Burl Gaunt came to Barber County from Dallas County, Missouri around 1920.
  He lived with brothers, who worked on the Skinner Ranch and attended Lake
  City School. When he was fourteen, "Mr. Pat" Skinner let him feed cattle,
  deliver them to the Kansas City Market, and arranged with a buyer to show
  Burl the City.
     His brother, Earnie, interested him in dirt construction and introduced
  him to a foreman who trained him for his future livlihood. His first local
  project was helping complete the 99 Springs Resort dam. While working on
  highway 166 east of Arkansas City, he returned home to deposit his summer's
  wages, arriving too late to get into the bank. Next day he learned the bank
  was permanently closed by the 1932 bank moratorium.
     He met Mary Jester, whose birth in 1915 had completely disrupted the
  first day of harvest for her parents, the L.A. Jesters. Dr. Gilbert delivered
  and named her, their youngest child.
     In Medicine Lodge neighborhood youngsters played under the streetlight
  'till 9 o'clock curfew. After moving to the farm, Old Fred, their horse, swam
  the farm pond with as many as ten children on his back. There were the usual
  farm chores before and after school. Mary, with brother, Alva, rode horseback,
  drova a buggy, or walked the 2 1/2 miles to attend Medicine Lodge Schools.
  Frost nipped fingers and toes, and ice crusted eyelashes. Fresh baked bread
  greeted their return home. Times were hard and many children cut insoles from
  "Post Toastie" boxes to extend the life of shoes. They had running water - 
  RUN 'N' GET IT!
     Mary had a severe case of measles when the junior hgih moved into the new
  high school addition (1927). High school youth, during "Depression" made
  their own recreation. The "Victorla" furnished music, and kids shared records.
  Girls of the class of '33 and their teacher-friend, Rilla Nelson Blumburg,
  had a pre-graduation slumber party in the Jester's new barn loft. Instead of
  hiring a speaker for Commencement, Supt. I.V. Martin, appointed speakers from
  the class. Mary recited "The Bulder." Couples double dated with Mary and
  Burl in his new Model A roadster, attending community activities.
     Mary and Burl were married at the Baptist Parsonage in 1934, lived in the
  local, then teh Mingona-Forest City, communities. They enjoyed the annual
  community 3-day camping trip at Elm Mills or 99 Springs. The farmers exchanged
  work instead of money. Gas, tires, and sugar were rationed during WWII. Dust-
  bowl, Depression, grasshoppers, hailed out wheat, and a tornado - Quilting
  parties, ice cream socials, community plays were all expereinced. They sold
  milk for 5 cents a quart. Burl farmed and fed cattle and Mary supplemented
  by working at Newsom's Store, (housedresses were $1.98) and at Streetcar Cafe
  (hamburgers were 5 cents).
     The Gaunt's only child, Dorothy Carolyn, was born in the home May 13, 1935.
  The 6" rain that night broke the long drouth. Burl's nephew, Donald, lived 
  with them after his father's death. Dorothy and Donald attended Mingona,
  Walstead, and North Antelope Schools.
     They moved to Medicine Lodge in 1945. Burl worked for Standolind Core
  Drillers when they tested this area for petroleum. He was urged by Jack
  Ryckman, builder, and Chuch Warwick, businessman, to go into the sand business.
  Church arranged for him to get a truck, and Burl and Mary literally scooped
  their way into a 25-year business - sand and later excavation for new construc-
  tion throughout the county.
     Burl wa a volunteer fireman 13 years. They attended the First Baptist Church,
  where he was a trustee many years. Following destruction of the Church by fire,
  he worked faithfully toward rebuilding a place of worship.
     Dorothy graduated from MLHS, attended Fort Hays State, then married Dwight
  Reed. They have reared two daughters, Nancy (Stringer) and Julie, in Medicine
  Lodge. Donald served twenty years in the U.S. Navy. He lives in Ontario,
  California.
     Burl suffered a fatal heart attack while on vacation in Texas in 1972. Mary
  continues to live in Medicine Lodge, where she is involved in Garden Club
  and community projects, and worships at the Baptist Church, Sharon, Kansas. It
  has been a privilege to live where God is revered - responsible values are
  upheld - and Friend greets Friend!
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 189 
     Submitted by: Mary )Jester) Gaunt