Hyde County, SD History - Books .....Chapter 7 Educational 1908 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 8, 2010, 1:14 am Book Title: History Of Hyde County CHAPTER VII EDUCATIONAL If there is one thing more than another, in which the state of South Dakota feels a just pride, it is its system of education, and Hyde county is not behind any other in its desire to have the best of schools. If any boy or girl living in this county grows up to manhood or womanhood without a good common school education the fault must be charged to the child or the parents, and not to any lack of opportunity. The bureau of education at Washington has stated the fact to be, that South Dakota had the smallest amount of illiteracy of any state in the union. Up to 1890 the school system of the county was, in a loose way, in keeping with other affairs. The office of county superintendent was- simply nominal until the election of T. E. Price, who took much interest in the schools, and from that time on, the office of superintendent became one of much importance and since then has been admirably filled. The present superintendent, W. N. Van Camp, has taken much, interest in the schools of the county, and under his administration they have materially advanced. When the court house burned June 20, 1892, all records of the office of county superintendent were destroyed, and all of the facts in regard to the schools prior to this time were given from memory by the old settlers. The first school building in Hyde county was what is known now as the old Grand Army building, and was located back of where the Congregational church now stands. The first teacher was A. W. Furnese. He was followed by Miss Clara Gadd, now Mrs. J. E. McDonald. Of the pupils who attended this first term of school in Hyde county nearly all are now scattered but of those who attended and are still residents of Hyde county we can name Mrs. I. M. Burnside, who was Jessie McDonald, H. A. McDonald, who was then known as Harve; they then lived on a farm about four miles southwest of Highmore and every day used to bring their dinner, as did J. K. Van Camp and W. N. Van Camp who served as county superintendent during the years of 1905 and 1908 inclusive. George C. Stoner, later one of the publishers of the Highmore Herald, was also a pupil of Miss Gadd, as was Shreve Van Camp, who for years has been Deputy Post Master of Highmore. Of pupils who attended this first school and have since moved away we can name Don B. Johnson, who now resides in Los Angeles, California, Annie Patterson, now the wife of R. C. Sanders living in Pierre, S. D., and Emily Patterson, now Mrs. Ellsworth France, living in Wenatchee, Washington. Several years afterward bonds were voted for the erection of a two room school house on the site of the present school building and the first Principal of the City Schools was Enoch Vernon. He was followed in order by W. J. Merriss and W. S. McVey, who is still a resident of Hyde County and one of the prosperous farmers of Bramhall township. Mr. McVey's assistant was a Miss King, who later became his wife. Another early principal of the schools was A. J. Leatherman, who was later drowned in the Missouri river at Pierre. W. A. Root was principal for the years 1892-3-4-5-6; his assistant in 1893 was Miss Lizzie Bates; his assistant in 1894-5 was Mrs. Nettie Welch, who is still a resident of Hyde county. In 1896 his assistant was Mrs. A. J. Beardsley. W. G. Jolly was principal of the schools for 1897 with Mrs. A. J. Beardsley as assistant. P. E. Gilligan followed Mr. Jolly and had charge of the city schools during 1898-9-00-01. Mrs. Beardsley was continued as assistant during the four years that Mr. Gilligan was in charge and in the year 1901 a third room was added with Miss Nellie Lesh as teacher. In 1902 Bruce McVey was elected principal with Clara Tryon and Maud H. Latta as assistants. In 1903 Mr. McVey was in charge assisted by Maud Jones, Maud H. Latta and W. N. Van Camp, a fourth room being added during the year on account of the increased attendance. The teachers in 1904 were Bruce McVey, principal, with L. A. Sherer, Mary A. Hamlin and Alta Swartout, assistants. In 1905 F. G. Allen was elected principal with Pauline De Lange, Nettie W. Welch and Florence Walker, assistants. In 1906 C. R. Buller was elected principal with the following assistants: Pauline DeLange, Amy Hahn and Florence Walker. Mr. Buller resigned during the year, however, and his term was completed by County Sup't W. N. Van Camp. F. E. Schmidt was principal for 1907 when an additional room was added. His assistants were Pauline DeLange, Gracia McIntire, Ethol Lamos and Florence Walker. The first teachers in the various rural districts as taken from the records since the old school house was burned are as follows: Banner, E. R. Shepard; Union, Amy J. Foote, Alice Tryon, Etta Belle Morton; Spring Lake, Lotta Russel; Illinois, Mrs. Hattie Pidge, Aurlee M. Pettys; Eden, Rose Zemlicka; Washington, Mary McIver, Mrs. Dora C. Stewart, Clara Morford; Douglas, Allie Simple, Florence Riskemire;. Valley, Mabelle Mason; Lincoln, Mrs. J. W. Beardsley; Bramhall, Mrs. A. N. Van Camp, Lora Robinson, Lois Talbot; Holabird, Clara Tryon, A. J. Struble; Loomis, Mae Quinn; Hughitt, Fannie Quirk, Nettie W. Welch; Eagle, Etta Barber; Van Order, Bessie Meigs, W. J. Bottcher; Peno, E. J. Quinn; Dewey, Rose E. Durkin; Convent, E. J. Quinn; Pratt, Bessie L. Hill. In 1890 the county had 51 school houses, with a total seating capacity of 1440, total number of teachers employed 44, total amount paid in teachers wages that year was $6,369.04. Children of school age in the county was 427, total number of children that attended school that year was 382, total indebtedness $32,984.45. In 1908 the county had 44 school houses valued at $34,275.00, with a seating capacity of 1128; number of teachers employed 38, number of children of school age 612, total amount paid in teachers wages $8,576.50, total indebtedness $15,912.13. In 1890 there were 18 school districts in Hyde county, each district being a Congressional township, Banner, Union, Spring Lake, Franklin, Illinois, Eden, Washington, Douglas, Valley, Loomis, Lincoln, Wm. Hamilton, Bramhall, Highmore, Holabird, Hughitt, Eagle, and Van Order. In 1894 the townships of Peno and Convent were organized as school districts. In 1899 Dewey school district was organized, and in 1903 Pratt school township was organized, The first school officers of the various districts as taken from the records are as follows; Banner-chairman, Lambert Rezac; clerk, Joseph Minnhart; treasurer, Albert Lusk. Union-chairman, Peter Riggs; clerk, S. A. Shoff; treasurer, P. H. Zeigler. Franklin-chairman, Christ Larson; clerk, Jens Larsen; treasurer, Arthur Lee. Spring Lake-chairman, James M. Gray; clerk, Mary E. Holmes; treasurer, L. K. Christiansen. Illinois-chairman, Thomas Strand; clerk, W. F. Pidge; treasurer, John M. Jensen. Eden-chairman, Joseph Chermak; clerk, John Zemlicka, treasurer, Frank Zemlicka. Washington-chairman, O. P. King; clerk, O. O. Hart; treasurer, Chas. McIver, Douglas-chairman, Wm. McGlasham; clerk, T. F. Cody; treasurer, F. G. Kurts. Valley-chairman, L. V. Stalnaker; clerk, Irene Feather; treasurer, Jacob Becker. Loomis-chairman, Louis Lopp; clerk, Ole O. Lee; treasurer, Peter DeWitte, Lincoln-chairman, Stephan Moss; clerk, J. W. Beardsley; treasurer, Jacob DeWitte, Wm. Hamilton-chairman, Albert Wells; clerk, Geo, M. Wells; treasurer, Geo. Tosh. Bramhall-chairman, J. P. Mabie; clerk, H. D. Ohl; treasurer, D. M. Sarvis. Highmore-chairman, J. A. Sedgwick; clerk, H. W. Brace; treasurer, James Barber, Holabird-chairman, Nat Cline; clerk, S. Mason; treasurer, J. S. Harris. Hughett-chairman, G. K. Templar; clerk, J. W. Jones; treasurer, John Quirk. Eagle-chairman, E. M. Volz; clerk, J. H. Barnes; treasurer, J. S. Messick. Van Order-chairman, Wm. Bottcher; clerk, Fred Sheen; treasurer, M. L. Hague. Peno- chairman, O. N. Johnson; clerk Ben Sorenson; treasurer, S. S. Stensrud, Convent-chairman, John Arnoldy; clerk, Pius Boehm; treasurer, Simon Kusser. Dewey -chairman, Andrew Thompson; clerk, G. H. Bottcher; treasurer, H. T. Johnson, Pratt-chairman, William Campbell; clerk, G. W, Pratt; treasurer, W, C. Pratt. The Public school system of South Dakota is at least the equal to that of any other state in the union. In 1898 a State Course of study was adopted and made a part of the school law, which insures a uniformity of education throughout the state. The common school is divided in eight years or grades, and upon the completion of the eight years work, pupils in rural districts have their tuition paid in a neighboring High school by their home district. During the early years it was thought best to have three or four schools in each township, but in later years experience has demonstrated that by combining all of the pupils in a township that a better school could be maintained, so that now in South Dakota, as in the more advanced eastern states, the centralized school has come to stay. The boys and girls of today little realize the improved condition of the school system under which the}' labor of what it was 20 years ago; often times then the school house was of sod or constructed of rough boards and covered with tar paper; now when they take up their daily work in the school room it is generally in a nicely painted, modern school building, the grounds dotted with trees, and in many cases over the building floats the flag; inside many beautiful pictures are hung on-the wall, also a splendid school library, as well as numerous apparatus, which goes to make the work of the teacher and pupil more pleasant and easy. The following are the present school officers of the county: Banner-chairman, Joseph Menhart; clerk, John Lusk; treasurer, Otto B. Enstad. Union-chairman, Mrs. C. A. Seckner; clerk, L. E. Schmidt; treasurer, C. Christensen. Franklin-chairman, Oscar Olson; clerk, B. F. Payne; treasurer, J. W. Meyers. Spring Lake-chairman, Chas. Olson; clerk, C. Odegard; treasurer, Arthur Lee. Illinois-chairman, John Bern; clerk, A. C. Rudine; treasurer, S. P. Anderson. Eden-chairman, Frank Foreman; treasurer, F. Zemlicka; clerk, M. Bouzek. Washington-chairman, O. P. King; treasurer, John Jirock; clerk, B. M. Morford. Douglas-chairman, A. Sunding; Treas, Lars A. Larson; clerk, T. F. Cody. Valley-chairman, Fred Traver; treasurer, Jacob Becker; clerk, Thos, McWeeney Loomis-chairman, Peter DeWitte; treasurer, Hans Aasby; clerk, L. T. Adair. Lincoln-chairman, W. L. Thompson; treasurer, Jacob DeWitte; clerk, Nellie DeWitte. Wm. Hamilton-chairman, S. J. Nesheim; treasurer, C. J. Lemke; clerk, G. M. Wells. High-more-chairman, P. E. Gilligan; treasurer, B. A. Foote, clerk, M. E. Miller. Holabird-chairman, A. M. Moore; treasurer, S. Mason; clerk, J. H. Smith. Hughitt-chairman. M. U Hunt; treasurer, Z. L. Parker; clerk, E. J. Quinn. Eagle-chairman, J. Pahl; treas., J. B. Ringer; clerk, E. M.Volz. Van Order-chairman, Ed Patterson; treasure er, J. T. Melbourne; clerk, M. L. Hague, PenO'-chairman, E. O. Evenson; treasurer, John Weber; clerk, Chris Aaby. Dewey-chairman, R. C. Mercer; treasurer, T. A. Gallager; clerk, Jos. Budnik. Pratt-chairman, Margaret Miller; treasurer, E. W. Smith: clerk, W. F. Thompson;, Convent-chairman, S. Kusser: treas. Christine Johnson; clerk, Oscar L. Olson. The teachers for the rural schools for the school year 1907-8 are as follows: Etta C. Logan, Pratt, Harrold, S. D.; Ella C. Quirk, Eagle, Highmore S. D. H. C. Shearer, Hughitt, Chapelle, S. D. Lola D. Berry, Van Order, Ree Hights, S. D. May Hays, Loomis, Highmore, S. D. Mabelle Miller, Highmore, Highmore, S. D. Mabelle Van Abel, Holabird, Highmore S. D. Effie Hamilton, Lincoln, Edwin, S. D. Clara Tryon, Bramhall, Highmore S. D. Rie A. Medbery, Valley, Harrold, S. D. Threse Burke, Bramhall, Highmore, S. D. Rose O'Brien, Holabird, Highmore, S. D. Ella Van Camp, Van Order, Highmore, S. D. Cora Hughes, Washington, Canton, S. D. Blanche N. Hall, Convent, Peno, S. D. Jennie Whipple, Bramhall, Highmore S. D. Frank Parker, Loomis, Chapelle S. D. Carrie Weiss, Peno, Jackson, Minn. Minnie Weiss, Convent, Jackson, Minn. Martha Halverson, Banner, Jackson, Minn. Alice Bouren, Eden, Houdek, S. D. H. C. Sarvis, Washington, Highmore, S. D. Annie Anderson, Illinois, Sedgwick S. D. Augusta Rudine, Illinois, Sedgwick, S. D. H. H. Dann, Wm. Hamilton, High-more S. D. Esther Bern, Union Sedgwick, S. D. Lillie Ellerton, Dewey, Holabird, S. D. Annie Zemlicka, Eden, Holabird, S. D. Agnes Vondra, Eden, Zeigler, S. D. Hulda Johnson, Douglas, Sedgwick, S. D. Mamie Vopat, Union, Goudyville, S. D. Ethel Hemphill, Valley, Highmore, S. D. Selma Paulson, Sunny Lake, Highmore, S. D. Atta I. Libby, Douglas, Highmore, S. D. Nellie Wilcox, Hughitt. The following have graduated from the common schools of Hyde County: 1894-Amy J. Foote, Maude Jones, May Churchill, Welcome McLaughlin. 1895-Jay Templer, Bertha Traver, Alice Traver, Rose Foote, Nellie Lesh, Guy Sarvis, Ada Sarvis, Atta Ohl, Mary Winans, Edith Brace, 1896-Ralph Shearer, James S. Stewart, Elsie Pidge, Ralph Parker, Elta Greene, Edna Seharer, John Bottcher, 1897- H. C. Sarvis, Abbie Drew, J. I. Beardsley, Annie Gadd, Scott Young, Christy Barber, Ava Weaver, Bertha Gerhart, 1899-Edna Traver, John E. Campbell, Stina G, Larson, Walter Wells, Louis P. Lighty, John Cramer, Nettie Hinds, J. E. Van Camp. 1900-Belle Templer, Maud Mason, Lewis Messick, Royal C. Johnson, Clara McNamara, Esther Winger, Linda Harno, Julia Patterson, Flora E. Weaver, Hattie Beardsley, Carl Sheen, 1901-Emma Bottcher, Henry Bottcher, Ella Van Camp, H. M. Shearer, Ethel C. Gadd, Francina Rassmussen, Mary Hamlin, Molie Sweeny, Grace Traver, Mary J. Zemlicka, Minnetta Walters, Emma Reha, Grace Weaver, Ole K. Strand, Henry A Johnson, Clifton Traver, Ida McDonald, Austin Meigs, Dollie Stalnaker, Fannie Moss. 1902-Homer Young, Minnie Young, Arthur Seeman, Allen Van Camp, Chas. Parker, Wilbur Quirk, Lillie Ellerton, May Templer, Jessie Mason, Edna Gerhart, Minnie Gerhart, Ethel Graham, Annie Chermak, Josie Bouzek, Augusta Rudine, Annie Vopat, Della Figley, Ella Quirk, Chesley Jackson, Henry Case, Chas. King, Arthur Yeandle, Mabelle Quirk, Ida Paulson, Emma Swanson, Florence Quinn, 1903-Della Melbourn, Mamie E. Everhard, Rob't Sutfin, Nina M, Clink, Winifred Figley, Earl F. Jones, Grace Gibbs, Kitty D Gerhart, George King, Jennie Whipple, Agnes Vondra, Don Sheen, Pearl Stanton, Annie Bouzek, Seward Gibbs, Josie Sweeney, Alice S. Rezac, Frank Parker, Elmina Evenson, Mabel Smith, Walter Seeman, Myrtle King, Lottie M. Zemlicka, George Van Camp, Mabelle Miller, Gladys Musser, Albert J. Harno, Richard Tagg, Lina McDonald, Allie Angle, Merlie Swanson, 1904-Delia M. Anderson, Barbara Jirock, Claude O. Stanton, Geo. M. Comstock, Maude Quirk, Pauline Middlebrook, Pierre Yeandle, Mayme T. Vopat, Mary Bouzek, Edna Adair. 1905-Minnie Rudine, Hulda Johnson, Henry Barber, Ellen Bern, Henry Rudine, Esther Bern, Marie Aasby, Eleanor McVey, Susie Kippenbrock, Bessie Shoff, Lucile McCullen, Annie Anderson, Earl Spencer, Benhard Jensen, Anna Palan, 1906-Ruth Miller, Norma Traver, Selma Paulsen, Annie Zemlicka, George Mesick, Gladys Button, Bennie Bee Foote, Irene C. Quirk, Gentrude M. Lighty, Earnest Anderson, Harry Parker, Alice Chapman, Carl Wells, Edward Bottcher, Hazel Smith, Edwin Doling, Norma Becker, Barbara Lusk, Pearl Canode, Elmer Pratt, Clifford Vote, John Gallager, Benhart Nesheim. 1907-Ruth Traver, Elsie Clark, Harriet Patterson, Ole Aasby, Florence Trent, Rilla Spencer, Alcee Stoner, Goldie Keiser, Paul Aasby, Leslie Meigs, Raye Miller, Emelia Lee, Earl Eleya, Rob Mason, Dora C. Rolewitch, Beatrice Shafenbarg, Gartruda Mesick, 1908 -Justis Gray, Ralph Wells, Henrietta De Witte, Kattie Van Camp, Ava Mann, Ella Zemlicka, Estelle Trent, Rosetta Pahl, Minnia Van Abel, Betina Volz, Judson Whitcher, Walter Whitcher, Burdatte DeWitte, Edward Hamilton, Lisle Swanson, Maude Kippenbrock, Emma Johnson, Henry Zemlicka, Laura Pahl, Grace Evenson, Ida Odegard, Sophus Odegard, Jalmer Paulson. Many of them have continued their education in High Schools, Colleges and Universities and are now found among the business and professional men of this and adjoining states. The foregoing chapter was prepared by our present County Superintendant of schools, W. N. Van Camp, at our request and the author of this history feels exceedingly grateful to him for the contribution as it is well written, and as complete as it could be under the circumstances of the lost records. We can safely add also that Mr. Van Camp during his two terms of office has given us the best of service, and during his incumbency the schools have materially advanced. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY SOUTH DAKOTA FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE PRESENT TIME BY JOHN B. PERKINS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/hyde/history/1908/historyo/chapter721nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/sdfiles/ File size: 17.4 Kb