Lonnie, son of Clinton and Grace Gillespie Skaggs, and Claudine daughter
     of Claude and Agnes Cotton Werner, began married life December, 1928, on
     a farm north of Sharon. Claudine was teaching in Sharon but married teachers
     were not hired in the elementary school until later so her contract was
     terminated at marriage. Errol Neal and Lena Thomas, best friends of my
     parents, were far more clever and were secretly married at my parents' home
     a few weeks later. Thus Lena continued to teach even though married, and
     her new father-in-law was a member of the school board.
       March 1929, my parents moved east of Sharon wehre I, Robert, and my brother
     Herschel were born. We lived the usual life of a struggling farm family during
     depression and war years. Herschel and I attended country schools, riding our
     Shetland ponies and carrying our lunch pails.
       Lonnie was Sharon Township road supervisor for many years, working men and
     horses for power in grading, moving snow or bridge work. We farmed, milked
     cows, raised colts, calves and hogs. Cream and eggs sold on Saturdays paid
     for groceries and car gas.
       An incident I will never forget, concerned a small gadget I found and used
     as a whistle. I carried it to school in my pocket. During the noon hour, at
     District #40 School where Ruth Phillips, of Medicine Lodge was teacher, we 
     boys became curious about the whistle. Bob Byers, son of Roy and Dora Cavin
     Byers, took a nail to punch the bottom out of the whistle. The gadget exploded
     and the frightened teacher aand pupils stopped a passerby and rushed Bob to
     the hospital in Sharon. The whistle was really a dynamite cap. Bob was badly
     wounded and lost three fingers from his hand.
       The family moved from the Sharon community to a farm south of Attica. There
     a sister, Lonita, was born. In 1945 we settled on a farm known as the Downing
     Place in the Nine Cottonwood community. We three children graduated from Attica
     High School. Herschel and I entered the U.S. Navy in 1950 and served four years.
     Our father, deceased in 1965, continued to farm and handle livestock as long
     as his health permitted. Mother returned to the teaching profession in 1945,
     teaching and working her way through her Bachelor and Master Degrees in 
     Education. After teaching in the Sharon and Attica Schools for twenty-nine
     years, she retired in 1973.
       I, Robert, returned from the Navy and attended Kansas State College, becoming
     a veterinarian. My wife, Charlene Richardson Skaggs of El Dorado, four sons
     and I reside in Greensburg, Kansas. Our sons are, Clinton, Curt, Chad and
     Clayton.
       Herschel married Carol Cornwell of North Platte, Nebraska, and lives in Wichita.
     He is a graduate of Wichita State College, is production manager for Christopher 
     Iron Works. His wife is a teacher in the Wichita Schools. Their family is a 
     son, Jay, and daughters, Jill and Julie.
       Lonita, deceased 1978, was a graduate of Wichita Business College and worked
     in Wichita, Tulsa, Hesston, and Medicine Lodge.
       Claudine continues to live on the farm east of Sharon an does substitute
     teaching. We were all members of the Baptist Church in Sharon and Mother is
     still an active member there.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 421 
     Submitted by: Robert Skaggs, DVM