Peggy Smith-Hake's
"Window to the Past"
Miller County Schoolhouse Series
(P - Sp)
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Name: PISGAH SCHOOL School District: 53
Open: 1874 Close: c/1952-53
Location: Osage Township
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Early teachers included: Simeon Gard (1874-75); John F. Hammond (1875-76); Martha Cummings (1876-77); Isaiah Latchem (1877-78); John Brockman (1878-79); Perry T. Nixdorf (1879-80 & 1882-84); Lucy C. Hawkins (1880-81); J. W. Brockman (1881-82); Sadie E. Heltzell (1884-85); Alonzo Reed (1885-87); D. P. Farnham (1887-88); Robert L. Reed (1888-89); J. P. Wright (1889-90); H. T. Alexander ( 1890-91); G. G. Sullivan (1891-92); Mattie Bacon (1892-95); C. T. Burks (1895-96 & 1900-01); Ada Nixdorf (1896-97); John Mathias (1897-98); Lillie Stephens (1898-99); E. C. Bilyeu (1899-00).
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Later Teachers Included: Sue Helton Jarrett (1947-48); Margie Clark (1948- 51); Ruth Shearrer (1951-52).
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Class of 1908
Name: PLEASANT BALL SCHOOL School District: 17
Open: Close:
Location: Jim Henry Township AKA: Klindt School
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Early teachers included: Ellen Jones (1878-79); Eva Reeves (1879-80); Jane Artz (1880-82); Nannie Jackson (1882-83); T. N. Belshe (1883-85); D. L. Russell (1885-86); Mattie Cummins (1886-87); G. T. Payne (1887-88); Basha M. Ballengee (1889-90); Dollie Bond (1890-92); Minnie Baker (1892-94); James M. Baker (1894-95); Marble Fields (1895-96); C. Honaker (1896-97); Samuel Valentine Jenkins (1897-98); John M. Buster (1898-99); Lou Lumpkin (1899-1900); Otis Orville Jenkins (1900-01).
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Later teacher included: Martha Gangall (1908-09).
Name: PLEASANT GROVE SCHOOL School District: 17
Open: Close:
Location: Franklin Township
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Early teachers included: Daniel C. Vann (1874-76, 1877-78 & 1888-89); Stuart C. Davis (1876-77); John I. Stapp (1878-80); Eldora Morris (1880-82); James A. Allen (1882-83); Belle Smith (1883-84); M. L. Roark ( 1884-86); J. S. Vaughn (1886-87); B. F. Bowlin & Mary J. Brockman (1889-90); A J. Bowlin & Roselea Conner (1890-91); Mary McCrory (1892-93); William M. Kehr (1893-94 & 1895-96); Dora Allen (1894-95); Eva R. Vaughn (1895-96); Augusta Nevins (1897-99); J. J. Crocker (1899-1900); Eddie Kehr (1900-01).
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Name: PLEASANT HILL SCHOOL School District: 08
Open: Close:
Location: Saline Township
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Early teachers included: J. H. Vickers (1874-75); J. A. B. Adcock (1875-76); Henry H. Stark (1876-77); Sarah J. Knisely & H. B. Roark (1877-78); C. C. Ferguson (1878-79); William M. Harrison (1879-80); Hiram R. Popejoy (1880-81 & 1887-89); William M. Starling (1881-83); L. D. Curty (1883-84); J. G. Leslie (1884-85); W. E. Allen (1885-86); T. G. Russell (1886-87); Maude Smith (1889-91); Carrie Evans (1891-92); Vona Harrison (1892-93); Berlue Wilson (1893-94); S. G. Gilleland (1894-95); Jennie Sharples (1895-96); G. Hargett (1896-97); Lizzie Cornett (1897-98); B. H. Curty (1898-99); George Oliver (1899-1900); Annie Yows (1900-01).
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Later teacher included: Lucille Graham (1951-52).
Name: POST OAK SCHOOL School District: 49
Open: 1877 Close:
Location: Glaize Township
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Early teachers included: Lafayette Bacon (1877-79); William S. Miller (1879-80); George P. LaForce (1880-82); B. M. Keyes (1882-83); John W. Brockman (1883-84 & 1885-86); Mary E. Carpenter (1884-85); J. N. Brockman & Nannie Anthony (1886-88 & 1889-90); Fannie Erp (1890-91); Mary J. Brockman (1891-92); Berlie Wilson (1892-93); J. H. Butner (1893-94); K. M. Nickols (1894-95); Lillian Harrison (1895-96); Anna Bear (1896-97); Eva R. Brown (1898-99); Annie Brown (1899-1900); J. E. Craft (1900-01).
Name: RABBITHEAD SCHOOL School District: 75
Open: Close: after 1957
Location: Richwoods Township
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Early teachers included: Ruth R. Martin (1874-75); L. T. Reynolds (1875-76); W. J. Champion (1876-77); Isaiah Latchem (1877-78); M. E. Hayhurst (1878-80); D. W. Baker (1880-81); Lauretta Irwin (1881-83); W. D. Johnson ( 1883-84); Mat A. Batson (1884-85); Sadie Heltzell (1885-86); Mary E. Cross (1886-87); N. D. Johnston (1887-88); Siegel Thompson (1888-89); Belle Brown (1889-90); Annie Heltzell (1890-91); Mary A. Thompson (1891-92); Margaret Shackleford (1892-93); S. B. Tunmons (1893-95); Walter Morrow (1895-97); George T. Shelton (1897-98); W. T. Thompson (1898-99); Annie Schuberth (1899-01).
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Later teachers included: Edna Phillips (1909); Lenny Thompson (1950-52); Imo Cross (1955-56); Ruby Humphrey (1956-57).
Name: REED SCHOOL School District: 67
Open: Close:
Location: Glaize Township Land Donator: George Reed
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Early teachers included: Edith E. Perry (1894-95); Bertha Russell (1895-96); J. A. Brockman (1896-97); Dora Bear (1897-99); Chas. E. Howell (1899-1900); Edward M. Graham (1900-01).
Later teachers included: Opal L. Carnes (1935-38); John Shockley (1938-39).
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No photo available.
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Name: ROCKY MOUNT SCHOOL School District: 24
Open: Close:
Location: Franklin Township
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Early teachers included: James A. Allen (1873-74 & 1877-78); Josiah Elliott (1874-75); J. H. Simmons (1875-76); M. E. Boyce (1876-77); J. L. C. Wood (1878-80); F. E. Eberhart (1880-81); J. W. Young (1881-82); Chas. E. Jones (1882-83); T. A. Son (1883-84); Frank Jones (1884-85); James L. Birdsong (1885-86); Joseph A. Cotton (1886-87); George P. Swanson (1887-88); Florence Cotten (1888-89); O. H. Jones (1889-90); Vonia Harrison (1890-91); Lucy Rains (1891-92); E. E. Allen (1892-93); Homer R. Yows (1893-94 & 1899-1900); Maggie Boyce (1894-95); E. F. Madden (1895-96); Ollie Boan (1896-97 & 1898-99); Laura Etter (1897-98); Dolly A. Savage (1900-01).
Name: ROSS SCHOOL .School District: not listed
Open: Close:
Location: Glaize Township ​
Not a lot of information is available. This old school was located in the southern region of Glaize Township. No photo available.
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Name: SAND HILL SCHOOL School District: 04
Open: Close:
Location: Saline Township
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Early teachers included: Charles E. Jones (1874-75); W. J. Nevill (1875-76); George P. Swanson (1876-77); Olive I. Scott (1877-79); Joshua L. Roark (1879-80); J. L. Gilleland (1880-81); R. G. Atkin (1881-82); Lucy E. Taylor (1882-83); Emma Taylor (1883-84); W. M. Starling (1884-85); Hiram Popejoy (1885-86); Mary E. Roark (1886-87 & 1888-89 ); H. B. Roark (1887-88); M. L. Roark (1889-90); Sallie Wilson (1890-91); Alla Slote (1891-93); Mattie Williams (1893-94); Jane Gill (1894-95); B. E. Garretson (1895-96); Dora Allen (1896-97); Gilbert Walker (1897-98); Lewis Allen (1898-99); I. G. Duncan (1899-1900); O. E. Amos (1900-01).
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No photo available.
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Name: SANNING SCHOOL School District: 34
Open: c/1874 Close: 1950
Location: Jim Henry Township AKA: Fairview School
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Early teachers included:
1870s -- W. M. Gott, Sidney B. Johnson, L. S. Wadley, H. G. Pendleton.
1880s -- J. W. Brockman, Lois Allen, Ed Bond, S. F. Berry, H. T. Cox, Basha M. Ballingee, D. Bond, Dillie Bond.
1890s -- W. A. Lumpkin, E. D. Sullens, W. D. Norfleet, Frank Adams, John J. Hoskins, George W. Williams, D. Bond, Dillie Bond.
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Later teachers included:
1920s -- Katy Doerhoff Kempker, Anna Sanning, Dora Morgan, Edith Alt, Lucy Kubachak, Dora Morgan Ingram,
1930s -- Elmer Evans, Willard Schulte, Helen Heafey Schulte.
1940s -- Helen Heafey Schulte, Evelyn Kempker Wedel, Mary M. Doerhoff, Marcella Schulte, Lucille Kempker Limbach.
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Name: SCHOOL OF THE OSAGE . School District: [originally] 14
Open: c/1933 ..Close: still in session
Location: Glaize Township
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In terms of formation, the School of the Osage would be considered the newest school facility in Miller County. In the early 1930s there were a number of small, country schoolhouses in outlying regions that were consolidated into what is now the School of the Osage.
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By 1933, the following schools were closed down: Bagnell, Bowlin, Dogcreek, Elm Springs.
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A two-room grade school, built c/early 1900s, was used until a centralized grade school could be constructed. This building was razed when the final additions were made to School of the Osage's present building, which occurred in 1952. The building used today was constructed of stone and brick around 1933-34 by the Epple Construction Company of Columbia, Missouri, and designed by Bonsock and Pearce, architects from St. Louis, Missouri. By 1945 the library had grown to one of 3500 volumes, there was a fully equipped gymnasium, and two large playgrounds, all of which was quite unusual for schools of that era.
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The cafeteria was housed in the old Bowlin School building on campus and served hot meals during lunch for a nominal fee. In addition to educational activities, community social functions were held in the school building, as well. Various events included: community dinners, music festivals, basketball tournaments, speech contests. There were even dance instruction classes offered at this school as a community service.
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According to Noel Glover, he wrote: "In 1938, the elementary wing of the school was added... at that time, all the elementary schools began to come to Osage on busses instead of attending out in the country. The new gymnasium was built in 1952 and the first [basketball] game was played in it that fall. At the same time, the addition which now contains the cafeteria, typing room, home economics rooms, was also completed."
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The first graduation was held in 1934 at School of the Osage. Twelve members of the senior class received their diplomas and took their place in school history as School of the Osage's first alumni. By 1947, the elementary school had a total enrollment of 151 students and the high school, which was added c/early 1930s, had a total enrollment of 144 students.
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Early teachers included: Burl and Helen Henderson (1945)
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Name: SCHANZMEYER SCHOOL School District: 14
Open: Close: 1939
Location: Jim Henry Township Land Donator: Joe Schanzmeyer
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Early teachers included:
1870s -- John W. Brockman, Owen Pendleton, S. W. Agee, P. Adams, W. O. Martin.
1880s -- W. O. Martin, W. I. Meeder, I. H. Burns, Charles Reichman, F. N. Lubbert, John R. Warren, Carl Reishenow, Mary Schanzmeier, Herman Morfeld, G. H. Bartman.
1890s -- G. H. Bartman, H. G. Lueckenhoff, Francis Schell, H. G. Lueckenhoff, John G. Westerman, Joseph Dickneite, V. H. Goethe, J. H. Dickneite.
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Later teachers included:
1930s -- Dorothy Groner, Mary Ann Lindeman, Dorothy Doubikin, Loretta Loethen.
No photo available.
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Name: SKINNER SCHOOL School District: 29
Open: 1870 Close: 1954
Location: Equality Township Land Seller: James Skinner, Sr.
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Early teachers included:
1870s: Mary E. Walker, J. D. Tomson, Thomas B. McCaslan, Lucetta Roark, Josephine Russell.
1880s -- John D. Riley, R. H. Green, Wm. M. Harrison, Viola Norfleet, Eliza Swanson, Ellen Skinner, S. R. Hoover, Ira Reeves.
1890s -- Basha M. Ballengee, Walter M. Haynes, Maggie Skaggs, F. M. Haynes, Carrie R. Evans, James M. Norfleet, Belle Babcoke.
1900s - I. G. Duncan, C. B. Buster, Ida Thompson, Belle Scott, Sarah Conner, Roy A. Brockman, Lee Thompson.
Later teachers included:
1910s -- Goldina (Bealer) Brockman, Gardie Swanson, Lee Thompson, Emma Roher, Josie Enlee, Emma M. Artz,
1920s -- Grace Foote, Josie Babcock, Virgil Atwell, John W. Vaughn, Alice Watt, D. O. Templeton, Mildred Walterschiede, Mary Bunch.
1930s -- Mary Bunch, Emma Blaser, James L. Harrison, Vera Busick, Lee Thompson, Helen Heafey, Lucille Bunch, Erma Stark.
1940s -- Ace Tyler, Lucille Graham, Mary Jo Berry, Lee Thompson, Doris Clemmons, Goldina Brockman, Helen Heafey, Lillie Bunch, Alice Bishop, Margaret Peck, Archie Whitaker.
1950s -- Frances Snodgrass, Stella Bealer, Viola Terwillinger.
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Class of 1927
Name: SPEARMAN SCHOOL School District: 72
Open: Close:
Location: Richwoods Township
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Early teachers included: Zebedee Spearman (1874-75); James S. Martin (1875-76); E. L. Hawkins (1876-77); A. L. Benage (1877-78 & 1880-81); James T. Walker (1878-80); Cornelia Spearman (1881-82, 1883-84, 1891-93 & 1898-99); L. N. Wood (1882-83); George A. Mace (1884-86); Mrs. C. F. Spearman (1886-87); C. F. Spearman (1887-89); Nellie Harrison (1889-90); D. E. Casey (1890-91); Mattie Steen (1893-94); Wm. L. Hawkins (1894-95); C. B. Spearman (1895-96); Roy Nickols (1896-97); Chas. O. Short (1897-98); Alta Spearman (1899-1900); Gilbert Watkins (1900-01).
Later teachers included: Leslie Jones (1927-28); May Burnham (1956-57); Vada Hensley (1958-60).
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Name: SPRING GARDEN SCHOOL School District: 12
Open: c/mid-1870s Close:
Location: Saline Township AKA: Sunnyside School
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Early teachers included: Hattie Miller (1893-94); Marble Fields (1894-95); Ida M. Tomson (1895-96); Lou Lumpkin (1896-97); Frank J. Keep (1897-98); Dollie Savage (1898-99); W. M. Simpson (1899-1900); Anna Brown (1899-1901).
Later teacher included: Vernie Harbison (1930-31).
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The first institute of higher learning that came to Miller County was located in the Spring Garden community. It was first called the Spring Garden Seminary, a private school for girls that was established in 1866. According to Clyde Lee Jenkins, the old Christian Church building was used as the school during the first two years, but by 1868 a two-story frame building was erected. The old Christian Church once stood in the northwest corner of the Spring Garden Cemetery. Professor William M. Lumpkin taught the first classes there. Later, the professor was joined by Julia A. H. Colby [of Springfield, Mo.] and Edward A. Henry [of Pleasant Mount]. In 1879, the name, "Spring Garden Seminary", was changed to the Miller County Institute and opened its doors to both girls and boys. The school closed and the building torn down in 1907. A newer elementary school was later built on the site [as shown above].
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Miller County Schoolhouse Series: St - W ​Schoolhouses Site Map
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"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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Class of 1953-54