John Rector was born on February 10, 1838 in Unknown and died March 4, 1884 in Denver, IA.
John Rector entered the Cavalry on October 20, 1862, in Unknown, served during the Civil War era and reached the rank of before being discharged on Unknown in Unknown.
John Rector is buried at Messenger in Denver, Iowa and can be located at
Information–Frank Sturdevant
Saw very heave service
Obituary Reads as Follows:
“”Waverly Republican
6 Mar 1884 p # 5
Death of John Rector,
At his home in Jefferson township, on Sunday morning at 5 minutes after 5 o’clock, March 2d, 1884, John Rector passed silently away, at the age of 46 years, 2 months and 22 days. He was born in Prussia, Germany, in the year 1817, came to this country when 14 years of age, then being sent by his parents from Germany to Freeport, Illinois, there to meet his brother, who was conductor on a railroad, but when the 14 year old boy came to the place where he was directed, found that his brother had died, and was buried two weeks before he arrived. So John was left homeless and without a friend in the then a new State, but the officers of the railroad company saw that John was a brave boy and gave him a position as a night watch, which duties he faithfully performed for some years.
John Rector was one of the first men when our country was in danger to offer his services to fight for the Union. He enlisted in Company K, 14th Reg. Ill. Cavalry: after twenty-two months’ service he was taken sick and ordered in Knowxville hospital, and Mr. Rector being the only one in a room, where there were 41 lying sick, that recovered. The doctor had informed him in the evening that he was to receive his last dose of medicine, whether for better or worse.
Mr. Rector had never fully recovered his health and received a pension at first of $8.00 per month and in later years $15.00.
Mr. Rector was married in 1858 to Mary Ann Card, who survives him with their four children, Henry, John, Willie, and Minnie, to mourn their loss of a good husband and kind father.
The funeral procession took place at his residence, from thence to the Messinger school house. The services were well conducted by Rev. Burch, who preached the funeral sermon from Rom. 5:7. Then the remains, all that is mortal, were laid in the Messenger Cemetery, where he will await the calling of the resurrection for those that sleep.”””