Samuel Jefferson Shepler was born April 12, 1856. His wife, Hester Frye,
     was born December 5, 1828. Originally from Pennsylvania, they lived in
     Illinois before settling in Barber County.
       S.J. served as clerk of Barber County and as Probate Judge in 1880 and
     again in 1882. In a letter written August 18, 1882 to his brother, Peter
     Smith Shepler, he asked him to send a surveyor to the county, also a lawyer
     to run for county attorney. There was one stipulation, however, "Only good
     Democrats need apply."
       S.J. was elected city clerk when Medicine Lodge was incorporated in 1879.
     He was mayor from 1882 to 1884. A charter member of the Masonic Lodge,
     organized in 1882, he was the first master. He died September 8, 1885. His
     wife Hester died November 21, 1891.
       Of their six children, John and Alfonza ran a store in Medicine Lodge at
     one time. John was associated with his father in a land office. Alfonza 
     (Font) ran the hotel for a time. Later he and Eunice went out west. Nora
     and John died while quite young. May married Vern Lytle Their children
     were Roy, who married Marie Lohrding, Alma, who married Ralph Long, and
     Pearl who married Rink McCullough.
       Thomas Frank remained in Barber County. He was a surveyor and carpenter.
     He served in Company A County Regiment, Kansas State Militia in 1874 under
     Captain Cyrus M. Ricker. This company was organized to control Indian raids
     which were occuring at this time. Frank was stationed at the fort in Sun 
     City.
       Frank and Sharlotty Fishburn were married November 26, 1879 at Sun City
     by W.E. VanTrees, Justice of the Peace. They had one son, Robert. Mrs.
     Shepler and Robert were among those drowned in the flood of April 20, 1885.
     The family was living north of Medicine Lodge on Elm Creek at the time. A
     total of 18 lives were lost. It was two weeks before Robert's body was 
     found.
       Frank Shepler and Mary Wennet were married June 30, 1889 at Medicine
     Lodge. They lived in Medicine Lodge for a time, later moving to Oklahoma,
     finally settling in Alva, where they lived until their deaths.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 414