https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/17/467/Families-G.pdf 178bc7b3934fe78242859297f8b4170e PDF Text Text Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gaines on their 45th wedding anniversary May 15, 195?, at their home on Main Avenue in Flagler. with Jean McMaster, born April 17, 1887, a daughter of Willian Ogden and Nancy Fuller/Borders four generationg: Back row: Floyd Borders, J.W. Borders, Hal Borders. Seated: Grandma Fuller holding Dick Borders, Hal's son Bob Borders, Grandma Sarah Borders and Diana Borders. GAHM, MRS. ELLA F215 On August 22,1962, we spent the evening in the home of Mrs. Sadie Raines in order that we might record some of the facts about and experiences of her mother, Mrs. Ella Gahm, who celebrated her 91st, birthday in January, 1962. Mrs. Gahm, her husband Ed, and their three children, took up residence in Kit Carson County in Feb. 1906. Mr. Gahm had come out in December of 1905 and filed on a homestead, having bought a relinquishment. This quarter section was located 5 miles south of Peconic. He and a friend. George Cowing, came out in an emigrant car containing their household goods, farming equipment, a team of horses, etc. When Mrs. Gahm and the children ceme they spent the first night in the Montezuma Hotel, and had to all four occupy one room. The Gahm'g lived with neighbors until their own home was built of adobe. The roof was covered with boards, tar paper, then sod on top. This was cozy and comfortable until one day a "twister" went through the area and tore the roof off. To help out the first year, Mr. Gahm worked for Grant Mann, a well driller, employed by many of the homesteadere. The family raised a large garden, and made kraut in half barrel lots. There were of course no phones, no electricity, no hospitals and no doctor service very near. When Mrs. Gahm's fourth child, Vannie, was born in 1908, she had the servicee of a midwife, Mrs. Burlington, and she herself acted as a midwife and delivered four babies for neighbor families. She was dso called many times in the case of sicknesg or death. Mrs. Gehm also acted as a barber and cut her son's and husband's hair. She says she always cut it as close as she possibly could. She made all clothes by hand, other chores including gathering cow chips for fuel, and coal oil lamps meant a daily task of cleaning lamp chimneys. There were many hardships for the set- Liddle McMaster. They were the parents of two children, Arthur Edwin, Jr. born November 14, 1914 and Doris May born on July 14, 1920. She died of spinal meningitis on May 24,1923. tlers, blizzards in the winters and high winds and fires in the summer. One frightening experience was the big fire of 1910. "I don't remember how wide the burned area was but as the fire neared our home, it divided and went on each side, leaving us unharmed, but the possibility of being surrounded and burned left a memory never to be forgotten. The fire posed a real hardship on the cattlemen, who depended upon the rich and nutritious grass for food for their cattle. After visiting Colorado in about 1919, Art bought a half section of land eight miles south of Flagler, and two years later he held a farm sale near Omaha and brought a calf, some chickens, an Avery tractor, and some furniture in a "box car" to a rented one-story frame house across the road from his land. Meanwhile the family and Jean's mother, Nancy, rode the Rock Island passenger train, arriving in Flagler February 22, L92L. Art kept busy raising wheat, barley, oats, The writer asked Mrs. Gahm what she and corn with corn being the main crop. remembered most about homestead life and she answered, "hard work" but Mrs. Raines spoke up and said, "But we had lots of good timeo", she went on to say that seldom did Livestock raised included cattle, horses and they ever spend Sunday alone. Either their family would go to a neighbors for dinner or some family would stop in at our place for dinner. Many modern wives would throw their hands in the air if a family of four or five would drop in unannounced. During her later years, Mrs. Gahm pieced and quilted some fifty or more beautiful quilts. One, a postage stamp pattern, (made up oftiny blocks sewn together by hand) now belongs to Mrs. Raines. by Mrs. Bessie Peggy T9ilson GAINES, ARTHUR E. FAMILY F2l6 Arthur Edwin Gaines, the eldest son of Charles Thomas and Emma Liming Gaines was born Februar5/ 2, 1888, in a log cabin near Jacksonville, Illinois. His childhood was spent on the family farm, where with four sisters and a brother he attended the Liter- berry school through eight grades. At age twelve he beco-e a member of the Shiloh Methodist Church. As a young man, he went to Omaha, Nebraska where he worked for five years and spent ten years farming by himself. On May 15, 1912, he was united in marriage hogs. Jean spent many hours whenever needed acting as a practical nurse and/or midwife in the area. For entertainment, they played cards and danced in each other's homes. Neighborhood clubs with a big hearty meal served at midday were popular with farm families. As many as fifty might gather at one time. The Gaines family purchased land two miles northwest of Flagler, built a two story modern fra-e houge, a large Gordon Van Tyne pre-cut barn (shipped from lowa), and other buildings, moving there in Lg2l. Jean was a charter member of the Flagler Woman's Club and served actively in the Flagler Congregational Ladies Aid. Art and Jean belonged to the Flagler Country Club for many years. They helped the club celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. The club was so large it owned dishes, silverware, coffee pot, and even chairs, which passed monthly to each family as food and friendship were enjoyed by all. Jean was also one of the first Home Demonstration Club presidents in the Flagler area. As the years went by, Art became involved in Farm Bureau, serving as the local president, then for seventeen years as State Farm Bureau treasurer. Through his Farm Bureau work, he was asked to investigate ways and means to get electricity to this area. As a result of much hard work and several selffinanced trips to Washington, D.C., electric power was brought to eastern Colorado. Art served as president of K.C. Electric for its first twenty-one years, 1945 till 1966. He was �also active in signing people for the rural telephone syst€m. He wae a member of I.O.O.F. lodge for more than thirty-five years. The Gaines'built a brick home on Main Avenue in Flagler in 1948 and moved to town. Jean and Art enjoyed nlmegt, 50 years of married life before his death on March 23, 1962. On March 19, 1966, Art married Anna Stouffer of Bellevue, Nebraska. Anna died in 1969. Martha Kessler was joined in marriage with Art on July 30, 1970. She died December 27, L986. When Art ceaged active farming, he continued taking care of his yard and large garden. He derived much enjoyment from many town children and his great-grandchildren. An open howe was held in 1983 in honor of Art's 95th birthday. Arthur Gaines passed away at the age of 95 on May 15, 1983. by Arthur Gaines, Jr. GAINES, ARTHUR 8., JR' F2r7 ArthurEdwin Gaines, Jr. was born November 14, 1914 at the Irvington, Nebraska farm home of Arthur E. and Jean McMaster Gaines where he lived until the family moved to a farm eight miles south of Flagler, Colorado February 2L, LgzL. His younger sister Dorie May was born July 14, 1920 and died May 24,1923. Art, Jr. attended the Texarado school for the remainder of that year. He was the only boy enrolled there. He was transported daily by the teacher, Aljy Stinton. The following year he transferred to the Flagler School and ':l:l .,'.4:' 'l:t ,i; *::lt.. was graduated from Flagler High School in 1934. He attended college at Colorado University in Boulder and Colorado Agricultural College in Fort Collins. During the following three years Art was a distributor for Conti- nental Oil Company in the Seibert and Flagler areas. On January 31, 1938, Arthur married Pearl Fay McCart, daughter of Joseph Andrew and Diana Bratley McCart. Pearl was born December 10, 1917 near Neosho, Missouri. At the age of three, her parents, a sister, and three brothere moved to a farm south of Seibert, Colorado. Pearl attended Sunday School and grade school at Pleasant Meadow, Spring Creek and Rock Cliff, later going to grade school and high school in Seibert, where she was outstanding in scholastics and athletics. She graduated as salutatorian of her class in 1934. Three children were born to the Gaines': Willinm Arthur, November 11, 1940; Terry Jay, May 8, 1944; and Phyllis Ann, September 19, 1945. In the spring of 1940, Art and Pearl moved one mile west of Flagler and began farming. Two years later the three Gaines'moved to the old "'Schwlm place" two and a half miles west of Flagler and continued working on the farm for four years. The farm sold to the Roy Dragoo family, so the five Gaines'moved to 526 Main Avenue while Art worked on the railroad for a yeer and originated the Flagler-Denver Truckline. In 1948 the Art Gaines, Jr. family moved to the family farm two miles northwest of Flagler where Art farmed until 1970. Pearl passed away aftcr a short battle with leukemia on October 16, 1950 at the age of 32. Virginia Barr Gainee, daughter of Aubrey and Florence Swaneon Barr was married to Art on May 3, 1952. She was born November 3, 1915 at York, Nebraska. She attended country grade school and graduated from York High School. Ginny graduated from Kearney State College in 1937 with a degree in English, then taught English, home economics and art for three years at the Madison, Nebraska high school. Virginia attended the Lincoln General Hospital school of nursing for three years and becsme a registered nurse. She went to Denver in 1944 where she volunteered and served her coun- try during World War II in the Army Nurse Corps, journeying to the Phillipine Islands and Japan. She returned to Denver, taught and supervised obstetric's in Denver Presbyterian Hospital during the post war "baby boom". Upon coming to Flagler in 1952, Ginny soon became busily involved in family life a Den Mother, Girl Scout council - beingpresident secretary, of PTA and band parents, along with nursing part time at the Flagler Hospital. Later she served as director of nursing in a Limon nursing home. Virginia and Art joined the Flagler Congregational Church and have been active in church activities through the years. Art's volunteer community sewice has included: nine years on the Flagler Equity Co-op board; twenty-five years in Boy Scouts of America, having been awarded the Silver Beaver in 1955; six years on the Flagler school board during construction of the new school building; two years as 4-H tractor club leader; chairmanship of the fund raising campaign for the Community Medical Center; service on all local boards of the Flagler Congregational Church, and on the board ofthe Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Chrigt. Art was a member of the Community Ambulance service for twelve years afier its formation in 1968. He was assistant director for two years, director for four years and taught CPR and EMT classeg for seven years. Having been appointed to the Flagler Housing Authority in 1976, and elected chairman in 1979, he was deeply involved in the construction of what is now the low-cost housing projects known as "Pioneer Valley". Along with' his volunteer activities, Art continued to carry on an active farming progrrm, including hog and sheep production. After semi-retirement in 1981, Art and Virginia have had time to enjoy being with their children and grandchildren and taking extensive winter trips in their fifth-wheel :,i,it r ?:i; trailer. Theycontinue to live on MainAvenue in Flagler. t ::' !t f,t{.:;;:, r,t::::,, ,t:';titer:: Present fanily members include: BiU, his wife Kay (Oehrli) and son, Gregory in Puyallup, Washington; Terry, his wife Sally (Mock) eons Jay, Andrew and Todd, and daughter Rebecca on the "home falm" northwest of Flagler; Phyllis, her husband Allen Petereon and sone Mark and Steven and daughter Jean Ann on the "Schwyn place" two and a half miles west of Ffuler. by Arthur E. Gaines, Jr. GALES FAMILY The Arthur E. Gaines, Jr. family, November 12, 1961. Seated: Virginia Barr Gaines, Arthur E. Gaines, Jr.; Standing: Phyllis Ann, Terry Jay, William Arthur, 2nd Lt. Navigator in the U.S. Air Force. F2l8 My grandfather James William Gales wag born January 2, Lffi7 in Promise City, Iowa and married Martha Davis there. They moved to the Seibert, Colorado area approximately 1915 looking for land to homestead or buy. They lived in several homes in the Seibert area. They had three daughters before they moved to Seibert; Eva, Pauline and Fern Artie. Grandpa Bill was a very �loving and caring man. Some of my happiest memories are the times I spent with him. He was one of the early members of the R.L.D.S. church and continued faithful until his death in 1961. Grandpa died December 1931 of dropsy. He wae a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge and Community Club. Even after a back injury forced him from the farm, he loved to take ridee in the country to see the crops. Eva never married and continued to live at home. Pauline married Ralph Roberts in Seibert in 1917 while he was working on the railroad. They moved to Kanorado, Kansas and then to Goodland, Kansas where he continued working on the railroad until his death in 1953. They had one daughter Lois, Wayne, and Delbert, who died at birth. Harrison and Augusta farmed and ran cattle like everyone else. They took great pride in their garden and always had their cellar full. Gardening was a family affair. Each spring Harrison would plowthe plotwith horses and float the ground to make it level. Tomato, cabbage, pepper and celery plants were st€fi,ed early in hot beds. The extra plants were eold in Flagler. Each fall about 1000 quarts of food was put up. This consisted of chicken, beef, corn, green beans, tomatoes and fruit. There were some cherry trees on the farm until the hail killed them in 1934. Canning in those days was lots more work than now. Corn was canned in the copper wash boiler and you hauled wood in all day Juaneta who married Ernest Middleton. They had four children and several grandchildren. Pauline wan very active in the R.L.D.S. church playrng the organ and to keep the fire going. Harrison and Augusta's grandchildren even enjoyed grandpa's help in teaching class. She always had a large garden and shared it with family and friends. Fern married Ernie Akers inl924 and they Farming was done with horses, and I don't really remember when we got a tractor. We did get our first modern conveniences in 1940, a gas stove and refrigerator! Like most had five children. After their divorce she traveled to Canada and Alaska, returning to California in 1974 where she died in 1987. by Dorothy (Akers) Noel GANGWISH - RUHTER FAMILY F2l9 l1 .iiir,, ,:. the garden. Grandpa could cut corn faster than anyone! everyone else, we milked cows and sold cren- and eggs. Harrison believed in paying cash. He never owned anyone and always paid cash or they just didn't have it. One day during a dirt storm a baby lpmb wandered into the farm yard. Of course the kids loved it, and they bottle fed the baby for three days before the neighbors could see to come get it. When they took the lnmb home, the ewe wouldn't claim the lnmb, so they gave it back to Geraldine, Lois and Wayne to raise. The lamb was called Tiny and followed them everywhere. Augusta wasn't so proud of that lamb. The girls liked to hold Tiny and he would chew the bias tape ties on their dresses to shreds. Tiny did grow up and it was a sad day when Tiny was sold. Evenings and snowy days were spent Harrigon and Augusta Ganpish on their fiftieth wedding anniversary, January 2, 1962. Harrison Morton Gangwish (born August 14, 1888 in Juniata, Nebraeka) and Augusta Marie Ruhter (born November 3, 1892 in Roseland, Nebraska) were married on January 1, 1912, in Sidney, Nebraska. In the spring of 1918, they bought and paid for 320 acreg of land north and east of Arriba. Colorado. It wasn't until 1923 when they moved to their farm from Juniata, Nebragka. They cnme by car when they moved to their farm from Juniata, Nebragka. They came by car with their baby daughter, Geraldine, and ahipped their belongings on the railroad. Their firet home wae a little house "acrosg the road" from the present farm. They lived here while building the new house during the errmmer of 1923. The fun features of this new house were a big picture window in the living room and an open full basement. The basement was used for roller skating and dances. Neighbore came on Saturday night every couple weeks. The ladies brought sandwiches for supper and everyone pitched in to pay the mwicians for square dancing music. Three children were born in Colorado. playing cards and games. Favorite pastimes were pot luck dinners with the neighbors. Harrison and Augusta loved their children and grandchildren. They always had time to talk and play with their kids. That's one thing their three children and nine grandchildren will always remember - Grandma and Grandpa loved us! The family always enjoyed one another and summer reunions were a big event. We always tried to spend at least a week together every summer fishing and camping. Geraldine, Lois, and Wayne still like to travel together and continue to spend a couple weeks together each year. by Geraldine M. Smith GARNER - HAMPTON FAMILY I.220 Joe W. Garner and Susie S. Hnmpton were married in Gove County, Kansas, on April 2, 1911. Joe had grown up in Phillips and Gove Counties of Kansas. Susie was born and grew to young womanhood in Mason County, Illinois. Her parents the P.C. Hamptons had come wegt as pioneers a few months before her marriage. In October of 1911, Joe and Susie packed their belongings into a covered wagon and with a few head of livestock trailing the wagon they began their adventure to move Joe and Susie Garner. westward to locate and claim a homestead in Colorado. Their goal had been to go into the Flagler or Limon area or beyond. They were marooned in the Bethune area for a few days due to an early fall snow storm. As they approached Stratton they had been told of the beautiful bluestem grass, belly high to a horse, in the sand hills northwest of Stratton. It sounded good, so they moved in that direction and settled 13 miles northwest of Stratton, one mile north of the Republican river. Days were difficult in their new homeland. Joe used his team and equipment to help other neighbors break sod and also did custom work to earn some cash. Susie looked after the home area, milked the cows and herded their livestock. A number of their relatives soon cnme to settle on near by land. George and Agnes Paintin homesteaded just east of Joe and Susie about a half mile. Another sister and her husband, Sam and Alice Travis, settled on a homestead northeast of Garners. Then Susie's parents and brother, P.C. and Maggie Hampton and Johnny crme a few years later and settled on a homestead about one mile north of them. Their first house was a flat roofed "soddy". The house walls were laid up with sod and the roof was constructed of boards covered over with strips ofsod to keep out the weather. It was blown away in a cyclone only a few months after completion. For several months then Joe and Susie lived in their covered wagon parked near George and Agnes Paintin's house. Susie's father was a builder. When they came to homestead, he built the Garner's new home. Using adobe blocks he constructed a very nice six room two story house. It was stuccoed on the outside, plastered on the inside and had wooden shingles on the roof. The house still stands on the Garner Ranch. One of the sorrows that came in their early homestead days was the loss of their first baby girl a few days after birth in 1914. Medical care was very limited for these early homesteaders and the difficult birth resulted in the baby's death, surgery for Susie in �Denver some months later and resulting poor and ranch management during their stay. health for several years. Joe and Susie began attending a Sunday School in the school house at Solid Center about a mile and a quarter from their home. Several relatives shared their home at different periods during their long years of homemaking also. They were well known for their warm Christian hospitality through the good years and the bad. Joe and Susie left a legacy for their children, a strong example of noble, upright, thrifty living, and a spirit of genero- They soon accepted Christ and became active members in the Church of God congregation which developed from that Sunday School and later moved into town beginning the congregation that now worships in Stratton. Joe was a hard worker, a good stockman, and Susie was an excellent manager and sity in giving. by Mabel Scheierman assisted in many ways as they developed their ranch with Aberdeen Angus Registered cattle. They did farming to supply their own food and feed for their livestock. They sometimes raised extra produce which they sold or took to Stratton to trade for needed commodities. One time during World War I days Joe took a wagon load of sweet water- melons to town and traded it for a one GARNER, WILLIAM JENNINGS F22r My father, Thomas A. Garner was born in England in 1854. Along with my Grand- hundred pound sack of sugar. Joe and Susie were finally blessed with parents, Jernes and Sarah Gatner, the family sailed from Manchester, England and embar- three daughters, Mabel Scheierman and Wanda Sweet, who have both spent their lives as active residents of Kit Carson ked at St. Paul, Minnesota. They took a tree claim in Gove County, Kansas and planted lots of Cottonwood trees. On April 24, 1880, my father married Eunice Patience Silvers Grushus. She was the daughter of Edwin and Lucretia Silvers. To this union nine children were born. James was born in 1880, Maude in 1882, and Joe on November 19, 1885, in Phillips County, Kansas. Agnes was born in Gove County, Lpri|22,1890. Alice was born April 10, 1888, Edith on September 5, 1892, and Thomas on September 6, 1894, all in Norton County, Kansas. I was born September 24, 1896. My appearance was made in a dug out four miles south of Morland, in Graha- County, Kansas. Gladys was born September 17, 1898, in Graham County. County. Norma Borden, a minister's wife has apent her life in various states and twelve years in Kenya East Africa as a missionary with her family. They also had three sons, one who died at birth, Robert who was killed in a car train accident in Littleton, Colorado in December of 1949 at the age of 19. Lyle K. who now owned the family ranch and resides in Stratton. Joe and Susie faced many difficulties as they weathered the dust bowl days and the depressions years. Many years they struggled to pay their taxes and the Federal Land Bank loan. During theee years many of their neighbors gave up the struggle and left the farm to move away to find greener pastures or a different livelihood. Joe and Susie pulled together and worked hard, lived frugally and were able to buy several near by farms to add to the acreage of their ranch. One set back came on the heels of the depression when after a summer storm Joe rode out to check his cattle and found 17 head of his heifers, goon to calve, dead along the fence row, the result of the severe lightning storm the night before. To add to the problem they had dropped the insurance they had carried for years on the cattle, in order to cut expenses to make it through those rough years. In 1950, soon after Bob's death they moved into Stratton where they resided for their remaining years. For several years they commuted to oversee the farm work until the falm was turned over to their son, Lyle. In 1952 another storm brought devastation to their home place when a tornado struck the home site, demolishing every building on the original homestead except the adobe house. Even the large barn with high cement walls and a large haymound was completely destroyed by this storm. Through it all they lived by a strong faith in God, which gave them an anchor that held them steady through the storms of life. Susie was one who was often called in by her neighbors to assist in times of illness or death. Joe faces the trails and tcsts with assurance that their God would see them through. Through the years their home was always open to those who might need a meal or a place to stay for awhile. A number of young men made their home with them for various periods of time and received training in farm My father worked in a flour mill in Morland. There were two places to hang the burlap sacks and two sets ofscales. The sacks offlour weighed fifty pounds and were sewed shut. A byproduct of the wheat milling consisted of bran and a coarse meal called shorts. Sacked separately, the bran was used for milk cow feed and the shorts was mixed up into slop to feed the pigs. Flour was $1.00 for forty eight pounds. I wasn't very old at the time but I remember seeing the sacks on the scales. I went to Dalton Valley school. Mable Bentley and Mrs. Bertha Martin were two of my teachers in Gove County. In Graham County I went to the Shiloh School. I only had a few years of schooling. My best subject in gchool was arithmetic. Brother James died in 1909 at the age of 29 years. After his death our family moved down on his homestead located seven miles east of Jerome in Gove County, Kansas. There was a well on his homestead. The well was caged up with four inch boards which soon rotted out. It would only pump about a barrel of water at a time and the water was poor. We finally dug a cistern and hauled water from a spring two miles away for our house use. Henry Nordman owned 280 acres next to ours which we rented. My father eventually purchased this land in 1907 for $10.00 per acre. I helped him pay for it. We milked a few cows and sold cream in Jerome. We farmed only with horses. Our meat consisted of rabbits and a few prairie chickens. In the spring we picked lambsquarters and raised potatoes and we had plenty of beans. In the winter the neighbors helped each other butcher and cure their yearly supply of pork. The fuel supply consisted mostly of cow chips, corn cobs and a little coal. I can remember when I was twelve years old, I was sick with pneumonia. My father had a doctor come out from Wakeeney. He made two trips out, a distance of about forty miles each time. The Doctor told my Dad that he wouldn't bother to make another trip out cause "he was going to die anyway". My sister Agnes was at home and along with a neighbor lady that knew about doctoring put a poultice on my chest. In a month or so I was able to walk the three miles to school with the other kids. My first trip to Colorado was in 1911 by covered wagon along with brother Joe. He married gsa llampton that so-e year and came out to homest€ad twelve miles north- west of Stratton. When I went back to Kansas, I got on the train at Stratton which took me to Grainfield. I rode with a mail carrier to Gove City and caught another ride to Jerome. then I walked seven miles to home. When I was eighteen, I went to Hays, Kansas to take a physical for the draft in World War I. I didn't pass due to not having enough wind in my lungs to expand. Ray Phelps sold me my first car. It was a 1918 Dodge Touring car for $780.00. It had side curtains, two seats and a small running board. We didn't have to take a drivers exemination at that time. The car had a reverse gear and three forward gears, low, intermediate, and high. We sold horses and mules to pay for it. Horses were good property. I traded two mules for a registered Morgan stallion from George Heineman who lived east of Digton in Lane County. I belonged to the American Percheron Society of America in 1922. They were large fast-trotting draft horses. I bought a mare from H.L. Salmon and O.D. Dun, Fowler, Kansas. In 1925 I bought a registered Percheron mare from C.E. Simonsen of Healey, Kansas. In 1939 we had sleeping sickness in our horses and we lost some. Dr. C.A. Gibson came out and vaccinatpd the herd for $15.50. I made wind breaks from soap weeds. Posts were set two feet apart then wire strung across and the space filled in with soap weeds. The cattle wouldn't eat them and they would last as long as the posts did. At one time or the other all of the Munsell boys worked for me, also Delbert and Wally Johnson. My father passed away on October 20, 1925, at the home of my sister Agnes Paintin. He is buried at Shields, Kansas. Agnes married George Paintin at Hill City, Kansas on October 14, 1908. They went to Colorado by covered wagon in 1912. Alice married Sa-uel Ernest Travis at Morland, Kansas on June 7, 1907. Edith maried Potter Gabler. He passed away several months later. She later married John Mclean of Jerome, Kansas. Gladys married Glenn Parks at Morland. They moved to Stratton, Colorado and later to Oregon. Glayds passed away March 7, L975. My mother moved to Kit Carson County, Colorado, to make her home with brother Tom south of Vona, Colorado, in 1935. She passed away on July 31, 1941, at the age of 86. Ed Grushus, our half brother, took sist€r Maude to Utah and on to Union, Oregon to stay with an Aunt and Uncle Tinkam and go �to school. She married Wallace Lisle of Tacoma, Washington. She passed away March 16, 1966. Thomas manied Irene Burton, August 18, 1941. He departed this life August 28, L962. I stayed on the farm in Gove County, GATTSIIALL, FRANK AND MILLIE F222 Kansas until 1939. I had Devin Conaway, Joe and lvan Paintin to help drive my sixty head of horses out to the farm six miles eouth of Vona, Colorado. I survived the dirt storms and depression by raising mules. I had over "In testimony whereof, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America. have caused these letters to be forty head at one time. I started buying the Joe Collins ranch south and east ofStratton, Colorado in 1940. I kept adding to it until now we have four in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, and of the indepen- the other half is farm ground. President Wilson, the east half of S ection 2411-45 became the property of Millie Beatrice Hartzler, Beaverton, Colorado. At the soddie on this homestead near Beaverton, Laveta sections. One half of it is in native grass and I married Emily Niles of Stratton at Kinsley, Kansas, May 15, 1940. We lived on the farm for a few years. It was hard to get help during World War II, so I rented the farm out and we took a trip to Tacoma, Washington to see sister Maude that I had only seen twice. She loved that country and said it was "Gode Country". We bought a forty acre chicken farm across the peninsula at Lake Bay, Washington. We soon discov- hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at the city of Washington, the Sixteenth day of May dence of the United States the one hundred and thirty-eighth. The recorded Patent number 406135." With the signature of Thelma Gattshall was born February 24, 1912, and Wallace Frank Gattshall on June 15, 1913 to Millie and Frank Gattshall. In about 1916 Frank and Millie bought a half section of land six miles north of Flagler, Colorado from a brother of Dr. Neff. It was here that Frank and Millie made their best effort. They hand-milked as many as nineteen good Holstein cows. Their dairy barn was the best option for a derelict school house known as the Huntly School. Since its abandonment because of consolidation for the Flagler School, its only other use had been by a large family of skunks under its floors. The skunks were captured by Lee Nussbaum, an old bachelor who lived about seven miles north of Flagler. Frank made a two row sled planter to plant corn in the fresh plowed sod, which was plowed by Bill Stone with his steam engine and a twelve bottom sod plow. Other machin- ery was customized by Ed Malbaff, a blacksmith in Flagler other ensilage, stored in a pit silo. The ensilage cutter was hand fed and powered with a stationary gas engine, hand cranked, and it ran some times, too. The ensilage was elevated from the silo with a derrick, a rope and pulley, powered by a saddle horse. The ered there was more work with seven hundred old hens and twelve milk cows than back home on the farm. We thought it might be God's Country but God didn't say we all had to gtay in the ssme place, so we moved to Stratton, Colorado, In June 1948. Duane Kindred and I worked together for sevent€en years until I retired. We have four children. Verlin has two children and lives south of Bethune, Colorado. Jennifer Singley has two children and lives at Longmont, Colorado. Willetta Dickey has two children. They live in Lakewood, Colorado. Nilee Ray is the father of one daughter. He and his wife are serving in the Armed Forces in Germany. Our church home has been the Church of God in Stratton. We have traveled quite extensively. When the family was home we took many trips across the country and we still travel. We have taken bus tours, had our feet in the watpr ofthe west coast, crossed by boat at Bar Harbor, Maine and into Canada. We have gone by bus to Seattle, by boat to Fairbanks, Alaska then flew to Nome. We flew to Puerto Rico in 1968 for a week. I have traveled by covered wagon, boats and planes. I have eeen the change from cow chips to microwaveg for cooking. Neighbors were friendly and we helped each other. They rejoiced in one's good fortune and lent a hand Last day of school at Fairview; 28 pupils all grades; Milie Gattshall, teacher. in time of trouble. Time has a way of marching on. I have been blessed with a healthy body. Along with the failures, I'm grateful for the opportunity and freedom to carry out my dren-e and goals. Since retiring to our home in Stratton, we've enjoyed the two one-row listers - and a seven foot made into a two-row lister disc extended to ten feet. The corn crop was made into feed, some of it as dry stover and iirri:.,iiil fellowship and activities with the Senior Citizens groups. I will be 90 years old on September 24, L986. by Mrs. Emily Garner Millie Hartzler Gattshall's homestead at Beaverton in September, 1914. �expression now days is "labor intensive." Millie taught school at Fairview, a school on the Thurman road, perhaps ten or eleven He continued to farm and ranch. Elsie was an excellent geamstrese. She loved to cook and hundred dollars per month for the three years she taught there from 1918 to 1920. In 1923 Flagler in 1954. Hillert was baptized at the age of 32 at the First Baptist Church at Gothenburg. He later entertain friends. They did much traveling and went over-seas once. They moved to miles north of Flagler. She was paid one Millie taught at West Fairhaven, northeast transferred to the First Baptist Church at Flagler, where he and Elsie were members at the time of their deaths. Hillert died July 12, 1968 following a heart attack, just three years on that date after his 1951, '52 and ofFlagler and for three years '53 at Sunny Slope northwest- of Flagler. In L924 Wayne Alfred Gattshall was born at home with Dr. Neff in charge. Laveta and Wallace were sequestered at the Ed Leasburg home just south of the Buffalo Creek on Thurman Road. Somewhere in the interim time, Frank helped build the basement to Flagler Baptist Church. Frank and Millie sold the farm on the Buffalo in 1926 and moved to Washington County north of the Shiloh neighborhood. by Wallace Gattshall GEIKEN, HILLERT JAKE F223 Hillert and Else Geiken bv their new home in Flagler, Co. 1954. Hillert Geiken. They ceme to the Gothenburg, vicinity in 1881-82 residing on a farm in the northeast area in Blaine precinct. Other children were Dick, John, Mary, Lilly, and Anna, two dying in infancy. Hillert attended District 87 (Grandview) school. In 1916, he manied Ruth Margaret Viter. She was born Nov. 2, 1900 at Etna, Nebraska. Ruth's father was, Charlie Viter. Charlie's father was Johan Weiter who came to America from Sweden in 1879. His wife Marie csme with him. Their trip across the North Sea went well. The name "Weit€r" was changed later to Viter. They cnme to Gothenburg and bought land for $6 - $10 an acre. Ruth's mother, Anna Olsen, was born Jan. 1, 1868 in Sweden. She came to America in 1887, and married Charlie Viter in 1887. They lived at Tsllin, Custer Co. Nebraska, and eight children were born, four boys and four girls. Charley Viter died in 1902, leaving her with eeven children, the oldest 14 yrs. ofage. In 1904, she manied Charley Nelson, and to them two daughters were born. Their names were Selma and Ellen. They moved to Gothenburg. Anna died August 22, L947 at Carlotta, California, where she resided 3 yrs. Hillert and Ruth resided on the family farm a few years. Two children were born there, Bernice Rhodna, born July 11, 1917, and Stanley Keith, born April 29, 1919. In the 1920's, the family moved to Holly, Colorado to farm. A daughter, Deloris Iola was born October 15, 1923. Due to the drouth years there, they moved back to Gothenburg and Hillert worked on an irrigated farm. Ruth enjoyed crocheting, piecing quilts and caring for the family, until she became ill, and was Hillert J. Geiken and daughter Mrg. Bernice Maloney and Verda Rose Malony, grandaughter. Picture taken 12 milee north of Seibert. on the Geiken farm by their eod house in 1940. Hillert Jake Geiken Jr., son of Hillert Jacob Geiken and Marie Christine Bunger, was born 16 July, 1897 at the farnily farm in the Grandview area northeast ofGothenburg, Nebraska. Hillert Sr. came to Panola. Illinois from Germany in 1868. He was born in Victorbur, Upper Saxony in Germany January 13, 1857. He was the third son of Dirk and Henrietta Antone Brussner Geiken. He came to America, hoping for a better life there. Maria was born Oct. 1, 1862 in Clayton, Illinois and April 13, 18?9 was manied to hoepitalized. Hillert raised the three children, with the help of relatives. he was always very devoted to them. The ages of the children then were eight, six, and two yrs, Deloris being the youngest, stayed some with an aunt and uncle, Olaf and Esther Pearson. Esther sewed clothing for the children. Deloris stayed later with Henry and Agnes Jenkins for some time. Hillert married Elsie (Swanson) (Sheridan) April 30, 1934. They resided several years at Inghnm, Nebraska, and one yr. at Wellfleet, Nebraska. Elsie was born Oct. 12, 1903 at Atlanta, Nebraska. Her parents were Malcolm and Jennie Swanson of Wellfleet, Nebraska. She had one son, Maurice Wake- field Sheridan. Hillert and Elsie moved to Seibert, Colorado in 1940, on a farm north west of Seibert. brother John died. Elsie died April 19, 1975, after a lingering illness and both are buried in the Flagler Cemetery. Ruth Geiken moved to Portland, Oregon, and on March 15, 1945, she manied Phillip L. Norman. They lived together about two yrs. and Phillip died. She moved to Boise, Idaho and lived there 2t years. She did maid work at hotels and motels, until she retired. She came to Colorado in 1968 to be closer to her children. She lived in Pueblo 8 yrs. She was in the nursing home at Burlington a few months, when she died of a heart attack, March 15,1977. She was buried in the Seibert Cemetery. by Mrs. Bernice Maloney GILLETTE, DR. AND MRS. I.224 Mrs. Viola Gillettc is one of our pioneers who can tell many interesting experiences of the early days here. Her father, the late, Robert G. Campbell cnme here in February, 1887 from Illinois. The family cnme out in March of the snme year. The family consieted of Mr. and Mrs. Cnmpbell, Seward, Violaand a foster son, C.F. Moore. Mr. Canpbell homest€aded about two miles this side of Kanarado. The next year Mrs. Gillette took a preemption about 2 L/z milee northeast of where Kanarado now is locatpd. She had a sod house built and taught school there in her home. She had six pupils and their parents paid her. The county seat was then at Kiowa and she had taught six months before the superinten- dent found it out. Later she took the ex"minations and received a Colorado Certificate. She taught one term northeast oftown in Precinct 1. After the railroad was built, she taught two more terms, in Kansas. Mrs. Gillette said that for the first two or three year they were here there were no social affairs but later there were dances and literaries. They at first did their trading at Haigler, Nebr., or Wallace, Kan. Later the small town of Carlyle was etart€d. Mrs. Gillett€'s father was elected County Clerk and the family moved to Burlington in Jan., 1892. She helped him in the office. She was manied in April, 1892, to the late Dr. C.A. Gillette. They led a happy busy and colorful life. Dr. Gillette for quite a while was the only doctor between Goodland and Colorado Springs. Mrs. Gillette accompanied him on many of his trips. They drove a team hitched to a buggy. He used to take a day to go to Cope and a day to return. Many a time they had been caught in a heavy rain toward evening and as darkness came on they would unhitch the tenn and tie them to the buggy �and sit in the buggy until daylight. Even those who were used to traveling the prairies did not try to drive after dark. The vagt sea of open country had no fenceg or landmarks and it was very easy to become lost. In the years that followed, Dr. and myself took part in an active social and business life in our town. We built the building that was occupied by the Shank's Cafe and Peterson's recreation parlor and other buildings. Dr. Gillette retired several vears before his death in 1937 or 1938. by Mrs. Viola Gillette GODSMAN FAMILY F226 Charlotte J. Godsman Charlotte Godsman was born in Madison County, Iowa July 10, 1869. She cn-e to Colorado in 1888 with her pioneer parents, John and Lucinda Rose, and settled near Hoyt, Colo. She began her teaching career in Iowa when she was eighteen years old. Her first teaching position in Colo. was at Hoyt. In 1889, she manied Dr. Paul Godsman who was a physician, attorney at law, legislator, and judge. They had one child, a son, Sidney Paul Godsman. Her Uncle George lived near a little town called Hoyt, which was about fifty miles across country east by a little north of Hugo, Colo. They had taken claims there and seemed to like it very much. Uncle George had wanted us to go there but Father preferred California at the time. Later, Father sent word to Uncle that we were on our way to settle near him. May 6, 1888, we arrived in Hugo, which was a terrible contrast to Pasadena. Uncle met ue with a lumber wagon and a team ofhorses. The next morning he took us over a long houselese road, dry, sandy, monotonous, to his place a half mile west of Hoyt. Mail, groceries, and supplies of all kinds people; they "corralled" cows, sheep, horses, business, friends, and opportunities; a "dra\p" wag used for a valley, etc. The settlers were good whole-souled people, and very kind to us. They were pleased that I was a teacher and gave me the Hoyt school. The men had a "building bee" to plow the sod and lay the walls for a sod school building. They left openings for the window sashes. The roof was made of pine boards covered with sod. When the windows came, they were fow inches too short, but they were made to "do". The unfilled area was at the top of the windows, and furnished ample ventilation. often when the wind blew (and there was plenty of wind) dust would blow in so much that the air would become thick and foggy with dust. Father's claim, a Preemption, lay a mile north and a little west of uncle's place, and adjoining Mr. Brafford's land on the south. The Brafford's oldest girl, Etta, was a year younger than I and becane my friend. To begin my four-month school, I had to have a "Permit" to teach until the next regular Teacher's Examination in August. At that time, I made a grade of 86 7 /L2 percent and was given a Second Grade Certificate, issued by Bernard, C. Killian, Supt. of the Elbert County Schools. It was so far to Kiowa, the county seat that he sent me the questions by mail. I wrote the answers and mailed them back to him. The past two years in Iowa, I had received First Grade Certificates. The Colo. Examinations were harder or were different enough to give this result. It dashed my pride a bit. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hutchens kept a general merchandise store in Hoyt. They kept the Post Office also. Etta and I would walk down there after school to await the mail with all the other people waiting for the mail. Father would meet us and take us home. James H. Priest, later a son-in-law of uncle George, having maried Edna Rose, filed on a homestead south of Hoyt, April 1887. He says at that time, Dr. Hoyt's little house was the only building. That summer it grew with several stores, a Post Office, tavern, printing office, lumber yard, dance hall, etc. by Della Hendricks were freighted by wagons from Hugo to Hoyt once a week. How we looked forward to the 'mail day'. Uncle George had a very good sod house for the short time they had been there. There were no floors, but the ground was smooth and hard. Father was delighted with everything. It seemed dreadful to mother and I. I felt discouraged. Father was so happy, whistling, as he built our little one-room house, that mother and I tried not to dampen his spirits by fault finding. The sod houses, while not works of art, were very cool and comfortable in the Bummer and warm in the winter. The deep window seats were excellent for house plants. On the other hand, we were stubbing our toes on the cactus at every st€p, driving the sharp thorns through the shoes leather. Also we had to be on the look out for rattle snakes which were very nnmeroug. There were no amusements for the young people except the country dance. I had been taught that it was wrong to dance and I believed it. To me, it appeared that no one in the west cared for correct English. They talked any old way. Such terme were used: "round-up" for any eort of a gathering of GODSMAN FAMILY r.228 Dr. Paul B. Godsman On July 4, 1888, the Fourth of July Celebration was held in the lumber yard at Seibert, where it was possible to obtain enough seats for the crowd. The oration ofthe day was delivered by a young doctor, Paul B. Godsman, who had come out to Colorado for his health. he had had pneumonia three times the preceding winter. Mr. Maddox the R.R. suryeyor, told him of the dry, beneficial climate of Eastern Colorado and urged the doctor to accompany him westward. Seibert was determined to have a big celebration for the 4th. We all gathered at the home of Mrs. Hutchens to practice singing. That was how I got to meet Dr. Godsman. He would take me and bring me home from practice. A Grand Stand was erected between two buildings, facing west. There were the usual gnmes and races for the occasion, but Dr. Godsman was the most interested in the foot races as his partner Mr. Luane was quite a foot racer and won all the races. Afterwards we ate the fine picnic lunch mother had put up for us. Father, my friend Etta, Mr. Luane, Dr. Paul and myself, (Charlotte Rose) even enjoyed iced lemonade. (A neighbor had put up ice the winter before.). On July 14, a most beautiful moonlight night Dr. told me he loved me and wanted to marry me. I was shocked! Some time after we were married, he said to me one day "Do you realize that you never did say that you would marry me!" I told him that I said "Yes" to the preacher in the wedding ceremony, anyway. That fall was the first General Election in the new county of Kit Carson. Dr.. Godsman was asked to "run" for County Judge, on the Republican ticket, a term of three years. He came to tell me and asked if I would marry right away before the gnmpaign sta*ed. I demurred on the grounds oflack of preparation; he said he was quite willing to risk it, well, I consented! Law, as Doctor expressed it, was his "first love", but Dr. Allen, his step-father, encouraged him to take medicine instead by telling Paul that he would help him financially, if he would go to Medical School. Therefore, he went to Medical School at St. Joe, Missouri for one year. Dr. Allen then persuaded Paul to go to a larger city where he could be brought in contact with many different kinds of cases and diseases; accordingly, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated from the Ohio State Medical College, in the Spring of 1884. He won the Gold Medal of Physiological Prize. I was proud of my husband to be, being a doctor, but if he preferred to be a lawyer, that was his affair, and it was all right with me. We were married Wednesday, September 4, 1889, Rev. H. Meade of the Congregational Church of Seibert, officiating. Some months previous Doctor had taken a "Tree Claim" two and one-ha]f miles west of Seibert. He had had a cozy little sod house erected on it. We lived here a short time but Dr. seeing he would have to be away a lot decided to build a small room onto his office and we moved in there. Well, in the November election, 1889, Burlington won the eounty seat, and Doctor Godsman was elected as the County Judge. We moved to Burlington so that Paul might be closer to his work. (In 1903, the Godsman'g moved to Denver and in 1904 Charlotte began her 35 year teaching career. She retired in 1939. Godsman Elementary School in Denver was named for Charlotte Godsman.) by Charlotte Godsman GOEBEL - CHANDLER FAMILY I.227 My father, Henry E. Goebel, was a well known early day Kit Carson County, Colo. rancher and farmer. He was born January 21, 1874 at Rodinghausen, Westphalia, Germany. He came to the United States with his father, three brothers and two sisters. Their �on a Saturday night in the homes. Dad played the violin, others who played the violin were, Johnny Jacober and Walter Korthas. We children can remember many happy times, when neighbors came in on a Sunday for dinner and visiting, neighbors getting together for Sunday picnics, we would go to the Republican River where there were many large trees and water to go wading. Many family reunions were held. Aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins living in the area Henry Goebel and Mary J. Chandler Goebel wedding picture, May 29, 1901. mother, Carolina Louisa Carlotta Schreve Goebel passed away May 16th, 1885. Later that snme year Grandfather and his five children came to America. They first settled near Claytonia, Nebraska. In 1891 at the age of sixteen he anived in Kit Carson County with his parent's. The parents soon returned to Nebraska. Father had staded to work for a Mr. Ed. McCrillis on the ranch that is now known as the Spring Valley Ranch, so he stayed with the job. The ranch is located along the Landsman Creek. At that time, there were springs and large water holes up and down the valley and natural hay meadows. Father was foreman at the ranch until 1916. He moved his family back to their homestead, located twelve miles north and three west of Burlington along the Landsman Creek. My Mother, Mary Josephine Chandler was born February 23, 1882 at Shelbyville, Illinois, and arrived in Colorado in the spring of 1888 with her parents, three brothers, Frank, made up quite a large group. Mother worked very hard raising her large family, what with no conveniences compared to what we have now. She always raised a big vegetable garden, did a lot of sewing for us girls, a lot of cooking and baking and always got us off to school on time. We, too, can remember some very hard times we endured. Dad worked very hard. After World War No. I, and the depression, cattle prices dropped and Dad was nearly wiped out. But he had faith in the country and did see better times. Mother passed away July 18th, 1941. Father continued to live on the ranch until 1951 when he sold the place and moved into Burlington. He spent the last two years of his life living at Ebenezer home in Brush, Colo. He passed away September 19th, 1955. Both he and mother were of the Lutheran Faith, internment at Fairview Cemetery, Burlington, Colorado. by Ruth Bauder GOODRICH, ROBERT AND ORPIIA four miles west and ten miles north of Burlington. May 29, 1901 my parents were married here in Burlington by Reverend C.L. Yersin, Minister of the Christian Church. The young Goebels proved up on their homestead while he worked for Mr. McCrillis. They later moved to the ranch to be nearer his work as he had been promoted to foreman, a job he held until 1916. He moved his family back to the homestead and started farming and raising cattle. He also bought cattle and hogs for a commission company out of Denver. Thirteen children were born in this family, two died in infancy. Their girls, Mable Alice Rathbun, Mildred Ellen Stump, Ethel Mae Jacober, Ruth Irene Bauder, Helen Marie Martens, Elva Louise Warner, Edith Eliz- abeth Thompson, Frances Henrietta Brenner; the boys, Henry 8., Keith Ernest, and Dale Dwain. Those still living are: Ruth Irene Bauder, Frances Brenner and Keith Ernest. The first school in our area was organized May 16, 1889 and was known as School District No. 3. The first school house was built of sod. The first teacher was Mrs. Helen Slusser. School warrant No. 1 was drawn October l2th, 1889 for $20.00 for the first month teaching. Our parents always took an active part in all school activities, such as school programs, literary progrnms, last day of school picnics. Father was a member of the school board for many years. Square dancing was another activity in the neighborhood. These were held Nears , a position she held for nearly 35 years. We had many good neighbors in our moves. We had Ed Malbaff, Art Schiedeggars, and Harold Means. Later neighbors have been Esther Malbaff, Mildred Funkhouser, Merl Saffers, Ed Conartys, Bennie Hughes, John Herzogs and Kenneth Beattys in Flagler. While living in the country in our early married life, Bob and his father played for country dances, hauling our organ to homes for Bob to accompany his father who played the violin. Bob also played with the Hell Creek baseball team. Our three boys attcnded all 12 years of schooling in Flagler school. Lloyd attended junior college at La Junta. Harold received his masters degree from Adams State College in Alemosa, having attended all his college years there, Our son Gerald served with the Signal Corps in Pusan, Korea, and Lloyd served as an Engineer Supply Specialist in Japan in the Korean War. While living in Flagler we enjoyed the many school activities with our boys. We also enjoyed the 100F and Crystal Rebekah Lodges. Our family were members of the Baptist Church in Flagler and took part in the many activities. My husband, Robert, died in September, 1970, and I still reside in the snme home we made together in 1942. Gerald is presently a printer in Boulder, Colorado. Lloyd is with the Soil Conservation District and works as an Engineer out of Limon. Harold is a teacher in the Middle School at Burlington. F228 Grover and Charles. Her parents were, Hendrick Virgineus Chandler and Elizabeth Ellen Yarnell. Their homestead was located for four years in the country school, helping fill in during the teacher shortage. Then she clerked in some of the Flagler stores. Final$ she went to work part time for the Flagler Robert Goodrich and Orpha Jensen were married in Burlington, Colorado, November L2, L925. Our parents were Enos and Lillie Goodrich and Thomas and Emma Jensen. Our children were Dolores Maxine (deceased), Gerald Dean, Robert Lloyd and Harold We have 5 grandchildren and three great grandsons. Grandchildren are Kevin and Lindon Goodrich, Tami Goodrich Witt, Russell Goodrich and Holly Goodrich of Littleton, Colorado. Great grandchildren are Brian, Christopher and David Witt. by Orpha Goodrich Lee. We had come with our parents from Kansas, Robert from Phillipsburg and Orpha from Kanona around the year of 1910. I attended grade school at Pleasant Valley, District No. 40, and high school at Shiloh and Flagler High School, graduating with the class of 1925. Robert attended a country school one half mile south of their farm. After our marriage we made our home on his father's farm about 14 miles north and 2 east of Seibert. Later we moved to his step mother's farm a few miles from there. Robert farmed several years, but during the dirty "30's" there were no crops or feed raised, so we moved to Bird City, Kansas, where Robert shucked corn and worked in a potato cellar. From there we moved to Strasburg, Colorado, and worked for a farmer and later tried farming again. Our children were all born while we lived in the Strasburg area except Harold who was born in Flagler in 1941 after Pearl Harbor. while in Byers we lost our daughter with dust pneunonia. In 1935 we moved north of Seibert and worked for a rancher, later moving into Flagler where Bob started working for Kit Carson County, retiring in 1965. Then he worked for the town of Flagler taking care of the city park. After returning to Flagler, Orpha taught GORTON - HANEY FAMILY E22S Fosha Sheldon Gorton was born December 2. 1890 to Frank Sheldon Gorton and Frances Adele (Taylor) Gorton at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Elfie Mae Haney was born October 27, 1893 to Lewis M. Haney and Mary Susannah (Lundy) Haney. Fosha and Elfie were married March 17, 1913 at Dunbar, Nebraska by Rev. E.W. Love. They were blessed with three sons, the oldest died at birth, Fosha Sheldon, Jr., and Ralph Francis. Fosha and Elfie both received their education in Nebraska. After their marriage, Fosha worked for Ed West in a garage as a mechanic in Dunbar. In 1919 they came to Colorado to farm for Ed West, northwest of Vona, using a Rumley tractor. In 1920 they moved north of Seibert, then went back to Nebraska for the winter, coming back to Colo. in March 1921, to northwest of Vona, where he continued working for Ed. Some of the winter months he spent working for Cec Reed in Burlington, and for Pat Chew in Seibert as �Elfie oftcn would tell about loading the boys into the old Model T and heading to Vona for groceries or the basketball ga'nsg. Of cooking and preparing meals for their hired men, and how after moving to Seibert, of the many baeketbail players that spent much time in their home before the gnmss, and of the special food the coach wanted them to have before their games. EUie attended and graduated from Dunbar, Nebraska High School in 1910. She taught school for a while in Nebraska. At the age of 13 she joined the Presbyterian Church in Dunbar; in 1925 she transferred her membership to the Baptist Chuch in Vona and Fosha and Fosha Jr. joined at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Fosha S. Gorton Sr. and their first grandchild, Dee Ann Gorton, May 13, 1945 a mechanic. In 1930 they purchased a hardware business in Seibert, Co. located in the building where the grocery store is now on the east side of the street, later moving across the street in the north side of the Blake Building, and in 1934 they purchased the C.C. Gates Building on the west side of Main Street and Ralph joined in 1926. All transferred their membership to the Evangelical United Brethern Church at Seibert in 1952, and it later became the United Methodist Church when the Methodist and E.U.B. merged. All remained members there until their deaths. Fosha was an avid fisherman and hunter of all game. He spent many elk and deer hunting trips in the mountains with one of the boys or Elfie along. Fosha Jr. worked for Herb Shults and Harley Greenlee who operated the Conoco Service Station on Highway 24 in Seibert, and in 1953 Fosha took over the station on his own and Ralph worked for him. In 1937 when Fosha started carryingmail on the rural routes, Ralph operated the Conoco station for sometime. F osha served in the Air Force during WWII. He married Marjorie May Miller, a teacher at Seibert, on April L2,t94L at Powell, Wyo. Ralph substituted as mail carrier from 1943 to Oct. 1980. He married Twila Murphy December 19, 1943 at the Murphy family home south of Seibert. by Twila Gorton operated the hardware store there until Ralph closed it in 1971. In 1955 Fosha decided to retire and his son Ralph and wife Twila purchased the store, and operated it until its closing in 1971. Gorton Hardware was known as having the largest stock of Intprnational Hawester parts for over a hundred mile area. Fosha Sr. was active in Community activities as was Elfie and the boys. Fosha was a Past Master of Kit Carson Lodge L27 AF&AM, a Past Patron of Flagler Order of Eastern Star #113, a member of Rocky Mountain Consistory #2, El Jebel Shrine, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, GORTON, RALPH AND TWILA MURPHY F230 Ralph Francis Gorton was born Nov. 5, 1918 to Fosha Sheldon Gorton and Elfie Mae (Haney) Gorton in Dunbar, Nebraska. He was the youngest of three sons, a brother older died at birth, and Fosha Sheldon Jr. being the other. Some of his early years were Seibert Lodge #37. He was also past President and Charter member of the Lions Club spent in Nebraska, Oregon and Colorado. Most of his education was gotten at Vona, Seibert and Barnes Business School in of Seibert, active church member, past school Denver. board membel, town Council member, and Mayor. Elfie was also very active in Eastern Star of Flagler, VFW, Ladies Aux. to post #6492 (John Maurice Wrenn), church Organist and pianist for m€my years until her health failed her. Elfie was also a member of the Lotus Rebecca Lodge #37. Elfie lived alone in the home in Seibert after Fosha's death while on a fishing trip at Perham, Minnesota, in July 1955, that took his life. When Elfie broke her Wrist in 1977, and being in poor health, she sold her home in Seibert and made her home with her son Ralph and wife Twila. In December 1980 she went to Prairie View Nursing home in Limon where she resided until her death on April 24,1985 at the age of 9172 years. December 19, 1943 he married Twila Arleene Murphy, who was born Dec. 28,L923 to Coleman Elmer Murphy and Mattie Bell (Wilmoth) Murphy, on their homestead home south of Seibert. Twila attended all her school years at Rock Cliff and Seibert High School, graduating 1941. Twila had 4 sisters and 5 brothers. Five children were born to this union: Dee Ann, Ralph Francis, Jeanette Kay, Randy Bob and Shari Lynn. The first year of our marriage we operated a grocery store for Ralph's mother, which she later sold to Clint and Hazel Wilhite. Ralph then went to the hardware store to help his father. We both helped there, and in 1955, his father decided to retire and Ralph purchased the business. We operated it until 1971, when Wedding picture of Twila Murphy and Ralph Gorton Sr. on December 19, 1943, at the Coleman Murphy home south of Seibert. we sold much of the stock to other businesses in the area, and closed the doors. The children had helped in the store. Ralph and Twila were both active in church as they and all the children were members in the E.U.B. and later United Methodist Church. Ralph and Twila were also active with the Community Ambulance Service from its origin. Ralph was a charter member of Lions club, Volunteer Fire Dept., Gun Club, Past Master of Kit Carson Lodge 127 F.M.&A.M., Church Choir, very active in all school sports and activities. Ralph had just been honored at the athletic banquet on May 10th, for 39 years faithful never faltering service of all athletic activities, and on May 17, 1983 died of a heart attack, just one week later. Dee Ann married Donald L. Felker and they have two daughters, Lee Ann and Lori Ann. Lee married Kevin Wicks Aug. 17, 1985 and have a boy, Derek Edward, born July 29, 1987. Ralph Francis Jr. married Donna Diane Pizel and have one son, Randy Michael. Jeanette Kay manied Larry Leonard Kemp, and has three children: Yolanda Kay, Shauna Lynn, and Jason Anthony. Randy Bob married Charlene Rose Wigton, they have two sons, Rodney Francis and Bryan Dean. Shari Lynn married Curtis Earl Graham and has two sons: Brad Curtis and Jeffrey Josh. Twila still lives in the family home in Seibert. All our children got their education in the Seibert school, graduating from Seibert High School, the latter two graduating from HighPlains High School, after the consolidation of Vona-Seibert, at Seibert. Dee attended Barnes Business School, later worked at the Credit Bureau in Colorado Springs, and currently for J.C. Penneys. Ralph Jr. graduated from C.S.U., worked for �Cecil Boren on the farm, and Doug Becker on GRAMM - STUTZ the farm, served in the U.S. Army and Vietnam 1969-1971, then worked in construction business until a methane gas explosion in a tunnel in 1977 and was severely burned. He resides in Aurora, Colo. Jeanette helped in the hardware business, worked at Stuckey's at Seibert until her marriage, and is now employed in the Harrison School District in Colorado Springs. Randy Bob got his beginning as a farmer at an early age working for Richard O'Niell, and is now a farmer and dairy operator southwest of Stratton. Shari worked in Colorado Springs for Western Temporary Servicee for a short before returning to Seibert. She then worked for Herman Construction before and after her marriage to Curt on December 9, 1979. They now reside in Stratton, Co. Our home was richly blessed with extra FAMILY I.232 and kept that interest all his life. On November 10, 1916, Gottlieb was united in maniage to Lydia Stutz of Bethune, CO. They lived on Gottliebs homestead on a one room shack for about four months. Later they moved to the John Weiss place where they made their home for over 60 years and raised their family. This is where their son Lawrence now lives. To this union 3 sons and 2 daughters were born: Loyd, Lawrence, Edmund, Elma (Mrs. Ted Schaal) and Esther (Mrs. Mervin Corliss). children through the years our children were Gottlieb and Lydia Gramm, taken 1958 at their weekends and holidays. We loved every minute of it. It was such a pleasure when summer or other vacation time ceme and the Grandchildren could all come to spend the s\rmmers with us. And later can bring their Christ and Christina (Strobel) Gramm, their 3 children, Jake, Gottlieb, and Elizabeth, and other relatives came to America from Russia in 1899. They were on the ship for 21 days. This was quite a trip for the friends with them now. Ralph had spent 10 years on the town smaller children, especially for Gottlieb who was 7 years old at the time. His uncles likes to tease him a lot, so one day Gottlieb got tired of all the teasing and decided to hide. He hid, and got lost, and it was quite some time before they found him sitting on the outside steps of the ship. They settled north of Bethune, CO in the Tuttle community along the Republican River. Christ worked for Harry Cox for many growing, many of them from their school years and college friends who came on council, and was serving a second term as the mayor of Seibert at the time of his death. by Twila Gorton GRAMM - ADOLF FAMILY F231 John Grnmm and Frieda Adolf were married February 2t, L929 at the Hope United Church of Christ north of Bethune. They were one of the first couples to be married there. They both were born and raised in the settlement area where they helped John's parents and brothers farm. They moved to different places where they could find work. John worked for the WPA for several years. In 1943, the house burned down, which was north of Burlington. it was known as the Davis place. After the house burned down, the family lived with different families until they could find a place to live. In 1952, John, Frieda and their three children, Richard, Raymond, and Gladys, moved to Burlington, Colorado where they were both employed. John worked for the Kit Carson County Court House as a janitor for 29 years. He worked there until his death. John passed away on October 12, 1985. He is buried at the Hope United Church of Christ cemetery. Frieda is living in Burlington. by Cheryl Beeson he got out of the loop and had to walk home for many miles. His shirt was all torn to pieces and he lost one boot and had several bumps and bruises. Later he took up a homestead of his own and started his farm and cattle operation. His main occupation was taking care of his cattle home. years. This is where Pauline (Mrs. Emil Schaal), William, and Chris were born. Later the farnily moved to the Settlement Community and took up a homestead and built their own home in 1906. They lived in a one room shack with the older boys sleeping in a grainery while they built their house. All the neighbors helped put up the adobe walls and shingle it. This is when John, the youngest, was born before the house was finished. This is where a grandson, Edmund Gramm and his wife Esther are living today and a greatgrandson, Fred, built a new house on the sa-e place and is living there with his family now. Gottlieb was born on October 5, 1891 in Ungeen, Russia. He and his brother Jake attended the Tuttle School. After several years of school, he started to work on the Cox Ranch at a very young age. Later he worked on the J. Pugh Ranch. The Pugh Ranch is now owned by Tom Price. While he worked on the J. Pugh Ranch, he earned $17.50 a month and later $25.00. He remembered several incidents that happened while he worked there. Once, he and another boy were cleaning out a stall in the barn where the stallion was kept. The stallion grabbed Gottlieb by the arm and threw him in the corner. The other boy took the pitch fork after the stallion saving Gottlieb's life although the horse had bit all the muscles in his arm above the elbow. Another time he was by himself and went into the corral to catch a horse. He got the rope around the horse's neck and the horse took off and went through the gate. While he was trying to stop the horse he stepped into the loop, so the horse drug him around all over the pasture. An this time he was trying to stop the horse or get out of the loop. Finally Lydia was born October 23, 1893 to Fredrich and Maria (Baltzer) Stutz in the Settlement north of Bethune, CO on the Andrew Bauer place. Her sister Minnie (Mrs. Karl Hammelmann), was born here. Her parents came from Blotche, Russia with 3 children, Magdalene (Mrs. John Dobler, Fredrich, and Maria (Mrs. Issaih Stahlecker), and landed in Scotland, South Dakota. This is where daughter Ida (Mrs. Jake Knodel) was born. They and some families co-e by covered wagon to Colorado and settled on the prairies near relatives that had come from Russia earlier. Here they lived in a one room dug out with their children. This is where Emma (Mrs. Jake Gra-m) was born. They had no table or chairs and hardly any dishes. Grandpa Dobler gave them a fork and knife and made a bench for a table. They ate mostly corn bread since they had very little to eat. When it rained the water would run in the dug out. They had to keep the few things they had up high to keep them dry. Fredrich spent most of his time away working to earn money to buy food. They planted a garden to help, but had no fence around it. One good neighbor had given them 2 hens and a rooster which kept getting into the garden to scratch. Maria finally tied up the rooster and the hens stayed out most of the time. They had one milk cow which got bit by a rattlesnake and died so there waa no milk for the ehildren. Maria and the children were alone most of the time. On Monday mornings Fredrich would walk to work and Saturday evenings walk back home. This walk was 10 or 12 miles one way. He was working for the J. Pugh Ranch and got 25 cents a day. This amount was slightly increased over the years. Things went on like this for several years and they could hardly make a living. Maria finally wrote to relatives in Scotland, S.D. for help. They sent $50.00 and told them to leave Colorado and come to Dakotato live and they would help them. In the spring they sold their land and oxen and bought some horses and made a covered wagon. They loaded their belongings and staded on their journey with 8 other families and covered wagons. It took about 3 weeks to get to Scotland. Maria had baked a lot of bread. She toasted it and dried it and put it into flour sacks to keep it from getting moldy. The family hoped to have enough bread to last till they reached their destination. They ran out of bread so they had to stop and build an oven and bake. Other families also had a hard time financially during the dry years in Colorado �and had decided to give up and try their luck in a new location. Lydia was 5 years old at this time. They had lived in Scotland for several years and got a good start there and were doing fine when her father Fredrich got sore eyes. The doctor told him to move back to Colorado or else he L at Burlington, Colorado. From Jan 1, 1917 to Jan 1, 1923 she served as County Superin- tendent of Schools for Kit Carson County. After 44 years of teaching and 6 yrs. as County Superintendent she retired in the spring of 1948 at the age of 70 years. At that time she cared for her ailing husband Joe. She married Joseph Festler Gray of Burlington on Aug. 30, 1917. They met when he was County Commissioner and she wag would go blind. The water there didn't agree with him. They loaded their belongings again and returned to Colorado. Reports from people in Superintendent of Schools. His son Claude Colorado were much better now, so they weren't afraid of coming back. So they and two other familiee startcd their return trip in September, 1898. Lydia's youngest brother, was a young boy when they married. Claude graduated from Burlington High School in L922. Af,ter L922 they moved back to Seibert and she taught there until she received a contract Bill, was only 3 weeks old when they started on the journey. Now there were 7 children in the family. Lydia's oldest brother Fredrich and sister Magdalena had to walk several days and drive cattle. A man wanted her father to take some cattle to Colorado and to teach the 6th grade in the Burlington School District. That first year she finished part of the school year and lived with Jack and Vera Magee. Joe died in 1950 and her brother Frank csme to live with her in 1950. Jessie passed away on April 3, 1960 of heart failure. Nancy Hissem, a niece, and her 2 sons came to Burlington to live and care for Frank. care for them on shares. When they reached the railroad the cattle were loaded and shipped the rest of the way. Magdalena went with the family on the covered wagon but her brother Fredrich had to ride the train to take care and watch the cattle. She taught in the Burlington school system for several years before moving to Castle When they arrived in Colorado, they settled again in the Settlement Community, but they had no place to live. They went to her uncle's place and lived in a one room house till the next spring. Some men dug a well along the Landsman Creek where the families went to get their water. They hauled the water with 2 oxen and a sled with 2 barrels. During this time they built a 2 room sod house on the homestead her father had taken. This was built on the place where the Milbert Berringer family now live. Martha (Mrs. William Schlichenmayer) and Nettie (who died at the age of 17) were born here. Fredrich still worked away from home part time but things came easier for them. Later the parents moved to Bethune where Karl Weisshaar lives. Lydia remembered that when she was 8 years old her parents took her and her sister Emma to town to get some shoes. They found a bargain table and some mismated shoes for 25 cents a pair. The girls each got new shoes. Lydia said she would never forget hers as one had a pointed toe and the other had a rounded toe. All that mattered was that they had shoes they could wear. Gottlieb and Lydia had hard times while they were raising their family. One thing that keptthem going wastheir faith in God to help them in their trials. Their church, The United Church of Christ. north of Bethune meant a lot to them. There they attended worship regularly. They celebrated their 50th and 60th Wedding Anniversaries. Their final resting place is in the church cemetery. by Esther Corliss GRAY, JESSTE C.M. F233 Jessie, daughter of Nancy Mitchell Jacob Magee and Coleman Lauck Magee was born April 23, 1878 in Cherry Hill, West Virginia. She graduated from High School in 1895 at Cleveland, Tennessee and staded her teaching career in Gainesville, Georgia in 1896. She taught in Georgia for two terms. One school was at Graysville as an assistant in a school Jessie Catherine Magee Gray. 6th grade teacher in the Burlington Public School. of 60 pupils in a one room building in 189798. The school year of 1898-99 she taught a rural school near Tunnell Hill, Georgia and received $27.00 per month. Board and room for a month was $9.00, this included washing. The school was located on the top of a ridge in the forest. Water was carried from a near by spring. The boys cut wood to burn and hunted the forest for pine knots for kindling. The desks were home made. The black board was just painted boards behind the teacher's desk which stood on a raised platform. She boarded with a family having six children. "All of us walked a little over a mile to school, always going together. Some of the children had no shoes so they came to school over the frost covered ground in their bare feet. Their meals were very simple. Very little light bread was used. Corn bread and biscuits were used through the week and salt rising bread was a treat on Sundays. A great deal of pork was used. Sorghum took the place of jelly. Sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, and beans were staples. During the summer large gardens were planted so fresh vegetables were used then. These people, though poor, seemed to get a great deal of pleasure out of life." From Georgia, in 1899, Jessie returned to her home in Cleveland, Tennessee and in a few months left for Ida Grove, Iowa where teachers salaries were $40.00 per month. While in Iowa she taught in four different rural schools. They were just two miles apart and the other near the old home in Silver Creek, Iowa. From there she went to Drake Univ. from January to September. Again in September, she took up teaching at Laurens, Iowa. After teaching there one year she was given a contract to one of the grade rooms in Ida Grove, Iowa. She taught there until coming to Colorado where she began her school work in 1911-12 in the town of Seibert. Colorado. The winter of 1911-12 was a stormy one with 16" ofsnow on the level prairie. She taught at Tinsley school that first winter. From then on her teaching in Colorado was confined to Dist.37 and Consolidated District Rock, Colo. Frank died on March 7, 1963. Both Frank and Jessie are buried in Ida Grove, Iowa. by Barbara Butterfield and Marilyn Hasart GRAY, JOSEPH F. F23'4 Joseph Festler Gray was born on October 15, 1863 in Lucas County, Iowa where he grew to manhood. On August 6, 1884 he married Sarah Emma Conrad with whom he moved to Missouri 14 years later, for a brief time, only to return to Iowa in 1899. Three years later, in the summer of 1902, Joe and Sarah came to Colorado with their children, Ora, Harry, May and Fred. Joe homesteaded south east of Seibert. These days of adventure and hard work will always remain in our minds. In 1904 Claude was born. Sarah died on May 7, 1915. An infant son, Jimmie, died while they were in Missouri. Joe Gray was elected County Commissioner in 1908 and served one term ending in 1912. He liked and was active in politics. He met Jessie Catherine Magee while she was serving as County Superintendent of Schools and they were married on August 30, 1917. They lived in Burlington where Joe ran a pool hall. They moved back to Seibert for a few years and he also operated and owned a pool hall in Golden, Colorado from 1929-31. In 1936 Jessie started teaching the 6th grade in Burlington and they moved back to his home there. Joe was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. On May 23, 1950 Joe passed away after a long illness. He is buried in Chariton, Iowa. by Marlyn Hasart �e*a& Harry and Marie Greenwood, year 1923. Joe Gray in his pool hall in Golden, Colorado. 1929-31. GREENLEE, H. C. F235 My father, Harley C. Greenlee, came to Kansas from northwest Missouri in a covered wagon in the late 1890's, with his father. His father died when H.C. was twelve years old, so H.C. worked on farms, livery stable, milk routes until he learned to barber. I think before he was nineteen he went back to Missouri, and not too much later married my mother, Leila Shopbell. I had one brother that died when he was five, and at that time I was two. My mother passed away and I lived with my grandparents until I was five, when my father remarried and came for me. We then moved to Denver in 1918. My father came to Seibert in 1920 looking for a location to buy a barber shop. I had gone to five schools in the first grade, so he had been looking. He arrived in Seibert with Rose, my stepmother, and me. He bought the barber shop in Seibert As I wasn't setting the world on fire, I thought I would give it a try. At that time, it was about impossible to sell or rent a farm. He had bought the old Puncheon place (80 acres) to go with his 320 acres. We rented a school section one mile south for 10 cents an acre and added on to the place by buying land from the Federal Land Bank at $1.25 per acre, ending up with 1,920 acres, which wasn't saleable until 1944 when we sold it to Claude Rivers, and I moved north of Seibert. Before the Second World War, the Federal Land Bank was selling land for 91.25 an acre which about set the price, so five percent commission on $1.25 land didn't add up too fast. During and after the war in the 1940's, land worked up to $25.00 per acre, the highest price my dad ever sold land for until he retired. I wish I knew how many thousands ofacres he sold or traded for people; it was a lot; he was quite a salesman and trader. by Harley L. Greenlee which he ran for a while before building a place across the street that at first housed us, the barber shop and the local newspaper, ?he Seibert Settler. in the basement. A few years later, he added a second story and built onto the back. He then had a hotel and restaurant to go with the barber shop. Around 1923, he got into the land business by trading a 1923 Chewolet to Jay Jeffries for 320 acres of land seven miles southeast of Seibert. By 1928, he had been selling insurance along with barbering, so he needed help in the barber shop. He was able to hire different barbers, but after they tired of shooting prairie chickens and jackrabbits, they would quit as they were out of entertainment. At that time, in August of 1928, I was loafing in the shop and my dad asked me how I would like to be a barber. I told him, "No way!" and he told me to get up and shave this man's neck (Roy Ingrem). So that started my barber career after school, Saturdays and summers after I learned the trade. In 1935, when Juanita and I were maried, me how I would like to be a farmer. :r-*a Harry Howard Greenwood was born Aug. GREENWOOD, HARRY FAMILY F236 4, 1899, at Franklin, Nebr., the eldest son of Theodore and Laura Greenwood. The family moved to Smith Center, Kansas, then immi- grated to Stratton, Colo. in March, 1907, where they homesteaded eleven miles south of town. Marie Elizabeth Chandler was born Nov. 11, 1901, near Wagner, South Dakota, the eldest daughter of Charles and Meta Chandler. They lived for a time in Chicago, Ill., then moved to Pleasant Hill, Mo. In March, 1909, they immigrated to Stratton, Colo., settling on a homestead, seven and one-half miles northwest of town. Harry and Marie became acquainted while Marie was teaching the L922-23 term of school at First Central, located on the correction line, southeast of Stratton. Marie boarded with a family by the name of Mel and Gladys Wall, who lived nearby. On Feb. 14, L923, a neighbor family living a mile east, gave a Valentine party, to which we were all invited. Marie walked with Gladys and Mel the mile to the party, while they pushed their baby in the baby buggy ahead of them. Harry was there, coming in his new, shiny, black Model T Roadster. We played games, calds, and had refreshments. When the party was over, Harry very graciously offered to let Marie drive his car to take Gladys and her baby home, while he and Mel walked behind with the empty buggy. A short time later, he loaned the car to his kid brother, Russell, who attended high school at First Central, to take the schoolma'am and two or three of his classmates to a home off south, where the family owned a miraculous new invention, a box, not connec- w 4q *J t The Greenwood children, L, to R. - Allen, Laura and Thelma at home south of Stratton. ted to any telephone or telegraph wires, but equipped to catch sounds over gound waves for long distances. We spent the evening taking turns wearing head-phones, listening to music, stories, and news over that incredible new device, a radio. Harry and Marie were married on May 2, 1923, at the Church of God in Stratton. They lived with Harry's family for almost two years, while they bought a quarter section of land, thirteen miles south and one mile west of Stratton, on which they built a 2-room house, barn, and adobe chicken-house. Marie �taught the Jewell School east of Burlington, and then the Oriska School, four miles southwest of their new home. The furniture in the home was all second-hand and very simple, - bed, dresser, table, chairs, cup- board, creem separator, and a small kitchen stove about thirty inches high, four lids on top, and a tiny oven, that, when heated with a few corn cobs, would bake delicious goldencolored biscuits. About 1928 or 1929, they built an addition to the house, - one large room, porch, and cement walled basement. Harry and Marie reared three children, Laura Ruth, born Nov. 13, 1925; Thelma Grace, born Dec. 25, 1927; and Allen Theodore, born Jan. 5, 1931. They all attended the Smelker School, one mile west. Some of their teachers were Esther Davis Beattie, Stratton; Violet Campbell Ban, Stratton; Rose Henry, Denver; Elsie Huebner, Denver; OraCruikshank, Seibert; and Jennie L. Tressel. Miss Tressel was an early Kit Carson pioneer and was prominent in educational circles. She was County Superintendent of Schools when Marie graduated from the eighth gxade in 1913, and would drive a horse and buggy to visit the many country schools all over the county. She was Principal of several town schools, and was teaching the Smelker School when Thelma graduated from the eighth grade in 1941. One of Harry's hobbies was raising differ- ent kinds of animals and we had a great variety on the farm, - horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, including bantams, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, rabbits, dogs and cats. The children made pets of many of them, including a baby pig that became a terrible nuisance, as it grew older. There were dogs and cats that they cuddled and taught tricks. Then there was Queenie, the tricky Shetland pony, who had a mind of her own. One evening, when Laura rode her out to the pasture to bring in the cattle, she very docilely rounded up and followed the cattle in, until she got a short distance from the corral, when she suddenly decided that she had done enough. She started bucking and capering, easily dislodging her rider, then galloped around the cattle and took for the barn. Laura's mother went out, brushed her off and soothed a very perturbed little girl. Then there was the riding horse that Thelma used to bring the cattle herd in from the open range. She would ride like a fly and could cut a stray steer out of another herd by "giving the horse the rein". One afternoon, she decided to reward her mount by giving him a drink at a nearby lagoon, but he decided that he not only needed a drink, but also a roll in the cool water. This time, when Thelma got home, her Mother soothed and put dry clothes on a disgusted little girl. Also, there was the old gander with his gaggle of geese, who got his bluff in on the girls by chasing them whenever he could catch them out of the yard. One day, when their Mother asked them to go to the wellhouse to get some butter that we kept cool in the drinking barrel, they were very reluctant until 4 yr.-old Allen, assured them, brave little man that he was, that he would go along and protect them from the gander. Sure enough, the gander spied them, came running, screeching and flapping his big wings. He ignored Allen, knocking him down and tramping over him, as the girls fled to the shelt€r of the well house, Mother went out with a stick, and chased the gander off, who with a triumphal honking, returned to his harem. That time Mother cleaned the dirt off her little boy, who had only his pride hurt. I think their favorite pet was Diamond, the spotted riding pony. Some days, they rode him to school and in the evening, neighbor children, as many as could, would climb on, to catch a ride home, often four or five deep. The more a-straddle, the more carefully Diamsp6 would walk. Then Diamond contracted encephalitis and lay in the barn for several days. The children went out and talked to him while they bathed his feverish head with cold water, but to no avail. For entertainment in the country, we had many neighborhood parties. We attended school programs, Get-Togethers, and Literaries at the school house, Sunday School at Smokey Angle, went to barn dances, or had a Sunday Potluck Dinner, with a baseball game in the afternoon. The school districts were small, with one or two country schools in each district. Every May, we made an occasion ofSchool Election Day, by gathering early and spending the afternoon visiting. Harry served on the school board several years. We lived through the Dust Bowl Days of the early 1930's, when, in spite of all out efforts to make a home tight, the dust would pile up on the windowsills and filter clear across the rooms. In the late 1930's, Harry and a neighbor, a mile north, Lloyd Megal, rigged up a battery-powered, two-party telephone line, running it along the barbed wire fence. Later, the line was expanded to four parties, using short poles and smooth wire. We also made use of the wind by erecting a 32-volt windcharger, using six car batteries. We usually had lights at night and even had enough electricity to operate an electric iron, on a windy day. We elevated a small supply tank at the well and piped water to the house. In the winter, we broke chunks of ice out of the tanks, and stored a quantity in a dugout cellar, packed in straw. With luck, we would have ice for a wooden icebox and for freezing ice cream, until the Fourth of July. On April 15, 1943, Marie received her appointment for the position of Stratton Postmaster. The family had a farm sale and moved to town. Harry worked for Dillon Hardware until they changed hands, then for Snell Grain for many years. The children all graduated from the Stratton High School. Laura and Thelma attended the University of Colorado at Boulder. Laura taught the Pautler School, north of Bethune, one term, then got a position in the Elementary School in town. Thelma was receptionist for Dr. Keen and several other doctors in Stratton and Burlington. from college. They are Janet Thomason Boller, Manlius, N.Y.; Carol Thomas Nordtvedt, Canfield, Ohio; Donald Thomason, Houston, Texas; and Karla Thomason Gunnoe, Hinton, West Va. They also have five grandchildren. On Oct. 24, L948, Thelma married Jim Hutton from Hale, Colo. He is the son of Roscoe Hutton, whose family were early settlers in the Kirk, Colo. community. His Mother is the former Hazel Messenger, daughter of I.D. Messenger, who was a Kit Carson County Commissioner for several years and renowned as one of the commissioners who bought the Carousel for Kit Carson County. Thelma and Jim operate a ranch on the Republican River. They have two children, Jerry and Peggy. Jerry graduated from the School of Mines in Golden, Colo., and is now farming with his Father. He married Linda Wheeler, from Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 11, 1980. They have two children, Kathleen Flora, born Jan. 15, 1984, and Neil James, born April 10, 1986. Peggy graduated from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., and completed her education as a registered nurse at the University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colo. She and Dean Wheeler. also from Detroit, were married at the Air Force Academy Chapel on Jan. 20, 1978. They live in Elgin, Ill. Allen married Audrey Carter, Burlington, Colo. in 1953. They had two children, Dianna Greenwood Huseman and Robert Green- wood. They also had two grandchildren. Dianna lives in Ventura, Calif., and works as a receptionist. Robert works for a construction company near Portland, Oregon. Allen and Audrey's marriage was dissolved and Allen is now married to the former Rosalie Stoffel. The Stoffel family were early resi- dents of Stratton and Allen and Rosalie were classmates. They live in Stratton. Rosalie has two daughters by a former marriage and four grandsons. After graduation from High School, Allen worked for Snell Grain Co. for many years. After the company sold out, he worked for other grain companies. He also did some farming. Because of ill health, Harry retired from the Snell Grain Co. He spent much time hunting and fishing. Marie retired from the U.S. Postal Service on Nov. 30, 1971. In June 1977, Harry and Marie took a memorable tour of the State of Alaska. Sightseeing there included a chartered fishing trip out of Ketchican. Harry passed away on July 17, 1977. Marie remains in the home in Stratton. by Marie E. Greenwood One Sept. L2, 1945, Laura married a schoolmate, Francis Thomason. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Francis taught school for a few years, then joined the accounting firm of Haskins and Sells. As a partner in the firm, he was assigned to several different districts in the United States. Over the years, Laura, Francis and family lived in Washington State, California, Boulder, Colo., and finally settled in Mclean, Virginia. His final assignment before retiring, was a two and one-half year stint in Saudi Arabia, with a group of other accountants from the firm. This gave them the opportunity to travel extensively. Laura and Francis have four children, all of whom graduated GREENWOOD, THEODORE FAMILY F237 Theodore Greenwood, born Nov. 12, L857, at Belleville, Wisc., and Laura Haskins, born March 8, 1862, at Oregon, Wisc., were married March 19, 1886 at Oregon, Wisc. They soon moved to Franklin, Nebr., near Grand Island, where Theodore worked at one time for "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Later they moved to Smith Center, Kansas. In March, 1908, the Greenwoods came to Stratton, Colo. �.:...,r:f .r!. r:r.1r-i,r:i:.i rll?i Mrs. Theodore Greenwood. on the Rock Island Railroad, and settled on their homestead eleven miles south of Stratfurniton. They moved their belongings - and ture, feed, farm implements, a few cattle in an emigrant car, a service then horses - by the railroad. provided The Greenwoods came with their five children: Maude, Letta, Harry, Laura, and baby Russell. When Maude, the eldest, reached the age of twenty-one years, she homesteaded a quarter section of land ad- joining to the east of the original homestead. She married Peter Burrggraff, another homesteader living nearby. They had eight children: Ellen, Theo, Mar5r, Leo, Helen, and Martha, and Ida. The - Margaret Burrggraffs moved to Stratton in order to send their children to the parochial school. Several years later, they moved to Brighton, Colo., where they operated a truck farm, and twins finally settled in Denver, Colo. Letta married Winifred Hall, who had homesteaded a few miles east. They later moved to Hasty, Colo. and then to Carthage and Springfield, Missouri. They had four children: Faye, Frances, Ray, and Alice Lee. Harry married Marie Chandler, and they continued to live south of Stratton until they moved to town in 1943. They had three children: Laura Ruth. Thelma Grace. and Allen Theodore. Laura married a neighbor boy, Archie Lowe, and they settled on a ranch south of Cheyenne Wells, Colo. They had three children: Marvin, Merrill, and Patricia. Marvin and Merrill live with their families near Cheyenne wells. Patricia (Patty), who married Richard Borders, of Stratton, lives near Genoa, Colo. Russell married his First Central schoolmate, Grace Wellman. They had one child, Wayne, who with wife Vera, operate the original Greenwood farm. Theodore and Laura Greenwood lived in a sodhouse for many years. About 1920, they built a comfortable frame house. Theodore was a carpenter by trade and insisted that only the best material should be used in that house. He was also a lover ofhorsee and bred and raised race horses, Arabians, and Pintos, some of which were spotted. His pride and joy mule colt. was a rarity - a spotted The Greenwoods were active in the community. There was a little creek just below the house and they succeeded in growing a grove of trees on their barren prairie land. Many a community Memorial Day or Fourth of July picnic were celebrated there. They also had a small orchard of apple, peach, cherry, and plum trees near the house. "Grandma" also had some rose bushes and chrysanthemums. "Grandpa Greenwood" helped many an early settler, who found himself in dire straits, during the severe winter months. He would loan them money or feed for their cattle and one time he loaned a fresh cow to a family with a small baby, because all of their cows had gone dry. "Grandma" was a good cook and neighbors or transients who happened to drop in about mealtime were always invited to "draw up a chair." Then, there were birthdays, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas, always occasions for family gatherings. It was the night after preparing for one of these celebrations, Nov. 10, 1934, that "Grandma" passed away quietly in her sleep, of an apparent heart attack. Soon their son, Russell and daughterin-law, Grace, moved to the home place to keep house and care for "Grandpa". He suffered a long illness and died May 11, 1937. All five of the children are now deceased. by Marie E. Greenwood Herb and Gertrude Griffith about 1946. were born: Roy in May, 1911; Quma in July, 1919; Floyd in August, 1921, who passed away at 6 months of age from pneumonia. Ahda passed away in 1927. He came back to Colorado a couple of times and worked in the round house at Limon, shoveling coal and also worked on W.P.A. building bridges south of Stratton. During this time he met Gertrude Bartholomew and they were mauied in February, 1930. To this union three children were born: Bill in May, 1931; Bob in April, 1934; and Pat in August, 1949. In the mid-thirties the family attended Sunday School in schoolhouses as there were no churches in the country. Roy and Quma attended school at Grandview School: Bill and Bob attended at Nuttbrook. and Pat attended at Stratton Public Schools. The older children rode horses to and from school. It was partly open range so they had their short cuts across prairie. The Kit Carson trail ran through Hugh's property and southwest on the Fred Wagoner land was one of the first dug wells in the area. It was used by the trail and stages that passed through. The first home that Herb built was a cement room with a dirt floor. Later on they put in a wood slat floor. The family then built GRIFFITH, HERB F238 Herb Griffith and fanily traveled from Lebanon, Kansas, to Stratton, Colorado, by train in 1914. They later moved their belongings out as they could. Herb went to Hugo, Colorado, to the Land Office and applied for one-half section of land 8 miles south of Stratton under the Homestead Act. He had 4 years to make improvements on this land; he paid $1.25 per acre. Herb's homestead papers were final and signed in 1919. Herb was called to military duty on August 8, 1917; his serial number was 433. He was exempt from the service because of his family having no other means of support other than his farming. Herb was married to Ahda Woodard in March of 1910. To this union three children adobe blocks and added a room on their house. A little later Herb's brother, Glen, moved and he moved his one room wooden house over and attached it to the front, so they then had three rooms. Herb did his farming by tesm and plow. They picked corn by hand and also shocked feed by hand. At threshing time all of the neighbors helped each other. They had milk cows, pigs, and chickens and this all was his way of making a living. Through all the hard times of the depression Herb always had a good sense of humor. We remember the story that he told about he mountain lion that chased him up the windmill. The tale madethe Denuer Post and the Stratton papers. Herb and his family traveled to most of the barn dances in the area. Gertrude played the guitar and Clarence Brennan played the fiddle at most of the dances, �In 1935 Gertrude's two brothers moved in shed that had once been used for chickens. with them. Also at this time they had severe Marvin is fond of saying, "Abe Lincoln was rains and the Launchman Creek cnme within 10 feet of their home. This flood took several lives and people's livestock. In 1951, Bill, their oldest son, went into the born in a log cabin, but I was born in a chicken house (1926)." Married in 1948, we moved to our farm three miles west of Burlington. The old house Army. He was in the Korean War and spent 8 years in the service. In 1952, Bob, his brother, joined the Army and was also in Korea; he spent 4 years in the service. In the spring of 1954, Herb and his family moved into Stratton. Gertrude waited tables for Al and Lil Young. In 1956 they moved behind the Toland Crenrnery and Gertrude worked at the Stratton Cafe for the Franken- there had a lot of room, but wasn't very well every hard windstorm we had, the built felds. In 1957 Gertrude took over the crenmery and ran it until 1967. They bought the Elva Holloway house, and this was their last home. Herb's favorite pastime after moving to town was going fishing with Rob Piper. He also enjoyed his family and loved to have them all together. He also enjoyed having his garden and flowers. Gertrude did a lot of sewing for people in the community. She was also involved in the Senior Citizens group and played the piano and steel guitar with their band and enjoyed it very much. She was also deeply involved in her church, taught Sunday School for many years, and was always there when anyone needed her help. Gertrude died in 1985. by Pat Alderson GRUSING - HUDSON FAMILY F239 - cabinet doors would rub on one kitchen corner or another, depending on the direction of the wind. But the wind wasn't all bad because (like many of our neighbors) we had a windcharger and 32 volt electricity until REA came. When there was a gale blowing, our 16 large glass batteries would charge like crazy and usually I'd be ironing like crazy, because that was the only time the iron really got hot. In addition to our electricity we also had butane (lishts, stove, refrigerator and self-starting furnace) plus a windmill with an elevated water tank that gave us gravity flow to the house. Therefore, we were hardly dependent at all on electricity, which was especially nice during long hard blizzards. However, our first winter on the farm, our water froze up deep underground so that for nine weeks we had to cany watet for euerything, including flushing the toilet. It was then that I would have appreciated an outhouse! Then, when our water uos flowing, visiting city friends didn't know how to conserve it, so we often had to man our old hand-pump to relieve the over full septic tank. Time flies when you're having fun! In the Sifty-Fifties, which were a repeat performance of the Dirty-Thirties, we adopted Gary (1953) and Marvanna (1956) - each an only 10-20 days old. Sometimes after unusually hard windstorm, since Gary was a very sound sleeper, he would leave a white silhouette on his dusty sheets when I'd pick him up from his nap. Marvin and I met in my native Burlington, We weathered the storms, although our married. Buying land at Dighton, they were cash-poor, go for a couple of years lived in a pastures died from sifting dust, some of our cattle died from dust-pneumonia, we raised no crops for three years, and we finally had to sell our cow herd since we couldn't even raise weeds to feed them. It was at this time that I threw up my hands and wanted to quit where he'd moved after serving in the Philippines during WWIL All four of his grandparents had come from Germany, settling in Kansas, where his parents were but Marvin insisted it was not the time to -quit, but to hang in there. Of course he was right, because that's when things began to fall into place for us economically. In 1959 we began commuting to Tucson, AZ, spending the school years there, and the summers on the farm, since Gary had developed sinus problems and couldn't stand the cold Colorado winters. Yet he worked in the dirty fields and grain bins and stayed well, as long as he kept warm. ln 1970, we c'me back to Burlington full time, when Marvanna was in the eighth grade. Following a few years of living in just one place, we began getting restless, so bought a vacation townhouse at Woodland Park, CO. Yet in another ten years, gypsy fever overcame us so we bought a home south of Tucson in 1983 (we now spend the winters there near our travel agent son, Gary). Soon thereafter, Marvin semi-retired, rented out most of his land, but with the help of our daughter Marvanna, he continues to do all his own office work. We have since moved our permanent residence from Burlington to Woodland Park, where we spend the summers in our mountain home near Marvanna, Marvin Grusing family Summer 1987. Marvanna and Gary, Georgeanna and Marvin Hudson. who now lives in the townhouse. In order to conduct business, we come down to Burlington for a night or two; every week or so and stay at a local motel. As neither Marvin nor I are fishermen, hunters or goUers, and since we both like to travel, we find we very much enjoy our g5psy-style of life and plan to continue shuttling back and forth between Arizona and Colorado for as long ar| we c{rn. At present we have a four wheel drive vehicle and have set a goal of traveling every state and county road in Colorado, Arizona, and eventually the neighboring states. Visiting ghost towns, old mines, restored homes, national parks and monuments, we often picnic along the way, marvelling at the unspoiled beauty that still remains in our fantastic land and we feel greatly blessed. - by Georgeanna Hudson Grusing GULLEY, JOHN FAMILY r.240 Amanda Edwards was born in Tennessee in 1870, the oldest living child of 10 girls and one boy. Since Grandfather Edwards was a judge, he was not always home, so most of the farm work fell on the entire fanily. Finally the farm was sold and the family moved to Hutton Valley, Missouri. There Amanda attended a Normal School earning a teaching certificate. John Gulley was born in Hutton Valley in 1872. He was the oldest of six boys and seven girls. One time when Ananda was teaching school, they had a box supper. John was attracted to the black-headed, brown-eyed teacher, winning her away from a competitor. They were married in 1896. The following year a baby boy was born. Grandmother Gulley took care of the baby that year while Amanda was teaching. John helped his father with the farming. When Hayden was quiteyoung they moved to Lawrence, Kansas. They rented a store with an apartment upstairs. While there they were flooded out of their store two times by the Kansas River. John would stand at the window and watch his canned goods float down the river. John borrowed a hundred dollars which helped him get started in the grocery business again. Theodore was born three months later, the second time they were flooded. With two children to raise, John thought he could do better in Colorado. He loaded all their possessions into a freight car and came to Stratton where they lived a short time until they could file on a homestead. They moved 15 miles north and two milee west to their new adobe home. But farming wasn't enough for John, so he started a little store in the front part of the home. Not only that, but they would load his car with groceries and go from farm to farm selling them. The boys attended the Kechter School about two miles away with three cousins who lived close by.By 1911 Edward was born and in 1915 Ruth, the only girl, was born. In the fall the family left Kit Carson County for a while, moving to Kirk in Yuma County where John had built a new building with a store in front and living quarters in the back. In 1932 the family moved east of Stratton. I, Ruth, in my last year of high school, rode �with neighbors the five miles into Stratton where I graduated. During my teaching years my parents moved back into Stratton where they lived for about 19 years. I attended college in Greeley. Then I taught eight years in country schools. I took a year off from teaching to work in the Office of Price Administration in Burlington. I then taught 10 years in Stratton before moving to Brush, Colorado, to finish my teaching career of 42 years. by Ruth Gulley GULLEY, N. O. F24l These homesteads lay one mile apart, running north and south and were located 16 miles north and 4 west of Stratton. Colorado. In July 1909, the houses were ready to move into, except for flooring, and for a few months a dirt floor had to do. The ground was smoothed and leveled and water poured over it. When it was dry it was hard and could be swept with a broom. The men returned to Lawrence and loaded their belongings on the train boxcars and themselves and families in a passenger train and headed west for Stratton. Here they unloaded and piled their furnishings onto lumber wagons which they had left in Stratton. Oscar, driving a buggy, led the procession home. Oscar was a bachelor, but in 1940's. The history of the Gulley family in this country begins with John Gulley Sr. who crme from Wales prior to the Revolutionary War and assisted in American Independence through civil service. He settled in North Carolina and his descendants migrated to Tennessee and eventually to Hutton Valley, Missouri. It was there that Nathan Oliver Gulley, better known a N.O. or Ollie, was born to Hulin and Sarah Gulley in 1877. Also born in Hutton Valley in 1879 was Bertha Ross Paine. She was one of ten children born to Dr. and Mrs. John Paine. Bertha and N.O. were childhood friends and when grown they were married on Feb. 8, 1902 at Lawrence, Kansas. They made their first home there at a farm called 9 Mile where N,O. was employed as overseer. Their first child, Velma, was born here in 1903. When Velma was three days old, there was a flash flood on the Kaw River and the family lost all of their belongings and only one wall of their house remained. N.O. and Bertha returned to Hutton Valley to get a new st€rt and their son, Nolan, was born there in 1904. N.O. and Bertha were finally able to again secure work at 9 Mile and returned to Lawrence where their daughter, Opal, was born in 1908. In 1909, many families began moving to Eastern Colorado where there was still some land open for homesteading. N.O. was anxious to go, but Bertha was not sure it was the thing to do with three small children and little money. After much discussion and with many doubts they decided to go. N.O. went first, accompanied by Bertha's brother, Oscar Paine, and a lifelong friend and neighbor, Bunt Smith. Working together, they made adobe bricks. Aftcr many days of miring dirt and water and pouring the mud into molds to dry, they finally had enough bricks to build three one room houses. One wae built on each of the homest€ads staked out bv the men. F242 I was born in Greenock, Scotland, on May 24th, 1860 and spent my girlhood days with my mother and sister and grandmother in the old family home in which the fifth generation is now living. My father, Robert Morrison was a Civil Engineer, and was sent to Africa to draw plans for an iron pier to be built at Lagas on the west coast of Africa. While there he contracted malaria fever and died and was buried at Lagas. We did not hear of his death until six months later. his mother had lived with him since the death of Dr. Paine in 1900. Now at the age of 63 she had accompanied him to this new land to help build a community. All intended to build a larger frame house the following year but time or money did not permit and the Gulley's one room house was their home for eight years. Bunt was the first to build a new house, as he had built on the I was married to Peter Guthrie of Greenock, on November lst, 1883, and after living In 1910, Carey Post Office was established 16 miles north and TYz east of Vona. Mr. business and pleasure trip, and while there my husband received word from a lawyer in bank of Hell Creek and the first hard rain brought flood waters up to his door. N.O. and Bertha Gulley at their home in Stratton GUTHRIE, CLEMENTINA Carey was the postmaster. N.O. was appointed mail carrier from Carey to Tuttle which was nine miles east of his home. He made the trip three times a week in a buggy pulled by his faithful 1sam, Dolly and Sampson. He carried mail until Carey was discontinued when the Vona mail route was extended to in Greenock, Scotland for three years, we moved to the United States going to live in Philadelphia, where my husband's brother Alexander was then living. We arrived in Philadelphia in April 1886, and the two brothers worked together as contractors and carpenters, building ninety houses and storeg in the two years we lived there. In 1888, I returned to Scotland on a Burlington, Colorado that James Guthrie, who had taken a homestead here in 1887, had been found dead in his claim shack under suspicious circumstances that looked like murder. My husband left at once for Colorado, coming west on the Union Pacific to Hugo, Colorado, then traveling by stage the community in about 1915. coach across the prairies to Burlington. The N.O. and Bertha, after much hard work of making adobe bricks, built a long, low building and divided it into four sections to body had been buried in the corner of the be used as a hen house, horse barn, cow barn, and grain bin. It stood for ten years until a homestead and was exhumed for inspection and my husband was fully convinced that the coroner and Dr. Bishop were right. The man had come to his death by being struck on the twister blew it down while N.O. watched from a window in the house. A frame barn was then built and a hen back of the head with a blunt instrument. Two men were suspected but nothing could house moved in. A frame house had been built a couple ofyears earlier as were a granery and returned to Philadelphia, leaving the affairs in the hands of a lawyer, Mr. S.D. King. James Guthrie was known as a very reserved man, reticent in manner, and with no bad habits, so no reason could be given for the deed except that his homestead was close to the new town and right by the railroad line, and was envied by some who felt the sale of milk house. So now. all the old adobe buildings were gone. The bricks were gathered up and thrown into a low place where they had been made. The rain fell on them and more dirt blew in and soon they had become solid dirt again. That spot always was low and after a rain the lagoon made a wonderful place to play on hot summer days. The Gulleys lived on the homestead from 1909 until 1934. They farmed the land, had milk cows and raised chickens and ducks. Always, there was a big garden and potato patch. In 1934 they moved to Golden where they ran a rooming house. They came back in 1939 and lived near their daughter, Opal Boger, north of Vona. In 1941, they moved to Stratton and lived there for the next nine years. Then they moved to Arvada where N.O. passed away in 1951 and Bertha passed away at Wheatridge in 1971. by Opal Boger be proved at that time, so my husband the land would turn them a pretty penny. This homestead was located on the NE % of Section 31, Township 8, Range 43. After returning to Philadelphia from my trip abroad, I had a very severe sickness and was ordered by the doctor to return to Scotland or farther west. My husband was so thrilled with the new western country that he was eager to return to Colo. We packed our furniture and bedding in a freight car and came to Burlington on the new Rock Island Railroad which had been completed in the fall of 1888. We arrived in Burlington in April 1889, on a cold night and a drizzle was falling. We went to the hotel, which was the only one in town, a two-story box-like structure, and tried to rest, but the very quiet atmosphere rather frightened me. In the morning, I looked out upon the open prairie stretching miles away on one side and a few dingy shacks on the other side of the hotel. I felt rather disconsolate over the prospects of a home in such a dreadfully lonesome place, but decided that we would have to make the best of it. We bought a nice home in town and lived �there for a short time getting acquainted with western ways and the new land. Then my husband took a homestead or rather we bought a relinquishment from an old man named Peter McGinnis, and we, my husband, myself and eight children, moved into a "dugout" to hold our claim until the house could be built. We had no well, so had to haul water from a farm house south of us which my husband owned and on which we had lived a short time. While we were living in this dugout, my husband took ill with pnerrmonia. An anxious time I had, nursing a sick husband and trying to run a farm I knew nothing about. But my husband got well and our new sod house was soon finished and we moved into it and my, how we did expand. I had so much to learn, and had to work so hard, but thank God, I had regained my health and was able to do my work for my family. Then we had a well drilled and got a large water tank, and built barns and sheds and started farm life in earnest. I was very timid at first, but soon got used to the farm animals, and got so I could raise chickens and ducks and make butter as well as an old timer. We had our gains and losses, our many ups and downs, but we never gave up or lost our faith in this country. We always managed to have enough to eat, good plain food that helped to build the sturdy bodies of our twelve boys and girls. I was the mother of the first pair of twins in Kit Carson County (Sara M. and Clyde) and what excitement there was over this event. People came from miles around to see the babies. Three years later, I gave birth to a second pair oftwins (Laura K. and Luben H.). Through care and planning and working over, we managed to clothe our children respectably. They did not need ag much as boys and girls do now. We attended the little M.E. church and Sunday school in Burlington, for our ranch was just 1% miles northeastofBurlington. The wagon and team w{u} our conveyance, wherever we went, and we felt quite rich when we acquired a two wheeled cart, and later a buggy. My children attended the first schoolhouse built in Burlington. The bricks used in this building were made from clay dug at Beaver Creek south of town. I remember when the first large schoolhouse, in fact too large for Burlington, for no one ever thought there would ever be enough children attending school to require four rooms. Just look at your school today and think ofthe students attending. I see our pretty little town today and think of the morning in April 1889, when I looked over such a dismal place, and then said to my husband, "Peter Guthrie, where have you brought me?" He replied "Tuts, woman, this is a fine country," and I said "God help us!" by Clementina Guthrie mother was there on business. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean when only three weeks old. (The history of why they came can be read under his mother's history.) I will start with his coming to Burlington on April, 1889, with his mother, sister Bessie and brothers Peter and Robert on the Rock Island Railroad to join his father. The family's first home was a dugout, then a two-room sod house was built north of Burlington. By 1893 therewere eight children in the family and so John was sent to live with some friends who wanted him. The couple was all right but really worked him and he missed his family. Every year or two a new sister or brother was born. He sometimes would see them at church and the older children at school, but not often. His school attendance was very irregular. First he was kept out for spring work and then for fall work. He used to walk to his parents home, a distance of five miles, just to see the family and would be spanked by his father and sent business for himself. My mother was an excellent manager because we survived the closing ofthe "stock Grower's Bank" failure and during the depression years we never were on welfare. There was no buildinggoing on. People would buy small appliances, like electric irons and promise to pay 25 cents a week, but often failed to come in and my parenls never charged interest. They sent me to college, but children. My father never got over missing his family. This writer is nmazed how he could always be so caring and willing to help his family and other people, when he was almost by his townspeople to serve on the City Council for several terms. He was alwavs willing to do anything that benefited Bur- forgotten as a child and had such a sad childhood. He never talked about this, but I got this information from an aunt and uncle. At the age of twelve, he went to work on the Bar T. Ranch on the Republican River and lived with Gordon Burr, Sr. and family. Here he got to finish the eighth grade at the "Tuttle" School. He saved his wages and bought himself a violin and taught himself to play it. He loved to square dance and even "called" for square dances. (I used to think my parents would rather dance than eat.) When of age my father took a homestead north of Flagler, Co. In the summer of 1913, he went to work in the wheat harvest for John S. Stevens in Colby, Kansas. Mr. Stevens was the Western Kansas Wheat King in those years. John met Mr. Stevens'oldest daughter Hazel Ann, my mother, and they fell in love. This was the first time my father said he found real happiness. Days before their wedding my father had ridden by horseback from Flagler to Bur- lington to get the marriage license. My mother and her parents were now living north of Flagler near Thurman, Co. On the day of the wedding, which was to be at my Grandparents'home, my father could not find the license. He never did find it. He and my mother had to come to Burlington by horse and buggy and get another license. So they just decided to be married in Burlington on January 22, tgL4. My parents lived on the homestead until 1916 and after the death of their first child. worked nights at the A.L. Anderson Buick Garage. In those days people didn't build John Simpson Guthrie was the fourth child of thirteen children (two sets of twins) born to Clementina (Morrison) Guthrie and Peter Guthrie on July 11, 1888 in Pharos County, Antrim, Ireland. My father was born in Ireland because his When Mr. Pierce left Burlington, my father became the electrician for the N.R. Brown Hardware. In 1928 he went into I know they deprived themselves. My mother died of cancer in 1950. months, they moved to Burlington. My father F243 lington, a daughter Marjorie, and a son Wendell John who only lived three years and died during the bad siege of pneumonia which took many lives in Burlington. back. His parents were good neighbors, honest, hardworking and church-going people, but very harsh and strict with their a daughter nemed Vivian who lived only a few GUTHRIE, JOHN SIMPSON known in this Kit Carson Countv and throughout the state. He wired the present County Courthouse, and I state this with pride because my Grandfather Guthrie helped to build the first courthouse in Burlington. Two other children were born in Bur- garages and so the garage was kept open and they would bring their cars in and if it was cold or stormy, then my father would take them home and bring the car back. It was here, he met Mr. Otis Pierce, an electrician in Burlington. He convinced my father to become an electrician. He even paid to send him to Chicago to take an electrical course and learn to read blueprints. He becnme one of the first licensed electricians and was well My father felt honored when he was elected lington. He was a volunteer fireman and Fire Captain many years before they got a pension. I can still see him running to get on the back of the firetruck. He was a Mason and Worshipful Master of the Lodge, a member of the Rotary, and my mother and he were members of the Methodist Church. He decided to sell his business in 1g68 as he was 75 years old and tired of climbing around in attics. His first car was his service truck which was a Model T. Ford. I am so glad he lived to see and enjoy his grandchildren, Melissa Ann his granddaughter and his grandson John, who is named after him. They are the children of Marjorie and the late Chester Robinson. Of all the wonderful memories I have I can remember so clearly them telling me to be truthful, and that honesty is the best policy, don't forget kindness and love. All these made the world go round and without them and God, life is no good. How fortunate I was to be born to Hazel and John Guthrie. Daddv died Dec. 28, L973. by Marjorie (Guthrie) Robinson GUY - JEFFRIES FAMILY F244 Horace Greeley said, "Go west, young man, go west," so in the 1890;s Leroy & AdaJeffries did just that. They moved all the way from western Kansas to the bleak eastern Colorado plains. At about the same time a dashing young man, Harrison Guy, came out of Nebraska and met Leroy and Ada's daughter, Anna. This meeting cuhninated in marriage. Harrison and Anna homesteaded near Seibert and out of this union cn-e five boys and one girl who left a distinctive mark on the small towns of eastern Colorado. Leroy, the first born was an outstanding basketball and track star. Garland (#2) was also a prolific basketball player and an �outstanding softball pitcher and in 1932 led Seibert to the district basketball tournament. Jay (#3) followed in his older brother's footsteps by excelling in everything he undertook. Ventan (#4) died at an early age in the influenza and diphtheria scourge of the early 1920's. Robert (#5) was the youngest of the boys and carried on the Guy tradition in grand style. Then, "Lo & Behold," along came a girl Ada May (#6). She was the baby for many years and Hanison even reserved a seat on the school bus for her. Today in 1986, there are four of the Guy family left. Leroy is retired from thorobred horse training and lives in Phoenix. Garland is retired from Ford Motor Co. after 35 years of service and is really enjoying life by raising, breeding and racing thorobred horees in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Robert lives in Lag Vegas, Nevada, and baby Ada May and her husband, Merle, live in Phoenix where they slso race horses in Arizona & New Mexico. The Guy family has cnrne a long way from Grandpa & Grandma Jeffries and the Hotel and Poolhall in Seibert, Colorado. by Ada May Midgett GUY - WEMMER FAMILY filing the final papers it was discovered they were not yet 2L, the legal age to file a homestead claim, and they had to relinquish these claims. They then helped their father on the ranch until they were 21. At that time Francis turned the ranch over to his sons and moved to Eads, Co. where he opened a general merchandise store which he owned and operated until his retirement, then moving to Canon City, Co. In 1916 Jerry and Mabel (Pugh) were married and they and Jess continued the ranching operation. In the crash of "29" they lost the ranch. At this time Jess moved to Westcliffe, and later to Canon City where he owned and operated a green house. Jerry remained in the area, farming at various locations in the north part of Kit Carson County until in 1938, when he bought the old John Knodel homestead in the Settlement from the Federal Land Bank. In 1948 he retired and sold the farm to his son David, moved to Stratton, where he lived until his death in L977 at the age of 91. Eight children were born into the family. Richard of Bethune Colo., Jane (Bandimere) of Arvada, Colo., David of Stratton, Colo., Leona (Chapman) of Mesa, Arizona, Margaret (Chapman) of Mesa, Arizona, Pauline (Berver) of Silver City New Mexico, Joanne (Wolfl of Monte Vista, Colo., and Roberta (Kindred) of Spokane, Wash. Mabel passed away on April g, 1986 at the F246 age of 92 years and 9 months. by David Guy HALL FAMILY r.247 We, Robert and Maxine Hall, moved from southeastern Kangae in May 1948, to a farm 15 miles east of Fountain, Colo., known as the Hanover District. In Sept. of that year, our son James Michael (Mike) was born. In May of 1950, we moved to Flagler, Co. where farming prospects seemed much better. We beca-e acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Wright of Flagler and he rented us some farm ground. We lived on the corner three fourths of a mile northwest of Flagler, where the oil road turns to the north. This house was owned by Guy Spear of Liberal, Kansas. He was the manager of the Baughman Land Company. He rented us more ground to farm. Our daughter, Vicki Sue, was born in March 1955. We bought a lot at the north edge of Flagler, from Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Huntzinger and built a quonset on it. In 1959, Mr. Spear wanted to sell the house and have it moved. We bought it and Hnm61 $1t"* helped us move it over to the lot where the quonset was. We remodeled it and are residing there at this time. Our son Mike, graduated in 1966 as class Valedictorian of the Flagler High School. He went on to the college at Boulder, Colo. and then to Medical School at Denver General in Denver. In June L972, he married Kathy Lorince, daughter of Delin and Tony Lorince of Arriba, Colo. Mike served in the Air Force in Washington, D.C., and their daughter Michelle Delin was born there, in March 1975. About two years latcr Mike was trans- GWYN - FISTIER FAMILY ferred to San Antonio, Texas. Later, he moved to Colorado Springs where they reside In 1906, the J.A. "Gus" Gwlrn family came at this time. Their son, Mathew Lorince, was born in April 1979. Mike is an Anesthesiologist at Penrose Hospital. Our daughter, Vicki, graduated as Saluta- they homesteaded on the SW 1/r -23-8-50. In 1918, they returned to Nebraska. In 1921, the youngest son, James Gwyn, returned to School. She went to college in Greeley, Colo. where she majored in Special Education. After graduating in June of 1977, she married F246 to Flagler from Decatur, Nebraska, where Flagler where he worked for the late C.J. Farr. On October L6, t924, he was married to lda Fisher. They lived on several places along the Republican River. In L942, they returned to their own place which was land Jim had bought from his father early in 1924. Their children were: Albert, born November 7, torian of her 1973 class at Flagler High Robert Sanderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Sanderson Sr. of Greeley. She began teaching at Madison Elementary. She got her Masters Degree in 1985 and is still residing and teaching at Madison, in Greeley. by Mrs. Robert llall 1927, and Margie, born September 10, 1929, on the original A.C. Fisher homestead, where their mother was born. Agnes was born Jess and Jerry Guy. No one is sure oftheir age in this photo but a good guess would be 18 months to two years. They were born August 30, 1886. In the late 1800's Francis and Matilda (Wemmer) Guy moved from the Wichita, Kansas area, along with their three children, daughter Myrtle (1884), twin song Jess and Jerry (1886), and their possessions in a covered wagon, possibly the last covered wagon coming to this area. They settled first at Laird, CO. then sometime later moving to a ranch north and east of Kirk, Co. When Jegs and Jerry turned 18, they each filed for a homestead north and west ofJoes, Colorado. After proving up their claim and August 8, 1932, in a eod house on the Wm. Kneis homestead. The family struggled along in the thirties - eating beans, going to town with the team and wagon - selling a few eggs, a dab of home churned butter to buy necessary groceries. Mr. Chas. Blake, the grocer, of Seibert provided a small sack of candy as a treat for the kids. In February of 1957, Jim and Ida traded their ranch for property in town and moved to Flagler. Jim passed away in December, 1959. Ida still lives in Flagler, enjoying her family and busy with her many hobbies. by Ida R. Gwyn HALL. GREENWOOD FAMILY F248 My parents, Winford (Wink) Scott Hall and Julia Boletta (Letta) Greenwood of Stratton, Colorado were married January 10, 1912 in Kit Carson County. They were early settlers of the county having homesteaded land as early as 1906. Winford was born May 31, 1882 in Knox County, Missouri. He was the son of William Graves Hall and Beatrice Maud Scott. His father was from Indiana and mother from Kentucky of Scotch-Irish ancestors. Boletta was born September 8, 1894 in Franklin County, Nebraska. She was the daughter ofTheodore Greenwood and Laura Delilah Haskins. Theodore and Laura were originally from Wisconsin. They moved to � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Families of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief biographies of the founding families of Kit Carson County Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Families- G Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Description An account of the resource Brief history of the founding families of Kit Carson County whose names begin with "G." As told in the book, History of Kit Carson County. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Subject The topic of the resource History Kit Carson County Biography Genealogy Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a>