The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-01-17
OBITUAR ".
JOhu Fletcher.


John Fletcher, whose illness wa
noted in last weeks PRESS. die d at hi
residence, on East Main street, Wed
nesday, Jan, 8, at Z: 80 p. m. AS be
fore mentioned, he went 20 his barr
shortly after diouer on Tuesday, tC
bitch up his horse, and, STOPPING t.
pick up one of his mitteus, was s'rick
en- with apoplexy, which paralyye hj'
entire left side, He had experience
two slight shocks previous 10 this
which rendered him unable to over.
come the effects of third stroke, and
he sank rapidly until death came.
Mr. Fletcher was born in MelrOse,
Scotland, November 10. 1872. AT the
aye of 25 he came to America, against
the wishes OF his father, who declared
that he would rot assist hIm in the
least To leave the land of his DaLivity,
hut would chesrfuily and Willingly
hej y him to return to Scotland in cas- t
he should desire so to do. But III spite
of all opposition he turned his face rs
oluteIy toward the land OF his chutcc,
aud III 1887 came to Ravens, here
for upwards of fifty years, he made has
residence. AT that lime Cyrus Prem
tisS. a leading merchant of this place.
| had large construction contract on
the 2. q .. Canal, thea existing only
on paper. MIR. FL tcher having moth
ing but his sturdy industry aud
brawny muscle with which TO make
his way, in his adopted county, at
once applied 10 Mr.. Prentis Tor work
and Was promptly accomm odated WI, b
pick, shovel and wheeibarrow and
told to taks a place with the rest of the
laborers. And here commenced the
career OF q liie,renarkaole for its &C.
com plish ments nd burden of respons.
Utilities. Being end wed with great
phs steal strength and endurance, and
possessing the faiLhfulness aud prac
ticability 80 characteristic of his cOun
try men, he ut onCe came under the
favorable notice of has employer, who,
within two weeks from the time lie
commenced work, promoted him To
the charge of gang OF men, ami in
this cap. city he acted until the com.
pletion Of the canal BY his superior
ability i'll directing the laO0rs of Others
Mr. Fletcher was largely instrumental
in his employer netting $40. 90 on his
contract, and in graceful recognition
of his services MIR. Prentiss made him
u present of $500. He was then given
charge of division of the newly con
strucIed water way, and in addition
had the feeder under his supervision.
His division WAS subsequently extend
ed 10 double its former length He
continued in the employ or the 20.
until the bu lding OF the &. Il p. Ry
Was com menced, in 1850, when, in
company with the late George Robin
T
the road, operating in this way until
IL was completed, when he was ap
pointed roadmaster BET weeu Ravenna
add Cleveland, in the performance of
the duties of which position he used to
walk the entire length of the track be.
tween th@ Sc points. He coDtiuued in
the employ OF this Co until 1850. wht n
he entered the employ of the 4 FIT. W.
q q. Co., with J. n Mccullough. now
lst Vice Pres of The Pennsylvania Co.
At that time the FIT Wayne track was
in terrible condition, aud wrecked
engines aud cars lined the road FROM
one end TO the other. Mccullough
would not consent to enter the mploy
of the latter company unless Mr.. +.
would agree to go with him The two
men had long ueen associated on the
T.. d p, MI Fletcher attending TO the
practical construction and Improve
ment of the road and McCuiioug h the
finances and accounts. Mr.. Fletcher
WAS appoiuted roadmaster of the east
ern division, between Pittsburg and
Cresliina, including tbs Erie e. Pitts.
burgh, Youngstown branch, New Cas-
tie branch, A. Y. IL Z. aud the Mans
field, Coldwater d Lake Michigan,
(now N. w. o. railways, having more
miles of track under his charge than
any otner roadmaster in the UDited
States. In April, 1882, having served
the company continuously for ~ years
aud transformed their road from a
wretched streak of rust aud rotten ties
into one of the finest thnroughfares
known, he, by leasOn of advancing
years and their attendant infirmities,
considered himself no longer qualified
to fulfill the duties of his position, and
handed in his resig nation to the Co
But so highly did they value his ser
vices and experience that the resigna
tion was refused, and a special office OF
Consulting Rcadmsster was created
expressly that they 'gbt retain his
services. For two years longer he di
rected the affairs OF that office, and in
1884, retired to pris ate life, the Office
of Consulting Roadmaster expiring
WIFI Ills WltAuIdWdl lTOuu iu0 T0du.
Ia railroad circles Mr.. Fletcher W as
to his death he received a dispatch
from J. N. Mccullough, requesting
him TO meet him at the station when
he passed through Ravenna. he also
sent message OF condoieDce TO the
family, on hearing of MIR. Fleteher's
death.
The life and character of Mr. Fletch.
er were those of an honest, cOnscien-
tious, kind hearted man. Perhaps his
strongest trait was his intense faith-
fulness and application to whatever he
undertook. Holidays and vacations
were unknown to him, and no man
ever lived whose record of toll Is great
er than his. He regarded his time and
energy as belonging to his employers,
aud while on duty never thought of
aught but his work. So scrupulous
was he in regard to living up TO the
requirements of the company, that he
would not allow himself to become in
terested in any outside business, not.
withstanding iG detracted none from
the worth OF his services, and urged
by his friends to do 80.
Mr.. Fletcher was married in 1888 to
Elizabeth Lowrie, who died Oct. H.
1857. Five children were born t. them
OF whom four are now living, viz:
Walter and Alexap der Fletcher, Mrs,
w. K. Swain and Miss Mary Fletcher.
The oldest daughter, Mrs. A. w. AL.
corn, died Oct. 10, 1883
The funeral of Mr.. Fletcher was held
at p. M Friday, from his late resi-
dence, Rev, S. w. III eek officiating.
william r. Mitchell.