Article from unknown source with handwritten date of May 13, 1954. Extracted from the newspaper article collection started in 1879 by Mrs. Nannie Brown of Madison, Missouri. Friend to Shut Ins "Uncle Jack McCanne, 83, friend of the sick and shut-in people of Madison, and their unofficial and unpaid mail carrier. For ten years or so he has gathered mail twice or three times daily for those who are unable to get to the post-office, and has delivered it to their homes. Sometimes his route takes him over a mile or more of walking. Right now he is taking mail to 15 families where folks are sick, elderly or otherwise unable to get down town regularly. Uncle Jack is a Spanish-American War Veteran and lives at the Wood Hotel. He was a member of the Third Cavalry, but when his outfit reached Tampa enroute to Cuba, one man was chosen from each company to remain in Tampa and care for horses left behind. Uncle Jack was the one from his outfit. Later, he rejoined his regiment and found many of his old friends had been killed or died, and most of those remaining were emaciated and torn by the ravages of yellow fever or other tropical diseases. Asked Friday how he happened to carry so much mail for so many people he explained he had little to do or to interest him, and felt his voluntary job was a pleasure and help both to him and those he serves, as well as giving him needed exercise daily." Copyright notice: All transcriptions in this email are copyrighted by their creator. They may not be reproduced on another site or on any printed or recorded media, CD, etc. without specific written permission from Kathleen Wilham. Although public information is not in and of itself copyrightable, the format in which it is presented, transcriptions, notes & comments, etc. is. It is however quite permissible to print or save the files to a personal computer for personal use only. Permission is granted to public libraries, and genealogical and historical societies to print and bind for the use of their patrons. Kathleen Wilham 2 Sharon Drive Shelbina, MO. 63468-1562