John Angell was born in Maryville, Missouri, April 15, 1880, to David S.
  and Ella M. Angell. At age five he immigrated along with his parents to Kansas
  (Eagle Township) in a covered wagon where they settled at a location 3/4 mile
  north of Lockert School. This was their home until 1895 when they purchased the
  William Lockert farm.
     It was here that John and his brother, Will, broke the sod with a 2 bottom
  sod plow, the first of its kind. Although this plow was new and modern in its
  time, there was no seat on it for the oopertor, so he walked behind as he
  drove the horses.
     John ran a trap line in the winter months and from the sale of furs, helped
  provide for his family. John helped his dad and brother, Will, operate a horse
  powered threshing machine and later a steam outfit which required much maintenance.
  It sometimes necessitated their working all night by lantern light, calking flues,
  etc., so they could operate the following day.
     John married Alice Loretta Bassett in 1901. In 1906 they returned to Maryville,
  where John and his dad operated a meat market. It was here that John learned the
  butchering profession in which he became very skilled. It was a useful and valuable 
  trade which he later used to provide bountifully for his family. It was John's
  love of the soil and his yearning for adventure in the west that brought him
  back to Kansas in 1909. He purchased a 320 acre farm in the Lasswell Community
  and lived there until he purchase the Sherman place, a larger and better, well
  improved farm in the Union Chapel community.
     John was township trustee of the roads and had the unique distinction of
  establishing the township travel routes still used today.
     John and Alice were the parents of eleven children all born in Eagle township
  except Lorena who was born at Maryville. The were: Arthur, Bob, Rachel, Lorena,
  Vera, Helendeen, Mildred, Johnnie, Margaret, Jimmie and Harold. The children
  grew up on the farm and enjoyed a wonderful life, especially memorable is attending
  the country school to which they walked in all kinds of weather and enjoyed it all.
     Each had responsibilities: milking the cows, raising chickens and garden, 
  picking wild grapes and sand plums for jellies and jams. They liked to ride 
  horses, fish and hunt wild game. They would sleigh ride, attend barn dnces, box
  suppers, pie suppers and especially the Christmas Tree parties at the school and
  church. Then there was the Memorial Day group gathering after a visit to the 
  graves at Lodi Cemetery.
     Each fall, JOhn would go to Colorado and ship a loaded boxcar of fresh fruit and
  vegetables to Medicine Lodge for his family's wintertime use and sold to others
  who didn't have access to such fine quality produce.
     John passed away February 9, 1927 at age 46, a tragedy indeed to the family,
  and unbeknown to them, tragedy was to strike again in three short months, in
  the form of devastating tornado afflicting total destruction to their home,
  buildings, livestock and equipment.
     After all this hardship, the family led by a mother of determination and strong
  will, stuck together with hope in their hearts and made plans for the future. 
  John and Alice are remembered as generous friends and neighbors, always ready to
  help anyone in need. Alice died in 1938. Both are buried in Highland Cemetery.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 87 
     Submitted by: Elmer Angell, Jr.