Kinmundy Historical Society

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

 

        OMEGA SCHOOL

   Omega Township, Marion County, Illinois

 

           Remember that you can use CTRL-F to find a particular surname within these pictures.

                  There is also a Grade School Index available on the "Photo Catalog" page.

 

                             Click to return to   Schools Page

 

 

 

        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

            or

 

            Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

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

 

 

        Check out this link for the Omega One Room School page! 

       This is a continuing project by a dedicated group of citizens to renovate the Omega School house.

         (See the newspaper articles below for more information.)     

 

 

Teachers from OMEGA SCHOOL – District #84 (Omega twp.)

 

(1903-04)  Ella Shanafelt ($38)

 

(1910 ca)   Rose Rogers

(1910 ca)   Miss Grace Hocker

(1910-11)   Byron E. Millican

(1911-12)   Miss Anna Engelbrecht

(1912-13)

(1913-14)   Mrs. Ethel (Fyke) Kniseley

(1914-15)  

(1915-16)   J.A. Kagy

(1916-17)   John Kagy

 

(1918-19)   J.A. Kagy

 

(1920-21)   Ethel Fyke Kniseley

(1921-22)

(1922-23)   Millie Long

(1923-24)   Ben Millican

(1924-25)

(1925-26)

(1926-27)   Roy Mulvaney

(1927-28)

(1928-29)   Jessie Long

(1929-30)

(1930-31)   Byron E. Millican

(1931-32)   John L. Kinney

(1932-33)   Byron E. Millican

(1933-34)   Mrs. Bertha Rose See

(1934-35)   Mrs. Bertha Rose See (other source listed Lena Hays)

(1935-36)   Lena Baker

(1936-37)   Miss Jessie Long

            (Aug. 27, 1936)  Schoolroom has been newly decorated, and a nice flag pole erected

(1937-38)  Mrs. Bertha R. See

(1938-39)  Maxine Louise Cox (later married H.J. Barksdale)

(1939-40)  E.B. Catching

(1940-41)  Ruby Linton

(1941-42)  Mrs. Ruby Linton

(1942-43)  Mrs. Myra H. Simmons

(1943-44)  Mrs. Helen Millican

(1944-45)   Miss Audrey Fields

(Fall 1945)  Ben Millican (Aug. 23, 1945)

(1945-46)   Ben Millican

(March 1946)  See Millican (had just returned from serving overseas)

(1946-47)   See Millican

(1947-48)   See Millican

(1948-49)   See Millican

(1949-50)   See Millican

(1950-51)   See Millican

(1951-52)   Marjorie Walkington

(1952-53)   Mrs. Marjorie Walkington

 

Kinmundy-Alma Rural Attendance Center at Omega School:

(1953-54)   Mrs. Marjorie Walkington

(1954-55)   Mrs. Marjorie Walkington  

         

(The above information was gathered from "The Kinmundy Express" articles, school photos, Marion County School Directories, and information from those who had taught and attended school there.)

 

 

Omega School – District 84 – Omega twp.

By See Millican

 

The first schoolhouse in Omega was erected in 1856.  One account say it was a frame building 28 x 24.  Another account say it was a log building.

William Duncan and Katie Elder were believed to be among the first teachers.

In about the year of 1891, a new schoolhouse was built.  The school board at that time was Wm. Southward, R.M. Schooley, and J.W. Arnold.  N.B. Turner was awarded the contract for building a new schoolhouse on the same location for $514 with an additional $10 for building a belfry.  Seats and desks of the double type were bought for $45.

The first to teach in this new building was a Mrs. Wise at $30 a month for a five month term.  L.K. Boynton next taught a term of four months at $40 per month.

This building was used as a school until the rural schools were consolidated.  This building now is the Omega Town Hall purchased by Omega township.

There is a big gap in information from 1890 until about 1917 when the author started to school in the above building.  John A. Kagy was the teacher in 1917.

Some of the other teachers during the next eight years were as follows: Rose Rogers Beard Fulfer, Eva Beard Alderson, Ethel Fyke Kniseley, who had also taught Omega some ten or fifteen years earlier, Ben Millican and Jessie Weyhrich.  Later teachers were Roy Mulvaney, Byron Millican, Myra Simmons, Mrs. Ruby Linton, Bertha Rose See, Marjory Keller Walkington, Audry Fields, Helen Millican and the author, See Millican, who taught there from the years 1946 to 1951.

Also, Lena Hays 1934-35, and Maxine Barksdale 1938-39.

 

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

 

 

The last teacher to teach in the Omega School was, I believe, Marjorie Keller Walkington.

 

Many prominent people have attended the Omega School, many businessmen, farmers, and I suspect, at least, one of every profession.  The author remembers a doctor, Jim Huddlestun, nurses, Mary Lee Helm Cruise and Karen Ann Millican Bess, and many outstanding teachers.  They are Merle Walkington, Byron and Ben Millican (twins), Audry Fields, Bud Helm, and Karen Ann Millican Bess.

 

The above list is not complete as the author relied only on his memory which is not too good any more.

 

See Millican – the year 1981

 

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

 

 

 

Year

Names of Trustees (Town 3, Range 4)

Names of Directors at Omega School (#84)

1915-1916

W.A. Kniseley, T.J. Middleton, W.E. Stevenson;

B.E. Siple – Twp. Treas.

Lee Southward, F.G. Schooley, L.B. Baker

1918-1919

W.A. Knisely – President; W.E. Stevenson – Clerk;

T.J. Middleton; B.E. Siple – Treas.

C.E. Copple, Noah Kniseley, Roy Millican

1920-1921

N.B. Potter – President; T.J. Middleton – Clerk;

W.A. Kniseley; B.E. Siple – Treas.

C.E. Copple, N.G. Kniseley, Harvey Kelchner

1922-1923

C.F. Hadden – President; S.J. Mulvaney – Clerk;

N.B. Potter;  B.E. Siple – Treas.

C.E. Copple, Harvey Kelchner, Andrew Beard

1923-1924

N.B. Potter – President; S.J. Mulvaney – Clerk;

C.W. Hadden; B.E. Siple – Treas.

Andrew Beard, Harvey Kelchner, Geo. R. Lonnor

1926-1927

C.W. Hadden – President; Chas. See – Clerk;

L.V. Middleton; B.E. Siple – Treas.

Fred Mulvaney, Ben Millican, H.F. Kelchner

1928-1929

Chas. See – President; L.V. Middleton; W.E. Stevenson;

B.E. Siple – Treasurer

F.E. Cheeley, Ben Millican, Al Fields

1930-1931

W.E. Stevenson – President; John Baker, Ray Schooley;

B.E. Siple - Treasurer

A.E. Fields, Roy Millican, May Baker

1931-1932

W.E. Stevenson, John Baker, Ray Schooley,

B.E. Siple - Treasurer

C.P. See, Roy Millican, May Baker

1932-1933

W.E. Stevenson, Wm. Hadden, Ray Schooley;

B.E. Siple - Treasurer

H.D. Crutchfield, Roy Millican, Paul See

1933-1934

H.M. Long, L.A. Beard, W.E. Stevenson;

B.E. Siple – Treas.

H.D. Crutchfield, Harvey Kelchner, Paul See

1934-1935

H.M. Long, Leslie A. Beard, W.E. Stevenson;

B.E. Siple – Treas.

H.D. Crutchfield, Harvey Kelchner, George Kniseley

1935-1936

H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard, W.E. Stevenson;

B.E. Siple – Twp. Treas.

Harvey Kelchner – President; Gale Boston – Clerk;

G.W. Kniseley

1936-1937

H.M. Long – President; W.E. Stevenson, Leslie A. Beard;

Originally H.E. Siple but changed to Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treasurer

George Kniseley – President; Merle Walkington – Clerk;

Gale Boston

1937-1938

H.M. Long – President; W.E. Stevenson; Leslie A. Beard;

Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

Marine Brandebury – President; P.J. Jenkins – Clerk;

Merle Walkington

1938-1939

H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; S.E. Stevenson;

Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

Merle Walkington – President; P.J. Jenkins – Clerk;

M.E. Phillips

1939-1940

H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; W.E. Stevenson;

Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

M.E. Phillips – President; P.J. Jenkins – Clerk;

Merle Walkington

1940-1941

H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; W.E. Stevenson;

Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

Marion E. Phillips – President; P.J. Jenkins – Clerk;

Merle Walkington

1941-1942

H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; Mancil Cantrell;

Loren V. Middleton – Treas.

J.R. Baker – President; P.J. Jenkins – Clerk;

Merle Walkington

1942-1943

H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; Mancil Cantrell;

Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

J.R. Baker – President; P.J. Jenkins – Clerk;

Leslie Eblin

1943-1944

H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; Mancil Cantrell;

Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

Leslie Eblin – President; J.R. Baker – Clerk;

Merle See

1944-1945

Leslie A. Beard – President; Mancil E. Cantrell;

Cloyd Bradley; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

Leslie Eblin – President; J.R. Baker – Clerk;

Merle See

1945-1946

Mancil E. Cantrell – President; Leslie A. Beard;

Elmer J. Weyhrich; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

J.R. Baker – Clerk; Merle See

1946-1947

Mancil E. Cantrell – President; Leslie A. Beard;

Elmer J. Weyhrich; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.

Leslie Eblin – President; J.R. Baker – Clerk;

Merle See

1947-1948

Elmer J. Weyhrich – President; Leslie A. Beard;

Wayne Whitney

Leslie Eblin – President; Douglas Marlow - Clerk;

Merle See

1948-1949

Elmer J. Weyhrich – President; Leslie A. Beard;

Wayne Whitney; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.

Leslie Eblin – President; Douglas Marlow - Clerk;

Merle See

1949-1950

Elmer J. Weyhrich – President; Fred G. Mulvaney;

Leslie A. Beard; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.

Leslie Eblin – President; Hugo Waggoner – Clerk

1950-1951

Elmer Weyhrich – President; Leslie A. Beard;

Fred G. Mulvaney; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.

Leslie Eblin – President; Hugo Waggoner – Clerk;

Lyman Jones

1951-1952

Elmer Weyhrich – President; Leslie A. Beard;

John R. Baker; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.

Hugo Waggoner – President; Lyman Jones – Clerk;

Lester Mulvany

 

 

(The above information was gathered from Marion County School Directories.)

 

Omega School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Rose Rogers - teacher – ca 1910

Back Row: Faye (Beard) Vandeveer, Velma Marlow, Rose Rogers - teacher, Florence Phillips, Gladys (Sill) Lacey

Middle Row: See Millican, Merle Walkington, Harold Southward, Glen Gammon, Cleo Copple, Frank Baker

Front Row: _______________________________________________                                  

 

 

Omega School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Byron E. Millican - teacher – 1910-11

Back Row: Byron E. Millican - teacher, Agnes Marlow, Launa (Marlow) Bailey, Margaret Schooley, Clara Hults, Mona Ayers,

      Glenn Millican, Clarence Walkington, Ben Smith

Second Row: Opal (Walkington) Hadden, Maude Rogers, Katie Swalley, Lon Swalley, Stewart Brown, Wayne Schooley, Hollis Baker,

     Donald Marlow, Everett Ayers

Front Row: Irlene Cheeley, Harriet Brown, Mildred (Cheeley) Arnold, Ethel (Kniseley) Jenkins, Thamer Simer, John R. Baker

 

 

Omega School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Mary Ethel (Fyke) Kniseley, teacher

 

 

Omega School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Mary Ethel (Fyke) Kniseley, teacher - 1913

 

 

 

Omega School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Ethel (Fyke) Kniseley, teacher – 1914

Back Row: Mary Chapman, Opal Walkington, Launa Marlow, Clay Simer, Agnes Marlow, Donald Marlow, Eva (Beard) Alderson,

Hollis Baker

Third Row:  Thamer Simer, Bessie Chapman, Cecil Swally, Wayne Schooley, Bertha Beard, 

Ethel (Fyke) Kniseley - teacher, John See, Irene Cheeley, Faye Beard, Mildred Cheeley

Second Row: Zola Millican, Ethel (Knisley) Jenkins, Donna Millican, Velma Marlow, Opal Henneman, Eva See, Florence Hemmeman, Donna Decker

Front Row: Cleo Copple, Frank Bosley, Jason Chapman, Johnnie Baker, Frank Simer, Clarence Southward, Noble Decker

 

 

Omega School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Bertha See - teacher; ca1939

Back Row: Glen Schooley, Paul Cheeley, Lloyd Childress, Neva Millican, Georgarette Kniseley, Inez See, Hilda Millican

Middle Row: Lorene Childress, Carl Millican, Audrey Fields, Bertha See - teacher; Bill Monical, Leroy See, Mary See

Front Row: Paul Waggoner, Francis Boston, Carl Fields, Harold Millican, Marie Parrish, Carl Waggoner, Katherine Arnold

 

 

Omega and Brown Schools; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Bertha See & Paul Monical - teachers; ca1930s

 

 

Omega School; Omega Twp., Marion Co, IL; Mrs. Ruby Linton – teacher; 1941

Back Row: Marvin Young, Clyde Wagoner, Bill Jenkins, Eugene Fields,  Elbert Prather, Eugene Baker, Bob Marlow, Ted Marlow, Carroll Lewis and Chester Lewis.

Front Row: Geneva Eblin, JoAnn Fields, Mary Jo Wantland, Betty Lou Simer, Lavern Crutchfield, Margaret Millican, Herma Jean Lewis, Betty Wantland, Hilda See,

                   Hazel Jean Prather and Ella Mae See.

 

 

Omega School; Omega Twp., Marion Co, IL; Mrs. Myra Simmons – teacher; 1942

Back Row: Chester Lewis, Ted Marlow, Carroll Lewis, Vivian Rose, Eugene Baker, Lavern Crutchfield, Hilda See, Bill Jenkins.

Front Row: Keith Wimberly, Bob Marlow, JoAnn Fields, Marie Mulvaney, Hazel Jean Prather, Betty Lou Simer, Geneva Eblin, Don Eblin, Erma Jean See, Herma Jean Lewis.

 

 

Omega School; Omega Twp., Marion Co, IL; See Millican – teacher; 1949

Back Row: Frank Brandenberry, Bill Wantland, Keith Wimberly, Jean See, Francis Wantland, Bobby Lewis, Russell Wagoner, See Millican - teacher

Middle Row: George Arnold, ___________, Elsa (Arnold) Osborne, Patsy See, Nancy Marlow, George Eblin, Charles Jones

Front Row:  Carolyn Rose, Sandra Jenkins, __________, Ronnie See, Kathryn Wagner, Shirley (See) Geiler, Exie (Arnold) Martin

 

 

 

"Salem Times-Commoner" - Salem, IL; May 7, 2010

The sign marking the spot of the Omega School, Omega, Marion Co., IL (Oct. 2011)

Omega School, Omega, Marion Co., IL (which later served as the townhouse) - Oct. 2011

 

 

("The Salem Times-Commoner" - Sept 3, 2014)

("The Salem Times-Commoner" - Sept. 10, 2014)

 

"The Salem Times-Commoner" - Apr. 29, 2015

 

 

"The Salem Times-Commoner" - Apr. 29, 2015

 

 

 

"The Salem Times-Commoner" - Sept. 2, 2016

 

 

 

 

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(Information and photos on this site are not to be used for any commercial purpose.  It is free for the enjoyment and research of community and family information.)