Earl Wayne Meairs, Sr. and Mildred Louise Barker were married November 6, 
  1942 in San Diego, California. Wayne was born June 9, 1921 to Charles Albert
  Meairs and Gertie Mae Phipps in Isabel, KS. Mildred was born in Pratt county
  on September 10, 1923 to Cecil E. Barker and Olive Louise Cook.
     Wayne enlisted in the Marines and served during World War II. A daughter,
  Barbara Ann, was born September 10, 1943 while Wayne was stationed in San
  Diego, California.
     The family moved to Isabel after the war and Wayne worked for his uncle,
  also named Earl Wayne Meairs. Earl thought a lot of Wayne and when he died
  on August 3, 1948, he left his ranch to Wayne.
     The family name was passed on once again when Earl Wayne, R. was born
  May 13, 1951 in Pratt, KS. The family continued with their ranch life and
  Wayne and Mildred worked together fixing fence, looking after the cattle, 
  doing the field work, and the many other things entailed on a 1300 acre ranch.
     One day as they were out mending fences, Wayne and MIldred sat down for a 
  rest and an afternoon snack. They looked down over the rolling hills and
  flowing Amber Creek, (which feeds into Elm Creek). One of them remarked at
  what a perfect place this would be for a lake. They drew on a piece of paper
  a picture of a lake and the land around it. From that moment on they planned
  and worked for what is now known as Lake Arrowhead.
     It took six years of planning, consulting, and work for the 320 acre
  recreation area to be completed. It took 10 months alone for the dam to be
  constructed. The dam is 1,250 feet long and 40 feet at its highest point. The
  lake encompasses over 80 acres and is the largest man-made private lake in 
  Kansas and possibly in the country.
     The lake was appropriately named Lake Arrowhead since the shape of it does
  resemble an arrowhead. It is also interesting to note that this was once Indian
  country and many arrowheads, buffalo bones and relics have been found here.
     Since the lake was completed in 1968, it has provided countless hours of
  pleasure and enjoyment for Wayne and Mildred and their family and other people
  who have homes there. There is boating, skiing, sailing, swimming, and fishing
  for its members to enjoy.
     Wayne Meairs, Sr. who died December 4, 1977 was a man of wit and wisdom. He
  will not be forgotten by those who have known and loved him. He was able to 
  turn his dream into reality. Lake Arrowhead will stand as a monument to him not
  only now, but for generations to come.
     There are four grandchildren. Ronda Michele and Kyle Wayne Vick and Amanda
  Leanne and Earl Wayne Meairs III.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 322 
     Submitted by: