John Elder

Iowa Department of Corrections — Des Moines, IA

Felonious

End of Watch April 30, 1882

Age 73

The Vigil Panel 7 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 13

Incident

Guard John Elder was killed when he was attacked and suffocated by three inmates while watching over the Hospital Ward of the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The inmates escaped but were recaptured a few days later. On May 19th, 1882, two of the inmates were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. One was pardoned in 1892 and the other inmate died in prison in 1896. The third inmate was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 18 years. Guard Elder is buried at the grounds of the Iowa State Penitentiary Cemetery, Lee County, Iowa.

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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

144 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Guard Elder served with the Iowa Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Iowa Department of Corrections

Location Des Moines, IA

Platform Identity idcorr.polk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 30, 1882

Age 73

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender Sentenced to life

Guard John Elder is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In IA, 129 of 226 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Iowa Department of Corrections, 6 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Iowa Department of Corrections

of 14 officers

42.9% Felonious

IA — Statewide

129

of 226 officers

57.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious