Mills County, Iowa

Silver City Community History
1879 - 1979

COMMENCEMENT

The first commencement of the Silver City public schools was held in the opera hall Thursday evening, May 25, 1893. The teachers, Mr. C. L. Anderson and Miss Guyer, and the members of the graduating class had worked faithfully for the success of the entertainment and the result was most gratifying.

Miss Viva Huffaker was first on the program with an oration, “The Washington of the Present” rendered in a creditable manner. F. G. Swarts was next with an essay on “Success” which indicated that he knew the subject. Next came Miss Nellie Foster, a recitation, “The Building of the Ship” rendered in an easy and interesting manner. An oration on “The Language of the Human Race”, by Miss Clara Allison came next, a very interesting preparation. Miss Ada Greenwood with an essay on “The Voyage of Life” made an excellent showing. As a speaker Miss May McKeen has quite a local reputation and her recitation “The Convict’s Christmas Eve” did her credit as usual. The last of the class was J. L. Conger with an oration on “A Comparison of English and American Literature.” This showed, much work and research had been necessary to prepare.

After a short address to the class by C. L. Anderson, the exercises closed with music by the quartet. Instrumental music was furnished by F. A. Guyer, Mrs. G. Pullman and Mrs. C. B. Wilson. Reference: clipping from Silver City Review, 6-1-1893 in a scrapbook belonging to Mrs. R. A. Flanagan and prepared by her grandmother Mrs. E. F. Landon.

W. S. HAMMONS
At the commencement of 1938, W. S. Hammons was honored for his thirty-eight years service as school custodian. He was escorted to the platform where he was awarded a diploma recognizing his long term of faithful service and loyalty to school and students. The Certificate of Merit noted the fact that Mr. Hammons was never absent nor tardy. He had seen three generations of children come and go as students and was very faithful in his position in the "March of Education”. When school started the following September, Mr. Hammons was made master of bell ringing ceremonies on the first day of school.

AGNES SAMUELSON
A former teacher for several years in the early 1900’s, held the office of State Superintendent of Education for a number of years and was later President of the N.E.A. and also served as Secretary of the N.E.A. for a number of years. She is now retired, living in Des Moines and writing a text for grade pupils.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF SILVER CITY SCHOOL

1880-83 — Mr. Hanna
1883-84 — John Higgins
1884-85 — Annie M. Jordan
1885-86 — George G. Cozier
1886-87 — C. Vincent
1887-88 — Aben B. Allen
1888-89 — Lewis Eilison
1889-93 — C. L. Anderson
1918-19—— Miss Lois Halley
1919-20 — Paul Gardner
1920-21 — L. M. Henry
1921-23 — Emitt Hasty
1923-24 --- Glen Lytelle
1924-27 — Paul G. Adams
1927-29 — Rahy Paul
1929-30 --Carl Bose

~submitted by Roseanna Zehner & Darlene Jacoby