The National tribune., 1909-12-30
DEATH OF GEN. EASEMENT.

DEATH OF GEN. EASEMENT.
| A shock viii come to the members
of the Army of the Ohio over the un-
expected announcement of the death
of Gen. John S. Easement at Paines-
Vile. Gen. Easement and his fine reg
iment. the 1oSd Ohio, and his bri-
gade played a most conspicuous part
in making the history of which the
members of the Army Of the Ohio are
deservedly proud. The last news that
we had from Gen. Easement was that
in spite of his age he was in excellent
health and full of life and vigor. 1t
seems that he had never really re-
covered from the shock of his acci-
dent at San Jose, Cal, during the earth
quake, when the Hotel Vendome fell
and caught him in the debris, breaking
several ribs. The severe weather
brought on an attack of pneumonia,
and Dec. Is, after an illness of three
days, he passed away.
Gen. Easement was born at Geneva,
n. Y, in 1929, and married his wife
| in 1857. Three sons were born to
them, of whom one. Dan Dillon Case
ment, survives. Immediately after the
news of the firing upon Fort Sumter
Gen. Easement enlisted in the 7th
Ohio. of which regiment he became
Major His first fight was at Cross
Lanes, Aug. &c, 1861, where he showed
high courage and brilliant manage
ment. Later he helped raise the 103d
Ohio and became its Lieutenant-Col-
onel. He soon succeeded to the Col
onelcy, and was much of the time in
command. With his brigade, consist
ing of the 65th Ill, 65th and 124th
Ind, 103d Ohio and 5th Tenn, he took
a brilliant part in the great victory
of Franklin. OF this Comrade It. II.
Stevens, Minneapolis, Mimi, says:
The accounts leave out altogether
his Franklin campaign, which, as you
know, was one of the greatest in his
career, as he took such a prominent
part in the battle of Franklin, and is
known thruout the South as the Bri-
gadier-General who held our line east
of the Columbia Pike, in front of the
old cotton gin. where so many of
drive him out of the works. In front of
his brigade Gems. Cleburn, John Adams
and Quarles gave UP their lives, and full
ly 40 per cent of their commands were
left stretched on the field in front of
Easements Brigade. For this service,
as you know, Easement received Bri-
gadier-GeneraFs commission, and
mander of the Second Brigade of the
Third Division of the Twenty-third
Corps. I have always been proud that
was an humble member of his COM
mand. His men all loved him, and
would have died for him at any time, if
called upon to make the sacrifice"
Upon leaving the army, Gen. Case
ment began railroad contracting, and
achieved much fame by his great work.
He laid the original rails of the Lake
Shore and Big Four Railroads, and
built the first part of the Nickel Plate |
from Cleveland to Buffalo. He also
built important pieces of road in South |
America, and particularly in Costa |
Rica. His greatest work, however, was |
in laying the track of the Union Pa
cific to Cheyenne. Wyo. The work |
done then was one of the wonders of |
railroad building, and Gen. Easement |
made a remarkable record of seven |
miles a day, which has not been ex-
ceeded since. Up to 1885 the General |
had laid more miles of track than any
other contractor in America. He kept |
his home in Painesville, however, and |
was much interested in every thing that
related to that city and Northeastern
Ohio. The Painesville Telegraph-Re-
publican says:
The death of Gen Jack Easement
comes as a severe blow to the commun-
ity. So recent did the fatal illness at
tack him that very few, with the excep-
ton of relatives and intimate friends,
even knew of his indisposition. There
will be great mourning here where his
kindly personality has brought sun
shine into the community, and else
where where he had hosts of friends
and admirers"