In May 1889 Johnson Mounsey, his wife, eleven children and a grandchild
      left England and arrived in Medicine Lodge in the midst of a raging sand
      storm.
        Because they were met by a man driving a span of mules, my grandmother,
      who had never seen a mule always said they were camels.
        Why did they come to Medicine Lodge?
        It might be of interest to know Mary Best, a sister of Tom Best, was
      instrumental in getting many of these English people to come to Medicine
      Lodge.
        I understand she paid for her passage to England, her homeland, by
      bringing back folk to America. She paied their passage over; and then
      they worked a certain length of time for her on her farm.
        My father, Thomas Balmer, an orphan, was one of these young men. He
      worked for Miss Best one year and then worked in the sugar mill until he
      went to Wyoming in the early 1890's to be foreman on the Y.U. Sheep Ranch.
        It's interesting to note he came over on the same ship as the Mounsey's.
      He became acquainted with the Mounsey boys and through them he met my
      mother.
        He and my mother, Rachel Mounsey, were married October 25, 1900. Shortly
      after their marriage they returned to Wyoming where they lived until 1903,
      again returning to Medicine Lodge.
        My older sister Mary Balmer Forsyth was born in Meeteesee, Wyoming. My
      younger sister, Esther Balmer Johnson, and I, Thelma Colton, were born in
      Medicine Lodge.
        For a number of years we lived on a farm about seven miles south of 
      Medicine Lodge. This farm is still owned by my two sisters and I.
        In 1917 the Balmer family moved to a farm in Anderson County in eastern
      Kansas. We lived on this farm near Neosho Falls for the next twenty-five
      years. Upon retiring my mother and father again returned to Medicine Lodge.
        I attended grade school in Medicine Lodge, but my high school years were
      spent in Colony, Kansas. Upon graduation I taught in the elementary schools
      of Neosho Falls, Colony, Augusta and Medicine Lodge.
        After teaching thirty-five years I had to retire to care for my husband,
      Ernest McGuire, who was ill. I lost my husband in 1969. After his death
      I worked with some retarded children for about three years.
        In 1976 I became interested in working with senior citizens. I helped
      organize our Leisure Time Center and have been its director for three 
      years. We are quite proud of our center.
        After the death of my husband I remained a widow for a number of years.
      However, in December 1977 i married Clarence Colton, who was a member of
      my graduating class at Colony. We live in Medicine Lodge and keep busy
      with our church work, Leisure Center, gardening and traveling.
        It might be of interest to not Mr. and Mrs. Mounsey had thirty grand-
      children and all except two or three were born in Barber County and spent
      most of thier lives here.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 339 
     Submitted by: Thelma Colton