Butler County Mo Biographies MINNIE SMITH By David B. Deem Submitted by: Sherry Link 2003 MINNIE SMITH Deem’s History of Butler County Missouri by David Bruce Deem, Probate Judge, Butler County, MO Biographies MISS J. MINNIE SMITH THE subject of this sketch, Miss J. Minnie Smith, came to Poplar Bluff in October 1895 when her father, Rev. H. A. Smith was assigned to the pastorate of the Methodist Church, then located on Oak street. Her early education was the result of her father’s instruction, he being a teacher an administer in connection with the Kentucky Conference in Central Kentucky. Rev. Smith was transferred to Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he organized the Southern Methodist church and placed his children in the schools of that little city to obtain the superior educational advantages offered there even at that early date. Miss Minnie attended the Normal school having in mind the teaching profession from early childhood. Keeping this ambition in mind she completed her college education at the Southeast Missouri Teacher’s College by attending summer sessions and by taking correspondence courses from the Teacher’s College and Missouri University. Sometime after her arrival in Poplar Bluff she found a pre-school or Kindergarten much in need so opened one on a small scale at the corner of Main and Broadway in the building now used by Irby’s Market. She was permitted to “keep school” there but a few months being invited to accept work in the Poplar Bluff schools by members of the school board which Miss Minnie died, reluctantly, as her Kindergarten undertaking was a far better business venture at the time than the $40 per month paid by the schools. September 1897 saw her entrance upon her teaching career in a small one room building in East Poplar Bluff – filled to the limit with young Americans - some with a none too good reputation for obedience and a willingness to be taught. This little school room soon became too small for the increasing population and in 1902 was replaced by a new brick four room building at the present location. A few years later the building was doubled in size with a fine staff of young women assisting Miss Minnie in handling the steadily growing school. Then came the tornado of May 9, 1927 and the active little community educational center was blown down, scattering the contents to the four winds. There were 278 pupils, eight teachers and two janitors in the building at the time of its destruction. Two of the small boys in grade four lost their lives. Many were temporarily crippled, but, when the school reopened in September in a church and other borrowed school rooms, there were no crippled or scarred youngsters to remind one of the tragedy. In November, 1927 the school opened in the present building – named the J. Minnie Smith school in honor of the principal and primary teacher who had spent the best of her life in its upbuilding. Many useful citizens have come from Miss Minnie’s primary room. She had been heard to say that at one time she might even have dared to be a law violator as one of her boys was Sheriff, one a Trooper, one Prosecuting Attorney and another a bank cashier who’d get her out of any difficulty – maybe. After 43 years of teaching in the East Poplar Bluff school district she feels she has earned her epaulets. In her loyalty she has never faltered as she has never hesitated to say “no” when offered a change, which has occurred several times during her long term of service. ************************************************************************ PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non- commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. Unauthorized use for commercial ventures expressly prohibited. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ******************************************************************