One half-century and five years ago, my father Henry K. Howard, and
    mother Mary Marie (McDermed), with my two brothers and four sisters,
    moved to Barber County from Nash, Oklahoma. They settled on the old 
    Curry place and the three oldest children attended Amber School. Erna 
    Eckell was their teacher.
       Dad, better knwon as 'Hank', was well known for his beautiful team
    of horses and his fancy harness. Jake Haas was our hired hand and
    neighbors were the Dan Axtells, John Jacksons, the Lunsfords, Lamkins,
    and Haas families.
       Leaving the farm in 1927, our family moved into town and lived in 
    the old Mounsey house on the hill on North Walnut. Dad hauled fuel for
    Peoples Oil and Gas and became well acquainted with the residents of the
    area. This same year I (Pattie) was born weighing in at two pounds, and
    I'm told my Grandmother McDermed took me to Nash, Oklahoma, put me in a 
    shoebox, fired up the wood stove day and night for six weeks, and is
    credited with saving my life.
       In 1929 after a long illness, Dad lost his beloved wife, Marie, and
    seven children were left without a mother. The next year was a struggle, 
    but with the help of Leona Lake and our dear Grandma Hunt, we made it
    through, and thankfully Dad married Evelyn Pearce, who was only 18 at
    the time, but our new mother cared for us as her own (and still is) and 
    kept our family together.
       We all attended the old Grade School and High School (except myself)
    and at one time all were members of the First Christian Church.
       A partnership with Charlie Downing moved us to Sharon for two years and
    then back to Medicine Lodge in 1937.
       Tragedy struck our home and town on December 21, 1937, when an auto
    accident took the life of our sister, Glenna Lee, age 15, and two other 
    students, Wanda Lee Wilson and Wayne Strickland. Betty Jane Nurse, Franklin
    Fishburn, and Lee Taylor were also injured. I remember a very sad Christmas.
       During this time Dad was hauling cattle, and fruit and vegetables from
    Colorado.
       My sister, Wilma, was now married to Kenneth C. Kusch of Fairview,
    Oklahoma (2 children). Alice Mae married Warren L. Rodgers of Medicine
    Lodge (6 children), and Ruth married Howard A. Thomas of Sharon, Kansas,
    (3 children) on my 12th birthday, which was also the day we moved to Oregon.
    Brother Gordon was in Oregon and still resides in Eugene with his wife, 
    Donna Rae (Blough)(2 children).
       It was during World War II that brother Wayne became a 1st. Lt. in the
    Air Force, and in 1945 was declared 'killed in action.' Several years later
    his remains were found and returned with honors and buried in the Jefferson
    Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. Wayne was 24.
       After thirty-three years in Oregon, which included farming and refurbishing
    many homes in the Newberg area, and due to ill health and a longing to
    return to Medicine Lodge and most of his family, Dad and Mom moved from
    Oregon in may of 1972, and for two years renewed many old friendships from
    the past.
       Dad passed away on march 30, 1974, at age 84 years, leaving behind the 
    greatest legacy a man can leave ...... A LONG LIFE OF LOVE AND DEVOTION TO
    HIS FAMILY!
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 241
     Submitted by: Pattie Howard Tate