Hammon Ellis Rucker was born to James Robert Rucker and Hannah (Ellis)
     Rucker, January 26, 1867 at Moulton, Iowa.
       Ella May McGrew was born to Findlay McGrew and Iowa (Cupp) McGrew,
     December 7, 1869, near Ottumwa, Iowa.
       Hammon and Ella were married April 30, 1885. Late in the year of 1886, 
     they went by covered wagon to Ness County, Kansas. They homesteaded three
     miles south of Beeler, Kansas. Neighbors were few - their's being three
     bachelors who had homesteaded there. Later on, some friends took a claim
     close by. Hammon hauled freight from Larned for income. They saw some
     difficult times while there. The blizzard of 1886 has been recalled several
     times over the years. With two small children, they decided to leave. They
     made the trip to Frontier County, Nebraska, near Maywood. This was by
     covered wagon and quite some time to cover the miles. While here, two
     more children were born; now they had two sons and two daughters. Seemingly,
     the west didn't mean as much to them as their native Iowa, so after a few
     years, they returned to Iowa. While living there, one daughter, Ical, nine 
     years old, passed away.
       In 1900 they moved to near Shelbina, Missouri. Another son was born while
     the family lived there. 
       In 1904, the month of February several men from their locality came to
     Kansas to buy their farms. They stopped at Yates Center to have a look.
     Some wanted to lave a look farther west. The result - one bought near
     Anthony, Kansas, while the others bought southwest of Sharon. Hammon bought
     the Ulysses Kemp farm five mile southwest of Sharon. He was always glad
     that he came on west instead of settling at Yates Center. He moved his
     family out by train this trip to Kansas. Another son and daughter were born
     near Sharon. This completed their family.
       As the years went by, they accumulated more farm land. Hammon and his
     son-in-law, Al Thomas, owned a threshing machine with J.D. Spangler, who
     lived east of Sharon. Hammon always went with the threshing crew. Several
     of the crew were from the state of Arkansas and very good workers. Later
     on, the combines came into being and threshing days were over.
       As the sons got older, the parents rented the land to them. They continued
     to live on the farm where they resided for forty years. They enjoyed the
     community, their family, and friends very much.
       My father passed away December 6, 1943, and my mother passed away six
     months later. The children's names are Oscar of Wellington, Kansas (now
     deceased); Ina Thomas of Attica, Kansas; Ray Rucker of LaCygne, Kansas;
     Glenn Rucker of Wichita; Harry Rucker of Thayer, Kansas, and myself - Fern
     Wheat of Sharon.
       Our family life was a happy one for which we are thankful.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 396 
     Submitted by: Fern Wheat