Lyman and Pearl Russell and their son, Gordon, moved to Medicine Lodge
  from Harper in 1921. For the next quarter of a century their bakery and
  confectionery in the middle of the block on the west side of Main Street
  between Kansas and First Streets, was a thriving business and gathering
  place.
     Pearl was soon known for her jolly manner and her challenge "I'll match
  you double or nothing" for the amount of a customer's purchase. Occasionally
  her practical jokes proved memorable, such as the time she offered young 
  Hardin Gilbert the quarter he needed to go to the movies if he would bite off
  the head of one of her goldfish. And whenever there was a carnival in town, 
  Pearl could be counted on to walk off with at least one or two of those
  enormous kewpie dolls.
     From the beginning Lyman and Pearl demonstrated their interest in the
  towns young people. They put a nickleodeon and a floor where the young set
  could dance. Easter was always looked forward to, that was the time of year 
  the youngster's could get an ice cream cone from Lyman for an egg. For a 
  time in conjuncion with the confectionery he opened a nighttime soft ball
  diamond located where the Regnier addition is. Also, one summer with his
  wife and son, he operated 99 Springs, with Pearl running the kitchen. They
  always had high school students helping them run the business - among them
  Edith, Ethel, and Florence Woodward, Jack Rankin, Mary Erwin, Imogene Irons,
  and Tod Vaughn; others that worked for the Russells - Benita Grandstaff,
  Alma Jarnagin, Inez Sherow, and DavidOsborn. Their son, from the time he was
  twelve, shared working responsibilites until graduating from high school.
  Lyman was always available to take a carload of youngsters to neighboring 
  towns for contests and athletic events, as a result of which he earned the 
  nickname of Pop by his grateful riders.
     Merchants congregated on a Saturday night after work at the confectionery
  for a coke and that tasty concoction of chopped raw beef, raw onion, and spices
  which was prepared gby Rysers in their meat market across the street, years
  before that mixture became fashionable as steak tartare.
     After selling the business to Jay Rutan, they managed the Palace Hotel on
  West Kansas and several apartments. During World War II, Lyman worked in the
  defense plant at Pratt as his contribution to the war effort.
     Lyman was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Pearl was active in club work,
  serving as President of the BPW and as Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern
  Star.
     When Lyman died in 1963, Pearl remarked that there has to be something to
  laugh about each day, regardless of the sadness, or life would no longer be
  worthwhile. She managed the local arts and crafts shop, creating many objects
  of art and beauty. Several years ago she moved to the Masonic home in Wichita,
  where she continues her hobby and enjoys life with those around her.
     Because of the long hours Lyman and Pearl spent at the confectionery, their
  son, Gordon, literally grew up on Main Street. After school he studied or read
  books and movie magazines in one of the booths in the confectionery or visited
  his friend Bobby Kenney. Bobby's mother often served hot homemade bread with
  plenty of freshly churned butter, well sprinkled with sugar. At mealtime he
  was mothered by Thelma Dye at the West Side Cafe, later known as Dye's Cafe.
  She saw to it that he ate substantial meals as well as his favorite food, her
  chicken fried steak and macaroni and cheese. Her husband, Ed, kept an eye on
  him too, curbing such activities as the time he and Bobby Kenney painted the
  paws of a kitten and dropped it to see if it was a true a cat had nine lives.
     Several evenings a week were spent at the Pastime Theater, where he passed
  many a happy hour talking about movies with Roy and Mae Culley while they sold
  tickets. He often stayed for both shows, and one night when he was very young
  and was not at home when his parents closed the confectionery Roy reopened 
  the theater and found Gordon asleep on the front row.
     The next door neighbors on West Kansas were the Maurice Crooks. He became
  extremely fond of them and their daughter, Helen. Annabel encouraged his early
  interest in books while she was city librarian. Across the street were the 
  Gordy Smiths, and he bacame fast friends with their sons, Tom and Bob. Their
  mother often prepared hot muffins for them Saturday morning. Another of his
  favorite people was Dr. Serrot, whose instructions for taking care of his dog,
  Duke, he remembers to this day. Then there was Ernest Alexander, who always
  showed great interest in the youth of the day, and there were field trips to
  his ranch to study the stars.
     His early interest in dramatics led to weekly trips to Alva for dance
  lessons, and his appearance with Mary Jean Hibbard as the Spanish dancers in
  the Indian Peace Treaty Pageant in 1937. After graduation from high school,
  there were dramatic lessions from Alice Campbell Wrigley in Wichita, while
  attending the university there. During World War II, he served in North Africa
  and Europe.
     After the war, Gordon studied at Geller Theater Workshop in Los Angeles,
  following which he moved to New York City. When it became clear that there were
  more talented actors than roles in which they could appear on Broadway, he
  took an administrative job at CBS-TV, where he was assistant manager of their
  scenery construction shops. Currently, he works with Nadler and Larimer
  advertising agency, where he supervises the billing operations for such
  accounts as Faberge. His interest in the theater is continuing as an active
  member and performer in several Off-Broadway groups.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 398