February 17, 1895, Zona Velma Elder was born to Gilbert and Martha Shepard on Martha's 30th birthday. Gilbert had to go on horseback 3 miles thru deep snow to get two neighbor ladies to attend to Martha at birth. Velma lived in the same house at Wright, Kansas at the time of her death in 1997. As children, Velma and her sister Stella attended Fairview School about a mile from the Shepard house. Velma went on to high school on Boot Hill. She worked her way through school by rooming and boarding in several different homes. While attending high school, Velma met Fred Elder, a fireman for the railroad. Velma taught school 3 years. On May 10, 1928, Velma and Fred were married. They made their home in Pratt, Kansas for 37 years. Fred quit railroading when a strike was called. He and Velma ran the Gem Cafe for three years. They operated a dairy known as Fred K. Elder's Valley View Dairy, on the edge of Pratt for many years. They had three children: Jessie, Freddie and Rosalyn. Martha was alone on the farm at Wright and as she grew older she needed help. Fred brought the dairy herd from Pratt and took care of Martha's cattle as well as the dairy herd. Velma and Rosalyn followed later. Fred passed away in 1955 and Martha passed away in 1963. Velma and Rosalyn continued to operate the farm until Velma's death July 8, 1997.
February 17, 1895, Zona Velma Elder was born to Gilbert and Martha Shepard on Martha's 30th birthday. Gilbert had to go on horseback 3 miles thru deep snow to get two neighbor ladies to attend to Martha at birth. Velma lived in the same house at Wright, Kansas at the time of her death in 1997. As children, Velma and her sister Stella attended Fairview School about a mile from the Shepard house. Velma went on to high school on Boot Hill. She worked her way through school by rooming and boarding in several different homes. While attending high school, Velma met Fred Elder, a fireman for the railroad. Velma taught school 3 years. On May 10, 1928, Velma and Fred were married. They made their home in Pratt, Kansas for 37 years. Fred quit railroading when a strike was called. He and Velma ran the Gem Cafe for three years. They operated a dairy known as Fred K. Elder's Valley View Dairy, on the edge of Pratt for many years. They had three children: Jessie, Freddie and Rosalyn. Martha was alone on the farm at Wright and as she grew older she needed help. Fred brought the dairy herd from Pratt and took care of Martha's cattle as well as the dairy herd. Velma and Rosalyn followed later. Fred passed away in 1955 and Martha passed away in 1963. Velma and Rosalyn continued to operate the farm until Velma's death July 8, 1997.
