Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1910 — FUNERAL AND OBITUARY OF JOHN MAKEEVER. [ARTICLE]

FUNERAL AND OBITUARY OF JOHN MAKEEVER.

r T' Thursday Afternoon. : -s* » . -4*|~ » -5* ■ -jy The Methodist church was crowded Thursday afternoon with, the lifelong acquaintances of .John Makeever, who had gathered to pay their last |of spects to a pioneer fayiner andt business man whoee long life Of usefulness had made him a foremost citizen. The funeral sermon . Was delivered by Dr. A. A. W6od, of Lafayette, and was one of the most inter-, esting funeral sermons ever delivered in this city. In resppet t* the 'deceased all storey and business houses were closed from 2 to 3:30 o’clock, during the time of the service. The following obituary wad read at the church: John Makeever was born In Green' county, Penn., Dec. 1, 1819, and died, at his home in Rensselaer, Ind., Jan. 3, 1910, at the advanced age of 90 years, 1 month and 3 days.

At the age of ten he moved with his parents, Patrick and Isabel Sweeney Makeever, to Morrow county, Ohio. He was happily converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church when seventeen. In 1842 he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Sharp, of Johnstown, Penn. From there they moved, to a farm in Ohio. To this union were born two daughters and one son, Mrs. Almira M. Stockton and Mrs. Cordelia M. Williams, both living in Rensselaer, who were with him during his last sickness, and John Napoleon Makeever, who died in infancy, aged one year and fourteen days. In 1845 he moved from Ohio to Jasper county, Ind., on a farm 3% miles west from Rensselaer, in Newton township. He cut the logs and built the cabin in which he lived until 1856, when he built a frame residence and lived there until 1881. Before leaving the farm he built the Makeever Hotel, after which he moved to Rensselaer, and has ever since had his residence in the east part of this same building. There were ten children in his father’s family—six hoys and four girls—all have preceeded him to the great beyond. None of them lived to be as old as he, yet all grew to manhood and womanhood. His father lived to be 104 and his mother 108. Four brothers and three sisters located and lived for many years in sight of each others’ homeß. They all worshipped in a log school house in an early day. His home was always the preacher’s stopping place. He was class leader and Sabbath school superintendent until he left the farm. His children were reared at the family altar.

After locating in Rensselaer he engaged in the banking business with his son-in-law, the late Jay W. Williams, but he never gave up farming. He Jpved the country and went to the farm almost daily, when the weather was good. In January, 1886, his wife, Mary Ann Makeever, after a very brief sickness, went to her heavenly home. She was a woman of blessed and sainted memory. Mr. Makeever had a wonderful memory, *and In his last days would repeat long hymns and quote many texts of scripture from which he heard sermons preached when a boy. He was well versed in the Bible, few people could quote more scripture than he. In 1886 he was married to Mrs. Eliza Macy, of Indianapolis. No children were born to this union. Mrs. Makeever has two sons, George Macy, of Columbus, Ohio, and John Macy, of Indianapolis. Both were here to attend the funeral, i • Mr. Makeever has nevpr been normal since he was thrown from a buggy October 20, 1908. He was able to be about his business until last October, when he began to decline. While he suffered no pain, he grew weak, and did not stay at his office much of the time, and for the last few weeks, he did not leave his rooms, but was not confined to his bed until the last four days. He was of a cheerful disposition, a great lover of his home, and was happy when he had hist family about him. He was a kind father and a devoted husband, a wise counsellor, a

careful and judicious man. wttiflfc ‘ tri tgA- ' mi ** fH'' / 1 •A .short time before: his spirit took its flight when his family were all about him he looked up and said: “I belong*to Jesus. Ye®, He redeemed me. He paid a debt that I never could pay. He to my redee my sun and shield. For ever Seventy years He’s been my Counsellor and Guide. Oh! yes, I belong to Jesus.” He leaves a wife, two daughters, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren, besides many relatives and friends to mourji their loss.