Ethel Woodward Mullikin moved from Gage, Oklahoma, to Hardtner, Kansas
     at an early age. Rye Woodward, my father, had traded Rural Mail Routes.
     When school started in the fall, there were only four children in the
     second grade. In a short time the teacher put the two boys back and the 
     other girl and I were promoted to the third grade. This is how Edith and
     I happened to be in the same class at school - we are NOT twins. Medicine
     Lodge became our home the spring of 1924. We had spent time in Sharon,
     Isabel and Pratt, so we were acquainted with a lot of people.
       Edith and I did many things together. We worked in Russell's Bakery the
     summer of 1925, all during our senior year, the summer after and weekends
     when we were home from teaching.
       The summer of 1928, we attended Pittsburg State. I taught at Aetna that
     fall and married Robert John Mullikin on November 28, 1928 (Edith's brother-
     in-law). 
       Our first three children were born in Medicine Lodge: Roberta Louise (Bobbie
     Lou) in 1929; James Dean (Jimmy) in 1931, and Russell Jean (Russ) in 1933.
       We moved to Salina, Kansas in 1934, leaving there in 1939 for a few months
     in Marshall, Missouri. In the fall of 1939, the childen and I spent six weeks
     with my parents. The children were 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders in Medicine
     Lodge elementary.
       We lived eleven years in Emporia, Kansas. I was active in the First
     Presbyterian Church, PTA, was a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader, Den Mother
     and taught First Aid. I also renewed my teaching certificate and finished
     a term of school in Olpe, Kansas.
       Bob was working for Ford Motor Company our of Dearborn, Michigan and was
     away many months. Robert John Jr., was born on our 15th anniversary. He
     was nearly three years old before Bob was home to stay. He went with me to
     sell Avon and we took the census one year in our part of town.
       Joseph Vernon was born in December, 1948, after Roberta had married. James
     enlisted in U.S. Navy in 1949. We moved to Dodge City, Kansas, in June 1950.
     Russell joined U.S. Navy after his 17th birthday in December, 1950.
       I became a Practical Nurse and worked off the Dodge City Nurses Registry.
     I always worked 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The last year, I also attended college
     classes three days a week and two summers before going to Emporia State where
     I received by BSE degree in August, 1964. When I had 60 hours, I began teaching
     again - 5th grade at Bucklin, Kansas. Transferring to Sunnyside Elementary
     in Dodge City, I taught 5th grade and Special Reading until retiring because
     of poor health in 1973 after 16 years.
       John joined the U.S. Army November 1960, and was in Germany when Robert was
     killed in a hunting accident, May 3, 1963.
       I am proud of my children. Roberta married Glen Moore, has two sons, Terry
     and Larry, and two grandchildren, Eric and Kinsey Marie. She is a bookkeeper
     now employed at Kitchens Inc., after working at Coca-Cola for over fifteen
     years. James D. married Patricia Ann Hill, has one daughter, Lisa, and is 
     principal of North Junior High in Colorado Springs. Russell J. married Muriel
     Ann Grissell, has three children, Laurie, Mike and Pat, one granddaughter,
     Belinda is a banker at Burlington. John married Janet Smith, has four
     daughters: Shannon, Debbie, Nancy, and Cathy. He plans to retire from the
     Army in 1980 with twenty years of service. Joe was killed in a one car
     accident in July, 1974, when a wheel came off his Volkswagon. He was an
     artist and about to finish his Art Education to become a teacher. Though
     life has dealt us some hard blows, we have much to be thankful for.
  
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 340 
     Submitted by: Ethel Woodward Mullikin