https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/17/506/Families-R.pdf 3f7a7c086e720bfd6d5aec4c65f4190a PDF Text Text some stretch of prairie where Grandma Doughty lived with her son and his children. The railroaders had no idea of the hardships they would meet and were not prepared for the harsh Colorado climate. The grading contract was completed that fall and the Quinn family was still moving, one winter in Goodland, Kansas, and then to Limon where William Frances was born in 1889. Mike was made Section Foreman for the Rock Island and the Quinns finally settled down on a a little woman all spunk and gumption and rawhide and sharp tongue, who would have gone out and butchered a range steer, any one's steer, and dragged it home by the tail before she would have fed her family coyote meat. But when he talked about how they built the railroad, Mike Quinn was listened to with attention and respect. Mike died April 29, L929, at the age of 87. After his death, Anna lived in Flagler in an apartment, later moving to Denver. She died December the children lived on the claim while Mike by Betty Roehr homestead two miles north of Flagler where they built a one room sod house. Anna and batched in town, walking home each week with the week'g provisions on his shoulder. They had no horse, but they did have two cows. (Later, the children delivered milk to the people of Flagler). By 1890, the 165 miles of track had been completed. The town of Flagler was beginning to build as few houses, a sod school and a tent grocery store. Anna wrote in 1943: My two older girls walked to school. Many a day of worry I put in, for the blizzards would come Mike Quinn and Anna Boyd. down; and, for the next decade, he was a maverick. It was during this time that his love of railroads began. Mike traveled the United States and Mexico and was in Ogden, Utah when the golden spike was driven in 1869. Anna's parents, James Boyd (June 9, 1827) and Mary Jane Reid (htg. 27, 1837) were both born in County Down, Ireland. James had come to New York with his three brothers. Mary Jane, who had been his sweetheart in Ireland, came to New Jersey with her aunt. She and Michael were married in Urban, Ohio on August 5, 1855. It was here that Anna Boyd was born Sept. 7, 1858. The Boyds moved to Illinois then to Iowa in 1864, when Anna was six years old. The Boyds had nine children. On May 6, 1878, Anna Boyd and Michael Quinn were maried in Washington, Iowa. Mike farmed for seven years; and, it was here that Joanna Margaret (Maggie) was born in 1879. The next year, Stephen Andrew was born, but he lived only one year. Two more little girls were born in Iowa: Ellen Elizabeth (Bess) in 1882 and Mary Anastasia in 1883. Two years later, James Michael was born. At this time Mike decided that farmingwas not to be his life. The Quinns had a sale and Mike left his family in Iowa while he went to find a new home. Anna and the four children joined him in Kansas and the next two years were spent in construction camps int he summer and near Hanington, Kansas in the winter, where Mike worked in the railroad yards. PhiUip Joseph was born in a covered wagon in a construction camp. In the spring of 1888, the Quinns came to Colorado with the J.P. Murphy grading outfit. Mike was to be the grade foreman of the outfit that would build grade for laying track for the railroad through eastern Colorado. They ceme by Union Pacific to Kit Carson, unloading the mules and the grading equipment and went to the camp at Bowerville (1 7z miles east of Flagler). the c'mp consisted ofover one hundred men, Anna and her five children. and two other women. The women cooked for the men and the children played around the camp, sometimes riding the mules. There was no town then, not even the beginning of one, nothing but the lone- up so suddenly and I would fear the girls would become lost. I would leave the three small children in the shack alone and go out to meet the girls. I carried water one quarter mile from a well on the creek, always using buckets. I would take my washing and wash boiler over to the well, dig a hole in the ground and fire with buffalo chips, set the boiler over the fire to do my washing, drying the clothes on the grass. Often times I took my baby along and set the little fellow on a quilt. Between 1891 and 1900, six more children were born: John Samuel, Grace Ruth, George Edward, Agnes Annabel, John Paul, and Hugh Robert. Two babies, John Samuel and John Paul, died as infants. Thirteen children had been born to Michael and Anna, three died in infancy and ten would live out their lives in Colorado. After proving up on the homestead claim, the Quinns took up a pre-emption on quarter mile south of Flagler. This was nearer town and Mike lived at home. They bought some cattle and Anna and the children ran the ranch while Mike was working. In the time span between 1899 and 1920, the older children married. The Quinns moved to town where they lived in the railroad section house. The children had all attended school, and George and Hugh played on the high school basketball teams. George enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917. Hugh, the youngest, was seventeen years old. Mike was now 78 and spent much of his time in the blacksmith shop. Hal Borland, in "Country Editor's Boy" wrote about the Flagler Blacksmith shop in the 1920s: Among them were old-timers who had been in that country when it was young, before the railroad was built. Mike Quinn qualified because he helped build the railroad. And 15, 1943 at the age of 95. RADCLIFF FAI\IILY F546 Earl Radcliff was born near Hale, Colorado, in Arapahoe County, on Nov. 15, 1893. He was a farmer and rancher by location and avocation. One of his early teachers was Nellie Grabb who lived north of Burlington, Colo. During the 1930's, he was feeding Hereford cattle on the Pugh Ranch north of Stratton, Kit Carson County, Colorado, when the awful flood of May 1935 hit, and took many of his Herefords downstream and ruined the hay land for many yeEus. He stayed here through the winter and beceme better acquainted with Maxine Messinger, the teacher at Tuttle School. By spring he had decided to move back to the Radcliff homestead near Hale, Colorado. During the summer of 1936, Earl worked in Denver in the building trade while Maxine was on leave from teaching. He asked Maxine to marry him and a Christmas wedding was planned. Maxine was then teaching at the Newton School on Highway 51 about 25 miles north of Burlington. On Dec. 23, 1936, Earl and she were married in the rectory of St. Charles Church at Stratton, Colo., Kit Carson County, with Jesse Messinger, Bonny Gaunt, and Mrs. Gaunt as witnesses. Earl continued to farm and raise cattle near Hale. Some of these years were poor for farming following the "dust bowl years". When the plans were made for the building of Bonny Dam, Earl and Maxine decided to sell everything on the Radcliff farm-including the buildings-and move to Denver in November, 1943. By this time four of their daughters (Earline, Helen, Sue, and Bonny) had been born in Burlington Hospital with Dr. Robinson in attendance. Four more daughters (Carmine, Kathy, Mary, and Jane) were born in St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver. Earl worked for Eaton Metal Products Company for fifteen years then he retired. He passed away in Denver on June 15, 1965. Mike was a veteran of the Civil War. He was full of stories about the old days, at least half of them true and all of them rich with Irish wit and Irish brogue. When he told a whopper, most of his listeners knew what it was. As the one he told about how he used to be a great foot racer, how he kept in trim by running down coyotes, which he butchered to keep his family in meat. That was a wheeze, first because nobody could picture Mike, a big, brawny, white-mustached and with a geme leg that needed a cane, as a foot racer; and second because everyone knew his wife, by Mrs. Earl Radcliff �were laid to rest in Claremont Cemeterv in Stratton, Colorado. by Clara Argabright RAGAN, BURT F548 Burt Ragan taken about 1888 or 1889 soon after coming to Colorado. Earl and Maxine Radcliff and eight daughters at Eaton Metal Christmas party in 1952. RADSPINNER, ARTHUR AND LUCY Burt Ragan was the son of Collin and Katherine Ragan, who resided in Lancaster, Iowa. He was born March 31, 1868. Because of the death of his mother when he was four years old, he made his home with his F547 I was born in So. Dakota on Feb. 12, L907 and the folks moved to Colorado in March 1910. Doctors advised my Dad to move to a higher climate because of his asthma, so he decided to homestead in Eastern Colorado on 160 acres about 15 miles south of Stratton where, with help of neighbors, he built a sod house, then in later years built a nice frame house. Must have been about 1918 but I can't say for sure. The family cnme by train on the Rock Island railroad and lived in the sod house until the new house was built. We even had Carbide lights, such an improvement over the old kerosene lamps. Their five children were: Nina Henrietta - married Howard Hightower, Laurence - married Arthur Lowe, Lillian Agatha - married William Underwood, Clara Louise - married Gilbert Argabright. After the children were all married and in homes of their own and because of Dad's health, they sold the farm in 1937. They bought a house in Stratton where they resided until 1960 when it became necessary for them to move to the Rest Home in Burlington. Dad died in Oct. 1960 and Mother passed away Nov. 21, 1964. They Grandma and Grandad Radspinner. Taken August 16. 1950 in front of their Stratton home. Vivian Ragan holding dolls and wearing fur muff and scarf, fall of 1920. PQO �Lila and Homer Ragan about 1916. Part of the Ragan family taken in 1947. Back row, L. to R.; Helen Nelson, Fred and Vivian Kiefer, Mary Ragan, John Rule, Burt Ragan, Dorothy Jones, Lila Rule, Walt Jones, Ferrell Jones. Front Row; Kiefer children, Virginia holding Bill, Terry, Kathie, and Sheryl. Seated, Gary Kiefer and Kerwin Jones. grandparents, W.A.H. and Catherine Ragan. The Ragans were of Irish heritage. When sixteen years of age, he cnme by horseback to Oberlin, Kansas. The next year, at seventeen years of age, he walked into Colorado, traveling with a wagon train. At Burlington, then a small village, he learned that a large ranch to the north, on the Burt Ragan, left, taken while associated with the Stock Grower State Bank - around 1920. i,,.t:ta:i:lt:. r..i:.:. I, t:r!&iltl:r: f,rttili: Burt Ragan and daughter Cora riding their horses. Taken about 1906 or 1908. Burt Ragan, County Clerk about 1916. Notice the safe and ledgers to the right. Left to Right: Burt Ragan, Sr. and Burt Ragan Jr., Ethel, Adella Ragan, Burt Jr., Ethel, Burt Jr. and Cora. Burt Ragan - while serving in the Colorado State Senate. 1932-1940. �Republican River, needed cowboys' The next grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. The next day he was hired by the Republican Cattle Company, owned by a group from England. In later years, this ranch was known as the Bar T Ranch. In time, Mr. Ragan beca-e the foreman of the ranch, which was at that time the largest made her home with her grandparents until she reached adulthood. Also raised in the Ragan home was Dorothea Nees Jones, daughter of Mary Ragan. Now, in January of 1987, Lila Rule and Vivian Kiefer, the two remaining children are happy to contribute this brief history of their father, Burt Ragan. A Postscript to Burt Ragan: night he camped on land that later became part of his home place and ranch. ranch in eastern Colorado. His ambition prompted him to attend Franklin Academy, in Franklin, Nebraska, for two winter terms of four months each. Burt, as he beca-e known in the community, rode in the last big round up in eastern Colorado, which extended from the Arkansas River on the south to the Republican River on the north: these are over a hundred miles apart. There were no fences and very few settlers. He also did freighting from Haigler, Nebraska to the ranches along the Republican River the first winter he was in Colorado. Burt was married to Adella Austin on March 18, 1892 in Friend, Colorado. At that time Adella's parents owned and operated the general store in Friend, which was located a little way south and west of the present town of ldalia. Nine children were born to this union, three dying in infancy. Mrs. Adella Ragan passed away February 2, L920, during the flu epidemic. In the fall of 1899, Mr. Ragan was elected to the office of County Clerk and Recorder of Kit Carson County. He resigned his position with the Republican Cattle Company to take over this new work. He served one term in this office. In 1903 he was selected as Assistant Postmaster of Burlington, and served one year in this capacity. He then returned to his home ranch to pursue his life as a cattleman. Burt moved back to Burlington in the fall of 1912, where he became identified with the Stock Growers State Bank for the next 16 years. He sold his interest in the bank in the spring of 1929 to devote his time to land brokerage and selling insurance. The many friends who were associated with Mr. Ragan, knowing of his unusual ability of understanding the many needs of this section of the state, decided he was needed in the State Senate. He was elected to that office in 1934 and re-elected in 1938, serving two four year terms. Because of his age and farming interests, he refused to run for a third term. Mr. Ragan was initiated into the Masonic Lodge No. 77, A.F. and A.M. of Burlington in 1904. He advanced to the 32nd degree. He had been present€d with his 50 year pin in the spring of 1954. During his long years of public service, Burt was always mindful of individuals needs, and in the depression years often gave a helping hand. On March 17, L926, he was united in marriage to Mary L. Nees at Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. When health permitted, Mr. Ragan worshipped in the First Christian Church. The six children of Burt and Adella Ragan who reached maturity were Cora Ragan Abbott, Ethel Ragan Stokes, Burt M. Ragan, Lila Ragan Rule, Homer E. Ragan, and Vivian Ragan Kiefer. At the time of his death on November 19, 1954, he was the grandfather of twelve One granddaughter, Helen Stokes Nelson, In reviewing the story of our Dad, a few more incidents came to mind which we thought should be included. As there was no school facility in the area, neighbors united and built their own on lots donated by Mr. Ragan, using native rock, adobe, cement and lumber. They built a one room school building and a small pony shed. J.T. Conger, a stone mason by trade, was a great help. Until this was ready, classes were held in a room of the Ragan home. Jenny Jones of Kirk was hired to teach the neighborhood children, including the Ragan, Evans, Conger, Milhoan, Mace, Grnmm and Richards families. Later JennyJones manied Ed Davis. They built the Davis Garage in Stratton. In the early 1900's Mr. Ragan was chosen as Justice of the Peace for the District where he lived. During this time he performed several marriage ceremonies. Both of the Ragan sons served in the service of our country, Burt Jr. in World War I, and Homer in World War II. This addition to our fathers story is submitted March 31, 1987, the anniversary of Dad's birthday. by Vivian Kiefer RAINBOLT, EDWIN F549 In the fall of 1945 Frank Rainbolt came to Burlington to visit some friends, the Glen Robbins, and to look for some land. He had sold his cattle and was looking for some land to invest in. He found that he could buy more land for his money in this area and bought a section northwest of Burlington. At this time Edwin and Ben were still in the service. The following spring of 1946 Richard Burd and Edwin got a couple of combines and cut their way from Protection, Kansas to Burlington, harvesting the first crop on the section Frank had purchased the year before. After harvest Edwin returned to Protection and in October married Norma Brown from Burdette, Kansas. Little did Norma know what she was getting into when they set out with all of their possessions loaded in a truck to live on the farm north of Burlington. By the time Norma arrived in Burlington it had been snowing for about two days and snow was piled everywhere. It was almost dark and they got about a mile north of the airport and buried the truck in a snowbank. Edwin and Norma walked back to town and got the last room at the hotel. They were stranded there for three days with it snowing most of the time. When the snow finally ended there was 28 inches on the level. Hap Rainbolt finally cnme acrogs country on a tractor to take Edwin and Norma out to the farm. The next day, with the help of Harold McArthur and a scoop tractor they pulled the truck out of the snow bank and back to town. It remained there for a couple of weeks, For the next two months the only transportation they had was a tractor. That left Norma pretty much housebound, which was pretty difficult for a former city girl. In March of 1947 they bought the old Bogart Ranch southeast of town, there to set up housekeeping and begin farming. In 1948 they began their family with the birth of Steve. Patricia followed in 1949 and Tom was born in 1955. Bogarts had homesteaded the place in the early 19(X)'s building the adobe house that is still on the place. It was built in 1910 along the Smoky River. Several changes have been made on that sturdy house and they are still making it their home for Steve, Judy and daughters Amy and Darla. The purchase down payment was $2000, and Edwin and Norma settled down to make it their home. When Steve and Patricia reached school age, they attended the Smoky Hill School. Among their teachers was Hazel Fromong, who still lives in Burlington. Raymond Woods was one of the janitors and lived at the school apartments. When the school was consolidated in 1958 the kids began attending the Burlington School. The Smoky Hill School was the center of many other community events, such as a Sunday School, parties, square dances, gun shoots and last but not least, the Smoky Hill 4H Club. In May of 1966 the family was saddened by the death of Norma. This brought many changes, but Edwin took on the added responsibilities of raising the kids by himself, and farming at the same time. Following high school graduation in 1967 Steve and Patricia went on to school. Patricia attended a business college in Denver and while there met and married Bill Shipman in December of 1967. They moved to Ohio where they live with their two children, Christopher and Stephanie. Steve went to NJC for a year and then transferred to Aims Jr. College in Greeley. In 1970 he joined the National Guard, then in 1971 he married Judi Hammer and moved back to the farm. Tom graduated from NJC then went to CSU where he graduated with a degree in farm and ranch management. From there he went to work for the Federal Land Bank. He has been in several different offices, including Burlington. In 1986 he married Carolyn Gasparovic and was transferred to the GreeIey Office. In 1976 Edwin was married to Neva Price, a friend he had known since the early years in Protection, Kansas where they both grew up. Edwin has turned the farm over to Steve and Judi and they continue to carry on with the family farm. Their two daughters, Amy and Darla are both in school in Burlington. by Bernice Eberhart "s\3:iills �RAMOS - KLOTZBACH FAMILY F560 My Great Grandparents, Leonard Klotzbach and Eva Holden Klotzbach, came from Washington. They csme to Kit Carson in 1910 with four kids (Louise, Ann, Leo, and John) and homesteaded north of Stratton for ten years. They then bought a farm three and a half miles southwest of Stratton. In 1920 Ann married Jesse Pugh and they moved to Oregon. Five years later, after having five kids, she died. In 1940 John and Louise also moved to Oregon. a year later Leonard and Eva moved into Stratton. In 1945, they too moved to Corvallis, Oregon. Eva died four years later and Leonard died in 1951. Leo stayed at the farm southwest of Stratton and was married to Leola Isom in 1938. A year later Leola's mother moved to Kit Carson from Arkansas by herself and lived with Leo and Leola. Leo and Leola had five kids between 1938 and 1942. Four had died in infancy and one, Lolita, survived. They sold stead. While proving up on his homestead, he built a three room sod house, a barn and dug a well. In 1910, he returned to Norborne, Missouri Burlington at age 64. Richard and Lelita moved from the farm in 1961 to Limon. Then in 1964 they moved back to Stratton where Richard opened up a Chiropractic Office at the north end of Main Street. They then had six kids (Dick, Mike, Jim, Tom, Ron, and Dan) between 1964 and 1973; Tommy died in infancy. Dad's office is now further south on Main Street, Dick and Mike are going to school and living in Denver, and Jim, Ron, and Dan are going to school in Stratton. by Jim Ramos READE FAMILY F66r James H. Reade was born at Hagerstown, Maryland on June 19, 1859. Emma Swatts was born at Kingston, Missouri on January 24, 1868. James H. and Emma were married on September L7,1882. To this union were born three children, Cledith, Zola and Beatress. Jemes and his parents, trying to escape the Civil War, came by covered wagon west to Missouri and settled near the town of Norborne, Missouri. In the early 1900's, the Homestead Act was passed. The Federal Government was giving away free land in the West. James and his nephew Emmitt Reade heeded the call to "come West, young man, come West." They left Missouri to homestead in Eastern Colorado. How they finally wound up in the FlaglerSeibert Area is very vague. We have in our possession a post card dated January 10th, 1913, from the Department of Interior, Hugo, Colorado for the patent of his Homestead. He filed on a quarter section in the year of 1909. From the little information that we have, it took three years "to prove" on the Home- F563 where he made arrangements to have his personal property shipped west by immigrant car on the Rock Island Railroad. This consisted of one team of horses, four cows, one wagon, several pieces of farm machinery, a wife and two children. The second house and barn still exists on the place. James and his family lived in the FlaglerSeibert area the rest of their lives. James and Emma were charter members of the First Baptist Church in Flagler. He was a member of the IOOF Lodge. James H. died in 1927. Emma made her home with her daughter, Zola Bryan. At the time of her death, she was 98 years young. All are buried in the Flagler cemetery. by Pauline F. Radebaugh READY FAMILY the farm in 1961. Leo and Leola were divorced in 1964, which is the same year that Lolita was married to Dr. Richard Ramos. Leola and her mother then moved to Burlington and Leo moved into Stratton. Leo then died in 1978 and Leola's mother, known as "Gram", died in 1983. Leola still lives in REAVIS, CLIFFORD E. F552 Born 1854 in Jackson County Ohio, parents -emigrated into Illinois when Mr. Ready was about a year old, and he was raised there. "I came to Colorado on July 4, 1886, with Bruno F. Kaiser, Wm. VanOsdal, Wm. Stout and Ed Hoskin (father of H.G. Hoskin, former State Representative from this District) on a "land excursion" which was put on by the Burlington railroad. We came from Illinois to Holdrege, Nebr. and then overland by covered wagon and a team of mules which belonged to me. We were located on tree claims by L.R. Baker (later lynched for murder) and then took out pre-emptions. We then returned to Illinois, and in the fall of 1886 came out and lived on our pre-emptions, which in each case joined the tree claims. At that time, a person could hold three quarters of land and prove up on it. I held my tree claim then homesteaded it. Mr. Kaiser's claim was about three miles south and west of Burlington, so we built a dugout soddy, then we lived with him for the winter. We hauled water from the Republican River, twenty-three miles north of us. When it was too stormy to go that far, we used water in the lagoons, and once in awhile we were fortunate enough to find a spring, and then we would have good water until someone else claimed it. We saw some buffalo, plenty of antelope and wild horses, coyotes and rattlesnakes. I was the only one in the bunch that had a team, so I did the breaking and plowing for those who wanted the tree claims plowed or crops started. Kaiser was a blacksmith, Stout a carpenter; VanOsdal did not stay long, he soon sold out and went east. We had plenty of discouragements; I went hungry and thirsty too lots of times, but everyone had a good time, and we were contented. We had a very severe winter in 1886, and our only fuel was "buffalo chips". But we were comfortable in our little dugout. by Winfield Scott Ready Clifford E. Reavis in front of the Second Central School bus, a Dodge Brothers Dodge which he drove in 1924 and 1925. The George Cook and Clifford E. Reavis families moved from Smith Center County, Kansas, to Flagler, Colorado, the 16th of April, 1916. The Cook family numbered twelve, George and Nora Cook with ten children. The children were Vernon, Lois, Vinnetta, Ruby, Christine, Howard, Marvin, Forest, and Arroll. The oldest daughter, Estella, was married to Clifford Reavis. It was a long journey for the two fanilies. The Reavis family consisted of Clifford and "Stella" with three small children, Verland, Bernadine, and 6-month old Maxine. One mode of travel was a Model T Ford touring car. The Reavis family, plus Arroll Cook, who was the same age as Bernadine, rode in the car. The rest of the Cook family drove a covered wagon, except Vernon, the oldest boy, who rode a train with the livestock. The Reavis family went into the restaurant business located on the Main Street of Flagler. Vinnetta Cook worked for them in the restaurant. The Reavis family moved to the Smith farm north of Flagler (a two-room house) after about 3 years in the restaurant. Clifford farmed and drove a school bus into Flagler. While here, Eugene Reavis was born in July 1919. The next residence for the Reavis family was on the Ranny Place southeast of town on the Republican River. The next move was to a farm two and one-half miles south of Kipling Railroad Crossing. While living there, the Reavis children attended Second Central County School until Verland and Bernadine went through the eighth grade. It is recalled that one winter the snow was so bad the bus could not get through. Clifford Reavis was driving the school bus at this time. The 6th, ?th, and 8th grade children stayed at the school with the teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Mathews. until the �bus could run again, which was about a month. It was necessary for them to stay with their studiers because county exerns were given in the spring. The school bus was not like the buses we think oftoday, but an openair Dodge-like panel truck. The only protection from the elements were curtains made of heavy canvas that dropped down on the sides and tied. To keep children warm were many comforters to cover them and soap stones which were heated in the oven and wrapped up for their feet. For entertainment we went to the school and had a school progrem and a box social followed. The girls and ladies all brought box lunches for two people. The boxes were gayly decorated with anything available to make them attractive. The men would bid on them and the purchaser would eat with the person that brought the box. When the Reavis's lived in the Second Central area, they went to barn dances held at the Wheeler Barn. Cliff Reavis would play the fiddle, someone played the piano, and sometimes there would be a banjo or mandolin. Square dancing, round dancing, and polka and other country dances were enjoyed. At midnight, the ladies served homemade cakes and coffee, and the kids (many who had been asleep on benches or floor) were bundled up and all went home. The mode of travel might be horseback, a wagon, maybe a car, and sometimes even a sled drawn by horses. On Sundays the men would get together and have a rabbit hunt, since the rabbits were so abundant. They could get 10 cents for a pair of rabbit ears. The women would have a quilting bee while the men were hunting the rabbits. Verland and Bernadine stayed in town for their first year of high school. The rest of the Reavis family moved into town in 1927. While residing in Flagler, the Reavis's had a grocery store just north of the Lavington Ford Garage. Verland, Bernadine, and Maxine all graduated from Flagler High School, and Eugene went through grade school. Bernadine and Maxine played on the basketball tenm that won State Qfuampionship in 1930 under the guidance and coaching of Mr. Bill McKinley. Upon Maxine's graduation in 1933, she was awarded a scholarship to Colorado State Teachers College, and the Reavis family moved to Greeley, and Bernadine attended college at Colorado University in Boulder. All three older children were teachers and Gene worked and retired from American Airlines in San Diego, California. Verland taught in Pueblo, Colorado, and Coos Bay, Oregon; Bernadine taught at Tesarado School, south of Flagler, and in Adams REED FAMILY F554 C.D. Reed, the first president of Burlington Rotary Club, was born in Montezuma, Iowa, on May 17, 1893. At the age of eight, Cece moved to Colorado and located at Fountain, Colorado, where his dad opened a general merchandise store which he operated until his death in February of 1906. In the fall of that year Cece with his mother and sister moved to Colorado Springs where he entered the 5th grade. He attended grade school and high school graduating in the class of 1912. After high school, Cece went to New York for a year and worked for the New York Telephone Co. In September of 1913 he returned to Colorado Springs and enrolled in Colorado College where he received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Degree in 1917. He graduated just in time to get in the Army for the conflict overseas and put in two years in World War I. He attended the third Officers Training Camp and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Field Artillery. He went overseas in 1918 and back to the United States in 1919 and was discharged that year. Soon after discharge he went to La Junta to work for the Intermountain Railway Light and Power Co. but soon decided he wanted to get into business for himself and picked the Ford business as a place to start and worked Ada Rehn (Kalb) at age 2 in 1886 for the Ford dealer in La Junta. He was married to Marie Moore on December 23, 1920 and in April of 1921 they moved to Burlington where he took on the Ford agency. To this marriage two children were born, Cecil David Reed, Jr. and Mary Janice. During the years in Burlington, Cece was quite active in civic affairs and other business ventures. He served as Mayor, president of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the hospital board during the time of its construction, commander of the American Le- gion, master of the Burlington Masonic Lodge and the usual honors and duties that befall the average businessman in a small community. There were 13 other Ford agencies that he either helped start or helped train the personnel that operated the agencies. He also was active in the formation and operation of other businesses in town and in agriculture. Emma Rehn. Ada Kalb's mother REHN - KALB FAMILY F555 County; Maxine taught in Las Animas and for 25 years in Englewood, Colorado. Clifford Reavis died August 5, 1965, and Estella Reavis died January 19, 1984. All four children are among the living, retired citizens. by Bernadine Reavis Kreiling Ada Rehn was born in Stanford, Nebraska, March 4, 1884. She homesteaded 6 miles south and 2 miles east of Stratton. Colorado in 1906. Her mother, Emma Rehn, lived on the homestead while Ada worked in Denver part time and then ran the Stratton Hotel in Stratton, Colorado. There she met Ed Kalb. They were married in Canton, Kansas, on January 18, 1913. Ada returned to the homestead in the summers and spent the winters in Canton. In the spring of 1917 she returned to her homestead and made her home there until her death in 1970. Ada and Ed had two sons: Kenneth, born December 31, 1913 and Walter born in 1916. Kenneth and his wife Dora were married 1920: Kenneth and Walter KaIb with their cousins, Ruth and Alton l4aricle. in a cart built in 1918 �moon thru New Mexico, Teras and just over the border into Mexico, we returned and made our home in the frnms house David grew up in. We lived there the next 24 years. The gang came to chivaree us. Someone took Betty in ajeep to the pasture to hide her. To compensate for not getting the treats right away, they ate everything they could. David {} had hung deer meat to dry on the windmill. We had cooked it for 3 days and still couldn't eat the tough stuff - but they did! We had the last laugh!! We had two children, Vickey Lynn, June 26,1951 and Ray Deon April 11, 1954. In the 1950's, when our children were a baby and 3 yr. old, we were having dirt storms day after day. It would sometimes blow all day then lay at night. We had to hang wet blankets at the #,'r'1* ffil ,I windows and sometimes over the babies basket for health reasons. It was literally hazy with dust in the rooms. After one such day, when the wind had quit, our little one was over by the east door with a toy truck playing in the mound of dirt that had sifted into the 'll:,14t t..,:,1;.;-" ::$': 3l e':i:1: ,.,,,1'll- .. :'l?;4&{. room past the rags, that had been stuck in the cracks. Ada Kalb's rock house built in the 1950's January 18, 1946 and Walter and his wife Faye were married on May L7, L942. Walter and Faye have two children, Ronni Sue and Cary. Ed Kalb died November 29, 1945. Kenny and Walt attended school at West Bethel. In the late 1950's, at the age of 70, Ada built a rock house. She used her Ford tractor and a trailer to gather native white rock which she used for the house. It has four rooms downstairs and two rooms upstairs. She did the work herself with some help from Dora, who handed rocks up to her. Ada lived on this sit€ until her death on December 2L,1970 at the age of86. She was truly a "pioneer woman". by Dleanor Herndon David lived in this home with a small addition to the north and west sides, until he was 45. He had 4 brothers and 1 sister. As he was growing up, he loved to work with horses, breaking many over the years. He and his brothers Orlen and Floyd drove a horse, pulling a homemade box type wagon to Prairie Gem school. When he later went to High School in Seibert, he rode a horse cross country 3 mi. to a point 4 mi. N of Seibert to catch a bus. 1 or 2 years he boarded part time with Paul Bramletts, who ran the Grocery Store and Locker. David worked in the store and also helped with the slaughtering and processing. The first half of his senior year, he was out of school a lot picking corn. He managed to get the needed grades to graduate, but was unable to attend the graduation due to the measles. While a senior, David met Betty Lou Hughes, a freshman who had moved to Seibert with her family in May of REID - HUGHES FAMILY 1945. Betty was born to Thelma Theadora F566 David Vinton Reid was born July 1, 1928, to Lewis and Lillian (Schermerhorn) Reid, 7 mi. N. and 2 mi. W of Seibert. He was born, assisted by "Doc" McBride, in the frnme home Reids had made from shipping crates that ceme in on the railroad. Sod had been put in all the outside walls for insulation. (Hobbs) and George Sylvester Hughes, at their home near Kismet, Ks., Mar. 22, L93L. She, her three sisters, 1 brother and parents moved to Masters, then to Greeley. Betty attended 2 years of school there. Her family moved back to Sublette, Ks. area where they were employed on a farm and ranch by Edwin Silas Gleason. Betty went to Banner country school, where she completed the 8th grade. Several of those years she would be taken to school in the morning, clean the school room after school for $.25, then walk the 3 mi. home, going to the pasture to take the cows or sheep home. When the menfolk were busy it was her job to milk the 7 cows. Later she had a horse nrmed "Patsy", that made the 3 mi. more pleasant. In May 1945, due to Mr. Gleasons purchase of land 5 mi. S. of Seibert, Betty, her parents and brother Clifford, moved to Colo. Betty completed 4 years ofhigh school and graduated Valedictorian of her class. We, David and Betty were married Dec24, 1949, in Colorado Springs, at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Checking cattle on horses raised by David Reid on right of picture. Son-in-law Norman Eagleton is on the left. Elder J.D. Curtis performed the ceremony. David's brother Orlen and Dorthy Akers, a friend, stood up with us. After the honey- At this writing, Vickey, her husband Norman Eagleton and family, (Dawn, Carma and Jason) have joined in the family owned farming and ranching operation. Ray, his wife Julie (Nau) and two sons, Christopher Deon and Michael Ray are living in Glendora, Calif. Ray is employed in his Omni Chrome business owned with other partners. They build and merchandise Lasers in Chino, Calif. David and Betty have been active in 4-H, Church, Cattlemen's and Cowbelle's, ColoWyo. Polled Herford Assn., Western Polled Herford Assn., David served on the school board for 12 years, Arickaree Ground Water Board, Romoca Management Board, and the Kirk Cooperative Store Board. David holds the priesthood office of Elder in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, of which Betty, their two children and 3 of the grandchildren are baptized members. We have served many years as District Youth leaders, and Local Youth leaders, both have taught Church school (Betty for 35 yrs.) and Skylark leader for 25 yrs. We were presented the World Church Distinguished Youth Service Award, denoting 20 or more years of serving youth. We will be the 1989 National Western Polled Herford Standard of Perfection Show Honorees. We have farmed, raised and shown cattle throughout our married life. Our goal, once we decided to stay in Co., was to try to acquire a quarter of land a year, establish tree belts to improve the landscape of the area and to raise the best cattle we possibly could. In Aug of 1973, we moved to the house on land we purchased 4 mi. N of Seibert, on Hwy. 59, (the location of the Old town of Ho5rt, so we're told). In August 1986, we moved into the sawed Cedar Log home that David's parents built in 1950, in Seibert. We continue farming and ranching and enjoying friends and relatives coming for visits. by Betty L. Reid �REID SCIIERMERHORN FAMILY and turkeys a year for about 10 years. They remember going out as a family to hunt rattlesnakes around prairie dog holes, just to kill them, they used sticks, hoes, or whatever was available. Lewis and Lillian would go to the Eads F557 David and Betty Reid's 25th wedding anniversar5r on December 24, L974. L. to R.: LiIIian Reid (David's mother), David and Betty, Thelma Gleason (Betty's mother). Lake once or twice a year and bring home as many "carp" as the back of the car would hold without a seat in it. They would sell a few and salt the rest down to eat later. Sometimes the Reid family was joined by their neighbors, the Ernest Akers fanily and together they would go to the Republican River to play in the water. They would catch bullfrogs. Fried frog legs would be added to their picnic. If a leg happened to jump out of the pan, they would grab it, wash it, and back in the pan it would go. Before electricity came in, Lewis would spend time in the winter whittlin' wooden propellers to mount on poles on the house and barn. He used generators out of old cars to go with the propellers. When the wind blew he had good lighls. For years they butchered beefand hogs and supplied many of the Seibert residents until Bramletts Locker Business was established. We always had ice to cool the meat and for Lewis McKinley Reid, son of Alexander Campbell and Sadie Ann (Mote) Reid was born June 29, 1896, at Altamont, Missouri. Alexander came by wagon to Colorado, in 1905. Lewis, his three sisters and mother, cnyne by train in 1907. They homesteaded on a farm 8 miles north and 2 miles west of Seibert. In 1919, the Reid family moved 1 mile south of their first home, where Lewis continued to farm with his mother, after the death of his father, in 1920. Lillian Eleanor Schermerhorn was born Oct.24,1903, in Phillipsburg, Ks. to Phillip Gordon and Mary Ella (Tree) Schermerhorn. In 1921, she moved with her parents and family to a two-room "soddy", 5 mi. north and 3 mi. west of Seibert. She and her family lived in several different places in that area during the next few years. Lillian graduated from Seibert High School in1923. She taught school at Shiloh, Je-es, and West Haven Schools from 1923-1926. While teaching at West Fair Haven, she boarded with the Sadie Reid family. One of Lillian's contracts was signed by J.A. Boren, President and Lewis Reid, Sec. Her contract was for District #8 in Kit Carson County, to teach from Aug. 31, 1925 thru May 1926, at a salary of $100.00 per month. While boarding with the Reid family she met Lewis and they were united in marriage June 27, 1926. This union was blessed with seven children; five sons and two daughters. One daughter preceded them in death. Their children were: Orlen Wayne, 1927, David Vinton. 1928, Floyd Elvin, 1933, Roger Landon, 1936, LaVada Ilene, 1938, and Raymond Rex, 1946. Their sons and daughter were later married, Orlen to Irene Fuller, David to Betty Lou Hughes, Floyd to Margaret Williamg, Roger to Barbara Hoakenson, LaVada to Muirl Robinson, Rex to Peggy Hanson, Lewis' sisters married: Mae to Dan Sears, Suzi to Roy Cruickshank, and Opal to Ed Woods. Lewis and Lillian lived in a freme house that was built partially with shipping crates that cqme in on the railroad. For insulation they put sod in the outside walls. Some memories in the life of the Reid's are of hatching, herding and raising a couple thous- homemade ice cream, as we had a large ice pit. Ice was taken from the pond, or made from snow, and put in this pit. We surrounded it with straw. It would keep until late summer. Lewis and Lillian were active and really enjoyed the community country club. The group took turns once a month, getting together at a different home for the noon meal. They would spend the day playing horseshoes, other games or just visiting. Leland L. Reinecker, He served as Erecutive Officer of the Bank of Burlington for 38 years. October. Housing was scarce. They rented the furnished house belonging to Ervin and Ruby Hoyt at 489 Eighth Street, now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Guy McArthur. In the spring of 1944 they bought a little house across the street which they remodeled and modernized (it did not have a bathroom). They lived there for two years, at which time Lewis, Lillian, their 6 children, their they purchased from Thornton and Hazel spouses, and most of their grandchildren are Thomas the house at 509 Tenth Street. This would be their home for thirty years. Their son Norman was born in September, 1946, two months after they moved in. Leland was born May 18, 1913 in Quinter, Kansas. His parents were Leslie and Ellen (Brubaker) Reinecker. He has three brothers and two sisters. His father died when he was seven years old. The family lived on a farm baptized members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Lewis held the office ofteacher. then later priest. He was serving in this office at the time of his death in 1958. Four of their sons and their son-in-law are in the priesthood of the church, all of the immediate family are actively working in the church. In 1949, they moved into Seibert due to Lewis' failing health. Even then they established a good sized fruit orchard, owned and operated a Dairy Delite and maintained a large chicken business. They built a cedar log home in Seibert, near the school and water tower. They resided there until their deaths Lewis in 1958 and Lillian in 1986. They gave meaning to the phrase "As a day well lived gives joyful sleep so a life well lived gives joyful death." by Mrs. David Reid and the children attended country schools. After graduating from Quinter High School in 1931, Leland began working at the first National Bank in Quinter. On May 29, 1936, Leland married Dorothy Flora, daughter of Norman and Lizzie (Delp) Flora. Dorothy was born August 7, 1916 on a farm southwest of Quinter. She has four brothers and five sisters. She graduated at Quinter High School in 1934. They came to Colorado in 1937, living in Colorado Springs until January 1938 when Leland went to work for Charlie and Don Collins and Frank Jelinek at the Kit Carson REINECKER FAMILY F558 Leland Reinecker anived in Burlington in September of 1943, having accepted a job as Cashier at the Bank of Burlington. It was war time and John Ellis and Bob Montgomery were leaving soon to enter military service, at which time Leland took over the responsibilities of managing the bank. George D. Tubbs Sr. of Denver was president of the bank, and E.L. Weinandt, P.L. Bruner, and John Boggs were directors. Leland's wife Dorothy and daughters LeEtta and Mary Sue came to join him in State Bank in Kit Carson. During the five years they lived there, their two daughters were born at Eads, LeEtta in 1938 and Mary Sue in 1941. They lived in Lomar one year prior to coming to Burlington. During the years of World War II, Mr. Reinecker and the bank helped with the war effort by the handling of ration banking, the selling of bonds and providing financing of war production. Mr. Reinecker served as U.S. Savings Bond Chairman for Kit Carson County for 38 years. Following the war there were good times and years of drought, with rapid changes in agriculture and the economy of the area. There were many farm sales when families left the area. Then came the development of �deep well irrigation and the growing of sugar beets in Kit Carson County as well as improved production of corn, wheat, and beans. There was the development of commercial feed lots and the growth of the livestock industry. Mr. Reinecker and the bank tried to provide the financial backing necessary for his customers to remain in business. The family enjoyed the Rock Island passenger service of the 1940's, 50's and 60's. The last Rocket went through Burlington on October 16, 1966. One year there was a derailment of several cars loaded with new automobiles just west of the Co-Op Elevator. Leland helped organize and conduct an auction to sell the more than eighty damaged automobiles. Mr. Reinecker served on the Burlington School Board during the years when the Elementary and High School buildings were built. The Reinecker's three children graduated from Burlington High School. LeEtta graduated from Denver University, earning a degree in business. She lives in Denver with her husband Carl and four children, Charles, Michael, Mark, and Kristen. Mary Sue graduated from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley with a degree in Home Economics. She lives in also one of Grandmother and Grandfather George Reinemer. by Mrs. Cliff Suffield RHOADES, HARLEY AND ESTHER F560 From covered wagon to jet planes is a far cry so far as modes of travel are concerned, yet Harley Rhoades, has experienced this marvelous advance in transportation. He was only 4 months old when his parents traveled by covered wagons from their farm in Rush County, Kansas to their homestead, the S.W. Vt, L9-6-42, in Kit Carson County, Colorado, northeast of Burlington. The fam- ily consisted of: father, mother, a daughter, Clara, (two years old), and Harley. Harley traveled through 7 European countries by jet air plane. In 1903, it took seven days with team and wagon to make the 210 mile trip, from Kansas to Colorado, and in 1961, it required 5 hours and 45 min. to fly from New York City to Glascow, Scotland, by jet. the home place until September, 1952, when they bought a home in town. Harley became a well known wheat farmer and was successful in the cattle business. The ranch is now in the 4th generation of management. Harley is best known for his happy disposition and his generosity, and willingness to accommodate his friends, in every possible way as well as his public spirit. He served 12 years as a county commissioner, and two terms as president of the Fifth District County Commissioner's Association. He also served about 12 years as the Sec-Treas. ofthe County Commissioner's Alumni Assn. He has been a prominent and active member of the Republican party, a member of the Bur- lington Rotary Club, President of the Kit Carson County Cattlemen's Association, which office he held for twenty-five years. He served five years as a member of the Colorado Fish and Gamg g.nrmission, and is the only member of the history of the commission that didn't miss a single meeting in the entire five years. The project of which he is most proud is his part in opening the Federal International Parks Highway No. 385, that reaches from Regina, Canada to Old Mexico. He was a board member of the C.P. school board. This school is in Denver, for the Cerebral Palsy and handicapped children. Harley's father was primarily a cattleman and when Kansas became so thickly settled, fencing and farming left little free range, so They have from 80 to 100 children in attendance. Kit Carson County Hospital was also built during the time he was a county Norman graduated from Western State he pushed further west, where there was College in Gunnison and served four years in the Navy. He is a banker, having worked six plenty of free range and grassland. The native buffalo grass was very nutritious and made especially fine feed for the cattle. The elder Rhoades usually ran between 80 to 100 head of cattle. Kanarado, Kansas was the family Market and trading place, it being nearer to commissioner and he deserves much credit for the building of this fine institution. He donated $4,000, which was his salary for four Burlington with her husband Phil Woodrick and sons Steve and David. years at the Bank of Burlington and seven years at the Saratoga State Bank in Saratoga, Wyoming. He, with his wife Beverly and daughters Kelly and Jill moved to Denver in 1986 where he is employed at Gates Rubber Company in the Credit Union. For recreation Leland spent much time playing golf. He helped with the organization of the golf club and the building of the new grass greens course. Mr. Reinecker served as Executive Officer of the Bank of Burlington for 38 years. In 1981 he received an Award from the Colorado Bankers Association for 50 years ofoutstand- ing service to banking. He and Dorothy are enjoying their retirement years in their home overlooking the ninth green ofthe golfcourse. by Dorothy Reinecker REINEMER FAMILY F559 My grandfather, George Reinemer, and his son George homesteaded in 1894 in Kit Carson County. George, the son, went back to Missouri, married and moved to Califor- nia. My grandparents are buried in the Flagler Cemetery. My father, Chris Reinemer, also took out a homestead. His brother Gus also homesteaded and remained in the area, farming. He is also buried in Flagler Cemetery. About 1918 my parents sold their homestead and moved away. My brother, Alvin, sister Lenora, and I were born on Dad's homestead. We moved around in Oregon and Idaho until around 1920 when we stayed at Nampa, Idaho, on an irrigated farm. My dad had a large oval landscape picture of his homest€ad which he kept. I now have that picture and them than Burlington. More land was acquired until they owned seven quarters, and in due time they "proved up" on their homestead. Harley says they burned some coal, but one oftheir chores was to gather cow chips for fuel. In the fall they would rake up the chips into piles, then with team and wagon they would haul them home. Harley went to Beaver Valley school and walked 2Vz miles there and back every day. The children would cut across the prairie years as commissioner. Through the years Harley's inspiration was his wife, Esther, who was a true helpmate. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary December L4, L977 and 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 14, 1987. They have thoroughly enjoyed their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Son, Ray and wife Sara Lee; daughter, Helen; grandchildren, Gary and wife Kendra, daughters, Karah and Kolby; Judy and husband Larry, Larae and Logan; and Bobby and Jay Rhoades. by Ray Rhoades since there were few fences and roads in those days. They seemed to develop a keen sense of direction and in spite of the storms, there were no records of anyone becoming lost. But Harley remembers many of the children in the cold winter weather would arrive at the school crying because their hands and feet were so cold. Today's mothers would be stricken with the thought of their children walking2l/z miles to school. Even a few blocks here in town seem too much and the parents usually take them by auto. When Harley was 9 years old, the family rented the farm and moved to Nampa, Idaho, where they lived for three years then moved back to their home here. The father died when Harley was 15 years old, leaving him to take over the management of the farm and care for the mother and the rest of the children. He was in the eighth grade at the time, and his teacher consented to tutor him in the evenings so he could finish the grade with his class. He not only completed the grade but graduated with the highest honors. On Dec. 14, L927, he married Miss Esther Barnhart. They have one son, Ray, and one daughter, Helen. They continued to live on RHOADES, JAMES AND MYRTLE F56r James Edward "Jim Ed" Rhoades was born Feb. 14, L875, the first child of David and Hannah Rhoades of Alexander, Kansas. His father fought in the Civil War. On November 23, 1898 at LaCrosse, Kansas he was married to Myrtle Irvin who was born on March 16, 1882. Eight children were born to this union; Clara who married Jesse B. Jemes; Harley who married Esther Barnhart; Lester who married Hazel Baker Esther Hender- - Lola Winfrey; son; Reuben who married Walter who married Velma Rice; and Fern who married Lowell Cowan. One daughter, Florence, died in 1909 at the age of 12 of pneumonia. A baby son, Ernest, died in 1916 of whooping cough at 3 months of age. It was in the spring of 1903 when James Rhoades and his brother-in-law. Frank Irvin came to Colorado to look the country over, and they apparently liked what they saw, as �October 8, 1903 Mr. Adams sold his property storms. there. The squlue part of the present home was then in eristance as well as a stone well house, sod barn, sod chicken house and a 48 ft. well which is still at the original site. After moving to the Adams place, Lester and every Sunday morning the men of the neighborhood would meet at a knoll r/z mile northeast of the Rhoades homestead to look for their cattle. In times past, the Indians had met at the same knoll to scan the prairie for buffalo and then go down into the sand creek and creep up on them. After people started fencing their land with barbed wire, Jim Ed and his neighbors got together and fixed a telephone line on the barbed wire fences. To help pass the time on long winter evenings, Jim Ed, Jim Barnett, and Charles Neeley, who was the father of Mrs. Lyle (Blanche) Jo-es and Mrs. Haidee to Jim Ed, and the Rhoades moved over and Reuben were born. There were no schools in the area but one soon built about 3 miles to the east of them, the Beaver Valley School. Clara and Harley attended school there for 4 months of the year, during the summer. Later the Happy Hollow School district was organized and a school house was built 3 miles to the west, so the children attended both schools alternately. Wedding pictures of James Edward and Myrtle Eva (Irvin) Rhoades, 1898. in the fall of that same year, Jim Ed, his wife Myrtle and 2little children left Rush County Kansas in a covered wagon, traveling the 210 miles in 7 days which was something of a record at that time. Clara was about 2 years old and Harley was just a baby about 4 months old. He was placed in a hammock under the wagon with the hammock hung on coupling poles so he'd be in the shade. Travel had to be carefully planned to allow time for the horses to rest and find grazing and water. There were no highways, and adequate provisions had to be carried not only for the trip but to meet any unexpected emergencies along the way. The present site of the Harley Rhoades farm was then occupied by another homesteader, Link and Mary Adams. Mary was a sister to Henry and Charley Teman. Jim Ed homesteaded a few hundred feet across the road south of the Adans on SW % L9-6-42. He bought an old school house and moved it onto his homestead. They carried water from the Adams homestead. The Adams family lived there a shorttime and on It was all open range country in those days Because of a severe drought, sometime around 1909 to 1910. Jim Ed and brother-inlaw, Charles Shryack, who was married to Myrtle's sister Minnie, went to Idaho by train to look over the irrigation land they had heard about. Jim bought 40 acres, 6 miles south of Nampa, Idaho. He then rented his homestead in Colorado to Mr. and Mrs. James Barnett, parents of George Barnett and Mabel Teman, for three years and moved his family to Idaho by train. Walter was born while in Idaho. Before three years had gone by, Jim Ed had decided he did not like the irrigation and the big mosquitos that went with it, so he sold out to Charles Shryack and the family returned to Colorado. The homestead is located 22 miles northeast of Burlington and 17 miles from Kanorado, Kansas and is still in the Rhoades family now owned by Harley and his son Ray. Gary Rhoades and his wife Kendra Weeden, would play a game of checkers over and family are now living there. Gary is a great Grandson of Jim Ed and a grandson of Walter 9. They took wagon loads of hogs to Burlington. It was cold when they left home Harley. The sand creek running through the property originates in Bethune and goes to the Republican River about 10 miles to the northeast of the homestead. Jim Ed and Myrtle raised barley, corn and feed for the livestock. They had Holstein milk cows and horses. They battled drought and dust the telephone. At those times the children had to be very quiet so they could concentrate on the plays. There was no radios or phonographs, so the highlight of many evenings would be Charles Neeley playing his violin over the telephone lines and everyone would take their turn at the receiver listening. Tunes of the day included "Red Wing", "Casey Jones", and "Turkey in the Straw". They only went to town once or twice a year. Food items and staples were in barrels or sacks or "cut offa chunk", and ofcourse, stick candy. Jim Ed passed away in February of 1918 at the age of 42 years. He came down with the measles and it went into pneumania. When he died, the homestead consisted of 1,120 acres. It now encompasses 8,000 acres. Harley remembers one particular trip to town when he wae about 18, Reuben, 14, and early that morning, and the ground was frozen. After unloading the hogs, they loaded the 3 wagons with coal and started the long trip home. In the meantime the ground had thawed, the horses were tired from the already long trip, and the heavily loaded wagons kept miring down in the mud. Part way home a snow storm set in and it was getting dark. The two older boys had some anxious moments and thoughts before they got home. They were never happier to see home and never hungrier. No doubt there was a very relieved mother waiting up for them. Myrtle stayed on the homestead till October 1927 when she manied Rell Morrow and moved to a farm a few miles southeast of the Rhoades place. They lived there till 1949 when they rented their farm to Clarence and Sarita Chandler and moved to Englewood, Colorado. She passed away August 19, 1960. Both James and Myrtle Rhoades are buried in the Beaver Valley Cemetery. by Lola Rhoades RHOADES, REUBEN AND LOLA F662 Reuben Edward Rhoades, the 4th child of James and Myrtle Rhoades was born on his father's homestead 23 miles northeast of Reuben and Harley Rhoades with their hounds and some of the coyotes hides, 1927. Burlington, Colorado on Dec. 22, 1907 and has lived in Kit Carson County all his life except for about 3 years when they lived in Idaho. He started his first year of school in Idaho and in Colorado he attended the �all helped out by milking cows or any other odd jobs they could do. Reuben quit school when he was 15 to shuck corn. Wages were 3 cents a bushel and 50 bu. a day was a good days work. For enjoyment he and his brothers played baseball in the summer and their sport for the winter was hunting coyotes with hounds in their spare time. They would skin them and sell the hides. When Reuben was 16 he went back to Idaho with his Uncle Charley and Aunt Minnie Shryack, and they thought he would stay with them and finish his schooling but before time for school in the fall, he had gotten homesick for family and Colorado so he boarded a train and came home. He stayed on the farm helping his mother and the other boys. Their mother remarried in the fall of L927 to Rell Morrow. In December of that same year Harley married Esther Barnhart and Reuben and Walter stayed on the farm with them for several years. In 1932 Reuben bought a farm consisting of 480 acres from Ralph Graybil for $5,500. It was located about 3 miles east of his fathers homestead. Sec. 26-642. Wedding picture of Reuben and Lola Winfrey Rhoades, April, 1936. Beaver Valley and Happy Hollow schools. Tressie Lola Winfrey, the 6th of 9 children born to James W. and Jessie Winfrey was born on her father's homestead about 25 miles north of Burlington on Jan. 9, 1920. She has lived her entire life in Kit Carson County. She attended school for 8 years at the Cook School - Dist. 86 in Yuma County, 2 years of high school at Happy Hollow and 1 year at Idalia. Reuben's father passed away in Feb. 1918 at the age of 42 following a bout with the measles and pneumonia. Reuben was only 10 at the time, Clara was 17, Harley 15, Lester 12, Walter 6 and baby Fern just 11 months, but with their mother's help and coaching, they were able to stay on the farm and they On April 12, 1936 Reuben and Lola Winfrey were married at the Christian Parsonage in Burlington by the Rev. J.T. Burlington where they still attend. Reuben loved good cattle and in 1932 he bought his first Registered Polled Hereford cow from Frank Brannon at Rozelle, Kansas. Over the years he built up a nice herd of registered Polled Herefords and was the second Polled Hereford Breeder in the state of Colorado. He helped otganize the Western Polled Hereford Association in 1947 and served as both secretary and sales manager for several years, Reuben and Lola were both 4-H leaders of Plainview 4-H. In 1955 Lola had the honor of being chosen as Top Homemaker of Kit Carson County in the top Homemaker pro- gram sponsored by the Western Farm Life Magazine's home department. They put their first irrigation well down in 1955 and another in 1963. Their five children attended school at Beaver Valley, Plainview and Burlington. Two sons Joe and Doyle served time in the U.S. Armed Forces, Joe in Germany in 1965 and '66 and Doyle in VietNam in 1966 and '67. Doyle later enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1973 and spent 2 Yz yearc aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. The oldest son Paul was manied to Karon Deines in 1958. so Reuben and Lola Coulter and immediately moved to his farm. had a house built at 259 Cherry St. in Burlington and moved into it in May of 1959, turning the house on the farm over to Paul We refer to the 30's as the "dirty thirties" and the dust bowl days, so money was scarce and and Karon. They have 1 daughter, Lori, who is a legal secretary at Pryor, Carney and like most farmers they milked cows and depended on the cream check for grocery money. Things started getting a little better in 1937 and that year they raised a fairly good wheat crop. When the softball league was organized in Burlington, which was probably about 1937 or 38, "Happy Hollow" was one of the teams and Reuben played on that team for several years and later on he played on Ted Backlunds team called "Teds'Trojans". In 1938 or '39 a Sunday School was organized at Beaver Valley and Reuben and his family attended regularly till about 1954 when they quit having services there. They then started going to the Gospel Chapel in Johnson law firm in Aurora, CO. Joe is married to Valerie Rainbolt and lives in Burlington and has 2 children, Evonne and Coy. Doyle is married to Wendy Heyen and lives in Seward, Nebraska and has 4 children, Kimberley and Dustin; and 2 daughters from a former marriage, Lori and Shawna who live in California. Thelma is married to Dennis Clark and lives in Highland, Maryland and has 6 children; Jason, Joanna, Julia, Justin, Jonathan and Joy. Jean is married to Ron Weisshaar and they live in Burlington and have 4 children; Willie, Jeron, Tressie and Tyson. Reuben is still engaged in farming and drives out to the farm during farming season. Lola keeps busy making quilts for her children and grandchildren. by Lola Rhoades RICHARDS FAMILY F663 William Arthur and Wife Sara Richards The Reuben Rhoades Family, Standing: Joe, Reuben, Paul and Doyle. Seated: Thelma, Lola and Jean Rhoades, Dec. 1972. William Arthur Richards, also known as W.A. or Bill, was born in Coal Valley, Illinois, May 28, 1862. When a small child, his parents moved to Columbus City, Iowa where they farmed. During his growing years, Williem helped with the farming and went to school. Sara Daniels, who lived on a neighboring farm, became his wife. She was born December 11, 1866. They were married December 23, 1885. They were Welsh; both of their families cn'ne from Wales in the mid 1880's. In the late summer of 1886 William, Sara's father Henry Daniels, and four friends came to the great western country which was being opened to homesteaders. They came to explore with the possibility of locating in the new country. They came to Wray, Colorado �Davis, one of the pioneer families. There were no ministers, so there were not any church services on Sunday until a few years later. Rev. Petcr Rasmusgen and Mrs. Mary Bevier were two of the early preachers. The early settlers had to go to Wray for supplies, two or three neighbors going together for the sake of safety. The trip took four days. They bought supplies to last several months. Mail was brought to the Tuttle Post Office, by horseback or team and buggy, from St. Frances at first and later from Stratton and Bethune. The settlers had trouble with wild horses that would come and take away their horses. Mr. Richards followed the thieves one time, but was able to retrieve his two horses, after about three days. Sometime after 1895 Mr. Richards bought out a homesteader on the South Fork of the Republican River, which is now known as the Homm Hereford Ranch. Cattle, haying and farming were the means of making a living. Three more children were born to the family; Esther Lois, January 13, 1897. Esther William A. Richards and wife Sara. Their wedding picture taken December 1885. by train. Jim Dugeon, a Locator, met the men and the drove them in two covered wagons across the Plains some sixty miles or so south and some west. After looking things over, William decided on a place to stake his claim. It was on Spring Creek, which is now a part of the Tom Price Ranch. On September 16, 1886 he filed on a pre-emption and timber claim in Section 9 Twp. 6 Rge. 45S. After staking his claim, Mr. Daniels and William went to Iowa to get their families and bring them to their new home. Soon after their arrival back in Iowa, Williem snd $ars'. first child was born, a little girl, Edna Mae, November 28, 1886. In February 1887, both the Daniels and Richards families co-e by train to Wray. In an emigrant car they brought a span of mules, died of whooping cough in March 1898. Henry (Harry) Samuel, June 15, 1898; Sara Ann, December 7, 1900. William's wife Sara and the mother of his children passed away December 18, eleven days after little Sara was born. A wooden casket was made at the home in which the body was placed and then taken to Stratton for burial. After Edna and Ruth married, Mr. Ri- chards sent his little five year old daughter, Sara Ann, to Iowa to be cared for by her grandparents, John and Ann Richards. by Elva Richards Powell RICHARDS FAMILY F664 John and Mayne Richards On July 5, 1889, John Arthur Richards was born while the family still lived in the dugout in the Tuttle community. When John was seven or eight years old, the family moved to the South Fork of the Republican River. John attended school in the new rock school house which was built on an acre of land donated by Burt Ragan. The school district becane known as the Ritizus School District No. 48J. The district served pupils in both Kit Carson and Yuma counties. Mayme Ann Anderson was born at Husted, Colorado, August 28, 1891. Husted was a labor camp, which was located where the Air Force Academy is now near Colorado Springs. In her early childhood, the family moved to Iowa, but when she was about ten years old the family cq-e back to Colorado and settled in the Idalia area. She attended school in Idalia. Mayme and John were married December 21, 1910, at Wray, Colorado, When John was fourteen, he was exnmining an "unloaded gun", however, the car- tridge went off and the bullet lodged in the left leg below the knee. He was taken to the doctor in Burlington. The doctor did not remove the bullet and said it would not cause any trouble because it was lead. John always limped because one leg was shorter than the other. In the early 1900's the ranchers would take their cows with the little calves after they were branded, to summer pasture, open range. The cowboys and chuckwagon would follow the herd. It was very slow, taking most of a week. The chuckwagon and one or two cowboys would stay with the herds during the summer. The herds were brought back in the fall. The calves were bigger so the herds moved faster in the fall. During the early years of the Kit Carson Fair, John would bring three or four of his saddle horses to the Fair to enter them in the Relay Races. They were a fine string of horses in which he took a great deal of pride. John had some mighty nice buggy tenms as well. a mare, two cows and some household furniture. Upon arriving in Wray, they John and Mayme got their first car, a model T Ford, in 1917. John tried to drive his car as he did his horses, but it wouldn't stop when he hollered "Whoa!" John finally proved-up on his homestead which was about two miles west of the ranch purchased a covered wagon which was to become their home for several weeks. Aft€r traveling three or four days, they reached the place where they would make their home. They continued to live in the covered wagon until a dugout was finished (so called because it was dug out from a gide of a hill). When finished it was eleven by fifteen feet, plastered with native lime and it had a good wooden floor. Two children were born while living in the dugout; Ruth, January 23, 1888 and John, July 5, 1889. In 1890 a two-room and a mile north of the river. He built a two room sod house and a lean to, as well as a barn and a chicken house. He sold the homestead when the ranch was sold and it has become part of the ranch pasture. After the ranch was sold, John and Mayme lived on Bill Andrews's place for seven years. Burdine was born there August 25, 1926. The three older children were born on the ranch. sod house was built. Harry in 1920, David in 1912 and Elva in The first Election was held in the fall of 1888. William was one of the clerks who took 1,911. the Election returns by train from Bethune to Kiowa, the county seat of Elbert County. The voting Precinct was No. 88. The school district was organized in 1890. The first school was held in an old vacant dugout with one window. Mr. Richards wag In1927 John and Mayme moved from the Andrews place to the Burt Ragan place which is on the River. They lived there seventeen years. Robert, the last of the five children was born May 9, 1929. It was during this time that a very severe drought started. In the early 30's John did not have enough feed for his cattle. The Unitcd the teacher. He taught the first t€rm ofthree months for $25.00 a month. In 1892 a echool house was built. The desks and benches were all homemade. Mr. Richards taught a total of six terms in Kit Carson county, two of which were in Vona. Sunday School was in the home of E.G. States Government destroyed cattle because the farmers did not have feed for them. John and Mayme Richards, wedding picture December 21, 1910. Twenty six of John's cows were killed. He was paid thirteen dollars a head for them. It was during this time that he gave twenty-five �little weaning pigs for five bushels of apples. It seemed outlandish but there was no feed for the pigs. In the 1930's, depression years, Dad took an appointment with the Agricultural Adjustment Administration helping to administ€r the corn-hog progr4m. This was the forerunner of the present A.S.C. It was during the 1930's that John traded a truck load of horses, probably ten or more, for a new John Deere tractor. Times were changing, horses were being replaced for farming and transportation. After the drought cnme the dust storms. Black clouds of dirt cnme billowing over the hills and across the land. It was hard to breathe and many animals died of dust pneumonia. Wet sheets were hung over the windows to keep out some of the dust. to the weary A blessed re11ef, When upward lre pass To the kingdom of peace. hThen comes I^lhen free from the woes, That on earth we must bear, We'll say Good Night here And Good Morning there. --Wm. Richards Then came the flood after the dust storms. It was the last of May 1935, when twenty six inches of rain fell during the night, up and down the river it seemed to rain the hardest. The next morning the river was a mile from the south bank at the Ragan place to the north side. You could see cows, calves and horses floating down the river. The water was rolling which made it impossible for any of the animals to get out of the water. John lost fifteen cows and one horse in the flood. Not only was livestock washed down the river, huge chunks of fields and large trees were washed away. Trees would go into the water and not be seen for a quarter mile or so. The rain had stopped by morning. When the water receded sandbars had replaced the fields, all bridges across the river were gone for miles and miles and many roads washed out or gone. It was devastating. Grasshoppers were another menace. John fashioned a tin tank twelve feet long, eighteen inches wide and eighteen inches high in front. The back side ofthe tank was probably three ONCE A FRIEM - ALWAYS A FRTEND Frlends, what are they for? They do so much, and then some nore. Not only just for now' But they will always be somehow There; for always and forever, Cause a friend will not sav never' Because lf that friend is true, always be right there for you. There is so much ln a friendLy snlle, Even if it only lasts for awhile. Friends and dreams go hand in hand. For friends are dreams across the land. He will You will alvays have a place in my heart; l,le will never, ever grou apart. And behind the sefting sun, After all ls said and done, A friend to ne You wlLl aluavs be. --Kristi Raeann Homm Great-Creat Crandaughter of lJilliam A. Richards Hermes soon after it was established in 1908 until 1916, when she went to Grand Island to take a Business Course. Her first employment was with Carpenter and Schaffer Mercantile in Colby, Kansas. Ruth married Walter Andrews in December, 1905. They made their home on a farm and raised ten children. Harry, Arthur, Otto, Mabel, Albert and Melvin are all deceased. The living are Marvin, Dale, Elmer and Evelyn. John married Mayme Anderson in December, 1910. John remained a farmer all of his life. Their children are: Elva, David, Harry, Burdine and Robert. Harry married Ethel Reynolds in May, 1926. Harry attended school in Ft. Collins and St. Joseph, Missouri. He became a Veterinarian, primarily for small animals. Their children are John and Jane. Sara married Paul Smith. Two children were born to this union: Harry and Helen. Sara was a Bookkeeper for many years from which she retired a few years ago. Mr. Richards loved poetry and he has many short writings, which he left. by Elva Richards Powell Once a friend Always a friend. feet high to serve as a backboard. The grasshoppers would hit the backboard and fall into the tank which had several gallons of water and a gallon or so of kerosene. This tank was put on the front of a haybuck, and John would go out early in the morning and Mr. Richards sold the ranch to Elmer Scherrer in 1919. He made his home primarily with his son, John. The last few years he lived in Burlington. As long as his health permitted, he did volunteer work at the Kit Carson Memorial Hospital. Mr. Richards was 85 when he passed away in 1947. Bdna married William Andrews in February, 1904; however, the marriage did not last Iong. She then became Postmistress of Visibility was zero during these dust storms. The storm usually "rolled in" in mid-afternoon and lasted for a couple of hours, quite frequently it seemed. was used as a dance hall for several years. Music for dancing was usually provided by local fiddlers with Mr. Richards chording on a pump organ as accompaniment. Mr. Art Hill and his wife Daisy played for the dances many times, and there were others. RICHARDS FAMILY F566 "harvest" the grasshoppers. The yield was Iowa, at Burlington, as does her daughter, Helen Gerdner. Her son H€ury Smith makes good. his home in Arizona. John and Mayme Richards Much has been written about whatmen did In 1938, after going through the experience In June 1964 a meeting was held in of the flood, John and Mayrne purchased the Wise or also known as the Chase place. It was in the early days, but little has been said in later years) to organize a Telephone about the women's role in the settling of the West. I remember the days when the men on higher, flat ground. They stayed on the Ragan place until 1944 when they moved to the Wise place. Having lived on the river all of his life, John never got used to the flat lands, but the river had changed so much, it wasn't the same. John and Mayme lived on the Wise place until his death, January 2, 1959. Mayme continued living on the place a few years, then went to the Burlington Rest Home. Mayme passed away May 18, 1966. by Burdine Homm and Elva Powell RICHARDS FAMILY F565 William and Sara Richards Sara grew up in Iowa, married and had two children; Helen and Harry. Sara still lives in Claremont (which became known as Stratton Company. This new line was to be known as the Claremont and South Fork Telephone Company. W.A. Richards was elected as one of the directors. A line would operate from the C.S. Wellman Ranch south to Claremont and then to correct all the river ranches north of town as far as the W.A. Richards Ranch near Landsman. About 1905 Mr. Richards opened a general store as The Ranch Supply Company, which operated for several years. Along with the store the Hermes Post Office was established September 11, 1908. Mail was brought to the Post Office from Burlington by horse and buggy three times a week. Mr. H.O. Brown was one of the carriers from Burlington. Mail was distributed from Hermes until it closed November 15, 1919. A two-story rock and frame building housed the Post Office and Store. The Store and Post Office were in the lower part which was rock. The second story, which was frame, were stacking hay on the lower end ofthe Bar T, several miles from home. They didn'tcome home for dinner because of the distance and the time it would take them. A neighbor lady, Ginny Burrious who lived quite close, would come and go with my mother and us kids to take dinner in the old Model T to the hay field. Some of these deeds have been long forgotten, but were very important. Another important task of the pioneer woman was the role of mid-wife. Doctors were few and were not always available. It was left to the women in the neighborhood to perform the task. Mom went and did all she could at times like these. Mrs. Charlie With, a neighbor a few miles south, would also come and help. I remember one time when they cnms home very discouraged. The baby had died and the husband was very unhappy, thinking that more should have been done. It was all very sad. The husband made a homemade coffin and the baby was buried on the �RICIIARDS - LEGEL FAMILY F567 Harry was born February 6, 1920 at Hermes, Colo. Was the third child of John and Mayme Richards. He grew to manhood in the area, with his folks two brothers and two sisters. The teacher usually boarded at our folk place. Family intertainment was mostly literary, box and pie suppers all held at the school house. He loved horses, broke many horses for people around the country, picked corn and milo with team and wagon. His Dad bought a John Deere D tractor in 1932. That helped farming, but they still farmed with horses too. He remembers going through the Depression and Dust Bowl days. They would have big rabbit hunts starting at the Republican River, everyone would walk with clubs and John and Mayme Richards. farmstead. The pioneer woman was called upon many times to act as nurse. Mom told many times about the times she stayed with a neighbor lady, named Mrs. Wilson, who lived a couple of miles north. Mrs. Wilson eventually died of cancer. Mom and other neighbors stayed and helped doctor her, often staying for three or four days at a time before her death. Another thing that happened at our house that is well remembered was the time when one of our neighbors, Alvin Bardwell, came to visit. Bardwell was a bachelor who lived with his brother and sister, Earl and Helen a couple of miles up the river. It was in the spring and had rained for about three days. The roads were very muddy; Alvin came sticks working about 500 rabbits into a large pen. They would put kids in the pen to kill the rabbits. The coyotes were all killed off, that's why there were so many jack rabbits and they were destroying the crops for the farmers. Living through the terrible flood of 1935, seeing cattle, horses, bridges and debris going by, they were thankful they were on high ground. His folks lived just south of the Republican River one half miles on the Bert Ragan place and the water came up to their house. On April 1942, Harry was called to serve his country in World War II. He saw lots of combat action, 33 months overseas in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany with the 439th AAA, BN. and was discharged October 1945. He is a life time member of V.F.W. post 6491 in Burlington. August 3, 1947, Harry married Ruth Lengel who lived west of the Bonny Dam, one mile west of Highway 385. They were married on her folk place, Joe and Mary Lengel. Ruth attended school Dist. 93J "Newbon School" for her first eight grades and graduated from Burlington High School in 1945. After graduation Ruth taught first four grades of school in Smoky Hill one year and two years at Ritzius School 48J. After we were married we lived on his folks place and farmed with his Dad for three years. Our oldest son Ray Louis born June 8' 1948, our second son Roger William born February 21, 1951. When he was two we bought a section, 640 acres. It was the Bill Andrews homestead place, 21 miles North of Burlington. Katherine Alene born June 2, 1953, Charlotte May born July 23, 1954 and Donald Gene born March 26, 1956. The three oldest children went to Ritzius school til 1960. They then moved our district t,o Burlington. The children helped on the farm finishing their elementary and high school in Burlington. April 1954 we put in an irrigation well, flooding 250 acres, raised corn, feed, alfalfa and wheat. We milked cows, sold cream and eggs for many years. We are still raising cattle and hogs. ln t976-77 we put two sprinkler systems which made it a lot easier, raised soybeans and sunflowers one year. We have survived droughts, grasshoppers, and hail storms. In the blizzard of February 1982, we lost eight cows from snow getting into their lungs and hogs smothered in hog sheds. On Friday December 13, 1962 our Ford tractor tools and garaLge were destroyed by fire. Katherine married Wes Adolf November 6, 1971. They now live in Joes, Colo. where he works for Y.W. Electric. She works part time at the Joes Post Office. They have two daughters Jamie and Kimberly. Roger married Suzy Gartrell September 28, L974. They now live four miles west and south of Idalia, Colo. Ranches and farms 1,800 acres of irrigation and grassland runs about 300 head cows. They have four children Chad, Brad, Duane and Darla Kay. Roger has always liked horses and rodeos. he built an arena so they could have rodeos, the neigh- riding in on his horse just before dinner time. He was invited in and stayed and ate dinner. After that he complained he didn't feel well and asked if he might lie down for a little while. When he didn't get up, Mom went into the bedroom to check on him and found him dead. Dad sent Hubert Powell to take his saddle horge home and to notify his brother Earl. From there Hubert went on to the Art Pugh Ranch (the Kenneth McArthur place) to a telephone where he called the Coroner (at that time Orin Penny). The roads were so bad that Dad had to take a team ofhorees and pull the a-bulance in to get the body. In 1936, Dad traded for his first tractor. It was a Model D John Deere on steel. He traded a truck load of horses for it. Our school in District 48-J (Ritizius) (Rock School) was never more than a mile from where we lived. Dad got most of his education here, as well as most of his children. My Dad was always a gteat promoter and believer in education and served on the school board of 48-J for many years. by Elva Powell The Harry Richards family; Standing L. to R.; Katherine, Roger, Donald, Ray and Charlotte. Seated; Ruth and Harry. August, 1969. �bors and friends all enjoy it on Sunday afternoons and evenings. Donald married satisfaction gained in meeting challenges and hardships. Susan Weyerman July 30, 1977. They now live in Idalia, Colo. where he hauls water off gas wells around Idalia. He bought 480 acres west of ldalia, farms and irrigates that. They have three boys Andy, Jeffery and Kyle. Ray married Sue Boren June 3, 1978, and now live 2 miles North of Burlington on Highway 385. They own and operate their own business by by Editors ROBB - HUNTLEY FAMILY selling Lockwood Sprinklers and under ground pipe. Ray bought 320 acres of his grandfather John Richard's place. He farms and operates that. They have four children Gianina, Jim, Landon, and Tyler, Charlotte married Tom Myer February 13, 1982. They now live in Wray Colo. She owns and operates the Charlotte's Beauty Salon, Tom works for a farmer and rancher North of Eckley, Colo. They have two daughters Shanon and Starla. Ruth worked at Grace Manor Nursing Home for three years in 1969-1972. Her family and now their 15 grandchildren keep her busy, She enjoys outside work, chickens, gardening, yard and flowers. On August 1, 1987, our children and grandchildren gave us a real nice 40th Anniversary Party with 200 relatives and friends attending to help us celebrate. by llarry & Ruth Richards F569 Arthur Delmar Robb was born near Emden, Shelby County, Missouri, on February 22,L892, the eldest son of James and Maggie Robb. In 1901, the Robb family moved to Colorado and took up farming near Flagler. Mr. Robb attended elementary schools in the Flagler area and received his secondary schooling at Fort Collins. Freda M. Huntley was born on July 21, 1889, in a dugout on the homestead of her parents located eight miles north of Flagler. She was the first child born in the Flagler community. As a young woman, Freda filed her own homestead claim about 15 miles northwest of Flagler. On August 29, 1917, Freda and Arthur were married. They farmed Freda's homestead for the next six years during which time their three sons, Lester, Dale and Delmar, were born. ROBB - HIGHTOWER FAMILY F568 Ja-es Thomas Robb was born on December 22, 1865. Maggie Hightower was born seven years later on February 2, L872. Both grew up in Shelby County, Missouri, where they net, courted and wed on February 19, 1890. They established their first home on a farm near Emden, Missouri, where they resided for eleven years. Believing that the new country of the West In 1923, the Robb family moved to Bethune where Arthur taught school for two years. Returning to Flagler, the Robbs engaged in business briefly before Arthur resumed teaching in the Flagler School and in the country schools of Shiloh, Mount Pleasant and White Plains, all north of Flagler. In 1935, Arthur became the Flagler postmaster, a position he held until his retirement in 1962. The Robbs were loyal and active members of the First Congregational Church members of the Flagler Congregational where Arthur sang in the choir and Freda participated in the Ladies Aid. In addition, Arthur belonged to the American Legion and the IOOF while Freda was active in the Rebekahs and the American Legion Auxiliary. Arthur Robb passed away on September 2L, 1973. Freda continued to reside in the family home until her advanced age required her to enter the Hugo Community Nursing Home where she lived until her death on May 10,1983. In keeping with the best tradition of their families'pioneer heritage, Arthur and Freda devoted their lives to public service and the betterment of their communitv. Church. Additionally, Maggie was one of the founding members of the Flagler "Country by Editors offered better opportunities for a young family, they purchased a farm near Bovina in the fall of 1901 and in 1904 homesteaded adjoining land five miles northeast of Flagler. The Robbs were one of the oldest families in the Flagler area. Both were active in community school activities. Perhaps as a consequence, their three oldest sons devoted all or a part of their lives to the teaching profession. Both were faithful and active Club." In their later years they were unable to meet the demands of farming and moved to Flagler, where they made their home in 1941. James and Maggie lived in perfect companionship for almost 65 years, leading productive lives, raising a family, and enjoying the respect and friendship of the entire community. Ja*es passed away quietly on February 9, 1954, at the age of 89. Maggie died a year later, on July 29, 1955. They left behind five sons and a daughter: Arthur, Gilbert, Pearl, Shelby, Chester and Ella (Huntzinger). The life of a pioneering fa-mily offered little in the way of material comfort. Life was enriched by family and friends and by the impetus and growth. Mr. Roberts was unquestionably its leading citizen. Because of his reasoning powers and his common sense, people far and neat came to him for that advice and help, which he gave so willingly and gladly to his fellow man. In 1889, the second daughter, Inez was born, in Beloit. She was a good, bright, and dutiful child. As she grew older, she beca-e quite proficient in music. She lived with her family near Stratton. Mr. Rogers was instru- mental in the upbuilding of Stratton, Co. where he located in the spring of 1893. Inez attended the State Prepartory School at Boulder, from which institution, she was compelled to leave because of heart trouble. Thinking a lower altitude would be beneficial to her, Mr. Roberts moved the family to Rogers, Ark. Inez attempted to pursue her studies in the Academy there at Rogers. Again, her heart trouble checked her ambition, and she stopped. Finally, on March 31, 1908, she realized the end w{u} near and she died with a smile on her face. Father, mother, and three sisters were left to mourn their great loss. On May 19, 1915, Jr. J.T. Rogers, himself passed into the great beyond, at the age of 63 years, ? months, and 26 days. His was a remarkable, helpful life. A life long friend paid him this tribute: "He was the truest friend I ever had. I loved him as a brother. He was kind, generous, and faithful. He never refused a favor that he could possibly grant. He was the central figure in politics in Kit Carson County. He was not a hide-bound politician, but always stood for the man most capable to fill the office for which he was candidate. He believed in clean politics and would not countenance for one moment, fraud of any kind. He would work always for the best interests of the community in which he lived, and no saloon could be established where he had controlling vote." "He did everything possible to advance the educational interest of town and county, and was loved and respected by old and young alike." by Janice Salmans ROCKWELL, STEVE AND THELMA LOPER F57r Elizabeth, Grampa's mother, was born June 27,1879 and died February L9,1927 (from an enlarged heart, the doctors said). She married George Edwin Rockwell on October 20, 1903 when he got out ofthe Army, ROBERTS FAMILY F570 J.T. Roberts was born at London Mills, Ill., Sept. 23, 1851. Here, he spent his happy childhood days, and in the spring of 1866, he moved with his parents and family to Seward County, Nebr. He was married at Seward, Nebr. to Miss Letitia Murphy, Jan. 13, 1885. As time passed they welcomed to their home four daughters; Hazel, Inez, Suzanne, and Roberta. He and his relatives took claims near Beloit, Colorado, in the spring of 1887. He founded the town of Beloit, and gave it it's having served in the Spanish American War in the Philippines. They were married in Great Bend, Kansas and immediately moved to South Bend, Washington where they lived next door to Ed's (everyone called him Ed instead of George at that time) oldest sister Flora Turner. Ed and Betty had 8 children, 4 died at birth: Edwin, born 1905, one born on June 28,19L2 and one on April 12,19L5. These are the three that are buried in the cemetery in South Bend. There was a girl born in Great Bend on January 1917. She is buried in the cemetery at Great Bend. Mildred, Scott, Steven and Al are the living children. John Steven was born in South Bend. �ROSE, CLAUS F673 Claus and Gertrude Rose came to Stratton early in 1919 with their three children, Justus, June and Maye. I was four at this time and remember little of the move from Nebraska. My father, a real estate broker, had joined the Collins firm, at that time located on the west side of Colorado Avenue in the Linford Building. A short time later the office was moved to a location on First Street. Later Charles S. Wall and Claus Rose established their own real estate business at the corner of Colorado Avenue and Main Street. This office was maintained until my father left Stratton in 1947. Mr. Wall had died in the meantime. My father was on city council, school board, was a charter member of Rotary Club, County Treasurer of Kit Carson County for eight years, and a member of what is now the United Methodist Church in Stratton. Our Family photo taken at Steve and Thebna's 45th Wedding Anniverscry. L. to R back row: Ray Rockwell, Jay Rociwell. Second row: Carol Rockwell, Thelma, Steve, and Jan Rockwell. Third Row: DeEtt, Joe, and Jim Rockwell. Washington on June 27,1910,57 minutes to midnight, his mother's birthday (he was probably born in the hospital). He, too, attended the country schools he and his brothers and sisters had attended in Kangas, and at District 14 north of Great Bend, he made 1st and 2nd grades in the same year and could spell down in spelling bees and beat in arithmetic matches; the 8th grade girls would cry. He graduated in L927, the same year Scott did as Scott was sick and missed one grade. He lived on the farm south ofStratton, and on March 18, 1939 married Thelma Loper, born on October 2,LgL7, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Loper. Thelmawas the oldest of six children. Mary, Joann, Oliver, Gladys and Marie. Thelma's father and mother were married in 1915. They lived near Saint Francis and then moved to Stratton. After several years on the farm south of Stratton, Steve, as he is known, moved to Burlington, Colorado in 1939 and worked in the County Treasurers office, latcr being elected to that office, which he left to become Administrator of the new Kit Carson Hospital in 1948. Thelma worked at the hospital also. They lived in an apartment in the hospital basement. They retired on May 23, 1980, and bought a home at 391 Cherry Street in Burlington. Steve and Thelma had two boys, Jay Steven was born on May 23, L940. Jay married Janet Kay Bules on June 11,, 1966. They had two sons, Joe Steven was born on December 9, 1967, and James Dead was born on July 29, 1969. Steve and Thelma's son, Ray Allen was born on December 28, 1943. Ray manied Carol Lee Vallier on August 23, 1965. They had two daughters, Shannon Rae was born on December 14, 1968 and DeEtt Tara was born on July 17' 1971. Thelma Rockwell passed away. by Shannon Rockwell ROGERS, ORVILLE F672 Orville Rogers homesteaded at Bird City, Kansas. He traded his homestead for a printing press and started lhe Hearld of Independence at Bird City. Later he moved his printing press to Colorado and printed the Carlisle Reporter, Carlisle was on the SE Section 29-8-42. When the railroad came through it missed that town a mile. In April, 1889, he was publishing the Claremont Journal and when the county officials were appointed, they gave J.F. Murray's paper the Boomerang all the county news. At some early date he published the Kit Carson News at Vona, and went from there to Denver and started a suburban paper called The Brooklyn Blade. In May 1890, he was publishing the "Rain BeltFarmer" on the homestead of W.D. Bean on the SE of Sec. 20-10-43 in a soddy. This publication was the local voice of a new movement, the "Farmers Alliance". We saw two issues of the Rain Belt Farmer. Instruction to farmers were given and even instructions were given to the house wives in their cooking. "The Farmers Alliance would take no advertising from townsmen", was their declaration. The Ad.uocate was quoted in his paper and thanked for their greeting. Orville was a Spanish American War veteran and was with the army of occupation at Havana until the Cuban Republic was established. Orville also published the first newspaper at Claremont: the Clarernont Journal. He died at his brother's home in Lamar, Mo., on Jan. 15, 1936, of a paralytic stroke. by Della Hendricks father was never too busy to serve in anyway to assist people in time of trouble or heartache. He always knew what to say to ease the suffering. I remember a time when I had been severely burned, hearing his foot steps in the hospital corridor. I knew then I could prevail. He was that kind, loving, strong man. We could always tell when he was on his way home. He whistled as he walked along. At one time as a youth he sang in his church quartet as first tenor. He had a beautiful voice. Any successful man has a special helpmate, his wife. This was our mother. Always fust and foremost her husband, children and grandchildren. She had an enchanting smile and ready sense of humor, a heart full of love and understanding. In those early times our mother often went to sit with a family of a departed loved one. There were no mortuaries in the area at this time. She administered to any needs of the deceased after the undertaker had gone. She and Mrs. Williams were often asked to sit the late night shift. She also often satwith a comatose individual. When the family first came to Stratton, Mother did her laundry when a movie was in progress upstairs in the Linford Building. Someone had strung an electrical line from the movie house to our house. Mother had the only electric washing machine in town. Later our house became the telephone office. Mother was very busy with her house, her family, Ladies Aid, and she was one of the founding members of MSA Club. She was a member of the now Methodist Church in Stratton. I remember her stripping her flower garden so that there might be some kind of flowers at someone's funeral. In 1921 our family was blessed with the birth of a cherished little boy John Boyd. He was a loving little one who charmed and dominated all our lives for six short years. He died ofan accidental gunshot wound on April 29, L927. Our family has grown. I hope Claus and Gertrude could be proud of all their grandchildren: Justus Rose's children: Claus Raymond, F B M, Dallas, Texas; and daughters Joan, Trudy, Frances, and Delores; June's children: Marci Levi and Jerry Scofield; Maye's children: Claus James Hume, Judge of the State Court of Appeals of Colorado; Ralph Edward, Dean of Graduate School, Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma; June Guy, teacher at HiPlains School, Seib- �ert, Colorado; and Larry Joe, machinist, living in Loveland, Colorado. by Maye Blodgett ROWLEY FAMILY F674 He joined the C.C.C. When he left there, he and Marian Rivers were married. They moved to Camas, Washington where they were both drowned in a boating accident on the Columbia River in 1940. They have a daughter, Catherine, still living in Canon City, Colorado. I (Ralph) was born in Allen, Kansas, on June22,1913. After leaving school, I worked for various ranchers and farmers in Kit Carson County. Alta Sesler of Seibert and I were married in 1936, and we farmed until the war broke out. We then moved to California and I worked in the Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, California. We then moved back to Seibert and farmed for a few years before moving to Denver, where we opened and ran service stations and auto repair shops until we both retired. Our children are Mary of Eastlake, CO; Charles of Lakewood, CO; and Beverly of Denver. Eva (Rowley) Walker was born in Allen, Kansas June 3, 1915. In her senior year of high school, 1933, she married Murray Walker of Seibert. She graduated from Seibert High School through a correspondence course with Professor Brown. Murray worked at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Denver for many years. Murray passed away December 9, 1975. Of this union 2 children were born: Michael of Awada, CO; and Linda, of This picture was taken about 1944. Back row: Pearl (Johnson) Rowley, Delberts wife, Lillian (Redwing) Rowley, Hollis wife, Alta (Sesler) Rowley Ralphs wife. Front row: Delbert Rowley, Hollis Rowley, and Ralph Rowley. Our father, Ernest E. Rowley, spent his life as a dryland farmer in Kansas and Colorado. He passed away December 18, 1939. Our mother, Mae (Castle) Rowley, moved to Denver before WWII and worked in sewing factories that had contracts with the govern- ment to make items used by the various Armed Forces. After the war she retired to take life easier. She passed away September 9, 1976, at age 90 years. Galena (Rowley) Dimmitt was born July 6, 1903, in Allen, Kansas. She married Dillman Dimmitt in 1924. They moved to Seibert from Stratton in 1929. Dillman had the White Eagle bulk plant for a time before moving to Limon and running Camp Pershing Restau- rant, Service Station and Cabins. They moved to Denver and Dillman worked for truck lines. Of this union, 3 children were born: Dillman, Jr., who resides in San Diego, CA; Dorman, who lives in Glendora, CA; and Darlene who lives in San Diego, CA. Galena is still very active and lives in San Diego, Ca. Edward was born March 31, 1905, in Allen, Kansas. As a young man he worked at various places in Kit Carson County. He went to the State of Washington and worked in a paper mill until he returned to Denver and went to work for a trucking company until he retired. Edward passed away November 2, 1984. James was born November 27,1911, in Allen, Kansas. He also worked for various farmers and ranchers in Kit Carson Countv. Westminster, CO. Glenn Rowley was born in Allen, Kansas, August 19, 1917. Glenn worked at various jobs in Seibert and Denver and he and Cecil Gates were married in July 1935. During World War II, Glenn went to Alaska to work for the U.S. Government. Upon returning, he went to work for a truck line in Denver, where he worked for 25 years. Glenn, Cecil and their daughter, Marlys, and family now live in Gulf Bteeze, Florida. Delbert was born after the family came to Kit Carson County, on February 16, I92L, north ofStratton, Colorado. After graduating from Seibert High School, Delbert joined the CCC Camp at Hugo and joined the Navy in January of 1940. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor and was there on the day of "Infamy". He mauied Pearl Johnson of Denver in 1943. After the war, he returned to Denver and like his brothers before him. went to work for a truck line and is still employed by one. Delbert and Pearl have 4 children: Glenn of Boulder, CO; Randy of Santa Rosa, CA; Carol of Golden, CO; and Nancy of Denver, CO. Hollis was born north of Stratton. CO. on May 21, 1922. He worked at various jobs prior to WW II. He joined the Army paratroops in L942 and was there for the duration of the war. Hollis maried Lillian Redwing of Vancouver, WA and they had 2 daughters: sharon of Vancouver, WA; and Kathy of San Diego. Hollis now lives in Conroe, Texas. by Ralph L. Rowley The Rowley family taken about 1962. Back row: Glen Rowley, Ralph Rowley, Edward Rowley. Front row: Eva Walker, Mae Rowley, Galena Dimmitt, and Delbert Rowley. Promised Land) Colorado. They arrived in Stratton on November 19, 1919. Their high hopes were to get Homestead Land. Dad had been convinced by his brother-in-law, Jim Edmunds, that there was still Homestead Land available; but by November 1919, there was none left in this area. The Rowley Caravan consisted of 3 wagons, t horses, 1 milk cow, household belongings, some farm equipment and the 6 children: Galena, born in 1903; Edward, born in 1905; James, born in 1911; Ralph, born in 1913; Eva, born in 1915; and Glenn, born in 1917. After a time in Stratton looking and trying to get Homestead Land, they rented the farm 9 miles north of Stratton, known as the Henry Slagle place. Their neighbors were the Lee Dimmitts, Ben Hemlins, Ben Degerings, Jim Edmunds, Milo Mitchems, Frank Beatties, B.K. Mosses and Russell Oldsons. It was on the Slagle place I was born, February 16, 1921. Our brother Hollis was born May 2L, L922. The children of school age went to the 1room Spring Creek School. That is, the ones who were not needed for the work on the farm. The summer of 1922 we moved to a place 8 miles S.E. of Stratton where our neighbors were the Harry Robinsons, Charlie Bloom and his sister Mable Bloom, Elmer Hulls, Frank Yellick, Bertha King and Henry Roush. South Pius Point was the 1-room school which Ralph, Eva and Glenn attended. The ROWLEY FAMILY F575 11 Year Trek To Seibert, Colorado Our father and mother, Ernest E. and Mae (Castle) Rowley, left Allen, Kansas in late October 1919, with 6 children for (The teacher was Goldie lverson, and later Queenie Ferris was their teacher. They later were moved to the North Pius Point School where Edith Powers was the teacher. In the Summer of 1927, we rented a place 6 miles south of Bethune known as the Brennan Place. Our new school was North Star and the teachers were Ruth Pishke and Alta Wolf. Our neighbols were the Jake Wolfs, Wayne Glazes, Ralph H rmricks, Charlie Perkins, and Andy Perkins. �When Ralph and Eva graduated from the 8th grade, they attended lst Central School, 12 miles south of Bethune. Mrs. Wolf became a teacher at lst Central and they rode to school with Mrs. Wolf. We then moved to the town of Stratton in RUDY, BENJAMIN AND AGNES r.677 1929 for 1 year, and in 1930 we moved to what I call "My Home Town" - Seibert. We made, our home in one of Jess Miller's Cabins, on the west side of town, for some time. We lived in various places in Seibert during the dust bowl years of Kit Carson County. by Delbert T. RowleY RUDNIK, EVERETT AND BERNICE In the back row are Ben Rudy and Wayne Barber along with their beet workers from Mexico. F676 F,i Bernice Emelea Hansen was born to John and Rosie Hansen of Seibert, Co. on Nov. 27, 1937. At an early age, the family moved to Vona where I, Bernice, attended school. I $ Ben and Agnes raised these vegetables from their garden in 1953. married Eldon Clark Misner December 8, 1951. After our marriage, Eldon spent 18 months in Korea and I worked at the Kit Carson County Hospital in Burlington, Colo- rado as an aid, and I particularly enjoyed working the OB Ward. To this union three daughters were born: Darlene Bernice December L4, L954; Star Lynn December 19, 1956; and Eldona Valerie Jo November 14, 1958. Eldon worked for the Colorado State Highway. He was operating a snow plow on Loveland Pass when he went over an embankment and was killed Dec. 11, 1958. On December 9, 1959, Bernice married Everett Rudnik of Cope, Colorado. A son was of Burlington in 1983. Steve farms and Darlene works with office computers. Star graduated in 1975 and maried Larry Burgess of Texas in 1980. They live in Grand Junction. Star owns and operates a beauty shop, "A Cut Above," and Larry is a real estate agent. Jo graduated in 1977 and married Jay Satterwhite of Illinois in 1979. They have two daughters and live in Rochester, New York where they are assistant pastors at Rochester. by Bernice Rudnik to North and South America. This migration continued until 1914. Among these emigrants was John Phillip Rudy, father of Benjamin. John Phillip was born September 27, 1881, Saratov Province, Volga Region, Russia. In the spring of 1891 at age nine, John Phillip sailed to America with his parents, John Peter and Katherine Daubert, and two younger brothers, John Peter and Jacob C. Upon arrival in the United States, they settled at Otis, Kansas, near the Conrad Moore family whom the Rudys had known in Russia. John, Katherine, and their sons farmed at Otis, Kansas, until 1894 when they purchased and moved to an established homestead at Ashley, Oklahoma (near Alva, Oklahoma). Phillip continued farming the "homeplace" with his father and on December 29,L902, at age 2O married 16 year old Mary Moore, born to us on October 11, 1960, Flint Eugene. In 1963, we moved to Northglenn and lived there for four years. While there I took a correspondence course and in 1964, graduated from American School in Chicago, Ill. We then moved to Burlington October 15' 1967. Bernice worked in the office of the hospital and Everett, in May 1968, became the owner of B&B Electric. Then he owned Donut King for two years. In 1979, Everett built his own business, Everett's Paint and Repair. Everett has restored two special cars: a 1923 Star and a 1929 Pontiac. Burlington High School became a big part of all of our lives. Darlene graduated in 1973 and married Steve Scott had protected the Germans from being drafted. As a consequence, hundreds of German families, mainly from the Volga Region, left Russia in the 1870's to migrate daughter of Conrad Moore. Born to this union at Ashley, Oklahoma, were Benjamin William, Albertha, and John Wesley. Ben started farming with his father in Oklahoma. On February 14, 1925, Ben married Agnes Laurel Kellnms, who was originally from Newton Stewart, Indiana. Four children were born to Ben and Agnes; Charles Phillip Rudy now living in BurA sample of beets gtown on the Ben Rudy farm. Mr. Rudy is one of 11 farmers in Kit Carson County who pioneered the sugar beet industry in the county with the advent of deep well irrigation. The immigration manifesto issued by Catherine the Great on July 22, L763, promised many things to the Germans who migrated. Some of the promises were: free exercise of their religion, freedom from taxation, and for the whole time of the immigrants'stay in Russia, they were not to be drafted into military service against their will. The manifesto added the very important statement that all the promises made to the immigrants applied also to their children and descendants, even those born in Russia. By 1871 a series of reforms by Alexander II abolished the special colonists status that the Germans had enjoyed up to thattime and put them on the seme legal status as the Russian peasants. When the new military service law was proclaimed on January I, L874, it eliminated the military draft exemption that lington, Colorado; Loyd Eugene Rudy living in Ojai, California passed away on September 28, 1984; Marjorie Lou Chambers passed away on March 13, 1960; and Karen Kay Baber living in Steilacoon, Washington. Ben and Agnes continued farming the homeplace until January, L952, when they moved to Colorado. In the spring of 1947, Ben and Agnes started farming in Colorado on two quarters of land purchased from Lester Basher and located SE1/4, Sec 32 and SW 1/4, Sec. 33. R45W, T9S south of Bethune. From 1947 to 1952, Ben and Agnes were involved in dual in Oklahoma and in Colorado. farming - hauling farm equipment such This involved as tractors, combines, plows, etc. by truck approximately 400 miles between the two states. At first Ben's family lived in rentals in Burlington, Colorado, during the working season. Then Ben and Agnes bought property at 142 12th Street and built a small onebedroom house adjacent to an existing garage. In 1951, they bought a half section farm �located, N1/2, Sec 3, R44W, T9S, west of Burlington in a three-way trade/purchase finally, Agnes became the landowner leasing her farmland to a new generation of farmers. that roamed the country. They were taken to by Agnes L. Rudy The corrals being built high to keep the horses from jumping out. The horses were branded and turned out on the range, and between J.N. Smith, Roy Sprague, and Ben and Agnes Rudy. The little house in Burlington and the two quarters south of Be- thune were a part of this trade/purchase. Ben and Agnes continued farming the land south of Bethune for five years, leasing it from Roy Sprague. As well as the Bethune land, Ben and Agnes also leased five quarters near the Correction Line, owned by Earl Geis, and four quarters just across the county line in Cheyenne County, owred by Milton Rudy. During this time Agnes supported Ben's farming endeavors by cooking three large meals each day during the summer work season for the hired crews. The noon meal was prepared, taken to the field and served there. This involved considerable planning and organizing by Agnes and required round trip drives up to 70 miles on unpaved county roads. Ben was always a conscientious farmer and was always eager to try new products and new procedures. The high yield of irrigated crops fascinated Ben and he was one ofthe pioneers of deep well inigation in the Burlington area. He had his well drilled January 22, 1955, at a depth of 310 feet and had the foresight to file his water rights in Kit Carson County. This filing proved to be wise because the water table did drop and some other wells could not be used to capacity. The method of irrigation used was ditch with aluminum siphon tubes. At one time he used a portion of his farmland to plant test plots of DeKalb seed corn. Sugar beets arived on the scene in 1956 and again Ben was nmong the first area farmers to plant sugar beets. To help the farmers cultivate the young beets, men from Mexico were bused to Colorado. Most of these Mexican workers spoke no English. They worked ten hours a day, five days a week, weeding and thinning the young beet plants with both short- and long-handled hoes. Each farmer was allotted three workers and had to provide accommodations for them. Ben and Wayne Barber shared their workers so the fields could be worked faster. An unused chicken house on the Rudy farm was cleaned and converted to housing for the six Mexican workers. The workers were very pleased with the accommodations because there was electricity and running water. Every Saturday during the hoeing season, Ben took the Mexicans in the back of his pickup to town to shop for their groceries, gifts for families, etc. On Sunday he drove the Mexicans to the local Catholic Chwch to attend mass. Ben was a member of the Methodist Church, a member of the Burlington Equity Co-op, and an active resident of the community for seven years before his death in 1959. Agnes has continued to manage the halfsection farm since Ben's death raising such crops ns wheat, corn, pinto beans, milo, and sugar beets; as well as upgrading the ditch irrigation to gated pipe and then to the present circle irrigation system. She has also purchased, improved and sold other property in the area. Time has completed a cycle Ben and Agnes started farming by leasing- land, they purchased land and did their own farming; RUEB FAMILY F578 Justin Rueb and Evangeline Schawe were married in 1944 at Speawille, Kansas. They lived on a farm 8 miles north of Dodge City, Kansas for 5 years. In August, 1949, Mr. & Mrs. Justin Rueb (Sam and Vangie) and their three young sons, John, Bill, and Pat moved to Colorado to a farm that they purchased from Lee Batterson, located 5 miles west of Stratton, Colorado. This is in the Vona School District with mailing address Vona, Colorado. The Ruebs rented farm land in the area owned by Fred Doll of Wright, Kansas. They were looking forward to living near Highway 24 and attending the Catholic Church and school in Stratton. A barn was built shortly after their arrival and the house remodeled in 1952. During this period many of our acquaintances from Kansas had already moved here, including an aunt of Vangie, Mrs. J.C. Kleisen (Loetta) and Francis Rueb (Tick), Sa-'s brother. Tick and Dorothy and family later moved to Nebraska. Children born in Colorado were, Elaine, Stan, Robert, Mark, and Justin Jr. All attended the Stratton schools and graduated from the Stratton High School. Sam and Vangie are still living on the farm. Four children are married. John to Arlene Weingardt, Bill to Paula Moser, Pat to Rita Pickard, and Mark to Kathy Jesson. There are seven grandchildren. the large corral built at Crystal Springs. There were cabins and corrals at this place. when needed were broken to ride. Crystal Springs, named by Ezra M. Lyon, my father-in-law, one of the early settlers of the community, is located on Sec. 4-9-50. It is an ideal place for a stock ranch, as there is an abundance of water and good grazing. There were no towns, no railroad, and mail was brought from Hugo by anyone going that way. Supplies also came from Hugo. Our amusements were horseback riding and dancing. The first settler to file on a homestead was J.R. Miskelly, who filed on the land known as Crystal Springs. The place is now owned by a company who are converting it into a pleasure resort. The second settler was Wm. Matthias; the third, Dick Moore, and I, Simon Rumming, was the fourth. I filed on a pre-emption in the fall of 1884. After quitting the cattle business, I settled down on our homestead, a short distance from the Crystal Springs property, built a reservoir and do-, and had plenty of water for all purposes. We organized a school district in Nov. 1887, and in order to hold the district we had to hold school at least three months. Miss Lyons taught for five years and Mr. Barney Killian of Kiowa, Elbert co., was the Co. Supt. of Schools at this time. Addie and Mollie Doughty, daughters of Ben Doughty, were just small girls, when they came here. Their mother had died and they assumed the duties of caring for the younger children, but that didn't deter them from fitting themselves for teaching and enduring the hardships of pioneer schooling in this county. Among the early settlers who found homes by Vangie Rueb RUMMING, SIMON H. F579 Born in 1854, in Hampshire, England. Came to Colo. in 1873. I, Simon H. Rumming started from Chicago early in 1873, with a group of people who were westward bound. When the covered wagon train reached Iowa, we began gathering a herd of cattle, buying up as we went along, so by the time we reached our destination we had quite a herd. Of course we could not move very fast so we did not reach Colo. Springs until the latter part of the summer of 1873. We came up the Platte River to Fort Morgan and then across the country to Colo. Springs. I saw my first buffalo on the Platte River in Neb., so we lived on buffalo meat while crossing the plains. We encountered a few Indians, but none that were not friendly. I hired out to the Stanley Bros. while in Chicago and helped them drive their cattle across the plains. Later on I went to work for the Pugsley Bros. called the KP outfit, and who had herds of cattle from the Republican River to the Arkansas River. They also had a large herd of horses. The outfit consisted of 20 cowboys, cooks, and chuck wagons. I worked for them from 1884 to 1887. I had charge of the horse herd, and it was my work to gather horses from the wild herds in the community were Jim Howell, B.F. Houtz, J.W. Hunt, Stephen Strode, F.H. and C.H. Lyon, and "Grandma" Eliza Doughty. We organized a Sunday school and church meetings in the school house. J.W. Hunt was our Sunday School Superintendent for some years and C.W. Smith, a "Holiness" missionary was our first preacher. Later he taught school in our district. Taken from early day writings. by Janice Salmane RUTTER, JACK AND MARY F680 Jack Rutter and Mary DeGraffenreid manied in Kansas City, Kansas April 11, 1947, Jack being the second son of the late D.B. Rutter and Myrtle of Plains, Kansas. Jack grew up on the farm and upon graduating from Plains High School was inducted in the U.S. Army in 1943, serving his country in the States and the Pacific and was discharged in April 1946. Soon after his discharge, Jack enrolled in the National Trade School in Kansas City, after two years, he completed his schooling in Architectural Drafting. At this time, he married Mary DeGraffenreid of Ulman, Mo., a small rural town 165 mi. S.E. of Kansas City, located in the resort area of Begnell Dam and Lake of the Ozarks. Mary �belongings, cattle, and horses to a farm 4 mi. W. lN. of Plains, Ks., which later they bought. In 1925, a son, Jack David was born. Clark and Jack attended school at Plains, Ks. Clark moved to Bethune, Co. and farmed for many years. After being in service during World War 2, Jack attended school in Kansas City, married and moved to Burlington, where he was in the Auto Parts and farming business. David "Bat" Rutter passed away in 1949 and Myrtle moved to Burlington the s'me year. She has enjoyed living in Bur- lington, always having her familyclose by and a host of friends. Her life has been centered around the church and is a charter member of the Burlington Christian Church. She enjoys the Senior Citizens Center and the fellowship with those that attend. Burlington has been good to us and she saYs, "I appreciate you all". by Jack Rutter Susan Rutter. Gottfried Weiss Farm north of Bethune, where we made our home. Dust and dry years were upon us. For the next three years Jack attended Infantry School in Ft. Benning, Ga. and Artillery School in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Another baby girl, Amber Kay was born Sept. L2,7952. In 1958 Jack went to work for King Motor Co. and was salesman for 15 years, so we moved to Burlington and built our present home where we now live. Jack was under sheriff for 9 mo. She is presently self-employed as a Building Contractor. Our children were born in Burlington and attended school in Bethune and both graduated from Burlington High School. Susan lives in Liberty, Mo' and has thee children, Chris, Hannah and Asher. Amber lives in Colo. Spgs., and has three children, Tabitha, Deidra, and Tarah. Living and being a part of Burlington has been a real blessing to us through the years. We are charter members of the Burlington Christian Church. Presently both teach and work in the music department, Jack having been a part of the Harmonaires, a male quartet, since being in Burlington. Singing for funerals for Amber Rutter. Hendricks Mortuary and other clubs and churches throughout the states and others, has probably been the highlight of his life. by Mary Rutter is the first daughter and third child of four' of Louie and Cora DeGraffenreid of Ulman, Mo. My father was a farmer and owned real estate in Lake Ozark. My grandfather, Geo. Riley DeGraffenreid was a road construction foreman on the Bagnell Dam. He also owned the White House Hotel built in 1932, which was the first business in Lake Ozark after the building of the Dnm. From Kansas City we moved to Sedan, Kansas where Jack was employed at the Fesler Implement Co. Later we moved to Burlington, Co. where Jack was employed at Sim Hudson Motor Co. Then Jack went into businees with Asa Calvin, which was known as Calvin and Rutter Auto Supply. At this time Jack was in the Army Reserve and was attached to Co. I. Colorado National Guard and served with the unit in Burlington as Company Commander. At this time our first daughter, Susan Carol was born June 18, 1949. She purchased land south of Burlington and in 1952 we bought the RUTTER, MYRTLE V. F581 Myrtle V. Rutter born Dec. 30, 1889 at Brumley, Mo. to Tom and Rosa Bond. One of 10 children they experienced good times and bad times, with many mouths to feed and send to school. Her father was a freighter, that hauled freight by team and wagons from Brumley, to Bagnell, Mo., which was a shipping point on the Osage River. She grew to womanhood in Brumley and operated the telephone office at the time. In 1910 she married David "Bat" Rutter and immediately moved to Pretty Prairie, Ks., where he was employed by Collingwood Grain Co. In 1912' a son was born to them. This young man was no-ed Champ Clark. In 1915, they gathered their family together, and moving their SAILER, CHARLES LESTER F682 Charles Lester Sailer was born April 20, 1898, in Whitewater, Kansas, to Charles L' and Sarah Brooks Sailer. He attended public schools in Kansas. He married Miss Mertie Lattimore, the daughter of James and Leona Logan Lattimore on April 7, 1926. Mr. and Mrs. Sailer were the parents of four children: Wayne, Dean, Marjorie and Vivian. Wayne married the former Shirley Schlickenmayer, and they are the parents of three children: Gary, Gail, and General Dean who served in the U.S. Marines Corps 1951-52. He married the former Ione Lynn, and they are the parents of a son, Bryan. Marjorie is married to Dean Stewart, and they have a daughter, Maridean. Vivian is married to Elmer Jacober, and they are the parents oftwo children: Dale and Beverly Sue. Charles Lester has farmed near Burlington since 1948, when he came here from Kansas and bought his present farm eight miles north. He farms eight hundred acres with wheat his main crop. Mr. Sailer built all the main buildings on his farm and has a comfortable home surrounded by trees. He has engaged in farming all his life, starting on his own in Pratt County, Kansas, in 1.909. In Kansas, he raised wheat, corn, and feed and also had cattle and hogs. His brand is Arrow X. Mr. Sailer has farmed during two dust eras, one in Kansas and one in Colorado. Mr. Sailer is a member of the Farm Bureau, of the Eastern Colorado Wheat Growers Association. and the First Methodist Church. He has known many hardships in his years of farming but has overcome them all with courage and hard work. Mr. Sailer is a creditable addition to the farming industry of Kit Carson County. by Janice Salmans � 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- R Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Description An account of the resource Brief histories of founding families of Kit Carson County whose names begin with "R." 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>