Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 274, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1910 — Capt. John W. Elam Died At Valparaiso Tuesday Morning. [ARTICLE]

Capt. John W. Elam Died At Valparaiso Tuesday Morning.

Capt. John W. Elam, postmaster of Valparaiso, died at his home in that city Tuesday morning. He was 71 years of age. Captain Elam was well known throughout Indiana. In Rensselaer he w’as especially well known, having come here as an internal revenue collector for many years. His last visit to Rensselaer was on the occasion of the 87th reunion on Sept 22 and 23d. He was chosen to read th'e response of the secretary to the welcome address. His eyesight was poor and his voice weak, but he held the closest attention of the audience and interspersed the reading with a number of humorous remarks. He was one time considered a very able after dinner speaker. Tiie Valparaiso Messenger prints the following obituary: John W. Elam was born on the old Elam homestead in Fulton county, Indiana, May 29, 1840. A member of a large family of children, he was taught to work when a small boy, and was educated in the Rochester schools and in the Valparaiso Male and Female College.

In the spring of 1862, he left school and enlisted in Co. D, 87th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private solfiler. He saw much hard service during the winter of 1862 and 1863, and in the summer of the latter year his regiment was engaged in building fortifications about Murfreesboro, and in expeditions of Gen. Rosecran’s army. Later, he participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, siege of Atlanta, and many others, including the return march of Hood to Dalton, Ga. Up to this time his regiment was in the corps of “Pap” Thomas, who was assigned to take care of Hood’s army. On the organization of the regiment, Mr. Elam was made orderly sergeant, then second lieutenant, and later on, was promoted to the rank of captain, holding that position until the cessation of hostilities.

In conversation about the war Mr. Elam most .frequently referred to the famous “March to the Sea,” and the battle “fought above the clouds.” At the close of the war Mr. Elam engaged in the dry goods,-business in Rochester Ind., and in 1866 married Miss Frelove White, of Valparaiso, Ind., who with four children now survive him. In 1867 he was appointed postal clerk by James M. Tanner, postmaster-gen-eral, and served in that capacity eleven years. In 1886 he was elected auditor of Porter county, and was re-elected to the same office in 1890. He was deputy revenue collector for four years, resigning to accept the postmastership jn 1906. " When he folded his tent about him and quietly went to sleep he was beginning the second term of appointment as postmaster in this city. John Elam was a faithful soldier, an honest and efficient public officer, a loyal friend and a kind father. Long will his kindly interest in public affairs be felt.