John J. Koerner and wife, Elizabeth, came to Barber County about 1913 with
  his father and mother to live on the Jerry Simpson farm that was purchased
  by John K. Koerner, his father. About 1920 John J. bought land 1 mile east
  and 1 mile north of his fathers farm. He built a home there before moving.
  John J. and Elizabeth had 9 children; Celestine (Celly), William (Bill),
  Helen, Edna Mary who died in 1922, Eleanor, Monica, Edna, Leona, and Albert.
  We attended church and school at Sharon (St. Boniface). During the Depression
  days our neighbors, Martin Landwher family, took turns with our Dad driving
  us all to school and eventually we had to attend the Blackmore country school.
  I remember well our teachers there; Mary (Huffaker) Schiff, Belle Byers, Otis
  Neal.
     In thinking back, there were many happy memories, also some hardships and
  deaths faced us. In January, 1927, our Mother passed away. On May 7, 1927,
  our home was struck by a tornado, leaving us without anything. The house was
  still intact, but without anything in it, nor windows, porch or roof. Our
  neighbors and friends helped us restore our home and survive this terrible
  ordeal.
     Material things were almost unheard of during our childhood, but we were
  a close family with a great love for music. Unable to pay for lessons, we all
  learned to play by ear. We played an organ, piano, and Celly and Bill learned
  to play a guitar, then later a ukulele, banjo, and violin. Soon we ventured
  out to play for "house dances" in the homes of many friends. We learned to
  play for square dances and round dancing. We spent many idle hours practicing
  at home - many times our dog "Billy" would join in with his howling (we never
  quite knew if he howled for joy or sorrow). Then many are the memories of the
  contented cows who were serenaded by brother Bill playing his mouth harp while
  he milked the cows.
     Quite some time after our Mothers death, our Dad married a widowed lady,
  Mrs. Pauline Rinke. Her son, Frank Rinke, also joined our household. Dad and 
  our step-mother had one child, Betty. Our grandfather, John K. Koerner, also 
  lived with us until his death in 1931. In 1945 Dad sold the farm and bought a
  home in Sharon. He and our stepmother lived there until their deaths 5 weeks
  apart in 1948.
     Since then, Celestine (later called Cliff) passed away in 1967. Albert
  passed away in 1971, and Frank Rinke in 1974.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 265 
     Submitted by: Eleanor Van Vranken