John Calvin Caffee (1813 - 1893)

Born 6 Aug 1813 in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA

Husband of Eliza Ruth (Reed) Caffee — married 21 Jan 1841 in Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, USA

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1893 at age 79 in Fairview, Jones, Iowa, USA

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Biography

The following narrative is also found in original in Gallery items

John Calvin Caffee was born on the 6th day of August, 1813, near Bowling Green, Kentucky.

He removed with his parents to Tasewell County, Illinois, about the year 1818. He was left an orphan at age 7. He lived with an uncle until the breaking out of the Blackhawk War in 1832 when he enlisted as a volunteer and served til the end of the war. He came to Cedar County, Iowa in 1838, and a year or two later to Iowa City where he engaged in brick-making, furnishing the brick for the state house at that place. He was married to Miss Eliza R. Reed, of that city. They soon removed to Fairview township, Jones County, where he resided until his death, which occurred on Friday March 17, 1893 at the age of 79 years, 7 months and 11 days.

Six children were born to them, five of whom survive. The eldest of these children is Mrs. V.V. Holden, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; E.D. Caffee, now of Wyoming; the eldest son T.J. Caffee, of Nebraska; A.B. Caffee of Missouri, and J.C. Caffee of Anamosa.

In John Caffee’s long and busy life he never had a law-suit nor a contention with his fellow men. He believed in the religion of the golden rule. He said to every one whom he knew: Do right, be good, and trust in the Lord and everything will be well with you. In his domestic relations, he was ever kind and indulgent—a kind and loving husband and father. He believed the only way to rule was by kindness and love. We sorrow and mourn his loss, not as one cut down in the strength of his manhood with a brilliant prospect before him, not as one who had sinned against the laws of man and the laws of nature, but we rather feel a loneliness because we have met with a sad expectancy; we have met a sad reality. But we are thankful that he lived so long and that every day he did some loving act of kindness. Every one who knew him felt his goodness and kindly influences. Let us remember him, for thoughts of him will help us to be better when we are tempted to do wrong.

__________________

CARD OF THANKS

We desire to express our thanks to the many kind friends who have so kindly and willingly helped us through the sickness and burial of our dear husband and father.

Mrs E.R. Caffee

Mrs. V.V. Holden

T.J. Caffee

A.B. Caffee

J.C. Caffee

March 21, 1893

Sources

• 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 Census Reports; Illinois, Public Land Purchase Records; Iowa Cemetery Records; Iowa Census; Iowa, Death Records; Iowa, Marriage Records; U.S. General Land Office Records; Find A Grave Index

• "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJ3B-S47 : 18 October 2017), John Caffee and Eliza R Reed, 21 Jan 1841, Johnson, Iowa, United States; citing reference , county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 986,009.

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4X-WY6 : 12 April 2016), John Caffee, Fairview, Jones, Iowa, United States; citing family 854, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• Find A Grave: Memorial #37167732