James B. Neal and his wife, the former Eliza Blake, together with five
     children named Addie, Oscar, Laura, Lawrence, and Otis, my father, who
     was only nine months old, arrived in Barber County in May, 1884, after a
     six-week journey in two covered wagons, traveling from Raleigh, a town
     located near Harrisburg, Illinois. They were accompanied by Eliza's 
     brother and wife, the Henry Blakes, who had their own covered wagon. They
     traveled from Winfield, Kansas, on trails leading through Barber County.
     Their intentions were to settle near Meade. They passed the J.R. Fair
     farm northwest of Sharon and were invited to camp in his yard for the 
     night. Next morning, Mr. Fair drove James Neal three miles southeast of
     Sharon, where James Neal bought a pre-emption claim from a settler who
     wished to move on.
       Otis grew up in Sharon Valley and later married Abbie Tincher. Her family,
     the Andrew Tinchers, came to Barber County from Browning, Missouri. The
     Tincher family settled near the Neal farm. Abbie's brother, Poly Tincher,
     became a lawyer and also served four terms in the United States Congress
     from what was then the big 7th district. Otis and Abbie had two children,
     Errol and Eloise, both born in or near Sharon.
       Ina Rucker arrived in Barber County in 1904 with her parents, the Hammond
     E. Ruckers. Al Thomas came with the Rucker family from Missouri. The first
     year, Al worked for Ples DeWitt on the farm. Then in 1905 Al Thomas and
     Ina Rucker were married. They lived on a farm about six miles southwest of
     Sharon. Their family of eight children were Lena, Ralph, Fay, Ellis, Edna,
     Howard, Glenn, and Dale.
       Lena attended grade school at Central View, while I was in the Sharon
     grade school. We met for the first time in 1921 at Central View Church of
     God at an ice cream social. We ate ice cream together, forming a friendship
     that lasted throughout high school. After graduating, we both taught one
     term of school. Lena then attended Kansas University at Lawrence one year,
     while I went to the Naval Academy in Maryland. We both returned to Sharon,
     and in 1928 we were married in the home of Lonnie and Claudine Skaggs. We
     lived in Sharon the first year. Then I was employed by the Post Office, so
     we moved to Medicine Lodge in 1929. Lena taught three years in the Sharon
     school.
       Our three children Terry, Joy, and Len were born in Medicine Lodge. Terry
     now lives in Wellington, Joy now lives in Lawrence, and Len now lives in
     Miami, Florida. We have 13 grandchildren.
       I retired from the postal service in 1970, after serving over 42 years in
     Medicine Lodge and Sharon offices. We have lived over 40 years at our 
     present address.   
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 343 
     Submitted by: Errol L. Neal