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Anne Armstrong married John Kerr (of Scotch-Irish descent), the eldest son of William and Margaret (nee Miller) Kerr, about 1830 in Holmes County, Ohio. In 1846, they moved with their family of eight children to Owen County, Indiana, where they purchased a farm from his older brother. Five more children were born in Indiana where John Kerr passed away in 1857. His wife, Anne, continued to operate the farm with her children until 1872 when she decided to move to Cowley County, where a son, Robert Kerr, had already homesteaded some land in Beaver Twp. along the Arkansas River.
She traveled to Kansas by covered wagon and was accompanied by her family consisting of: Amos and Cindrilla (Kerr) Biddle and family; Jacob and Mary (Kerr) Gross and family; and minor children Jesse and Sarah Kerr. Mrs. Kerr bought 151 acres of land for $1.25 per acre, in 1874, located in Vernon Twp. on the Arkansas River, near her son, Robert.
She lived on this land with her children until she died on August 10, 1878 just six years after making the long trip from Indiana. There are over 950 known descendants from this marriage.
It has been a pleasure to write this story about my great-grandmother, Mrs. John Kerr, who was true pioneer of Cowley County, Kansas.
Ralph D. Biddie
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 216.
Grandparents on her father's side were German immigrants; and on her mother's side, immigrants from Ireland. Her grandfathers served in the Union Army in the Civil War. After the war each family moved to Elk County, where Frank Kill met and married Alice Keefe 01-17-1900.
Frank and Alice Kill had ten children (five boys and five girls): Frank, Tres, Fred, Mary, Bill, Valda, Gertrude, Alice, Karl, and Helen. Four girls survive: Tres, Gertrude, Alice and Helen.
Tres first met Dr. H.L. Snyder (The first Snyder to practice medicine in Cowley County) in 1908 when her brothers, Frank and Fred, had pneumonia. The family brought in a special nurse from Winfield, Annie Coffey, and used local doctors, who gave up on Frank. Her father called Dr. Snyder, who came over on the train. Dr. Snyder thought he could save young Frank if he could move him by train to St. Mary's in Winfield where he could operate. Frank rode in the baggage car. Dr. Snyder operated - draining the lungs - and saved Frank.
Being the oldest daughter, Tres became her mother's right hand - keeping house and nursing the other children. Elk Falls had a two-year high school. Tres was allowed to finish high school at Mount Carmel Academy, Wichita.
In 1924 Tres decided her vocation should be nursing. Her grandfather, M. Keefe, aided her to achieve this. She took the three-year training course at St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, graduating in 1927. Dr. Snyder again entered her life by calling upon her to be "Special Nurse" to a patient at St. Mary's. She came to St. Mary's Hospital in Winfield, and worked there until 1931 when she was accepted for advanced training in Physical Therapy at Harvard Medical College in Boston. This was the only course females were allowed to take at Harvard. While there she lectured at Wellesley College on posture. Upon graduation she became the first Registered Physical Therapist in Kansas.
She returned to St. Mary's Hospital and worked there until 1934 when she contracted tuberculosis, Tres returned to the family home to rest and recuperate, and then went to work for the Winfield State Hospital and Training Center. Due to her program this became the first state hospital in the United States to offer physical therapy services for the mentally retarded. Her program was used as a standard for developing similar programs throughout the U.S. Tres was considered to be a member of the KU. staff when Kansas University used her methods to develop an observation program for physical therapy.
Tres Kill entered the Army Nurse Corps during World War II and served at Camp Crowder, Missouri, before returning to work at Winfield State Hospital and Training Center.
Over the years Tres established physical therapy departments at St. Mary's Hospital, Snyder Clinic, and William New ton Hospital.
Tres Kill is now retired and lives in Winfield.
Submitted by Richard K. Wortman
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 216.
He taught school at Union Ridge one year and later attended business college at Winfield, Ks. He also worked as a mechanic at the Sandstrum-Snyder garage in Dexter.
He married Julia May Clark on 9-27-28. She graduated from Dexter High School in 1928. May Clark was born on 8-13-07 to Ora (Pidge) Clark and Eva (May) Clark.
Jack and May lived on a oil lease near Virgil (Greenwood Co.), Ks two years where their first child, Clyde Chester Kingsbury was born on 7-31-29. They moved back to Cowley County to a farm west of Dexter owned by Pat Fry in 1930. Anna May Kingsbury was born there on 5-5-31.
Keith Kingsbury was born on 12-17-36 and Clark Kingsbury was born on 3-17-38. The children attended grade school at Prairie Ridge and high school at Dexter. The family moved to a farm south of Otto (Cowley Co.), Ks. and lived here from 1939 until Jack's retirement in 1968. The children attended grade school at Beaver Creek and high school at Dexter. Jack served on Grant township board for twenty years.
Jack and May moved to Cedar Vale (Chautauqua Co.), Ks in 1968. Clyde C. (Jack) Kingsbury died on 9-9-85 at the age of eighty-two and is buried in the CedarVa1e, Ks cemetery. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, May, four sons, one daughter, thirteen grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
May sold their home in Cedar Vale, Ks and moved to the Cedar Apartments in Cedar Vale in 1986 where she now lives.
Their son, Clyde Kingsbury and wife, Jessie, live on a ranch near Sedan, Ks. Kenneth Kingsbury and wife Hazel live on a ranch near Grainola, Ok. Daughter Anna May (Kingsbury) Olson and husband Andy live on a ranch near Council Grove, Ks. Son Keith is at Seminole, Ok. He works at Tinker Field, Oklahoma City, Ok. Son Clark Kingsbury and wife Marguerite live at Great Bend, Ks. He is manager of Mid-West Energy. There are now thirteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.
Submitted by May Kingsbury
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 216.
Elmer and Rose were married 12-24-01 at Garnett, KS. They lived for a time with his mother on the farm she had inherited in 1899 from son Charley. Elmer and Rose's family included: Clyde C. (Jack), b. 5-31-03, Harris (Anderson Co.),KS; Neta L, At(. b. 7-15-05 Alton (Osborne Co.), KS; Lawrence Delbert (Bill), b. 4-25-07, Alton; Ethel Mae, b. 10-17-08, Harris; Anna Luciel, b. 10-14-10, Harris; Ora Irene, b. 10-17-12, Ashton (Sumner Co.) KS; and Jennie Aileene, b. 7-2-15, Ashton.
Due to hail ruining their wheat crop in Osborne Co., they sold their land and moved back to Anderson Co. Later they sold that farm and bought unimproved acreage near Ashton. They built a house and barn and lived there from 1911-1919. In 1920 the family moved to a farm northwest of Dexter (Cowley Co.). Elmer and Rose were living there when Elmer died 1-2-43. Rose then moved to Dexter, renting the farm. She died 7-14-66. Both are buried in the Burden, KS Cemetery.
Several interesting things happened while the family growing up but only a couple are related here.
In 8-28, two men attempted to steal our car. Dad heard the barn door opening, where the car with keys in it was parked. He took the shotgun and went to investigate. Going through a grove of trees, he saw the car coming toward him. He called "Halt," but the men ran down the road toward their parked car. Dad shot intending to scare them. He asked Bill to bring him his rifle and hearing a noise around their car, shot at it. When they caught the men the next day, Dad learned one was behind the steering wheel when he shot the rifle, breaking the windshield. When the men were in the Cowley County jail, they were observed to be picking at themselves - they had been hit with buckshot. The Courier carried a news item, "Farmer Shoots Straight. " That was the only time the Kingsbury" made the front page!
There were many nicknames in our family. Grandpa Stout nicknamed Clyde "Jack" and Lawrence "Bill." When we moved to Cowley County, Mom thought it apropos to eliminate nicknames. At a meeting of the Prairie Ridge Mothers' Club, she was speaking of Clyde and Lawrence when one of the ladies asked, "You have four sons? I know you had Jack and Bill but didn't know about Clyde and Lawrence." Mom gave up and more people know them as "Jack" and "Bill" than as Clyde and Lawrence.
Submitted by Aileen Rotha
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 216.
When Bill became twenty-one he began working for the City Gas Company. While living in Augusta, Kansas, (continued on page 217)
Submitted by Violet B. Kingsbury
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 216.
In 1949 Bill left City Service Gas Company and stated working for Michigan Wisconsin Pipe Line Company. To do this the family moved to Sandwich, Illinois. In 1950 Bill was transferred to Abilene, Kansas, where the family lived for the next twelve years. While living in Abilene both daughters graduated from high school and Emporia State Teachers College. Phyllis received her masters degree there in 1963 and her Ph.D. from Oklahoma University in 1968. In the fall of 1968 she started teaching at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, in the biology department. While on sabbatical in 1988 she received a second masters degree in science education from the University of Texas at Austin.
The second daughter, Donna, taught high school in Wichita, Kansas for five years. In June of 1966 she married Donald Ray Murphy in the First Baptist Church in Augusta, Kansas. They have two daughters Delynn Ray Murphy (b. 1/1/72) and Dayna Leigh Murphy (b. 1/23/74).
In July 1962 Bill was transferred to Meade, Kansas, by the Michigan Wisconsin Pipe Line Company as Superintendent of a gas compressor station. Bill took early retirement in 1969 and with his wife, Violet, moved to Winfield, Kansas. He had lived out of the county forty years when he moved back.
Bill was Master of the Masonic Lodge in Augusta, Kansas, in 1946 where he also belongs to the Augusta Chapter of the Eastern Star.
Violet has been a member of the Eastern Star and the Rebekah Lodge for over fifty years. She has been a member of the Daughters of the American. Revolution since 1973.
Bill and Violet have belonged to the First Baptist Church in Augusta, Abilene, Meade and Winfield a total of over fifty years. They will celebrate their fifty-eighth wedding anniversary in 1990.
Submitted by Violet R. Kingsbury
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 217.
K. Berwin King and Patti Lee Hull got their marriage license in Medicine Lodge, Kansas and were secretly married in Arkansas City by Harley Estes on the evening of Sept. 17, 1949. At that time, Berwin was employed by Guymon-Petro Mercantile Company. Our first home together was at 1302 Fuller. Eric Stanton was horn on June 29, 1950. In April 1951 Berwin began work as a stationary fireman at the Winfield municipal power plant. We lived for a short time in the 500 blocks on 19th and on 16th before buying our first home at 1314 E. 6th in 1952. Kyle Andrew was born on April 22, 1953. Berwin began work for Smith-Moon Steel Co. (later to become Struthers Thermo-Flood Co.) in May of 1966. In the 23 years at Struthers, Berwin worked in the electrical and fire testing dept., supervisor of the yard dept., engineering, field service, purchasing, production and inventory control and as sales manager. Patti was a professional housewife and mother until Eric and Kyle were almost grown. She worked in telephone sales for the Winfield Wards store in 1969-70. She began work in Ruppelius Jewelry store in 1973. Patti always had an inter est in artistic hobbies for the home and has taught tale painting classes. In 1969 we moved to 1796 E. 6th.
We are members of the Winfield Church of Christ and take an active part in all the work of the church. Patti has served as a teacher, been involved in the ladies studies and work days and in many of the benevolent activities. Berwin has served us a teacher, deacon and elder. We have had an interest in the building and operation of Winfield Rest Haven. Berwin has been a member of the Board of Directors of Winfield Rest Haven since it opened in 1963. Flint Hills Christian Camp near Sedan and Maude Carpenter Children's Home in Wichita have also held special interest for us.
Written by Berwin King
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 217.
In 1933 Clarence and Florence traveled the western U.S. cooking for the "University of Tours". That fall Clarence built a camera and they were on the road again taking pictures, four for a dime.
In 1939 they opened a photo studio in Little Rock, Arkansas. During WW II they took pictures of soldiers stationed at Camp Robinson, many of whom were on their way to fight in the war and wanted to send pictures to their families.
Florence and Clarence returned to Winfield in 1944. Clarence farmed north of town with his brothers on their father's farm. In 1948 Florence bought Kate Patterson's dress shop at 108 E. 9th in Winfield, and it became King's dress shop. In 1950 she added a photography studio, King's Portraits. Florence served as the first woman president of the Merchants Association in the State of Kansas. Clarence and Florence were active in the community serving on various committees and boards. Clarence retired in 1967 and Florence closed King's dress shop in 1977. She is still active in the photography studio.
Clarence and Florence adopted three children: Edward R., Stephanie L., and Gregory C., All three graduated from Winfield High School.
Edward recently returned to Winfield with his wife Darlene. Greg and his wife, the former Melinda White, live in Eureka Springs, Arkansas with their three children: Desaree', Amanda, and Brandon. They were all born in Winfield. I returned to Winfield with my husband, James E. Lynne, in 1984.
Stephanie L. Lynne
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 217.
On his return from the service he purchased the Veterans Cab Co. in Winfield which he operated until 1963. He served as Register of Deed from 1964 through 1976.
He and I were married in 1954. We have four children all born in Cowley County.
Pamela Jane King graduated from Winfield High School in 1973, and Southwestern College in 1977. She lives in Wellington where she teaches school.
Wayne Allen graduated from Winfield High School in 1974, and from Southwestern College in 1978. He and his wife D.J. have three children, Brandon Commodore, Rochelle Phoebe, and Vincent Tomas. They live in Winfield.
Thomas Scott and his wife, the former Robin Barker and three children, Scott Allen, Honno Elane, and Tyson Grant live in Winfield. Thomas attended Southwestern College and Cowley County Community College. He graduated from High School in Winfield in 1976.
Rex Leon was a graduate from Winfield High School in 1977 and he attended Cowley County Community College. He and his wife Dannielle and their children, Lindsey Renee, and Patrick Charles live in Winfield.
Mable Hesket King
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 217.
Barbara Jean Hein attended Whittier elementary and graduated from Winfield High School in 1971. She attended Emporia State University one semester and completed her degree in computer science at Cowley County Community College. She and Eric were married on April 1, 1972. They made their first home at 1702 East 11th in Winfield. Barbara was employed at Kansas Farm Bureau in Manhattan while Eric was completing his degree in architecture at Kansas State University.
Zachary Alexander was born to Eric and Barbara on November 16, 1976 in Manhattan. They moved to Winfield in May of 1977 where Eric was employed at Potter and Gordon Architects. Jennifer Elaine was born on February 13, 1979 in Winfield. In February of 1979 they moved to Pittsburgh, Kansas where Eric was with the Facility Planning Department at Pittsburgh State University. In 1983 they moved to Lawrence, Kansas where Eric was the Assistant Director of Facility Planning, until he was named Director of Facility Planning, at Fort Hays State University in January of 1988.
Barbara is working toward her degree in nursing and expects to complete this in December of 1990.
Submitted by Berwin King
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 218.
Ervin made a run into the Oklahoma Territory in 1893 for the opening of the Cherokee Strip. It was estimated 100,000 people jammed into the Territory to obtain free land.
Angeline Roth Knox was born August 22, 1885 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. She with her parents, Robert McCoy Knox and Emily Lora (Hawkins) Knox, moved to Cowley County when Angie was four years old. They likewise settled in the same Grandview community in 1889. She went to Wilmot School, Southwestern College and taught school in the Dexter area.
After Dad courted Mom with horse and buggy for two or three years, they married on June 13, 1906 at a Royal KING wedding in her parent's home, with the same minister officiating who married her parents twenty-two years before.
They lived in the same Grandview community all their married life and had over sixty happy years together before Ervin died in September, 1966 at age eighty-nine. Angie died in November, 1973 at the age of eighty-eight. They had nine children, all living, and twenty-eight grandchildren.
In 1904 Angie and Ervin attended the St. Louis World's Fair, where they rode the giant ferris wheel carrying 2,160 people in one revolution. One round was enough!
In 1960 they had the pleasure of attending the True Vow Keepers Club in Kansas City, Missouri for couples married fifty years, accompanied by their daughter, Edith Reisinger, who lived in Kansas City at that time. They received a prize for traveling the farthest.
Their oldest son, Roy Murrel King, lives on the old family farmstead on Rt. 1, Winfield, Kansas, Muriel Esther Friend lives in Rolla, Kansas. Inez Lora Foster lives in Udall, Kansas. Charles Raymond lives in Winfield. John Robert lives in Pineville, Missouri. Mary Martha Spencer lives in Winfield. Ralph Wesley lives in Wichita, Kansas. Thelma Ruth Brown lives in Lamar, Missouri. She attended Southwestern College. All nine children attended Winfield High School. All four sons served in World War II in France, Germany, South Pacific, and Kiska Island.
I, Edith Louise, married Russell Reisinger September 21, 1932 and had three children: Leila Jean Stevens, Glade, Kansas; Lorene Janet Higgs, Mulvane, Kansas; Wesley Keith Reisinger, Wichita, Kansas. Russell is deceased. I graduated from Wichita Business College, worked in Kansas City, Missouri several years where I met and married Russell Wells in 1960. He died October 1987. 1 have thirteen grandchildren. I now live in a small retirement town, Golden City, Missouri.
Submitted by Edith (King) Reisinger, Wells
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 218.
She had four brothers: Roy Murrel, Charles Raymond (Scotty), John Robert, and Ralph Wesley; and four sisters: Esther Muriel, Edith Louise, Mary Martha, and Thelma Ruth.
On May 19, 1940, Inez married Fred Leslie Foster at the Grandview Church, north of Winfield, Kanscis. They lived two miles north of the Grandview Church until 1952, when the family moved to Udall, Kansas. She still resides in Udall, Kansas.
Their children are: Thomas Leslie of Udall; Alice Yvonne Jacoby of Winfield; Marvin Ray of Udall; Marlene Kay Braddy of Elm Creek, Nebraska; and Harry John of Douglass, Kansas.
Submitted by Alice Yvonne Jacoby
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 218.
Elsie was born near Floral, the oldest daughter of Joseph Wright and Margaret Rabourn Wright. She lived on a farm adjacent to the John George King farm when she was in her teens. When she and Erbie were married, Erbie bought the Wright farm and they lived there 59 years and raised ten children.
They had a narrow escape in 1912 when a tornado destroyed all of their farm buildings and the roof from the house. Erbie had looked out and seen that all of the buildings were gone and said they surely could be thankful to have a roof overhead. Elsie opened the stairway door and told him the roof was gone. Elsie's home had been destroyed by a tornado when she was 4 and she was found a half-mile away. It is understandable that her own children spent many hours in the stormcave when there were threatening storms
The ten children were all engaged in work that took them to many parts of the United States, but most of them returned to Kansas to make their permanent home in or near Winfield. Their children: Vivian, Clarence, Clara, Everett, Ernest, Joe, Olive, Lawrence, Margaret (her twin Martha was stillborn) and Alice. Vivian, Joe and Margaret lived in Cowley County, They are deceased and buried at Winfield. Their stories have been submitted to this history by their children. Clara, Clarence, Lawrence and Alice still live in Cowley County and have submitted their own stories for this history.
Everett married Helen Simpson and they raised two daughters, Patricia King Hall and Wflnetta King Jarvis. They all live in Colorado. Ernest married Ethel Lewis and they adopted a son, Frederick James. Ethel and Ernest are deceased and buried at Winfield. Frederick has his own pharmacy in Van Buren, Arkansas. Olive King married Harry John. They raised three daughters, Marlene, (adopted) Beverly, and Donna. Marlene John Van Camp lives in Illinois, Beverly John died of leukemia at the age of 16. Donna John Stallings lives in Wichita.
Erbie and Elsie's youngest daughter, Alice, inherited the family home as part of her share of the inheritance. She and her husband, John R. Jones, began renovation of the King family home in 1968. They were teachers in Wichita and spent much of their summers on the farm until they retired and moved to the farm in 1982. This is the same house where Elsie spent part of her childhood and has been lived in by the family since 1885. Erbie and Elsie are buried at Winfield.
Submitted by Alice Jones
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 218.
Usually a farmer, during W.W. II, he and other members of the King family made a living working as photographers back east While working Lakeside Park in Salem, VA, Joe met Estelle Duncan. They moved back to Kansas in 1945 and he bought a house at 1420 E. 9th where he and Estelle had three children; Saundra, Linda and Brenda.
His life cut short, Joe was killed in a farm accident in 1952 and Estelle continued to raise three children on her own until her early death of cancer at the age of 39.
The oldest daughter, Saundra met and married Jim Snow of Wellington, KS. Linda and Brenda were to live with different relatives until their marriages. Linda married Jim Ingram of Illinois and they have no children. They reside in Independence, MO. Brenda married Jim Magee of Eureka Sps., Arkansas. They have three children, Sarah, Rebecca and Emily and reside in Beaver, Ark. Saundra was divorced and remarried to Ron Smith in 1969. They had three children; Kimberly, (continued on page 219)
Submitted by Saundra E. King.
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 218.
Joseph John King was the son of Elsie Wright King and James Erbie King and the grandson of John George King and Mary Jane James.
Submitted by Saundra E. King
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 219.
After graduation he worked for a year in Parsons, KS and then returned to Winfield and since 1933 has been associated with the savings and loan industry. lie served at President of the First Community Federal Savings and Loan Association from 1953 to 1973 and as Chairman of the Board from 1973 to 1985, when he retired. He served as President of the Kansas Savings and Loan League, as a director of the United States Savings and Loan League, and a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. He has been very active in the First United Methodist Church, serving as District Representative on World Service and Finance Committee of Central Kansas Methodist Church 1949-1964. He has also been active in community organizations, serving as President of the Lions Club and of the Chamber of Commerce. He and Sherlah have been loyal sup porters of Southwestern College and the Board of Trustees named the drive to its main campus "King Drive" in honor of John and Sherlah King in 1964. He also has been instrumental in the development of over 200 building lots in 9 housing subdivisions in Winfield, and has promoted industrial growth of the city, such as being instrumental in re-organizing the Winfield Country Club and the development of the surrounding area, and being one of six citizens who provided the land far the development of the Winfield Industrial Park.
Sherlah King graduated from Southwestern College and received her Masters degree from Columbia University in 1932 John and Sherlah had two daughters: Karen, who married Mack Summers and Nancy, who married Dan Austin.
Submitted by Karen Summers
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 219.
John finally drifted to Iowa where he married Mary James in 1869. Mary was born in Indiana in 1850, the daughter of Morgan James and Amanda Fenimore James. She had a sister Eliza and a brother Aanon, nicknamed Pete. Morgan re married and had 7 more children. It is rumored that Mary's grandfather and the father of Jesse James were brothers.
John and Mary had eight children; Eliza, Cora, Erbie, Thomas Ervin, Harriet May, Laura, Omer, and Rosa. Thomas and Harriet were twins named after their grandparents in England.
John and Mary lived in Greenfield, Iowa and he was known as Strawberry John because he raised and sold strawberries. Their two youngest children were born in Nebraska. Eliza and Cora taught school there.
In the early 1890s, John moved his family to Kansas and settled on a farm near Floral. All of his children except Laura owned forms in Cowley County. Many of John's descendants still live in this area and farm the land owned by John and his children.
Cora King Deichman, Erbie, Ervin and Rosa King Watt have children living in Cowley County and have submitted stories for this history.
Laura King Bonifield had three children, Lester, Robert and Anna Mary. Lester married Minnie Hoopman. No children. Robert married Lena Thanschiedt. They raised one daughter. Anna Mary married William Brooks. They had two sons, Lloyd and Dale. Lloyd died in infancy. Dale lives in Oklahoma.
Mary later married Dal Metz. They live in Oklahoma. Omer has grandchildren living in Colorado. They have submitted Omer's story for this history.
May married Sam Kennedy. No children. They raised an orphan, Pearl.
Mary James King died in 1935. John Geroge King died in 1909. Both are buried at Floral, Kansas.
Submitted by Alice M. Jones
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 219.
Marsha attended Whittier Elementary and Winfield High School, the class of 1975. She and Kyle were married in her parents home on November 10, 1972 and they made their first home at 819 1/2 East 16th. Heather Lynne was born to them on June 2, 1973. They lost a son, Anthony Joseph, born in 1975 that only lived two days. Amber Kristin, born April 28, 1977 was also premature, but after a long battle and many prayers, came through a winner.
After leaving Gott, they returned to Phoenix, Arizona where they purchased the California Closet Company. They hold the franchise for all of Arizona, except Tucson and its immediate area. Sales, manufacturing and installation are all part of the total operation. Kyle and Marsha are both active in the business.
Submitted by Berwin King
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 219.
Brunise is the oldest child born to Frank C. Bragg and Willie Clyde Jones Bragg. Her parents reside in Columbus, Georgia. (continued on page 218)
Submitted by Brunise Bragg King
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 220.
Lawrence and Brunise moved to Winfield from Columbus, Georgia in 1953. They have four children: Lawrence Jr., LeRoy, Dorothy and Diane. Lawrence Jr. and wife Jeanette Schmidt King have three children, Maria, Lawrence III and James and live in Winfield. LeRoy and his wife Sonja have a son Harley and live in Indiana. Dorothy, her husband Clayton Vaughn, and her two children by a previous marriage, Hallie Ellen and Jimmy Topper, live in Cowley County. Diane and her three children, Adrienne, (Andy) Brianne and Michael, live in Cowley County. Diane's husband, Michael Bowlin, was killed in an automobile accident in 1986. He is buried at Winfield.
Lawrence and Brunise moved into Grandpa King's original home (John George King) north of Winfield in 1953 and raised their family there. They now live 3/4 mile north in a new home. They still own and farm the old home place of John George and Mary Jane.
Submitted by Brunise Bragg King
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 220.
The pond was a great favorite of ours in that ole cow pasture. It was so serene and quiet back there. You almost felt as though you were on a deserted island.
Grandma would throw the old feather tick in the bed of the pick-up and we'd lay there for hours telling ghost stories before falling asleep.
Our once a week trip to Akron, to watch a movie outside behind the General Store, was great fun. I think we sat on the ground.
We had relatives living on all sides of us and on Sunday everybody gathered at the Grandview Church. We thought that was the only church in the whole world. One time Dad and Grandpa caught a badger on the aid place, almost killed the dogs and took 3-4 hours to get him out of his borrow.
The ole gray mare was another favorite of ours. The four of us (cousins) would ride that horse at once, we were all little. Her name was Fanny. How we loved that gentle old horse.
Of course, there was a collie dog whose name was Chubby that we all were very attached to. We thought he understood what we said to him. Picking berries by the side of the road was great fun because we knew Grandma would make pies and, oh, how good they were. We loved that good ole fried chicken too, but we didn't want her to kill the chicken.
One time we were visiting the form and getting ready to leave, Grandma was sad because we were leaving and she was teary-eyed. One of the younger boys had just got a scolding from Mom and he said, "Grandma, did Mom scold you too?"
Grandpa was laid back and quiet. Grandma was a disciplinarian and a perfectionist. Both were loving Christian parents and grandparents. The place was bought by Dave and Margaret Musgrave, relatives. We were glad it stayed in the family.
Submitted by Marcretcr Salzman & Phyllis Artrup, Grandchildren of Omer & Hallie King
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 220.
Vivian went to school at Grandview. When his paternal grandpa John George King died in 1909, he went to live with Grandma Mary James King to be the "man of the house". He did the farming and worked off the farm building road bridges. In September 1918, he was drafted into the Army, stationed at Camp Funston near Junction City. He received orders for overseas duty a few day before the Armistice but was discharged in the Spring and returned to farming for his Grandma. In a letter dated February 8, 1920 Vivian had sold wheat that day for $2.35 but, had gotten $2.50 the previous week.
Viola attended Prairie Grove School and received a teachers certificate after completing the Normal Training Course at Winfield High School. She taught in several schools in the Atlanta, Rock and Winfield area.
The Kings first home was with Grandma King in the same section where his parents lived-just over the hill. While living there, a son David Cecil and a daughter Anna Lois who died in infancy were born.
The fall of 1923 the family moved to a farm in Rick Township owned by Bill Hawkins. Here Vada Ruth and Dorothy Irene joined the family. August of 1929 found the family moving again but for the last time. They had purchased a farm owned by Virg Knox. The children attended Prairie Grove, that was just a quarter mile away, and unless the weather was terribly bad went home for dinner. They went on to graduate from Winfield High and Southwestern College.
The Kings were typical farmers of the era. They had cows, chickens, hogs and at first workhorses. During the early thirties Viola churned butter, molded it into one pound molds seemed like hundreds of pounds, as we kids had to help churn and wrap the butter. Cream was pasteurized and bottled, eggs were gathered and cased and chickens dressed. Saturday morning all this was packed into the back seat (no trunks) of the car and delivered door to door to regular customers in Winfield. For several years there were coaloil heated incubators in the cave for hatching their own chicks and for others from their own eggs. There was always a large garden that seemed to need a lot of hoeing and canning.
Vivian was one of the first farmers in the area to have his farm terraced and practice contour farming and was concerned about those that didn't. The family attended and held membership in the Grandview Methodist Church. Viola died in 1975 and Vivian in 1983. They are buried in the King plot at Highland.
Vado Ruth King Tjaden
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 220.
Charles graduated from Southwestern College in 1903 and also married Gertrude that year in Larned. Since he was a Methodist minister, they lived in several Kansas Communities before settling in Winfield in 1930 Charles was the Winfield district superintendent and later the minister of First United Methodist Church before retiring in 1944. Their five sons were Donald, Kenneth, Charles, Paul and Robert (Bob). Charles died in 1955, (continued on page 221)
Submitted by Jane (Kitch) Sandbulte.
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 220.
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