Don Rucker was born south of Forest City on 10-14-39 to Lee and Ruby
     (Martin) Rucker. In 1942 he moved with his family to their farm 4 miles
     from Sharon. His parents are still living there. Don has two brothers.
       His first year of school, Don attended Blackmore school north and west
     of Sharon. From second grade on he went to school at Sharon. He graduated
     in 1957.
       As a boy, Don enjoyed fishing with his neighbor lady, Mrs. Jim Batterton.
     She lived north and west of his home.
       Don loved going into Medicine Lodge to spend the weekend with his grand-
     mother, Elizabeth Martin. She always had plenty of goodies to eat. If there
     was a game of marbles to be played, she would join in and play with them.
       Don helped his Dad with his farming. He also earned money working for
     Ted Chapin and H.K. McKeever with their farm work.
       After Don graduated from high school, he went to work at the Farmer's
     Coop in Medicine Lodge. On May 30, 1959, Don married Barbara Rose at Alva,
     Oklahoma.
       I am the oldest child of Charles and Ethel (Canaan) Rose. I was born
     3-8-1941 in Alva, Oklahoma. I have two younger sisters and one younger
     brother. I was what you would call a city girl. I didn't know a thing
     about farming until I married Don.
       I went through school in Alva, graduating from high school there. The 
     week following graduation, Don and I were married in the Methodist church
     in Alva.
       Unknown to Don or me at the time, years before we met, our great grand-
     parents had been neighbors. Mr. Henderson Martin and Mr. Thomas Rose
     homesteaded on the Cimmaron river, near Galena, Oklahoma. The Henderson
     Martins lived on one side of the river, and the Thomas Roses on the other
     side.
       On June 14, 1899, Thomas Rose and Henderson Martin were going to town
     in a wagon. They intended to get a load of corn. A storm came up and
     lightning struck Henderson Martin, killing him instantly. Thomas Rose
     was shocked, but came out of it. It was very interesting to both of us
     to learn that our families had been friends years before.
       Now, in 1979 we live in Sharon, Kansas. Don is a farmer and cattleman.
     We have four children. Mark Charles graduated from high school in 1978
     and is helping his Dad farm. Linda Lee is a senior this year. Donna Rae
     is a sophomore. Michael James (Mike) is in fourth grade.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 395.
     Submitted by: Barbara Rucker