General Notes

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William Henry Varner was born on a farm near Barnsville, Ohio in 1845.  He moved as a young boy with his family to the new frontier, Linn County, Iowa.  There, he grew to manhood and fell in love with Nancy Emily Fitzgerrald, the youngest of 13 children.  They were married in 18 65, and raised a large family of ten children, five of whom were born in Linn County.  When  he West opened up in the 1870's, William Henry and Nancy could not resist the call to "go West", so they bundled up their family in a covered wagon and headed for the open country called , Kansas.  Their son, Frank Arthur, was born at Eldorado, Kansas.  The rest of the children were born in Wichita.

William Henry Varner followed the family's occupation of farming in Iowa.  When he arrived  n Kansas, he saw the need for draying service in the new frontier town of Wichita, a gathering place for immigrants before they settled in the Indian Nation, or in the countryside nearby .  William Henry ran the dray service until the railroad connected with the outlying towns .  Then, he turned toward building houses, with the help of his sons.  It has been told that the Varners worked in constructing the railway station and on several churches.

Grandpa Varner was about five feet, five inches tall, slightly stout, dark complexion and medium brown hair.  He wore glasses and would seldom venture out without his hat.  Grandpa wore boys' size four shoes and would brag about his small feet at family gatherings, saying "It is a sign of high intellect".  Grandpa smoked a pipe, but sometimes he would smoke cigars .  He played the fiddle for all the "hoe-downs" and harvest dances in nearby communities.

Grandma Nancy had a cute sense of humor.  When their daughter, Nellie, was being courted by Walt Outfield, he would arrange to be at the Varner house at mealtime.  Walt would ask Nancy Varner, "What are you cooking for dinner?" She would always reply, "Beans".  She knew Walt hated beans!  Grandma nancy would make a dish called "thickened milk" for her family, but today , no one remembers how to prepare this tasty dish.  Grandpa Varner liked bacon gravy and biscuits for breakfast, but one of his favorite items would be apple pie.  He would say "The best way to start the day is with a piece of pie."  Grandpa outlived his wife by almost twenty y ears.  He often said that Grandma Nancy was the most wonderful girl in the world.  Together Will and Nancy had ten children.