Donald Warren Skinner, born February 20, 1897, attended school in Medicine
     Lodge, and in 1913 he attended Baker University. As a young man, Don became
     involved in his father's grain and lumber company. He took an active interest
     in livestock and many times he rode the train to Kansas City and Chicago with
     the cattle, sheep and hogs he took to market for his father.
       On June 6, 1917, Don married Marjorie Cook. The daughter of Vestal Scarret
     and Clara Belle Stevenson. Marjorie was born February 7, 1897, at Lehigh,
     Oklahoma Indian Territory. When a young child, her family moved to Medicine
     Lodge where she completed her schooling. She attended Emporia College and
     was a member of Chi Omega Sorority.
       They were settled in their newly-built home on the ranch north of Lake
     City by June 10, 1918, when their daughter, Doris Ann, was born. Another
     daughter, Elizabeth Jane, was born December 25, 1919.
       As one of the few women in the community with her own car, Marjorie took
     her daughters and their friends to music festivals and other school and
     church activities. As a hobby, she enjoyed raising chickens for  fresh eggs
     and meat. Marjorie was active in the Lake City Methodist Church, Order of
     the Easter Star, Barber County Council of Women, Deerhead Circle, Justa
     Matron Club, and YWCA.
       Between the north ranch houe and the road, a creek had to be crossed by
     a bridge which frequently became washed out after a rain. This happened
     quite often, and anyone at the house was stranded there until the bridge
     was retrieved from Lake City by tractor.
       Don's interests included the Masonic Lodge, Presbyterian Church, Midian
     Shrine, Wichita Consistory, BPOE, Kansas Livestock Association, Southwester
     Cattle Raisers Association, Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association and
     Petroleum Club of Wichita.
       The main ranch headquarters west of Lake City, was divided from most of
     the land by the Medicine River. Because of this precarioius position, the 
     river took its toll on Skinner's inventory. Fording the shallow river allowed
     considerable savings of time and mileage and was often more convenient. But, 
     at times the river is known to suddenly become quicky and on some of these
     occasions, Large pieces of equipment, including thresing machine, tractor
     and several wagon loads of feed sunk in the quicksand. Hundres of sheep also
     perished by being herded across the river, and many drowned in the pasture
     when the river flooded.
       In the early days, the Skinner Ranch employed sixteen men to feed cottonseed
     cake to the cattle by driving mule-drawn wagons out to the pasture. Now, in
     the days of four-wheel-drive pick-ups and automation, three men are able to
     handle the load.
       Don and Marjorie livedon the ranch until 1950, when they built a home on
     Stolp Street in Medicine Lodge. They escaped many Kansas winters at their
     apartment home in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dale died April 19, 1968, and Marjorie
     lived until October 1, 1977.
       Doris and husband, W. Andy Alexander, live in Medicine Lodge, and their
     son, Ted and wife Melanie, and children, Mona and Brian live near Sun City.
     Ted works on the Skinner Ranch and is trying to carry on his grandfather's
     tradition.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 422 
     Submitted by: Melanie Alexander.