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.

1876 - DeKalb county map, Illinois school attendance and the educational system

In 1876, Warner and Beers published "Atlas of the State of Illinois, to which are added various general maps, history, statistics and illustrations".

Below is Milan township taken from the larger map of DeKalb county.   The Browne school is located in the upper right hand corner in Section 1.     William Browne's home is located in Section 11.     

Below is the map of DeKalb county, including the towns of Sycamore and Sandwich.   Yorkville and Bristol are communities located in Kendall county.

The 1876 atlas included statistics for school attendance and literacy rates in the United States and its territories taken from the 1870 US Census.    Unfortunately a breakdown of rural schools was not included.

Below is a biennial report from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Honorable Newton Bateman.  The report is broken down into Territorial Divisions, The Schools, The Teachers, The Pupils and The School Funds.    Also included are the other areas of education:   Universities and other institutions where education is available.

Below is an overlay of the 1876 DeKalb county map with a current map of the area.

The population of Milan township in 1860 was 262, three years after the founding of the township in 1857.   The population had grown to 857 by 1870.

November 4, 1872 - Indenture

On November 4, 1872, Richard Pearse sold the land around the Browne school to John Munson.

The property sold for $2200.00 and the Browne school was mentioned in the indenture document as School District no 1:

“South half of the SouthWest Quarter of Section one (1) in Township Thirty nine  (39) North Range three (3) East of the third (3rd) Principal Meridian continuing Eighty (80) acres more or less; reserving to School District no 1, the right to use one half acre on the SouthWest corner for school purposes as long as they shall so desire to and actually so use it.”

1872 - DeKalb County, Illinois map

 Here is a map from 1872 for DeKalb, Illinois and counties to the north and west.

The Browne school is located in the 'E' of DeKalb in Section 1 of Milan township.