The Reedville School and It's Students
Submitted by Kay Mason <KLMPIANO@aol.com on Apr 23, 2000

Here's what is written about RUCKERS...I think it was about 1892:

Pages 137 & 138:

    The Reedville school house was an old frame and siding but had patent
seats and desks in what was then New Style.  We soon got the school under
way.  I think early in August - have no record.  I made it my rule to play
with the boys and in that way soon stopped the rough conduct and bad language
almost completely.  There were several young men living nearby who were
accustomed to playing with the bigger school boys and until I showed them
that rough play, fighting and vulgarity were taboo, we had some trouble - but
we soon became friends and continued so as long as I was in the district and
our games and association are now a party of my pleasant memories.

    Under the law I was not required to teach Higher Arithmetic but two
advanced students - LIZZIE RUCKER and LAURA BELLOMY - wanted to study it, so
they said.  I thought they were only trying me out to see whether they could
'stall' me - that being considered a great credit to anyone who could 'stall
teacher.'  I had studied it only a little, but told them to sail in and if
they got 'stalled' I would help them out.  They soon tired of it and gave it
up.  I had kept ahead by studying at night - so I got good out of it whether
they did or not.

    Soon after school began there came an outbreak of dysentery or bloody
Flux - the same disease that almost finished me in 1887, and one of my
favorite pupils, a daughter of TOM BROWNING, a famous horse trader, died and
several others were ill from drinking bad water from springs and shallow
wells - it being a dry season and water scarce.  This put down the attendance
for a while.  Considering the water situation as it was there then it is
remarkable that the toll was not heavier.  I suppose after a time people
became immune to some things.  On the whole the attendance was good for the
time and conditions.  Anyway, at the close of the five month's term I was
asked to teach a private subscription school for two months longer - January
and February - which I did with fair success, I think.

    Among my pupils at Reedwille, were LIZZIE and WADE RUCKER, children of
Widow LYDA RUCKER; TOM, JIM WILL, ED and ANNA RUCKER, children of ROBERT
RUCKER; GORDON, CLAYTON COMMODORE, LIZZIE & HATTIE BOGGS, parents' name
forgotten - lived in Reedville; WINSTON DEAL; LAURA, JENNY and JACK BELLOMY;
WILL, CHARLES, JOHN, FRED and BERTHA FIELDS, children of IRVIN FIELDS;
LOTTIE, WESLEY & MAY SAVAGE, children of RICHARD SAVAGE; WILLIS DEAL, son of
WILLIS DEAL, and brother of WINSTONE [DEAL], who was lame.  CARLOS, JASPER
and ROSE FIELDS, children of Captain FIELDS; ROBERT, AUSTIN, NANNIE and ETTA
FIELDS, children of C. C. FIELDS; FLORENCE ESTER and LOTTIE FIELDS, children
of 'BOONE' FIELDS; FRANCIS BOGGS; NORA and DAN ADAMS; TIG, LAURA and LIZZIE
WOMACK; WILL, CHARLIE, ALPH, IDA and KATE RICE; JENNIE ADAMS and others lost
to memory.

    Most of the above I still have a clear mental likeness of but many have
faded along with names and bring no picture before me.  When I run over this
list some of their fresh young faces seem so real to my eyes."

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