Willard Benton Watkins was born in Nebraska in 1884 and lived his early
     years there. In 1896, when he was 12 years old, he moved with his family
     to Rose, Kansas, which is in Woodson County. In 1908 he again moved with
     his family to Barber County.
       The following year, December of 1909, he returned to Woodson County to
     marry his sweetheart - our mother, Ada Dumond. They would live in Barber
     County for the rest of their lives.
       Their first home was a little cabin on the Luke Chapin ranch on the
     Isabel road northeast of Medicine Lodge. Our oldest sister, Ila Frances,
     was born there on December 26, 1910.
       Dad and Mother moved frequently while renting farms. They lived near
     Nashville a short time. Then they moved near Isabel in 1914 when their
     second daughter, Marjorie Edith, was born on April 23, 1914.
       They then moved back near Medicine Lodge on the House place. There is
     where we lived in 1918 when Homer Robert was born on April 2, 1918. At
     the time of his birth, Uncle Homer (Harry Homer) was in France in World
     War I. The family had not heard from him for some time. Fearing he had
     been killed in the war, Homer Robert bacame his namesake.
       Both girls started to school in the Medicine Lodge schools. Ila in 
     1915 and Marjorie in 1920. Ila's fifth grade teacher was Mrs. Inez Read
     and Marjorie's first grade teacher was Mrs. Cecelia Purdy.
       Before the end of the 1920 term we moved again, three miles east on the
     Davenport place. This was just across the road from North Antelope School.
     Ila and Marjorie were welcome additions to the school as the enrollment
     was so small that they were barely able to operate. The following summer
     on July 1, 1921, another son, Wilbur Benton, was born.
       In November of 1922 Dad bought and moved to our present farm 3 miles
     north and 1 mile east of Medicine Lodge. We were still in Antelope district,
     so we did not have to change schools. This was a pleasant place for children
     to live and grow up. There was a little creek near the back door and plenty
     of trees about for the boys to build tree houses in and to climb.
       Dad, Mother, and all the family lived busy, happy lives. Dad was a member
     of North Antelope School Board for many years. Township trustee for awhile,
     member of the Christian Church board, and president of the Federal Land
     Bank board.
       Mother was active in the Christian Church, the Willing Workers Class, a
     charter member of Pixley Birthday Club, and a 4-H leader.
       All four children graduated from Medicine Lodge High School, Ila in 1928,
     Marjorie in 1933, Homer in 1936, and Wilbur in 1940. The family was saddened
     by Mother's death in 1938.
       Then came World War II. Wilber was first to go into the service in 1942.
     Homer went into the Air Force in 1943. Both girls taught school in Barber
     County for several years, later going to Wichita to work in the defense
     effort at Beech Aircraft.
       In November of 1945 sadness again hit the family with the death of the
     oldest daughter, Ila Frances.
       After the war, the other children married and left the farm. Dad continued
     to live on the farm until his death in 1956.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 475 
     Submitted by: Homer R. Watkins