John Wesley Pletcher, well known long time resident of Yuma County, Yuma passed away at the Yuma District Hospital, September 12, 1976 at the age of 93 years, 2 months and 24 days.

John W. Pletcher, son of John Wesley and Barbara Fritz Pletcher, was born in a sod dugout on a homestead in Crystal Plains township, Smith County, Kansas June 19, 1883.

He was the eighth child in a family of 12 children and was reared among the trials and privations of that pioneer period that produced a generation of independent men and women of sterling character. John grew to young manhood in Crystal Plains township and attended the rural schools there. He was baptized into the Christian faith at the age of 21.

John moved to Yuma County in 1907 and filed a homestead claim in February 1908. On February 27, 1910 he was united in marriage to Rachel Glenn at her parents' home southeast of Smith Center, Kansas. Several days later they started a honeymoon trip up the Republican River via covered wagon to the homestead near Eckley, where he had lived for the previous two years.

Three children were born to this union, Barbara Eve Pletcher Spelts of Sterling, John W. Pletcher, Jr. of Lakewood and Rose Emma Pletcher who passed away in 1930.

In 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Pletcher moved to the present family owned farm southeast of Yuma and in 1947 moved into Yuma.

During his career, he was engaged in farming, raising cattle and the buying and selling of livestock. In 1968 he went into semi-retirement, turning the operation of the family farm over to his children.

In April 1917 he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was an active participant for over 50 years, receiving the Past Grand and Grand Lodge Degrees.