| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Page 85
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, November 18, 2019
Map of Grandview township
| 1. Avondale |
| 2. Ferndale |
| 3. Forest Hill |
| 4. Hawkeye |
| 5. Mt. Hope |
| 6. Oakdale |
| 7. Olive Branch |
| 8. Pleasant View |
One of the finest bodies of land in Louisa County is that of Grandview Township, which comprises all of township 75 north, range 3 west, with the exception of a small portion lying east of Muscatine slough, and the western half of township 74 north, range 3 west, lying north of the Iowa River. It is so named on account of the grand and natural view to be seen from the village of that name. The township was first settled in 1836 by J. H. Benson, J. H. Wilson, Abram McCleary, Samuel R. Crow, Levi Thornton and John Chriswell. Among those who came in soon after were: Martin Gray, S. G. Chamberlain, Alex Ross, J. B. Latta, J. P. Walker, George E. Mitchell, David Humphrey and Philip Wagner. The first birth in the township was Jack McCleary, born in October, 1836. The first death was that of Mr. Miller, a native of New York, who died in 1838.
We discovered eight rural schools in Grandview Township: Avondale, Ferndale, Forest Hill, Hawkeye, Mt. Hope, Oakdale, Olive Branch, and Pleasant View. We were unable to locate any information about Ferndale, other than its location.
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Pictures: AVONDALE. Today’s location would be south of William Slater’s on the west side of the road. Foundation remains have been found there. AVONDALE, 1912. Front row, left to right: ?, ?, Ruth McChesney, Grace Hardman, ?, Mabel Werner. Back row: Fay Werner, Jack Snyder, Leonard Woodruff, ?, Jess McGill, Earnest Werner, Merle Stephens, Martha Hardman – teacher.
Grace Harman Keltner attended Avondale. Her philosophy of optimism and “I have nothing to complain about” seems to be associated with her memories of rural school. She remembers playing many different games, flower hunting to the east of the school and her teachers, Martha Hardman (a cousin) and Nellie Carey; but her most pleasant memory was that she didn’t have to take eighth grade exams. Instead, she went to the Grandview Academy before completing high school in Grandview in 1923. Her only concern was about how everyone drank out of that same dipper!
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Pictures: AVONDALE.
Teacher Fay McGrew. Front, left to right: 4th pupil, Jess McGill, 5th pupil, Merle Krahl. On the fence: Nola Benz, ?, Genevieve Collins, Mable Werner, ?, ?, Grace Hardman.
AVONDALE: Front row, left to right: ?, ?, Grace Hardman, Merle Krahl, ?, ?
Avondale Ball Team, September 13, 1907: Front row, left to right: Ernest Werner, Howard Cocklin, Wayne Werner, Verne Jarvis. Center: Jack Snyder. Back row: Reuben McGill, Paul Beik, Guy Hardman, Carl Werner.
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Picture: FOREST HILL.
Students going to Hopewell school to take final exams. Left to right: Barbara Stauffer, Kathryn (Spitzngle) Hankins, John Weber Jr., Dorothy (Johnson) McKeever, Shirley Stauffer. Forest Hill’s location today would be two and one half miles northeast of Grandview, across for Jerry Stiger’s—the old Westbrook farm.
Mrs. Edith Weber, a parent who lived near Forest Hill, pointed out that the school’s history goes back to 1864 when it was a post office. The school was built at the top of Grogan Hill on land donated by Daniel Harrison Westbrook (one of the reasons why some people refer to it as the Westbrook school). A current map would show Forest Hill northeast of Grandview, south of Jerry Stigers’ farm. Memories shared by Mrs. Weber were of teachers coming from Letts, Grandview and Muscatine on muddy roads to teach at Forest Hill. She remembers that the students carried their drinking water from a spring down the hill.
Ben Westbrook, a student, recalls these students at the school: Roy and Dorothy Johnson; Johnny Weber; Louise Johnson Fry, Elizabeth and Claude Harder; two Warnstaff boys; Darrell and Linda McGill; Walter Hammer’s children; and the Landons—Truman, Norman, Fawnie, Loretta, Bertha, Alda, Reland, Nina, Thelma, Alanzo, and Jim (Sonny).
June Harder, a teacher at Forest Hill from 1930-32, noted that all eight Westbrook children—Jeanette, Benjamin (Jr.), Fred, Hartley, Robert, Jessie Lee, “Doc,” and Dick—all graduated from Forest Hill (the other reason why it is called the Westbrook school). Also attending were Millicent and Thelma Allick and Rex, Paul, Thelma and Bernice Curry. Of the Westbrooks, Jeanette returned to Forest Hill to teach two years, Frederick taught one year and Ben served on the board until the school closed and the students went to Grandview.
Ben Westbrook shared one particular memory with mixed emotions. While preparing for eighth grade exams, his teacher, Margaret Schmitt, offered a five dollar gold piece to any student who scored an average of 90 percent or better. Ben’s test results averaged 89 percent. The billfold (a second place prize) was nice, but it wasn’t a five dollar gold piece.
Fredrick Westbrook was the teacher when Roy and Dorothy (McKeever) Johnson moved to the Forest Hill school district in Grandview Township in the late 1930’s. Fredrick lived across the road from the school, which made it convenient to arrive early and start the fire in the Warm Morning wood stove.
An extra project for the boys was to take Fredrick’s bicycle apart, reassemble and repaint it. They also built model planes during their spare time. At recess the boys had fun playing on a grapevine in John Weber’s pasture (east of the school) until one day someone fell and got hurt. The following day the grapevine was cut down and that ended the fun. The children would also gather wild flowers for the teacher during recess.
One spring they went on a field trip west of the school (Westbrook’s farm) and observed nature. Roy recalls that the ferns were as tall as the smaller children in the school. The vast valley seemed aglow with color with all the spring flowers and trees in full bloom. He said it was a sight to behold. Mrs. McNeal, a teacher from Wapello, would often stay with the Jim Johnson family when the roads were impassable. Miss Ada Smith was also a teacher at Forest Hill. Some of the family names at Forest Hill include: Fuhlman, Terry, Westbrook, Plowman, Smith, Stauffer, Spitznogle, Weber, Yoder and Johnson.
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Picture: Forest Hill.
Marie Creswell’s (Bartenhagen) class on a picnic. Front row, left to right: Wilbur Landon, Harrison Terry, Donald Westbrook. Middle row: Ellis Wiegand, Nina Landon, Jessie Lee Westbrook. Back row: ?, Fonda Landon, ? Estabrook, Eugene Garrett, Lindley Landon, Robert Westbrook.
Attendance averaged twelve to fifteen pupils. I had a third grade state teaching certificate issued from Parsons College at Fairfield, Iowa. With two years of experience it turned into a second grade state certificate. My salary at Forest Hill school was $40.00 per month. When I first started teaching I was just nineteen years old and I had one sixteen year old pupil who was much bigger than I was. He never caused any trouble and quit school before the picture was taken on the last day of school.
There had been a light snowfall during the night and the air was nippy. The sun promised the snow would not be around long. I, the teacher of Forest Hill, was not feeling up to par but I did not feel ill enough to stay home from school. My husband Herman suggested I ride Dolly, our brown mare, to school, then turn her loose and let her go back home.
At the school, I tied Dolly to the fence and went to open the door. As I started to put the key in the lock I hesitated because the door looked different. I stood back and looked at it. It was cracked from top to bottom! I started to look around. I saw the coal shed door was not right either. I examined it to find the lock had been broken and the door was standing ajar. I walked around the school house and found a window completely broken—sash, panes, frame and all. The window blind had been pulled down and was flapping in the breeze. Rex Curry, one of the older pupils, arrived then and I asked if he could ride my horse. Rex was delighted at the chance, so I asked him to ride Dolly to my home and bring Herman to the school.
It wasn’t long until Rex, Herman and Harrison Westbrook came. They looked things over, then unlocked the door and went inside. There was all the splintered wood and broken glass on the floor. There was a good fire in the stove and the coal bucket had plenty of coal as well as some sandwich wrappers from a Muscatine sandwich shop. The wash basin was full of dirty water. Later one of the pupils suggested the intruder had washed his feet.
Harrison and Herman found tracks on the side of the road in the snow going north. They followed the footsteps to the Rock Island Railroad tracks where they lost them. Harrison walked along the railroad tracks to the west and Herman went east but they found nothing. The boys and girls and I cleaned up the mess and tried to have school. Of course all minds were filled with thoughts of the break-in, so a discussion of the incident came first. There were many speculations but most agreed that the person was just a hobo wanting a place to spend a night. Some, especially boys, were sure he was some sort of criminal trying to escape the law.
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Pictures: FOREST HILL, C. 1928
Front row, left to right: Lindly Landon, Nina Landon, Robert Westbrook. Middle row: Alonzo Landon, Louise Johnson. Back row: Hartley Westbrook, Fawnie Landon, Frederick Westbrook.
FOREST HILL, C. 1928 The only people identified are Mrs. Elmer Landan, Mrs. Harrison Westbrook and Mrs. William Harder.
On the last day of school in the spring of 1932 I hired William Wabnitz to take the children, Mrs. Jack Young and me to Wildcat Den State Park for a wiener roast and picnic. Bales of straw were put in the truck for the children and me to sit on. Mrs. Young rode in the cab.
At the park the children and adults tramped all the trails and looked at all the plants and trees that were not familiar. After resting awhile, everyone was hungry so the wiener roast and the good food sent by the mothers were a real treat. After lunch the old mill was explored and some games played. At 3 o’clock it was time to start home. Mr. Waptnitz took a different route home, which the children enjoyed.
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| Years | Teachers | Months | Salary per month |
| 1918-19 | Genevieve Ryan | 9 | $60 |
| 1919-20 | Ruth Clark | 7 | $85 |
| (Winter Abandoned) | |||
| Jesse Irwin | 10 wks | $100 | |
| 1920-21 | Grace Krahl | 8 | $85 |
| 1921-22 | Florence Charles | 8 | $100 |
| 1922-23 | Florence Charles | 9 | $85 |
| 1923-24 | Florence Charles | 9 | $85 |
| 1924-25 | Mabel Jarvis | 9 | $80 |
| 1925-26 | Ella M. Burnell | 2.5 | $85 |
| Helen Simons | |||
| 1926-27 | Hortense Browning (Tisor) | 4 | $80 |
| Erma Hall | 5 | $100 | |
| 1927-28 | Mae Shepherd | 3 | $80 |
| Mrs. Harry Young | 3 | $85 | |
| 1928-29 | Margaret Schmitt | 9 | $90 |
| 1929-30 | Margaret Schmitt | 9 | $90 |
| 1930-31 | June S. Harder | $80 | |
| 1931-32 | June S. Harder | $80 | |
| 1932-33 | Clara Broughman | $75 | |
| 1933-34 | Marie Cresswell (Bartenhagen) | $40 | |
| 1934-35 | Jeannette Westbrook | $40 | |
| 1935-36 | Jeannette Westbrook | $40 | |
| 1936-37 | Bessie Rausenberger (Sabin) | $50 | |
| 1937-38 | Frederick Allyn Westbrook | $50 | |
| 1938-39 | Myrtle E. Lee | $65 | |
| 1939-40 | Zella McNeil | $67.50 | |
| 1940-41 | Zella McNeil | $67.50 | |
| 1941-42 | Zella McNeil | $67.50 | |
| 1942-43 | Betty Spitznogle (Shoultz) | $70 | |
| 1943-44 | Waymuth Spitznogle (Creelman) | $90 | |
| 1944-45 | Waymuth Spitznogle (Creelman) | $105 | |
| 1945-46 | Waymuth Spitznogle (Creelman) | $125 | |
| 1946-49 | Closed-Could not find a teacher, so pupils went to Grandview Consolidated School | ||
| 1949-50 | Betty Terry | $220 | |
| 1950-51 | Ollie Hewitt | $225 | |
| 1951-52 | Ollie Hewitt | $217.40 | |
| 1952-53 | Ollie Hewitt | $250 | |
| 1953-54 | Closed |
Mabel Kemp’s memories of Hawkeye include going across the road and sliding down the hill. She also remembers the morning Mabel Reiner was returning to school from being outside. Mabel entered the school and as she walked up the aisle she whispered in each student’s ear “the school is on fire.” She then proceeded to sit in her seat, raise her and report to the teacher, “the school’s on fire!” The teacher and pupils quickly exited the building and discovered a fire in the chimney.
Miss Kemp remembers Pearl, Marie and Mabel Reiner, the Furnace family, George Hingst, the Frank Fry children, George Wier, and Lewis and Phil Wagner. She also recalls teachers Glen Kemp, Lila Hunter, Pearl Masonholder, Winnie Shellabarger and Fay Eliason.
Hawkeye was located on Highway 61 halfway between Bobby Kemp’s driveway and Ronald Collins’ farm.
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Picture: Mount Hope.
The location today would be south of Bob and Marie Murray’s on the south side of the road at the T intersection. This is across from Mt. Hope Cemetery.
It was in the fall of 1932 and Delno Stineman had just completed two years and one summer at Parsons College in Fairfield. He had a two year Normal Teaching Certificate and was ready to accept his first teaching position at Mount Hope in Grandview Township. Delno recalls that he boarded with the Charles Moody family in the Iowa River bottom during the week. Everyone, including the teacher, walked to school every day. And some Friday nights he walked all the way to his parents’ home.
Approximately sixteen students were in grades 1-8. Delno remembers the Thirtyacre family who lived at the bottom of Hog Back Hill, the two Schneider girls and the two Jones boys. During the years Delno spent at Mt. Hope, Roy Jones served as director of the school. Delno taught the next three years, 1934-37, at Westport school in Port Louisa Township. At both schools, the responsibilities included starting the fires, filling the gasoline-pressured mantle lights, planning programs (especially a big Christmas program), teaching all subjects to all the pupils, preparing pupils for eighth grade examinations, choosing and working with a good speller to attend the County Spelling Bee, and being prepared for a visit from Ada Smith, County Superintendent. A lot of learning took place in spite of the fact that textbooks were few. A library consisted of one set of encyclopedias and a few student story books. We are reminded that during these years the country was experiencing a depression.
At Mt. Hope the monthly salary was $35. At Westport, Delno was making $45. However, payment came in the form of a warrant. Cashing this warrant wasn’t always easy. If it hadn’t been for a Muscatine banker, Delno might have gone without an income some months.
By the winter of 1936 Delno had purchased a ’28 Chevy, but many of those winter days were so bad that he’d drive part of the way and then walk the rest. He remembers the Monday morning (following his Saturday marriage) that he went to school and started the fire only to discover that none of the students had braved the winter weather.
He recalled a time prior to his marriage to Marjorie that he dozed off to sleep while his students were reciting. Delno blamed Marjorie for keeping him out late the night before. Marjorie blamed the Grandview Station for keeping him out late. Delno felt fortunate to have a job during the depression; $45 a month was a lot of money! Many of his buddies were unemployed or working with CCC camps.
After the 1936-37 school term, the Stinemans moved on to positions at Sheldall, Deep River, Shellsburg and Morning Sun. Delno recalled that in 1942 he was making $105 per month and living in a modern apartment; it was the best of times. Eventually, the Stinemans returned to the Grandview area, where Delno would spend the next twenty-five years serving on the Grandview School Board and then the L & M School Board.
Delno also recalled the time he cut the boys’ hair at Westport. He wasn’t sure that would be part of today’s curriculum. He also shared memories of his Morning Sun basketball team and their appearance at his and Marjorie’s recent 50th anniversary.
Dedication and conscientiousness were essential prerequisites to being a successful rural school teacher and it was these qualities that were present in Delno Stineman’s sixteen years of teaching in the public schools and twenty-five years of involvement with school boards.
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Pictures: MOUNT HOPE, CLASS OF 1922-23.
Front row, left to right: Verlee Reid, Richard Reid, William Braun, Irene Brauns, Mabel Anthony, Thelma Anthony, Carl Anthony (behind Thelma), Virgil Reid, Winifred Harrison. Back row: Orville Reid, Wilma Harrison, Lewis Anthony, Pauline Brauns, Irene McCulley, Myrle Reid, Ona Harrison, Frances Brauns, Teacher: Mabel Shew.
MOUNT HOPE: This replica was made by Hadley Heater of Wapello as a gift for his wife, Edna B. Hall Heater. She taught at Mount Hope in 1928-29.
As I researched county records at the Burlington AEA I came across end-of-the-year summaries written about each child. In the report the teacher referred to each student by number. I thought as I read these comments, “Some things never change!”
#6 and #7 like to do their work together, keep them separated as much as possible.
#5 is a slow student, but can complete her work if given encouragement.
Watch #3, would rather print that do cursive.
#4 does not keep his mind on his work, he has quite an indifferent attitude towards his studies.
#2 has been in 5th grade two years now, but he continues to be very careless.
#8 likes to bluff his way as much as possible, he has a good mind, if he’d use it!
Edna B. (Hall) Heater said these things about the students at Mt. Hope in 1928-29. How is it that I wrote all those same comments on my students’ comment sheets in the fall of 1987, almost sixty years later?
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| Years | Teachers | Months | Salary per month |
| 1900-01 | Blanche Baldrige | Fall, Winter | |
| Willis Thompson | Spring | ||
| 1901-02 | Willis Thompson | Winter | |
| Nellie Kent (Bishop) | Fall | ||
| 1902-03 | Nellie Kent (Bishop) | ||
| Ella Foxwell | |||
| 1903-04 | R. E. Zimmerman | ||
| 1904-05 | Nettie Kent (Bishop) | ||
| 1905-06 | Nettie Kent (Bishop) | Fall | |
| Nellie Erwin | Winter | ||
| 1906-07 | Nettie Kent (Bishop) | ||
| Nettie Ives | |||
| 1907-08 | Nettie Ives | ||
| 1908-09 | Nettie Kent (Bishop) | ||
| 1909-10 | Nettie Kent (Bishop) | ||
| 1911-17 | |||
| 1918-19 | Ona Nyemaster | 8 months | $51.60 |
| 1919-20 | Mildred Zimmerman | $60 | |
| 1920-21 | Christina Brauns (Miller) | 8 | $85 |
| 1921-22 | Dorothy Menefee | 8 | $80 |
| 1922-23 | Mabel Shew | 8 | $75 |
| 1923-24 | Mabel Shew (Jarvis) | 8 | $75 |
| 1924-25 | Gail H. McCulley (Allen) | 8 | $70 |
| 1925-26 | Gail H. McCulley (Allen) | 8 | $75 |
| 1926-27 | Ruth Chatfield | 8 | $70 |
| 1927-28 | Inez Whistler (Hendrickson) | 8 | $75 |
| 1928-29 | Edna B. Hall (Heater) | 8 | $75 |
| 1929-30 | Roxy Buster | $85 | |
| 1930-31 | Roxy Buster | $100 | |
| 1931-32 | Bessie Rausenberger (Sabin) | $65 | |
| 1932-33 | Delno Stineman | $35 | |
| 1933-34 | Delno Stineman | $35 | |
| 1934-35 | Elizabeth Gresham | $40 | |
| 1935-36 | Lucille Kongable | $50 | |
| 1936-37 | Thomas Curtis | $50 | |
| 1937-38 | Thomas Curtis | $60 | |
| 1938-39 | Thomas Curtis | $65 | |
| 1939-40 | Carroll Rowe | $65 | |
| 1940-41 | Ruth Shepherd | $65 | |
| 1941-42 | Ruth Shepherd | $70 | |
| 1942-43 | Gladys Westbrook | (resigned) | $70 |
| 1943-44 | Betty Plowman | 9 | $90 |
| 1944-45 | Betty Plowman | 9 | $105 |
| 1945-46 | Closed | ||
| 1946-47 | Merged with Grandview Consolidated School |
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Pictures: OAKDALE.
Painting by Bernard Gajewski. The location today would be across from Leon and Helen Thompson’s. Russell Gast remembers shooting baskets in the building.
OAKDALE, C. 1910.
Left to right: Ina Lieberknecht, Rose Jayne-teacher, Floyd McGill, Grace and Mabel Kemp, Ada McGill Smith, Deevey McGrew, Allie Beik, Fay McGill, Dora Lieberknecht, Pearl McGill, Fanny Kuder, Glen Beik, Anna Beik, Scott Lieberknecht, Max McGrew, Clinton Beik, Myrtle Thompson.
Leon Thompson remembers the old rural school that was located across from their present home. His family actually occupied it during the time their new home was being built. He recalls that his family did attend Oakdale until it closed in 1919 and the students attended Grandview.
Mr. Thompson recalled that for awhile the school building was rented by a bootlegger. The commotion definitely disturbed the neighborhood! At the first opportunity, Leon’s parents purchased the building for their own use.
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Picture: Of Olive Branch school and a Souvenir
| SOUVENIER Olive Branch School Dist. Grandview Township Louisa County, Iowa 1889 Compliments of M. MAY JONES, Teacher. MAUD WALKER, Sec. |
June 22—Miss Anna Dodder, the efficient teacher, closed a successful term of school at Olive Branch on Friday, June 19.
A fine program had been prepared, which was rendered in a pleasing manner.
Friends and patrons to the number of thirty were present, and all enjoyed the exercises, as well as the surprise treat of ice cream and cake, prepared and served by the teacher, and her sister Mrs. John McGrew, assisted by the young ladies of the school. It was a pleasant time.
With regret the children said goodbye to their teacher and hopes for her return were expressed.
The following program was rendered:
| Song, “Happy Greeting”- School |
| Recitation, “Nobody knows But Mother”- Jean Darrow |
| Recitation, “A Little Gentleman”- Glen Shellabarger |
| Recitation, “A Little School” – Zena Cross |
| “Cradle Song”- School |
| Class Exercise, Our Favorites |
| Recitation, “Play” – Esther Shellabarger |
| Recitation, “A Freckled Face Girl”- Ina McCulley |
| Recitation, “Seeing Things” – Harley McCulley |
| Song, “Iowa”- by Six Girls |
| Recitation, “A Boy’s Opinion” |
| Dialogue, “Trials of a School Mistress” |
| Recitation, “My Mother’s Own Way”- Cleo Shellabarger |
| Recitation, “Writing to Grandma”- Gladys Schaffer |
| Recitation, “The Farmer’s Scarecrow”- Jonas Westerbeck |
| Song, “Row Your Boat” |
| Recitation, “The Spoopendykes”- Katie Rowe |
| Class Exercise, “Our Occupations” |
| Recitation, “Higelty, Pigelty”- Mabel Westerbeck |
| Recitation, “One Rainy Day”- Ruby Lieberknecht |
| Dialogue, “Wanted a Domestic” |
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Pictures: PLEASANT VIEW .
Dan remembers the dog’s name was Ted! The location today would be up the hill, west of Dan Gast’s home.
PLEASANT VIEW. Front row, left to right: ?, Everett Rexroth, Rex Kemp, Dan Gast, ? Winkler. Second row: Neva Rexroth, Floyd Gast, Nona Zimmerman, ? Walker. Third row: Laura Rexroth, Paul Gast, John Walker, Edna Kemp. Fourth row: Pansy Winkler, Mildred Zimmerman, Ethel Rexroth, Mae Gast, Lucille Walker. Back row: Mae Hohenadel, Ruth Gast, Helen Schleichert, Orphs Hohendel. Teacher: Ernest Hascher, Standing in doorway.
Dan Gast, the youngest of the four Ferrie Gast children, has spent most of his life on the family farm at the bottom of Gast Hill (as it is known to many Louisa County citizens). The Gast children — Ruth, Mae, Floyd and Dan — grew up in Grandview Township (section 24) and during the early 1900s they attended Pleasant View.
Dan recalled many of the families in the neighborhood that attended the school between 1911 and 1918: the Haas family-Lois, Phalla and a brother; Warren, Clifford and Gertie Allen; John, Jake, Bessie & Lucille Walker; Lloyd and Ivan Hocke; Ellen and Jess Greiner; Russel, Mary, Chris and Ted Thompson; Everett, Charles (Chick), Dale, Paul, Ethel, Neva and Laura Rexroth; the Kneer family; and the Loller family that lived in the Fred Walters tenant house.
After visiting with Dan, Mae and Ruth, the following list of teachers was compiled: Ernest Haschar, Ethel Dickerson Gochanour, Eva Clark, Helen Jackson, Ruby Lieberknecht, Gladys Westbrook, Rosie Jayne (Russell Gast’s grandmother), and Lily Hunter. Ruth remembers that Lily Hunter lived in Grandview and walked every day, year after year, to Pleasant View. She also recalls a schoolmaster, Ralph Zimmerman.
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The Gasts, after graduation from their neighborhood school, attended the Grandview Academy and then Grandview High School. She returned in 1917 to teach at Weaver, which was very primitive. She made $41 a month, and remembers paying $2 a week for board and room during the winter—leaving a balance of $33 per month. In better weather, she sometimes rode a horse to school. Her other memories include her Christmas program and pie suppers.
Mae recalls that her mother told her that Blaul school would be needing a teacher, so she taught two years of rural school before leaving to go to the University. She remembers two Reid children (see Blaul, Port Louisa, for picture) and the Dusenberry children. She also had memories of two Amish families that were in the district.