The LaCygne Weekly Journal Linn County Friday October 29, 1897 A Grand, Good Man Dead. After Two Years of Patient Suffering Dr. Divilbliss Passes Away. At 8:30 o'clock on Thursday morning, October 21, 1897, Dr. J.R. DIVILBLISS, who is well-known to almost everyone in Linn and adjoining counties, answered the call of the Grand Master on High and passed from this world of cares to everlasting peace. John Russell Divilbliss was born in Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pa., October 17, 1827 hence he was 70 years and 4 days old at his death. At the age of four he developed a taste for farm life and went to live on a farm with his grandparents in Franklin county. He worked on the farm and attended a country schol until he was 18 years old when he decided to study medicine at the Marshall college under Dr. James Scott. In the spring of 1847 he enlisted in Col. Chas. Campbell's regiment of Mexican Volunteers where he served until the fall of 1847 when he was reguarly discharged. The same fall he came to Illinois where he remained until 1860, when a partnership was formed between himself and a man by the name of Dr. DuBois and they came west locating at West Point, Bates county, Mo. While residing on the border he had many experiences which wer very interesting. One of his most risky experiences was when he votied for Lincoln and Hamlin. It was the first Republican vote ever cast in Bates county and that at the risk of his life. In 1861 he was employed as a spy, which by his practice of medicine, was unsuspected until he had given Col. Montgomery some information about the rebels. About this time the southern sympathizers became suspicious of the Doctor and on the morning of July 3, 1861 eighty rebels each with a rope, rode into West Point determined to end his career. It was then that some of his good deeds were returned by his fellow men, for he and his family had been taken safe across the line into Kansas and were on their way to Paola. After locating in Paola it was only a short time until the Doctor had built up a large practice, receiving the entire business of the Wea and Miami Indians, and in many instances his life was saved by the red men. Th! e trouble between the north and south continued to grow and he decided to move his family to Valley Falls, then known as Grasshopper Falls, a safe place. In the winter of ' 62-3 he opened up a drugs store which he placed in charge of his brother, S.B. Divilbliss. Soon after this the doctor was commissioned surgeon of the 4th regiment N division of Kansas state militia which position he held until the close of the war. During the battle of the Blue, which is known to be one of the worst fought in the west, he did faithful service, and in returning to camp he and the first assistant surgeon were thrown from the ambulance, the Doctor receiving a broken leg and internal injuries. At the same time the brigade surgeon, under M.S. Grant of Leavenworth, was injured, and as soon as Dr. Divilbliss sufficiently recovered he was appointed by the General to fill the vacancy. During the winter of ' 72 he landed in LaCygne where he remained until his death. Dr. J.R. Divilbliss was a member of the Masonic order, a worker in the Presbyterian church and had several times been elected on the city council. He was always a straight Republican and voted for William McKinley last fall when he was scarcely able to go the polls. For forty years the Dofctor had practiced medicine with remarkable success; he was a member of the American Medical and Kansas State Medical Associations. The funeral services wer held at 4 o'clock p.m. Friday, October 22, at the famiy residence on Grand avenue, conducted by Rev. NUGENT of the Presbyterian church, assisted by Rev. WOOD of the Methodist Episcopal church. After the services the remains were followed to the beautiful Oak Lawn cemetery by a large procession of sorrowing friends. At the grave the last sad rites were performed by the LaCygne Lodge No. 61, A.F.& A.M. The bearers of the corpse were Messrs. A. FRIEDMAN, F.W. POLLMAN, Jr., W.I. ELLSWORTH, F.H. DAVIS, Robert IRELAND and W.H. JUDSON. Nothing was left undone to show the highest honor to the deceased. The casket was beautiful and the finest obtainable. A bouquet of moss roses was placed upon the breast and close beside these was the Masonic emblem. A pillow of the most beautiful flowers bearing the word "father" was laid at the head of the casket and a floral wreath covered the remainder. The grave was lined with white muslin and the ground about it covered with evergreen. The deceased had been confined to the house nearly all the time for the past two years. The best of medical skill was secured but that dreadful ailment, Bright's disease, had gotton a firm hold upon his system. He suffered very much until the last, when he fell into a peaceful sleep form which he never awoke. Realizing his condition he was fully prepared to go. In the death of Dr. Divilbliss this community loses a splendid man--one who had done great good for humanity and whose memory will be cherished by all. Mrs. Divilbliss, one son and four daughters survive the Doctor, an dto them our entire people join the Journal in extending the most profound sympathy.