I came from a family of one child. My parents were not among the real
     old time settlers, but I, too, have memories of the "Chosen Land" in
     rural west Medicine Lodge, where I spent all my growing years on a farm
     now owned by Charles Clarke. The noted Gyp Hills were only a few miles
     away and we young people would ride horseback and have picnics around
     them.
       Through the inducement of a life-long schoolmate and friend, my father,
     Jacob Brugger came from Herisau, Switzerland to Barber County in 1898,
     working on a ranch near Kiowa. When he had saved enough to buy a team of
     horses, wagon and a few pieces of machinery, he rented a farm west of town
     and started on his own. In 1902 he sent for his best girl, Rosa Kampf in
     Switzerland, asking her to meet him in New York City, where they were
     married before bringing her home to his farm.
       Through all Dad's farming he never owned a tractor but always had first
     class horses. As a girl I helped him plow the wheat ground; we used two
     gang plows and 8 head of horses, while Mother raised chickens, turkeys and
     large garden, canning everything edible. Then, wheat was cut with headers
     and barges and threshed with an old-time threshing machine. Neighbors always
     helped one another, hauling wheat to the elevator with their wagons, sawing
     wood and butchering.
       After Mother's death in 1937, Dad left the farm and went to town, learning
     a different trade, managing and operating a Texaco filling station until he
     retired. In 1947 he went by plane to Switzerland for a reunion with his
     brothers and sister. He passed away in 1964.
       My school years were spent going to grades at Reutlinger District 10,
     graduating from Barber County High School in 1922 with a Normal Training
     Teachers Certiciate, teaching at Sunny Side School south of Deerhead and
     Dole's District 16 west of Medicine Lodge.
       Later I married Clifford A. Hittle and we still farmed west of town. We
     both had nearly 50 years of Barber County "Roots" before we moved to Norwich,
     where Clifford passed away in 1956. His parents, T.A. and Nancy Jane (Doles)
     Hittle, were also Barber County Pioneers and lived west of Medicine Lodge
     during most of their lifetime.
       I have one daughter, Mrs. John (Doris Hittle) Tincher, who married John
     C. Tincher; his parents, John and Grace, were also early Barber Countians.
     Doris and John both graduated from Medicine Lodge High School in 1943. Doris
     was Deputy County Treasurer during the 1940's while John was in the Navy.
     They live in Lyndon, Kansas. John is president of Lyndon State Bank. Doris
     has been employed with Blue Cross-Blue Shield in Topeka ten years.
       I have 4 grandchildren: Tamara (Tincher) Raine, Tonetta (Tincher) Toulouse,
     Tom Tincher, Talena (Tincher) Kerbel, plus 6 great-grandchildren.
       I live in Norwich, Kansas with my husband, Guy Thorne. I continue to refer
     to the "Chosen Land," Barber County, as "Down Home."
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 456 
     Submitted by: Rosie Brugger Hittle Thorne