Person Page - 167

      John William Stanley was born on 14 April 1862 in Stanley farm near Worthington, Greene County, Indiana.^1,2,3

John William appeared in the census of 1870 in the household of his father William Stanley in Greene County. He was 8, born in Indiana.⁴

John was named as an heir in the will of his grandmother, Mary Ball, on 24 May 1875 in Greene County.⁵

John appeared in the census of 1880as a boarder in the household of William Darnell in Smith Township, Greene County. He was 18, born in Indiana.⁶

John William went to work for the Darnell family near Worthington, Indiana when he was about 15 years old (ca 1877). He was a very hard worker and lived with the Darnell family for the next 5 years. According to a letter from William Darnell's son, John Strange Darnell to William Edward Stanley, John William Stanley "and I slept together for 5 years and we never had a fuss. All my years I have never known another man like your father--he was 15 years of age when he came to work for my father --to clear land for a farm--my father was 6 foot, 190 pounds, not fat and raised in timber. After the first day my father told me that young Stanley was the best hand with an axe that he had ever seen-- so when the 140 acres of timber were deadened my father took your father into our home".⁷

John moved to the Hutchinson area in Kansas in May 1887.^8,9 When he first came to Kansas, John William would buy a book for 10 cents, read it, and then sell it back for half price. He read a lot.¹⁰

At the beginning, John William worked on a horse ranch near Brandy Lake and took meals at the home of Thomas and Emily Leamon who lived just north of Brandy Lake. There he met Ava Maud ^8.

John married Ava Maude Leamon on 31 December 1889 in Reno County, Kansas. They were married by H. M. Gilbert, Minister, in the Leamon home. Ava Maud had trained to be a schoolteacher (her parents had scrimped to send her to Nickerson). But instead she married John William..^11,12,8

John William and Ava lived on a farm about 3 miles east of where Dalton and Anna Hill lived (the Art Johnson farm at one time). They called it the "Dutch House". Sometime after 1900, John William and Ava moved to a house on a corner 3 1/2 miles east of where David and Cheryl Munden live (Fred Hill home at one time) where they bought 80 acres. Sometime in the years when he was trying to support his family, John William sold the oil royalty on his farm. The farm itself was sold after his death.

John was listed as the head of household in the 1 March 1895 Kansas State Census in Valley Township, Reno County. He was 32, born in Indiana. Included in the household were his wife, Maud (22); 2 sons William E (3) and John Robert (2); and his daughter, Grace (9 months).¹³

John was listed as the head of household in the 1900 Census in Valley Township. He was 38, born in Indiana, and listed as a farmer. Included in the household were his wife Ava Maude (Leamon); his sons William E and Fred; and a daughter, Grace.¹⁴ In 1902 he owned 80 acres in the S1/2 SE1/4 of Sec 35 at Valley Township.¹⁵

John was listed as the head of household in the 1 March 1905 Kansas State Census in Valley Township, Reno County. He was 43. Included in the household were his wife. Maud (33); 3 sons, William (13), Fred (9) and Clyde (6); and 5 daughters, Grace (10), Mabel (7), Josie (4), Alice (2) and Ruth (5 months).¹⁶

John was listed as the head of household in the 1910 Census at Valley Township. He was 48, born in Indiana, and listed as a farmer. Included in the household were his wife, Maude (Leamon); three sons, Edward, Fred L., and Clyde F; and seven daughters, Grace E., Mabel H., Josephine M., Alice M., Ruth M., Florence L., and Blanche (unnamed in census).¹⁷

John was listed as the head of household in the 1915 Kansas State Census in Valley Township, Reno County. He was 52, born in Indiana. Included in the household were his sons W.E.(22, Fred(18), Clyde(16) and Harland(3); and his daughters Grace(20), Mabel(17), Jessie(14), Allice(12), Ruth (10), Florence(7), Blanch(5) and Eleanor(8 months).¹⁸

Altogether, John and Ava had 13 children: William Edward (1891); John Robert (1892 - died early); Grace Emily (1894); Fred (1895); Mabel Helen (1898); Clyde Thomas (1899); Josephine May (1900); Alice Mildred (1902); Ruth Marjorie (1904); Florence Louise (1907); Blanche Elizabeth (1910); Henry Harland (1912); and Maude Eleanor (1914). When Ava died in 1914, John William continued to farm and the older children did housework with the help of the younger ones. At some point he sold the oil royalty on farm to support the family. The farm was sold after his death in 1937.

John William loved to play chess and pitch (card game for 2-5 players involving bidding and taking tricks). He would play out in the granary or in the orchard because he thought some of the language was not fit for children to hear. He also drove his horse and buggy to Burrton to play pitch or chess sometimes. It was not unusual for members of the family to walk to Burrton and he probably did so too sometimes.

There is a story (fact or fiction?) that one- time John William was playing cards for money with a rather tough group in a house (or railroad car?) at the edge of town. He was winning but knew that they might not let him leave with that much money So, leaving his coat, he stepped outside (with his money) to "go to the toilet." Without his coat he took off across the fields for home. It's probably one more legend about an unusual man.

John William always drove a horse and buggy. For a time, he did own a car but he left the driving to the older children. He had enjoyed horses all his life and was not interested in changing. He did own a steam tractor once.¹⁹

In 1918, he owned the Maple Corner Farm (80 acres) in the S1/2 SE1/4 of Sec 35 in Valley Township, Reno County.²⁰

John was listed as the head of household in the 1920 Census in Valley Township, Reno County, Kansas. He was 57, born in Indiana, and listed as a farm Employer. Included in the household were his 3 sons, Fred (24), Clyde (20) and Henry (7); and 7 daughters, Mabel (22), Josephine (19), Alice (17), Ruth (15), Florence (12), Blanche (9) and Maud (5). All of the children were born in Kansas.²¹

The Stanley farmhouse was destroyed by fire about 1923. According to his daughter Eleanor who was about 9 at the time, she was living at the homestead with John William, Blanche, Ruth, and Henry Harland. John William had taken her to town and they stopped at the shoemakers where she liked to play with the machines. A man who liked to tell jokes told her to tell her father that his house was burning. He didn't believe it. However, another man told John William the same thing and he rushed back to the house leaving Eleanor with the horse and buggy. She couldn't untie the bridle and began crying so a man helped her by taking her out to the house, leaving the horse and buggy for Jess to bring back. A neighbor had seen the fire and woke up Blanche and Ruth who were sleeping upstairs. The fire started in an attached milk house and spread through tar paper used to block off the porch during winter. Normally it was removed in spring but this year it hadn't. Eleanor was very scared because her father was on the second floor trying to get window glass out of the frames and men were shouting at him to get out because the roof was about to cave in. Afterward everyone but Eleanor slept in the granary. Eleanor went to Uncle Elmer Leamon's where she stayed for several years.

After the fire, John bought a house and moved in it. The first house had two floors; the second only one since many of the children were gone from home by then.²²

John was listed as the head of household in the 1925 Kansas State Census in Valley Township, Reno County. He was 63, born in Indiana. Included in the household were his daughters Alice(21), Florence(18) and Blanch(16); and his son Harland(14).²³

John was listed as the head of household in the 1930 Census in Valley Township, Reno County, Kansas. He was 67, born in Indiana. Included in the household were his daughters, Alice (Allie) (24) and Elnor (15); and his son, Harland (18).²⁴

John died on 31 December 1937 of pneumonia at home on the Stanley Farm at age 75. Based on a rough note by Dad, his death followed an illness that was probably cancer. The doctor told Eleanor that he was essentially "worn out".

John William died intestate. Per a legal Agreement among his heirs, Grace Hill was appointed agent for the heirs. The Agreement was signed by all 12 living heirs on 25 Jan 1938..^25,26,3 John was buried in the Valley Township Cemetery near Haven, Kansas. Per newspaper clippings, funeral services were held at the Pleasant Grove United Brethren Church on Saturday afternoon. They were conducted by Rev. W. S. Luper assisted by Rev. Raymond Horner. ²⁷ (Dad's note says he was buried in the yard of the Bethany Church but his gravestone is in Valley Township Cemetery and he is probably buried there).^28,3

     Ava Maude Leamon was born on 18 September 1872 in Lucas County, Iowa. The daughter of Thomas Benton Leamon and Emily Ann McKinley..^1,2,3

Ava appeared in the census of 1880 in the household of her father Thomas Benton Leamon at Cedar Township, Lucas County, Iowa. She was 7, born in Iowa.⁴

Ava Maude moved with her parents from Lucas County, Iowa to near Brandy Lake, Reno County, Kansas, in October 1882.²

Ava Maude appeared in the Kansas State Census of 1885 in the household of her father Thomas Benton Leamon in Valley Township, Reno County. She was 12..⁵ She went to Nickerson to Reno High School studying to be a teacher. In February, 1888, she converted and united with United Brethren Church.²

Ava Maude married John William Stanley on 31 December 1889 in Reno County, Kansas. They were married by H. M. Gilbert, Minister, in the Leamon home. Ava Maud had trained to be a schoolteacher (her parents had scrimped to send her to Nickerson). But instead she married John William..^6,2,7

Ava appeared in the US Censuses of 1900 and 1910 and the Kansas State Censuses of 1895 and 1905 in the household of her husband, John William Stanley, all in Valley Township, Reno County, Kansas.^8,9,10,11

Ava Maude died on 13 June 1914 at home on the Stanley Farm at Valley Township, Reno County, at age 41. She died at 3 a.m. Saturday morning, 5 hours after the birth of Maud Eleanor at 10 p.m. Friday..^12,13,3 She was buried in the Valley Township Cemetery** near Haven, Reno County. Services were held on 15 June 1914, Rev. M. J. Duncan conducting..^14,3

     As of 1874, Jestine White was also known as Jess [--?--].³ She was born on 5 August 1875 at Missouri. She was the daughter of Henry Clay White and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Tate.^4,2

Jestine appeared in the census of 1880 in the household of her father, Henry White, at Bourbon, Callaway County, Missouri. She was 4, born in Missouri.⁵

Jessie appeared in the census of 1900 in the household of her father, Henry C White, at Butler, Bates County, Missouri. She was 24, born in Missouri.⁶

Jestine White and William Deming Stanley obtained a license to marry on 10 July 1900 at Butler, Bates County, Missouri.⁷

Jestine married William Deming Stanley on 11 July 1900 in Kansas City. By B.M.Brown, a regular Minister of the Gospel.. William and Justine had no children..⁷

Jestine appeared in the census of 1910 in the household of her husband William Deming Stanley at 1st Ward, Butler City, Mount Pleasant Township, Bates County, Missouri. She was 37, born in Missouri.⁸

Jestine appeared in the census of 1920 in the household of her husband William Deming Stanley at Mount PLeasant, Bates County, Missouri. She was 42, born in Missouri, and listed as a bookkeeper in a bank.⁹

Jestine appeared in the census of 1930 in the household of her husband William Deming Stanley at Butler, Bates County, Missouri. She was 54, born in Missouri, and listed as a cashier in a bank.¹⁰

Jestine died in July 1970 in Ironton, Iron County, Missouri, at age 94.^11,12 She was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Butler, Bates County, Missouri.¹¹

     William Deming Stanley was born on 7 August 1867 at Greene County, Indiana.^1,2

William Deming appeared in the census of 1870 in the household of his father William Stanley in Greene County. He was 2, born in Indiana.³

William was named as an heir in the will of his grandmother, Mary Ball, on 24 May 1875 at Greene County.⁴

According to an undated newspaper account of his death in a Butler, Missouri newspaper, William spent most of his life in Butler except for a period in the fall of 1888 when he worked on a cattle ranch in western Kansas (possibly he was with his step-brother, John William Stanley, near Burton, KS). In Butler, Wm. D. was a floor manager for the Samuel Levy Mercantile Co., outfitters for men and women. According to a Butler newspaper account, William became adviser and mainstay of his family group after the death of his mother and "the sterling qualities shown then manifested throughout his later life. A native intelligence stood him in good stead as he faced the world with youthful courage, and a natural gentleness and consideration for others increased with the years".⁵

William Deming was listed as the head of household in the 1900 Census in the 4th Ward, Butler City, Mount Pleasant Township., Bates County, Missouri. He was 32, born in Indiana, and listed as a dry goods clerk.. He was alone in the household.⁶

William Deming Stanley and Jestine White obtained a license to marry on 10 July 1900 at Butler, Bates County, Missouri.⁷ They were married on 11 July 1900 in Kansas City by B.M.Brown, a regular Minister of the Gospel.. William and Justine had no children..⁷

William Deming was listed as the head of household in the 1910 Census in 1st Ward, Butler City, Mount Pleasant Township, Bates County, Missouri. He was 42, born in Indiana, and listed as a clerk in a dry goods store. Included in the household was his wife Justine and 3 lodgers.⁸

William was listed as the head of household in the 1920 Census in Mount PLeasant, Bates County, Missouri. He was 45, born in Indiana, and listed as a retail and dry goods salesman. Included in the household was his wife, Jestine (42, MO).⁹

William was listed as the head of household in the 1930 Census in Butler, Bates County, Missouri. He was 61, born in Indiana, and listed as a shoe store salesman. Included in the household was his wife, Jestine (54, MO)) and a servant girl.¹⁰

William died on 12 April 1933 in Butler, Bates County, Missouri, at age 65. An excerpt from a Butler, MO newspaper obituary indicates the William Deming's funeral was attended by Mr. & Mrs. Lon (Laun?) Stanley and Mr. & Mrs. Charles Stanley of Carthage, together with Mr. & Mrs. William R. Stanley and Silas Stanley of Kansas City..² He was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Butler, Bates County, Missouri.²

     Dorah Stanley was born on 28 April 1869 at Indiana.¹

Dorah appeared in the census of 1870 in the household of her father William Stanley in Greene County. She was 1, born in Indiana.²

Dorah was named as an heir in the will of her grandmother, Mary Ball, on 24 May 1875 at Greene County.³

Dorah went to Missouri with her mother after her father's death in 1874. She was stated to be almost blind in 1884 in her mother's Civil War pension application.

The date of Dorah's death is unknown. Presumably it was after Mar 1884 when she was stated to be nearly blind in her mother's unsuccessful application for a Civil War pension.

     Joseph E. Stanley was born on 11 March 1871 at Indiana.¹

Joseph was named as an heir in the will of his grandmother, Mary Ball, on 24 May 1875 at Greene County.²

Joseph went to Missouri with his mother after his father's death in 1874.³

The date of Joseph's death is unknown. Presumably it was after Feb 1883 when he was listed in his mother's unsuccessful application for a Civil War pension. There is a death of Joseph Stanley, mother Mary, wife Malinda, on 25 September, 1937 in Seattle, Washington recorded in Washington Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960, but it seems very unlikely that this is the same Joseph..