On July 6, 1900, James Harvey Axtell was born to William Allison Axtell and
  Florence Isabel Vennum. I was born at the old "Pump Station" in Medicine Lodge,
  where my parents were living at the time. I was supposedly named after an uncle, 
  my father's half brother. Three of my brothers and sisters had died before I
  was born. There were 10 of us in all, and I am the only one still living.
     My family settled in Medicine Lodge in 1889 after having lived in Colorado,
  New Mexico, and Rawlins County, Kansas. Dad had held a claim in Rawlins County
  but had sold it before moving on. My parents had originally come from Illinois.
     As a young boy, I lived on several different farms on Elm Creek north of
  Medicine Lodge. Dad farmed and also raised horses. (Riding horses is what we did
  back then to have fun.) We raised corn on the farm. My sisters, Coy and Frank,
  and I worked in the corn fields. We would use 3 or 4 teams of mules in the field
  at the same time, each pulling a sled. I was too little to turn the team around
  so Coy or Frank would have to do it for me.
     In 1912 we moved to the County Poor Farm and took care of the place and the
  people who lived here. Also my dad farmed there. We lived there for over 20 years.
     On 10-30-1921, I married Goldie Elizabeth Mills. Her parents were Landon C.
  Mills and Harriet McElwaine. Goldie was born 12-26-1899. She taught school for a
  couple of years before we were married. Her father, Landon, was undersheriff of
  Medicine Lodge. They lived at the old courthouse where they looked after the
  prisoners, and Harriet cooked for them. After Goldie and I were married, we moved
  out by Lake City on the river. We farmed and raised cattle. We had three children:
  William Landon (Billy), born 4-29-1923; Peggy Jean, 7-21-1927; and Bobby James,
  4-5-1932. I lived there for over 40 years and was trustee for Lake City township
  for more than 20 years. Goldie died 6-6-1956.
     In March 1963 I married Beulah Verona Robbins. We lived in Lake City for 14
  years. She ran the grocery store there for many years. We moved to Medicine Lodge
  in 1977. Beulah died December 30, 1977.
     I have taken part in every Peace Treaty Pageant since it was organized in 1927.
  My children and some of my grandchildren have also taken part in it. I have 7
  grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
   
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 94 
     Submitted by: Harve Axtell