1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

John R. Derry is a well known and prominent citizen of Englevale, where he conducts a general merchandise store. His store in Englevale is first-class in every particular, his stock is large and well selected, and his customers have proved steady and increasingly numerous since he had his opening day.

Mr. Derry was born in Brown county, Ohio, February 22, 1869. His parents, O. H. and Matilda (Wilkes) Derry, were also natives of Ohio, and in 1874 left that state and located in Iowa. They now make their home near Girard. His father has been a minister of the Christian church for the past forty years.

Mr. Derry attended the public schools, which were the fount of his early education and training. When eighteen years old he began teaching, which alternated with farm work for several years. He also learned the trade of printer, and in 1898 he bought out the Independent News plant at Girard. He continued as editor and publisher of this paper for five years and a half, and then sold out his interests at Girard and moved to Englevale, where he bought a stock of goods and opened his present business enterprise. In addition to his store he also owns his pleasant home in Englevale.

Mr. Derry affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 1612, and he and his wife are members of the Christian church. He was married on March 31, 1891, to Miss Lenora Blue, of Iowa. They have four children: Harold, Ruth, Aleen and Beth. (At this date, 1905, Mr. Derry is editor of a paper in Seneca, Kansas, where he resides.)