John K. and Matilda Koerner, German descendants from Russia, who formerly
  lived at Catherine, Kansas, in Ellis County, moved to Barber County about
  1913 purchasing land from Vic Sleeper. This place was formerly owned by 
  "Sockless Jerry Simpson" an early settler and politician of the Medicine
  Lodge area.
     John K. and Matilda had 16 children, 6 of whom died in infancy while
  living in Catherine, Kans. Their children Pauline, Jacob, Alois, Monica,
  and John J. were all married before their move to Barber County.
     John J. and wife Elizabeth, with son Celestine moved with his parents to
  Barber County along with the single sisters and brothers; Anna, Virginia,
  Matilda, and Alex. Then shortly after settling here, Anna and Virginia were
  married, and they returned to Ellis County to live.
     John J. and Elizabeth continued to live with his parents, and the following
  children were born; William, Helen, Edna Mary, and Eleanor.
     Around 1920 John J. and Elizabeth bought land one mile east and one mile
  north from John K's farm, and they built a home there and moved to this new
  location.
     After World War I, Alex Koerner married Cecilia Weaver of Ellis, Kans.,
  who was a sister to Elizabeth Koerner, John J's wife. Alex and Cecilia lived
  on his father's farm until they moved into Sharon around 1925. Then in 1927
  they moved to Colorado.
     During this time, John K. made his home with his son John J. until his
  death in 1931.
     My most vivid and fondest memories of my grandfather's place were the huge
  trees that surrounded the buildings and yard of his home, plus the great apple
  orchard on the west side of the house and the grape vineyard where we picked
  many grapes and apples to be made into jellies and jams for canning and drying
  in the sun, then stored in clean bleached flour sacks until winter time.
     I remember the story about when grandpa with the help of relatives, neighbors
  and friends built the huge red barn that stood on that place so many years with 
  a big roomy hay loft where we used to play when it was empty; also the big
  roomy house that grandpa built later. I also remember the older house just
  directly behind the new house my grandpa built. This older home was the home
  of the Jerry Simpson family and also several others who owned the property
  before my grandfather bought it.
     Today all that remains is the house, which was remodeled a few years ago
  after it was purchased by Walter and Mildred Ricke.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 265 
     Submitted by: Eleanor Van Vranken