The1943 - 1944 Browne school year was taught by Eleanor (Spohn) Smith, following the 5 years taught by Mabel Colton. While I could not find any documentation other than the "Rural Schools Journeys: A Legacy of Learning, Histories of the One-room Schools in Dekalb County, Illinois" there were no other individuals named Eleanor Smith that lived within a reasonable distance near the Browne school other than Eleanor (Spohn) Smith. Unfortunately there were no newspaper accounts or census records that tied Eleanor (Spohn) Smith to employment as a school teacher.
Eleanor L (Spohn) Smith was born July 22, 1912 in DeKalb county, Illinois to Bessie Pearl (Shultz) and Homer Clyde Spohn. I haven't seen a document with Eleanor's middle name, but I believe it to be Lena, named after her maternal grandmother, Lena (Reeds) Shultz.
The 1920 US Census lists Eleanor living (lines 71 - 77) in Wyoming township, Lee county, Illinois with her parents and siblings, Robert, Willard, Ruth and her uncle Ernest Spohn.
The 1930 US Census lists Eleanor living (Page 4A, lines 45 - 50 and Page 4B, lines 51 - 54) with her parents and siblings, Robert, Willard, Ruth, Edith, Grace, Pearl and Harry. The family was living in Shabbona township, DeKalb county, Illinois. Eleanor's neighbor, Paul Craigmile would eventually move to a home 1/4 mile west of the Browne school in Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois. The Browne school playground swing set eventually ended up at the Craigmile home.
On February 26, 1934, Eleanor L Spohn married Paul Herbert Smith in Waterman, DeKalb county, Illinois.
The 1940 US Census lists Eleanor living (lines 72 - 75) in Shabbona township, DeKalb county, Illinois with her husband, Paul and their children Barbara and Bruce.
The 1940 US Census does not indicate Eleanor is employed. I do not know whether she taught at another school prior to her tenure at the Browne school in 1943 - 1944.
Page 2 of the February 20, 1959 Sycamore Tribune published an announcement of Eleanor and Paul's 25th wedding anniversary.
Eleanor L (Spohn) Smith passed away on May 17, 1996 in Streator, LaSalle county, Illinois. Her memorial can be viewed here.
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