Death of John W. Vactor, 1896
| Princeton Press, Sat., May 30, 1896: | VACTOR.--At Princeton, May 29, 1896, John Vactor, aged 28 years. |
|
Princeton Press, Sat., June 6, 1896: JOHN W. VACTOR's peaceful end was mourned by a large number of his friends. He gave his life to pay that debt which we all have to pay. There was quite a large gathering of his closest friends who came to see him at his home. The body was removed from the house at 2:45 upon the shoulders of his friends and pall bearers, J. Burgen, H. Minor, J. Simpson, C. Higgins, R. Lambert, H. Freeman, to the church, which was crowded to the door. The Rev. W. D. Robeson, assisted by Rev. J. Q. Johnson and Rev. Mr. Ayler, was master of ceremonies, who made some very touching remarks to the surviving friends of poor John. The choir rendered some of its choice selections in a very affective manner. Tearful eyes followed the coffin as it was advancing to its last resting place here. John W. Vactor died at his residence on Quarry street, Friday, May 29, between the hours of 2 and 3. The end came very peaceful. Surrounding his bed side, when the final summons came, were the members of his family and wife. John had been ill for some time with a complication of diseases, which made death very sweet. The death of John's Grand Ma seemed to weigh very much upon his mind. One of his last remarks was that he was going to meet his Grand Ma. Vactor was at one time connected with the famous Cuban Giant B. B. C., who made it very warm for any team they met. It was here where poor John was severely hurt and was laid up in the hospital for some time, and it always left John affected. We all feel the death of John, as he was our school mate, play mate, and class mate and a born citizen who we all knew. We may also say that poor John while up and at work was known to say this, that he would never again touch liquor in any form, and it was also noticed that here this winter John attended church quite often. John, just before taken to his bed, was up town and called into see his old school mate and friend, and was there taken suddenly ill, and upon given the use of his friend's divan, the news was carried to his wife who at once responded, and he was taken home, and if memory serves me right, it was his last call, until God called him to join his flock. His dear friends can hardly realize that he is dead. We, the members of the Lincoln Republican Club, do hereby extend our fullest sympathy to the bereaved widow of our faithful friend and secretary John W. Vactor. By a request of the Princeton Giant B. B. Club, I was asked to mention that we, as members and friends of the team, which our friend John organized, feel his death very much, and in connection extend our fullest sympathy to his widow. We also feel assured from the testimonies which he left behind, that God has given him a resting place in heaven. | H. SIMPSON |
| Princeton Public Library | http://www.princetonlibrary.org/history/1896death.html | |
|
65 Witherspoon Street Princeton, NJ 08542 609-924-9529 |
 |
Last revised: December 7, 2007 |