Charlie and Maude Blackwell came to the town of Medicine Lodge on a snowy, cold
  December night in 1938. As they came down the main street, they were welcomed by the
  lighted Christmas tree at the intersection of Main and Kansas streets. That cheerful
  light was a good omen for them.
     In the months and years that followed they owned and operated the Blackwell tavern
  and cafe at 110 West First Street. This property had been known as the Tom Kenny place,
  but was at that time owned by the Home Owner's Loan Company, as were several properties
  in town following the great Depression of the late twenties and early thirties. The
  City building now stands on the site of the old Kenny house. They also owned and operarated
  the Standard station at 123 N. Main from 1942 until 1952.
     Those were busy, happy years. The children went to grade school, then on to graduate
  from high school, and both Chris and Bob saw service in the Navy during the second World
  War. In 1946 they built a home at 209 W. Second street where they lived for many years.
     Athletics were always an important part of their family life. The Blackwell tavern
  sponsored a very fine baseball team in the late forties and early fifties, also an out-
  standing bowling team. Basketball and football saw all three of the boys on fine school
  teams. Track was a big favorite, bringing two state championships into the family. Two
  granddaughters, Jean Ann and Teresa Rhea, played in the first girl's basketball
  tournament ever held in the state and in which the Medicine Lodge girl's team took first
  place in class 2A at Hays, Kansas.
     Mr. Blackwell died in 1967, and Maude has worked as a receptionist at the First
  Methodist Church for the past ten years. She now lives at the Indian Hills Plaza. She
  would like to acknowledge the memory of a dear sister and brother-in-law, Dollie and
  Ed Brown, who lived in Medicine Lodge for several years and were part of their family.
  The children are Chris Blackwell of Wichita, whose wife, Doris Stallard Blackwell, died
  in 1977; Bob of Medicine Lodge, who is married to the former Carol Axline; LeRoy of
  Quivera Lake, KS., whose wife is the former Carol Hill; Marjorie, Mrs. Norman Schroeder
  of Macksville, KS.; and ;Mary, Mrs. Darrel Rhea of Medicine Lodge. There are fifteen
  grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. They remember the years with affection
  and have been proud to call Medicine Lodge, with its fine historical background and
  friendly people, their home.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 107 
     Submitted by: Maude Blackwell