Peggy Smith-Hake's
"Window to the Past"
Miller County Schoolhouse Series
(C - F)
Note: The photo shows the original schoolhouse. A frame building later replaced the log school c/1928.
Name: CAPPS SCHOOL School District: 39
Open: c/1876 .Close: c/1948-49
Location: Osage Township AKA: Springdale School
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Early teachers included: G. L. Thomson (1876-77); Samuel F. Berry (1877-79); D. W. Baker (1882-84 & 1886-89); Matt S. Batson (1884-86); William Hall (1889-90); J. E. Harrison (1890-91); W. T. Thompson (1891-92); W. A. Lumpkin (1892-93); W. D. Norfleet (1893-94); Margerie Jackson (1894-96); Mary Rowden (1896-97); G. W. Williams (1897-98); Margerie Jackson (1898-99); Eva Vaughn (1899-1900); E. C. Bilyeu (1900-01).
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Later teachers included: Anna Heldstab; Fleeta Jarrett; Ace Tyler; Faye Bond Lamb; Lita (Livingston) Keeth; Billie (Thompson) Setser; and Lillian Coburn.
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Name: CENTRAL POINT SCHOOL School District: 45
Open: c/1882 .Close: 1943
Location: Franklin Township
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Early teachers included: Belle Smith (1882-83); Mary L. Roark (1883-84); Elmer Bliss (1884-85); Thomas B. Cotten (1885-86); Florence B. Cotten (1886-87); Janie Cotten (1887-88); M. L. Tremain (1888-89); Rosella Conner (1889-90); Geo W. Tremain (1890-91); Maggie Skaggs (1892-93); Ida Phillips (1893-94); Leota Robertson (1894-95); Texanna Curty (1895-96); Gertie Wright (1896-97); Anna Weaver (1898-1900); Frank Greenway (1900-01).
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Later teachers included: Sylvia Apperson (1928-30); Beulah Breazill (1930); Bessie Banner (1931-32); Eula McCoy (1931); Mary Swofford (1932-34); Virgil Ponder (1934-35); Adolph Jones (1935-38); Lucille Graham (1938-39); Lucille Bunch (1940-41); Ruth Rustin (1941-42); Desta F. Kidwell (1942-43).
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Picture: Class of 1938-39. Teacher: Lillian Graham
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Name: CHINA SCHOOL School District: 68
Open: Close:
Location: Glaze Township
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Early teachers included: William C. Hawkins (1892-93); Ella Kuykendall (1893-94); Atha Prichett (1894-95); Minnie Anderson (1895-96); Adona McCubbin (1896-97); Martha Meredith (1897-98); Josie Pennington (1898-99); Josie Buster (1899-1900); F. O. McCrory (1900-01).
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Picture: Class of 1910.
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Name: CLARK SCHOOL School District: not listed
Open: 1885 Close: early 1900s
Located: Osage Township AKA: Otto School (1874-85)
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Early teachers included: W. R. Short (1874-75); Renault C. Clark (1875-76); W. M. Gott (1876-77 & 1879-80); Fredrick A. Goodrich (1877-79); John W. Brockman (1880-81); D. W. Baker (1881-82); Robert Garner (1882-83); J. L. McComb (1883-84); J. L. Watson (1884-85); John W. Waite (1885-87); J. L. Winningham (1887-88); David Farnham (1888-89); Robert B. Thompson (1889-92); W. E. Allen (1892-93); Delila Palmer (1893-94); V. H. Goethe (1894-95); William Perry (1895-96); E.F. Madden (1896-97); C. Murcersmith (1897-98); Martha Bear (1898-99); James Murcersmith (1899-01). Later teacher included: Mae Mace Perkins (1914).
Name: COLBURN SCHOOL School District: not listed
Open: Close:
Location: Jim Henry Township
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Not a lot of information is available. This old school was located north of the Osage River. No photo available.
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Class of 1910 -- Teacher: Minnie Bohanan
Name: COOPER SCHOOL School District: 28
Open: c/1874 Close: 1947
Location: Franklin Township Land Donator: Joel Cooper
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Early teachers included:
1870s - James P. Wright, T. B. McCasland, David McComb, Albert C. Bond, LeRoy S. Wadley.
1880s - J. W. Son, R. P. Lamb, George W. Wolfe, Henry Phillips, Annie E. Tremain, W. A. Cotten.
1890s - Dosie Souther, Fannie Duncan, Vona Harrison, Frank Bunker, Mary L. Vaughn, Dora Allen, Afred Duncan.
Later teachers included:
1900s - W. A. Duncan, Lamont Roark, Eva Vaughan, C. L. Roark, Sarah Connor, Emma Cooper
1910s - Minnie Bohanan, Mary Bunch, Helen Agee, Marie Stone, Elzer Cooper
1920s - Grace Marriott, Alma Apperson
1930s - Nellie Small, Mrs. Will Bunch, Durward Douglas, Goldia B. Tracy Norma Bunker
1940s - Rita Hill, Anna Lee Hunsaker, Gertrude (Martin) Maylee, Mrs. R. B. Maylee, Thelma Brewer.
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Name: CROSS SCHOOL School District: 77
Open: c/1875 .Close:
Location: Richwoods Township
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Early teachers included: John K. Groff (1875-76); A. L. Benage (1876- 77); W. W. Gardner (1877-78); J. O. Ferguson (1878-79); James J. Dickerson (1879-80); Rebecca Strange (1880-81); Cora B. Williams (1881-82); Kate Williams (1882-83); Delilah Lawson (1883-84); O. J. Ryther (1884-86); Charles T. Smith (1886-87); D. W. Baker (1887-89 & 1891-92); D. E. Casey (1889-90); V. H. Goethe (1890-91); Eva Bear (1892-93); Katie Morrow (1893-94); W. T. Thompson (1894-96 & 1897-98); Josie Evans (1896-97); Wm. T. Thompson (1898-99); Albert Thompson (1898-99); Lillie Johnston (1899-1900); Edward B. Humphrey (1900-01).
Name: CURRY SCHOOL School District: not listed
Open: Close:
Location: Glaze Township
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Early teachers included: Millard F. Emry (1874-75 & 1876-77); I. B. Walker (1875-76); James T. Walker (1877-78); Thomas J. Stanton (1878-80); William L. Hawkins (1880-81, 1882-83 & 1886-87); George W. Adams (1881-82); George A. Mace (1883-84); Lucy E. Hawkins (1884-85); Belle Dixon (1885-86); T. J. Stanton (1887-89); Everett Miller (1889-90); Everett Martin (1890-91); Maggie Miller (1891-92); Mary Martin (1892-93); Jno. R. Martin (1893-94); E. M. Lawson (1894-95); W. A. Colvin (1895-96); Chas. O. Short (1896-97); Gilbert Watkins (1898-99); Geo. T. Shelton (1899-1900); Winfred Haines (1900-01). Later teachers included: Zeda Head Wall (1944); Vada Hensley (1956-58).
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Name: DOG CREEK SCHOOL School District: 88
Open: c/1874 Close:
Location: Richwoods Township
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Early teachers included: E. L. Hawkins (1874-75); George Reed (1875-76); John F. Hammone (1876-77); L. M. Pridemore (1877-78); J. H. Tinsley (1878-79); Sidney B. Johnston (1879-80); Hiram R. Popejoy (1880-81); W. M. Gott (1881-82); John G. Brown (1882-83); J. C. F. Clark (1883-84); Thomas N. Belshe (1884-85); S. B. Johnston (1885-88); Barnabus Reed, Jr (1888-89); John T. Sullivan (1889-91); V. H. Goethe (1892-93); Cora Burks (1893-94); Lillian Belshe (1894-95); W. S. Spearman (1895-98); John L. Watson (1898-99); J. A. Brockman (1899-1901). Later teacher included: Ida Watson (1914)
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Class of 1914 -- Teacher: Ida Watson
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Name: ELDON SCHOOL School District: [originally] 4
Open: 1883 Status: still in session ...
Location: Saline Township
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The first teacher to teach in Eldon was a Mr. Gier. Only elementary grades (1-6) were available during this era. A two-story frame structure was built in 1883.
In 1893, the class outgrew the school, and the school district purchased the Eldon Academy Building. This building served the children of Eldon for 67 years.
The original academy was a two-story, four room brick building. In 1904, an addition of eight more rooms were constructed, enlarging the school. As the town continued to grow, so did the schoolhouse. In 1908, four more rooms and a basement [that housed the auditorium] completed the second addition. By 1910, Eldon School began offering high school classes and divided the classes accordingly (1-6 & 7-10).
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The high school building was built in 1915 to compensate the ever-growing community and grade 11 was added. The 1919-20 school year saw a change in the organization of the grades and soon the foundation for Eldon Junior High (grades 7 & 8) was laid. Three teachers were employed for those grades. By 1929, the school campus covered 400 feet by 832 feet, with three well-equipped buildings on site. The last grade (12) was added to the school's agenda during this same era. In that same year (1929) there were ten elementary teachers, three junior high teachers and eight high school teachers.
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In 1960, the original academy building caught fire and was totally destroyed. The current elementary school was built not long after this occurred, followed by the junior and high schools in later years. None of the original schools are standing today.
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Early teachers included: Mr. Gier, T. E. Vaughn, H. E. Keltner, Grace Scott.
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Name: ELLIOTT SCHOOL School District: 59
Open: c/1868 Close: 1960
Location: Richwoods Township
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Early teachers included:
(1868-70) - W. R. Salsman
1870s - S. O. Burks, W. W. Gardner, John W. Waite, J. B. Dickerson, John M. Elam, Penelope Reed.
1880s - Mary B. Parsons, ​John W. Waite, Marcia O. Smith, ​D. W. Baker, Barney Reed, George A. Mace, David P. Farnham.
1890s - H. T. Alexander, W. T. Thompson, Hardin Cannon, James Bond, Aulta Spearman, Walter Morrow, Edgar C. Bilyeu,
W. A. Colvin.
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Later teachers included:
1900s - Annie Bear, John W. Stone, Roy Porter.
1910s - Roy Porter, Nellie Bilyeu, Sadie Aust Glawson, Josie Evan, Lura Setser, W. R. Livingston, W. F. Jones.
1920s - Clarice Livingston, Jessie Farnham, Barney Cross, Zae Cross.
1930s - Margaret Anderson, Alice Bishop, Curtis Barton, Ruth Clark, Willard Humphrey, Ruby Humphrey.
1950s - Edna Jones, Fleeta Jarrett.
Name: ELM SPRINGS SCHOOL School District: 51
Open: 1889 Close:
Location: Glaze Township
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Early teachers included:
1880s - Ms. Janie Brockman.
1890s - James A. Thompson, Mary J. Brockman, V. H. Goethe, Horatio Alexander, E. F. Brown, James Thompson, Adolph Jones, J. L. Watson, Ms. Janie Brockman, Mrs. Vernie Brockman, Lloyd Degraffenreid, Zed M. Livingston.
1900s - Z. M. Livingston, Sarah Cotton, J. A. Brockman, Anna M. Wright, J. W. Topping, Simon Peter Bilyeu, J. M. Hendricks, Mary Peoples, Mark Parks, Otto Thompson.
1910s - Otto Thompson, Evelyn Baker, Alta McClain, John L. Watson, W. E. Waddell, Lloyd Degraffenreid, Goldie E. Jones, Rosie McDowell.
Class of 1897 - Teachers: Ms. Janie Brockman (l) & Mrs. Vernie Brockman (r).
1920s - Mary B. Parks, Gypsy Wornell, Claudia Smith, Barnett Wolverton, Bernice Swenehart, Mildred Miller, Ireanah Stayton, Mrs. J. T. Blankenship, Dorothy Doubikin.
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Name: ETTERVILLE SCHOOL School District: 11
Open: c/1905-06 .Close: c/1959-60
Location: Saline Township
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Early teachers included:
Minnie Lumpkin (1906-07); Fred Short (1907-09); Vesta Hinds (1909-10 & 1912-14); D.O. Templeton (1910-11); Raymond Starling (1911-12); Grayce McClure (1913-14); Rev. A. J. Hensley and Grayce Miller (1914-15); Fred Short and Ruth Miller (1915-16); Mr. and Mrs. Roy Brockman [resigned after 2 weeks] & Cobe Miller and Ethel Bond [remainder of term] (1916-17); Fred Short (1917-19); Bettie Deffenbaugh (1917-18); Mrs Bettie Gartin (1918-19); Fred Short and Tillie Scott (1919-2020).
Name: FLETCHER SCHOOL School District: 65
Open: Close:
Location: Glaize Township
Early teachers included: Sarah A. Cotton (1899-1900); V. H. Goethe (1900-01).
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No more information available.
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No photo available.
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Name: FRANKLIN SCHOOL School District: 23
Open: 1851 Close:
Location: Saline Township
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Early teachers included: James A. Allen (1874-75 & 1877-79); John Elliott (1875-76); M. E. Boyce (1876-77); George W. Manning (1879-80); N. J. Shepherd (1880-81); Josephine Russell (1881-82); R. P. Lamb (1882-83); H. R. Popejoy (1883-84); L. N. Musser (1884-85); T. G. Russell (1885-86); W. M. Harrison (1886-87); W. M. Starling (1887-88); George W. Wolfe (1888-89); Florence B. Cotton (1889-91); Elston E. Allen (1891-92 & 1893-94); Lucy Raines (1892-93 & 1899-1900); W. A. Lumpkin (1894-95); Dora J. Allen (1895-96 & 1898-99); E. F. Brown (1896-97); E. M. Graham (1897-98); Belle Babcoke (1900-01).
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Unknown school year.
"I salute these teachers of Miller County’s past days. They were of a completely different breed. Today’s teachers have a very “cushy” life when compared to these dedicated people who faced many hardships in their daily life of teaching to a different generation.
I just want all former teachers of these old schools (and there are still few left today) to know how very much I admire you and the wonderful job you all performed educating our unlearned Ozark ancestors." ~ Peggy Smith Hake - c/1995
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