| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Page 107
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, November 18, 2019
Township Map
| 1. Amity No. 3 |
| 2. Cairo |
| 3. Franklin No. 5 |
| 4. Hope |
| 5. Oakland No. 1 |
| 6. Orchard Grove No. 6 |
| 7. Otter Creek No. 7 |
| 8. Shakerag |
| 9. Washington No. 4 |
Marshall Township is bounded on the west by Henry County and Elm Grove Township, on the north by Columbus City Township, on the east by Wapello, and on the south by Morning Sun Township. At one time it was called Otter Creek Township, but in 1856 the name was changed to Marshall in honor of an early settler. In 1863 a portion of the west part of Wapello Township was given to Marshall.
Some of the early settlers were Joshua Marshall, James Chapman, Joseph Highly, Robert Coulter, John Nichols, Jesse Van Horn and Henry Churchman. The first birth in the township was Jesse Highly in September 1836.
The largest village was Cairo; at one time a prosperous place, it now has only a few homes.
Page 108
Picture: AMITY, C. 1928-1929
Front row, left to right: Donald Long, Louise Martin, Virginia Gruver, Elmer Johnsmeier, Robert Fletcher, Harold Fletcher. Back row: Viola Barker, Verlee Fletcher, Lucille Long, Lorena Fletcher, Ruth Davis – teacher.
I think the Amity school in Marshall Township was built in 1891. It was located on the south side of the Winfield-Wapello road, one mile west of the Cairo-Fulton Cemetery.
Miss Ruth Davis taught the year before I started to school. I started there in the fall of 1930 and Miss Nellie Lee of Letts was the teacher there for five years. I remember so well the pink and white flowered summer dress with a round white yoke she wore the first day. I had on a pink and white checked gingham dress.
I suppose we had the usual equipment at school, a small wooden cupboard on the wall with library books, the desks, teacher’s desk and chair, recitation bench and a big brown heating stove. We carried our lunches in dinner buckets or maybe a few in sacks. I remember Miss Lee always carried hers in a small woven basket with a handle and it was always covered with a white cloth. She stayed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray G. Whisler.
We did not have a piano, but had a Victrola and records from which we learned our songs. We had the usual holiday programs, spelling contests and declamatory contests. I participated three times in the county spelling contest at Wapello and once in our district declamatory contests, but was never a winner to go to the county contest.
Pupils that I remember attending there during my years were Lila Hamilton; Verlee, Lorena, Harold, Robert, Nels, Ronald (“Jiggs”), and Terry Fletcher; Fern Simmons; Lucille, Donald and Mary Margaret Long; Lucille Martin; Virginia, Bonnie Jean and Betty Lou Gruver; Robert and John Nicholson, Elmer Johansmeier; Audrey, Oliver, Arlene and Wanda Brown; Hollis McConahay; Walter and Betty McKensie; Vernon and Lourrine Wiley; Marcie and Adolf Boysen; Mary and Keith Blodgett; Eileen, Mary Ellen, Ina Faye, Floyd and Dorothy Irene Terrill; Letha, Leland, Verl and Donald Hall; Evelyn Tisdall; and Patricia Kallenberger. Ruth Fletcher was too young to attend school but often came to visit for part of the day with her brothers and sisters, as they lived near the schoolhouse.
I remember one year when the parents came in the afternoon, bringing cake and homemade ice cream for a surprise party for Miss Lee’s birthday on February 25th. It was so warm that day that we children played outside without any coats, which was most unusual. The mud roads were really bad too, and buggy and wagon wheels were rolled full of mud.
Miss Izola Metzger became my teacher for my last two years, 1935 and 1936, at Amity. After Miss Metzger came we had some hot lunches, usually a kettle of soup, beans or rice which was kept warm on the big heating stove in the northwest corner of the room. At first we had a water bucket, but later had a crockery water container with a lid on it. We each had our individual folding drinking cups which we kept in our desks. Miss Ada Smith was our county superintendent and made visits to the school.
Page 109
Pictures: AMITY.
Front row, left to right: Ronald Fletcher, Adolf Boysen, Elmer Johansmeier, Helen Aringdale, Nelda Fletcher, John Nicholson. Back row: Harold Fletcher, Donald Long, Lorena Fletcher, Lucille Martin, Marie Boysen, Virginia Gruver, Robert Fletcher.
AMITY SCHOOL. Front row, left to right: Ronald Fletcher, Dorothy Terrill, Ina Fay Ferrill, John Nicholson, Nelda Fletcher, Helen Aringdale, Floyd Terrill, Elmer Johansmeier. Back row: Harold Fletcher, Mary Ellen Terrill, Steve Terrill, Lucille Martin, Virginia Gruver, Robert Fletcher, Miss Nellie Lee-teacher.
The schoolhouse faced the north and was always cold in the winter time when the door was opened. Later a cloak room was built across the front of the building with an east door which made it much warmer, especially for the ones who had desks near the door. It had three windows on the east side, three on the west side and a blackboard across the south wall.
We had a picnic each year on the last day of school.
Page 110
Picture: AMITY
Helen Aringdale shared many family souvenirs. These were some of the most beautiful of all the souvenirs we saw.
| 1. Four American Poets |
| 2. The Story of Hiawatha |
| 3. Black Beauty |
| 4. Aunt Martha’s Corner Cupboard |
| 5. American Inventors and Inventions |
| 6. Things Will Take a Turn |
| 7. Four American Patriots |
| 8. The Boys of ‘76 |
| 9. Stories for Children |
| 10. The Pilot of the Mayflower |
| 11. The Birds Christmas Carol |
| 12. Four Stories of Life and Adventure |
| 13. The Story of Lincoln |
| 14. Treasure Island |
Page 111
Picture: AMITY.
Front row, left to right: Fern Simmons, Teryl Fletcher, Veron Wiley, Evelyn Tindale, Lorrine Wiley. Back row: John Nicholson, Ronald Fletcher, Robert Fletcher, Helen Aringdale, Hollis McConahay, Nelda Fletcher, Elmer Johansmeier, Keith Blodgett, Mary Blodgett
| Year | Teacher | Salary Per Month |
| 1902 | Mary Fitzsimmons | |
| 1902-03 | Sadie Patterson | |
| 1903-04 | ||
| 1905-06 | Thomas M. Baden (Minnie Bisher, Spring) | |
| 1906-07 | Edna Berkshire (Marie Nichols, Spring | |
| 1907-08 | Edna Smythe | |
| 1908-09 | Edna Baden | |
| 1909-10 | Edna Baden | |
| 1910-11 | Charles Baden | |
| 1911-12 | Charles Baden | |
| 1912-13 | Addlee Gregary | |
| 1913-14 | Leela Bates | $45 |
| 1914-15 | Blanche Boulton (Elda Latta, Winter) | $50 |
| 1915-16 | Elda Latta | $50 |
| 1916-17 | Nellie Wheeler (Francis Woods, Winter | $50 |
| 1917-18 | Marie Wheeler | $45 |
| 1922-23 | Hazel Rickey | $80 |
| 1923-24 | Elnora Duncan | $75 |
| 1924-25 | Geneva Dalmase | $70 |
| 1925-26 | Lucille Curran | $70 |
| 1926-27 | Velma Fern Metzgar | $70 |
| 1927-28 | Marion Mae Bates | $70 |
| 1928-29 | Marie Cutcomp | |
| 1929-30 | Ruh Davis | |
| 1930-35 | Nellie Lee | |
| 1935-36 | Izola Metzger | $50 |
| 1936-37 | Izola Metzger | $60 |
| 1937-38 | Elizabeth Cummings | $60 |
| 1938-39 | Elizabeth Cummings | $60 |
| 1939-40 | Elizabeth Cummings | $65 |
| 1940-41 | Marion Harris | $65 |
| 1943-44 | Maxine Blankenhorn | $100 |
Page 112
Pictures: AMITY SCHOOL.
The last day of school, 1936. Front row, left to right: Fern Simmons, Betty Lou Gruver, Evelyn Tindale, Donald Hall. Back row, seated: Bonnie Jean Gruver, Lorren Wiley, Lela Hale, Helen Aringdale, Leland Hale, beyond the tree, Virginia Gruver, Neida Fletcher, Ruth Fletcher. Standing, back row: ? Hall, Robert Fletcher, Hollis McConahay, Elmer Johansmeier, Vernon Wiley.
CAIRO. Unidentified.
Cairo school was located in the village of Cairo. The once busy town now has only a few buildings and homes.
The first school building in Cairo was destroyed and a second was built in 1884; it measured 24 by 40 feet and cost $1500. Initially, grades one through four were downstairs, while grades five through eight were upstairs; there were two teachers. In 1927 all eight grades were under one teacher, but ten years later the number of pupils required two teachers again. Nellie Ernest Lofgran, who taught for three years, was the first teacher to have all eight grades in one room. Some of the families that attended Cairo were Marshall, Bretz, Partington, Boulton, Brown, Toms, Kerr, Wittick, Mullen, Sellers and Humington.
Page 113
Pictures: CAIRO.
Front row, left to right: Clara Seller, Nellie Dotson, Bill Murray, L. Downing, Joe Toms, Frank Sellers, Mrytle Murray, B. Bretz, Jude Marshall, Laura Ginsdale. Back row: Bill Bretz, Frank Ruth, George Marshall, Dale Green, Kate Bretz, Ray Whistler, William Sellers, Charles James, Limmie Marshall, Lora Tindel.
CAIRO. Front row, left to right: Calvin Cockran, Robert Briggs, Lawrence Kerr, Charles Sellers. Middle row, left to right: Anna Brown, Mildred Humiston, Ruth Wittick, Geraldine Cockran, Velma Mullen, Louise Martin. Back row: Marle Parrington, Lucile Toms, Evert Martin, Hilton Briggs, John Roth, Earnest Hartsock, Leonard Kerr, Russell Sellers (Shady)
CAIRO. ?, Verna Thomas, Pat Lihs, Carol Partington, Ruth Partington, ?, Delbert Partington, Dean Lihs, ?, Frank Dickey.
Two students from Cairo became Louisa County superintendents. One, Mr. N. A. Lister, attended Eastern Iowa Normal School in Grandview in 1879. He was elected in 1887. Miss Myrtle Jamison graduated from Iowa State Teachers College. She was elected in 1918 and served as county superintendent for thirteen years.
Page 114
Pictures: CAIRO, 1938.
Front row, left to right: Verna Thomas, Frank Dickey, ?. Back row: Pat Lihs, Carol Partington, Ruth Partington, Dean Lihs; the rest are unidentified.
CAIRO, 1938.
Front row, left to right: Mark Dickey, Verna Thomas, Pat Lihs, ?,?, ?. Back row: Carol Partington, ?, ?,?, Dean Lihs
CAIRO 1938. Teacher: Helen Grim, Unidentified.
Page 115
| Year | Lower Room | Upper Room |
| 1900-01 | Dalla McKay | Thomas Baden |
| 1901-02 | America Bean | Thomas Baden |
| 1902-03 | America Bean | Thomas Baden |
| 1903-04 | Amy Roland | Thomas Baden |
| 1904-05 | Mary Fitzsimmons | Talma Sellers |
| 1905-06 | Ethel McCullough | Sadie Patterson |
| 1906-07 | Edna Birkshire | Sadie Patterson |
| 1907-08 | Edna Birkshire | Sadie Patterson |
| 1908-09 | Edna Smith | Sadie Patterson |
| 1909-10 | Jennie Sellers | W. Floyd Marston |
| 1910-11 | C. Alice Hartman | Jim Marshall |
| 1911-12 | C. Alice Hartman | Thomas Baden |
| 1912-13 | Zola Venard | Thomas Baden |
| 1913-14 | Zola Venard | Thomas Baden |
| 1914-15 | Zola Venard | Thomas Baden |
| 1915-16 | Zola Venard | Thomas Baden |
| 1916-17 | Zola Venard | Reed Hannah |
| 1917-18 | Zola Venard | Reed Hannah |
Pictures: CAIRO, 1929-30.
Front row, left to right: Marie Boysen, Laura Delzell, Ruth Partington, Belinda Orris, Clyde Partington, Devine Partington, Wilma Partington, Glenn Thomas, June Detzell, Violet Huffman, Gene Brown. Second row: Ethel Partington, Lola Hamilton, Lillian Brown, James Briggs, Alice Briggs, Mona James, Burdett Boulton, Robert Hamilton, Billie Brown, Miss Earnest-Teacher. Absent when picture was taken: Melvin Partington, Florence Delzell, Dean Lihs, Twyla Partington.
CAIRO. This last day of school program was distributed by Teacher Nellie Ernest Lofgren. Left to right: Ruth Partington, Aleimda Orris, Mona Jones, Lillian Brown.
Page 116
Picture: Cairo.
The play on the last day of school. Teacher: Nellie Ernest Lafgren. Left to right: Alice Briggs, Lela Hamilton, Ethel Parkington, Burdette Boulton, Robert Hamilton.
| Year | Teacher | Salary Per Month | Advanced | Salary Per Month |
| 1919-20 | Marjorie Robertson | $70 | Thomas Dunham | $85 |
| 1920-21 | Ivy Paulins | $90 | Nellie Carey | $110 |
| 1921-22 | Ellen Hetherington | $85 | Mildred Bailey | $100 |
| 1922-23 | Ava Eriven (4 months) and Mrs. Mildred Maris (4 months) all grades | $110 | ||
| 1923-24 | Nina Fitzgerald | $70 | Nola Dotson | $100 |
| 1924-25 | Opal Lavery | $75 | Marie Cutcomp | $100 |
| 1925-26 | Opal Lavery | $75 | Marie Cutcomp | $90 |
| 1926-27 | Nellie Earnest (all) | $100 | ||
| 1927-28 | Nellie Earnest (all) | $100 | ||
| 1929-30 | Nellie Earnest (all) | $115 | ||
| 1930-31 | Lucinda Lukenbell (all) | $100 | ||
| 1931-32 | Marie Cutcomp (all) | $90 | ||
| 1932-33 | Marie Cutcomp (all) | $90 | ||
| 1933-34 | Gladys Ball (all) | $60 | ||
| 1934-35 | Gladys Ball (all) | $60 | ||
| 1935-36 | Rachel Ingraham (all) | $60 | ||
| 1936-37 | ||||
| 1937-38 | Helen Grem | Alice Briggs | $55 | |
| 1938-39 | Alice Swanson | $55 | Helen Grim | $55 |
| 1939-40 | Marie Ruse | Pauline Ernes | $55 | |
| 1940-41 | Vivian Dean | $60 | Pauline Swafford | $60 |
| 1941-42 | Doris Marshall and | |||
| Josephen Havenhill (all) | $80 | |||
| 1942-43 | Zella McNeal (all) | $85 | ||
| 1943-44 | Jeanette Metzger (all) | $110 | ||
| 1944-45 | Dorothy McCray (all) | $140 | ||
| 1945-46 | Shirley Hewitt (all) | $150 | ||
| 1946-47 | Jeanne Bohn | $160 | ||
| 1947-48 | School closed |
Page 117
Franklin was the second school north of the little village of Marsh, near the western border of Louisa County.
Students who attended included: Allen, Laurel, Frances, Loren, and Shirley Humphrey; Steve, Freda, and Exxa Barland; Evelyn Ross; Louise and Alta Butcher, Dean Sligh; Florence, Pauline, Forest, Wayne, and Virginia Cummings; Clyde, Bob, Lwyla, and Mildred Loyd; and Lyle, Floyd, Leland and Lois Ross.
In 1927, not yet five years old, I started to Franklin school No. 5, the same one my father, W. G. Cummings, attended. Later, my brothers and sisters would also attend this same school.
Teachers I remember were Mildred Cockayne Robertson, first and second grade; Elizabeth Cummings Leisure, third and fourth; Nettie Christinger Wallentine, fifth and sixth; and Mary Archibald Stein, seventh and eighth.
I recall that Grandmother Cummings lived the first place north of the school, so my parents usually brought us to school and then spent some time with my grandmother. At noon, mother would bring a hot dish for us to eat. The other students were jealous but we would have preferred a lunch box. At night we would walk home if it was pleasant weather.
The family names I remember are Humphreys, Ross, Loyd, Butcher, Garland, Lake and Sligh.
I remember my eighth grade, for we all became sick. The Humphrey children came to school with a rash, but it was spring and no one thought of measles. We walked home that day and became so hot we laid down in the ditch where it was cool. Mother came looking for us and found us all sick but Virginia. We were all very sick for days as we developed all kinds of complications.
In October of ’36 before the measles episode I was scalded and didn’t go to school for a six week period. I can still remember that Christmas we had a program for our parents and I was so embarrassed as I had a pair of rayon hosiery, but due to my bandages I had to wear my cotton socks - no one knew the difference but me, but I was very shy and I always felt everyone knew.
Then it came time for us to graduate from eighth grade. Our teacher, Mary Archibald, was innovative, doing things to make our school days pleasant, educational and memorable. She had us plan our graduation so our family could enjoy it along with us. We had a trellis covered with paper flowers, and we marched to our seats of honor to the tune of “Three O’Clock In The Morning.” My mother saved for weeks so I could have a permanent, my first, which turned out to be tight and fuzzy, but I was on top of the world. I also had a new summer dress of pink dotted swiss. I was very large and wore a size 18 woman’s dress, but I was on cloud nine. We girls had a will, class prophesy, the whole gamut.
The next year I began high school at Winfield along with Twyla Loyd and Lois Ross. I remember this year well as I was so timid and the school overpowered us greenhorns. I proceeded through high school walking one half mile to meet the bus each day, as no bus went past our house. During high school I was enrolled in the Normal Training program - which meant that in eleventh and twelfth grades we took our usual subjects plus Methods of Teaching, Agriculture and other courses. We had six courses each semester instead of four and took state exams; if we passed, we were qualified to teach rural school at age eighteen.
I didn’t get my teaching permit until October 5, 1941, and I relieved a teacher in Henry County in October, November and December that year. In January of 1942, I was selected to take Louise Lee Beaman’s place at Washington because she had had surgery. I taught again the next year. The names that come to mind as families are Nelson, Keller and Van Horn. Since the school was small I was assigned to teach Franklin and have the Washington children come to our school.
In the spring of 1945 Franklin closed since Morning Sun and Winfield decided to bus the rural children to school.
Page 118
Picture: FRANKLIN.
Front row, left to right: Twyla Lloyd, Alta Marie Butcher, Laurel Humphrey (Barrick), Lois Ross, Frances Humphrey, Forest Cummings, Florence Cummings. Second row: Mildred Cockayne, Teacher, Luella Lloyd, Floyd Ross, Clyde Lloyd, Allen Humphrey, Leland Ross, Louise Butcher.
The Director of Franklin had given me permission to take my students on a trip to Burlington because I had told him that it would tie in with our studies. Before we could take the trip, we had to put on a program to raise the money for it. Being a small school, we put on a short entertainment and then a bingo game followed with refreshments furnished by the mothers.
For a month before our trip we studied various kinds of transportation, maps, costs, how to read time tables, obtain tickets, display good manners, and how to read traffic signals and cross city streets. At that time country children were really not in cities all that much. We estimated our expenses, gave oral reports and wrote themes on what we expected to see.
The day of the trip the students, some of the mothers and I went to New London by car. There we took a Trailway bus to Burlington. There we rode a city bus out to the airport where one of the personnel gave us a tour of the terminal, allowed all of us to climb into an airplane and sit down and strap on safety belts. Next back downtown on a city bus and a period of fun in the two big dime stores. While walking on the downtown streets the youngest student, Donny, and I walked to the head of the column. It was Donny’s job to watch the crossing signals and tell when it was safe to walk. After our fun at the dime stores we walked to the Burlington Hotel. There they gave us a tour including the laundry room in the basement, the kitchen, banquet rooms, conference rooms, and then to the dining room where we had lunch, practicing our manners.
After lunch we walked to the rail depot. They showed us the teletype machines, the Western Union office and the ticket office, and they explained the proper way to board a train, which we very shortly did. And so we went back to New London, and then home from there by automobile.
The following week we figured what we had spent, gave oral and written reports on what we had seen and learned and wrote thank you letters to the managers of the airport, and Hotel Burlington and the agent at the Union Station depot. All voted that the trip was a huge success and well worth our efforts.
Page 119
| Year | Teacher |
| 1911-12 | Fern Barrick, Winter |
| 1912-13 | Minnie Swanson, Winter |
| 1913-14 | |
| 1914-16 | Hattie Pogenmiller |
| 1916-17 | Fannie Bass, Fall; Bertha Kilpatrick, Winter, Spring |
| 1917-18 | |
| 1918-19 | Fern Carlson |
| 1919-20 | F. Rickey (Edna Lee, Spring) |
| 1920-21 | Edna Lee |
| 1921-22 | Edna Lee (Francis Rickey, Spring) |
| 1922-23 | Francis Rickey |
| 1923-24 | Dorothy Simpson or Roxey Wilson |
| 1924-25 | Daisy Stodgell |
| 1925-26 | Lucille Curran |
| 1926-27 | Dorothea Simpson |
| 1927-29 | Mildred Cockayne |
| 1929-30 | Verle B. Hamilton |
| 1930-34 | Nettie Chressman |
| 1934-36 | Elizabeth Cummings |
| 1936-38 | Mary Archibald Stein |
| 1938-39 | Marie Swanson |
| 1939-41 | Mary Archibald Stein |
| 1941-42 | |
| 1942-43 | Florence Cummings |
| 1943-44 | Louise Beaman and Florence Cummings |
| 1944-45 | Florence Cummings |
We found conflicting reports for the 40s. One says the school closed in 1941-42 and reopened the next year. It appears that Florence Cummings was the last teacher at the school.
Hope was the first school in Marshall Township. It was located near Hope Farm south and east of Cairo and west of the Fulton-Cairo cemetery. The early teachers were Elijah Lathrop and Veazy P. Bunnell in 1838 and 1839. Mrs. Marion Bozman’s father, Reid Mewhirter, attended Hope school.
Page 120
Picture: OAKLAND SCHOOL
Front row, left to right: Walter McCune, Margaret Boysen, Barbara Barrick, Helen Earnest and Clarence Earnest. Back row: Verna Johnston, teacher; Pauline Earnest, Harriet Wolfe, Naomi Wolfe, Neal Wolfe, and Edlef Boysen.
Oakland Rural No. 1 was on the Wapello-Winfield blacktop. It was a half mile east of the Oakland Church and Cemetery.
In a newspaper story in 1931 a great-grandmother who was interviewed remembered going to Oakland in 1864. She remembered a very large stove and long desks fastened to the floor against the east and west walls. The seats were made of log slabs with holes bored through from the rounded sides, which were still covered with bark. Through these holes, poles were inserted for legs. This was the finished seat. Often these pegs would work through, making it most uncomfortable to sit. Up front was a long, unpainted recitation bench with no back—and all children, whether tall or short, used it.
Page 121
| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring | Salary per month |
| 1888-89 | Villa McKay | Adah Nichols | Villa McKay | |
| 1889-90 | Adah Nichols | Adah Nichols | May Hasenhill | |
| 1890-91 | May Havenhill | May Havenhill | Lucia Nichols | |
| 1891-1892 | Lucia Nichols | May Havenhill | May Hasenhill | |
| 1892-93 | May Havenhill | May Havenhill | Mattie Nichols | |
| 1893-94 | Mattie Nichols | Mattie Nichols | Mattie Nichols | |
| 1894-95 | Edna Shipman | Edna Shipman | Edna Shipman | |
| 1895-96 | Mattie Hunt | |||
| 1896-97 | Mattie Hunt | Edna Shipman | Florence Curran | |
| 1897-98 | ||||
| 1898-1899 | Mattie Nichols | C. A. McCulley | Mary Turnbull | |
| 1899-1900 | Mary Turnbull | Edna Shipman | Edna Shipman | |
| 1900-01 | Olive Fitzsimmons | Olive Fitzsimmons | Olive Fitzsimmons | |
| 1901-02 | Effie M. Briggs | Effie M. Briggs | Marie Baldridge | |
| 1902-03 | Marie Baldridge | Marie Baldridge | Margaret Sloan | |
| 1903-04 | Olive Fitzsimmons | Olive Fitzsimmons | Effie Briggs | |
| 1904-05 | John Van Horn | Robert Harris | Mary Fitzsimmons | |
| 1905-06 | Ruth Holland | Ruth Holland | Jessie J. Dowell | |
| 1906-07 | Lisetta Reutinger | Lisetta Reutinger | Ova Wilson | |
| 1907-08 | Lena Reid | Lisetta Reutinger | ||
| 1908-09 | Lena Reid | |||
| 1909-10 | Mason Smith | Mason Smith | Mason Smith | |
| 1910-1 | Geneva Lee | Geneva Lee | Geneva Lee | |
| 1911-12 | Lena Green | Lena Green | Lena Green | |
| 1912-13 | Merle Callahan | Merle Callahan | Merle Callahan | |
| 1913-14 | Fern Barrick | Fern Barrick | Fern Barrick | |
| 1914-15 | Bessie Owens | Bessie Owens | Bessie Owens | |
| 1915-18 | ||||
| 1918-19 | Marie Courtney | Marie Courtney | Marie Courtney | $50 |
| 1919-20 | Martha Peters | Martha Peters | Martha Peters | $60 |
| 1920-21 | Laura Oliphant | Laura Oliphant | Laura Oliphant | |
| 1921-22 | Esther Ball | Esther Ball | Esther Ball | $80 |
| 1922-23 | Hazel Hamilton | Hazel Hamilton | Hazel Hamilton | $75 |
| 1923-24 | Daisy Hamilton | Daisy Hamilton | Daisy Hamilton | $75 |
| 1924-25 | Florence Winder | Florence Winder | Florence Winder | $70 |
| 1925-26 | Florence Winder | Florence Winder | Florence Winder | $70 |
| 1926-27 | Gladys Walker | Gladys Walker | Gladys Walker | $85 |
| 1927-28 | Juanita Carter | Juanita Carter | Juanita Carter | $65 |
| 1928-29 | Verna Johnson | Verna Johnson | Verna Johnson | $70 |
| 1929-30 | Verna Johnson | Verna Johnson | Verna Johnson | $80 |
| 1930-31 | Esther Ball | Esther Ball | Esther Ball | $80 |
| 1931-32 | Esther Ball | Esther Ball | Esther Ball | $65 |
| 1932-33 | Vivian Deam | Vivian Deam | Vivian Deam | $45 |
| 1933-34 | Maxine Watson | Maxine Watson | Maxine Watson | $50 |
| 1934-35 | Maxine Watson | Maxine Watson | Maxine Watson | |
| 1935-36 | Nellie Lee | Nellie Lee | Nellie Lee | |
| 1937-38 | Marie Rose | Marie Rose | Marie Rose | |
| 1938-41 | Bessie Bates | Bessie Bates | Bessie Bates | |
| 1941-42 | Marilyn Paris | Marilyn Paris | Marilyn Paris | |
| 1943-44 | Closed |
Page 122
| Year | Teacher | Salary Per month |
| 1909-10 | Frances Gerlach (Stella Woodruff, Winter) | |
| 1910-11 | Rebecca Woodruff, Fall; H. B. Stone, | |
| Winter, Myrtle Fizsimmons, Spring | ||
| 1911-12 | Lattee E. McConahay | |
| 1912-13 | Lela Bates (M. Phrania Hamilton, Spring | |
| 1913-14 | Fern Barrick | |
| 1914-15 | Phrania Hamilton | $50 |
| 1917-18 | Hazel Hull | $80 |
| 1918-19 | Esther Ball | $90 |
| 1919-20 | Esther Ball | $80 |
| 1920-21 | Esther Ball | $80 |
| 1921-22 | Lelia Eversmeyer | $80 |
| 1922-23 | Lelia Eversmeyer | $75 |
| 1923-24 | Ralph Ball | $80 |
| 1924-25 | Ralph Ball | $70 |
| 1925-26 | Geneva Dalmase | $80 |
| 1926-27 | Geneva Dalmase | $85 |
| 1927-28 | Geneva Dalmase | $85 |
| 1928-29 | Pearl Lowe | $55 |
| 1929-30 | Lola Brown | $65 |
| 1930-31 | Lola Brown | $85 |
| 1931-32 | Daisy Kemp | $65 |
| 1932-33 | Gladys Watson | $45 |
| 1933-34 | Alice Lowe | $50 |
| 1934-35 | Alice Lowe | |
| 1935-36 | Marie Cutcomp (Margaret Gerth, Winter | |
| 1936-37 | Margaret Gerth | |
| 1937-38 | Margaret Williams | $60 |
| 1938-39 | Margaret Williams | $60 |
| 1939-42 | ||
| 1942-43 | Betty McChesney | $110 |
| 1943-44 | Bernice Herrick | $125 |
| 1944-45 | Closed November 22, 1944 |
Picture: ORCHARD GROVE, 1939-40.
Front row, left to right: Darlene Deppy, June Yakle, Bobby Stephens, Ray Stephens, Ted Stephens. Back row: Myrlene Stephens, Mary Lou Stephens, Basil Harl, Hal Stephens, Joan Stephens
Page 123
Pictures: ORCHARD GROVE.
This school was north of Long Creek Bridge.
ORCHARD GROVE. This may have been the last day of school; we were unable to make any identifications.
Shake Rag was closed because of its condition. The new school, named Orchard Grove, was built in 1910 or 1913 on land belonging to the Murphy brothers. Its location was one half mile north of the end of the five mile lane on the west side, south of Long Creek Bridge. Families attending the school were Ball, Wykerts, Stephens, Deppy, Yakles, Hart, and Pontizus.
Page 124
Pictures: ORCHARD GROVE, 1929.
Front row, left to right: Clyde Yakle, Bill Yakle, Mary Louise McDowell. Back row: Nellie Bennet, Glen McDowell, Francis Yakle, Bill McDowell, Lola Brown-Teacher.
ORCHARD GROVE, 1942-43 or 1943-44.
Teacher: Betty McChesney. Front row, left to right: Marjorie Jackson, Della Hutchinson, Lola Windland. Back row: Darlene Deppy, June Yakle, Twila Jackson. Not pictured: Fred Barrick Larry Jackson.
The Otter Creek school was located on County road X37, northwest of Morning Sun, on land given by G. C. Nichols.
In 1925-26 Nellie Ernest Lafgren was the teacher. She recalls that Mr. Charles Samuels was the director of the board, and Mr. Robert H. Ernest was the president of the board. Mrs. Lafgren’s contract stated that the teacher was to perform all her own janitorial work, keep daily records and prepare all reports as were required by the Board of Directors and Section 2789 of Iowa School Laws. She was to exercise “due diligence” in preservation of all property including the schoolhouse, furniture and flags. The flag and flag staff were provided according to School Laws of Iowa. The pledge was given every morning.
The box social was a popular event each fall. The money raised was used to purchase a set of encyclopedias.
Presently the Otter Creek school is used as a community building. Its original location as one mile south, on the west side, just north of Otter Creek.
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Pictures: OTTER CREEK, 1917-1918.
Teacher Dorothy Thomas. Front row, left to right: Raymond Gunnels, Leonard Kerr, Stanley Walker, Margaret Samuels, Gladys Walker, Marie Kerr, Hilton Harris. Back row: Carl Gunnels, Clyde Conkite, Carl Samuels, Dallas Kerr, Vera Samuels, Stella Walker, Alice Gunnels, Louise Kerr, Dorothy Thomas –teacher.
OTTER CREEEK, 1925-1926. Left to right: Glen Samuels, Lorraine Hupp, Dale Hamilton.
OTTER CREEK, 1925-1926. Left to right: Nellie Ernest Lofgren, teacher of Otter Creek, and Florence Johnson Walker, Oakland School.
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| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring | Salary per month |
| 1877-78 | Jeremy Dawthy | Mattie Verties | Mary Wilson | |
| 1878-79 | Lizzie Coleman | Lizzie Coleman | Lizzie Coleman | |
| 1879-80 | R. W. Bozeman | |||
| 1880-1881 | William Bowser | William Bowserr | Nettie Brubaker | |
| 1881-82 | William Bowser | William Bowserr | Aleva Allen | |
| 1882-83 | A. H. Bozman | A. H. Bozman | Ella Betts | |
| 1883-1896 | Records Lost | |||
| 1896-97 | Ed Davis | Nettie Nichols | Nettie Nichols | |
| 1897-98 | Ina Thompson | Ina Thompson | Ina Thompson | |
| 1898-99 | Olive Fitzsimmons | Nettie Nichols | Nettie Nichols | |
| 1899-1900 | Carrie Rack | |||
| 1900-01 | Nettie Nichols | Nettie Nichols | Nettie Nichols | |
| 1901-02 | E. Blanche Balllridge | P. M. Murphy | Maude Millinger | |
| 1902-03 | Della Patterson | T. M. Bader | Zella Wright | |
| 1903-04 | Della Patterson | T. M. Bader | Daisy Melts | |
| 1904-05 | Authur Anderson | Susie B. Paisley | Aurthur Anderson | |
| 1905-1918 | Records lost; beginning in 1918-19, the contracts were for eight or nine months | |||
| 1918-19 | Dorothy Thomas | $60 | ||
| 1919-20 | Dorothy Thomas | $75 | ||
| 1920-21 | ||||
| 1921-22 | Ralph Ball | $80 | ||
| 1922-23 | Florence Johnson | $80 | ||
| 1923-24 | Florence Johnson | $80 | ||
| 1924-25 | Gladys Ball | $75 | ||
| 1925-26 | Nellie Ernest | $70 | ||
| 1926-27 | Daniel Cotter | $80 | ||
| 1927-28 | ||||
| 1928-29 | Verlee Hamilton | $85 | ||
| 1929-30 | Bertha Thompson | $85 | ||
| 1930-31 | Marie Cummings | $85 | ||
| 1931-32 | Marie Cummings | $80 | ||
| 1932-33 | Marie Cummings | $80 | ||
| 1933-34 | Genevieve Collins and Esther Ball | $45 | ||
| 1934-36 | Vera Klindt | $55 | ||
| 1936-39 | Marian Harris | |||
| 1939-41 | Vivian Dean | |||
| 1941-43 | Rachel Larson | |||
| 1943-44 | Hazel Plum | $100 | ||
| 1944-45 | Hazel Plum | $125 | ||
| 1945-46 | Hazel Plum | $125 | ||
| 1946-47 | Hazel Plum | $170 | ||
| 1947-48 | Mary McKeever | $180 | ||
| 1948-49 | Ollie Herwitt | $200 |
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Picture: OTTER CREEK, 1925-26.
Teacher Nellie Ernest Lafgren. Front row, left to right: Dale Hamilton, Marion Harris, Viola Samuels, Leota Walker, Glen Samuels, little girl in front was a visitor, Lorraine Hupp. Back row: Hilton Harris, Helen Samuels, Edna Hupp, Alice Hupp, Burton Harris, Frances Hupp, Dorothy Bates, Stanley Walker. The students in the back row were all in seventh grade-and had to take “Country Exams” in the eighth grade they took their remaining exams at Wapello, the county seat.
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A copy of the teacher’s contract of Nellie Ernest dated July 15, 1925
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| Year | Fall | Winter | Spring |
| 1879-80 | Alice Bates | Alice Bates | Julia Meyerdick |
| 1880-81 | Ettie Brubaker | Ettie Brubaker | Luella Betts |
| 1881-82 | Eva O. Kremer; school was closed by order of the substitute director after two weeks | ||
| 11/81-82 | Eva Kramer | Eva Kramer | Francis Crammond |
| 1883 | H. Luella Betts | ||
| 1883-1888 | Records lost | ||
| 1888-89 | Bessie Ray | Bessie Ray | Sadie Daily |
| 1889-90 | Rhonda M. Barden | Mattie Nichols | |
| 1890-91 | Mattie Nichols | J. H. Farr | Rose Anderson |
| 1891-92 | Barton Peel | P. M. Murphy | Frankie Crammond |
| 1892-93 | Edna Shipman | P. M. Murphy | Nannie O'Lane |
| 1893-94 | Horace Baker | John P. Cotter | John P. Cotter |
| 1894-95 | Lewis F. Gerald | Iola M. Reevell | |
| 1895-96 | Marie E. Otto | J. C. McLaughlin | Vinnie Winters |
| 1896-97 | Vinnie Winters | Vinnie Winters | Vinnie Winters |
| 1897-98 | Vinnie Winters | Vinnie Winters | Hartense Herrick |
| 1898-99 | Jessie Shipman | Maire Baldridge | Marie Baldridge |
| 1899-1900 | Vinnie Winters | Vinnie Winters | Vinnie Winters |
| 1900-01 | Marie Baldridge | Marie Baldridge | Marie Baldridge |
| 1901-02 | Marie Baldridge | Marie Baldridge | Hemritta Pease |
| 1902-03 | Florence L. Guems | Marie Baldridge | Marie Baldridge |
| 1903-04 | Marie Baldridge | Amy Rowland | Edna Shipman |
| 1904 | A summer term was taught by Vinnie Winters May 2-June 24 | ||
| 1904-05 | Inez L. Neal | Vinnie Winters | Ruth Holland |
| 1905-06 | Myrtle Fisher | Edna Shipman | Mary Fitzgerald |
| 1906-07 | Edna Shipman | Edna Shipman | Edna Shipman |
| 1907-08 | Grace Cracker | Grace Cracker | Eva Bretz |
| 1908-09 | Frances Hamilton | Frances Hamilton | Frances Hamilton |
| 1909-10 | Frances Gerland | Stella Woodruff | Stella Woodruff |
| 1910-11 | Rebecca Woodruff | H. B. Stone | Myrtle Fitzsimmons |
| 1911-12 | Lette E. McConaly | ||
| 1912-13 | Leta Bates |
The school was located west of Wapello, one half mile north of the end of Five Mile Lane, then three quarters of a mile west, on the north side of the unimproved road.
In 1850 the school was built near the home of Abraham Hill, who helped build the school so his children could be educated. Shortly after the school opened, someone stole the teacher’s bell. Classes were then called by shaking a white rag, and the school became known as Shake Rag. Records do not provide information about an earlier name.
Long Creek periodically overflowed, which prevented some pupils from being able to get home. They had to stay overnight with the Murphy family.
By 1901 it was felt that the old, gray, weather-beaten building needed to be replaced. After an election, it was decided to build on a new location on the main road. The Murphy brothers gave the land south of Long Creek Bridge. The new building was named Orchard Grove when it opened in the fall of 1913.
Alice Bates taught at Shake Rag in 1879. Student names include Frankie and Gadie Crammond; Nye and Zena Hall; Emmal, Minnie and Henry Molley; Della Belknap; Jennie Smith; Rachel and Carrie Depp; Emma Ogier; Oliver Sweeney; Robert Smyth; Vinnie Crammond; Bobbie Wykert; Johnie and Eddie Cotter; Will Smyth; Louie Girard, and the Dalmase, Ball and Grim families.
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Washington No. 4 was located in the Marsh district mid-distance from Wapello, Morning Sun and Winfield. Attending school in 1936-37 were Edelf and Aloph Boysen, Jack and Wanda Hall, Glen Fletcher, Roger Heitmeier and several Heater children. Marie Boysen, Helen and Junior Coon had just previously graduated from the eighth grade and were attending Morning Sun High School.
The small school was beautifully located on the edge of Virginia Grove timber, but with mud roads surrounding it for several miles. The building had the standard equipment of the times: a coal-burning stove, a bell, double desks, a pump, coal house and toilets. As the teacher, I was responsible for maintaining and keeping clean all this property. Ada Smith of Wapello was our good county superintendent. The A. L. Coon family graciously opened their home to me, and provided room and board during the school year.
Pictures: WASHINGTON.
Washington is now part of Virginia Grove Park. The 1870 records show that the land for the school was given by Joshua S. Marshall.
WASHINGTON NO. 4. Front row, left to right: Bernice Wheeler, Rex Wheeler, Edna Wheeler, Dorothy Van Horne Smith, Opal Vandermark. Back row: Slater Brady, Floyd Van Horne, Leo Jackson, Iva Cockrin – teacher, Nellie Higgins Devere Brady, ?
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That particular year was known for frequent rains and a long icy winter - so many muddy and sliding feet found their way to daily lessons in most all grades, primary through grade eight. I experienced an exciting and profitable year as this was my first year in the educational field.
Today this school is one of the few existing rural schools and has been preserved by the county as Virginia Grove County Park, a place for the public to relax, and picnic and enjoy nature in the woods surrounding the old school.
Pictures: WASHINGTON NO. 4, 1936.
Helen North: Teacher. Front row, left to right: Billy Nichols, Jack Hall, Allen Fletcher, Roger Heitmeier, Wanda Hall, Charles Heater. Back row: Barbara Heater, Betty Heater, Virginia Heater, Helen Coon, Marie Boysen, Adolph Boysen, Helen North-Teacher
WASHINGTON NO. 4.
Front row, left to right: Everett Hainey, Leonard Kerr, Rex Wheeler. Middle row: Bernadine Hainey, Louise Kerr, Dorothy Van Horn Smith, Marie Kerr, Bernice Wheeler. Back row: Dallas Kerr, Floyd Van Horn, Vera Nelson, Edna Wheeler
WASHINGTON NO. 4, 1931.
Teacher: Mary Wilson McKeever. Front row, left to right: Clifford Murray, Romelle Richardson, Helen Coon, Eileen Nelson. Back row: Ilylla Nelson, Elanora McKeever, Junior Coon, Richard Murray.
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Picture: WASHINGTON NO. 4, SEPTEMBER 1987.
Virginia Grove and former students of Washington No. 4, which is now a part of Virginia Grove Park. Left to right: Adolph Boysen, Leonard Kerr, Thelma Bice Coon – former teacher, Junior Coon, Dorothy Smith.
| Year | Teacher | Salary Per Month |
| 1915-16 | William Bowser | |
| 1916-17 | Ina Cockrin | |
| 1917-18 | Ina Cockrin | |
| 1918-19 | Lela Beck | |
| 1919-1920 | Edith Matthews | $50 |
| 1920-21 | Ina Jamison | $75 |
| 1921-22 | Ina Jamison | $95 |
| 1922-23 | Margaret Walker | $85 |
| 1923-24 | Roxie Wilson Wheeler | $85 |
| 1924-25 | Roxie Wilson Wheeler | $85 |
| 1925-26 | Roxie Wilson Wheeler | $90 |
| 1926-27 | Roxie Wilson Wheeler | $95 |
| 1927-28 | Roxie Wilson McKeever | $90 |
| 1928-29 | Roxie Wilson McKeever | $90 |
| 1929-30 | Roxie Wilson McKeever | $90 |
| 1930-31 | Roxie Wilson McKeever | $85 |
| 1931-32 | Roxie Wilson McKeever and Gladys Watson | |
| 1932-33 | Frances Cummings | $45 |
| 1933-34 | Frances Cummings | $50 |
| 1934-35 | Frances Cummings | $50 |
| 1935-36 | Helen North | $50 |
| 1936-37 | Mable Korn | $50 |
| 1937-38 | Thelma Bice Coon | $55 |
| 1938-39 | Thelma Bice Coon | $65 |
| 1939-40 | Thelma Bice Coon | $70 |
| 1940-41 | Louisa Lee | $70 |
| 1941-42 | Florence Cummings | $65 |
| 1942-43 | Florence Cummings and Louise Beam | |
| 1943-44 | Florence Cummings | $110 |
| 1944-45 | Jane Walsh | $125 |
| 1945-46 | Jane Walsh | $150 |