February 16, 1910 - Country Schools Not Inspiring

In the February 16, 1910 edition of The True Republican on page 2, published an op-ed by the former Secretary of the Interior, James R Garfield regarding the lack of 'inspiration' found in the country schools, lacking the motivation of city schools.

The move toward consolidation and the eventual closure of rural schools, including the Browne school had been proceeding since at least the beginning of the century.

James Rudolph Garfield served as Secretary of the Interior from March 6, 1907 - March - March 9, 1909 under President Theodore Roosevelt.     James witnessed the assassination of his father, President James Abram Garfield on July 2, 1881 in Washington D.C.  after only 4 months in office.

The Browne School Teachers - 1909/1910: Florence Horn

Following Ethel Mae Mosher who taught at the Browne school the previous school year, Florence Horn taught at the Browne school for the school year 1909 - 1910. 

Florence Louise Horn was born April 30, 1899 in DeKalb county, Illinois.   The 1890 US Census was destroyed by fire and does not exist.     In the 1900 US Census, Florence was living (lines 1 - 8) with with her parents, Anthony and Sophia (Huber) and her siblings Francis, Albert, Ralph, Elsie and Ruth in DeKalb township, DeKalb county, Illinois.

By the time of the 1910 US Census, Florence was still living (lines 41 - 44) in DeKalb township, DeKalb county, Illinois with her parents, Anthony and Sophia and Florence's younger sister, Ruth.     Florence taught at the Browne school during the 1909 - 1910 school year however the census doesn't list employment for her.

Sometime following the end of the school year in 1910, Florence moved to California.  She is listed on the 1912 - 1918 voter registration rolls for California in precinct #4,  Lodi, San Joaquin county, California.    The entry for Florence is located on line 182 and her profession is 'teaching'.

The 1913 directory for Lodi, California lists Florence Horn as a principal of Emerson school.

On March 21, 1917, Florence married Walker P Bryan in Alhambra, Los Angeles county, California.   The marriage license confirms Florence is a teacher, was born in DeKalb, Illinois and her parents were Anthony Horn and Sophia Huber.

By 1920, according to the US Census, Florence was living (lines 9 - 10) in Oakland, Alameda county, California with husband Walker Bryan.   The census does not list an occupation for Florence so I have been unable to confirm whether she was teaching at the time the census was taken.

In 1930, the US Census indicates Florence (Horn) Bryan and her husband Walker were living (lines 82 - 83) in Los Angeles, Los Angeles county, California.   The census states Florence was employed as a public school teacher.

By 1940, Florence and husband Walker had moved (lines 9 - 10) to Pasadena, Los Angeles county, California.   Florence is employed as a public school teacher.

Four years later, Florence Louise (Horn) Bryan passed away October 14, 1944 in Los Angeles county, California.

1909 - The One Room Country Schools in Illinois

In 1909, The Department of Public Instruction published "The One Room Country Schools in Illinois". The book covered issues facing the rural schoolhouse:  heating, lighting, ventilation, equipment and the grounds.

Included was a photo previously published as a critique of the condition of many schools currently in operation.     This structure may have been similar to the Browne school.

Based upon the maple trees and location on either side of the sidewalk, this may have been close to the landscaping at the Browne school.

I will be posting a photo of the Browne school property in later years which shows the coal shed.

The Browne School Teachers - 1908/1909: Ethel Mae Mosher

Following James Ezra Stone who taught at the Browne school the previous school year, Ethel Mae Mosher taught at the Browne school for the school year 1908 - 1909.

Ethel was born in 1887 but first appeared on the US Census in 1900.     The 1890 US Census was destroyed by fire.    In 1900 Ethel was living (lines 74 - 80) with her parents, Charles and Ella (Rollins) and her siblings, Lee, Ray, Clarence and Elsie in Afton township, DeKalb county, Illinois.

The 1910 US Census lists Ethel's profession as a school teacher.    She would have completed her teaching assignment at the Browne school and moved onto another school by the time the 1910 census was taken.    Ethel was living (lines 13 - 17) with her mother, now a widow and her siblings, Ray, Clarence and Elsie living in Afton township, DeKalb county, Illinois.    Ethel's older brother Lee had married and started his only family by 1910.

I've been unable to track down the 1920 US Census for Ethel so I am unable to verify whether she was still teaching following her marriage to Walter Leroy Hulmes on December 6, 1911.    By 1930, Ethel and husband Walter were living (lines 55 - 58) with their children James and Everett in DeKalb township, DeKalb county, Illinois.   The census indicates Ethel was not working at the time of the census.

In 1940, Ethel and husband Walter were still living (lines 51 - 54) in DeKalb township, DeKalb county, Illinois with their sons, James and Everett.    Ethel is not employed.

I was unable to locate any documentation during the time Ethel was obtaining her teaching credentials or her time as a teacher.   Apparently she retired from teaching following her marriage to Walter and I was unable to track down any newspaper articles relating to her teaching profession.

Ethel passed away October 19, 1962 in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois.   Ethel's memorial can be found here.   

August 26, 1908 - The Country School

The August 26, 1908 edition of The True Republican published the address by the president of the Country Teacher's Association of Illinois, Miss Mabel Carney.

The Browne School Teachers - 1907/1908: James Ezra Stone

Following Sadie Grant who taught at the Browne school the previous school year, James Ezra Stone taught at the Browne school for the school year 1907 - 1908.

James first appeared in the US Census in 1870 (lines 31 - 37) at the age of three, living in Milan township, DeKalb, Illinois with his parents, Jacob and Susannah (Henderson) and siblings William, Margaret, Israel and Benjamin.    James was born in Pennsylvania and the family moved to Illinois sometime following his birth.

In 1880, the Stone family was still living (lines 44 - 50 and line 1 on the following page) in Milan township but had increased the family by one with an additional sibling, Eddie.

In 1900, the Stone family had grown and moved out of the family home.     James was living (lines 23 - 24) with his wife, Sophia (Warren) in Milan township.     James' parents were living nearby as well as his brother Benjamin, living with his wife Emma and daughter Ida and their brother Edward living with his wife Emma and their children, Archie, Roy and Hazle.

In the August 13, 1904 edition of The True Republican, James Stone was listed as having enrolled at the Teacher's Institute.    Three years later, James Ezra Stone would be teaching at the Browne school.

By 1910, the US Census indicated James Stone was employed (lines 5 - 6) as a "graded school" teacher living with wife Sophia (Warren).   

The May 18, 1918 edition of The DeKalb Daily Chronicle reported that James was a former Cortland principal and candidate for county superintendent.

From the July 11, 1918 edition of The Lee Gazette:

In the August 15, 1918 edition of The DeKalb Daily Chronicle, it was reported that James Stone and his wife would be hosting a community service of the Methodist Episcopal Church at their home.

Here is the 1920 US Census for James Ezra Stone (lines 89 - 90) and wife Sophia (Warren) living in Milan township.    The census indicates James is a retired farmer.

The 1930 US Census lists James and wife Sophia (lines 93 - 94) living in Milan township.   James is employed as a rural school teacher.

The 1940 US Census lists James and wife Sophia (lines 67 - 68) living in the same place in Milan township.

James Ezra Stone's obituary was published in the February 2, 1955 edition of The DeKalb Daily Chronicle.

On the second page of the February 15, 1955 edition of The True Republican, the memorial of James Stone at the Malta Methodist Church was mentioned as well as mentioning he served as a teacher in Mayfield.  

James' wife Sophia (Warren) Stone passed away 6 years later.   Her obituary appeared on page 3 of May 26, 1961 edition of The Sycamore Tribune.

 

The memorial for James Ezra Stone and Sophia (Warren) Stone can be found here, which includes a (poor quality) photograph.

If you can read this, thank a teacher.

The Browne School Teachers - 1906/1907: Sadie Grant

In 2006, the DeKalb County Historical and Genealogical Society published "Rural Schools Journeys: A Legacy of Learning, Histories of the One-room Schools in Dekalb County, Illinois".     A partial list of those that taught at the Browne school are listed.    The first year included in the book was school year 1906 - 1907 which was taught by Sadie Grant.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any information about Sadie Grant.    If anyone has more information on Sadie, please let me know in the comments.

If you wish to purchase a copy of "Rural Schools Journeys: A Legacy of Learning, Histories of the One-room Schools in Dekalb County, Illinois" click here.

1905 - Milan township, DeKalb county plat map

Here is the 1905 plat map for Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois.

 

The Browne school can be found in Section 1, in the upper right hand corner of the map.

April 17, 1901 - Proposed Illinois State Legislation

Page 2 of the April 17, 1901 edition of The True Republican reported that the Illinois state legislature introduced a bill to consolidate rural schools.

It would take several years for this concept to impact the Browne school.

This follows the Illinois state superintendent's plans announced in January.

1901 - Rural school architecture

Sometime following the announcement that the Illinois state superintendent would be addressing school consolidation, Alfred Bayless published "Circular 28: Rural school architecture. School room decoration".   Included in the publication were a few photos, one depicts a furnace used to heat the school:

Here is a photo of what many rural schoolhouses looked like prior to 1901.

I have yet to track down a photo of the Browne school but this may be the closest to the style used.  The back building along the fenceline appears to be an outhouse.    

If anyone has photos of the Browne school, please contact me by leaving a message in the comments.