Ulysses Lincoln Thompson was born in 1865 in Chilhowee, Missouri. He
     attended teacher's college in Warrensburg, Missouri. He went to Oklahoma
     with a cousin and worked for three years on what was later known as the
     101 Ranch. He enjoyed his work so much he became interested in having a
     ranch of his own.
       He was employed by the Seaboard Airline and Kansas City Southern Rail-
     roads for 7 years, to save money for a ranch. He was injured while working
     on the railroad and was taken to the Kansas City General Hospital. It was
     there he met Elma Kelley, a graduate nurse, and their romance began.
       In 1902, he went to Durango, Colorado to see his brother and look for a
     ranch. Not finding anything there, he started back east. In LaJunta, Colorado
     he bought a bronc horse, saddle and bridle. He rode across southeast
     Colorado and southwest Kansas looking for ranches for sale. In this area
     he spent one night with Moores southeast of Coldwater, and DeGeers near
     Deerhead. One night was spent in what he later realized was a horse thief
     camp. It is now part of the Thompson pasture east of 7-bar spring (on Wilson
     land) and west of Bragg's claim.
       He heard of a place on Little Mule Creek for sale. It was owned by Mr.
     Schuler who had moved to Illinois. This was in the spring of 1903 and the
     deal was closed in September 1903.
       U.L. Thompson and Elma Kelley were married in her home in Pittsburg,
     Kansas April 4, 1904. He brought his bride to their home on Little Mule
     Creek. Elma's nursing was called upon many times to help out with serious
     illness or accident. She also had the joy of helping deliver several babies.
       Their home burned in 1909. In 1927 a tornado completely destroyed the
     farmstead and some livestock and most of the machinery. A dwelling was built
     that was to be used for the garage when the home could be rebuilt. It burned
     in 1932. These misfortunes were met with a true pioneer spirit and they
     immediately began reconstruction.
       They helped with the organization of Union Chapel in 1910 and with the
     building of the Church in 1927. They were active in school and community
     improvements.
       To this union were born 3 children, LaVon Thompson Hoefle (Charles W.
     Hoefle, deceased), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Mildred Thompson Patterson (Joe
     M. Patterson) both deceased; and Robert Thompson, Medicine Lodge. They all
     attended Elwood Rural School and Medicine Lodge High School.
       LaVon graduated from Southwestern College at Winfield and did graduate
     work in nutrition at the University of Kansas and University of Chicago.
     She was director of National Dairy Council in Evanville, Illinois, and 
     Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She has 2 step-daughters, Dorothy Harrington, San
     Diego, California, and Louise Lehman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 3
     grandchildren.
       Robert graduated from Southwestern College, Winfield and came home to 
     help with the ranch. He was married a year later to his college sweetheart,
     Ruth Kelman from Pretty Prairie. They moved to the Ranch and U.L. and Elma
     retired in Medicine Lodge. Robert and Ruth have 5 children; Wayne, Melvin,
     Judy (deceased), Joan and Steven. They have 5 grandchildren.
       U.L. died in 1958 and Elma in 1966.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 455 
     Submitted by: Robt. Thompson and LaVon Hoefle