Phoebe Rogers Gibson was born to John and Matilda Rogers in Braxton
     County, Virginia, on June 20, 1860. Her mother's health was not good.
     The doctor advised her father that the mother should live in a drier
     climate.
       Phoebe's father decided to go West, since many people were homesteading
     in western Missouri and Kansas. They first lived in Missouri. The mother
     died on July 30, 1870, leaving the home keeping to the daughters. The
     children wre Ballard, Malinda, Levi, John, Phoebe, Elizabeth, Hannah, and
     baby Sarah, who died November, following her mother's death in July.
       The family lived for two or three years in Missouri. When living on a 
     farm near Lees Summit, the Younger and James families were their neighbors -
     the same Jesse and Frank James and the Younger brothers, famous outlaws.
       Because of so much malaria in the family they decided to move to a drier
     climate. Ballard Rogers was now 22 and Levi was 18; they made a trip to
     the southwest. They reached the little town of Hutchinson and gave a good
     report. Father Rogers eauipped covered wagons and camping gear. The family
     stopped in Hutchinson, but missed the trees, hills, and water.
       Mr. Rogers and the boys came on to Medicine Lodge and went up the river
     ten miles, where they found a place. There was a log cabin built by buffalo
     hunters, now abandoned. Father Rogers filed a homestead claim to it and he
     and the boys went after the family. Some of the older boys wanted to remain
     in Missouri, but all of the girls and John moved to the calim. They brought
     their cow, two pigs, their shepherd dog, and a cat. A large box of goods
     was shipped by freight. It contained their books, pictures, and things that
     meant much to them. The box was never received.
       They reached Medicine Lodge about 3:00 pm. This was their first view of
     the gypsum hills, covered with a blue haze in the distance. They rested
     awhile, and Father Rogers met L.C. Faris and found that their farms were
     not far apart. All of them started to that the Rogers could get to their
     new home by night fall. When they arrived, they were greeted by Dick
     Woodward, whose home was near. He insisted that the girls come and stay
     with him and his family until they could get settled in their new home.
       The Woodwards had one small son, Hugh. They were friends from this time
     on. Mr. Woodward became "Uncle Dick." Dick's Peak was named for him, since
     it was near his place. Dick's Peak is the highest peak in the gypsum hills.
       Malinda had been saying that she was gong to marry a Confederate soldier.
     She met John Garten, a southern soldier from Virginia, and in five weeks
     they were married.
       After Malinda was married, Phoebe very proudly took over the housekeeping
     at the age of thirteen. Food was plentiful - buffalo, antelope, elk, wild
     turkey, quail, rabbit, and prairie chickens. Father Rogers and John kept
     the larder filled and also freighted posts, hides, bones, and meat to 
     Hutchinson.
       In the Spring they built a new house, barns, and sheds for the stock;
     they also planted garden. They went through some Indian raid scares and 
     finally built a stockade.
       In the Spring of 1875 they broke land, planted grain, orchards, and
     gardens. Wild grape, sand plums, and wild currants were plentiful. This
     year the great swarms of grasshoppers stripped the country. Little sister,
     Hannah, had a peach tree she claimed. She wrapped it in an old skirt and
     kept beating grasshoppers until they all left. That was the only tree left
     in the new orchard.
       More settlers came to this area until Mingona became a thriving half-way
     station between Medicine Lodge and Lake City.
       The years slipped by - the girls were married and established homes of
     their own. There are a great many of the descendents living in the area
     today.
      
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 389