Sam was born at Zenda, 1905. He came to Medicine Lodge from New Mexico,
     where he attended Normal School and taught a term. His parents, Charlie
     and Mima Rickard, had come here in 1925. They moved from the Dobbs ranch
     to town in 1932. Sam and his father bought and sold livestock.
       I was born at Cunningham, 1908, and moved to Winfield, where I attended
     high school and Southwestern College. I first saw Medicine Lodge when
     enroute to Protection to visit college friends. I announced, "This is
     where I'm going to teach sometime." That came true in 1930, and I've
     always loved "my town."
       I taught nine years that included the Depression and rememberd borrowing
     money for meals from Ned Axtell the day the banks all closed. Starting in 
     1939, I became Rose Murphy's partner in the Betty Rose Shop for four years.
       Sam and I were married in 1941 in College Hill Church, Winfield. Mrs.
     Clara Cook, with whom I lived most of my years here before marriage, loaned
     her car for our honeymoon "trip" to Wichita, as we didn't own one. During
     dating years, it wasn't far to walk from the Rickard home on North Walnut
     to Mrs. Cook's home and to town for a show or a coke at the Sweet Shop.
       We introduced Grace and Raymond Sheldon for their first day, and our
     first home was an apartment in their new residence. Our daughter, Mary
     Jane, was born in 1943, and our son, Samuel Gradon, in 1946.
       In 1949 Sam became an agent for Northwestern National Life Insurance
     Company. He's won many trips for us, including Nassau, Mexico, Bermuda,
     and Hawaii. He earned life membership in Kansas Leader's Roundtable and 
     won the National Quality Award 18 years. In 1975 he purchased from Abe
     Harrison's Estate the building where he'd had his office for 26 years 
     and still does.
       When Mary Jane and Grady were in 5th and 2nd grades, I returned to
     teaching and retired in 1973.
       After some years of concentration on LIfe Insurance business, Sam
     gradually built a hobby and second business, dealing in horses, and
     bought an acreage south of town for this, which we've called the Sunflower
     ranch.
       Our Methodist Church ahs been very important to us for worship and 
     opportunities for service. We have enjoyed civic and social clubs
     including Lions, study clubs, saddle clubs, card clubs, and square dance
     clubs.
       We've been fans of the peace Treaty Pageant, Sam a leader in Cowboy
     Episodes and I first with Prairie Flowers and, in later years, just
     taking guests and enjoying every performance.
       Sam has also been an enthusiastic promoter and participant in the
     annual Byp Hills Trail Rides.
       Mary Jane became a Dental Hygienist, married Jim Winters, and lives
     in Kansas City. They have a daughter, Jamie Elizabeth.
       Grady has liked farm and ranch work and is presently in charge of
     Pawnee County Noxious Weed Office. He and wife, Marueen, and Todd, Kim,
     and Brenda live on their acreage three miles south of Larned.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 383 
     Submitted by: Betty Rickard