JOHN KIDDOO                              

The Oswego Independent, Feb. 11, 1921

Died:  Feb. 8, 1921

HONORED CITIZEN DEAD.

______

John Kiddoo, Who Died at His Home

in This City, Tuesday at the Ripe

Old Age of 82, Was One of the

Pioneer Settlers of Oswego and

of Kansas.

______

  John Kiddoo, one of the old and highly honored and respected citizens of Oswego died at his home on West Third Street, Tuesday Morning, Feb. 8th, following a brief illness at the grand old age of 82 years, 9 months and 5 days.

  Funeral services were held from the family home at 2:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, February 9, conducted by Rev. John H. Lamb, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church and interment was made in Oswego Cemetery.

  John Kiddoo was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1838.  He moved from Pennsylvania to Mercer County, Illinois in 1846 and in this community he grew to manhood.  It was here that he first married.  On the first day of December, 1859 he took as his helpmate, Abiah Clark.  To this union four children were born.  They are James P. of Burrton, Kansas, John C. of Neodesha, Kansas, Wm. Sherman, of Escondido, California and Edward Evert, who died in infancy.  In 1867 this happy union was severed in a most tragic manner in Jackson County, Mo. during a thunderstorm, while the wife was ministering to the needs of her husband, who was sick and confined to bed, a bolt of lightning struck the house and her, killing her instantly.

  Two years after his marriage he enlisted in Company K, 102 Regiment Illinois Infantry, but was only privileged to serve the short time of six months having been discharged on account of rheumatism of the heart, which trouble was a contributing cause of his death.  Wherever he has lived during his long life he has manifested this same loyal patriotic spirit and has been an exemplary citizen.

  Im 1864, Mr. Kiddoo moved from Mercer County, Illinois to Iowa, and after three years there moved to Missouri, locating in Johnson County, in 1867, where he lived for 17 years.  From this place he moved to Newton County, Missouri in 1884, where he resided for 12 years.  In 1896, he came to Kansas, residing for a few years at Neodesha and 14 years in Oswego.

  On July 23, 1868, he married Margaret Gormley, who was his companion in life until two years ago when God took her.  To this union eight children were born:  Frank Roy, of Lyons, Kansas, Gilbert Lawrence, who died about four years ago, Jennie Larrimer, of Derby, Kansas, Metta Saxton, of Neosho, Mo., Ada Kent, of Boise, Idaho, Albert Ross, of Neodesha, Kansas, Nellie, of Oswego and Eva Lowery, of Oswego, Kansas. 

  Mr. Kiddoo was a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout his whole life, having united with the Presbyterian church when he was but a boy, and at the time of his death was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of Oswego, Kansas.  He had served as an Elder in the churches of Neodesha, Kansas, Neosho, Mo. and Oswego, Kansas.  He was elected to the Eldership of the Oswego Presbyterian Church in 1910 and in 1917 at his own request, because of failing eyesight and inability to hear well, he was voted an elder emeritus.

  Knowing that he was in a losing battle and that death would at any moment be his portion, he added his testimony to a long line of the faithful before him:  “There is not one cloud of doubt in my heart; I am ready to go and just waiting His summons, was the great purport of his last words with his pastor.  And after hearing the words of the Twenty-Third Psalm there seemed to come over his whole being a most significant calm—that peace that is beyond understanding.

“When we cross the valley there need

  be no shadows,

When life’s day is ended and its sor-

  row’s o’er,

When the summons comes to meet the

  blessed Saviour

When we rise to dwell with him for

ever more,

Shadows!  No need of shadows when

  We lay life’s burden down;

Shadows!  No need of shadows when

at last we gain the victor’s crown.”