Ira Homer Hartzell, his wife, Lula Belle (Flora), and five children:
     Rolland, Kenneth, Riley, Madge, and Arlo came to Medicine Lodge from 
     Chester, Oklahoma, in 1929.
       Daddy grew up in Oklahoma. Mother was left an orphan at the age of 2.
     She was raised by relatives in Harper and Barber County. She spent most
     of her growing years with her Aunt Ann and Uncle Marion Lukens.
       Daddy and Kenneth worked for Harry Basey and other farmers in the
     community. Rolland was in Barber County only a short time.
       The 30's was a hard time for most people, jobs were scarce and those
     unforgetable dust storms! If one struck during school hours, the teachers
     would send us home or our parents would come for us.
       Our social life was centered around our church and school. Football 
     games were in the afternoon. When we had a home game, school was dismissed.
     We all walked in a group to the football field which was on the west side
     of town. My parents were active in The First Baptist Church. The year I
     was in the 5th grade, Mary Jester Gaunt, our Sunday School teacher invited
     the girls to her parents' home for a slumber party. We cooked our breakfast
     over a campfire. What fun we had!
       To be able to attend high school, we had to work. The boys delivered
     newspapers and milk. I worked for Mr. Long at Farmer's Grocery after school
     and on Saturday.
       After Riley graduated in '37, he went to work for Paul Sears, a position
     hye held for several years. He and his family moved to Kiowa in '65. I
     graduated in '39, married, and moved away.
       My parents moved to Hardtner in '42, residing there one year. Arlo
     graduated from Hardtner High School in '43. Daddy died that same year,
     and Mother moved back to Medicine Lodge and resided there until her death
     in '54.
       Kenneth was in the Army, and Arlo in the Navy during WWII. After the war,
     the boys returned home. Kenneth went to work at National Gypsum, working
     there until he retired last year.
       Arlo moved to Wichita to attend Wichita University, graduating in 1950.
     He taught school at Kipp, Osage City, and Topeka. He received his Masters
     Degree in Education in 1961.
       I have many fond memories of my hometown. Kenneth and wife, Freda, are
     the only ones of our family living there. Riley died in 1966, and Arlo
     in 1971. Rolland and wife, Gladys, reside in Smolan, Kansas. Riley's wife,
     Edith Mae, and son live in Kiowa. Arlo's wife, Marylyn, and 2 children live
     in Topeka. My husband and I live in Strong City, Kansas.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 221