Lawrence Wood Stevens, born October 2, 1885, came from England to
     Medicine Lodge with his parents, John George and Ellen Stevens, and
     sisters, Hilda and Gertrude, January 29, 1889. For a time they lived
     on the farm that his father had purchased on a previous visit to the
     area. John Stevens will be remembered by early residents for his
     participation in music, both in the Methodist Choir and a Choral
     Society directed by Mr. and Mrs. Frank May, who gave some ambitious
     programs in the Thompson Opera House.
       While stile in school, Lawrence began work in the First National
     Bank and in 1903 became a full-time employee, where he continued in
     various capacities until January 1939. He, too, enjoyed music and
     sang in a male qartette and played clarinet in the local band for
     years.
       I was born October 2, 1889 in Sharon Valley in the farm home of my
     parents, Alice A. and Matthew P. DeWitt.
       Lawrence and I were married October 16, 1909. Our children are
     Dorothy, who is married to Clarke McIlree; Mildred to Max Guthrie;
     Esther to Leon Findley; and L. DeWitt Stevens, whose wife is the former
     Barbara Whitney. They all have homes and families of their own. A son,
     George, died in infancy.
       We moved to Kiowa, Kansas in August 1938, when Clarke McIlree joined
     Lawrence in the purchase and operation of the First State Bank there.
     All went well until the war years. Then, with all eligible men in the
     Service and girl employees following young husbands to training centers,
     it bacame difficult to keep dependable office help. By sharing the care
     of two young children, Dorothy was able to give her father a helping
     hand. At a time when he was ill she had her first experience in making
     a loan and said, "I think this is the way Father would do it." - the
     understanding customer laughinly agreed. Those trying times came to an
     end and in 1944 Medicine Lodge was once again home to us, with Lawrence
     driving to the work in Kiowa.
       On graduating at Kansas University in 1950, DeWitt came into the Bank,
     providing the needed help.
       Our joys were multiplied through the lives of nine grandchildren who,
     in turn, have added ten great-grandchildren to our roll.
       Lawrence liked traveling and vacation time often saw us headed for some
     distant place of interest. I have always liked growing things, especially
     flowers, but reading is my favorite pastime.
       After Lawrence's death September 12, 1959, I joined a Volunteer Braille
     class and for eight years gave much of my time to the reading needs of
     the Blind, under the direction of the American Red Cross. It is rewarding
     to recall that there are several Braille book translations to my credit in
     the Largest Braille Library in the world - that in Des Moines, Iowa.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 438 
     Submitted by: Fannie Stevens