The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-05-28
IN MEMORIAM
]. ]. McCAsKILL.

and low, rich and poor, felt the be-
numbing shock that follows the loss
of friend when Mondays message
to the world, from Pensacola,
brought the news that ]. ]. McCaskill
Of DeFunjak had died suddenly at
the San Carlos Hotel in that city.
He was found in his room Monday
morning, May %, at o'clock. He
lay in restful repose. There was
nothing to indicate any suffering prior
to death. He simply fell asleep and
did not awake. The indomitable
spirit, that this world could not con-
quer, had answered the last call that
comes to mankind, but the body look
ed as if he had merely drawn the
drapery of the couch about him and
lay down to pleasant dreams.
j. ]. McCasIill was born on his
fathers farm in the historic old
Scotch settlement, near Knox Hill,
Walton county, on November %, 1916,
and spent his boyhood on the old
homestead. While a young boy he
walked several miles every day to at
tend school taught by Walton Coun-
tvs pioneer teacher, Mr.. Newton. He
had a happy way of relating the boy
ish escapades incident to his school
days at Mr.. Newton's, but never
failed to end the anecdote by praising
the man who did so much to mold
the character of the boys and girls
entrusted to his care.
When the war came, Mr.. McCas-
kill had to put aside his books and
take up a larger share of the farm
work. The older brothers had gone
to the front to fight for home and
country. The father, then an old
man, had to be always on duty as a
home guard, protecting loved ones
from the robbers and marauders that
plagued and harassed the Knox Hill
settlement.
Those who lived through the try
, ing duties of that trying time relate
many stories Of the bravery shown
by the young boys of the community,
and in all of them John McCaskill
was leading spirit.
As boy and man he had ever with
him the saving grace of humor, and
his stepmother often said that, "No
! matter what troubles came, we could
not stay blue long. John always saw
the funny side, and he was a great
, hand to cheer us up"
After the war his family suffered
as did all other families throughout
the South. He set himself to work
on the farm with grim determination
: to help make living for the family,
and here he remained until he was
twenty-four.
His inability to return to school
after the war was a grievous disap-
pointment. After a hard days work
in the field he would bring home pine
knots, and after supper was over he
would lie in front of the huge kitchen
l fireplace and study until late in the
: night. He early formed the habit of
carrying about with him a small
| memorandum book, and when he
i, would hear a new word he put il
down, and then never rested until he
= had learned the meaning and made il
q his. He continued this practice in al
e his later experience through life.
e When twenty-four years old he
married Elizabeth Flournoy anC
r rented farm near the little town. Of
= Summerville, where they lived for {
f few years. He was a natural leader
/, of men; ambitious and aggressive
= It is small wonder then that at thi!
Y stage of his career he decided t.
leave the slow procession of farm
life and cast his lot in the more ex
\ citing game of active business. TIT
W timber industries of the country wer,
* then coming to the front, and he frs
l) tried logging. Later he established
a mercantile business at Argyle. Fol
lowing this he moved to Freeport OF
:, Choctawhatchee Bay, putting his al
:, into a sawmill and mercantile bust
= ness at that place. This bushes
prospered. 1t prospered beyond tn
measure usually allotted to venture
of this kind. He lacked capital, bu
he put into his business an unbridle,
- Chiefly anu q uduublCSn NOuAeSS @4AN-
few men ever equal and none surpass
He was ever busy man, and KEEP
- IN intimate touch with even the small
u est details of his affairs. He kney
4 all his employees by name; knew thei
IL qualifications and limitations, an
y when they were sick or in troubl
2 of any kind, he was always there a
Ia the right time with the helping han
d and purse, and the words that cheer
n ed and comforted.
N Mr.. McCaskill invested his carr
ings and profits principally in land
Of and real estate in Pensacola and De
ne Funiak. He was president of tn
~ First National Bank of DeFuniaA
president of the J. J. McCaskill CON
in pany, vice president Of the West Flol
r ida Naval Stores Co., and, beside
ig his holdings in these enterprises, hi