Memorials › John Oscar Jeffres

John Oscar Jeffres

4 May 1865 – 13 Mar 1924

Birth4 May 1865
Death13 Mar 1924
CemeteryMount Hope Cemetery
Scotia , Greeley County , Nebraska , USA
Added byStarlight on 16 Oct 2014
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91885694

Bio

7 July 1870 - US Census - Monroe Township, Fremont, Iowa Household ..........Sex ......Age Birthplace William Jeffres ...Male ....46 ..Ohio Elizabeth Jeffres Female 46 ..Ohio Elias Jeffres ........Male ....18 ..Ohio Perry Jeffres .......Male ....15 ..Ohio Albert Jeffres ......Male ....12 ..Ohio George Jeffres ....Male ....9 ....Ohio John Jeffres .......Male.... 5 ....Iowa Elizabeth Jeffres Female 24 ..Missouri 9 July 1880 - US Census - Riverside Township, Fremont, Iowa Household ...........Role .Sex .....Age Birthplace William S. Jeffries Self .Male ....56 ..Ohio Elizabeth Jeffries .Wife Female 56 ..Ohio George W. Jeffries Son .Male ....18 ..Ohio John Osar Jeffries Son .Male ....14 ..Iowa 12 June 1900 - US Census - Wallace Creek Election Precinct, Greeley, Nebraska Household ......Role .Sex .....Age Birthplace Birth Date John Jeffres ...Head Male ....40 ..Iowa ........May 1860 Myra Jeffres ...Wife ..Female 31 ..Missouri ..Dec 1869 Leslie Jeffres ..Son ...Male ....14 ..Nebraska Feb 1886 Asal Jeffres ....Son ...Male ....13 ..Nebraska Nov 1887 Orral Jeffres ...Son ...Male ....9 ....Nebraska Jun 1891 Walter Jeffres Son ...Male ....8 ....Nebraska Sep 1892 Glen Jeffres ...Son ...Male ....3 ....Nebraska Jan 1897 Clark Jeffres ..Son ...Male ....1 ....Nebraska Feb 1899 The Greeley Citizen, Greeley, Nebraska · Friday, December 13, 1901 pg 8 LOCAL NEWS NOTES. . . . We learn that John O. Jeffres, of Horace, was last week granted a valuable patent for improvements in carpenters' clamp. We have not seen John hence do not know of what the improvements consist. . . . The Greeley Citizen, Greeley, Nebraska · Friday, July 03, 1908 pg 5 LOCAL NEWS NOTES . . . John Jeffres drove to Scotia last Friday and from there took the train for Lincoln, his brother being seriously ill. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Jeffres, of Wallace Creek, went on the Burlington Saturday. . . . No date 1910 - US Census - Greeley, Greeley, Nebraska Household .......Role .........Sex .....Age Birthplace John F Hepp ....Head .......Male ....35 ..Indiana Jessie A Hepp ..Wife .........Female 24 ..Iowa Harriett L Hepp Daughter Female 5 ....Nebraska John Jeffres .....Boarder ...Male ....__ ..Iowa (widowed) George Jeffres ..Boarder ...Male ....7 ....Nebraska 1920 - US Census - The Greeley Citizen, Greeley, Nebraska · Friday, 17 November 1911 pg 4 Notice of Sale Under Chattel Mortgage WHEREAS, heretofore and on the 2d day of June, A. D. 1910, A. W. Freeman and John O. Jeffres, of the County of Greeley, and State of Nebraska, being indebted unto The Clark Implement Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Iowa, in the sum of Five Hundred Fifty add no-100 Dollars to secure payment of said debt, made his certain chattel mortgage in writting,(sic) whereby he mortgaged unto said Company certain personal property, described in said mortgage as follows: One 13-Horse Nickols & Shepard Traction Engine, complete, No. 5897; one Ottoway D. Corn Sheller; one Robinson Mounted Saw Mill; one Four Wheel Engine Tender. AND, WHEREAS, default has been made in the payment of the debt secured by said mortgage, there being now due and payable thereon the sum of Five Hundred Seventy-seven and 45-100 ($577 45) Dollars, and no suit or proceedings has been instituted at law to secure the debt now remaining secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof, and said mortgage was, on the 6th day of June, A. D. 1910, fled in the office of the county clerk of Greeley county, Nebraska. NOTICE Is HEREBY GIVEN, that on 1st day of December, A D. 1911, at 11:00 o'clock A M. of said day, said mortgage will be foreclosed by a sale of said mortgaged property at public auction. Sale to take place on southwest quarter section 7-18-10, at the residence of said A. W. Freeman, in Greeley county, Nebraska. Dated, this 8th day of November, A. D. 1911. THE CLARK IMPLEMENT COMPANY, Mortgagee. 9 January 1920 - US Census - Hershey, Lincoln, Nebraska Household ...........Role ........Sex ......Age Birthplace Ace Jeffries ..........Head .......Male ....33 ..Nebraska Kathryn Jeffries ..Wife .........Female 23 ..Nebraska Ethel Jeffries .......Daughter Female 6 ....Nebraska Laurence Jeffries Son .........Male ....4 ....Nebraska Regina Jeffries ....Daughter Female 3 ....Nebraska Ralph Jeffries ......Son .........Male ....1 ....Nebraska John Jeffries .......Father .....Male ....55 ..Iowa (widowed) Glenn Jeffries ......Brother ...Male ....22 ..Nebraska Clark Jeffries .......Brother ...Male ....20 ..Nebraska Mable Nation ......Sister .......Female 18 ..Nebraska (Married) The Greeley Citizen, Greeley, Nebraska · Thursday, 13 March 1924 pg 1 JOHN JEFFRES A FIRE VICTIM A Former Greeley Man Dead at Home in Ogallala. Leslie Jeffres of near Horace today: received a message stating that his father, John Jeffres, had died, this morning in a fire at his home, at Ogallala. No details of the tragedy have as yet reached relatives near Horace. The message was sent by the victim's daughter, Miss Mildred Jeffres. The deceased moved to Ogallala about seven years ago. He formerly lived In Greeley and near Horace. Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, Nebraska · Thursday, 13 March 1924 pg 1 OGALLALA MYSTREY JEFFRES' BODY FOUND IN RUINS OGALLALA, Neb., March 13.-The charred body of John. O. Jeffres, Union Pacific pump man was found In the ruins of his home which burned to the ground last night. His head had been crushed with a blunt instrument and authorities say he was murdered. Alex Swantowski, who was last seen leaving the Jeffres house, is being questioned. Newspaper clipping taken from the Keith County News, Thursday March 13, 1924: John Jeffrey(sic) Found Dead In Burned Shack In Ogallala This Morning The nature of Fire and Condition of Charred Remains Causes Suspicion That There Was Foul Play The charred remains of John Jeffrey(sic), who has been employed in the U.P. pumping station at this place, were taken from the back room of his shack or rebuilt garage in Ogallala about 5 o'clock this morning after the shack had burned to the ground. The fire was discovered by J.A. Tholander, a near neighbor, about 4 o'clock and gave the alarm to which the volunteer department boys responded as quickly as was possible. Mr. Tholander found the front or west of the shack on fire and thinking that Jeffrey was inside opened the door only to be driven back by fierce flames. The fireman worked bravely on the little shack but it curned as though it might have been saturated with oil and continued until completely burned to the ground. The body was found lying face down on the floor with hands and feet completely burned off. Remnants of clothing and a belt showed that he was dressed when he died. A pool of blood under his head and a fracture of the skull as well as a protruding tongue indicate that he might have been beaten with a hammer or other heavy tool or choked, or both and the shack set on fire to hide a crime. A belt buckle, some silver money and his watch, which stopped at 3:40 o'clock were found on the floor under and near the body.-------------------------------- The Greeley Citizen, Greeley, Nebraska · Thursday, 27 March 1924 pg 1 OFFER REWARD FOR MURDERER Keith County Officials Seek Slayer of Jeffres Ogaliala, county seat of Keith county, has been much distrubed the last two weeks over the murder of John Jettres, tormerly of Greeley and Horace. The. Keith county commissioners have offered a reward of 3200 for the arrest of the murderer of the former Greeley county man. The current issue of the Keith County News says: "The corner's jury on the case of John Jeffres gave its verdict that the said John Jeffres came to his death by unlawful means, vis. by having been feloniously struck on the left side of his head with a weapon, the nature of which is unknown to the jurors, and having been thereafter burned by same person or persons unknown to the jurors. "The county commissioners have offered a reward of $200 for the apprehension of the party or parties guilty of killing Jeffres. "A special representative of the Union Pacific Railway company is in Ogallala this week and will assist the local officers in every way possible to locate the guilty party. "A number of witnesses have been examined since the last issue of the News. Among these were Dr., Howard Vandiver, Louis Nispel, John Gruella, and Wm. B. Schafer, who testified in a public hearing last Friday night. Others have been examined in private hearings since that time. "It is gratifying to see the sheriff and his deputies working so diligently on this case and it is believed they are making considerable headway toward a finial solution of the mystery of the crime." The body of Mr. Jeffres, accompanied by relatives, was taken to Scotia last weeek for burial. The following obituary of the deceased has been furnished the Citizen: "John Oscar Jeffres was born in Fremont county, Iowa, May 4, 1865, and died in Ogallala March 13, 1924, aged 58 years, 10 months and 9 days. "When about 18 years of age, he moved with his parents to Greeeley conuty, where he lived until the spring of 1919, when he moved to Ogallala. "Mr. Jeffres was united in marriage to Miss Myra Marlow of Greeley county, January 1, 1885, and to this union were, born twelve children, three of whom died when quite young. The names of the living are as follows: Leslie of Wolbach, Ase of Alliance, Orville, Walter, Glen, Clarke, Mabel, George and Millle, of Midwest, Wyo. "Mrs. Jeffres, wife of the deceased; passed to the great beyond, January 27, 1907. "Mr: Jeffres leaves to mourn his loss, besides his children as above mentioned, one brother, James Albert Jeffres of Horace, and many other relatives and friends. "Funeral services were conducted in the Methodist Episcopal church, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock by the pastor, Rev. Jesse A. Monkman, and interment was made in the Mount Hope cemetery at Scotia. Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, Nebraska · Tuesday, 23 September 1924 pg 5 SWANTOWSKI IS TO FACE TRIAL TODAY Jury to Be Called Tuesday to Hear Case of Man Charged With Killing John Jef- fres of Ogallala. OGALLALA, Neb,, Sept. 22.—(A.P.)—Selection of a jury to hear the trial of Alexander Swantowski, who is charged with first degree murder in connection with the alleged slaying of John O. Jeffres, veteran employe of the Union Pacific railroad, whose body apparently murdered, was found half charred in his burning home here last March 13, is scheduled to begin here Tuesday. Jeffres' body was discovered by firemen who answered an alarm early in the morning to extinguish flames which had badly damaged Jeffres' home. His body with a hole in the skull with an and one arm broken, was found. Swantowski was arrested when neighbors said he had been the last person seen to leave the Jeffres home. He was arrested at his mother's home in bed, fully clothed. He is a world war veteran. A hammer and a stove lifter were found in Swantowski's clothing and identified as having belonged to Jeffres. He was held for investigation but released about six weeks ago. He had explained that he had borrowed the hammer to nail up a fence and took the stove lifter while joking with Jeffres Union Pacific and state detectives had worked on the case since its origination, until convinced, they said, by Swantowskl's explanation. As a result during August he was again arrested, at Lexington, Neb., where after being grilled he gave what was said to have been a confession which implicated Barney Shaver and Duncan Ellis. He said he was at the Jeffres home the night before Jeffres' body was found and said he was intoxicated. He said he was asleep but awoke to see Shaver hit Jeffres over the head with a revolver, and that Ellis urged Shaver to "hit him again." Shafer was taken at Salem, Neb., and Ellis at both were Cheyenne, brought Wyo., and both were brought here. Another man, John Mostek, was arrested and told of being at the Jeffres home until 1:30 the night of the alleged fight. His story resulted in the release of Ellis and Shafer and he is being held as a witness. He said no one but Swantowski was left with Jeffres when he left. Alleged "third degree" methods which Swantowski claims were used on him have been indicated as expected to play a part in the trial. Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, Nebraska · Saturday, 27 September 1924 pg 1 SWANTOSKI TAKES STAND IN DEFENSE Ogallala Man Charged With Kil- ling John Jeffres Admits Be- ing Drunk Night of the Murder. OGALLALA, Neb., Sept. 26.-(A.P.)— Alex Swantowski took the witness stand today in his trial for the murder of John Jeffres, whose body was found in his burned home here last spring, and after relating circumstances of his visit to Jeffres' home the night the latter was supposedly slain, told the jury of alleged third degree methods he said he had been subjected to by officers. Swantowski's statement regarding treatment by officers was admitted after verbal clashes be tween attorneys. Prosecution attorneys contended the testimony is for the purpose of prejudicing the jury. Thomas Carroll, head of state law enforcement officers Cal Broady, George Golz, Carroll's assistants; Sheriff Jump of Ogallala, and City Marshal Braman were named by Swantowski. Swantowski today said that when he left Jeffres' home the night of the crime, he went to his car, intoxicated. He does not remember, he said, when and how he got home. He also testified that Barney Shafer, who this week took his own life, and Duncan Ellis were not at the Jeffres' home at any time while he was there. Beatrice Daily Sun, Beatrice, Nebraska · Sunday, 28 September 1924 pg 1 OGALLALA MURDER TRIAL ENDS WITH DEFENSE VICTORY NOT GUILTY IS ITRY'S VERDICT IN HEARING OF SWANTOWSKI ON CHARGE OF SLAYNG AGED VCTIM REAVIS MAKES BRILLIANT PLEA FOR PROSECUTION Ogallala, Nebr. Sept. 27.—-A, verdict of not guilty was returned here late today in the case of Alexander Swantowski, charged with the murder of John Jeffres last spring. The jury was out less than an hour. The case went to the jury after a brilliant plea made by former Congressman Reavis In behalf of the state, In which he urged "law enforcement and protection of society" and full recognition of "circumstantial evidence." ThE court room was crowded all day by "court fans" and attaches listening to the pleas of the defence and the state. Although the number of ballots taken by the jury could not be ascertained, it was said that only one was taken. Keith County News, Ogallala, Nebraska · Thursday, June 03, 1926 pg 8 Order of Hearing and Notice on Peti- tion for Settlement of Account In the County Court of Keith Coun ty, Nebraska. State of Nebraska, Keith County, ss. To Leslie H. Jeffres, Ace E. Jeffres, Orvil L. Jeffers, Walter C. Jeffres, Glenn G. Jeffres, Clark E. Jeffres, Mabel G. Fitzgerald (nee Jeffres), George E. Jeffres, Mildred E. Campany, nee. Jeffres, and all persons interested in the estate of John O. Jeffres, deceased: On reading the petition of C. L. Contryman praying for a final settlement and allowance of his account filed in this Court on, the ist day of June, 1926, for an order of distribution and assignment of the residenee of said estate and for the discharge of the administrator from his trust as such. It is hereby ordered that you and all persons interested in said matter, may, and do, appear at the County Court to be held in and for said County, on the 24th day of June A. D. 1926, at 10 o'clock A.. M., to show cause, if any there be, why the prayer of the petitioner should not be granted, and that notice of the pendency of said petition and the hearing thereof be given to all persons interested in said matter by publishing a copy of this order in the Kelth County News a weekly news paper printed in said county, for three successive weeks prior to said day of hearing. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the Seal of said Court, this Ist day of June, A. D. 1926. (Seal) C. Arrowsmith, Connty Judge. L. A. DeVoe, Attorney. June 3-10-17.

Photos

Family

Parents

Spouse

Siblings

Children

Export GEDCOM

This person only · Entire connected family