Wilson School

Kinmundy Historical Society

WILSON SCHOOL

Alma Township, Marion County, Illinois

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We are looking for photos of people and/or places from around Kinmundy & Alma. Can you help?

Or maybe you have stories or memories from the "Good Old Days"? What do YOU remember?

The Kinmundy Historical Society would be honored to preserve your memories and stories. We also have the

equipment to scan (or copy) your photos so that they may be enjoyed now as well as for generations yet to come!

We would love to hear from you! For more information, please contact:

Dolores (Ford) Mobley – Dolores@ford-mobley.com

208 Joan Dr.; Divernon, IL 62530; (217) 625-7527

Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

408 S. Washington St.; Kinmundy, IL 62854; (618) 547-7731

Teachers from WILSON SCHOOL – District #72 (Alma twp.)

(1903-04) Bertha J. Kell ($30)

(1915-16) Elizabeth Swift

(1916-17) Miss Grace Johnson

Jan. 4, 1917: “Miss Grace Johnson, who has been teaching at Wilson, has resigned.”

(1918-19) Verdy Wooldridge

(1920-21) Lois L. Kline

(1922-23) Mrs. Herma Lane

(1923-24) Mrs. Cecil Lane (Mrs. Herma Lane)

(1928-29) Ethel Fyke Kniseley

(1926-27) Miss Velma Marlow

(1929-30) Mrs. Ethel Kniseley

(1930-31) Ethel Fyke (Ethel Fyke Kniseley)

(1931-32) Ethel Fyke Kniseley

(1932-33) Mrs. Ethel Fyke Kniseley

Oct. 19, 1933: Lettie (Riley) Hults (daughter of Lydia Riley); In early life Mrs. Hults was a teacher, teaching 17 terms, 3 of which were in the Wilson School, in which her mother had taught, and later her daughter, Mrs. Pitt.

(1933-34) Mrs. Ethel Kniseley

(1934-35) Mrs. Edith Fyke Kniseley

(April 25, 1935) She finished a successful term making her 9th consecutive term

(1935-36) Mrs. Ethel F. Kniseley

(Apr. 30, 1936) Mrs. Kniseley will be leaving our school to teach next year in Centralia where she and Mr. Kniseley are making their home, and they both have employment.)

(1936-37) Mrs. Florence Weiss

(1937-38) Mr. Byron E. Millican

(1938-39) Miss Marjorie Keller (later married Mr. Walkington)

(1939-40) Marjorie (Keller) Walkington

(1940-41) Marjorie (Keller) Walkington

(1941-42) Mrs. Bertha See

(1942-43) Mrs. Bertha See

(1943-44) Miss Maude Lewis

(1944-45) Miss Elsie Tockstein

(1945-46) Miss Marjorie Petrea

(May 2, 1946) There is to be no school here next year as there is not a sufficient number of pupils in the district.

(1946-47) No School

(September 4, 1947) School started at Allen School on Sept. 1, and the pupils from Wilson will attend there this term, owing to the shortage of pupils in our district.

(1947-48) No School

(1949-50) Merged with C-4 District at Allen School in Alma twp.

(The above information was gathered from "The Kinmundy Express" articles, school photos, and Marion Co. school directories.)

(One Room School Memorial – Archives - Salem, IL)

FIX NAMES FROM HANDWRITTEN DOCUMENT

Written by Ethel _____

Wilson School was built on land owned by John C. Wilson, hence the name ‘Wilson School’. Because of the creek, that site proved unsatisfactory, and the school house was moved to it’s last location. That site was given by my grandparents, John H. Griffin and his wife, Hester A. Griffin. The deed for this site was dated June 9, 1879.

In the late 1940’s, before the rural schools consolidated, the enrollment at Wilson School dropped to three children and they were sent to Allen School. After consolidation, Wilson district became a part of Kinmundy Unit District.

When the buildings were sold, Dan Hiestand bought them and used the lumber to build additional rooms onto his home.

Directors Teachers

Frank Humphrey Electa Riley Hults

Fred Kleiss Pauline Baggot

Ellsworth Harvey Kittie Eagan (Shaffer)

Fred Stock Tom French

Eura Shaffer Ida McFee

Marion Shufeldt Ethel George (Malinsky)

Chris Meyer Jennie McCartle

Jesse Charlton Valinda Foster

Lester Vanscyoc Verdy (?Woolridge) Hurd

Leo Stock Lois (Kline) Greenwood

Charles Ford Herma (Hamilton) Lane

Zola Hamilton

Hester Heaton

Velma Marlow

Ma_____ (Reeves) Brown

Marjorie (Walkington) Keller

Bertha (Rose) See

Elsie (Tockstein) McGee

WARRANTY DEED

Dated: June 9, 1879

Filed: Nov. 5^th, 1880 at 3:25 p.m.

Cost: $1.00

Recorded: Deed 34, Page 38

In the office of the Circuit Clerk, Marion County, Illinois

John H. Griffin and Hester A. Griffin, his wife, to

The School Trustees of Township No. Three (3)

North of Range No. Three (3)

East of the third principal meridian

and to their successors in office.

The grantor, John H. Griffin and Hester A. Griffin, his wife, of the county of Marion and State of Illinois for and in consideration of one dollar in hand paid, convey land warrants to the School Trustees of Township No. Three (3) north of range no three (3) east of the third principal meridian and to their successors in office, the following described real estate to wit:

Nine rods square off of the northwest corner of the north west quarter of the south west quarter of section eleven (11) township no. three (3) north, of range no. three (3) east of the third principal meridian, for a school house site. When the above described lot is no longer used for school purposes, the title of said lot above described is to revert to John H. Griffin, his heirs, executors, and administrators free of charge, situated in the county of Marion in the State of Illinois, hereby releasing and waiving all rights under and by virtue of the homestead exemption laws of the State.

Dated this nineth day of June A.D. 1879

Signed, sealed and delivered } John H. Griffin (seal)

in presence of Lewis H. Kagy } Jester A. Griffin (seal)

State of Illinois }

Marion County } SS

I, Lewis H. Kagy, a justice of the peace in and for the said county, in the state aforesaid, do hereby certify that John H. Griffin and Hester A. Griffin his wife are personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that they signed, sealed and delivered the said instrument as their free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth, including the release and waiver of the right of homestead.

Given under my hand and official seal, this nineth day of June A.D. 1879. Lewis H. Kagy, J.P. (seal)

Year	Names of Trustees for Alma twp.; Town 3, Range 3	Names of Directors for Wilson School (#72)
1915 - 1916	Homer Kagy, C.M. See, L.N. Kennedy; S.K. Spitler – township treasurer	J.T. Charlton, Frank Humphrey, A.A. Malinsky
1918 - 1919	L.N. Kennedy – President; Homer Kagy – Clerk; C.M. See; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer	J.T. Charlton, Frank Humphrey, Fred Kleiss
1920 - 1921	L.N. Kennedy – President; T.H. Purcell – Clerk; E.G. Ford; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer	J.T. Charlton, Fred Kleiss, C.R. Heaton
1922 - 1923	E.G. Ford – President; F.H. Purcell – Clerk; L.N. Kennedy; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer	J.T. Charlton, Fred Kleiss, Fred Stock
1923 - 1924	E.G. Ford – President; L.N. Kennedy – Clerk; Homer Kagy; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer	Fred Stock, Fred Kleiss, W.E. Harvey
1926 - 1927	E.G. Ford – President; H.P. Smith – Clerk; J.W. Griffin; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer	H.F. Charlton, Fred Kleiss, J.C. McCarty
1928 - 1929	C.E. Rainey – President; J.W. Griffin; E.G. Ford; H.D. Thompson – Treasurer	H.T. Charlton, Fred Kleiss, J.O. McCarty
1930 - 1931	Clyde S. Hiestand – President; C.E. Rainey; E.G. Ford; H.D. Thompson – Treasurer	Geo. Crist, Mrs. Grace Kagy, Fred Kleiss, Marion Shufeldt
1931 - 1932	E.G. Ford; J.A. Broom; Clyde Hiestand; Joe Mazanek - Treasurer	Lester VanScyoc, Fred Kleiss, Marion Shufeldt
1932 - 1933	Clyde Hiestand; E.G. Ford; J.A. Broom; Joe Mazanek – Treasurer	Lester VanScyoc, Fred Kleiss, Marion Shufeldt
1933 - 1934	Clyde Hiestand; E.G. Ford; J.A. Broom; Joe Mazanek - Treasurer	Vernon Sipes, Lester VanScyoc, Marion Shufeldt
1934 - 1935	Clyde Hiestand; E.G. Ford; J.A. Broom; Joe Mazanek – Treasurer	Marion Shufeldt, Vernon Sipes, Chris Meyer
1935 - 1936	Clyde Hiestand – President; E.G. Ford; Roy Telford; Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer	Marion Shufeldt – President; Vernon Sipes – Clerk; Chris Meyer
1936 - 1937	Clyde Hiestand – President; E.G. Ford; Roy Telford; Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer	Marion Shufeldt – President; Vernon Sipes – Sipes; Chris Myers
1937 - 1938	Clyde Hiestand – President; E.G. Ford; Roy Telford; Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer	Marion Shufeldt – President; Vernon Sipes – Clerk; Chas. Ford
1938 - 1939	Clyde Hiestand – President; C.E. Rainey; Roy J. Telford; Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer	Marion Shufeldt – President; Vernon Sipes – Clerk; Chas. Ford
1939 - 1940	Clyde Hiestand – President; C.E. Rainey; John Broom; Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer	Charles Ford – President; Marion Shufeldt – Clerk; J.E. Charlton
1940 - 1941	Clyde Hiestand – President; J.A. Broom; C.E. Rainey; Joe Mazanek – twp. Treasurer	Chas. Ford – President; Marion Shufeldt – Clerk; J.E. Charlton
1941 - 1942	C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom; Joe Mazanek – Treasurer	Charles Ford – President; Marion Shufeldt – Clerk; J.E. Charlton
1942 - 1943	C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom; D.C. Meador; Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treasurer	Charles Ford – President; Marion Shufeldt – Clerk; J.E. Charlton
1943 - 1944	C.E. Rainey – President; John Broom; D.C. Meador; Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.	J.E. Charlton – President; Marion Shufeldt – Clerk; Chris Meyers
1944 - 1945	C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom; D.C. Meador; Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.	J.E. Charlton – President; Eura Shaffer – Clerk; Chris Meyers
1945-1946	C.E. Rainey – President; Dave Meadors; J.A. Broom; Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer	Jesse E. Charlton – President; Eura Shaffer – Clerk; Chris Meyers
1946-1947	C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom – Clerk; Dave Meadors; Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.	Chris Meyer – President; Jesse E. Charlton – Clerk; James A. Walker
1947-1948	Dave Meadors – President; J.A. Broom; C.E. Rainey	Leo Stock – President; Jesse Charlton – Clerk; Chris Meyers
1948-1949	D.A. Meador – President; C.E. Rainey; J.A. Broom; Joe Mazanek – Treasurer	Leo Stock – President; Jesse Charlton – Clerk; Chris Meyers

(The above information was gathered from Marion Co. school directories.)

Wilson School located south of Kinmundy; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL; Mrs. Ethel Kniseley, teacher – 1929

Back row: Helen (Kleiss) Quandt, Harold Shufeldt, Dorothy Fradenburg, George Meyer, Emma Jean Shufeldt, Arthur Meyer,

Sarah Fradenburg, Harold Kleiss, Willadean Kniseley, Mrs. Ethel Kniseley (teacher)

Front row: Marie Kolb, Wilbur Wooden, Ruth Meyer, Wanda Meyer, ______ Jenkins, Viola Meyer, Kenneth Shufeldt, Lois Kolb

Wilson School located south of Kinmundy; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL; Mrs. Ethel Kniseley, teacher – 1933

Possibly Warren Smith in front row, 4th from right

Wilson School – Alma twp., Marion Co., IL; Ethel Kniseley, teacher - 1936

Back row: Viola Meyers, Marie Cobb, Norma Smith, Ruth Meyers, Mildred Kleiss, Mary _________, Helen (Kleiss) Quandt

3^rd row: Melba Sipes, Lois Cobb, Kenneth Shufeldt, Dwaine Williams, Ethel Kniseley – teacher; Wilbur Wooden, Warren Smith, Betty Wooden

2^nd row: Betty Williams, Helen Cobb, Mary Wooden, Veeda Meyers, Marceline Smith, Helen Perry

Front row: LeRoy Van Soyc, Francis Cobb, Gene Williams, Glen Van Soyc, Elwood Smith

(Note: Mildred Kleiss graduated from high school in 1931, but she and a couple of others may have been in the photo because Mrs. Kniseley was closing

her final term at Wilson School after 9 years, and she was moving to Centralia.)

"The Kinmundy Express" - April 30, 1936:

" Wilson School: Mrs. Ethel KNISELEY closed a very successful term of school at Wilson last Wednesday this being her 9th consecutive year at Wilson.

At noon the patrons all gathered with well filled baskets. Mrs. KNISELEY will be leaving our school to teach next year in Centralia where

she and Mr. KNISELEY are making their home, and they both have employment."

Bertha (Rose) See's document while working at Wilson School in Alma twp., IL

Bill See celebrating his 2nd birthday while his aunt Bertha (Rose) See was teaching at Wilson School.

(The old Wilson place can be seen in the distance.

That house was occupied by Charles & Marie Ford, Freda Walker, and Bob & Evelyn Ford (starting in 1951)).

Site of the old Wilson School at the corner of Kinmundy Rd. and Prairie Rd.. The well can be seen across the road. (4/08/2012)

Site of the old Wilson School at the corner of Kinmundy Rd. and Prairie Rd.. The well can be seen on the right side of the

photo. (4/08/2012)

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