The Ralph Ellis family came to Barber County from Panhandle, Texas, in June 1941.
  I (Joy) was three years old, their only child. My father was to be managing partner
  with T.L. Welsh of Abilene, Kansas, of the Ellis-Welsh Flying J. Ranch located
  southwest of Sun City, Kansas. It is now known as the Rusk Ranch. This land was
  carefully chosen among other ranches in Texas and Oklahoma.
     The first year was extremely busy; many improvements needed to be made. During
  the first summer my family stayed at the Grand Hotel until we could move into the
  main house. A tenant house was built; the first family living there was the Archie
  Freeman family. Later years brought other families. My playmates were their children.
     We were free to roam and only had to learn to avoid quicksand, snakes, bulls and
  occasional wildlife. Coyotes came up near the chicken house frequently; it was my
  job to shut the door each evening. I constantly imagined their beady eyes watching me!
     My parents worked hard and there was little time for outside activities. My mother
  did most of the shopping and errands, such as going to the hardware store and black-
  smith shop; I usually accompanied her. My father went on cattle buying trips to the
  Southwest. He bought Texas Longhorns once, but otherwise he was proud of the quality
  Hereford cattle they raised.
     One early memory is of herding cattle going to market to the railyards at Sun City;
  that would be a rare experience now. My father had a theory that seemed to work; he
  would hire the boys in town to watch the cattle in the corrals so that "someone"
  didn't let them out the gate.
     My early school years were spent at White Sand School, located three miles north
  of our house. One of my parents usually took us to school; my father used a wagon
  and team of horses during bad weather. Occasionally we walked and I remember an
  eagle's nest along the way.
     I attended Sun City and Medicine Lodge schools later. There were no buses and
  driving such long distances was difficult for my parents.
     My father retired from ranching in 1951; we moved to Medicine Lodge. He bought
  the Sun City Oil Company and operated it several years. During this time he especially
  enjoyed fishing trips to Colorado and Canada.
     Since my marriage to James E. Selby in 1955, we have not lived in Barber County.
  Our living in a metropolitan area makes us appreciate our early days there. My
  parents lived in Medicine Lodge until 1962, when my father passed away. My mother
  lived near my family unitl her death in 1969. they considered Barber County as their
  home.
      
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 169 
     Submitted by: Joy Ellis Selby