"The Sterling Sun"
Sterling, Johnson Co., Nebraska
Fri. Sept. 25, 1891
Page 5, Column 6

-----John Y. Francis whose illness was mentioned in these columns last week, and whom it was hoped would soon recover, died at his home four miles north of this place on Thursday evening. The deceased leaves a wife and quite a large family of sons and daughters, most of whom are grown, to mourn his death. The funeral sermon was preached at his residence, by Rev. Williams of this city, on Saturday and the remains laid away in their final resting place in the cemetery east of this city. A large circle of friends and acquaintances extend to the bereaved family, their sincere sympathy.

From The "Historical Sketch of Adams County, Ohio.

John Y. Francis.--The subject of this sketch is of Irish descent. His grandfather Francis, was born in the county of Cork. John Y. Francis was born February 4th, 1831, and married Miss Malinda J. Smith, Sept 7th, 1857. She was the daughter of James Smith, and was born Oct. 8th, 1842. They are the parents of thirteen children: Nelson B., born June 21,1858; John I., born January 9, 1860; George B., Born November 17, 1862; William S., born June 2, 1864; Andrew J., born February 28, 1866; Dyas, born Dec. 6, 1868; Annette A., born March 14, 1870; Laura Bell, born Oct. 12, 1872; Margaret C., born March 16, 1874; Harvey G., born Oct. 10, 1875. They are all living, and remain under the paternal roof. Besides these living children, there were three that died in infancy or early years. Mr. Francis has been the pioneer in introducing machinery in all branches of farming pursuits. He was the first man in the county to introduce and use on his farm a combined reaper and mower. He uses in farming the latest improved machinery of all kinds; grain drills, that at one and the same time sow the wheat, the grass seed and the fertilizer; he uses the sulky rake and horse power hay fork. In building his new barn this spring, he employed S. S. Tucker, who has invented a horse power borer, for framing building. With this machine, a man with one horse, will do all the boring for a building faster than a mechanic can lay out the work. While this intently engaged providing for his conveniences in the household labors. He was the first man in Sprigg township that bought a sewing machine for his family, as well as providing other conveniences to lighten the household work. He is a devotee to the raising of good stock, and has spent his whole life in efforts to procure and improve all the best breeds for his farm. His cattle and Cotswold sheep were purchased from the best herds and flocks in Kentucky, and his Poland-China hogs in Butler county, Ohio. How he has succeeded is attested by looking at his stock, as shown in his farm view, given in our book. Mr. Francis owns and occupies the old homstead of the Rev. William Williamson, who first settled on it, about 1806. Mr. Francis owns some 300 acres, which is kept in a high state of cultivation. He is a believer in Franklin's maxim, that what is worth doing at all should be done well. With his enterprise it is needless to add that with him-farming pays.