The Painesville Telegraph dated 18 Mar 1886 page 3
"Begone, said Death, these walks are min,
Love wept and spread his wings for flight;
Yet ere he parted said, this hour is thine;
Thou art the shadow of life, and as the tree
Stands in the sun and shadows all beneath,
So in the light of great eternity
Life eminent creates the shade of death;
The shadow passeth when the tree shall fall,
But I shall reign forever over all."
The shadow of death has often fallen more suddenly and with perhaps less of preparation to meet it, yet never with more crushing force on the hearts of loving parents and only brother, than when Azrael with his dark wings plumed for flight struck with his unerring scythe the blow that severed the mortal link that bound this young life of nineteen years to earth-this life so full of noble ambition, of high aspiration, of daily satisfaction and of bright hopes of future usefulness.
The deceased, John Frank, was name for both of his parents, John and Frances Casement; from both of whom he received careful training but his father being necessarily absent much of the time from home, it devolved more especially upon his mother to feed his growing mind with healthy stimulus and most faithfully and judiciously did she fulfil this duty.
John was an exceptionally noble boy, unselfish, truthful, brave, self reliant and incapable of a mean action. He never fully enjoyed a pleasure unless friends less fortunate than himself could participate in it. Many instances illustrative of his true nobility, with which his friends are familiar, might be given. It may be truly said of him that he never caused the tender heart of his mother one pang; his father's wishes were law to him, and to his younger and only brother he wall all that it was possible to be, in his watchful solicitude and tender loving care. Had he lived he would have filled a proud place in the world, for he possessed that rare combination of qualities that brings all that distinction has to offer without the seeking. It would be surpassingly strange, if such a one, were not greatly missed and widely and deeply mourned. He was one of the great human brotherhood, and young as he was, he recognized its claim upon him and his possessions. Without being self conscious of it, his life was an exemplification of the broadest Christian principles, putting himself in the place of those less fortunate.
John Frank Casement with his brother Dan entered the Western Reserve Academy of Hudson, O., September, 1884, to prepare for college, from which they both would have graduated next June. Thursday, March 4, John came home in consequence of some premonitory symptoms of approaching illness. For the first two days nothing of a serious nature was apprehended, but malarial fever verging on typhoid developed. Dr. House was called early on Saturday morning. On Sunday the symptoms were more favorable, but after Monday noon he grew rapidly worse and the disease went to his brain. Dr. Root was called as counsel during the progress of his illness. The most earnest and unremitting efforts of his physicians and the devoted care and watchfulness of his family and friends were powerless to save. Thursday morning, March 11th, just one week from the day he returned home he passed to the better land.
The funeral services were held at Jennings Place on Sunday at 2 o'clock p.m., Rev. George R. Merrill, of the Congregational Church, officiating, assisted by Rev. W. H. Gallagher. The services were opened by the singing of the hymn "Abide with me," scripture reading by Rev. Mr. Gallagher, hymn "Lead Kindly Light." Tributes to the life of the deceased by N. B. Hobart, Principal, and H. F. Roberts, teach, in the Western Reserve Academy, followed. As the friends passed through the halls into the drawing room to take a last look at the deceased, Palmer's pathetic "Rest of the weary, joy of the sad," was sung with sympathizing expression.
The almost universal sympathy felt by the community at the sudden going out of this young life and the darkness which had fallen on a happy home, brought together one of the largest assemblages of the kind ever seen in Painesville. A delegation consisting of the Principal, three teacher and nine students from the Western Reserve Academy, with other friends from abroad, came to pay the last tribute of respect to one whom they loved and honored. There was nothing of gloom in the house of the dead. In the drawing room in a casket covered with black and lined with heavy creamy white satin, beneath and in front of the mantle which was banked with calla lilies, hyacinths, violets, clematis, rosebuds and ferns, lay the pale sleeper in his young manhood, amid great wealth of floral tributes from many friends.
Conspicuous among them was a massive column of flowers resting on a square base of smilax, surmounted by a cluster of blush pink roses, "In loving remembrance of our Dear Friend from the Faculty and Students of the Academy." On the casket was a large spray of white rosebuds tied with the colors of the Senior Class of the Academy.
Leaning against the foot of the casket was a large anchor of choice flowers from "Painesville High School Class of 1886." An exquisitely beautiful floral lyre, was from the Ladies Relief Corps; Gates Ajar, with the columns surmounted by pure white doves with outspread wings, was an expression of heartfelt sympathy from the Ladies of Equal Rights Association, for the sorrowing family.
The remains of the deceased, followed by a long line of carriages, were conveyed to Evergreen Cemetery for interment. The bearers were: E. S. Parsons, G. W. Tryon, W. B. Doyle and H. M. Robinson, of the Western Reserve Academy; Fred king and Jay Hathaway, of the Painesville High School Class of '86, Clyde Gates and John Steele, of Painesville. The burial service of the Episcopal Church was ready by Rev. W. H. Gallagher at the grave.
by: Mrs. J. F. Scofield