Samuel Jefferson Shepler, son of Thomas Frank and Mary Wennet Shepler,
     was born at Seiling, Oklahoma. While a small child, he and his family
     moved to Alva, Oklahoma. When a young man, he came to Medicine Lodge to
     work at the gypsum mill. He was called to serve his country during World
     War I. He was a sergeant in the 315 Engineer Corp. serving in both Germany
     and France.
       After the war, he returned to Barber County and went to Kling to work
     in the gypsum works. It was there he met and married Marian Louise (Tudy)
     Moad, daughter of Wm. and Sarah Moad. She was a native of Barber County,
     having been born near Kiowa.
       The Sheplers made their home in Sun City. Sam worked for Best Bros. when
     they started quarring operations south of town. At this time the rock was
     loaded by hand (men using shovels) into small railroad cars. These in turn
     were pulled to the crusher by a mule. After being crushed, it was loaded
     into "buckets" which ran on a tram line to the terminal located beside the
     railroad in Sun City. The gypsum was then dumped into rail cars and sent
     to the mill at Medicine Lodge. Occasionally one of the men would ride to
     town in one of the buckets. Lunches were often sent to the men by this
     means. Later the mine started. The mine went straight back into a hill. 
     As time went on all the work was done by machinery. Today huge loaders
     load the gypsum, trucks haul it to the crusher. It is crushed, goes into
     bins located over the tracks and is loaded directly into the railroad
     cars and hauled to the mill.
       Sam continued to work for Best Bros. and later for National Gypsum when
     they bought the company. He worked at about every job they had to offer
     and was superintendent of the mine when he retired. Tudy also worked at
     the mine as timekeeper. After their retirement, they spent a part of their
     time in Missouri looking after farming interests.
       The Sheplers were active in the VFW orgainization. Mr. Shepler was a
     member of the Sun City EHU for a number of years. Always interested in
     progress, Sam was member of the first council when Sun City was incorporated.
     In later years, he served as mayor.
       The Sheplers had one child, Mary Ellen, who is married to Ernest Larkin.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 414