Obit: John Thomas Badger

John Thomas Badger, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Badger, was born in Jefferson county, West Virginia, December 30, 1844, and died at his home near Charlottesville, Ind., May 18, 1916, aged 71 years, 4 months and 18 days. His father died when John was but eight years old, and his mother struggled for two years to support the family, and at that time John, being ten years of age, and one of the eldest, was put in the home of a neighbor to make his way. His struggles as a child were hard.

At the time of the Civil War his home, which was near Harpers Ferry, on the banks of the Potomac, was amidst the shot and shell of battle. After the battle of Antietam, which was fought just across the river from his home, and before he had enlisted in the Confederate army, he carried water to the wounded Union soldiers in old hats to quench their fevered thirst, and many a northern son on that blood-stained battlefield who was wounded and bleeding and left for dead found in John Badger, the Rebel boy of that day, his good Samaritan, to raise his stricken body from the ground, give the drink of cold water in mercy, pour the healing balm into his wounds and by words of encouragement and good cheer inspire the wounded enemy to light and life, for he alone is my true brother and friend who has mercy upon me.

At the age of 18 years and during the second year of the war he felt the same inspiration of other patriotic youths for their country and he enlisted and served in the 12th Regiment Virginia Cavalry. After serving six months in this regiment, he with others was captured and taken prisoner and was imprisoned for 18 months at Point Lookout and Fort McHenry, from which he was afterwards released.

In October, 1866, he left the country of his boyhood and came with friends to Knightstown, Ind., and from that time until 18888 he lived in Henry county. From here he moved to Hancock county, where he has since resided.

On August 14, 1880, he was married near Knightstown to Armilda White, daughter of George M. and Elizabeth White. To this union were born eight children, four having preceded him to the heavenly land, and four others, Ida May, wife of Andrew Locke, of Miami; William Marion, of New Castle; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Harry Cone, of Indianapolis, and DeLoma Cecil, wife of Orville Narvell, near Knightstown, together with three grandchildren, Leslie Earle Badger, Beryl Badger Narvell and Hilda Irene Narvell, and his ever-faithful loving wife, who mourn today for him–

Who sleeps, yes sleeps, and nevermore
Will his footsteps fall by the old home door.

He also leaves two brothers, Will Badger, of Brookville, Ind., and Samuel Badger, of Brownsville, Md., and one sister, Mrs. Mary Hoffman, of Cleveland, Ohio.

On January 22, 1879 he was happily converted to God and joined the M. E. Church in Charlottesville when M. Wayman was pastor. Since that time he never lost his love for God and the church. He was always loyal to his pastors and loved them. Even during his last few hours on earth he called for his pastor and also former pastor and expressing his firm belief in them and his love for them told them that his faith was in Jesus, the Lamb of God that bore all his transgressions and pardoned his sins, and that

He would not live always, no, welcome the tomb,
Since Jesus hath laid there, He bid me arise
To hail Him in triumph descending the skies.
— Greenfield Republican.