James W. Springer, with his wife, Harriet A. Tefft, left Garnett, Kansas,
     early in the 1870's and went to Chautauqua County, Kansas. Their two children
     were with them. They are Grace E. and Alice L. Both girls were born in Garnett:
     Grace, August 13 1867 and Alice, December 15, 1869. Five more children were
     born to this couple. Twins, Harvey and Johnny died in infancy in 1872. Mary
     Elvira was born i 1873, Gusta died in infancy, and Harry A., born in 1876 and
     died in April, 1877.
       James Springer was the son of Harvey Springer and Mary E. (Poteet) Springer.
     James was born Marcu 17, 1842 in Clinton Co., Missouri. He died March 4, 1926, 
     in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
       While they lived in Chautauqua County, there was a cholera epidemic. James
     lost his wife, Harriet, and daughter, Mary Elvira. His sister-in-law, and his
     brother, George, died later that same year, on December 5, 1876. Lorinda (Tefft)
     Springer was a niece of Harriet's. So, by the close of 1876, out of these two
     families of eleven people there were only four left; James W. Springer and his
     daughters, Grace and Alice and his brother's son, Loren, age 16.
       In 1877, James married for the second time. She was Matilda L. Hayden. With
     her and his two daughters and nephew he came to Barber County. To this union
     were born 10 children, all of whom were long time residents of Barber County.
     They were Hattie B. (Hamblin), James B., Cora E. (Warren), Maude S. (Jarnigan),
     Bessie J. (Vandruff), Eddson L., Herbert H., Lulu (Hall), Carrie L. (Balding),
     and Lucy M. (Ives). James two daughters, by his first marriage; Grace married
     John Vaughn, December 5, 1883. She died in Las Animas, Colorado on Febuary 10,
     1904. Alice married Andrew W. Rinke, October 1890. She died April 9, 1914,
     in Barber County.
       There is no way the life of James Springer could be written in 500 words.
     He was an extremely affectionate man, and is remembered very fondly by his
     grandchildren that are old enough to remember him. He served in the Civil
     War in Company G. Seventh Regiment of the Kansas Veteran Cavalry Volunteers.
     His brother, William B. Springer, also served in this same regiment.
       Soon after James and Matilda came to Barber County, they were living south
     of Medicine Lodge. They took the wagon and went to town, leaving Grace, Alice
     and Loren at home. Soon after they left, three Indians rode in and came into
     the house. They pointed to things and motioned for them to give the things to
     them. Grace stood her ground and told them they could have nothing. She had
     a rifle and managed to face them until they left, then all her courage collapsed
     and she was too weak to stand.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 435