. Lightfoot were childless. Mrs. Lightfoot died July 7, 1908 and since that time Mr. Lightfoot has lived alone in his house here. He came to his death by accident July 19, 1910. There survive him two sisters, Mrs. Benjamin Ketcham of Bonaparte and Mrs. Mary Beard of Versailles, Mo., and a large number of other relatives.

Funeral services were from the home at 10:30 o’clock July 21, 1910, conducted by Rev. John Colby Shipp. Burial at Sharon cemetery. — Farmington News-Republican.

Source: Entler Scrapbook Collection, vol 5, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA