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John Newton Behan.One of the most interesting and one of the saddest stories connected with Burlington at West Point is that ofJohn Newton Behan. In the Catholic cemetery on North Sixth street, there stands a noble, marble shaft with the simple inscription:“John Newton Behan; born August 29, 1858; died September 23. 1882. Erected by hisclassmates of the United States!Military academy.” ✓John Newton Behan was a hardworking boy. He had a passion for learning and he had to work. And so he was compelled to work in the tobacco factory, where the Burlington hotel now stands, and could attend attend school only at intervals. The boy was held up to lus schoolmates as a good example. He always was prepare to recite. He always knew his lessons. Few of his school mates knew at the time, how he worked at his studies, to maintain his standing. It | speaks well for the democratic spirit of the high school, that he was respected and beloved by his school mates, despite the fact that he was held up to them as a shining example. Ami if there were any who noted that he was a working lad. and that his clothes were plain and poor, he was never made to feel that.Lorn: before there w as n vacanev at'ii.!West Point, he and a friend commenced preparing for that position and they burned the midnight oil fitting themselves for the place. When the opportunity came, there was a large class of candidates from different counties in «the district, with the ’exception of two Burlington boys, all the sons of parents in good circumstances, who had enjoyed all sorts of opportunities. When the examination was over, John Newton BehanIlt;Pmec it; isstood at the head of the class, just as he had stood at the head in the High scl school and just as he was to stand at : tatthe head of his class in West Point. ! ateThe second was Edward McDonald, ! hisnow engaged in the shoe manufacturing business in St. Joseph, Mo.Died at West Point.Those who knew John Newton Behan well, have never doubted that he would have graduated at the head of his class at W’est Point. He waseathoi\■waiadmitted to the academy in 1879, andwassunChrmamade .a clean record there and was i beloved by his classmates as he de- ! *Jur served. But he was not to graduate, j *or He tlied at the academy in September !; 188 2. anw was mourned there, as the 'ibest student in the institution. An escort of his class-mates brought the body home and he was buried with full military honors. And a bit later | there was erected the monument that !;iIpor ginlt;Ere WaHe1 wamarks the grave of one of the best students at the Burlington High school j ja™ and also one of the best in the United ^ States military academy. What alii_ career might ha\e been his. if he had nd been spared. He possessed many of •*.- | the elemenets that make for real success. He was not brilliant, as the ol 'term is generally understood. But he p. | was painstaking, highly Intellectual, with unyielding determination and perserverance. He possessed to a degree the will to win.Now and then some of those who ’knew him as the model High school i boy and later as the leader of his class in West Point, walk out to the little cemetery and recall the scenes ! 'and persons of forty years ago, and wonder that one so promising should have been called hence just as life\lr;0f was beginning to be full of promise to him, just as he saw* success ahead.ma as :putUniherparHanked No. 1. ! or ;
Newspaper Details
Burlington Hawk Eye
Burlington, Iowa, US
Sun, Jun 20, 1920
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Burlington P.
IA, USA 01 Sep 2020
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