Henry Warren Skinner, son of J.L. and Effie Skinner, was born April 17,
     1871, in Centralia, Kansas. He grew up on the large family farm and ranch,
     along wiht several sisters and brothers, gaining first-hand knowledge of
     the cattle business. He attended school in Cantralia, and in 1891, at the
     age of 20, he enrolled in a Commercial Business course at Baker University.
     Upon completion, he entered the grain business at Ames, Kansas. Later he
     moved to Nortonville, Kansas, where he began his preoccupation with buying
     land. He operated a mill and elevator there, and had a partnership in a
     livestock business with L.J. Bates, which he retained for many years.
       On January 12, 1896, H.W. was married to Lulu May Anderson, the only
     daughter of George T. and Margaret M. Anderson, who was born December 27,
     1875, in Cameron, Missouri. Unusual for her day Lulu played an active part
     in many business dealings. A son, Donald Warren, was born February 20, 1897
     in Nortonville.
       In 1901, they purchased a ranch from William and Carrie Millar in Barber
     County, near Lake City. Accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, they moved 
     there in 1902. Their son, Maurice Bailey, nicknamed Hap, was born there
     March 14, 1903. Another son, Henry Warren, Jr., was born in 1915 and died
     in 1917.
       The drive to Medicine Lodge took a considerable amount of time in those
     days, as the roads were not very good. So, in 1906, the Skinner family
     moved to Medicine Lodge to be closer to the center of business, although
     H.W. continued his pursuits in Lake City.
       Pat, as he was familiarly known in the community and across the state,
     was a meticulous bookkeeper and wa able to keep a multitude of irons in 
     the fire at one time. He was active in the Lake State Bank, the Pioneer
     Cattle Loan Company, and The Medicine Valley Alfalfa Milling Company, of
     which he was president, all at Lake City.
       In 1916, Pat and Hal D. Fair opened the Fair and Skinner Ford agency in
     Medicine Lodge, where tractors and plows as well as cars were sold. In 1918
     he organized the Medicine Lodge Milling, Warehouse & Supply Company, which
     handled coal, lumber, building materials, and produced and sold the Carry 
     Nation Flour. The mill had a storage capacity of 70,000 bushels of grain.
     Skinner's elevator was located near where the depot is now. In 1919, Pat 
     founded the Home State Bank in Medicine Lodge, which at that time paid 4%
     interest on savings accounts. It was located where Western Power is presently.
       The H.W. Skinner Grain & Lumber Company provided feed and building materials
     to resident of the area from the 30's through the 50's. The company had its
     own grinders and mixers, specializing in Skinner Super Sweet pellets. The 
     company was run as a sort of family business. Pat's younger brother, Jan,
     kept the books as he had previously in other businesses which they owned.
     Roland and Bill Skinner, the sons of Pat's older brother, Jap, came to
     Medicine Lodge in the summers of their hyouth to work for the company. When
     Don and Hap were old enough, they also took an interest in the business.
       Pat was one of the county's pioneer cattlemen, retaining this passion
     throughout all of his years in Barber County. In 1912, his feed lot in 
     Medicine Lodge had 500 head of steers, and 500 head of hogs. He regularly
     marketed a great deal of stock at the Kansas City and Chicago markets.
       Through his real estate dealings, Pat bought and sold much of Barber
     County, owned land in northern Kansas and in parts of Oklahoma. The land
     he first bought and lived on in the county became part of what is now called
     the West Ranch, where Hap's daughter, Candace Jacobs and family reside.
     The Skinner Ranch north of Lake City is where Don and Marjorie Skinner spent
     most of their married life. The other ranch retained by the Skinner family,
     often referred to as the Stewart Ranch, is located near Deerhead.
       In 1920, Pat, called "Captain" by some family members was ordained an
     elder in the Presbyterian Church of Medicine Lodge, and was its senior elder.
     Both he and Lulu were active members of the church, and Pat was especially
     active on the building committee.
       H.W. Skinner died March 27, 1949, and Lulu died April 20, 1961.
        
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 422  
     Submitted by: Melanie Alexander and D. Ann Alexander