In 1925 Arthur and Gladys Banks with their children Ray and Ruth left
     Baca County, Colorado by covered wagon for the William Banks home near
     Isabel, Kansas. The following year they moved to the Riggs place 2 1/2 miles
     east of Isabel and the next year bought a farm 2 miles east and 1/2 mile
     north of Isabel. Their daughter Helen was born here. They lived here until
     Arthur's retirement in 1952 when he and Gladys moved to Pratt, Kansas.
          Arthur, a typical farmer planted and harvested and raised cattle and
     hogs. Gladys, a typical farmwife did gardeneing, canned fruits and vegetables,
     raised chickens, milked cows, cooked and baked, sewed and made quilts and
     reared their children. Arthur and Gladys were friendly and willing - always
     willing to help neighbors on butchering or threshing days. Arthur was there
     to help a neighbor finish harvesting when his own wheat was cut.
          Arthur supplemented his income by grading a 10 mile stretch of road on
     Highway 42 from Sand Creek School House to the Kingman County Line. The
     road grader was pulled by mules which pulled their covered wagon to Kansas.
          Arthur, with the help of Edward Thornton invented a cement block machine
     and with a crew of five, made cement blocks which were used in several buildings
     throughout Barber County, Kansas.
          In 1940 with the help of local labor Arthur built a new farm home and
     later the shop, elevator and barn on the farm which is now owned by Bernard
     and Lois Rolf. When they moved to Pratt they also built their home there.
          Arthur served in World War I 1918 - 1919, part of this time in Europe.
          He belonged to the American Legion, Lorraine Post No. 98 and Gladys
     belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary. Arthur belonged to the Masonic
     Lodge at Isabel and both belonged to the Eastern Star at Isabel. Gladys
     belonged to the Isabel Methodist Church and the W.S.C.S.
          Arthur was laid to rest in the Isabel cemetery in 1965 and Gladys
     in 1975.
          
               
     Source: Isabel, Kansas - The First 100 Years, 1887 - 1987,  pg. 38
     
     Submitted by: Ruth Romaine, Eleanor Banks, and Helen Gobin