History
1876
1941
1993
2022
James Henry Pagan, his wife Catharine, and their three sons moved from New York State to Lincoln County, Kansas, in 1876. They homesteaded land southeast of Barnard in Logan Township in 1877, where another son and two daughters were born. In 1898, the oldest son, William Edward, and his wife Susan bought a section in Scott Township, originally homesteaded by James and Mary Flake and deeded in 1885. The Pagan family lived there—possibly in a dugout or house, though it's unclear today. Their children were William Gibson (W.G.), born 1895; Jennie, born 1898; and Olaf, born 1912. W.G. and his wife Delia later had three children: Kenneth Gibson, Ruth Lorene, and Marvin Wayne. The shed east of the granary was built in 1914, marked by a plaque W.E. placed on the north side. Construction of the current house began in 1929; a photo of the finished home hangs in the dining room, showing (left to right) W.G., Delia, their daughter Ruth, W.E., and an unknown man. W.E. died in 1934. The family farmed through the 1934–36 drought, grasshopper plagues, and fires. Kenneth enlisted in 1939 and died in 1944 in the Arisan Maru tragedy as a POW; further details are in the dining room display. After 43 years, the family left the farm and moved to Jewell County, Kansas.
Ward and Velma Pruitt bought the farm in 1941 and, after several months of cleaning and maintenance, moved in around 1942. They had three children: Merna Lee (born 1925), Paul (1927), and Carilynn Sue (1944). They added the barn and several outbuildings. Ward, a tall man with a deep love for animals—especially mules and horses—bred and trained them for farming long after most had switched to tractors. He often traveled with neighbors to parades, riding horseback or driving mule-drawn wagons. One well-known story speaks to his wit: at local gatherings, he’d bet others his horse could run the fastest barrel race. When it was his turn, he dismounted and let the horse run the pattern alone—so well-trained it didn’t need a rider. Lighter without him, the horse always won, and Ward had never said he would be the one riding.
The surrounding area, known as the Salt Flats due to its alkaline soil, was unsuitable for crops, so residents—like the Pruitts, Joneses, Stewarts, Harlows, and Watsons—formed a close-knit community called the Salt Flat neighbors. The Emery Watson family lived just west across the road before moving 2½ miles east. The Pruitts and Watsons shared many gatherings and celebrations over the years, as well as sorrow—particularly in 1973, when Velma collapsed while walking to get the mail and passed away soon after. Ward remained on the farm until his health declined; he moved in with Merna Lee and passed away in 1993. In 2022, Emery and Hazel Watson’s granddaughter and her husband purchased the farm and are working to restore it to its former state.
Gary and Beverly Pepper bought the farm in 1993. Gary, a Barnard native, became an engineer and spent much of his career traveling the world overseeing fertilizer storage facilities and pursuing successful business ventures. Despite having homes in South Carolina and Florida, the Peppers invested significant time and effort into renovating the property into a hunting lodge. They visited often, reconnecting with old friends over coffee in Barnard, and entrusted the lodge to Leon Hart as manager and caretaker. Leon hosted hunters from across the country, many of whom bagged their limits in pheasant and quail. He was later joined by Josh Lyne, who helped with cooking and general upkeep. Beverly passed away in 2020, followed by Gary in 2022; both are buried in Milo Cemetery east of Barnard, their tombstone engraved with the words, “We Came Back.” With their daughters grown and uninterested in maintaining the lodge, the family chose to sell the property.
In January 2022, Doug and Vicki Lebien purchased what we still call “Ward’s Place”—a fitting name, given Vicki’s family ties to the Watsons and Pruitts. The Lebiens live just north of Lincoln and have four grown children and eleven grandchildren. Doug is retired after 40 years running Lebien Seeding and Fencing, and Vicki retired from her 20-year role as Head Cook at Lincoln Jr./Sr. High School. Leon and Josh continue to manage the hunting operations. Our hope is to restore Ward’s Place and share the peace and quiet of the Salt Flats with others. Though the Peppers had renovated it 30 years ago, time has taken its toll, and repairs are needed to preserve it. Restoring the property has become an ongoing retirement project—one we approach with love and respect.