Lusk family history in Barber County begins with James H. Lusk in
       1879 who lived in Sun City. He met an untimely death in 1881, at the
       age of 21, leaving behind a wife, Bethana, age 16, and young son,
       William Edward Lusk, (18 months). Bethana remarried to Charles Rankin
       and for a short time, young William took the name of his stepfather
       and was known as Willie "Rankin."
         However, when Willie was in grade school, his teacher had the
       children go to the chalkboard to cipher. The person who finished
       first was to be the winner. The chalkdust flew and William was the
       boy who finished first. At just that time, while Willie was in his
       blaze of glory, the teacher, no doubt at the prompting of Willie's
       mother, told Willie that from that day on he would be known as
       William "Lusk", not "Rankin." William Edward Lusk was reborn!
         As a young man, William Lusk drove the sprinkler wagon to settle
       the dust on the busy streets of Medicine Lodge. At the age of 19,
       he enlisted in the army and served with honor in the Philippine
       Islands during the Spanish American War. Upon discharge from the
       service, William became an employee of the A.T.&S.F. Railroad. The
       Barber County Index carried this newsy announcement on November 9,
       1904.
         Wm. E. Lusk and MIss Tressie Rhoades were married at the residence 
       of the bride's parents in this city on Sunday evening, November 6th,
       1904. Elder A.O. Walker, pastor of the Christian Church, officiating.
         Mr. Lusk is the obliging assistant Santa Fe agent of this city, and
       one of our honored soldier boys who did service in the Philippine
       engagement. He is a self made young man and has gained his confidence
       and good-will of all our people through his integrity and industry.
       He is a son of Mrs. Chas. Rankin.
         His bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Rhoades (Winfield
       Scott Rhoades and Lydia McCorkle) and has won the esteem of hosts of
       friends by her charming disposition and friendly nature.
         Mr. and Mrs. Lusk are at home to their friends in their property on
       Kansas Avenue east, which Mr. Lusk purchased from R.M. Woodward a few
       weeks ago. The Index extends congratulations most cheerfully.
         As years passed Wm. Lusk became station agent. At one point in his
       career, Carrie Nation crossed his path. As she boarded the train she
       complimented William on the fact that he was such a nice young man
       with no bad habits of smoking or drinking. William accepted the
       compliment politely as he held his big black cigar guardedly behind
       his back until she was safely out of sight.
         Tressie and William bought the home at 206 Kansas Avenue where
       their three children were born and raised. Jessie Gertrude (1906-1976)
       was the eldest. Jessie, a normal training graduate of Medicine Lodge
       High School, started her first year of teaching at Aetna in southwest
       Barber County. Roy and Ellen Platt's home on beautiful Barber County
       ranchlands provided room and board for the new 17 year old teacher.
       Holiday trips from Aetna to Medicine Lodge were oft times made difficult
       because bridges were nonexistent and the fording of streams during
       rainy season presented difficulties.
         The following year Jessie taught in Pixley Country School four miles
       east of Medicine Lodge. It was here, in a little one room school house,
       that James Stranathan frequented the box suppers and cake walks - primarily
       to bid on the teacher's box supper. Needless to say - he won the bid and
       married the teacher in 1930. Jessie and Jim both taught in Barber County
       before moving to Wichita in 1942, where they taught until their retirement.
       James Stranathan still visits his relatives in Kiowa and Medicine Lodge
       often.
         William Edward Lusk II, the second child of Wm. and Tressie Lusk, was
       born May 16, 1916. He began as a teacher in Protection where he met and
       later married Anita Marie Ballard of Wichita, also a teacher. William
       served in the Navy during WWII and was sent to the Philippines as his
       father had been during the Spanish American War. William Lusk II came
       out of the Navy as a Commander. He and his wife, Anita, settled in Wichita
       in 1946 where she pursued a teaching career and William entered the real
       estate business and later the oil business. They have three children,
       William Edward Lusk III, and James Raymond and Janet Kathryn, twins.
         William Lusk III, a lawyer and CPA, married Nancy Lloyd of McPherson,
       Kansas. Their daughters are Alison Marie born 1974, and Jessica Diane
       born 1976. Janet Lusk married Davit L. Murfin of Wichita. David is a
       petroleum engineer with Murfin Drilling Company. James Lusk is engaged
       in various businesses. All are living in Wichita.
         The last child born to William and Tressie Rhoades Lusk was Virginia
       Marie, born 1923. Virginia became a teacher and married Marion Faires
       in 1949. They both taught in Medicine Lodge before moving to Wichita
       in 1955 where they continued their teaching careers. Marion's son, Monty,
       is an aeronautical engineer. He married Treva Zonker of Turon, Kansas.
       They have one son, Ashton, born in 1975.
         At this writing, Virginia Lusk Faires had 34 years of kindergarten
       teaching memories and 9 years of that time was in Barber County where
       so many of her friends and former students still live. National recognition
       given several of her art students has been one of her many "accomplishments
       in teaching.  
         The Lusk family as a whole (with spouses included) total up 167 years
       of teaching from kindergarten to university level. Only those that have
       taught school can know the rich personal relationships that evolve from
       so many years of service. 
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 288   
     Submitted by: Janet Lusk Murtin, W.E. Lusk II.