| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
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Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, November 19, 2019
Map of Oakland Township
| 1. Baker No. 2 |
| 2. Big Spring Run No. 5 (also called Shakerag) |
| 3. Carpenter No. 1 |
| 4. McQueen |
| 5. Oakland No. 4 |
This township was organized in 1853, its first election being held April 4 of that year. The township was named by Charles H. Abbott, for a township in Michigan where he formerly resided. It comprises all of township 76, range 5 west, lying east of the Iowa River, and that territory lying in Louisa County between the forks of the Iowa and Cedar Rivers. This township was formerly a part of Fredonia, and all elections were held at the village of that name. In order to vote the citizens of this township were compelled to cross the Cedar River which made it very inconvenient. They therefore held a caucus at old Port Allen, with a view of electing officers for the township who lived west of the river. In pursuance of this idea, after consultation, they ferried across the river in an Indian canoe, two at a time, until about thirty men were collected around the voting place at Fredonia. Sauntering up and quietly casting their ballots, in order to allay suspicion of their scheme, they then returned to their homes. A short time before the polls were closed, those residing on the east side of the …
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… river suspected that something was wrong, and that they were being out-voted. Putting some boys on horses they sent them out in all directions to bring in voters from their side of the river; but too late, all the township officers elected being from the west side of the river. The citizens of Fredonia, not liking the plight they were in, petitioned the County Court to set off the territory now comprising the township of Oakland from Fredonia Township, which was accordingly done. It is stated that the ballot box used at this election was a plug hat belonging to John Tucker, afterward County Treasurer. As a cover to the hat a shingle was used, with a slot through which to drop the ballots. There was jug of whisky standing outside in the sand, in front of the hotel where the election was held, which was free to all.
Our research has lead us to discover five rural schools in Oakland Township: Baker, Big Spring Run, Carpenter, McQueen, and Oakland. We also recently discovered the following article about a very early Oakland school in Mabel Else Brown’s book:
The earliest school in the valley was taught by Mrs. Susan Hill to be in Section 10, Oakland Township, west of Cone Marsh. The log cabin school was on the corner south of the residence of Leroy Forbes, where the road past the marsh and the road from the west meet. It was on the northwest corner of the intersection. Nothing is known of the school. Because of its location on the land of Francis Asbury Forbes and his presence here in 1850 (as indicated by the fact he was in the 1850 census), it might be assumed Francis Forbes had been one of those promoting the school. His first three children were born before 1850, his first about 1843/46. From this, we might infer that the little log school could have been built around 1850 or before. The location of the Forbes Cemetery is only a short distance west of the site of the old school.
Picture: BAKER NO. 2, 1911-12
Front row, seated, left to right, Wilma Goldesberry, Lillie Holland, Earnest Baker, El McBride, Randol Hoben, Tom Holland.
Front (standing): Wilbur Goldesberry, Callie Boyd, Cyrus Holland.
Middle row: Ruth Baker, Faith Baker, Ira Goldesberry, James Holland, Fronk Boyd, Reid McBride, Anna Nicols.
Back row: Hazel Leffler, Merle Smith, Hazel McBride, James Hoben, Ira McBride, Rolla McKean.
Top left: Wilhelmina Otto-teacher.
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| Year | Teacher | Months | Salary Per Month |
| 1918-19 | Ethel Chown | $45 | |
| 1919-20 | Edith Axtel | 8.5 | $60 |
| 1920-21 | Eva Reese | $100 | |
| 1921-22 | Eva Reese | 8.5 | $100 |
| 1922-23 | Mildred Fullerton | 8 | $60 |
| 1923-24 | Margaret Hesseltine | 9 | $65 |
| 1924-25 | Elizabeth McCormick (Orris) | 9 | $70 |
| 1925-26 | Edna Wolford | 9 | $90 |
| Hazel McBride Allen | |||
| 1926-27 | Alice Moody | 9 | $80 |
| 1927-28 | Edna Tomfield | August | $70 |
| Leah Farmer | November | ||
| 1928-29 | Eva Reese | 9 | $70 |
| 1929-30 | Arlene Stolley | 9 | $70 |
| 1930-31 | Arlene Stolley | 9 | $85 |
| 1931-32 | Laura Plowman | 9 | $85 |
| 1932-33 | Laura Plowman | 8.5 | $75 |
| 1933-34 | Randall Bebb | 9 | $40 |
| 1934-35 | Randall Bebb | 9 | $57.50 |
| 1935-36 | Myrtle Lee | ||
| 1936-37 | Modelle Harbison | ||
| 1937-38 | Modelle Harbison | ||
| 1938-39 | |||
| 1939-40 | |||
| 1940-41 | |||
| 1941-42 | Modelle Harbison | ||
| 1942-43 | Gladys Ball | 9 | $100 |
| 1943-44 | Gladys Ball | 9 | $115 |
| 1944-45 | Gladys Ball | 9 | $150 |
| 1945-46 | Gladys Ball | ||
| 1946-47 | Edna Coffin | ||
| Dorothy McCullough (Drinkall) | |||
| 1947-48 | Zola Venard | 9 | $150 |
| 1948-49 | Bernice Walker | 9 | $180 |
| 1949-50 | Bernice Walker | 9.5 | $215 |
| 1950-51 | Hazel Satterthwaite | 9.5 | $215 |
Picture: BAKER NO. 2, 1911-12
Front row, seated, left to right, Wilma Goldesberry, Lillie Holland, Earnest Baker, El McBride, Randol Hoben, Tom Holland.
Front (standing): Wilbur Goldesberry, Callie Boyd, Cyrus Holland.
Middle row: Ruth Baker, Faith Baker, Ira Goldesberry, James Holland, Fronk Boyd, Reid McBride, Anna Nicols.
Back row: Hazel Leffler, Merle Smith, Hazel McBride, James Hoben, Ira McBride, Rolla McKean.
Top left: Wilhelmina Otto-teacher.
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Picture: BAKER.
Group of students and teacher, Identification unknown.
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Picture: BAKER 1948.
Front row, left to right: Richard Lauderdale, Larry Forbes, Ronald Conaway.
Back row: Bub Nicholas, Gary Conaway, Dean Soloman, Willard Soloman, Ronald Lauderdale, Kenneth Weber, Jim Nicholas.
Keith Keeler of Lone Tree served as director for Big Spring Run. His responsibilities included hiring the teachers, checking on the curriculum, buying the coal for the stove (but it was the teacher’s job to fire the stove), and making sure the teacher had a place to stay. His own two children attended the school, and he presently owns the land where Big Spring Run was situated. Family names that Mr. Keeler and Mrs. Martha Forbes recall are Forbes, Wieland, Shingledecker, Gesling and Petru.
Pictures: BIG SPRING RUN, 1933-35.
The teacher was Gayle Edwards. Maude Petru marked herself with an “X”.
BIG SPRING RUN, 1937-1939.
Front row, left to right: Jim Forbes,? Petsel, Lucille Petru, Florence Jean Nicholson. Back row: Hubert Eden-teacher; Junior Nicholson, Warren Forbes, Wayne Forbes, ?, Irene Petru.
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Picture: BIG SPRING RUN. Group of students, with identity unknown
| Year | Teacher | Months | Salary Per Month |
| 1918-19 | Hazel McBride | 8 | $55 |
| 1919-20 | Myrtle Eden | 8.5 | $65 |
| 1920-21 | Wilma Briggs | $100 | |
| Charles Jayne | |||
| 1921-22 | Marie Cline | 8.5 | $85 |
| 1922-23 | Gladys Hesseltine | ||
| 1923-24 | Edna Walford | 9 | $85 |
| 1924-25 | Jennie Keller | Fall | |
| Winona Brown | Winter & Spring | ||
| 1925-26 | Pearl Hank | 9 | $70 |
| 1926-27 | Winona Brown | Winter & Spring | |
| Pearl Hank | Winter & Spring-9 mo | $80 | |
| 1927-28 | Nellie Lee | 9 | $80 |
| 1928-29 | Nellie Lee | 9 | $80 |
| 1929-30 | Nellie Lee | 9 | $85 |
| 1930-31 | Ruth Stolley | 9 | $65 |
| 1931-32 | Ruth Stolley | 9 | $60 |
| 1932-33 | Ruth Stolley | 8.5 | $80 |
| 1933-34 | Gayle Edwards | 9 | $75 |
| 1934-35 | Gayle Edwards | 9 | $40 |
| 1935-36 | Loretta Doughtery | $57.50 | |
| 1936-37 | Loretta Doughtery | ||
| 1937-38 | Hubert Eden | ||
| 1938-39 | Hubert Eden | ||
| 1939-40 | Elwyn Edwards | ||
| 1940-41 | Allene Buster | ||
| 1941-42 | Marie Rose | ||
| 1942-43 | Hazel Satterthwaite | 9 | |
| 1943-44 | Evelyn Waterhouse | 9 | $100 |
| 1944-45 | Evelyn Waterhouse | 9 | $115 |
| 1945-46 | Martha Forbes | 9 | $150 |
| 1946-47 | Martha Forbes | $150 | |
| 1947-48 | Closed |
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My grandfather Cyril Carpenter, an early county supervisor, built Carpenter school. It was sometimes known as the Chown school because it was built on Chown land. My aunt Cornellia (called Nillia) Carpenter, who later became Mrs. Arthur Springer, was the first teacher at Carpenter. The school closed after the 1943-44 term because the five remaining students (the Lester Bausch family) moved out of the district.
Pictures: CARPENTER.
The Stephen Bausch family outside the school: Douglas Lee, Ronald David, Ruth Ann and Hope Adaire.
CARPENTER: Ruth Green taught at Carpenter from 1936-39. She boarded with the Stephen Baush family.
CARPETNER, 1893. Miss E. McFarland – teacher
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| Year | Teacher | Months | Salary Per Month |
| 1918-19 | Beulah Phillips | ||
| Grace Babbit | |||
| 1919-20 | Emma Wehmeyer | 8.5 | $60 |
| 1920-21 | Edith Chown | $85 | |
| 1921-22 | Edith Chown | ||
| 1922-23 | Edith Chown | 8.5 | $70 |
| 1923-24 | Edith Chown | 9 | $70 |
| 1924-25 | Daisy Kemp | 9 | $65 |
| 1925-26 | Edith Chown Littrel | 9 | $90 |
| 1926-27 | Edith Chown Littrel | 9 | $90 |
| 1927-28 | Edith Chown Littrel | 9 | $70 |
| 1928-29 | |||
| 1929-30 | |||
| 1930-31 | No school | ||
| 1931-32 | No school | ||
| 1932-33 | No school | ||
| 1933-34 | No school | ||
| 1934-35 | |||
| 1935-36 | Anita Douglas | August-June | |
| Bernice Sillic | January-May | ||
| 1936-37 | Ruth Greene | ||
| 193-38 | Ruth Greene | ||
| 1938-39 | Ruth Greene | ||
| 1939-40 | Edna Earl | ||
| 1940-41 | Edna Earl | ||
| 1941-42 | Corrine Dole | ||
| Mary Lee Paris | |||
| 1942-43 | Mary Lee Paris | ||
| 1943-44 | Cecil Schlichting | 9 | $100 |
| 1944-45 | Cecil Schlichting | ||
| 1945-46 | Closed |
Picture: CARPENTER NO. 1, 1896.
We can identify only six of the eighteen students.
Front row: third from left, Mary Chown, eighth, Leitita Ramer-teacher.
Middle row: sixth from left, Bessie Chown.
Back row: first from left, Caroline Schomberg; second, Ida Schomberg, third, Clara Schomberg.
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I graduated May 29, 1918 from Lone Tree High School. I attended summer school at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. I started teaching on September 1 at McQueen school, which was my home school. I had attended McQueen until 1911 when I started sixth grade in Lone Tree.
I was 17 when I started teaching; within a month I would be 18. The county superintendent at that time in Johnson County, where I took my teacher’s exams, allowed me to teach since I was so close to age.
That first day was so hot, so many pupils, all grades through the eight. No doubt I was a bit shaky and nervous; I must have fainted. Melvin and Louise Forbes lived directly across the road from the school so one of the pupils ran over to phone my folks. My brother Clayton came. I had come to, but I went home. By the next day I was okay and back to my job. I taught there in 1918-19 and 1919-20.
I then went on to teach fifth and sixth grade for the next four years in Preston, then seventh and eighth grade in Conesville and departmental in Keystone – and I also worked as a hostess in Killian’s Tea Room in Cedar Rapids. Then I decided to take a business course and get into the business filed.
However, when I finished the course, Stan Westfall, director of McQueen school, asked me to teach at McQueen. This was the fall of 1931. I taught at McQueen for three years. I was also privileged to substitute at Carson for Martha Forbes and also at Big Springs and Baker.
Other memories I have include walking 1 1/4 miles to get to school. It would be below zero and by the time I reached the schoolhouse, my feet and fingers were so cold I could hardly get the key in the door. I remember one day I finally got the door opened and then fell on the threshold, cutting myself and ruining my hose. Then of course I had to build a fire in the big pot belly stove which we had to sit around for classes most of the forenoon. Those were the days. Today, heated buses—and are they appreciative of the rides? One wonders!
Mildred Harbison’s grandparents, Jessie and Sarah Ramer, came from Cochton County, Ohio, along with the McCullough family from Ohio. The Ramers settled in Oakland Township, a half mile from McQueen School. Her father, John Ramer, married Emma Cline and lived three-fourths a mile from the McQueen school. They moved to Conesville when Mildred was in the eighth grade.
Mildred started school in 1903. The teachers she remembers are Pearl Lovelet Kennedy, Ray Noland English, Opal McKay, Pearl Whiteside Leonard, Mildred Rogers, Eliza Eden and Frank Eden. The following pupils attended: Mildred Wolford, Leila and Edna Wolford; Alton and Clayton Wolford; Elmer and Mable Crull, Feeman Estle; Harold and Wilbur Brehme; Mildred Jarrad Lutz; Letha Jarrard Nicholson, Velda Jarrard Lutz; Glen Jarrad; Ransom Forbes; Bessie and Roy Woods; Sheldon Forbes; Reva Forbes Hutchinson; Fern Lovelet Parrin; and Verlee Lovelet Swailes.
Some fond memories include skating on the creek to the marsh and back at the noon hour, box suppers and programs, teacher keeping her horse in the wood shed, praying the Lord’s Prayer for opening exercise, carrying her lunch in a little tin lunch box, pupils always wanting to trade lunches because Mildred’ mother always had cake, cookies and pie for the lunch box.
Her favorite place to stop on her way home was the McCollugh home where they gave her a big thick slice of warm bread sprinkled with sugar. Mildred recalls a time when she was sick and her mother called the doctor. He arrived in a little red sporty car. She recalls that he let her ride in it to the end of the lane—her first car ride!
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| Year | Teacher | Months | Salary Per Month |
| 1918-19 | Laura Mariew Jarrad | 8 | $55 |
| 1919-20 | Mildred Wolford | 8.5 | $65 |
| 1920-21 | |||
| 1921-22 | Emily Kittle | ||
| Myrtle Main | |||
| 1922-23 | M.D. Jaarrad | ||
| 1923-24 | Laura Mariew Jarrad | 4 | $84 |
| Elizabeth McCormick | 5 | ||
| 1924-25 | Myrtle Main | 9 | $90 |
| 1925-26 | Daisy Kemp | 9 | $85 |
| 1926-27 | Nellie Lee | ||
| 1927-28 | Aleta Singleton | 3 | $70 |
| 1928-29 | Rufus Billis | 9 | $70 |
| 1929-30 | Martha Hendrickson Smith | 9 | $65 |
| 1930-31 | Mildred Wolford | 9 | $85 |
| 1931-32 | Mildred Wolford | 9 | $85 |
| 1932-33 | Mildred Wolford | 8.5 | $75 |
| 1933-34 | Laura Plowman | 9 | $40 |
| 1934-35 | Laura Plowman | 9 | $57.50 |
| 1935-36 | Laura Plowman | ||
| 1936-37 | Laura Plowman | ||
| 1937-38 | Laura Plowman | ||
| 1938-39 | Daisy Kemp | ||
| 1939-40 | |||
| 1940-41 | |||
| 1941-42 | Jessie Ulch | ||
| 1942-43 | Jessie Ulch | ||
| 1943-44 | Phyllis Allen | 9 | $100 |
| 1944-45 | Phyllis Steele | $115 | |
| Mildred Wolford | $115 | ||
| 1945-46 | Hazel Satterthwaite | 9 | $150 |
| 1946-47 | Delpha Wieland | 9 | $150 |
| 1947-48 | Closed |
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Frances Meredith Hudson shared her 1925-1926 Oakland school “souvenirs”—wonderful records of those school years. E. Reese was the teacher. The pupils were listed by grade: eighth grade-August Wehmeyer; sixth grade—Herman Wehmeyer, Randall Bebb, Essie Crist; fifth grade-Glen Kennedy, Clarence Strong, Rex Johnston; fourth grade- Henry Wehmeyer, third grade-Frances Meredith, LeMoine Heither, LeRoy Heither, Dale Kennedy; and first grade- Aldon Bebb, Max Heither and Junior Tucker.
The Oakland souvenir included these “Memory Gems:”
| He who is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else. |
| Rex Johnston |
| Eat to live not live to east. |
| Randall Bebb |
| Better be an hour too early, then a minute too late. |
| August Wehmeyer |
| Lost time is never found again. |
| Frances Meredith |
| Do your best and leave the rest. |
| Herman Wehmeyer |
| The pen is mightier than the sword. |
| LeRoy Heither |
| A sleeping fox catches no poultry. |
| Aldon Bebb |
| Better be alone than in bad company. |
| Clarence Strong |
Pictures of an Oakland souvenir, a list of pupils, teachers and school board. Also some educational.
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| Whatsoever things are true, |
| Whatsoever things are honest, |
| Whatsoever things are just, |
| Whatsoever things are pure, |
| Whatsoever things are lovely, |
| Whatsoever things are of good report, |
| If there be any virtue and |
| If there by any praise, |
| Think on these things! |
| Philippians 4:8 |
Pictures: OAKLAND school building.
OAKLAND, 1923.
Front row, left to right: Henry Bennett, Gladys Thornton, Willis Kennedy, Gertie Hall, Forest Maxwell, Harold McCullough, Austin Bebb.
Back row: Ralph Kennedy, Forest Bebb, Lamoine (Jack) Thornton, Rheba Preston, Marie Bebb, Fern Foster, Melvin Crist, Anita Jean Tucker, Cecil Foster, Bill Delmar Miller.
One of the five school buildings in Oakland Township built during the latter part of the nineteenth century was destroyed by fire in 1900, probably caused by lightning or a disgusted pupil who hated to go to school. A new structure was erected the same year under the supervision of Joe Corbett, Lone Tree, and it was used for a center of learning for fifty-one years till it was closed in 1951. It stood vacant until 1987 when it was sold at auction to Carl McKean, who used it …
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… as a nucleus for a fine residence.
There was no well on the school ground. Some pupils carried water from a neighbor’s well and after returning to the schoolhouse, a bucket of water with a common dipper was passed around during study time and all drank from the same cup.
Scott Jarrard was the first teacher in the new building in 1900, followed (not exactly in chronological order) by Mr. Chapman, Mary Jarrad Huskins, Jefferson Cutkomp, James McKee, Ransom McKee, Sarah Whiteside, Pearl McCullough Lovelet Kennedy, Verlee Lovelett Swailes, Della McCullough Barnhart, Marie Bebb Williams, Mina Emerson Jones, Anita Jean, Marie Norris Cos, Isabelle McCormick Buser, Adrian (Bud) Norris, Gladys Ball Kitchen, Freman Reid, Lyle Goldsberry, Cecil Schlichting, Aldon Bebb, Doris Gerling Clark, Nellie Blanchard Wilson, Wilma Partington Foshholt, Betty Moore Thomas, Margaret Bliven Schlichting, Ollie Hewitt, Bernice Adams Walker Mundt, and the last one, Doris Clark in 1952.
Picture: OAKLAND NO. 4, 1931.
Isabelle McCormick-teacher. Left to right: Lamoine Heither, LeRoy Heither, Dale Kennedy, Frances Meredith (Hudson), Lawrence Benson, Aldon Bebb, Max Heither, John Buser, Ellen Buser, Henry Buser, Barbara Tucker, Junior Tucker, Ruby Warnstaff.
Some pupils who heed the call of the 8:30 bell: Harold McCullough, Glenn Babbitt, Dorothy Crosseley Dircks; Reba Preston Bausch Johnson; Gertrude Hill Bebb; Velda Jarrard Lutz; Myrtle Thornton Crim; Melvin, Clayton, Essie, Ray, Virgil and Buddy Crist; Earl, Alice, Floyd, Frank and Verne Swailes; Alice, Harvey and Henry Bennett; Frank and Ina Gooch; Jessie, Roy and Bessie Hill; Harold, Carl, Audrey, Sylvia and Jess Foster; Forest and Verdie Maxwell; Frank, Charles, Rudolph, Mattie, Fannie, Jay and John Wall; Linn and Bert Crossley; Sheldon Bebb; Cecil, Jesse, Fern, Myrtle, Audrey and Sylvia Foster; Glenn Nicholson; Glenn, Dale, William and Ralph Kennedy; Walter, Carl, Merritt, August, Herman, Henry, Marie, Emma, Florence and Pearl Wehmeyer; Agnes, Austin , Forest and Marie Bebb; LaMoyne, LeRoy, Max and Berta Heither; Joanne, Rosabelle and Janet Lutz; Wanda Adams Carson; Bernice Adams Mundt; Alice Marie, Lois, Frances and Harold Nicholson; Lee and Una Bebb; Ruby and Opal Warnstaff; Joyce and Vernon Hostetter; Justin Dee Schlichting; Donald, Margaret, Frances and Erma Jean Williams; Norman Wall; Ralph, Garnet and Carol Adams; John, Ellen, Henry, Grant, Hazel, Lela and Betty Buser; Lloyd, David, Farrel and Bradley Wiley; James and Jack Bennett; Donald Johnson; Earl Scott; and Marsha Gabriel.
Picture: OAKLAND
This is the first Oakland school, which burned in 1899 or 1900. After the fire, another school was built on the same spot. Ransom McKee taught the last term in the new building. When this picture was taken, James McKee (Marie Bebb Williams’ uncle) was the teacher. Marie’s mother, Agnes H. McKee Bebb, is standing on the left of her brother.
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Pictures: Oakland, 1926.
OAKLAND NO. 4, 1951. This was the last class to attend Oakland school.
Front row, left to right: Ronnie Bennett, Farrel Wiley, Doris Clark-teacher, Marsha Gabriel, Butch Bennett.
Back row: Lloyd Wiley, Lois Nickleson, Janet Lutz, David Wiley.
As in all or most settings of human associations, we encounter little tragedies or amusing incidents that serve, in old age, to amuse or entertain one in moments of nostalgia. Some are irrecoverable but others remain solidly glued, and may be more amusing to the participants than to others. And if one has lived a long life he or she has seen certain antics of humans, at one time taboo, later become accepted. This writer saw kids kicked out of school because they smoked. Thirty years later teachers were smoking!
I smelled the odor of tobacco on the breath of a sixth grade boy. I caught him smoking. What was I to do? I asked him if his parents knew that he smoked. He said, “Yes, they don’t care.” Incidentally, his father was not a Sunday School teacher. How should I handle this?
I am not proud of the way that I did. Today, I probably would be killed for “touching my kid.” What happened to “Spare the rod and spoil the child?” Well anyway, I stood him up in front of the school and whipped him. (I had not taken a course in Child Psychology.)
It was a part of the school day’s routine to have “opening exercises” at nine o’clock. Usually I would play the organ and the kids would sing. How they whooped ‘er up with such songs and Marching through Georgia, Dixie Land and Jingle Bells. Often I would clown a little. They liked that. I would do that again.
After I had whipped the boy (that was part of the opening exercises that day), he went to his seat, raised his hand and said “Let’s sing America, teacher.”” We did…I think he won. Years later I met him. He was the first to extend a hand.
School life is a two-way street…observations of the pupil made by the teacher and observations of the teacher made by the pupil. Here are the three closing verses of the long poem, “School Day,” written by a former teacher.
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| SCHOOL DAY (Excerpt) |
| I often look at Mar ger ee” |
| And wonder what she thinks of me, |
| For her I have a single plea |
| That is her life may always be |
| Immaculate from all debris |
| That hovers ‘round the careless sea |
| of youth. |
| She never is afraid to try, |
| Her aim is always way up high, I think her middle name is Vie |
| And she’s not too bold and not too shy, |
| She’ll be a woman by and by |
| Upon whom others can rely |
| For honesty and truth. |
| It’s four o’clock and now I’ll cease |
| To punish you for your mischief, |
| I know you are glad for your release, |
| Also my nerves will rest in peace, |
| It’s home for you to feed the geese… |
| Goodby my little friends. |
| It’s one more day we’ve gained or lost, |
| I hope we’ve gained at any cost |
| And if by morn we have not crossed |
| “the bar”, |
| We’ll meet again to then pursue the |
| basics |
| Always tried and true, |
| And also trivia that once would |
| do |
| But missed by far our friends. |
| I see two forces in a school, |
| One to submit and one to rule, |
| That both may live each is a fuel |
| To gift that never-ending duel |
| Throughout an endless time. |
| And you will find some time in life |
| It is these two that cause the strife |
| Resultant ‘cause they will not splice |
| Their efforts toward a common slice… |
| Sublime. |
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In the fall of 1942, I started teaching at Oakland school, west of Conesville. Little did I know I would be a part of the history of Louisa County Schools. It was during World War II. There was gas rationing, shoe rationing, food ration, books, daylight savings time(year round), retread tires, scrap iron drives, air raid black-outs, rayon hose, (nylon was used for parachutes). I didn’t have a car but rode with “Doc” Lambert daily from Columbus Junction as he picked up high school students to Columbus. There was no school bus to that area then. He was a very slow driver, 15 to 20 mph top speed—he said to conserve gas. We would leave before 6:30 each morning and it was always dark when I arrived at school.
I remember well the coal heating stove that had to be “banked” each night. One night I “banked” and “dampered” too much. The next morning when I opened the door, all these long black sooty strings were hanging from the ceiling and light fixtures. The walls and windows were black. School was dismissed for the day.
Rural schools received food commodities such as butter, cheese and dried beans. I remember the beans because I would cook them all morning on the heating stove. The idea was to have something hot for lunch. I think I was the only one that liked them. Lots of butter was used for seasoning.
Scrap metal drives were popular at that time, so Oakland school had theirs. All the parents and neighbors contributed. “Red” Lee brought a truck from Columbus Junction and we all rode the truck to pick up. We were doing our bit for the war. Patriotism was uppermost in our hearts at that time. We were encouraged to sell war stamps through the school. Several bought them; they were converted to war bonds when $18.75 was reached, although I’m not sure about that amount.
We played a lot of softball at recesses. One year we challenged a school taught by Phyllis Allen. We played at their school once and at our school once. I can’t remember who won, but it was fun to do.
At the close of both years that I taught at Oakland, we rode the Milwaukee train to Washington for a picnic at Sunset Park. In the afternoon we returned by train. It was a first for most of the students.
Other things remembered: Ada Smith, ten-minute class periods, Christmas programs, music records from the county office that we listened to and sang (sing-a-long style), $80 per month first year, $100 second year. Students attending then: Joan Lutz, Margaret Williams, Harold Nicholson, Bobbie Chown, Lee Bebb, Rosa Belle Lutz, Donald Williams, Justin Schlichting, Alice Nicholson, Frances Nicholson, Teresa Howard.
Picture: OAKLAND, 1944.
Betty Moore (Thomas) and her class sitting on their scrap drive.
Front row, left to right: Margaret Williams, Rose Belle Lutz, Justine D. Schlichting.
Back row: Lee Bebb, Don Williams, Alice Marie Nicholson, Frances Nicholson, Harold Nicholson, Joanne Lutz. See accompany story.
The first Oakland school burned in 1900, but was rebuilt. Ransom McKee taught in the first school and was the first teacher in the new school. This school building was closed in 1951 and was consolidated into the Columbus Junction District. In 1987 Clark McKean purchased the building and is now making it into a dwelling.
My mother, Agnes (McKee) Bebb, and her sisters and brother attended this school. Then the five children of Robert and Agnes (McKee)—Austin, Marie, Aldon, Forest and Randall Bebb—attended Oakland also. Then the third generation, the children of F. Marie (Bebb) and Eben M. Wiliams—Erma Jean, Mary Frances, Margaret and Donald—attended this Oakland Township school.
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| Year | Teacher | Months | Salary per Month |
| 1918-19 | Ina Jamison | 9 | $55 |
| 1919-20 | Nellie Lee | $65 | |
| 1920-21 | Marie Norris | $100 | |
| 1921-22 | Adrian Norris | 8.5 | $80 |
| 1922-23 | Marie Bebb | 8.5 | $65 |
| 1923-24 | Gladys Hesseltine | 9 | $60 |
| 1924-25 | Verlee Loveltt | 9 | $70 |
| 1925-26 | Verlee Loveltt | 9 | $75 |
| Eva Reese | |||
| 1926-27 | Myrtle warren | 4.5 | $75 |
| Marie Cox | 4.5 | $110 | |
| 1927-28 | Lyle Goldsberry | 9 | |
| 1928-29 | Lyle Goldsberry | 9 | $70 |
| 1929-30 | Alice Marie Schlung | 9 | $85 |
| 1930-31 | Isabelle McCormick | 9 | $65 |
| 1931-32 | Freeman Reid | 9 | $85 |
| 1932-33 | Freeman Reid | 8.5 | $5 |
| 1933-34 | Eulalia Durria | 9 | $40 |
| 1934-35 | Helen Grim | 9 | $57.50 |
| 1935-36 | Thomas Curtis | ||
| 1937-37 | Cecil Schlichting | ||
| 1937-38 | Cecil Schlichting | ||
| 1938-39 | Aldon Bebb | ||
| 1939-40 | Nellie Wilson Blanchard | ||
| 1940-41 | Nellie Wilson Blanchard | ||
| 1941-42 | Wilma Partington Fosholt | ||
| 1942-43 | Betty Moore (Thomas) | 9 | |
| 1943-44 | Betty Moore (Thomas) | 9 | $100 |
| 1944-45 | Margaret Schlichting | 9 | $115 |
| 1945-46 | Margaret Schlichting | 9 | $150 |
| 1946-47 | Margaret Schlichting | 9 | $150 |
| 1947-48 | Margaret Schlichting | 9 | $175 |
| 1948-49 | Margaret Schlichting | $190 | |
| 1949-50 | Ollie Hewitt | $225 | |
| 1950-51 | Bernice Walker | 9.5 | $215 |
| 1951-52 | Doris Clark | 9 | $225 |