Andrew Rathgeber, a friend and distant relative of the Jacob Achenbach
     family of Hardtner, came for a visit. He liked the big fields being
     plowed and planted to wheat and corn in South Barber County. He purchased
     land and a big farm home four miles west of Kiowa and returend to his
     home in Illinois for his family.
       Christmas Eve, 1902, Andrew and wife, Josephine Cornelia Mitchell
     Rathgeber, arrived in Kiowa from Morrisville, Illinois, on the train
     with their six sons and one daughter.
       The children were Guy Charles, Joseph William Fay, Andrew Albert, Ethel
     Louise, John Leroy, Cecil Fredrick, and George Mitchell.
       I, Veta Rathgeber Wiley of Kiowa, am the oldest grandchild of Andrew
     and the daughter of Andrew Albert and Effie (Ban Buskirk) Rathgeber.
       I have one sister, Cleta, who lives in California. When we were one
     and two years old, our mother and twin brothers died at childbirth.
     Grandma and Grandpa cared for us until 1918. Our father was in the National
     Guard in World War I and died at Camp Funston, Kansas. He was one of the
     first service men of Barber County to die. It was during the flu epidemic.
     Soon after our father died, Grandma died. Then our aunt Ethel Rathgeber
     cared for us.
       When Uncles Cecil and George were married they moved to Guymon, Oklahoma,
     where they lived for several years before moving back to Kiowa, during
     the dust bowl days. The Fay Rathgeber family lived on a farm north of 
     Hardtner. The oldest son and his wife still live there.
       Uncles Guy and John never married, and aunt Ethel kept house for herself
     and her brothers. Most all of the children, grandchildren, and great grand-
     children, attended the Kiowa and Hardtner schools. Many have college degrees
     in various professions.
       I remember many happy times. One of the exciting and busy times for Cleta
     and me was Grandma's spring house cleaning. Every piece of furniture that
     could be was carried to the front porch and cleaned. After we promised to 
     be very careful, Grandma let us wash her pretty dishes in her special
     cupboard. The times relatives and friends came from Illinois and different
     places to visit were fun with laughter and picture-taking.
       Granddad raised black cattle and took much pride in them. Some of the
     pear trees he planted still bear fruit. When 89, he died January 17, 1940.
       Andrew, Josephine, and all their children and several grandchildren are
     buried in the Kiowa and Hardtner cemeteries.
       Several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren
     still live in south Barber County.
       Chester Wiley and I were married in 1927 and have four children. They are
     Charles, Shirley, Beverly, and Gary. Chester died in 1976 and is buried in
     the Kiowa cemetery.
       There have been many changes and improvements in farming since Granddad
     brought his family to Barber County, but many opportunities are here now
     as then.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 376 
     Submitted by: Veta Rathgeber Wiley