I started my married life in December, 1919, in a little two-room frame
    house, heated with a wood stove. Our furniture sometimes consisted of
    orange boxes for chairs. Many times we brought in baby chickens and pigs
    to keep warm in front of my oven door.
       Three of our six children were born while we lived there. During harvest
    time, I took care of my family, garden, and cooked for the header crew. I
    would cook all morning to have dinner ready by noon, then as soon as the 
    noon meal was over and dishes cleaned up, I'd start baking and cooking for
    the evening meal. I would set pies on the bed as I did not have enough room
    on the table for all that I had to bake.
       In April, 1927, Walter received a letter from Switzerland, stating that
    his mother was quite ill. He was gone three months. I was left to take care
    of the family and farm. I had to see about the fields to plant, feeding of
    the steers and marketing them. That year we had one of our largest corn
    crops and a good wheat crop.
       When Walter returned after his mother's death, he said that she had told
    him to "go home and build a nice home for his family." We moved into our
    new brick, three bedroom modern home in March, 1928. We also bought more
    cattle to feed in our feed lot the winter of 1927 and 1928.
       In 1930 Walter knew we had to stop the deep ditches that were washing
    away our fields. We went to a soil meeting in Pratt and learned about
    terraces. Mr. McAdams, the Ag teacher in Medicine Lodge and his class of
    boys came out after school, and along with Walter, built the terraces. Many
    evenings I would sit by the window, rocking my baby son and watching the men
    work.
       After the terraces were built, we had a big rain. Walter was so blue
    because he was afraid the terraces would be washed away. I took my little
    girls and walked out in the mud to check on the damage. I was happy to come
    back to tell Walter that it was not bad, just a few riffles here and there.
    The terraces were holding pretty good.
       That same year we planted our first alfalfa crop. We had a good stand,
    but by fall it was dry and grasshoppers were very bad. Mr. McAdams came
    out to see us, and he told Walter that they could make a long trough and
    put screen in back. put coal oil and water in the trough, and hitch a horse
    to each end and drag it through the field. We saved the hay field and had
    47 sacks of grasshoppers.
       While Walter was busy with the livestock, terracing crops and alfalfa
    fields, I had been canning fruit and vegetables from my garden. We had
    eggs, milk and cream, and our own meat, so about all we had to buy was
    flour, sugar, and coffee. We also sold eggs for 10 cents a dozen, cream
    for 14 cents a pound.
       In 1932 we contacted the County Agent in Pratt, and with his help we
    got an Agent in Barber County. In 1934 with the help of our County Agent,
    we organized clubs for man and women and 4-H.
       We had the first Beef Tour here on our farm. In 1936 we were  honored
    as "Poultry Management Champions of Kansas." By this time there were 5
    daughters and 1 son in our home. The children as well as Walter and I were
    getting involved in 4-H and HDU work. In 1938 we received the honor of 
    being "Pasture Winner." More awards followed, such as Champion Hereford Bull
    at the State Fair in 1939, Grain Fed Calf Award in 1940. Another wonderful
    thrill was in 1942, when we received the Master Farmer award, and in 1944,
    W.G. Skelly award for "Achievement in Agriculture." in 1954 Walter was 
    named as one of the ten "Leaders of the Year" by the Kansas Farm Bureau in
    Washington, D.C.
       In 1969 Walter and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary with all
    our children and grandchildren. At that time there were 38 on our family
    tree.
       On March 18, 1971, I lost my partner of 52 years. I still live on the
    farm. One of my daughters and a granddaughter live with me. I still keep
    busy making quilts, going to clubs, doing some gardening and visiting my
    children and friends.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 279 
     Submitted by: Matilda Lillieqvist