John Stephens was head of one of the earliest pioneer families in Ness City, Kansas. From Iowa he took his family there in 1877 and built a fine new "dugout" on the northwest corner of the lake, finding this location suitable for holding cattle. He spent the rest of his life there. When the county was organized, he platted a part of his homestead as an addition to Ness City.
John Stephens was an intensely patriotic man. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company D of the gallant Third Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. He was wounded below the knee, in one of its last battles. While on the operating table and while surgeons readied to amputate his leg, John proclaimed that, "the injured leg and foot, must go with me to the grave." The surgery was not performed. He was discharged on September 1, 1865
In the early 1880's when the Sherman Post Grand Army of the Republic was organized, he becamed an active member and held many offices in the order, including that of Senior Vice Commander.
John died on December 17, 1908. after a two week illness. Funeral services were held on Saturday December 19th at the Methodist Church. The Rev.O.M. Keve preached the discourse after which John's body was taken to Fairview Cemetery and laid to rest next to his wife Melissa Ann Hoover. The Sherman Post, Grand Army of the Republic concluded the ceremonies according to the ritual of that order.
John married Melissa Ann Hoover on September 30, 1849. From this union was born ten children. Melissa preceded John in death on June 1, 1883. John was the maternal Grandfather of little Bessie Barker.
John Stephens was an intensely patriotic man. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company D of the gallant Third Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. He was wounded below the knee, in one of its last battles. While on the operating table and while surgeons readied to amputate his leg, John proclaimed that, "the injured leg and foot, must go with me to the grave." The surgery was not performed. He was discharged on September 1, 1865
In the early 1880's when the Sherman Post Grand Army of the Republic was organized, he becamed an active member and held many offices in the order, including that of Senior Vice Commander.
John died on December 17, 1908. after a two week illness. Funeral services were held on Saturday December 19th at the Methodist Church. The Rev.O.M. Keve preached the discourse after which John's body was taken to Fairview Cemetery and laid to rest next to his wife Melissa Ann Hoover. The Sherman Post, Grand Army of the Republic concluded the ceremonies according to the ritual of that order.
John married Melissa Ann Hoover on September 30, 1849. From this union was born ten children. Melissa preceded John in death on June 1, 1883. John was the maternal Grandfather of little Bessie Barker.
John Stephens was head of one of the earliest pioneer families in Ness City, Kansas. From Iowa he took his family there in 1877 and built a fine new "dugout" on the northwest corner of the lake, finding this location suitable for holding cattle. He spent the rest of his life there. When the county was organized, he platted a part of his homestead as an addition to Ness City.
John Stephens was an intensely patriotic man. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company D of the gallant Third Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. He was wounded below the knee, in one of its last battles. While on the operating table and while surgeons readied to amputate his leg, John proclaimed that, "the injured leg and foot, must go with me to the grave." The surgery was not performed. He was discharged on September 1, 1865
In the early 1880's when the Sherman Post Grand Army of the Republic was organized, he becamed an active member and held many offices in the order, including that of Senior Vice Commander.
John died on December 17, 1908. after a two week illness. Funeral services were held on Saturday December 19th at the Methodist Church. The Rev.O.M. Keve preached the discourse after which John's body was taken to Fairview Cemetery and laid to rest next to his wife Melissa Ann Hoover. The Sherman Post, Grand Army of the Republic concluded the ceremonies according to the ritual of that order.
John married Melissa Ann Hoover on September 30, 1849. From this union was born ten children. Melissa preceded John in death on June 1, 1883. John was the maternal Grandfather of little Bessie Barker.
John Stephens was an intensely patriotic man. In 1861 he enlisted as a member of Company D of the gallant Third Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. He was wounded below the knee, in one of its last battles. While on the operating table and while surgeons readied to amputate his leg, John proclaimed that, "the injured leg and foot, must go with me to the grave." The surgery was not performed. He was discharged on September 1, 1865
In the early 1880's when the Sherman Post Grand Army of the Republic was organized, he becamed an active member and held many offices in the order, including that of Senior Vice Commander.
John died on December 17, 1908. after a two week illness. Funeral services were held on Saturday December 19th at the Methodist Church. The Rev.O.M. Keve preached the discourse after which John's body was taken to Fairview Cemetery and laid to rest next to his wife Melissa Ann Hoover. The Sherman Post, Grand Army of the Republic concluded the ceremonies according to the ritual of that order.
John married Melissa Ann Hoover on September 30, 1849. From this union was born ten children. Melissa preceded John in death on June 1, 1883. John was the maternal Grandfather of little Bessie Barker.
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