Pinkney Lawrence Poland was born in rural Kingman county, 10 miles
     northeast of Isabel, March 15, 1895. His parents were Samuel Frances
     and Anna Elizabeth (Riley), who lived most of their married life in
     and around Kingman. Polands originally came from France.
       Pink attended school in Kingman, coming to the Isabel area around
     1910.
       He served his country from June 9, 1918, until June 5, 1919, being
     discharged from Headquarters Company, 20th U.S. Infantry, serving at
     Camp Funston, Fort Leavenworth, and Fort Riley.
       Pink completed courses in mechanics and electricty at a trade school
     in Kansas City and came to Isabel as mechanic working for Larabee Co..
     It was while employed here he met Bessie Lydia Hamm, who, after graduating
     from Business School in Wichita, was employed as bookeeper for Larabee.
     They were married January 18, 1922, at Pratt. They lived for a time in
     Isabel while Pink worked for Larabee and managed for a time, Isabel's
     first light plant.
       Pink worked as school bus mechanic and drove a bus.
       After farming a short time northwest of Isabel with Hartman Brothers,
     the family purchased their permanent home five miles southeast of Isabel
     in 1928. He was a respected and admired farmer on this place until his
     death November 11, 1976. He added to the original 240 acres in 1941, 1943,
     and 1959.
       After retiring from active farming in 1975, he busied himself dismantling
     pianos, using the decorative wood to make 8 beautiful grandfather clocks.
       Pink was well known for his fix-it ability and his ingenuity. Among his
     accomplishments was the invention of a "farm (surveyors) level," which he
     patented and had manufactured commercially on a small scale by Sheldon
     Manufacturing of Cunningham.
       Pink and Bessie celebrated 50 years of faithful service to each other
     and the community with an open house on January 18, 1972, at their home.
     Many friends attended. Bessie presently resides in Seista Home, Pratt.
       Pink was school board member for about 15 years and was township Trustee
     and Assessor for many years.
       Children: Gen William, born February 21, 1923, entered cadet training 
     February 21, 1943, and was killed March 25, 1944, when two cadet planes
     collided in mid-air while night flying.
       Geraldine Lavon, born May 22, 1925; passed away February 8, 1926.
       Don Robert; born April 12, 1927, farmer-stockman in Isable community;
     married Mary Jane Sleeper, Nashville.
       Dr. Jack Dean, born January 30, 1930, is head of Communicable Disease
     Center of Public Health Service, Ft. Collins, Colorado; married Sue Allen,
     Arkansas.
       Grandchildren: Mrs. Bill (Dianne) Buggelin, born April 8, 1947. Bill is
     preacher at Great Bend.
       Mrs. Howard (Rita) Kendall, born January 31, 1949. Howard is 1st. Lt. at
     Fort Riley.
       Richard Gene, born November 21, 1950, Medicine Lodge school teacher and
     farms the home place, married Anita Kay Corbin.
       Gregory Lawrence, born November 9, 1954. Public Accountant, Oklahoma
     City.
       Brian Jay, born March 15, 1958, student at KSU, Manhattan.
       Kendall Don, born September 16, 1960, student York College, Nebraska.
       Robert Allen, born November 10, 1958, Fort Collins, student.
       Cynthia Sue, born June 18, 1962, student, Fort Collins High School.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 369