Biography of J.P. McCague, pages 901 / 902.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

J. P. McCague, lumber dealer, Waterloo, Ind., is a native of Holmes County, 
Ohio, born July 12, 1846.  His parents Samuel C. and Eliza J. (Barfoot) 
McCague, were natives of Pennsylvania, but in early life went to Ohio, where 
they were married.  Of their three children, two were born in Ohio and one 
in De Kalb County, Ind.  His father died in 1852, and in 1855 his mother 
married Aaron B. Smith, of Stark County, Ohio, and to them was born one son, 
Sanford S.  The mother died in August, 1880.  J.P. McCague was early in life 
thrown on his own resources, and therefore early learned the lesson of self-
reliance.  In 1861 he went to Winnesheik County, Iowa, and in July, 1862, 
enlisted it in the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, but was discharged on account of 
his youth.  He subsequently served in the Indian campaign in an independent 
company, and was present at the capture of 600 Sioux, who were sent to 
Davenport.  While on a Skirmish he was captured, and was tied to a guard, 
but while the guard was sleeping he loosed himself.  In so doing he 
disturbed a dog, which he killed with the guard’s knife.  By this time the 
guard awoke and he then killed him and made his escape.  He carries the 
scars of this combat on his hands to this day.  He returned to Winnesheik 
County, and attended school till the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in 
Company F, Forth-sixth Iowa Infantry, Sixteenth Army Corps, and 
participated in the battles of Tupelo and Guntown; was mustered out in 
August, 1864.  After his discharge he came to De Kalb County where he has 
since resided.  He is one of the most enterprising and influential 
business men of Waterloo.  He is First Lieutenant of Company A, Third 
Indiana National Rifles (Waterloo Rifles), and is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic.  He was married in 1872 to Nancy A., daughter of 
James Bowman.  They have six children---Charles A., Nellie, Eddie, 
Blanche, Eston and Eugene.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com