Fred Jean McGee was born February 18, 1897, in Woods County, Oklahoma,
     on land that his Dad had taken in the Run, 7 miles southwest of Kiowa.
     He attended school at Watrous Country School until his parents moved to
     town in 1908. He played basketball, football, and for years was considered
     one of Kiowa's best athletes. He graduated from Kiowa High School in 1917.
     Fred joined the Army in WWI, but soon was discharged due to a bad foot
     injury. He went to work in the Bank of Kiowa, becoming assistant cashier.
       He and his brother, Worley, bought the Benton Grocery located at the
     corner of 6th and Main. Later they built the building now occupied by the
     Frazier-Henry Agency and put in the first Serve Yourself Grocery in Kiowa,
     later adding the first meat market to be in a grocery store. Fred and
     Worley spent many anxious moments over their decision about the new type
     of store, until they found that customers would really pick up thier own
     groceries. Until then, they just handed their grocery list to a clerk, and
     it was put up for them. A band of Gypsies coming to town caused all
     merchants concern. Some even locked up their businesses until Pearl Bunton
     could get them on their way.
       Worley sold his interest to S.T. Frazer in 1932. Later they sold to G.M.
     Groendycke and A.L. Smith.
       Fred was City Clerk for many years and Postmaster for a short time in
     the 40's. Also, he and H.E. Crow owned the Ford Agency from 1935 to 1937.
     After this, Fred farmed until his retirement in 1968 for health reasons.
       Fred and I were married May 18, 1927. My parents were Joe and Elizabeth
     Cox. I was born October 21, 1904, at Ardmore, Oklahoma.
       I graduated from Kiowa High in 1922, attended Kansas State Teachers College
     in Emporia, and taught school 3 years in the rural areas. In 1948 my two
     nieces from Oakland, California, came to make their home with us. Jean and
     Joyce Cox, children of Yeteva Circle Cox and Jesse Cox.
       Jean graduated from Kiwoa High in 1953 and from Kansas State and Kansas
     University Medical Center as a Medical Technologist. She is married to 
     Charles Gibbens of Dodge City, and they live in Columbia, Missouri. They
     have 3 children - Kevin, a student at Missouri University; Joni, at
     Missouri State Univesity; and Kimberly in High School.
       Joyce graduated from Kiowa in 1956, attended Wichita University, and 
     graduated from Wesley School of Nursing. She married Larry Rankin, who
     graduated from Kiowa High in 1955. They live in Lawrence, Kansas, and 
     have 2 daughters, Lisa and Christa.
       My sister, Opal Cox, lived with us during her high school days and
     graduated from Kiowa in 1933, then attended and graduated from Wesley
     School of Nursing. She married Lloyd Henderson, Wichita, and they have
     3 children - Son, Janice, and Linda, and 7 grandchildren. This year,
     1979, she is retiring from 30 years of school nursing in Wichita.
       June 12 1977, Fred and I celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary. All
     of our families were home to help at our house, where we had lived almost
     50 years. This house was described in the newpaper June 10, 1904, as "a
     brick Mansion" at 404 South 7th.
       Through the years we were always active in community projects, giving
     our support to church, schools, and all programs to boost Kiowa. Fred
     was a 50-year member of the American Legion, and I am a 50-year member of
     both the American Legion Auxiliary and Delphi Study Club.
       Fred died January 27, 1978, and is buried in the Riverview Cemetery at
     Kiowa.   
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 299 
     Submitted by: Cora (Mrs. Fred) McGee