In December of 1951 Bill and Marjorie decided to move to Barber County. Both were
  born and raised near Bluff City, Kansas. After high school, Bill farmed with his father
  until he entered the military service; his battalion served in Korea. Marjorie attended
  Arkansas City Junior College and taught rural school for three eyars. They were married
  on May 21, 1947, Methodist Church in Bluff City and lived near Freeport. During the
  years at Freeport, Bryan Lee and Steven Neil were born.
     It would be a different kind of living just sixty miles west, so plans were made to
  sell the dairy herd, to buy beef cattle, and to move tot he "old Harris Place" south of
  Pixley in the spring. Marjorie's earliest memories of Barber County were of the thirties,
  when sifting dust drifted over everything. Her father would jokingly suggest to watch
  for landmarks, because if tumbleweeds and dust covered the telephone lines as were many
  miles of fences, they would never find the road home.
     The Bradleys quickly learned why neighbors suggested that drinking water come from
  a cistern that needed cleaning, repair, and filling - not the cold clear well water.
  The water would flush the human system as a dose of spsom salts and tranform soft diapers
  or fluffy towels to a form of laundry, stiffly starched. The garden withered from
  liberal irrigation. The cattle drank it only after the ponds were dry. Throughout the
  summer, spread-head snakes appeared each time the kitchen door opened.
     Proudly they announced the birth of Susan Elaine in May of 1953. Cattle prices hit
  a low, so Bill supplemented the farm income with construction and oil-field work or
  driving for trucking companies. They moved to their present home in 1957. Marjorie began
  a licensed nursery school in their home during 1959. She visited with the pastor in
  responce to a sermon on the Church's outreach to the community and 1966 Playcare
  Nursery School opened at the Methodist Church, Betty Garten assisting with the increasing
  enrollment. She was pleased the program continued after her resignation in 1970 because
  of her health. Bill and Marjorie opereated the Indian Grill and Covered Wagon for several
  years, often working around the clock preparing trail-ride meals or catered banquests to
  be delivered fifty or more miles.
     After graduation from high school, the children continued their education. Bryan 
  received his B.A. from Kansas State University. Steven is a graduate of Kansas School of
  Barbering. Susan attended Hutchinson Community College and is a graduate of Wesley School
  of Nursing; she married Jerome Ricke, and they are parents of our granddaughter, Angela.
     Participation in community and church activities through the years and interest in
  livestock have provided many pleasant memories. Bill and sons raised Appaloosa horses,
  but Marjorie prefers to keep registered Quarter horses and enjoys gardening.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 112 
     Submitted by: Marjorie M. Bradley