J-Paul Homer Magnison, eldest son of John and Faye Magnison, was born
     December 28, 1936, Alva, Oklahoma. I, Mildred Nancy, second daughter of
     A.N. and Marguerite Harbaugh, was born October 19, 1936, Kiowa, Kansas.
     J-Paul was raised twelve miles southwest of Medicine Lodge, in the Union
     Chapel community. I was raised on my parents' farm seven miles south of
     Medicine Lodge.
        We graduated from rural schools in 1950 - J-Paul from Dry Creek and I
     from Sunflower, ranking third in the county scholastically. Following
     high school graduation in 1954, J-Paul worked for various Medicine Lodge
     businessmen (Harry Burris, Clif Angle, Martin Rinke and Bill Lyman) and
     helped his dad with the farm. I worked at the ASC office (then at 113
     North Main); attended K-State Manhattan; returning to ASC for another year.
        We were married October 7, 1955, First Christian Church, and were the
     first Medicine Lodge couple married by Rev. Lester Myers. By this time
     J-Paul had chosen farming and ranching as his life's vocation.
        Our first home was Jay Rutan's basement apartment, 210 West Second.
     July 1956 we moved to J-Paul parents' farm home. Our four daughters were
     born while living there: Nancy Jo, 8-11-1956; Mary Faye, 8-25-1958; Patricia
     Ann, 4-17-1960; Paula Jan, 11-6-1961.
        March 1962-1969 we rented Dale Lukers' farm, moving there in June. Elmer
     Holmes later rented us some additional land. In 1968, Irvin and Ruby Schnurr 
     retired from operating the Medicine Lodge Hospital Ranch (formerly the
     Alexander Ranch), and we were given the opportunity to assume operation of
     it and the adjoining Hamlin 80 owned by Margaret Murphy.
        We moved to the hospital land, twelve miles southwest of Medicine Lodge,
     August 1969. In 1977 we accepted Fred Root's offer to lease his wheat
     ground.
        Our daughters were the fourth generation to attend Dry Creek School, last
     rural school in Barber County (closing in 1969). Their Grandma Faye, called
     Mrs. Magnison at school, was on of their teachers at Dry Creek.
        Paula's graduation in 1980 will make them all MLHS alumni. Three of their
     high school instructors also taught J-Paul and I - Dessie Stalnaker, Ray
     Henry and John Parr.
        Nancy graduated from Dodge City Community College in 1976. She married
     Leon Winfrey, March 5, 1977. Mary graduated from Hutchinson Community Junior
     College in 1978 and will graduate from Emporia State University in 1980
     with a BS in business administration. Patty also attends DCCC, majoring in
     agri-business.
        As a family, or individually, we have traveled north to Canada, south
     to the Grand Canyon and South Carolina, west to Las Vegas, and east to
     New York City. Paula's second trip to Canada was as a member of the Kansas
     delegation to the 1979 Lions Club International Band.
        We have enjoyed our girls' involvement in school activities and took
     pleasure in sharing vacation trips with them. The trips were an incentive 
     and made possible by the girls' willingness to help their dad with the
     farming. They became very capable tractor operators and all-around farm
     hands, making us both appreciative and proud.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,   
     Submitted by: Mildred Magnison.