Early Settlers- E. M. Stapleton – Hillside Cemetery, Edwards, Kansas

Like many Civil War veterans, E.M. was enticed by cheap land and leaving a war-torn countryside behind them. Thus, he brought his wife and five children to Kansas. His original thought was settling in eastern Kansas. But finding the water supply inadequate, they continued west and settled in Edwards County.

Effinger M. was born in 1841 in Pennsylvania. He served in Co. E 1st IA Cavalry. Pvt. Stapleton was discharged with an “injury to his left hand” and received a pension of $4.00 per month.

After the war, he returned to Pennsylvania and married Lydia Mary Anderson on June 25, 1867. They were the parents of eight children.

With the idea of settling in eastern Kansas, E.M. headed west in 1877. Finding eastern Kansas not adequate for farming, he went further west to Edwards County. He built a home for his family who joined him in 1878.

Of their children, the oldest died as an infant. Son, Frankie, was born in 1879 and died on Christmas Day 1882. His cause of death was croup. Frankie was originally buried in the Old Kinsley Cemetery but was reinterred in Hillside Cemetery.

Lydia passed away at the age of 77 on April 25, 1924. Four years later, April 26, Effinger died. His sons, Charles, and George continued living and farming in the area. The three remaining daughters married and remained in the area. All are buried in Hillside Cemetery.

Note: Croup is an infection of the upper airway which limits breathing and causes a barking cough.