The following is from the Fountain (Colo.) Herald of January 25, 1908:

Monday afternoon while driving south with a friend, Capt. J. P. KLECKNER was taken suddenly ill. He was taken into the residence of R. E. LOVE. Growing worse, he expressed the belief that he would not survive the attack and asked that his wife be brought. Mrs. KLECKNER was sent for and reached him before he became unconscious, as did also Dr. WITTER, but he soon passed away. His affliction was valvular heart disease. He was buried in Fountain cemetery Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The funeral was very largely attended, the old soldiers of the vicinity attending in a body; the floral offerings were most abundant. John P. KLECKNER was born in Venango, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1840. His boy hood days were spent in and about his native town. At a very early age he became an assistant to his father in his lumber business and was found so trustworthy that at the early age of twelve he was placed in charge of a force of men and the product of their labors. Reaching his majority just as the Civil War broke out; he enlisted August 15, 1861, as a private in the 83d Pennsylvania Regiment. He served with great distinction through the entire war and won many honors for his bravery, rising step by step from the ranks until made captain of Company D, holding this position to the close of the war. Few soldiers had more thrilling experiences. He was in no less than twenty-six engagements, some of which were among the most important in the war, and in which occurred the greatest fatalities. Among these engagements were Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. He was three times wounded, but each time rejoined his regiment as soon as able. He was a prisoner for four months in Libby prison. He fought under such generals as POPE, MCCLELLAND, MEAD and GRANT. Being mustered out of service at the close of the war he entered the oil business in his native state and continued in this business until overcome by ill health as a result of his army wounds. He came to Colorado in the fall of '05 and largely recovered his former health, but finally surrendered to the Reaper Death, January 20, 1908. Near the close of the war, he married Miss Sarah SHERROD, the companion of his joys and sorrows, of his prosperity and adversity, who witnessed his final departure. To them were born four children, three still living are Mrs. Wm. FORRINGER and Mrs. Herbert MORRIS of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. R. J. LINDSEY of Fountain, Colo. In his early manhood, Capt. KLECKNER joined the M. E. Church, being still a member of that church at his death. When the call came, he responded confidently, said all was well with him, bade adieu to his loved ones, and with a satisfied smile, passed beyond.
Transcribed by Victoria H. Valentine