William Allison Axtell was born March 14, 1858, at Milford, Iroquois County,
  Illinois, the son of John Axtell and his third wife, Louise Stolebarger Cromenecker.
  John died October 29, 1860, when Will was two years, seven months old. Louise drove
  forty miles to have Will baptised in the Catholic church.
     Will received his inheritance March 14, 1879, and March 18, 1979, he married
  Florence Isabel Vennum, born November 12, 1856, at Fayetteville, Iowa, daughter of
  Thomas Jefferson Vennum (nephew of John's first wife, Mary Vennum) and Lurinda Jane
  Smith.
     Dan Henry Axtell was born December 5, 1879; Guy was born and died June 2, 1881; 
  Ned Vennom born June 16, 1882; and May Isabel arrived June 4, 1884.
     With their three children they traveled by covered wagon to Rawlins County, Kansas;
  living in a sod house, they endured the blizzard of 1886. They visited the Vennums
  in Wichita, Kansas, and in 1888 they went to Trinidad, Colorado, Springer and Raton,
  New Mexico. Ned and Will were very ill; and although Will had a fever, he determined
  to take Flora back to Kansas and relatives. He was concerned about how Flora would
  manage without him.
     April, 1889, the Axtell family arrived in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, at the time of
  the terrible flood. Working with his team Will helped clean up the debris of the
  flood. He raised cane for George Horney's sugar mill. (The sugar mill pond was a
  favorite ice skating place.) Living their remaining years in Barber County, their 
  family grew - Iva Lurinda arrived August 15, 1890; Oma Myrtle, June 25, 1892; Frank
  (a girl) September 29, 1894; Tome, July 25, 1896 and died June 22, 1897; Coy Ann,
  Jaunary 3, 1898; James Harvey, July 6, 1900; and Mary Ellen, August 22, 1904.
     Employed by Barber County, Will with his teams helped build roads and bridges. The
  family lived at the "Pump Station" located on North Walnut where large trees are
  growing today that they planted. Flora's parents lived with them, and her mother,
  Lurinda Jane Vennum, died May 1, 1901. Flowers for her funeral were lilacs from the
  Old Hibbard place. Thomas J. Vennum died July 26, 1909. Will's mother Lousie, and
  her fourth husband, John Barnett, visited the family in 1893.
     In 1912 they moved to the County Poor Farm on Currie Lane east of town. Will
  farmed the land and cared for the stock, while Flora raised chickens, a large garden, 
  canned food, took care of the milk-cleaning separator (the parts had to be sunned on
  the cellar door), filling kerosene lamps, and keeping those glass chimneys clean!
  This place was called the Poor Farm because people of the county who could not live
  alone and had to have care lived there. Flora, with the help of the girls, washed
  their clothes, cooked and served meals, cleaned and cared for them when they were sick,
  more than a full time job!
     William Allison Axtell died January 18, 1923, at Fort Scott, Kansas, following
  surgery and is buried in Highland Cemetery. From his obituary, written by his friend
  Lute Axline, we read in part "Death takes from our midst not only a fond husband and
  loving father but a sterling citizen such as are the safeguards of our country. He was
  not a man of wealth and position as the names are generally understood, but he was a
  man respected by all who knew him law abiding, generous to a fault, sincere and
  steadfast, not contentious, yet firm and resolute, industrious without fuss or clamor
  and in this sense he was one of our most wealthy and prosperous citizens. He and his
  good wife labored early and late to provide for their family. No man, women, child,
  or animal was ever turned hungry from their door. With an abiding faith in his God, 
  his country, and his people, William Axtell trod the path of life as it lay before him
  and was calm and courageous to the last. It is men such as he who constitute the real
  foundation of our Nation. A good neighbor and good friend."
     After Will's death Flora continued living at The Farm and with her daughter, Oma,
  and her family cared for the residents. After Oma's death July 20, 1934, Flora moved
  from the farm and lived with her children.
     Florence Isabel Axtell died at the home of her daughter, Iva Warren, May 12, 1937,
  in Medicine Lodge. She is buried beside her husband in Highland Cemetery, as she was
  beside him thru all the years. Beloved Grandmother who always turned her cheek for 
  your kiss. At the time of ehr death, Flora had living seven children, thirty nine
  grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Hopefully they will write their
  parents' and their stories.               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 94 
     Submitted by: Virginia Woodward Measday