John and Emma (Nuffer) Gress were natives of Douglas County, Kansas, and
  lived there approimately 54 years of their lives.
     When they left the place (about 10 miles west of Lawrence, Kansas) near
  Stull, Kansas, in 1926 to move to Scott County, Kansas, they left the home 
  place wehre Emma was born, and the house that was built when she was 4 years
  of age. This was near where John was born and reared, and his old home place.
     They left their relatives and long-time friends in Scott County. They
  attended Church of the Brehtern at Friend, Kansas, where everyone always
  asked everyone to their homes for Sunday dinner. They were a most gracious
  congregation. Part of the time ministers came from Scott City to a school
  house neary-by to hold services.
     When the frought and some dirt storms were beginning in western Kansas,
  they moved to Barber County in the spring of 1934. They lived on the
  Calloway Place near their son, Herb Gress, and his wife, Lee. There they
  continued farming.
     They always lived on a farm except for living in Lawrence twice in order
  to give their children better educational opportunities. They still drove
  back and forth to the farm.
     Dairying was one of  their main occupations, along with the farming. 
  They lived on the Updegraff place northwest of Medicine Lodge, before moving
  to Medicine Lodge in 1944. They bought a small acreage on West Central where
  they kept a few milk cows and chickens. They had a large garden, selling
  and sharing the excess produce. John also sold milk. They were near their
  daughter, Pearl, and her husband, Jim Joseph, and their family.
     John worked for Barber County. While on this job, at age 75, he injured
  his hand and the lower arm so badly it required amputation. He still enjoyed
  his garden and poultry, selling eggs also.
     After John's accident, he served as undersheriff when Louis Fowler was
  sheriff, and also under sheriff Andy Stevenson.
     They were always active in church and continued to be involved in their
  Barber County homes. First, they attended at rural Forest City where Emma
  belonged to Forest City Ladies Aid. They later were members of the United
  Methodist Church in Medicine Lodge, where Emma was a charter member of UMW.
  She was a member of EHU and Amber Club. They enjoyed Sunday School classes,
  get to-gethers, and church services.
     John and Emma were honored on their 50th wedding anniversary during the
  morning church service in September 1942. Ten years later, they celebrated
  their 60th anniversary and received many gifts from friends.
     The Gress family consisted of six children: Charles, Roy, Herb, Ralph,
  Pearl (Joseph), and Ruth (Pike). The four sons are deceased, two in their
  early years. John and Emma liked to be near their children and grandchildren.
  They were blessed with 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild during their
  lifetimes.
     They, as most people, had many good times, many hardships, joys, and
  sorrows. Friends, families, and church were most important, rather than 
  material things of life.
     John passed away in January, 1953, and Emma in December, 1959.
  
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 204 
     Submitted by: Ruth Gress Pike