MAXWELL, John Milton - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

As the body of John C. Maxwell was lowered into its grave in Masonic cemetery following ritualistic rites by members of the Eagle lodge Tuesday afternoon there sounded forth from a trumpet the call known to soldiers as "Taps". The crowd of friends of Mr. Maxwell gathered about the grave were impressed by the action but few knew the cause of the deep impression that was created upon the Spanish-American war veterans at the graveside. The trumpet that sounded last taps for Mr. Maxwell was the same instrument that sounded forth before the battle of Sud Lon in the Phillippines, calling for the charge of Mr. Maxwell's troops up Sud Lon mountain. At the side of Mr. Maxwell's grave Tuesday the same man had the trumpet to his lips who blew the call for the charge that was the first participated in by Mr. Maxwell. C.C. McClure, a member of the same company with Mr. Maxwell, was trumpeter in the regiment of which Mr. Maxwell was a member. At the close of his service, Mr. McClure was given the trumpet by the captain of the company and he has treasured it since that time. Following the battle of Sud Lon, Mr. Maxwell became afflicted with a heavy cold that caused bronchial trouble that resulted in his death. On the evening after the battle he was unable to hear well and this affliction grew worse until the close of the war and since that time he had been almost deaf. The funeral services at the home of Mr. Maxwell Tuesday afternoon were impressive in their nature. Rev. R. E. Moss, pastor of the First Christiam church, and Rev. B.E. Kirkpatrick, pastor ot the First M.E. church delivered short sermons dealing with the life and work of the deceased. The singing at the service was in charge of Harry Maxwell, brother of the deceased, and a well known singing evangelist. The pallbearers were Robert and Hugh Shaver and Frank, Howard, Norman, and Ralph Maxwell, all nephews of the deceased. The flower bearers were four nieces of Mr. Maxwell, Mrs. Claude C. Clark, Mrs. Henry D. Pointer, Mrs. John D. Campbell and Miss Dorothy Maxwell. Members of the Eagles lodge and the Spanish-American war veterans were honorary pallbearers.