ANSWERED LAST ROLL CALL.

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John H. Nafus Had Lived in Neosho

County 46 Years.

When John H. Nafus died at his home in this city last Friday morning Erie and Neosho county lost one of her oldest and most respected pioneer citizens. Mr. Nafus came to this county in 1867 and located on a claim 3 ½ miles northwest of Erie where he continued to reside until 1883 when he removed to Erie and had made his home in this city from that time until his death. John Nafus was a brave soldier, a good citizen, and an exemplary neighbor. In 1861, at the early age of 18, he enlisted in the Union army and gave his services for the defense of his flag and his country until peace was restored. After the war was over he returned to his home in Lake county, Indiana, where he resided a couple of years and then came to this county and took a claim northwest of Erie which is the farm he owned at the time of his death. Coming here as he did before the Indians had left this county, he experienced the hardships of the early pioneers and did his part like a man to help develop this country and bring it to its present high standard of civilization. While Mr. Nafus was a man of a quiet disposition and had little to say, he was always found on the side of right and always was doing what he could to make his town, his county, his state and his country a better place to live.

The cause of Mr. Nafus’ death was cancer of the stomach and he was a great sufferer from this disease for many months, but he bore it as bravely as any man could, and his devoted wife and children were as considerate of his every want and as tenderly cared for him as it was possible to be done, but He who rules the universe had called him, and he answered the summons as must we all sooner or later.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church of which church Mr. Nafus was an active member for a quarter of a century. The services were conducted by Rev. W. T. Smith and burial was made in the Erie cemetery. The Old Soldiers and W. R. C. attended both services in a body and his old army comrades had charge of the final services at the grave and they tenderly lowered him to his last resting place in this earth with his coffin wrapped with the stars and stripes that he loved so well and for which he gave four years of the best part of his life in defending.

John H. Nafus was born in Lake county, Indiana, May 29, 1843, where he spent the greater part of his childhood. His parents having died when he was only 8 years old he made his home with an uncle until September 1861, when he enlisted in Co. F, 9th Ind. Vol. Inft. And served during the entire war, although he was wounded soon after he enlisted. He came to Kansas in 1867, settling on the farm northwest of Erie which he owned at the time of his death. In 1871 he married Miss Mary Jane Dannelly. To this union were born three children, Mrs. T. C. Foxworthy, of Erie, Mrs. C. O. Ruhle of Venus, Tex., and C. F. Nafus of Cedar Hill, Tex., all of whom were with him during the last months of his illness. His death occurred at Erie, Kans. on the morning of August 1, 1913, making him 70 years, 2 months and 3 days old at the time of his death.