Alice Rudolph was born in a soddy on a claim in Meade County in 1886,
     the daughter of Charles T. and Elizabeth Kennedy Rudolph. She had an
     older brother, Clarence F. (Rudy) born in Ottawa, Kansas, in 1882.
       A few years later, the family moved to Wellington, when her father
     returned to work for the Santa Fe Railroad. About 1895 the family moved
     to Medicine Lodge, where Alice finished grade school. Her father's
     brother, Kansas Freeland Rudolph, "Uncle Kans," was already farming in
     partnership with Sam Ishmael in the Kiowa community.
       Alice attended high school at Mr. Carmel Academy in Wichita, where she
     developed a love of the piano which she kept all her life.
       After graduation, she worked at Fair's General Store. In those days
     farmers bought the family clothing needs for six months at a time. She
     worked in several offices of the courthouse, and was Clerk of the District
     Court three or four terms. She worked for a time in the Home State Bank.
       Among other organizations, Alice was active in the BPW. She belonged to
     the Wednesday Afternoon Club, Monday Afternoon Club, and the Catholic
     Church. Alice was on the Peace Treaty Association Committee for many years.
     The Peace Treaty Pageant was one of her loves.
       In 1919 Alice married Henry (Sox) Rankin. Sox's father, Hugh, and his
     grandfather had homesteaded in what is now Ridge Twonship about 1884. His
     mother was Emma Weber Rankin. He had a brother, Bill, killed in an auto
     accident in 1936. Sox shared Alice's interest in music and they had a
     dance band for many years. Sox also conducted a band composed of area
     youngsters. Sox conducted the band for the first Peace Treaty Pageant in
     1927.
       He loved sports and was interested in area football and baseball teams.
     He coached the Medicine Lodge football team in 1911-1912.
       They ranched in Ridge Twonship, where their children grew up. Sox died
     in 1942. In 1947 Alice moved to Medicine Lodge and was appointed to fill
     an unexpired term as Register of Deeds. She continued in that office for
     28 years, until she retired in 1975.
       Her family is not farm, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Widdows - Alicia - live
     in Ellsworth, Kansas. Charles and Kay Rankin live in Medicine Lodge as do
     her grandchildren Hugh, Colin, Alicia, and John Rankin.
       She has always felt fortunate in her many friends and neighbors and been
     pleased with those she has been associated with at work and in organizations
     all her long life in Barber County. She sincerely regrets she cannot give
     them all more personal recognition here.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg.