Cherished memories are mine as I recall my dear, hard-working parents,
     Tom and Agness Sisk, and our family life in Lake City.
       Dad was a proud Irishman; his parents, Bridget and Michael Sisk, had
     immigrated to Illinois from Ireland. He was proud of his blacksmith shop
     and turned out the finest work. Most of all he was proud of his family.
       Mom was a free-spirited pioneer girl born and raised in Comanche County.
     Her parents, James and Nellie Irene Williams, had  come to Kansas from 
     Iowa in a covered wagon.
       It appeared my parents' mission in Matrimony was to raise a family of
     girls, for when I was born, I had five sisters and four more were destined.
     They had a unique way in raising us, for each older girl "claimed" and was
     responsible for a younger one: Ruth was Jessie's, I was Rene's, the twins -
     Mima and Marie - were Imogene's and Mary's, Billie was Ruth's and I remember
     complaining to Dad, "I want a baby."
       He replied, "We'll get ye one."
       I'll never forget - on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1927, "my baby," Delma Dale,
     was delivered by the Easter Rabbit! The Blacksmith's family was complete.
       Dad was a typical Victorian father. Obey me without question" was a maxim
     he upheld by the right hand of his power. What he didn't reckon on - his
     fiery Irish blood coursed through the veins ofhis off-spring which oft times
     erupted within our big, boisterous, opinionated group. If the din became too
     loud Dad would step in and ask, "Are ye calling me?" Heaven forbid!! In spite
     of his sterness we knew we were loved. He could hold and rock four of us at
     a time - all singing lustily. Dad seldom missed a school or church program.
     "Now ye look at me," we were advised as he proudly sat near the stage.
       Mom ran the household like a top sergeant. She delegated jobs and advanced
     us from one task to another as age warrented. There was a definite "caste
     system" and Eighth Grade Graduation elevated one from "Little Kid" to "Big
     Kid" with new privileges. We had a nice home and mom made sure it was kept
     that way. Water, wood and coal were carried in - and out; we each had our
     turn.
       The chickens and milk cow were Mom's; any income from the sale of the
     excess was her private spending money for pet projects. She gardened, canned,
     made our school dresses and bloomers, crocheted, embroidered, quilted and
     still found time to be active in church and community affairs.
       Sumertime brought picnics and swimming. The winter found us gathered around
     the big kitchen table studying, making valentines, eating fudge and popcorn
     as we listened to radio programs. And always there was music - we all sang
     and played an instrument.
       It was a sad day, December 6, 1935, with Dad's death; Tiggy (Delma's nick-
     name) joined him in 1942. A tragic wreck took mom's life in 1958. We hold our
     family ties together with a Sisk Family picnic each summer at the Medicine
     Lodge Park.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 420 
     Submitted by: Nell Sisk McLain