From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 90
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902 

JOHN H. STOCKWELL 

   John H Stockwell, who has passed the seventieth milestone on the journey of life, is now an honored and respected resident of Rice county, Kansas.  A native of the Empire state, he was born in Chenango county, August 24, 1830, a son of Reuben Stockwell, who was born in Connecticut.  He died when our subject was but sixteen months old, and his wife, who was in her maidenhood a Miss Doran, was again married, and her death occurred in 1844.

   John H Stockwell, the subject of this review, was reared on his brother-in-law’s farm in Ohio from the age of ten years.  In the autumn of 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of the Third Ohio Infantry, in which he served for three years, when he was discharged on account of disability.  After regaining his health he re-enlisted for service, in 1865, entering the Eleventh Michigan Infantry, in which he remained until the close of hostilities.  He was a brave and gallant soldier, and his war record is one of which he has every reason to be proud.  In 1853 Mr Stockwell was married, and later, in 1864, he located with his family in southern Michigan.  In 1878 he took up his abode in Rush county, Kansas, where he remained for five years, and then located in Rice county.  After spending a few months in that locality they came to the city of Sterling, where he has since made his home.  Fourteen years ago, on the 9^th of September, 1886, he was stricken with paralysis, and this caused him to lose his hearing and his speech, but since that time he has been free from chronic diarrhea, with which he was troubled for years.  His illness has been a long and terrible affliction to him and to his faithful wife, who has been closely confined to his care for the past fourteen years.  They have learned the mute language and are now able to converse rapidly and intelligently.  He is also unable to walk and has to be assisted from his bed to a locomotive chair, in which he wheels himself about the house and on the streets.  He now receives a pension of seventy-two dollars a month.

   In Williams county, Ohio, on the 2^nd of January, 1853, Mr Stockwell was united in marriage with Miss Lydia P Palmer, who was born in Jefferson county, New York.  By the death of her mother she was left an orphan at the early age of fourteen years, and from that time until her marriage she was obliged to make her own way in the world.  She has indeed proved to her husband a true and loving companion for the journey of life.  Their union has been blessed with eleven children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity and are still living.  They also have twenty-three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  Mr and Mrs Stockwell are zealous members of the United Brethern church, and socially he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  His political support is given to the Republican party.  He has ever borne his sufferings with Christian fortitude, and his life is a beautiful example of patience and perseverance.