Chester High School - Summit Yearbook (Chester, IL)

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THIRTY-THREE L. V. Kkutsingkk Principal ITS., Unix., Illinois Physics, Algebra W. R. Lowry Superintendent B.S.. A.M., Univ., Missouri Ophema Hack A.M., Washington Univ. English, Voice Marik H. Jukrgkns B.ITEd., American College of P. Ed. Girls’ P. Ed. W. O. Simmons A.IT, Westminster College Football, Track, Mathematics Leona Burmeister A.B., Univ., Illinois English, Latin, Pram a tics Dorothy E. Dak win S. E. Mo. Teachers’ College Bowling Green Business Univ. .S'horthand, Typing. Bookkeeping L. L. Colvis ITS., Univ., Illinois Agriculture P. A. Goranson B.S., Univ., Illinois Biology, General Science, V Ed., Basketball Ai.fkkd Rebbe B.S., Univ., Illinois Manual Arts, Social Science Evelyn May Roberts A. IT, Illinois College istory, English Frieda Duncan Ed.IT, S. I. Normal Univ. Sr. High Music, Jr. High Una A. Gilster ITS., Univ., Illinois Home Economics, Chemistry Page 9

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THE SUMMIT Juergens, Stadler, Kup| ert, Staley, Gilster, Brown. File BOARD OF EDUCATION President of Board P. E. Stadi.Er Secretary of Board John A. File MEMBERS H. F. W. Jl'ERGENS C. H. Staley F. R. Ruppert William C. Brown Albert H. Gilster Page S

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THE SUMMIT Brief History of the Schools of Chester, Illinois by George L. Guy, Superintendent of Schools, 1882-1885 and 1890-1893 “About the year 1721 a Fleming taught the Tamaroa and Kaskaskia Indians to sow wheat in this region; whereby the condition of these tribes was very much improved.” This is the earliest record of any teaching near the place where Chester now stands, and it may be regarded as a good beginning for an industrial university. Father Charlevoit and the Jesuit missionaries are associated with the earlier instruction of the children in the newly forming civilization; but the French language was their medium, and their impress was lost on the incoming English and American settlers. A building used for school purposes at as late a date as 1830 stood at a place called Portland on the present site of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary. (1) In 1829 the first house in Chester was built by Samuel Smith, who had purchased this land, and the shipping point was known as Smith’s Landing. His wife, Mrs. Jane Smith, was a native of Chester, England; and to her was given the privilege of naming the new city. Early school houses stood beyond the present location of the cemetery; below the hill near what is now Joseph Beare’s residence; near the Presbyterian Church, halfway up the hill; and at other convenient points. (2) There was evidently considerable interest in education even at an early day, for I cannot find that tuition rates were at any time less than one dollar per month, and the schools were well attended. Among the pioneer teachers honorable mention is made of men named Holloway (at Portland), Messrs. Sykes, Means, Skilling, Gardner, Anderson, Farrington, Rev. O. L. Barter, Charles, and Corrington, and ladies named Mrs. Drew. Maggie Kennedy, Mary Servant, Fannie Swanwick, Anne Henderson, Miss Frone (recommended by the governor of Massachusetts), Mary Prine, Abbie Prine, Miss Davis, Miss Whitehead, Miss Vienna Cooke, Anna Maxwell, Kate Maxwell. and the Misses Stafford. The latter seem to have been very superior teachers, as were others in the list. These are all I have succeeded in rescuing from oblivion. With few facilities, they kept as good schools as the community would permit. By their example and devoted interest they still live. In 1859 the records, still preserved, show that on the 10th of October at the court house, William A. Gordon “drew the long term” and J. H. Nelson “drew the next long term” for the new Board of Directors. (3) Sept. 8, 1861, a levy of 20 cents on the one hundred dollars was ordered upon the taxable property of the district. Thus free schools seem to have attained a secure footing within six years after the act establishing the present public school system was enacted by the Illinois Legislature. In 1862 James Neville, F. D. Outen. and Theodore Van Kannal held school; the name of Robert Mann appears on the Board of Directors; and the total expenditure by the district was $602.50. In 1863 H. Bueckman, William Lakenan, and William Roberts were directors. As teachers the names of John H. Lindsey and Amanda Whittaker now appear. Then come Mary Jane Guthrie, Mary Jane Williamson, Emily Wassell, Clementine Cole. Mr. Calvin Mitchell seems to have been the first high school teacher. D. S. Morrison was elected principal of schools August 3, 1867, with John F. Baumann appearing as clerk of the Board. In 1869 John A. Malone; in 1870, J. H. Lindsey; in 1871. a Mr. Howard, and J. N. Holloway followed in order in that position. Page 10