Ivan Watkins, son of Arlington and Eva (Epler) Watkins, was born September
     17, 1886, in Nebraska. He came to barber County with his parents, four
     brothers, and a sister, Carrie, in 1908. They settled on the Houchin Ranch.
     Homer and Arley attended Eldred school. Willard, Ivan, and David all attended
     business school following grade school.
       Margaret Hazel, daughter of Nancy (Doggette) and Glover Matthew Martin,
     was born in Medicine Lodge October 29, 1888. She attended Medicine Lodge
     grade and two years of high school, which was all that was offered at that
     time. For 12 years Margaret took advantage of normal training classes a 
     month each summer. She taught two terms at Eldred school.
       It was there she met young Ivan Watkins while she was boarding at the
     Houchin Ranch with the Ellisons.
       In the spring Margaret attended school at Emporia and continued teaching
     for ten years.
       Ivan Watkins and Margart Martin were married at the home of her sister,
     Nellie Davis, at Sharon, Kansas, June 11, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Van Fossen
     were witnesses, and Rev. Frank William Lynch officiated.
       Ivan and Margaret established their home on the Wehlan place east of
     Medicine Lodge where they lived three years, then purchased the George
     Louthan ranch on the Ridge Road, where they continued farming and stock
     raising. A daughter, Evelyn, was born on the ranch in 1919 and a son, Ivan
     M., was born in Medicine Lodge in 1930.
       Evelyn married B. Eldon Davis of Medicine Lodge in 1945. They now live
     in Lyons, Kansas, where Evelyn teaches school. They have two daughters,
     Margaret Frager and Georgia Ann Henry. Margaret and John, with their son
     and daughter, live in Hutchinson. Georgia and Randy have two sons and live
     in Sterling, where Georgia teaches Kindergarten.
       Ivan M. married Elaine (Harness-Thompson) of Coldwater, Kansas, in 1957.
     Ivan and Elaine have two daughters, Gayla Kay who attends NWSTC at Alva,
     Oklahoma, and LeAnn who is a student at Arizona State University in Tempe,
     Arizona.
       Ivan is Vice President and cashier at First National Bank in Medicine
     Lodge.
       Margaret and Ivan moved to their home on Morth Main Street when he retired
     from farming. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1966 with
     open house at the home of their son, with the children and grandchildren
     hosting.
       Mr. Watkins died in 1971. Margaret enjoys frequent visits from her family
     and her sister, Delilah Spriggs, who is a local resident. They worship at
     the Christian Church and attended Willing Workers class.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 475 
     Submitted by: Margaret Martin Watkins