In the 1880's William Hart and his two daughters came to Medicine Lodge
     from their Waverly, Illinois, home. In 1884 William Hart was laid to 
     permanent rest in his adopted home town, but one of his daughters, Melvina
     Isabel Hart, now a young Barber County school teacher, met and married young 
     New Orleans born Francis Elliot Read. This union was to continue a lineage
     that still lives in Medicine Lodge in its sixth generation - almost a
     century later.
       "Frank" and "Belle" Read soon began a young family in their new young
     town. On November 15, 1892, their first born, and only daughter, Caroline
     Reed, arrived. On October 20, 1895, their first son, Elbert Connor Read,
     was born, and on July 10, 1897, the second son, and last child, Ezra Hart
     Read, completed the family circle.
       F.E. "Frank" Read, well educated, gregarious by nature, was pertetually
     active in local affairs of the vigorous young community he had come to
     love.
       Mr. Read, a vestryman and officer of the Episcopal Church, was one of the
     organizers to establish St. Mark's in its present location.
       Frank Read had a penchant for politics and was part of the prominant
     Republican organization in Barber County. Newspaper articles of the day
     frequently reported Frank Read with E.H. Nixon and the Honorable Chester I.
     Long on hunting trips, political conventions - or just regional "politiking"
     trips.
       Mr. Read served for a time as Barber County court clerk, district clerk,
     and as county attorney. Frank Read had been admitted to the bar thought he
     never practiced as an attorney on a steady basis.
       Hunting trips to the Territory and fishing excursions in Barber County
     streams and ponds were not Frank Read's only sports hobbies. He brought 
     the first tennis to Medicine Lodge. His description of how some of the 
     stunned Gyp Hills range riders and cowhands would drop their ponies' reins,
     squat, and watch grown men bat the little white ball back and forth made
     an incongruous and hilarious tale.
       Mrs. Frank "Belle" Read was bound much closer to home, raising the three
     young Reads, attending church and social events of the day. A quiet gentle-
     woman, she taught in the very early days of Barber County schools, until
     homemaking became her dominant role.
       Family legend tells of "Grandma" being baptized into the Christian Church
     in December in a small pond near Elm Creek, at the far east end of First
     Street. This would testify to her strengh of belief in church, baptism, and
     certainly shocase the courage and determination with which she was blessed.
       Before the turn of the century, Reads had bought the Hinze propert on 
     South Oak Street for the family home, but in the latter years of the family
     unit, the home was on the northeast corner of Second and Walnut, just north
     of St. Marks.
       As the young Reads reached adulthood, they each graduated from Barber
     County High School and each married a member of other long-established
     Barber County families.
       Caroline "Caddie" Read married Howard Stone, of a family well known
     througout agricultural Barber County. From this union three daughters
     were born; Madge Mabel, who died in infancy, and Dorothy and Frances Stone.
       Elbert Conner Read married the attractive Inez Eugenia Murphy, daughter
     of another prominent Medicine Lodge family. Ruth Irene Read, their daughter,
     through her marriage to Erwin Walker, had now extended this lineage of
     Medicine Lodge children into the sixth generation, since William Hart's
     arrival.
       The youngest child, Ezra Hart Read, valedictorian of BCHS, class of 1914,
     found interest and employment at the Santa Fe station in Medicine Lodge,
     but still found time to wed Bessie Thom, from another vigorous and active
     local family.
       Oil boom times in Oklahoma and the Santa Fe Railroad called Ezra "Zeke"
     and Bess Read away from Medicine Lodge to Cushing, Oklahoma, in 1917, where
     their only child, Robert Francis Read, was born.
       Elbert and Inez Read lived for many years in Medicine Lodge where Elbert
     worked as a carpenter and builder. El served in the U.S. Army during WWI.
     During later years they lived in Inglewood, California, until Elbert's 
     death. Eventually, Inez Read returned "home" to Medicine Lodge.
       Howard and "Caddie" (Read) Stone lived most of their lives in and around
     Medicine Lodge in farming, dairying, and commercial business.
       Daughter Frances died at age 23, and Dorothy eventually made her home in
     Hiawatha, Kansas.
       Nearly a hundred winters have passed over William Hart's resting place
     in Highland Cemetery under cedars. Ponder the lives that have been created
     and touched and changed since his daughter Belle, and the dashing young
     Frank Read became Grandma and Grandpa for those to follow - fond memories
     of the bristled, brown mustache, the strong back letting one ride while
     swimming, the gentle voice of Grandma telling stories of toe wriggling
     pleasure to story beggars, serving that unforgettably delicious peanut
     butter fudge - these, and so many, many wonderful memories - life's
     greatest treasures - these are truly the heritage things of which family
     histories are woven.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 377 
     Submitted by: Robert F. Read.