STEPHEN A. DEVER                           

The LeRoy Reporter, Dec. 8, 1916

Stephen A. Dever Dead.

  Stephen A. Dever, one of the old time residents of LeRoy died suddenly at the home of his son Fred Dever in Osawatomie Monday morning.  The cause of his death was probably either heart disease or acute indigestion.  He had just arrived in Osawatomie from Kansas City, Missouri, where he had been spending a week at the home of his younger son Don Dever.  Arriving in Osawatomie at about 12:30 a. m. Monday, he seemed in his usual good health although complaining some of being tired from his long day in Kansas City and the night ride.  Soon after retiring he complained to Mrs. Dever of a pain in his abdomen and asked her to get some water so that he might take a little soda as he was often troubled with indigestion.  He carried a small bottle of soda with him all the time.

  He then complained feeling faint and Fred being aroused, called a physician who came promptly and ordered a hot-water bottle applied to the painful spot.  This was done but gave him no relief and suddenly, as he was sitting up in bed in the arms of Mrs. Dever and Fred, he collapsed and died.  This was about four o’clock.  The body was brought to LeRoy on the morning train Tuesday and burial was made in the LeRoy cemetery.  The funeral services were conducted at 4 o’clock Tuesday afternoon at the residence and at the grave and were in charge of Neosho Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M. with W. J. Armstrong of Burlington acting as Worshipful Master.  The full ceremony of the order was used.

  The G. A. R. also gave their burial service at the grave.  Mr. Dever was an old soldier, having served in the 5th Ohio Cavalry.

  Stephen A. Dever was descended from old French Hugenot stock.  The family name was formerly spelled DeVere.  One of his ancestors was prominent in the Revolutionary War.  He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania March 29th, 1841 and had he lived to see his next birthday would have been seventy-six years of age.  He was the sixth child in a family of thirteen, two of whom survive him---a brother and a sister.  The brother is Garret V. Dever of Kansas City, Missouri; the sister is Mrs. Lida Eaton of Wellsville, Ohio.  Mr. Dever was united in wedlock in 1868 to Miss Eliza McLean who with their seven children and his many friends are left to morn his death.  The children are Miss Allie McKenzie of Parsons, Mrs. Florence Fisher of Topeka, Mrs. Effie Withered of Newton, Mrs. Besse Sutton of Corwallis, Washington, Fred Dever of Osawatomie, Mrs. Ila Hazen of LeRoy and Don Dever of Kansas City, Missouri.  All were present at the funeral except Mrs. Sutton.

  Mr. Dever had the distinction of having been in the employ of the Missouri Pacific railroad longer, probably than any other man.  He began as a car inspector in Kansas City, December 1, 1866 and worked until 1908 when he was compelled to resign on account of an injury to his left eye.  In his 42 years of service he held many important positions in the car and bridge departments.  In 1869 when the road changed from narrow to standard gauge, the track was relaid between Atchison and St. Louis in twenty-four hours.  Mr. Dever had charge of changing the rails between Pleasant Hill and Independence, Missouri.  He was car inspector here when he resigned.