Earl D. Blackwelder (1883-1945) came with his parents, Samuel R. and
     Orlene (Davis) Blackwelder, from Illinois to Pratt County, Kansas. Their
     home was in the Ashton commmunity. Mary Gertrude Blakely (1885-1976) came 
     to the Ashton community as a teacher at the Ashton school. Her home had been
     near Lyons in Rice County. Earl and Gertrude were married in Wichita March 
     31, 1914. They established their home on a farmstead one mile north of Isabel.
     The Methodist Church and the Ashton Sunday School were important parts of
     their lives. Earl was the first president of the Farmers Equity, now the
     Farmers Cooperative Equity Company.
          Earl and Gerturde had two children, Lawrence Merle (1918-1978) and
     Mildred Maxine (1922).
          Earl liked "the West" and Gertrude's health was better in the higher
     altitude, so they bought land in Texas County, Oklahoma. In 1928-29, they 
     moved to their farmstead two miles west of Hooker, Oklahoma. They retained
     their land in Pratt County and it is presently owned by their daughter, Mildred
     and their daughter-in-law, Ulah Mae.
          Speaking for the descendants of Earl and Gertrude Blackwelder, we are proud 
     to have our roots in Isabel's first one hundred years!
              
     Source: Isabel, Kansas - The First 100 Years, 1887 - 1987,  pg. 44  
     
     Submitted by: Mildred Blackwelder