John Ballard Mathena (b 1862) is supposed to have fallen into a well around Everest, Kansas, sometime around 1902. Supposedly they were unable to retrieve the body and the site is now covered by the Atchison County lake.

He was married to Mary Bonar and had several children:
Jesse Louis Mathena
Ethel Mathena
John B. Mathena
Phillip Mathena
Blanche Mathena
Arthur Mathena
Willis Mathena
Winona Mathena

Does anyone have an idea where I might find a newspaper article or more information about this?