Many Civil War veterans came west to establish new homes. Such was the case of 
  this ex-soldier and school teacher from St. Clair Co., Missouri, in the year 1879.
  He had made an earlier trip on horseback along Bluff Creek, truing off to Big Sand
  Creek, which brought him to the desired spot, which was to be his future home.
     After laying stakes on this one hundred sixty acres, James Huffaker returned to
  Missouri for his family, which consisted of his wife, Mary (Molly), his daughter,
  Myrtle, nine years old, and his son, William (Bill), who was eight years old. He
  had three wagons loaded with food, clothing, furniture, and farm implements; also
  a large herd of cattle and horses, along with two hired cowboys. It took almost
  two weeks to make the trip. A small house and barn were built, and the sod was
  broken with oxen and horses. Wood was provided from the trees in Cedar Hills, a
  few miles south of his homestead. Ash, elm, hedge, cottonwood, and fruit trees
  were planted in the spring. Food that was not produced on this new land was
  purchased at Medicine Lodge, Hutchinson or Harper.
     Soon other homesteaders arrived, settling on land nearby. They came for various
  reasons; some on account of their health, some for religious reasons, but mostly
  for the fertile land that would enable them to make a good living.
     An organization, known as the Christian Church Colony, with the aid of Rev. A.H.
  Mulkey of Medicine Lodge was formed in 1879, and a church was organized and held in
  a Subscription school building. After the townsite was surveyed, a house of worship
  was erected. James Huffaker was one of the first elders, and his wife, Mollie, was 
  a deaconess and communion chairman. Both were very active in the church and community
  affairs. It was a common sight to see Mollie Huffaker, wearing a long riding skirt,
  on her pony, calling on the sick and new neighbors of the community.
     Since a townsite had not yet been platted, James (Jim) Huffaker, E.C. Davis and
  William Garrison proceeded to lay out a town. After measuring, they decided to name
  it Sharon, after the rich fertile valley in the Bible.
     After a few years, the Huffakers were able to construct a beautiful two-story
  house, which now stands one-half mile south of Sharon. Their granddaughter, May
  (Huffaker) Schiff, and her husband, Emmitt, reside there. Here they reared their
  five children. This house is approximatel one hundred years old. The lumber for the
  construction was hauled by wagon from Harper and built by a skilled carpenter, William
  Posey, a half-brother of Mollie Huffaker. Bill Huffaker inherited this home after
  his parents retired.
     Myrtle Huffaker was married to Guy C. Sparks in this home, February 12, 1895. 
  They made their home in Medicine Lodge a few years. Bill and India Roderick were
  married two years later. They made their home in the Sharon Valley, later moving to
  the Huffaker Homestead.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 244 
     Submitted by: Mary Schiff