John 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 the age of 7 years. He lived with an uncle until the breaking out of the Blackhawk war in 1832, when he enlisted as a volunteer and served till the close 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 January 21, 1841, 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 7, 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 know: Do right, be good and trust in the Lord and everything will be well with you. In his domestic relation 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 against 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 thought of him will help us to be better when we are tempted to do wrong.