Francis Marion Shell came to Sharon Valley in 1883 and purchased a farm
  three miles northwest of Sharon. He brought his wife, Laura May, and infant
  daughter, Grace Cornelia, to the home in the spring of 1884. Grace died in
  November at the age of 11 months. Frank lived on the farm for 10 years,
  teaching in the winter and farming in the summer. During this time three
  more children, Alma Estelle (1887), Gladys Tentry (1890) and Everett Gwinn
  (1894) were born.
     In 1885, Abraham Shell, with his unmarried children, followed his eldest
  son to Kansas. He settled on a farm near Frank's, where he died in 1897.
  Only Jacob Abraham (Abe), the youngest son, and his twin sister, Minnie,
  remained in Barber County for any length of time. Abe stayed near Sharon
  until he moved to a farm near Shattuck, Oklahoma, before World War I.
     Both Laura and Frank had been teachers in Madison County, Indiana, before
  coming to Kansas and continued their professions, Frank for 50 years and
  Laura for 28. One of the early schools was Enon where both taught alternately.
  Bill HOrn's stagecoach to Harper came by the house. Laura would ride it to
  school and return on it again in the evening. Frank's involvement in local
  affairs led to his being secretary-treasurer of the Farmer's Alliance.
     The Shell farm joined that of Jerry Simpson. Frank and Jerry were close
  friends which, in later years, lead to Frank being secretary of the Populist
  Party made famous by Simpson. The Populist Party was an outgrowth of the
  Farmer's Alliance movement. Since each community had a Farmer's Alliance,
  it was easy to organize these groups into a political party.
     In 1895 the Shells moved to Medicine Lodge. They lived in the Nation Home
  until David and Carry returned in 1899. Carry frequently visited the home 
  during those years and shared a bed with Alma. The friendships developed led
  to Laura's later activities in the WCTU.
     While in Medicine Lodge, Frank continued to mix public service with 
  teaching and farming. He was elected County Superintendent of Instruction,
  Township Treasurer and Township Trustee several times.
     Alma married Walter G. Parker, while she was attending Southwestern College.
  Walter was the son of Howard Parker, one of the first white men in Barber
  County. Walter, a Methodist Minister, took a missionary assignment at Kuaia
  Lumper, Malasia. Twelve years and five children later they returned to the
  Indiana Conference.
     Gladys married Horace T. (Jim) Watson of Deerhead and has made her home
  in Barber County ever since. She raised three stepchildren and four children.
     In 1930 Frank was given a watch by the BCTA to commemorate 50 years of
  teaching. After lifelong service in the Methodist Church, Frank died in 1938
  and Laura died in 1941.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 412