Homer Urso and Lena Rose were lifetime residents of Barber County, each
     born of immigrant stock.
       Hober (Babe, as many knew him) was born July 11, 1891, nine miles west
     of Medicine Lodge, in the Mingona Community. His parents were John Magnison,
     son of Swedish immigrants; and Emma Tedrow, born in Ohio, coming to Barber
     County as a young girl. Homer's grandfather, D.E. (Doc) Tedrow, was a 
     Civil War veteran.
       Lena was born December 23, 1891, in the Union Chapel Community. She was
     the oldest of four children of John Conrad and Barbara Roth Baier, immigrated
     from Germany just four years earlier.
       In 1907, Homer moved with his parents and older brother, Herbert, into
     the Union Chapel Community. This 320 acre homeplace later became Homer's
     first home after marrying Lena, and the birthplace and lifetime residence 
     of their oldest son, John Baier.
       Homer and Lena were married May 28, 1911. Whenever questioned about a
     possible honeymoon, Lena would say, "No sir, we went home and went right
     to work."
       Perhaps well that they did, as Homer later recalled the winter of 1911-
     1912 the worst in his memory, in terms of snowfall and cattle loss. The
     snow began on October 13; cattle lost during that winter were skinned,
     for their hides.
       Children born into the family were John - 1912; Louise McAdams - 1913
     (Manhattan); Opal Spencer - 1918-1977 (Grand Junction, Colorado); Jo Ann
     Stolp - 1926 (Greenville, South Carolina); Homer Urso, Jr. (Pete) - 1928.
     One son and one daughter died in infancy.
       Pete was born on Homer and Lena's final homeplace, and it has become
     his family's residence.
       The family later included seventeen grandchildren and over thirty great
     grandchildren.
       Home, who "never did know as I ever wanted to be anything but a farmer,"
     began this career early - at age twelve, shocking wheat for 50 cents a day.
     His first year to harvest wheat with a combine was 1926. A few years later,
     in The Depression, wheat sold for as little as 20 cents a bushel. Before
     his death in 1973, wheat was bringing $2.28 a bushel.
       Another extreme, one of Nature, recalled from Homer's farming years
     stemmed from the draughty Thirties. Feed cut from 150 acres of sorghum was 
     bundled with 25 pounds of twine; a good year's crop would require 450-600
     pounds of twine.
       Babe and Lena moved to 206 East Kansas, November 1967. This residence
     had been his mother's home, purchased i 1918.
       Very active in Union Chapel Ladies Aid, Lena continued as a lifetime
     member, also becoming a worker in the Christian Church groups and Barber
     County War Mothers.
       Lena's sparetime activities reflected German upbringing and years of
     thrift. She recycled (long before that became a household word!) worn
     overalls into serviceable denim furniture throws; dresses into bright
     patchwork laprobes and comforts; and sewed endless strips of sheets into
     carpet balls for disabled war veterans.
       Visiting and recalling stories for family and friends filled Homer's
     retirement years. He was also an avid reader, especially of paperback
     westerns.
       Homer died May 5, 1973, at his home. Lena died August 18, 1976, Meicine
     Lodge Memorial Hospital.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 311 
     Submitted by: Janet Magnison Roland