Robert E. Thompson was born in 1914 at the ranch home in Union Chapel
     Community. His parents were Elma and Ulysses Lincoln Thompson. He was
     youngest of the family, having two olders sisters, LaVon and Mildred.
       He attended Elwood Rural School, where most of the boys did some
     trapping outside of school but the whole school got involved when one of
     them proudly wore the perfume of a skunk or civit cat. Fifteen kids and
     horses in a single schoolyard made horse racing inevitable. The 3/4 mile
     stretch north of the schoolyard probably saw more action than the Kentucky
     Derby! Another fun, if somewhat less respectable pastime on the way to
     school, was gutting grape vines stems into 5 inch 'boy style' cigars.
       The event of the school year, though was the annual box supper when the
     entire community would turn out for an evening of food and fun.
       Outside of school, there were chores at home. There were chickens, calves,
     hogs and horses to feed, cows to be milked, milk to be separated, and eggs 
     to be gathered. Firewood was brought to the kitchen door each day for the
     stove. Summertime added field work and hauling produce up the hill from the
     garden.
       Roads were not the best, and it was difficult to get to town. Large amounts
     of groceries were stored at home and many were ordered from Montgomery Catalog.
     This included raisins, prunes, crackers, hominy and salted fish.
       Times were hard as Bob grew up. The depression hit everyone. Tornados and
     fires were more selective, but both hit Thompson's Ranch. The homestead was
     totally destroyed by a tornado in 1927. Fire destroyed the house in 1932.
       Bob graduated from MLHS, helped a year at home, attended Southwestern College
     a year, and Pittsburg Teachers College during the following summer in the fall
     he taught Elwood Grade School and saved money to complete his education,
     returning to Southwestern the following fall, graduated in 1937.
       Bob returned to the ranch after graduation, but a girl he dated in college
     could not be forgotten. Convinced she could cook, sew, and handle the other
     essentials of a farm wife, he married Ruth Kelman, daughter of Fred and Myrta
     Kelman, on December 4, 1938 at Pretty Prairie, Kansas Methodist Church.
       Bob and Ruth took over the ranch and his parents retired in Medicine Lodge.
     Three bushel per acre wheat and five cent a pound calves wasn't a bright
     future, but young spirits were high and endurance long.
       Five children came to bless the home: Wayne, Melvin, Judith, Joan and Steve.
     Bob, Ruth and their children were active in Union Chapel Church and their
     community. 4-H club work drew special attention from the entire family.
       Bob and Ruth received several awards for their farm work, including the
     "Balanced Family and Farm Living" Award, the "Barber County Soil Conservation"
     Award, and in 1964 they were honored to receive the "Master Farmer-Homemaker"
     Award.
       The family has grown to include wives, husbands and 5 grandchildren. Wayne
     married Joyce Neaderhiser and is an orthodonist in Shawnee, Kansas. Their
     sons are Robert and Trevor. Melvin married Carol Hinnergardt. He was the
     legislative assistant for Congrewwman Keith Sebellius for 8 years. He 
     returned to operate the family farm. They have two daughters, Judy and Kimberly.
       Judith Ann died of leukemia at age 5 1/2. Joan married Dr. Steven Garten,
     a veterinarian and health inspector in the U.S. Air Force. They are stationed
     at Lakenheath AFB, England. They have one son, Justin. Steve, the youngest,
     is single and employed at First National Bank in Medicine Lodge as a computer 
     operator and programmer.
       Ruth and Bob retired in 1976 in Medicine Lodge. They worship at the Methodist
     Church.
       Todd Melvin Thompson was born December 14, 1979, Medicine Lodge. Mathew
     Brandon Garten was born December 25, 1979, Brandon, England. 
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 455 
     Submitted by: Bob Thompson