The Luther White family came from Linn County, Missouri and arrived in
     north Barber County (Valley Township) in April 1884. The older son, Lester,
     had come scouting the area for available land for the four families earlier
     in the year. Luther's farm would be at the wet edge of the present site of
     Isabel. (the McGuire home)
       He was accompanied by his frail wife, Mahala Minor, who lived only until
     January 1885. She was the first to be buried in the Isabel Cemetery selected
     at the time on the hillside of her son Lester's farm.
       Luther - a kind and gentle man was active in organizing the first Methodist
     Church in the vicinity. It was there, in the pulpit of the church - as he
     conducted Sunday School, that he died - November 1891 at the age of 71.
       Son Layton also took land to farm - the 160 acres where the town of Isabel
     now stands. When the railroad came through in 1887 a trade was made and Layton
     received the quarter directly southeast of the Isabel townsite. He often made
     trips to Cairo, Kansas, bringing back flour for the people of Isabel.
       He took part in the political life and in the social activities of the new
     community which were centered around Bethel School and church. He was a devoted
     member of IOOF. He made the race for a homestead when the Cherokee Strip was
     opened 16 September, 1893.
       When he died in November 1917 he had for many years lived next door south
     of the Isabel Methodist Church where he was a member.
       Daughter, Nettie White Bailey, and her husband, Dick, took the claim across
     from brother Lester. They, too, were active in community affairs. Dick was
     treasurer of the first school board and president of the literary society
     which met at the school.
       Another tragedy of those times was the death of Nettie White Bailey, who
     was killed by lightening - on a harvest day in July 1889, while she was at
     the home of neighbors - Bill and Anna Sellers. She left two small daughters,
     Mabel Bailey Philip and Blanche Bailey Peterie.
       Mabel, who was four, was taken to make her home with Helen White Clark, her
    husband and children who had remained in Missouri. Blanche, fourteen months
    old, remained in Kansas and was reared in the home of the Lester White family.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 485 
     Submitted by: Edith Peterie Hoyt