Richardson County, Nebraska - Chapter 13, 1917

Chapter 13

The request has been made of me that I briefly review the school activities of this county from the time of its early settlement until the present time. This is not easily done, because until comparatively recently no complete records were left in this office. Some schools were conducted in what is now Richardson county as early as the fifties, many years before Nebraska was admitted to the sisterhood of states. These early schools were largely subscription schools and were held anywhere where the number of pupils warranted it. The schools were not authorized and governed Ij}- law . Ijut were held by common consent. Usually some deserted squatter's cabin was conscripted or some hospitable settler offered his rude log home for this purpose. Indeed, many times the school was taught by some married man iir woman who had obtained the rudiments of an education in the East liefore embarking upon the journey to the land that Horace Greele}- later stated spelled "opportunity." Each parent paid his mite in proportion to the number of pupils attending and the mite wasn't very large. If someone outside of tlie community was selected as teacher he drew a portion of his salary, if. we might term the paltry wages salary, by Ijoarding with liis his various patrons.

Crude Equipment Of Early Schools

In 1854, there was not a public school in Richardson county, and it is said bj- reliable parties that Willis Maddox, Fred Harkendorf, AIar\ Harkendorf, Jesse ("rook and family, Dave L. Thompson and Elias Menshall were the only white persons within the limits of \yhat is now Richardson county. Instead of listening to the chimes of the school bells and feasting upon the views of well ordered farms and buildings, these sturdy and fearless pioneers were compelled to be contented with the howl of the wolf and the bark of the prairie dog. The county was peopled with Indians, Init tlie al)originals lived on amicable relations witli tlie white settlers. Little did those early pioneers dream that this count}' would ever be dotted with farm houses, churches and schools as we find it today. Today we have, a school for every four or five sections of land and very few pupils have to trudge over two miles in getting to school. The roads are open and no dangers beset them on the way. The schools are open from seven to nine months; the same teacher has charge of the school for the entire year, the school houses are Imilt comfortably and attention is being paid to sanitation, seating, lighting and ventilation. The equipments are complete. Contrast this condition with the pioneer school which was built of logs, the crevices of which were filled with straw. to keep out some of the wintry blasts and drifting snows. Shoe boxes were used as desks and soap boxes as seats. Slate blackboards were unknown, but slates instead of paper tablets predominated with the pupils. .\ slab or two of fiat boards painted black sufficed for the board need's of the early teacher. Strange to say, similar boards are still found in some of our present-day schools. In the early days the school year was divided into the fall, winter and spring term and each term had a different teacher. Each pupil furnished his own text-books and all were of a different kind, which condititm presented many difficult problems to the early progressive teacher who endeavored to secure anything like a semblance of uniformity. Unless one actually attended or taught one of the pioneer schools, it is indeed difficult for the uninitiated to visualize clearly the many drawbacks of these .schools.

Gradual Development Of The Modern School

From 1854 to i860 settlers came to this county very slowly and then settled near the Missouri river because of the traffic that was wont to ply up and down this great body of water. It was the only means of transportation, as the nearest railroad was many miles from this county. Gradually the old superstition of starving to death or being blown away by the winds if one lived on the prairies was dissipated, and the settlers pushed farther Westward. From i860 to 1867, in which latter year Nebraska was admitted to the union a great influx of ix)pulation was seen. Many came to escape the scenes of the war, others because of the opportunities offered in a new land. Alx)ut this time, and l)e fore general settlement, schools began 'to be established. As time went on the various school districts were organized, the early records of which are missing. On other pages appears the earlv historv of a number of these districts. .\t first all the .school houses were of log or sod, but in the seventies and eighties these were displaced with frame buildings. About 1885 a building boom began to sweep the school districts. In that year eight new school houses were built at a cost of $10,000; in 1886, two buildings, at a cost of $11,000; in 1887, three, at a cost of $2,600; in 1888, four at a cost of $8,500; in 1889, two at a cost of $7,000; in 1890, three at a cost of $4,600; in 1891, three at $2,060; in 1892, four at a cost of $3,400; in 1893, six at a cost of $3,400, making thirty-five new school buildings, costing $82,000 in round numbers, built in nine years. No information is available as to the number built since then. A few years ago the people of Stella voted bonds and built one of the finest buildings in the county, .\bout four years ago Falls City, realizing that the needs of the pupils demanded another building, erected one of the best and most costly high schcjol Iniildings in the state. Last year (1916), Dawson reconstructed its building, making some imi^rtant and needed change.'^. A few years ago, Verdon and Shubert each erected a separate room fur the primary grades. Since I have been superintendent a number of new buildings have been erected. In 191 5, district No. 31 tore down the old structure and erected a modern building costing over one thousand dollars. Last year (1916), districts 8 and 9 of this county and 2 of Nemaha county consolidated and a splendid four-room brick building, costing over ten thousand dollars was erected, which is pronounced by educators as the best and most admirably equipped consolidated school in the state. It has a Delco lighting system, a water pressure system, steam-heating plant and toilets. Two of the rooms are so constructed that they can be thrown together for social and community gatherings; a large gymnasium has Ijeen built, and the school has domestic science and manual training ecjuipment. In every \va\- the school has been arranged so that it can take its place in looking alter every need of the pupils of this agricultural center. Twelve grades will lie Iiandled next \ear, under the supervision of four esj)ecially trained ami wel!-(|ualifie(l teachers. .\ teacherage. modern in all its equijiment. has been erected for the needs of the faculty. The district owns six acres of land and nuich iiractical demonstration work will be done. The principal owns an automobile and thus has a convenient means of conveyance. A lecture course will Ije held there next year. Short courses will also lie given annuall}-. The transportation of the pupils is looked after by three men., two of whom transport the pujiils with autonioljiles. \'isitors from all sections of this county as well as from other counties have called to see this new departure in education. District No. 80 is erecting a larger and iielter building than it had before, the same to cost well over one thousand dollars, exclusive of the equipment. District No. i, which boasted one of the oldest and, I might add, one of the worst frame buildings in the count}', was visited by the Missouri recently, the encroaching waters advising thai a new building had best be erected on higher ground. Consequently the old building was razed and a new one was built in the summer of 1917. District Xo. 22 is the name of a new district recently organized in the old Iowa Indian reservation country southeast of Rulo. and a new eighty-hundred-dollar building was erected there during this same summer. Other buildings will be erected next year and in the years immediately following, as a number would be condemned by any building- inspector visiting us.

While we can boast of more and better buildings, and a greater number and better qualified teachers, yet we cannot boast of any increase in the school census, between the ages of five and twenty-one. In 1886 we had 6,901 children of school age, and 126 teachers. In 1890, it was 6,8[-| and 133. In 1893, we had 6,846 school children and 141 teachers. Today we have barely over 6,000 school children and 175 teachers. In the earl\' days it was not unusual to find an enrollment of from fifty to eighty. Toda\ the average is not over fifteen and a school with thirty or more is tlu exception. District No. 20, near Barada, had nearly fifty on its list last year, but the attendance was very irregular. Districts 53 and 42 still ha\c verj' good enrollments.

.\t present there are one hundred and ten public school houses in tlic county and in addition there are four parochial schools. Ninety- four are frame and sixteen are brick. In 1883 there were 108 buildings \alued at $145,000; today they are valued at $230,000, of which Falls City alone claims over $100,000. Text-books are valued at $75,000. At least $350,000 is invested for educational purposes in this count}'.

In 1880 there were two grade schools in the county - Falls City and Humboldt, this former having eight teachers and the latter four. At present Falls City has thirty-three teachers, including special experts for manual training, domestic science, athletics, art, penmanship, etc. Departmental work is carried on in the seventh and eighth grades. Humboldt has fourteen teachers and is represented in practically all the departments mentioned for brails Citv. Roth schools are accredited for normal training work and eacli year from live t^i fifteen teachers complete this department of the work. In 1881 the Rulo school was partially graded and in 1888 the progressive people of that citj- decided that better conditions were necessary. Hence a fine ten-thousand-dollar brick building was erected, which is even today sufficiently large for the growing needs of that thriving little city. When the building was completed the course of study was revised and the course increased so as to include the work of ten grades. A few years ago the eleventh grade was added. There is ample room for twelve grades, manual training, domestic science, etc., whenever the sentiment of the conmiunit} favors their installation. In point of attendance the school ranks third in the county. During the past year five teachers were employed in the grades. In 1885 Salem, Stella and \^erdon were added to the list of graded schools, each at that time planning to carry nine grades. At that time Verdon and Stella both built new frame buildings, costing about three thousand dollars each. \^erdon gradually increased the number of grades until 1916, when the school was recognized by the state department as a twelve-grade school. During the past year several attempts were made to vote bonds for a new building, but each time the necessary two-thirds majority could nut be obtained. Stella grew in grace rapidly and has had twelve grades for a number of vears. and also l)oasts one of the best and most complete averagesized school buildings in the state, ^'erd<ln employs six teachers and Stella, seven. In 1888 Salem built a three-room lirick building which aliuost immediately proved inadequate for the needs nf the school. Since that time two frame buildings, in different parts of the city, have been commandeered for the primary and intermediate grades. Several efforts have been made b\ the citizens to build a new building, but on account of the other heavy taxes the proposal has each time been defeated. The school now has elevtn .!L;rades. In 1884 Dawson was added to the list and bit by bit she has increased her course until now she has twelve grades fully accredited. Six teachers are on the facult\-. Preston and Barada have two-room buildings and some years carrv nine grades and <nhers ten. Usually two teachers are employed. It is not known exactly when Shubert became a high .school. but in 1912, the eleventh grade was installed and a frame building was ])urchased for the primary grades. The citizens of Shubert are progressive. l)ut are now paying the limit allowed by law for school purposes, so it ma\- ])c a number of years l)efore another grade is installed. Dawson has a parochial school in charge of Fr. F. \. O'Brien, with three teachers. Rulo's l)arochial school was not in session last year, but will have two teachers next year. The Falls City parocliial .school, under the management of Fr. J. J. Hoffman, ha.s eight teachers and an enrollment of about one hundred and fifty. Twelve grades are carried and full credit is given for the normal training work. It is one of three sch<ools in this county able to secure credit in this branch. The Dawson and Rulo parochial schools carry eight grades. C. Merz teaches a German school in Ohio township, under the supervision of the Lutheran church. Half the instruction is in German and half in English. On another page will appear the names of the teachers of Richardson county for the school year 1917-18, also a list of the school officers fur the same period.

The Past Contrasted With The Present

In comparing- the schools of fifty years ago with the schools of toda\-, one will be startled by the striking changes that have taken place. A perusal of the lists of early teachers will reveal a large preponderance of men. but slowly, as the years rolled b\-. fewer and fewer men volunteered their services until today, in the rural schools, the proportion is twelve to one in favor of the women. In fact, last year there were but nine men on the list and this year the num!)er has diminished to eight, with several of these eligible for the draft. A number of reasons are ascribed for this. In tile first place, many young men seem to feel that they are not fitted by nature to be teachers, especially where younger pupils predominate. I concur in that view. Others feel that the work is not a man's task and feel that it savors of housework. Others do not like it because it lacks permanency and leaves the individual without much independence. The greatest objection is the poor wages. While the prices of the necessities of life have doubled and tripled and then some, teachers wages have hardly been aft'ected. Ten years ago I received from forty to forty seven dollars and a half for my services. Today the standard is forty-five dollars to the lieginner and fifty dollars after one has attained a year of experience. After that it depends. A man feels that he cannot ec|uip himself for teaching, work seven or eight months at fifty dollars a month and then be idle four months. The young women look at the matter a little differently, yinny of them feel that wages are only of temporary importance and are oiil} waiting for tardy cupid to get busy. However, there is a trend toward better wages and the teacher, male or female, who is worth it, will have no difficulty in obtaining from sixty to seventy dollars a month. In fact, one or two rural schools are paymg from sixty-five to seventy dollars now.

In the early days, teachers taught without certificates or without taking any kind of an examination. Later the county superintendent gave those who desired to teach an oral examination, which was neither difficult nor lengthy. \\'. A. Greenwald often tells about appearing l^efore a superintendent, who was under the influence of John Barleycom, and hence was not in condition to know who was present, let alone ask any intelligent questions. Greenwald was fortunate and was not asked any questions. Later, when he failed to receive a diploma, he wrote the superintendent asking if he had not passed a satisfactory examination. In a few days, he received his diploma with a statement of apologj' for forgetting to send it and with a statement that he had passed an excellent examination and wa> in every wav worthy to be a pedagogue. In the eighties and nineties the county superintendents gave written examinations and corrected the papers themselves. So many superintendents were charged with favoritism that this method soon became unpopular. About twelve or fifteen years ago the Legislature passed a law requiring that uniform examinations be given over the state of Nebraska and that the county superintendent should mail all the pai>ers to the state superintendent for correction, which is now done. The teachers pay one dollar and a half as an examination fee. Fifty cents of this goes to the state department and one dollar remains at home for the institute fund. Three kinds of certificates are issued, first, second and third. Gradually the third-grade certificates have been outlawed, until last year there was only one issued in this county. Next year, there won't be any issued. More first-grade and second-with-honor certificates w'ill be issued than ever before. More teachers are attending summer school than before. We have a vigorous campaign on for Ijetter teachers and as a result we have better schools.

Each year an institute covering a week is held for the teachers and at this time supplies are distributed and plans made and explained for the year. Instructors who are experts usually are present and assist with the instruction. The average cost of an institute is about four hundred dollars. There is considerable agitation in favor of abandoning the week institute and sul)stituting a one-day meeting with tlie county superintendent. This will probalily Ije done next year. In addition, several teachers meetings are usualh held duriu" the vear.

Something Regarding The Cukkicui.Um

Feeling that the study of spelHng had been neglected, 1 inaugurated, last year, the county spelling contests, on which occasions the best spellers in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades from each school in the county gather at Falls City and have a written contest, after which suitable prizes are awarded. Each time the interest has been excellent. This year I called all the eighth-grade graduates over the county to meet at Falls City and receive their diplomas. JMore than one hundred were present and it was felt that the meeting was worth while. It will be repeated each year. During the fall of 191 7 a writing contest for every pupil in each grade was held. The Palmer system is being installed and ought to produce excellent results.

Feeling that a uniformity in text-books is desirable, I issued a little pamphlet containing a list of recommended books. .These were distributed to the school boards and teachers. The schools are more closely graded than formerly and a closer check is kept on the work. A course of study is furnished to each teacher and she is expected to follow it closely.

Most of the schools are supplied with plenty of text-books, which are purchased by the district. Most of them have an abundance of maps, globes, charts, etc. Nearly all the schools have single seats and slat blackboards. A number of schools are purchasing phonographs. Over fifty per cent, of the schools have a Waterbury or Smith system of heating and ventilating. District 48, while maintaining its organization, has been sending its pupils to Falls City for a number of years. Districts 12 and 36, near Humboldt have been sending their pupils to Humboldt. District 105 closed its doois last fall and is sending its four or five pupils to neighboring districts.

Each year a school directory is issued giving the names of the teachers, the kind of certificate held, years of experience and the salary of each. It also contains a list of the names and addresses of the school officers, a list of the transfers in force and the valuation of each district, in addition to the mill levies. During the past two years exhibits have been .';ent to the state fair and last year this county won a number of "firsts." This vear (1917), a bigger and better exhibit tlian ever was sent.

In my opinion, the schools are on their way to progress and prosperity. They have been slow in getting started, but the people are getting more and more liberal and the school officers are co-operating loyally with the teachers and superintendent in order to improve conditions. The progress of the

High Degree Of Educational Efficiency

Education promotes material prosperity. It quickens the moral and intellectual life of the people and it leads to higher ideals of living. Richardson county has for some time taken this view of education. In laying the foundation for and in developing a great commonwealth, our people have never lost sight of the value 6f the public schools. Hence, while the hostile Indians were being driven back, while the raw prairies were bein broken up and being put into a state of cultivation, and while the onslaughts of the grasshoppers in the summer and the coyotes in the winter were being contended with, this ideal of a free education was the beacon light to the early pioneers of the state, enabling them to see a future citizenship not only rich and powerful, but enlightened, high-minded and true-hearted. These early settlers laid the foundations. They fought the first and hardest battles. But their sons and daughters, who several decades ago took their places, hokl the same ideals and retain the same zeal for human betterment and happiness. The early settlers gave Nebraska the lowest per cent, of illiteracy. The present generation is striving to give the state the highest degree nf educational efficiency. So here's to those who have the destiny of the schools in hand! May they never swerve from duty and may they ever be faithful to the trust that is placed in them. Someone has said : "The ideal teacher is as wise as Solomon, as impartial as a telephone directory, as untiring as a steam engine, as tender as a sore throat, as patient as a glacier, as alert as a mongoose, and as rare as a lien's tooth.'"

In 1870 the trustees of St. Stephen's school asked me if I would teach their schools. They said die l)oys had run the tcirnier teachers nff. and that they would probably give me tnnxble.

I repUed, that I would teach the sciiool on one condition; that the tru.stees must agree before hand to back me up in what I might do in the way of discipline. They asked me what I meant, and I said, "If I tell a bo\ to take .his liooks and go home, he must go."

On the first morning of the school I explained the situation to the school. I inade two rules: i. There is to be no swearing. 2. There shall be no fighting. Any one too big to l^e whipped will be expelled.

They did, and I had no trouble until the last day of school. Twn boys about fourteen years of age made up a fake fight for me to see. They reasoned, "He has company today, and will not whip us." When I saw the fight, I told the boys to follow me to the house, which they did, and I flogged them before the company.

On the way home that evening, John Cain. <ine of the Ijovs, said : "W'c were not fighting, we did that to see if }-ou would whip us before company."

On the last day Bob Gentry came to me and said. "The boys are going to ride you on a rail, as a compliment. The rail will be across the door as >()U go (Hit." I said: "Bob, will you help me?" He agreed, and I told him my plans. I was the last one, along with Bob, to go out. When we got to the door the boys said. "Get on and ride to the wagon." Then Bob gave the rail a sudden push, the boys fell and I ran to the wagon, stepped on the hub of the wheel and landed in the wagon before they cbuUl catch me. Altogether we had a very jjleasant time, with no" "ether trouble worth mentioning.

During the year I rode out to Beatrice, in Gage county, on a mule belonging to William R. Cain. This trip I was making in connection with my work as presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church and had gone there to see if I could find a congregation of our people there. The mule in question was hard enough to catch, even in the stable.

There were scattered settlements on the streams and wide stretches of wild prairie. On my return trip, when some forty miles from home. I got off to rest and in my carelessness let the mule get away from me. Down the road he struck for home and I though I was in for a fort>'-mile walk. But the mule soon stopped to eat grass and I circled around him and came up slowly to catch the bridle, the reins of which were dangling.

Jii-^t as I reached for them, the mule jumped away and took oft down the road for Irome. Again he stopped to eat grass and again I circled around him and crept up to catch the reins. I made my spring and the mule made his, but I had him this time. With a great sense of relief I mounted that mule and stuck to him until we got home.

Salem Collegiate Institute

That the desire for the general dissemination of knowledge took early root among the sturdy pioneers who were most anxious to establish schools of the higher order is shown by an act passed by a session of the Territorial Legislature of Nebraska. The act was passed and approved on February 10, 1857, and was for the purpose of incorporating what was known as "The Salem Collegiate Institute.'" Section i of the act referred to named the incorporators as follow : J. Cass Lincoln. John Brinegar, James W. Roberts, Thomas H. Hare, Charles McDonald, Samuel Keiffer, Jacob Coffman, Ewing L. Sharp and Joseph Yount.

Section 2 stated the objects contemplated as Ijeing: "To !)uild up and maintain, in the town of Salem, Nebraska, an institution of learning of the highest class for males and females, to teach and inculcate the Christian faith, and morality of the sacred Scriptures, for the promotion of the arts and sciences." The above-named persons or any five of them were empowered to constitute a board of trustees.

It is worthy of note that all of the above-named gentlemen were among the very first settlers of the county, all became prominent in the early affairs of the county and nearly e\ery one of them later served the county well in ofificial capacities.

Falls City Public Schools

.\s exemplary of tlie high class of pioneers coming to Falls City it is with no small degree of pride that we record the fact that one of the first things considered essential was the establishment of schools suitable for the education of the young people. In order to do so calletl for great sacrifice among the people of that early time because of the lack of funds, but it appears that as early .is 1858 there was a little scliool on Main street in the village, taught by a Miss BarnunL

The scliool district was organized in 1859, with David Dorrington, Anderson Miller and Thomas Mclntyre as trustees. F. M. Dorrington was the first teacher under the new regime, and tatight the first school during the academic year of 1859-60. The following year the first district school house was erected a short distance southeast of the court house scjuare. The new building, although a vast improvement on the various makeshifts that had been in use previously, was far from an elaborate structure. It was solidly built and capable of housing far more pupils than there was any immediate prospect of the town furnishing, but it was innocent of paint, both inside and out, and its seats were not calculated to afford Sybaritic pleasures. .\s the only public place where meetings of any sort could be conveniently lield, it was constantly appropriated for various uses, varying from the dignity of a court room to the uproarious mirth of some minstrel performance. Through all these changes the building was still used for its original purpose until about the beginning of 1875, when it was sold and the proceeds invested in material with which to build a new and larger structure. What followed is accurately described by Professor Rich : "Some wretch, having neither the fear of the Lord before his eyes, nor the welfare of youth at heart, stole all the lumber." Meantime the purchaser of the old building had removed it to Stone street and put it in the service of a business house. After nearly a year, during which time the district owned no school building, the old school building was moved back to its original place and repurchased by the school board. From 1865 to 1871. the district school again occupied the building, and shortly after the latter date it was purchased by W. S. Stretch and converted into a dwelling. In its new location the remodeled shell, with all its historic memories, for many years echoed to childish laughter and grief and pleasant teachings.

In the spring of 1870, prior to the final sale of the first school house, it was decided to erect a new, large and more fitting building. This work was done in the year 1870-71, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars, Jonathan Spragins being the contractor. The new building contained two departments, one on each floor, and was opened in the winter of 1871. immediately after its completion. The principal of the school in that year was D. O. Howe. Miss ?iIcGlashen became principal of the school, witlt Miss F. Kingman as assistant, in the fall of 187^. .\t the same time the school, already too large for its new t|uarters. overflowed into the basement of the Episcopal church, where a third grade was organized, under tlie charge of Mrs. Olive Kline. Miss AIcGlashen held her position for two years and was succeeded in the fall of 1872 by John Rickards, who found it necessary to branch nut, and he created a fourth department, which was taut,dit in the Baptist church.

In the spring of 1876, !\lr. Rickards resigned and was succeeded b)- j. \\'. Johnson, who had for some time acted as his assistant, and who completed the duties of the school year. G. W. Holland was elected principal of the school in the fall of 1876, with Miss F. Kingman, Miss Delia Lemmon and Mrs. Olive Kline as assistants. At the commencement of their school duties, the building erected in 187 1 was used for all purposes, but before January i, 1877, the high school and the grammar departments were transferred to the then partly completed building, later in use for all grades. During this year the small-pox broke out in a very virulent tyjic in the town, and instituted a reign of terror that precluded for many weeks the holding of any form of public meeting. Although fighting against terrible odds, ?klr. Holland accomplished a fair amount of work and left an enviable record.

In the summer of 1877, I'rof. W. Rich was elected to fill the position of principal. At the time of his engagement the school labored under man\ serious disadvantages, having no properly-finished recitation rooms, and having greatly disorganized by the necessary irregularity of the preceding winter. It had, also, been under varied systems, incident to the frequent change of instructors, who, although able, did not remain long enough to mould the mixed material into a -specific form. Since the time of his first election Professor Rich had been returned to his work each vear up to that time and had been able to raise the standard of acquirement necessary to a position in the higher classes to an enviable point. The first-class to graduate under the standard then in force consisted of Miss Wynona Wardell, Charles r.rahle, I'-llis O. Lewis and Sherman Cameron. The school at that time had seven departments under the charge of the following corps of teachers: High school, rrnf. W. Rich, principal; A. Rus.sell Keim, assistant: second grammar school. Mrs. A. L. Sanderson; first grammar school. Anna Schuckman ; second intermediate, Mrs. Olive Kline: first intermediate, Mattie \\'illiams; second jirimary. .\nnie Smith; first primarv, Hattie Stone.

Central High School Building

Falls City having been a live town for the twenty vears prior to the advent of the railroad, was ripe for further advaneement when this new method of transportation was brought to its doors and had experienced such growth the need of substantial and commodious quarters for its school population was imperative. Accordingly, in the winter of 1874-75, Edwin S. Towle, at that time representing the county in the state Legislature, procured the passage of a siiecial act by which the district was authorized to issue bonds to the amount of twenty thousand dollars, Ijearing ten per cent., and redeemable in twenty years. On June 30. 1875, shortlv after the i>assage of this act, a petition signed by Judge .V. J. Weaver, C. H. Weaver, W. S. Stretch, .\. S. Fulton, C. S. Keim, John Hinton, R. A. Wherry, J. H. Burbank and H. Leland, was presented to the board of education. In accordance with this petition the board called a special meeting to be held on July 9, 1865, for the purpose of examining the details of the project and obtaining a vote thereon. After mature deliberation the ballot of the electors was taken and the measure was carried by almost unanimous vote, only two persons voting in the negative. The board of education at once advertised for plans and specifications for the new structure, and on August 3, of the same year, accepted those furnished by L. S. Steges & Company, of St. Joseph, Missouri, agreeing to pav two per cent, of the contract price of the structure to die architects. On September II. 1875, the contract for the erection of this building was awarded to J. H. Burbank on his bid of nineteen thousand dollars in bonds and work was at once begun. The foundation and part of the walls were built in the same year, and during the following season the building was enclosed and part of the woodwork finished. In the summer of 1877 four rooms in the west side, the office on the second floor and the stair and hall fixtures were completed, and all given a single coat of pahit. Here the contractor, after many disputes with the board, withdrew entirely from the work aufl the finishing was done by the board, no formal surrender 1)eing made on one side, or acceptance on the other. The structure was one of the finest in the city and has been in continuous use every since completion. Tt stands on the west half of block Xo. 100. between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, and faces west. It stands two blocks east of Main or Stone street and in the third square south from the court house s(|uare. It is of brick.

Development Of High School

In 1877 I'rof. Wellington Rich was chosen principal and held the position until 1883; after him came a number of worthy successors, well within the memory of most of the younger generation. Falls City has had the reputation of standing by her school superintendents and of giving them terms of three to five years and even longer tenure; probably some of them were retained after they could be used to advantage, for it is a demonstrated fact that a school teacher, like a preacher, can stay too long in one place. The public school system has always been a credit to the town. Not infrequentlx the school building would become crowded and the district would enlarge its plant. About 1875 the city grew rapidly and the schools had to be held in rented buildings. At this time Edwin S. Towle represented this county in the state Legislature and through him an act was passed giving this district, No. 56, the right to issue bonds for the erection of the Central high school building, as noted above. As the town grew, further demands for room were made and the Harlan street school, with two rooms, was erected. The town outgrew its three buildings and what was for long known as the "new" high school buildiiig, at the north end of Stone street, was erected, bonds being voted for the same. And yet again tlie rooms were all tilled up and the third ward school building was erected on lots long owned 1)\ the city on South Harlan street. This latter building was built and jiaid for at once bv a special levy made for the same.

.\t about this time the city found itself again short of room for students, owing to the great increase of population, accounted for by the building of the Missouri Pacific shops and the consequent influx of many new people. To satisfy the demand for more room a proposition was sulimitted to the voters to issue tends for the sum of sixty-five thousand d('llar> for the building of a new high school Iniilding to he located on the !i>ts in the blix-k north of the old Central ijuilding. The bonds carried and the new building, which would lie a credit to any city of the size, was at once erected by Bohrer Brothers, resident contractors. The work of erecting this building was commenced in 1913 .ind was lirst occupied by students in September, 1914.

Falls City High School Alumni

The Falls City high school has reason to be proud of her graduates. From 1880 to the present time over five hundred students have graduated. In 1916 a iew of the old graduates became enthused and met at the high school and reorganized the Alumni Association, which had been dead for nearly twenty years; electing the following officers: Virgil Falloon, president; Edna Spencer, vice-president; Allan Gilmore, secretary, and Arthur Chesley, treasurer ; with the following committees : Executive, E. O. Lewis, chairman; Chester McDowell, Myrtle Yocam, Virgil Falloon and Edna Spencer. Membership, Alice Yoder, chairman; Andrew Cameron, Josephine Gehling, C. L. Marts, Mrs. Everett Peckingpaugh, Lulu Crush, Grace Reavis, Jesse Crush and Charleotta Blanding. Entertainment, Anita Wilson, chairman; Mrs. J. F. Leyda, Mrs. E. K. Hurst, David Reavis and Mabel Crush. Reception, Mrs. L C. Maust, chairman ; May Maddox. J. R. Simanton, Mrs. C. P. Fordyce and James Jaquet.

Tiiey Let Their Light Shine

The following advertisement appearing in the Xciiialia rallcy Journal, published at Falls City, under date of Thursday, August 6, 1874, speaks for itself :

Humboldt High School

Tuition, $2.40 per mouth, payalile to the Treasurer- on or before the miildle of the second week of attendance. Music t-.xtra. l>is<i)unt in case of protractwl illness.

In a history of the Humboldt schools, it is essential, in order to understand the educational development, that consideration first be given to the type of people who settled in the community. The pioneers, who possessed themselves of the land here, were, as a rule, intelligent, having been privileged to store their minds with much useful knowledge in their luistcni homes; many of them were qualified to teach the youth in this new land and so it was that almost simultaneous with the settlement, came the organization of the local school.

In 1867, the 3ear in which Nebraska was admitted as a state and also the year that the town of Humboldt was platted, the first school was organized. O. J. Tinker, together with several others, furnished the three hundred dollars by means of which the school house was erected.

The one-stoy stone building standing at corner of Second and Nemaha streets, on lot 8, block 5, original town plat, and used today as a cream station, is none other than Humboldt's first school, known as the Grant school. It is a very humble looking building to be sure, but one must look at it with some reverence, when he realizes how important a part it once played in the life of the community. It served not only as the school house, but also as a church, town hall and opera house; in fact, it was used for every kind of meeting which was held in Humlx>ldt or vicinity.

If we could go back half a century and on a spring afternoon steal a glimpse through the open window of this school in session we should be surprised to see the ten or twelve pupils seated on an uncomfortable looking Ijench, which extended continuously along the wall. Above the children's heads we notice a shelf upon which books and slates are piled; and in the center of the room sits the teacher at her table, liefore her a small primer class droning their lesson. There is no need to dwell upon the contrast l)etween this and our present well-equipped school rooms; however tine must not underestimate the splendid lessons learned under those former primitive conditions. During the six years that this building was used for school purposes, the following teachers served successively: Miss Linn, Ed Tinker. Dr. Clover, Albert Therwood, Miss Helen Sterns and Uhri Babcock.

Humboldt's rapid progress and her increasing population now demanded a larger school building. The people recognized this need, and realized, too. the influence of good schools in attracting to the town a desirable class of citizens. Accordingly, bonds were voted to the amount of three thousand dollars, and the second school house was built. This can be identified today as the Bohemian hall. Two years later an additional two thousand dollars was voted in order to complete tlie building. Tiiis school, which served the ci immunity for thirteen years, was a very, great improvement over the former one. The seats were of the well-known double kind and much more comfortal)le than the ojtl Iienches. The school was divided into grades, the high school occupying the up-stairs room. The first superintendent here was S. V. Boyd, who served from 1872 to 1875, and again from 1877 to 1879. Others who directed the work are: J. D. ^^'ood. Mr. Pomeroy, Tnm Hitt, T. C. Sniutz and Miss :\rcGlashan.

During the last few years that this building was used, conditions were so crowded that a small two-roomed building was erected to house the lower grades. This was west of the main building. It is today the doul>le tenement house, facing west on Nemaha street, in block 30, Luther Xim's addition. The foresight shown in the planning of Humboldt's third school, the one which to tts is the Humboldt school, is t|uite remarkable. Even with changing conditions it has met the needs very well indeed. This building was erected in 1885, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars - a two-story brick structure, originally seventy feet by seventy-three feet, ground plan. In 191 3. an addition was made, extending to the north. This contains two school rooms below and the gymnasium above.

The year 1886 brought forth the first graikiating class of the Humljokll high school, a class made up of five graduates. The alumni now number two hundred and eighty-seven. No records of the earl}- years of the school seem to be available, except fragmentary information to be found in old files of the newspapers. The list of superintendents aiid the years of their service follows: Mr. Chamberlain, 1886-89; ^^r. Leach, 1889-90; George Chatburn, 1890-92; Mr. Carleton, 1892-93; Mr. Dinsmore, 1893-96; Arthur McMurray, 1896-97; Mr. Cortelyou, 1897-98; Mr. Jones, 1898-1900; ]\Ir. Crocker, 1900-02; R. L. Hoff, 1902-11 ; B. A. Burdick, from 191 1. Professor Chatburn is now head of the department of applied mechanics and machine design at the University of Nebraska. Mr. Dinsmore has given up teaching and has taken tip banking in Ohio. Mr. Hofif is at the head of the educational department in Cotner L^niversity.

As a man is known Ijy the lx)oks he loves, and the friends he keeps, so a community is judged by the character of its schools and the manner in which they are supported. In this respect Humboldt stands well to the front now as, in fact, it has always since the' first organization as a school district. In 191 4 the Humboldt high school was placed upon the accredited list of the North Central Association of Calleges and Secondary Schools. This enables a graduate of tliis high school to enter any of the leading colleges or universities of Wyoming, Indiana, Colorado, Montana. .Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma. Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri, without taking examinations. Only about one-fourth of Nebraska's four-year high schools are doing the grade of work to entitle them to a place on this list.

Schools At Iit.Mi

The first public school in Richardson county was built of logs, each patron contributing a certain number. It was located a little south of the present school in district No. 82 and was built in the spring of 1S57. The first teacher was George Walman, who had recently come from Tcnnes.see. Fifteen students were enrolled. T. C. Cunningham, now living at Shubert, and formerly sherifif and district clerk of this county, attended this scho(jl. as did the six Goolsby children, Lizzie, afterwards the wife of Levi Hitchcock, and who died in 1865 ; George, of near Shuliert, and Mark, of near Falls City; Allan, who died in 1877; Sarah, who married \V. H. Clark and died in 1882, and Ap, of \^erdon. Alary and Cordelia Misplais returned with their parents to Illinois, The former was married, but after that all trace of them was lost. They were the only ones of the entire school who did not marry and settle in this county. John Harkendorf, another ini])il. died in 1866. His brother Fred still lives on the old homestead near balls Cit)'. Sophia, their sister, married A. J. b^alsken and had two children. John and Charles, now living near Falls City. The abo\e was taken from an early publication and is presumed to he authentic.

Previous to the year 1869 the school districts of this county were numbered as the road districts later were numbered, viz : beginning at tlie nortlu east corner of the precinct .afoing- west, south, then east. In the vear i8f«) they were renumbered and like the sections began at the northeast corner of the county with No. i, going west to the Pawnee county line, then east and west alternately to the southea.st corner of the countv at Rulo. Both the old and the new numbers were at first given until the peojile became familiar with the new numbers. This latter work of renumbering took place under the superintendency of F. M. Williams.

District Xo. 3 - In 1866 Mrs. Amanda INlcCabe, then Miss Amanda Davis, moved with her parents, Mr. and ^Irs. IVIatthias Davis, to the district now known as the Ankrom school, or district No. 3. There was no organization of a district and no school, so Mrs. Mathias extended the use of her kitchen, which was accepted, and that winter Miss Matilda Winderventer taught the school and boarded with Joseph Noel. She had about twenty pupils. At that time they used slab benches. An old cookstove was borrowed, and the parents of the children would bring the necessary wood for fuel. The house was a double log house, weatherboarded, lathed and plastered and two rooms of frame on the east, one of these was where the school was held. There was a porch on the west end and a fireplace at l)oth ends. The house still stands as a relic of earlier times. During the following year a school* house was built and the district permanently organized.

District No. 4 - This district was organized in 1867 ^^ith the following officers : J. P. King, L. K. Barnes, and S. E. Slocum. The first school district was named King because several of the King family were living in that community. The first teacher was Miss Phoebe A. Slocum, who taught in 1867 for twenty dollars and boarded at home. She was followed by Frank M. King, Mrs. J. M. Wheeler, of Shubert, taught in 1868 and J. W. Shubert, in 1870. Some of the other early teachers were Miss Mahala Cooper, P. B. Ruch (now living at University Place), Mrs. L. K. Barnes, Mary Bagley, Mary Linn, George Cornell, Ben Lorance, Ltiella Ford, Thomas Hitt, Thomas Ouiggle, A. B. Mutz, Ida Pattison, \\\ E. Slagle. Jennie Thompson (of Stella), Mollie Scott, Gamma Hall, Anna \^each, Ora Marsh, Myrtle King and Fannie Harper. One teacher. Miss Olive Clark, died while in the district. The new school house was built in 1879 and the name was changed to Walnut Grove. It cost about one thousand dollars. The largest number of pupils attending at one time was sixty. The wages ranged from twenty to fifty dollars. It is said that in the early days, when a school-girl appeared in a program attired in male clothing, the dignity of the patrons was severely shocked. Another incident is recalled of the early days, when J. P. King, now deceased, was treasurer of the district. There were no banks nearer than Falls City and all money had to be kept in the house. Robberies were common and the white desperadoes were more feared than the worst Indian. Mrs. J. P. King tells of a white man, quite respectably dressed, applying for the school one afternoon. Her woman's intuition warned her that all was not well, so she persuaded !\lr.

King to prepare adequately, which he did, in the sight and hearing of tlic stranger, who asked to remain all night. Next morning he left with a scowl on his face and his hat pulled well down and forgot to say anything more about the school. Mrs. King has always been a believer in preparedness since then. The first Christmas tree ever set up in that part of the county was displayed at this school house when the second building was completed. I am indebted to Mrs. J. I'- King and Mrs. ^^'illianl Fish for mucli of the above information.

District No. 5 - The hrst school was held in what is now known as district 5 in 1861. School was held in a small house buih and afterwards deserted Ijy a squatter. Dan Higgins, of Shubert, and three sisters and two lirothers of Morg \'andevanter were among those attending the lir-^t school, which was taught by H. D. King, father of E. D. King, now engaged in the automobile business at Lincoln. The salary was about twentyfive dollars, which was paid by the parents sending pupils to school. Mr. King boarded with the \arious patrons. No school was held in 1862, Inn in 1863 Mrs. Louis Turner conducted school in her house. In 1864 Maggie Vandevanter, now living at Red Cloud, conducted school in Captain Henderson's kitchen. Henry Parch taught in the same school in 1865 at the same place. In 1866, a school district was organized in Nemaha county, about one and one-half miles from the county line. Henry Parch taught this school and in 1867-68 this school was taught liy J. L. Slocum of the Richardson County Bank of Falls City. District 5 was organized in 18! 17. but the, school house was not built until 1870, when it was erected a mile east of the present location. .Charles Pealx)dy taught the school in 1S67. which was still held in Captain Henderson's kitchen. W. W. James, of Shul)ert, attended this school. The country was very sparingly settled and the attendance was small. The first director was J. T. James. In 1868 (n) school was held in Web King's shanty and the teacher was Mrs. James Kinton, living near Shubert. In 1870 David R. Jtines. now deceased, donatetl the ground for the first school house. Mrs. James Kinton taught three years in succession. The attendance began to increase until 1875, when it was over si.xty. Other teachers were Miss Rose King, Mr. Schockey, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Catlin, Whitney Cook, Maggie Penny and Emma Shoutz. Earlv school officers were J. T. James, Warren Parch, Alexander McGechie. Charles P>right, J. W. Davis. Web King, D. N. Jones, J. Kinton, Charles Pond, M. A. Veach and \\'. ^^'. James. In 1884 the district was subdivided. Shubert was growing in numbers and wanted a school in town. District

]i)2 was organized Ijy taking sections i and 12 from district 5. At auction district 5 sold their building to Jenkin James and he sold it to district 102. It was moved to Shubert and for many years was used as a school room. Later it was sold to Harvey Harmon and during nearly a score of years it has been used as a feed store. In 1885 district 5 built a new school house on the present site, AI. A. Veach donating an acre of ground. The school is called Pioneer, because of its early history. It is a good building, well e(|uipped and one of the standard schools of the county. David Jones and Don Higgins are the sources of information on which this brief history of district 5 is based.

District Xo. 9 - (By Mrs. P. O. Avery). This district was organized in the seventies and the first school house was erected in 1875. The hrst teacher was Hannah Elwell. The teachers who have had charge of the school are as follow : Hannah Elwell, Creighton Morris, Flora Pool. George McKean, Henry Poe, Dora Skillman, Perry Ailer. Ina Parker, Allie Craig, Josie Morris. Georgia Morris, Mary Morris, Daisy Morris, .\nna .\t\vood. Bell Gavitt. G. M. Fisher, Bell Newcomer, .\lbert Sargent, Ashford Kelle>-, Harry Lenglebach, Lina Shirley, Lizzie Jones, Emma Beery, Cora Leech, .Xellie Clift, Ollie Shurtleff, Maud Montgomery, Will Atwood, Xellie Leech, Pearl Hasness, Allie Hoagland, Rose Beals, Nellie Davidson, Jessie Mc- Derniot. Mary Wiltse, Helen Allen, Daisy A11)right, Helen Smith, Eva Spencer, Mary Lutz and Mary Van Campen.

The school house was eventually sold and moved and tiie district was consolidated with three other districts. Oak Grove. Bratton and Sunnyside. The consolidated school is called the Bratton Union school and is a fine brick building erected in 1916. Eleven grades are now taught.

Miss Ina Parker was teacher at No. 9 during the winter of the \er\ se\ere blizzard of January 13, 1886. She was boarding at Grandma Shroyer's. a good half mile from the school house. She nearly succumbed to the intense cold, but assistance came before she reached home. The teachers boarded with Grandma Shroyer, who was loving and motherh- to them nil. the family all joining her in making the home pleasant for the teacher, 'ilic dear old lady only charged them one dollar and fifty cents a week fur tiieir board and sometimes did their washing. The following teachers arc living in the county: George McKean, Mrs. Mary (Morris) .Alexander. Mrs. Helen (Allen) Mann. .Mrs. Helen (SmitlO Stalder. Mrs. Nellie 1 Leach i .\very. Mary ^Viltse and .\lbert Sargent.

the nortlnvest quarter of l-'ranklin township. The first school board was composed of H. M. Preston, Ahner Dolby and J. S. Bowers. The school house was built in 1870 and is still standing. The first school w^as of three months duration and was taught by Cornelia Gridley, who received thirty dollars a month. This was the winter of. 1870-71. The next winter Alpheus Scott taught a three-months term at thirty-five dollars. The next \\inter, 1872-73, a three-months term was taught Ijy Saxton Chesebro, at fortv dollars. Then followed .\nna Stewart, at twenty-five dollars. She lived eight miles away and rode to school on a pony. Xext came August Frank and Ada Sowle. The latter is now Mrs. C. 1"). (Iridley and is the oni\- teacher that the district has had, who is now living in that neighborhood. Mr. Gridley says in his article: "V\^e have had all kinds of teachers, vet all were good; some for something and some for nothing." Several parts of the district have been detached at different times. Mr. Gridley savs that the district has never produced any bright and shining lights, yet he does not recall that any have ever proved a disgrace. The attendance is now hardly large enough to make a good-sized family.

District No. 11 - Before the present school house in district No. 11 was built, which was in 1876, school was held in a house about one-half mile east of where the present building now stands, (^nly one school house has been built. The first teacher was a Mr. Fowler, who not only was a good teacher but an excellent practical farmer. George Snoke w'as a beginner at this time and did not know much about farming. Mr. F'owler assisted with the work and earned free Ijoard and lodging in that way. The teachers who succeeded him paid two dollars each week for jjoard. Some of the other teachers were Eva Gentry. Mollie Bratt, Jessie Davis. Minnie \\'ilson, Messrs. Howley and Carrol, Miss I.ockard, Mrs. Isham. Uri Babcock, Miss Wells, Georgia Morris, Ida I-'owler, Daisy Halbert, Anthony Day, Etta Campbell. Ella Mordon. Misses .Vbbott and Alli.son, Jerome Wiltse, Messrs. Lively and Fisher, Misses Keedwell and Bracelin, Minnie Clift, Emma Loening, Grace Bain, Nellie Snoke, J. G. Dodds, P. K. Walsh, Sam Zimmerman, Lois Gridley, Oleta ^'oungman, Gustav Herr, Emma Staus, Audrey Wileman and Juanita Brown. George Snoke has kindly furnished most of the above information.

District Xo. 14 - School district No. 14 was organized on June _', 186(5, '\v Supt. I". M. \\'illiams. - Members of the first board were Tolui Tighe, director; A. j. Fium. moderator, and Reuben Hill, treasurer. The first school house was built in 1871 and the second in 1890. The iirst building was not adequate to the needs of the thstrict. It measured t\vent\- by twenty-four feet and cost six hundred and sixty-eight dollars. The building now standing cost one thousand dollars and measures twenty-six by forty feet. It is one of the best buildings in the county and is 1x"autifull\ located. On August 10, the number was changed from 4. to 14. The list of earlier teachers follows: Al. E. Linn, Belle Osborne, Helen DeW'ese (now Mrs. R. R. Draper), Luzetta Bray, L. N. Mills, Helen Burr, Belle Paterson (now Mrs. John Cornell), W. U. Snyder, Allie Lockard. Annie Worley, Bettie Wilkinson, Mary Cole, John Davis, A\'. S. Jones, L. A. Sells. J. M. Evans, L. Wilkinson, Nina Gentry, S. L. Mains, B. F. Cniok, R. Cully, Anna Smith, C. W. Stratton and F. Stoltz. Those who assisted in the organization of the first school were John Tighe, Alurtey Tighe. A. J. Flum, Reuben Hill, George Smith, W. W. Fields and E. C. Hill. All have passed to the great beyond but George Smith. In 1873 Geurge Smith was elected treasurer and held the office until 1889. The first school census in 1869 found thirteen persons of school age in the district. The largest census ever taken was in 1879, when sixty-nine were enumerated. George Smith was elected director in 1889 and held that position until 1909, when he moved to Dawson. He was a school officer for more than forty years. I'^or many years Mr. Smith was a supervisor and commissioner of this county. During the past fi au" \ears he has been county assessor. We are indebted to Mr. Smith for much of the information embodied in this paragraph.

District Xo. 16 - The first school ever taught within the boundary line of district Xo. 16 was in a log house one-half mile east of the Cupola school house. l)y Miss Jane Cooper, in 1862, and another term in 1864. The third term was taught by Miss Francis McLain, in 1868, in a log house near Sardine creek. In 1870 A\'. W. Abbey, county superintendent, appointed John Parker, William Osmon and G. B. Patterson as school officers until the regular meeting time. In 1871 Francis .Shaw taught a spring term in a house which stood near the present home of W. S. Mar.sh. On the first .Monday in .\]iril. in 1872, a school meeting was held at Mrs. Parker's house, at which time it was decided to build a school house. Mrs. Parker offered to donate I)\ tlced one acre of land for the school site, which was accepted and the present site is still used for school purjtoses. It was decided to build a building eighteen by twenty-eight by ten feet, witii a l)elfrv. eight windows and so forth. The contract for the building was let t<i diaries lienderson. The hciiise was not completely finished with lath and plaster until 1878. The house cost six hundretl and hfty dollars. Some of the early teachers were Libbie Conrad, Anna Bagle\-, Mattie Jones. Mis.s G. A. Lacy, Ida Cornell. Lucinda Marsh, Hattie Wood, Belle Patterson, Harriett Ruch, Sadie Ross, Flora Huff, Delia Alerriam, H. H. Levey, Rebecca Cully, C. A. Watkins, Belle Parsons, F. E. Xorthup, Lulu Colglazier, George W. Morris, Winnie Watkins and Ora Marsh. This school can boast of at least two county officers on its school faculty. Li August. 1892. the first school house was blown down during a severe storm ant! conipletelv destroyed, with most of its furniture. In the same month a meeting was held and it was decided to rebuild the Ivuilding, making the new dimensions eighteen by thirty-six by ten feet. G. W. Morris was employed to build the school house and also was elected to teach the first school in the Jiew building. This school house is still one of the best buildings in the county.

District No. it, - Mrs. George Linsacuni is author of the following statements. District No. 23 was organized in 1862 and the first school Ikusc was located one mile west of the present location. Mrs. Linsacuni was a I'jupil of this first school, which was conducted in a log school house. Professor Williams, afterwards county superintendent, was the first teacher. William Parchen was the next teacher. Twelve attended the first school. A postoffice was estal)lished in this neighborhood and Profes.sor Williams was the postmaster. The settlement was named Williamsville in honor of -Mr. Williams.

District Xo. 24 - (By M. A. Arnold). The first school was held in this district, in 1872. at the home of Henry Nesbit, who resided about threefourths of a mile west of the present school house, and a three-months term of school was taught by Aliss Ella Spickler. The teacher's salary was raised by subscription at three dollars per pupil and the enrollment was about fourteen during the first term. The two succeeding terms were of four months each and were taught at the home of Jacob Arnold. In i87<) a school house was erected - a frame building eighteen by twenty- four feet, which was .subsequently sold to Jacob Arnold, in 1876, for twenty-fi\e dollars. This house still stands on a farm one-quarter of a mile west of the present school house. The new building erected was twenty-six by thirtysix feet in dimension and co.st to build, six hundred- dollars. It is still standing. The first school board was composed of the following men : Jacob Arnold, Henrv Xesbit and Charles Spickler. During the early years the school terms were from two to four months in length and were held at any time during the }ear. G. \V. .Marsh, now a resident of Lincoln, taught this school in 1881. H. M. Lint was the teacher in 1886 and received a salary of thirty-five dollars a month for a term of four months. I'^annie Birdsley taught in 1887; William E. Slagle had charge in 1888; G. W. Stump, 1889-91; J. R. Reed, 1891-92; George Martin, 1892-93; L T. Peck, 1893-97; I^- J- D'lnn, 1897-1902; C. E. Benson, 1902-03; Daisy .\rnold, 1903-04; Nellie Arnold, 1904-05. Others were W. J. Cavin. Vesta Lively, .Mice Yoder, Marie Dodds, Ruth W^heeler, Tola Wiles. Fred Meinzer and Mary Kean.

The discipline in the early days was difficnlt at times, on account of the larger Ixiys wanting to have their own way. The teacher generally settled the disputes satisfactorly to all, although it was sometimes necessary to call in the school board. The present district moderator, R. Faller, has held the office for seventeen years and his father held office three years previously ; the son taking his father's place upon the latter"s death. George Martin, who taught here in 1892-93, is now one of the prominent educators of the state. The site of the school was deeded to the district by Jacob Arntjld and wife.

District Xo. 26 - The early history of this district "runneth back to the time that men knoweth not of," for it is not known when the district was organized, who the first school officers were, when the first school house was built, nor who the first teachers were. The first record that is known dates back to 1862, when school was "kept" in an old log- house that soon liecame too small and in 1864 a new house was built, with two stories, at a cost of three thousand dollars. At one time there were so many in the district that desired instruction in Orman that two schools were held. Engli.sh was taught on the first Hour and German on the second. Following are the names of a number of the earlier teachers: .Mice Walter, Mr. Massock, Mr. Ginter, W. R. Thorndorf, H. H. Brunstetter, B. V. Cling, J. F. Layson. .\manda Sellers. J. Plouing, C. F. Cain, Thomas Cain, G. \\. Munson, J. \'. Anderson, Lizzie Anderson, C. B. .Schaeffer and Mary 1'".. Danner. .\t an early day Arago was the leadmg point in the county because of its pro.ximity to the Missouri, in the days of steamboat navigation. Information is not available as to the time when the present school house was built, flowever. it must have been many years agn. as the district will soon need a new building and more e(|uipment.

Charles Pribl)eno, treasurer; Maurice Lang-don, mo(lerat(ir. The school house was built the same year. It measured eighteen by twenty-six feet and cost five hundred dollars. h'ollowing are some of the earlier teachers: H. Brunstetter, John Teeter, David Noyes, Mr. Zonhesier, Ellen Raleigh, Emily Shore, Emma Lawrence, Miss McCowen, Maggie Stewart, Sopliia Gehling, John and William Leonhardt, Susan Gehling, Mable Abl)ott and Mina Danner. Henry Fischer, of this district, served in the Nebraska Legislature as re])resentative in 1885.

Pisfn'cf Xo. 31 - District Xo. 31, in Ohio precinct, was organized in the vear i8ri9, and the following ofificers were elected: A. B. Foutch, director; W". H. Mark, moderator; B. C. Zumbrunn, treasurer. In the spring of 1S70 the school bnard decided to have a school. The building to be used for the purpose was an old house used jointl}- by this district and district Xo. yj and was known as the Allison school. It was located one mile south of where the present building is situated. Charles F. Pealxxly taught several months in this building in 1870. In April, 1870. the school board decided to build a school house for district No. 31 only, to be twenty-eight by twentyfour by ten feet in dimensions, and appointed B. C. Zumbrunn, J. (i. Heinzelman and L. D. Cunningham as the building committee. The exact cost of the building cannot be ascertained, as it was not built bv contract, b'ollowing are some of the earlier teachers : I. W. b\inck, William Jones, G. C. Waggoner, Mrs. X. E. Pierce, A. LI. Sloan, Mar\- Moore. Senora Cornell, \\'illiam Snyder, INIrs. G. A. Schelhorn, E. E. Shouse, Harriett Ruch, ITora Huff, G. W^ Stump, Susie iMelvin, S. I'". Smith, Frank Wiser. C. T. Roberts, N^ellie Long, \\'. H. Carter. Delia Harkins, X'ellie Sloan and G. I''. Jones. In the year 1874 the district was involved in a little trouble which was decided in the circuit court. The trouble was with G. C. Waggoner, who taught the school without a certificate, but with the understanding that he would get one. He completed the term without making an attempt to secure a certificate and afterwards was unsuccessful, whereupon the board refused to pay his salary. The case was carried to the circuit court and there was deciiled in fa\-or of the district. Waggoner also sued .\mos Frank for his salary as preacher. He stole some clothing from J. D. Lorton and a ])ony from William Aynes and dien "skipjied." In the vear i88y W. 11. .Mark, of this district, was ;i candidate for sheriff .mi the Republican ticket, but was defeated I)y a few votes. I. innick, the second teacher in this district, was afterwards a successful dentist at Beatrice and. in 1888. ser\ed in the Legislature as state senator from Gage countv. Last \ear the district, feeling that they needed a new building, erected a line new structure on the same location. It was made modern both in and out and is a decided credit to the communit}-.

District No. 34 - We are largely indebted to William Fenton for the following account. School district No. 34 originallv comprised the northeast quarter of Grant township, including the north half of the present village of Dawson. Since then much of its territory has been annexed to districts 14, 43, 92 and 95. In the fall of 1867 an informal meeting of the voters of district No. 34 was held at the residence of the Fenton brothers, where now stands the imposing dwelling oi J. G. Heini. Among the old settlers present at that meeting were M. L. Libbe, S. C. Barlow, Dennis Fenton, R. B. and S. A. Allen, M. Riley, :\I. Bennet. lien .Miles and William Fenton. A numl)er of the above are still hale and hearty residents of Dawson and vicinitw At the annual meeting in 1868 the citizens were a unit in favor of building a school house. The officers elected were ^^'illiam Fenton, moderator; M. L. Liblje, director, and ]\I. Bennet, treasurer. The location of a site was difficult to agree uiwn and the summer was far gone before a decision was made. E. C. Hill, with his characteristic pugnacity, contended for the geographical center and declared he would die in his boots before he gave up. The geographical center was found to lie a duck pond. The committee in charge felt that it had no right to select a mill by a dam site, so a different lix-ation was agreed upon. The lir^t school opened in 1869, with S. C. Barlnw as teacher. District No. 34 claims the honor of having had the first school bell in this county. Shmtly after the school house was built the young people of the conununity presented a petition to the board, signed by most of the inhabitants of the district, petitioning the board to allow the .school house to be used for a dance, the proceeds to be used for a l^ell. .\gainst the opjxisition of .\l. L. Libbe the request was granted. When the time for the dance arrived the young people from Richards<)n and several adjoining counties were in attenilance and. as Mr. I'enton says, "I ne\er saw such a nioli in mx life." Barlow's hou>-e was conscripted for the eniergenc\- to hel|) take care of a bad bargain. But in the end enough money was on band to buy the best liell in lirownxille at that time. The bell is gone now and no other information is a\ailable upon the subject.

Di.'itrict \o. 42 - District No. 42, of Grant precinct, was organized in 1S68. On the first Monday in 1869 die i|ualitied voters met and elected ihe fcjllowing: A. Page, director; R. S. Ruth ford, treasurer; Jacob E.

Johnson, moderator. In January, 1870, a meeting was held at tlie home of John Homes for the puqwse of selecting a site for the school house. This was finally located on H. H. Hunt's property. The school house was built by subscription and was twenty-six by eighteen by ten feet, and in addition to the donations cost one hundred and forty-two and one-half dollars. It was used as a school house for about nineteen years, at the end of which time it was sold to W. J. Williams, who afterwards used it for many years as a granary. Mr. Hunt taught the first term of school and was followed by A. H. and S. W. Sloan, Ellen DeWeese, R. E. Lemmon, John Evans. A. P. Unkefer, IViiss F. J. Pool, R. E. Grinstead. E. M. Broughton, A. M. Fowler, Hannah Elwell, Minnie Young, Charles Pool, Emma Young, B. F. Crook, R. L. Hoff, E. W. Lawsen and S. L Hilbert. A special meeting was held at the school house in 1888, at which time it was agreed to build a ne\v school house, forty by twenty-four by twelve feet. It was erectetl before the close of the summer and cost one thousand dollars. The school oflficers at that time were J. K. Kelley, A. Page, H. F. Richart, J. A. Kuhlman taught the first term in the new school house and was followed by Neva Ray, W. M. Estes, Nora Gninn, Aggie Richart. Mary Ray, A. P. Unkefer, Emma Grinstead and Boyd Unkefer. This district still boasts one of the liest schools in the county.

District No. 44 - District No. 44 was organized in 1870 with John W. Headrick, Z. H. Riggs and William Lee as members of the first board. Charles Rinhart was the first teacher and was followed by Reuben Messier, now of Falls City. Other early teachers were Earl Lemmon, William Stevenson, Mr. Bissell, Ida Cornell and Mollie Andrews. Only one school house has been built. Samuel Lee, J. O. Lyons and Douglas Lee attendetl tlic first school in the district, and reside in the district at the present time. The school is now named the Chafin school.

District A'o. 46 - District No. 46 was organized on June 30. 1869. Members of the first board were William Kinsey, N. R. Wickham and Isaac Clark. In February, 1870, it was voted to build a school house. The first teacher was Miss Clara Davis. D. D. Houtz and Mrs. Dora Kinnev Arnold, former teachers, still live in the district. The present school house was built in 1891. The largest attendance was sixtj^-two at the time Alvia Kinney was the teacher. In the early days only chalk was furnished. In the opinion of our contrilnitor, Mrs. Clark, the methods of teaching and governing were far behind those of today. The teacher usuallv boardet! witin some family in the district and paid about two dollars a week tor board. The puorest salary e\er paid was fifteen dollars a month and board. Following are the names of some of the teachers: Clara Davis, Solomon Lesley, David James, W. S. Bewick, W. H. Davis, Lida Jones, Jennie Graham, Mrs. John Abbey, John R. Owens, Maggie Williams, Mary Cole. Alice Thayer, flattie Ritter, Eva Jarvis, Ida Cornell, Mrs. Lafe Da\is. Dora Kinney, Alvia Kinney, Alverda Allen, Kate Cminingham, Mary \'andervork, Ada Allen, O. O. Marsh, Linvel Sears, Kate Jennings. D. D. Hnutz, Alartha King, Ida Kernon, Oueen Chism, Ethel Sailors. Amanda Jorn, iuiid Colgiazier, Allan Gilmore and Grace Burke.

District Xo. 47 - The first school district organized in this county was organized before Nebraska was a state. Its first number was 2. afterwards being changed to 47, thus making it the second oldest school in the count} . At first embraced all the country from the Nemaha on the south to the county line on the north and west to the township line l>etween Ohio and Liberty, including the west half of Falls City. Ohio and Barada townships. But fifteen pupils were enumerated at first by W. H. Mark. The lirsi school house was built in 1856 or 1857. each patron contributing a few logs. The frame work was well covered with sod. It was located on \\". G. Goolsl)y"s farm. The first teachers were Cyrus Bartlett, G. W. W'altcr.s. 1'. A. Tisdal, !"".. !-",. Cunningham and Ro.sa J. Cooper. .V part of nne term was taught l)y a man who appeared to be an outlaw, by his actions. He kept a double-))arrel shotgun with him all the time and at noon would hide in the brush. Finally someone told him that the officers were after him and that was the last seen or heard of him. W. A. Campbell, W. H. Mark and W. G. (loolsby were members of the first school board. .Mrs. C. C. Parsons taught one term at her own home and one term in a room of A. W. Frank's building before there was a school house in the district. There have been two school houses built, the first alx)ut 1867-68 ;uid the second, in 1880. Among the early teachers were Mahala Cooper. Nellie Rockwell, luneline Lewis, Melissa Yantiss, D. D. Houtz. Spencer Hammer, Thomas Wilson, Mary JM-ank, Lesley Lewis, Linnie Frank. James .\nderson, J. W. Stump, i'.mma Lawrence, Belle Newcomer, Charles Slagle, Rebecca Culle\ . Charles Melvin, Belle Parsons, H. M. Lint, Maggie .\. Peck, Lula Sloan, H. J. Prichard and Jincie Finders. E. O. Lewis was living in this district when he was elected county clerk early in the nineties. John R. Dowty of this district served in the Legislature and D. D. Houtz was elected county superintendent while a resident of the district. The enrollment of the school is now the smallest of any school in the county.

Richardson Colntv, Nebraska

District Xo. 48 - Schoul district Xo. 48 was organized on Alay _'o, 1869, and Ralph Anderson was chosen director; WiUiam Aladdox, moderator, and J. F. Catron, treasurer. But one school house has been built in the district, and that was built in 1869 at a cost of six hundred and fifty dollars, size, twenty by twenty-four by nine feet. Ray Taylor taught a school in this district for a few months in 1861. A decade or more agLi the attendance dwindled to such a small number that the i)atrons decided to close the school temporarily and send their children to the l~alls City public schools. This arrangement proved so satisfactory from every standp(jint that it has been continued and is very likely to continue indefinitely. The district still maintains its organization and site, but the old school h(3use is gone. The teachers from 1869 to 1893 were Mary Martin. W. R. Crook, Isaac Rhine, A. S. McDwell, Emeline Lewis, J. G. Crook, Allie Fisher, B. F. Crook, Chloe Truesdal, Alia Church, John Hershberger, Ida Cornell, Frances Kingman, E. E. Brown, Bell Newcomer. Lydia \\'illiams. May Maddox, Helen TurnbuU, Nora Woniser, Lillie Eichelberger. Maud X'auDeusen, Jennie Newcomer, Fannie Birdsley, Mamie Hutchings, Nettie Wills, Dora Richards, Mary Carico and Frank Schaible.

District No. 50 - This district was first known as district No. 2. hi the spring of 1865 the residents of this district met at Thomas Harpster"s house and organized a school meeting. Charles Montgomery was elected director ; Thomas Harpster, moderator, and Paul Augustine, treasurer. A site was .selected for the schot)l house and the meeting adjourned. The director reported the pnjceedings to Charles Mann, the county clerk and acting county superintendent, and he organized the territory represented at the meeting at district No. 2. The district was three miles wide, north and S(;utii, and five miles long, east and west, containing about fourteen sections of land in all. On August 10. 1866, Superintendent Williams notified Director Kaiser that district No. 2 would thereafter l)e known as district No. 50. The residents of the district hauled cottcMiwood lugs from tlit Missouri river bottoms that year and erected the body of the .school house on the selected spot. But it was never completed and for a time all interest in the school abated. After the district was divided the building was made use of by the other district. In May, 1867, a school meeting was called for the purpose of dividing the district. At this meeting there was a majority of one opposed to dividing the district, but the action of the district was rendered indecisive by the director forgetting to vote, i^roducing a tie. The matter was adjusted in 1868 and the superintendent ai^pointed tlie fdllowing officers of the new district : Jerome W'iltsc, director ; Fritz W'acluer moderator, and William Heater, treasurer. A special meeting was called, a school tax voted and the [)resent site of the school house selected. William Heater donated Ijy deed one acre of land. Paul Augustine built the school and ecjuipped it with furniture for six hundred and fifty dollars. The measurements -were twenty-six by twenty b\- twelve feet. George Shock was the first teacher, followed by Mr. Noise. Some of the earlier teachers were Messrs Plumb, l*\ench, Choot, P)rown, Stratton, Daughters. Lason, Reed, Newcomer, I<"rank Revelle, Albert and Clarence Wiltse, and Misses Maria Montgomery, Emma Martin, Lambert, Spoonamore, Raleigh, Jessie Cameron, Emma Lawrence, Long and Carney. The school house was burned in 1884. .\fter much contention another was built in 1886. The school today has a splendid enrollment and is a prosperous school.

District No. 51 - J. Kloepfel has kindly given us a few items concerning district No. 51. Augusta Burchard was the first teacher. N. Auxier, now county commissioner, was one of the early teachers. Will Jones. William Wallace, Charles French, Eva Scott, H. L. Kloepfel and James and Marv Wiltse were other early teachers. The highest enumeration was one hundred and six. It is not definitely known when the district w^as organized.

District No. 55 - District No. 55 was organized in 1865. Joe Forney and Albert Dickison were members of the first board. Austin Sloan was the first teacher. R. R. Hanna, Mrs. Otto McLane and John Powell attended the first school. Previous to the school in 1865 a neighborhood school was held and was taught for a few years by the late George Abbott's sister. The second school house was built in 1872 and the third one in 11)07. Charles Sloan taught the second school in the district and Messrs. Hamin and Anderson the third and fourth. The attendance always was good and the salary paid in the early days was twenty-five dollars. Many of the earlier teachers boarded with R. R. Hanna's father. In thirt\-five years R. R. Hanna has missed but a year or two of having served consecutivel\ for that length of time. The school is now called Lakeside.

District No. J^ - Tlie first school in district No. y^, was held for three months during the w^inter of 1869-70, on the Ransom or Irving place. The first teacher was Miss Cooper. The school officers w'tere Messrs. Hall, Ransom and Pirtle. The second term was for a period of twelve weeks during the winter of 1870-71, and was taught by .Vbby Dunn, now Mrs. George Slavton. A part of the Pirtle house was used for the school house. .\t that time twenty-one pui)ils were enrolled, the oldest being Tom Pirtle and llie youngest, Jim Kelly, luich pupil had to furnish his own split-bottom chair and most of them came to school on horseback. The second school closed with a dinner and performances on horseback by the boys. The tirst school house was built in the early seventies. Later it was moved away and is now used by Jess Shaw as a corn crib. I. Shirley, of Humboldt: George Saville, of Lincoln ; Lina Shirley, of Lincoln ; lutima Grinstead Hoff ; Mrs. Anna Smith Wertz, Florence Jones, of Auburn; Sadie and Lula Jones, of Fairbury, and Maynard Stitzer, of Salem, are prominent citizens who obtained a portion of their education in district No. jt,. Teachers now living in the county who have taught here are Belle Smith, Florence Saville, Ola Crook, Nora Lamerance, Oscar Rhoades, .\udrey Wileman, Grace Kennedy, May Gagnon and Anna McCool. Some of the early teachers were Miles Jones (later county superintendent), Florence Jones, Pearl French, Mrs. C. A. Stewart, Emma Boose, Letha Crook, Lula Lawler, Mary Browne, and Hubert Shirley. The present school house was built in 1887. Mrs. C. A. Stewart is the only teacher living in the district at the present time. It has l)een her privilege to have boarded nearly all of the teachers for a decade or more and she has pleasant recollections of mam- of them.

District No. 76 - (Stella Public Schools). The first school in Stella was begun in July, 1884, in the Ferguson & Coldren Hall and continued with but one week's vacation until the following June. A school house was built during the summer of 1885 on the hill southeast of town. This structure was struck by lightning in 1888 and a new building was erected during the same summer. At first only two teachers were employed, but gradually this number has been increased until at tlie present time there are four teachers in the grades and three in the high school. In i8yS. the congested condition of the scIkioI house caused another small building to be erected on \'ine street for the jjriniary pupils. Realizing that the okl school house and equipment Avere not a(le(|uate to the growing needs of the busy little town, bonds were voted a few years ago, and a fine brick buililing was erected, which is one of the finest, most up-to-date and best-e(iuii)ped school houses in the state. The district is small and the enrollment is not as large as it should be. In the high school more than fiftv per cent, of the pupils are non-residents.

District \'(>. yj - This district was organized in iSix). the lirst meeting being held at the residence of J. S. Ewing. with fifteen voters in attendance. I. S. Ewing was elected moderator; \\'. D. Price, director, and 10. Coi^jier. (24) treasurer. Like must ut the schoul districts, district Xo. was formed from surrounding districts, mostly from the one southwest, known as Fairview. There has l:)een but one school house erected, the present one, which is thirty by twenty-two feet in dimensions and cost six hundred dollars. It was built in 1872. A new school house is needed now and will probably l)e built in the near future. The first school was taught by Miss Carrie Howe in a log house located on the northeast (|uarter of section 13. Other early teachers were T. L. Lewis, (i. \V. Crouch, B. I'. Chute. A. C. Troup. Landon Yantiss, D. D. Houtz, Mary Jones, I-'mma Shouse, Linnie I'Vank. Cammie Hall. Lenora Cornell, B. B. Davis, L. L. Linderman, Julia Smeade. J. W. .^tump, W. G. Fisher, .Mr. Leively, H. H. I'ugh, J. R. Reed. W. \'an \\'yrner, Delia Marion, Nettie Wills, Abliie and Susan Melvin, Linnie Frank, Hoke Simpson, Carrie and Lowell Leslie, Emerson Bowers and H. B. Kleeberger. The salaries paid the teachers a\'eraged nearly thirty dollars. Oliver l'\iller. of this district, was supervisor of this county for a number of years. Somewhere between 1863 and 1869 a postoffice was located two miles east of here and named Elmore, and shortly afterward moved near the present location of the school house, and in i86g moved to tlie log house, where school was first taught and shortly afterward, when \'erdon started as a town, was discontinued. While the postoffice was held in the log house, Isaac Cooper was postmaster. The school house was used fm" public meetings and gatherings of every nature and was in truth the C( immunity social center.

District \o. 79 - This district was organized in the early seventies, exact date unknown. Members of the first board were W. W. Abbey, J.. J. Flitchcock and William Cook. The new school house was built about twenty-two years ago. Mary Jones, who afterward married Oliver Fuller, was one of the first pupils. Some of the earlier teachers were John Dennings and Emma Lawrence, the latter of whom is now holding a position in the school for feeble-minded at Beatrice. Tlie attendance has fluctuated, ranging from eight to sixty. The building is ideally located and is in excellent repair. It is almost completeh- equipped.

District Xo. 95 - This district was organizetl in 1877. The members of the school l)oard were William Fenton, Stephen C. Barlow and \\'illiani Knipe and the first teacher was D. W. James. The first school session was held in the town hall. A frame school house was built in 1880 and was succeeded ])y a l)rick structure in igor, the frame building having been burned in U)00. The first class was graduated frum the high school (Daw- son), in 1891. Among the prominent men who received their elementary education in the Dawson schools are ; Dr. Brjan M. Riley, an instructor in Creighton Medical College; O. W. Belden, an attorney at Lewistown, -Montana; Dan J- Riley, attorney and banker, of Dawson; Charles J. Allen, I if Chicago; Dr. H. A. Waggener, Omaha; Dr. W. R. W'aggener, Humboldt; Dr. J. T. W'aggener, Adams, Nebraska; Dr. Walter Draper, Manilla, Iowa; Willard Thomas, county superintendent of schools, South Dakota; -May Thomas, educator in Moody Institute, Chicago; A. Edward Thomas, an educator in Canada; E. E. Barlow, of San Diego, California, and Lillitli W'aggener, a teacher at Hamburg, Iowa.

District Xo. 99 - Previous to the organization of district No. 99, one term of school was taught b\- Julia Richards White, in 1879. Her school room was a little dwelling owned by P. R. Shelly. Soap boxes were used for seats and shoe boxes for desks. On account of the distance from town the school was moved to the David Ouinlan place, a quarter of a mile from Preston. Mrs. Ellen Higgins Rawley taught there two terms, in 1880, and Alma Ouinlan, in 1881. The school district was organized in 1880 and the following otilicers were elected: D. M. Craig, moderator; .V. J. Cair, director; John P\le, Sr., treasurer. The first school house built in the district was erected in 1889. It was twenty-four by twenty-eight by fourteen feet, and cost five hundred dollars. The district soon grew in pt)pulati(5n and the old building was found inadequate for the needs of the school. Consec[uently, a number of years ago, a splendid two-room building was erected on a fine elevated site in the heart of Preston. This Iniilding amply suffices for all the needs and is a decided credit to the town. .Some of the earlier teachers were W'inona J(3nes W'ardell, Carlos W'iltse, llattie Merritt. Mrs. C. A. Brown, Joe Bagnell, Isaiah Kratz, Ada Abbott. James Martin, Judge Joseph, May Maddox, l^nnia Lawrence, Henrv Lint. John E. Sullivan, R. H. Langford and Susan C.ehling. P. R. Shellv, of this district, was a candidate fur state representative in the fall of i88y. but was defeated i)y ten votes.

Tlie district school teachers of Richardson county for the current scho(jl year ( i9r7-iX), are set out in the following list, by chstricts : District I. I'.dna Karst;'-', Bessie James; 3, Cdad}s Ray; 4. Cieorge Morgan; 5. Leta Baldwin; (>, .\nna Sheehan ; 7, Anna Seibel ; 8-<), Principal E. L. Ta\ - lor, Mrs. 1".. L. Tavlor. \'i\ ian Knight, Willie Davis; 10. Pearl Smith;