I have finally broken through a brickwall that has plagued our family for over 60 years. I found the proof that Joshua Ripley Johnson was my g-grandmothers father. We were in Chetopa, Labette, KS this weekend to try and find him and to get that proof and we certainly did!!

Chetopa Advance
Thu 10 Apr 1903, pg col

Joshua Ripley Johnson was born in Gallia county, Ohio, May 7 1830, and and died in Chetopa, April 4, 1903, at the home of his step-daughter, Mrs. Frank Shultz. He was raised in Ohio, and at the age of twenty, moved to Cedar county, Iowa, where, shortly afterwards, he married Miss Lucinda Kelly. To this union was born six children, two only surviving Mr. Johnson--Steve Johnson, living in Chetopa and Mrs. Mary Tally, of Chitwood, Mo., his wife dying when the children were small. He came to Chetopa in 1879, where he married Mrs. Sarah Seals, a widow with four daughters and one son-- S. B. Seals, Parsons; Mrs. D. P. Boon, Mrs. Susie Lancaster, Mrs. Lizzie Ventel and Mrs. Shultz. With the exception of four years in Baxter Springs, Mr. Johnson has lived in Chetopa. During his last sickness, which lasted over six months, he gave his heart to God, and passed quietly away, trusting fully in Jesus Christ, the savior of all mankind; and Sunday afternoon he was intered in Oakhill cemetery, Rev. Jas. H. Harvey conducting the services.

A precious one from us is gone.
A voice we loved is stilled;
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filled.

We loved him,
Yes we loved him,
But angels loved him more,
And they have sweetly called him
to yonder shining shore.

We desire to thank the friends and neighbors for their kindness and assistance during the sickness and death of our beloved husband and father.
Mrs. J. R. Johnson
And Children