Madison County IN Archives Obituaries.....Roadcap, Joe July 1906
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Beverly Telf beverlyjo@aol.com May 2, 2008, 3:26 pm

Anderson Morning Herald, July 31, 1906
JOE ROADCAP IS LAID IN THE LAST RESTING PLACE
Largest Man in Madison County Has one of the Largest Funerals ever Held Here
RED MEN HAVE CHARGE
The funeral of Joe Roadcap who had the distinction of being the largest man in 
Madison county, occurred Sunday afternoon from the old brick mansion on the 
Blacklidge farm, one mile east of Maplewood cemetery.
     The funeral was in many respects the most unique in the history of 
Madison county.  It is estimated that between three and four thousand people 
were present at the funeral and the cemetery.
     The funeral services were under the auspices of the Ononga tribe of Red 
Men and the funeral serman was preached by the Rev. I. N. Jenkins.
     At the grave the beautiful ritual of the order was read by Past Grand 
Sachem B. B. Campbell in a clear, rich voice.  It required twelve men to lower 
the remains to their last resting place.
     Mr. Roadcap when in the best of health, weighed 480 pounds and at time of 
his death weighed 450 pounds.  He was known to almost everyone in the county 
and had a host of friends.
     The door of the home was much too narrow to allow the passage of the 
large coffin, so that it was necessary to take the frame work of a window out 
and shove the coffin through the window.  So large was the body that no 
funeral car could be used and the large undertaking wagon of Stephen Mark was 
brought into requisition and even this was barely large enough for the purpose.

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