Thomas Newton Corrie was born February 28, 1846. Nancy Miranda (Edmondson)
     Corrie was born December 6, 1849. Both were born in Lawrence County, Illinois
     near Sumner. They were married on March 2, 1871. While in Illinois 5 children
     were born: Edgar, Roy, Ezra, Grace and Carl. In 1886 the pioneer spirit led
     them to Mingona, Kansas in Barber County (near Medicine Lodge), soon after
     they arrived another son Frank was born. In 1888 they moved to a farm one
     mile east of Isabel in Pratt County, Kansas. Thomas was also a carpenter,
     he helped build the Methodist Church. He also worked some on the railroad at
     50 cents per day. The children attended Isabel's school and grew to adulthood.
     They were active in church and community affairs. Grace attended Southwestern
     College in Winfield and taught school several years.
          In 1908 after a church service the Dances invited Grace to come with 
     them to Baca County, Colorado to homestead; this she did. They all filed on 
     claims and returned to Isabel. In April the Dances and Corries returned to build
     lodging, Thomas and Nancy built a two room sod house on Grace's land and filed
     a claim for themselves adjoining her's on the north, returning again to Isabel.
          On August 20, 1908, Art McGuier, Roger Dance and Mark took the livestock
     and machinery by train to Syracuse, and the Corries, Obe Brants, Mr. and Mrs.
     Ezra Dance left for Colorado in three covered wagons trailing two buggies. It
     took 8 days to make the trip 225 miles describing what they saw first Mrs.
     Corrie remarked "Pretty Prairie" and the name stuck for the community and
     the name of the first school.
          Thomas built a barn for 2 horses and 1 cow on his place and in 1909 he 
     built a sod house, drilled a well and put up a windmill. In 1914 he built a 
     7 room home and on June 2, 1921 they celebrated their 50 anniversary, with
     all six children and 18 grandchildren present.
          Thomas passed away in February 1922 and Nancy in 1940. They are buried
     in the Minneapolis Cemetery 7 miles north of Walsh.
          The house where the Corries lived 1 1/2 miles east of Isabel is gone. 
     All that is left on the land where Thomas and Nancy and their six children
     settled in 1888 is a windmill and a small shed.
               
     Source: Isabel, Kansas - The First 100 Years, 1887 - 1987,  pg. 64 
     
     Submitted by: Glenn Doner and Evelyn Corrie Birkby