I, Ruth Kennedy Packard Simpson, came to Barber County with my father
     and mother in August 1908. My father purchased a farm from John Surber 
     about four miles west of Sun City. At that time, the old National Gypsum
     Mill was still standing and afforded many fine places to stay; however,
     the old working mine had been moved west and Kling evolved. The school
     was moved too.
          My father was born near Birmingham, Iowa, but came to Kansas before
     he was old enought to vote. He settled on a homestead and taught school.
     In 1902 he married Luella Fletcher, daughter of James S. Fletcher, who
     lived west from Forrest City. The Fletchers had a son while the family
     lived in this location, and his name was Fred Forrest Fletcher, named for
     the city I suppose. He is still living in Kinsley.
          My mother and father had only two chilren, my brother Clay and I. We
     lived on the farm until my father's death May 1938. Mother had three
     children by a previous marriage; they were quite a bit older than Clay and
     I. Two have died; however one girl, Gladys is still living and resides in
     Oregon near her son.
          I was married in 1922 to Guy E. Packard. We had two children, Evert 
     P. and C.C. (Bill). Evert was killed in a plane crash January 20, 1947.
     Bill lives with his family in Medicine Lodge. Evert had two boys: Bill V.
     who lives in Hays, Kansas, and Michael G. who lives in Winfield. They each
     have families.
          Clay was married in June 1946 to Stella Marie Reeves. He died Sept.
     1969 in Medicine Lodge.
          The Packards lived in the Forrest City neighborhood and went to the
     Forrest City Church, where we had our Ladies Aid meetings and church when
     there was a preacher. It was a nice place to live.
          After the boys were grown I went to Beauty School in Denver then 
     returned to Medicine Lodge and opened my own shop for a while. I went to
     Nevada and worked in the Wright Marinello Beauty Salon for four years, then
     bought a home in Boulder City, Nevada, and operated a shop in my home there
     until 1969.
          I moved back to Medicine Lodge, and in May 1976 I married Lee Simpson.
     We moved to his farm in Mingona Township.
     
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 419 
     Submitted by: Ruth Kennedy Packard Simpson