The winter of 1948  brought the arrival of the first born for Thomas
     Maurice Trantham, son of Benjamin Franklin Trantham and Stell Jane Angle;
     and Darlene Rose Chance, the daughter of Andrew Murray Chance and Hattie
     Carmen Turnage. William Murray was born on March 7, 1948 at Hardtner,
     Kansas. During the next 2 years he was joined by two sisters, Bonita Kay
     and Patricia Ann.
       While their home was in Medicine Lodge, "Billy" attended kindergarten
     Medicine Lodge Primary School but when the famiy home was relocated south
     of Medicine Lodge he attended all his other grades at Pleasant Hill. While
     in his eighth grade, a tragic accident took the life of his mother. Later
     Claudine Kiser Shriner became his stepmother and a stepbrother, Dawsey 
     Dwayne Shriner, joined the family.
       After Bill attended two years of high school at Medicine Lodge, his family
     moved to a farm southeast of Sharon where his parents still reside. He
     completed his school at Sharon and entered Southwestern College of Meat
     Cutters at Oklahoma City. Upon completion he worked at High Plains Meat
     Plant in Dodge City for almost a year at which time he returned to his
     home at Sharon to give assistance to his father with his dairy.
       Bill had been home for only a short time when his sister Pat arranged for
     a meeting on November 4, 1969, between Bill and a new teacher in Medicine
     Lodge. Five and 1/2 weeks later they became engaged. The next summer, June
     6, 1970, Bill was married to Elaine JoAnn Prosser, daughter of William F.
     and Matilda Birzer of Claflin, Kansas. She was born at Great Bend and spent
     her early childhood near Otis, Kansas. At the age of nine, her parents and
     2 brothers and 3 sisters moved to a farm northwest of Claflin. Her grade
     shcool was completed at Hitschmann School and she attended high school at
     Claflin High School. After completing four years of schooling at Fort Hays
     State she received her BS in Education on June 2, 1969.
       After the wedding took place at St. Catherine's Catholic Church at Dubuque,
     (Barton County) Kansas, Bill and Elaine returned to make their home and still
     live at Sharon. Their first child, Darla Beth was born on July 14, 1971. A
     second girl, DEniece JoAnn arrived April 23, 1974 and a boy, Justin William
     on October 27, 1977. All were born at Medicine Lodge Hospital.
       Throughout Bill's life he has had a deep interest in the outdoors, especialy
     where horses or rodeo sports were concerned. From Little Britches on up Bill 
     was a cowboy; from dipping snuff to riding bulls and broncs. With roping as
     his top interest he has continued to display his talents in rodeos and jackpots.
     His enthusiasm for rodeo sports has carried on somewhat to his children, who
     all enjoy riding and watching his events. His wife, Elaine, enjoys a slow
     leisurely ride but does not claim to be skilled in any area other than
     spectating. Aside from his hobby, Bill has worked at Kiowa, Anthony and Attica
     meat lockers. He is presently into welding and refers to Ray's Welding in
     Sharon as home base. Elaine is still teaching for USD 254 but is at Sharon
     School and isnow in the classroom for her ninth year. Both enthusiastically
     agree that Barber County is truly a special place.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 459
     Submitted by: Elaine Trantham