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        SILOAM 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   

 

 

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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

            or

 

            Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

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

 

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Teachers from  SILOAM SCHOOL – District #87 (Omega twp.)

 

(1882) - T.B. McCartan 

 

(1903-04)  F.A. Rogers ($40)

 

(1915-16)  Loren Middleton 

(1916-17)  Loren Middleton

 

(1918-19)  Miss Ethel Painter  

(1920-21)  Loren V. Middleton 

(1921-22)

(1922-23)  Jessie Long (later became Jessie (Long) Weyhrich)      

(1923-24)  Byron Millican

(1924-25)

(1925-26)

(1926-27)

(1927-28)

(1928-29)  Berthal Middleton

(1929-30)

(1930-31)  Jessie Long (later became Jessie (Long) Weyhrich)      

(1931-32)  Jessie Long (later became Jessie (Long) Weyhrich)      

(1932-33)  Paul Monical

(1933-34)  Paul Monical

(1934-35)  Paul Monical

(Sept. 1935) Luella Davidson (started the term in the fall 1935)

(1935-36)  Nolan Howe

(1936-37)  Lena (Baker) Hayes

(1937-38)  Lena (Baker) Hayes

(1938-39)  Goldie L. Beard

(1939-40)  Goldie Beard

(1940-41)  Grace H. Fosnaugh

(1941-42)  Jessie (Long) Weyhrich

(1942-43)  Clara Mulvaney

(1943-44) Jessie J. (Long) Weyhrich

(1944-45) Jessie J. (Long) Weyhrich

(1945-46) Jessie J. (Long) Weyhrich

(1946-47) Jessie J. (Long) Weyhrich

(1947-48) Max Metcalf

(1948-49) Max Metcalf

(1949-50) Max Metcalf

(1950-51) Dorene Parkinson

(1951-52) Mrs. Nelle Margaret Martin

(1952-53) Jessie (Long) Weyhrich

(1953-54) No school

 

(The above information was gathered from "The Kinmundy Express" articles, school photos, Marion County School Directories, and information from those who had attended school there.  A big thank you also to Bill and Wanda Fatheree, for sharing their Siloam School Scrapbook.)

 

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    The Siloam School was organized in 1851. The first ten years of Siloam School were held in the little log school house in the southwestern part of the pasture in Section 1927, owned by George Long, an Englishman.

    The log school house was built with a log left out for light. The seats were hewn out of slabs and legs were fastened in with wooden pegs hewn out of small pieces of wood. The first secretary’s book from this church and Sunday school runs from 1865 to 1875 and through the whole 10 years, George Long was the secretary.

    This book is still being kept and is well preserved. All the officers during that period were Rogers, Chapman, Long, Mulvaney, and Bradley. Rev. VanCleve was the District Superintendent. At that time, members were taken into the church, on probation for six months at quarterly conference. Mr. VanCleve asked these questions:

    1) Are there any members who walk disorderly and will not be reproved?

    2) Are there any who willfully neglect the means of grace?

3) Are there any probationers for full membership? The people of the church were responsible for their acceptance in the church. Eight members were accepted and voted into full membership among them Martha Jane Mjulvaney Long, on Sept. 6, 1873.

    A number of preachers went out from Siloam Church: William Mulvaney, Jim Mulvaney, William Bradley, E. Paul Rogers, Luther A. Rogers and J. Grant Rogers (Luther Rogers was an evangelist in Kansas), Uncle Daniel Chapman (A local preacher), and H.M. Long (who served as a minister at Watson, Beecher City and Mt. Carmel.)

    After these years in the school house, these folks decided to build a church on the road west of the George Long home. The main carpenter was John Beck, who died in March 2, 1892. Other men helped with the building and Siloam Sunday School and church was held there for many many years. The walnut lumber was given by Daniel W. Chapman for the pews, etc. Orville Chapman served as Sunday School Superintendent for 12 years. Revivals lasted as long as six weeks and many, many souls were saved. Services were held in the afternoons, as well as, at night. In later years the Southern Methodist Conference ordered the church sold. George Long bid it off and later, as his health was failing, he sold it to Sherrill Vandeveer, the present owner.

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Siloam School location - Go north on Iuka-Omega Rd. to Lovell’s Grove Church; East ½ mile; South ½ mile; East ½ mile. 

The school house was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Weyhrich when school was no longer held there. 

The old bell was sold for about $100 at their sale.

                                                                                                                                                                        ("Omega - 1823-1973")

 

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SILOAM SCHOOL - District 87 – Omega twp.

By Lena Hays

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

 

 

            Our school yard was a corner from land donated to the district by a Mr. Long.  When I went to school the land belonged to his son, Henry M. Long, who was the father of Millie Long Kelchner and Jessie Long Weyhrich.  A rail fence separated the school ground from the farm.  One of our favorite games was to line up and see how many could jump over the rail fence.  Each time we jumped we added another rail to the fence.  Sometimes Mr. Long came and complained to the teacher that we had torn down the fence.  The teacher would then make us build up the fence again.  The fence corners were also good hiding places when we played Hide and Seek.

            We had a pump and a trough to catch the waste water.  Each day the mailman, Herb Pruden, as well as many others, stopped to let their horses drink from the trough.

            After the school closed, Jessie Long Weyhrich and husband, Elmer, purchased the land and building.  They used it for storage.  The bell, clock and many other fixtures were sold at the Weyhrich sale.

 

Some teachers at Siloam:

Nolan Howe

Millie Long Kelchner

Loren Middleton

Byron Millican

Jessie Long Weyhrich

Maude Bass Barksdale

Ethel Painter Williams

Berthal Middleton

Lena Baker Hays

 

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Siloam School – Omega township – District 87

by Susie Hite

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

 

            The Siloam country school house was as modern as any country school at that time.  It had three windows on each side and a long porch on the front, which faced the north of the east and west road that runs past the school house.  Across the back wall inside was a long blackboard.  There were four rows of seats, each seat room for two pupils

            In the center of the room and back a bit from the door was a large wood-burning heating stove, taking the space, thus the two rows of short seats with a long row on either side.  All the seats faced the blackboard.  Between the seats and the blackboard was room for recitation seats and a low platform on which was the teacher’s desk, and nice library full of good books of that time.

            Outside there was a large yard with a good well of water and a pump, with two tin cups attached.  There were two sanitary closets, one for boys and one for girls.  There was also a spacious playground for games, such as ball, jump the rope, black man, drop the handkerchief, and other games suitable for school.

            Here are names of families living in Siloam district in the early 1900’s.   Ossie Roberts, Bert Prather, Casey Chapman, Oscar Corell, Dayton Rogers, Henry Long, Clarence Beard, John Middleton, John Chris Long, Sam Long, Roy Rogers, Jay Rogers, Newt Rogers, Ollie Rogers, Jess Fulfer, John Eagan, Will Eagan, Van Brown, Frank Rogers, Richard Chapman, Dan Chapman, Jim Presgrove, Joe Osborn, Lex Beard, Bruce Eagan, Roy Hite, Loren Middleton, Jasper Long, George Long, Joe Uchitjil, Amp Rogers, Tobe Rogers, Will Hadden, Lum Mulvany, Ellis Dunn, Orville Chapman, Rhoda Smith, Norman Howe, Cloyd Bradley, Tom Mulvany, John Baker, Curt Smith.  All of these families were good people.   Most of them attended church.  All were interested in Siloam school, and their children who attended Siloam School.  They would help the school in any way possible.  The good Christian influence and fellowship affected their children in school.

 

            Here is a list of names of pupils who attended Siloam School in the early 1900’s to 1925.

-        Mabel Long, Berta Long, Elmer Long, Paul Long, Everett Long, Bernice Long.

-        Ocie Smith, Lillian Smith.

-        Grace Smith.

-        Vera Jackson.

-        Benton Eagan.

-        Lorene Rogers, Nonda Rogers, Velma Rogers, Nola Rogers, Ula Rogers, Grace Rogers, Rose Rogers.

-        Stella Brown.

-        Mary Uchitjil, Robert Uchitjil, Raymond Uchitjil, Francis Uchitjil, Alice Uchitjil.

-        Sam Presgrove, Guy Presgorve.

-        Mae Lovell.

-        Sedonia Roberts.

-        Lena Baker.

-        Dean Baker.

-        Leon Baker.

-        Herchel Rogers, Hazel Rogers.

-        Alice Rogers.

-        Loren Middleton.

-        Berthol Middleton, Ula Middleton.

-        Genevieve Middlton, Nadene Middleton, Lowell Middleton, Marion Middleton, Harold Van Middleton.

-        John Chapman.

-        Mildred Chapman.

-        Sylvia Beard. Goldie Beard, Frank Beard, Owen Beard.

-        Theresa Beard.

-        Eugene Tate.

-        Hattie Long, Jessie Long, George Long, Millie Long, Mylissa Long, Arabia Long, Willard Merle Long, Harold Long, Avanelle Long, Arthur Long, Neva Long, Nelda Long, Helen Long.

-        Dorothy Hite, Pearl Hite, Carl Hite, Homer Hite.

-        Ralph Eagan.

-        Thelma Eagan.

-        Ermine Dunn,

-        Opal Mulvany

-        Basil Mulvany

-        Archie Mulvany

-        Louise Lawson

-        Bernard Bradley, Delba Bradley, Doris Bradley, Wilma Bradley, Emily Bradley, Shelton Bradley,

-        Hampton children.

-        Olden children

-        Guy Rogers.

-        Ethel Painter.

-        Odoz boy.

-        Margaret Dunn, Thelma Dunn.

-        Babe Howe, Fay Howe, John Howe

-        Eloise Weems, Opal Weems

-        Earl Decker, Cecil Decker, Nellie Decker.

-        Bert Prather’s children.

 

All these families were good friends and stood behind the school and flag.

 

Here are the names of school teachers for Siloam school:

Vera Jackson

Lorene Rogers

Lena Baker

Loren Middleton

Bertha Middleton

Ula Middleton

Mildred Chapman

Sylvia Beard

Golda Beard

Hattie Long

Jessie Long

Arabia Long

Berta Long

Ermine Mulvany

Ethel Painter

Millie Long

 

Most of sixteen teachers went on to college and gained a higher education.  Many of these teachers taught school at Siloam school, their home school, and in nearby schools in Marion County.

      As time went on, schools became more modern, yet such teachers as Frank Rogers, with only a textbook, a slate or tablet and pencil will never be forgotten.

      The teacher of that day will never be forgotten, as he was his own janitor, building the fires to keep the room warm on cold days.  He rang the 8:30 bell to remind pupils of the time.  Both teachers and pupils walked to school and brought their own lunch.  However, those were not so dull days.  There were spelling bees, and ciphering matches, then along came Thanksgiving with a program and special invitation to parents to come and hear what the children could do to entertain them.  Then came Christmas, with songs and music and reading and old Santa with a sack of gifts.  The last day of school was also a big day when parents, neighbors and friends came with baskets of all their favorite foods for the long table.  Indeed those were the Reading, Writing and Arithmetic dear old happy school days of long ago, and their memories linger on, never to be forgotten.

 

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Year	Names of Trustees (Town 3, Range 4)	Names of Directors at Siloam School (#87)
1915-1916	W.A. Kniseley, T.J. Middleton, W.E. Stevenson; B.E. Siple – Twp. Treas.	E.J. Rogers, C.P. Beard, O.J. Rogers
1918-1919	W.A. Knisely – President; W.E. Stevenson – Clerk; T.J. Middleton; B.E. Siple – Treas.	C.P. Beard, J.C. Long, J.F. Baker
1920-1921	N.B. Potter – President; T.J. Middleton – Clerk; W.A. Kniseley; B.E. Siple – Treas.	Norman Howe, J.T. Baker, J.C. Long
1922-1923	C.F. Hadden – President; S.J. Mulvaney – Clerk; N.B. Potter;  B.E. Siple – Treas.	H.O. Rogers, Cloyd Bradley, J.C. Long
1923-1924	N.B. Potter – President; S.J. Mulvaney – Clerk; C.W. Hadden; B.E. Siple – Treas.	Roy Hite, Cloyd Bradley, H.O. Rogers
1926-1927	C.W. Hadden – President; Chas. See – Clerk; L.V. Middleton; B.E. Siple – Treas.	Roy Hite, George Long, Bruce Eagan
1928-1929	Chas. See – President; L.V. Middleton; W.E. Stevenson; B.E. Siple – Treasurer	George Long, Roy Hite, Bruce Eagan
1930-1931	W.E. Stevenson – President; John Baker, Ray Schooley; B.E. Siple - Treasurer	Bruce Eagan, Cloyd Bradley, Roy Hite
1931-1932	W.E. Stevenson, John Baker, Ray Schooley; B.E. Siple - Treasurer	Bruce Eagan, Cloyd Bradley, Roy Hite
1932-1933	W.E. Stevenson, Wm. Hadden, Ray Schooley; B.E. Siple - Treasurer	Roy Hite, Cloyd Bradley, Bruce Eagan
1933-1934	H.M. Long, L.A. Beard, W.E. Stevenson; B.E. Siple – Treas.	Roy Hite, Cloyd Bradley, Bruce Eagan
1934-1935	H.M. Long, Leslie A. Beard, W.E. Stevenson; B.E. Siple – Treas.	Roy Hite, Cloyd Bradley, Bruce Eagan
1935-1936	H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard, W.E. Stevenson; B.E. Siple – Twp. Treas.	G.C. Long – President; Cloyd Bradley – Clerk; Bruce Eagan
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 Long – President; Cloyd Bradley – Clerk; Bruce Eagan
1937-1938	H.M. Long – President; W.E. Stevenson; Leslie A. Beard; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	George Long – President; Cloyd Bradley – Clerk; Bruce Eagan
1938-1939	H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; S.E. Stevenson; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	George Long – President; Cloyd Bradley – Clerk; Bruce Eagan
1939-1940	H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; W.E. Stevenson; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	George Long – President; Cloyd Bradley – Clerk; Bruce Eagan
1940-1941	H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; W.E. Stevenson; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	George Long – President; Cloyd Bradley – Clerk; Paul Long
1941-1942	H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; Mancil Cantrell; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.	Paul Long – President; LeRoy Armstrong – Clerk; Cloyd Bradley
1942-1943	H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; Mancil Cantrell; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	Paul Long – President; LeRoy Armstrong – Clerk; Ellis Dunn
1943-1944	H.M. Long – President; Leslie A. Beard; Mancil Cantrell; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	Paul Long – President; LeRoy Armstrong – Clerk; Ellis Dunn
1944-1945	Leslie A. Beard – President; Mancil E. Cantrell; Cloyd Bradley; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	Ellis Dunn – President; LeRoy Armstrong – Clerk; Ollie Mulvany
1945-1946	Mancil E. Cantrell – President; Leslie A. Beard; Elmer J. Weyhrich; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	Mason Arnold – President; LeRoy Armstrong – Clerk; Marion Shufeldt
1946-1947	Mancil E. Cantrell – President; Leslie A. Beard; Elmer J. Weyhrich; Loren V. Middleton – Twp. Treas.	Ellis Dunn – President; LeRoy Armstrong – Clerk; Marion Shufeldt
1947-1948	Elmer J. Weyhrich – President; Leslie A. Beard; Wayne Whitney	Marion Shufeldt – President; Clyde Mulvany – Clerk; LeRoy Armstrong
1948-1949	Elmer J. Weyhrich – President; Leslie A. Beard; Wayne Whitney; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.	LeRoy Armstrong – President; Mason Arnold – Clerk; Clyde Mulvany
1949-1950	Elmer J. Weyhrich – President; Fred G. Mulvaney; Leslie A. Beard; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.	LeRoy Armstrong – President; Mason Arnold – Clerk; Clyde Mulvaney
1950-1951	Elmer Weyhrich – President; Leslie A. Beard; Fred G. Mulvaney; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.	George Long – President; Mason Arnold – Clerk; Leroy Armstrong
1951-1952	Elmer Weyhrich – President; Leslie A. Beard; John R. Baker; Loren V. Middleton – Treas.	Sherrill Vandeveer, George Long – Clerk; Mason Arnold

 

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

 

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March 20, 1882 - Siloam School - Omega twp - T.B. McCartan's report

 

 

 

 

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Siloam School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Frank Rogers – teacher; 1892

Frank Rogers  - teacher, and his wife Lil, are standing together in the middle of the photo.

 

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Siloam School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; W.W. Vandeveer, teacher – 1909

Third Row: Russel Fulfer, Chester Long, Elmer Long, Loren Middleton, W.W. Vandeveer - teacher, Jessie (Long) Weyhrich,

                   Grace (Smith) Mulvaney, Edith (Chapman) Lewellen, and Ethel (Painter) Williams

Middle Row: Clifford Fulfer, Hershel Tarter, Lex Beard, Elmer Critz, Roscoe Hurt, Max Rogers, Eula (Middleton) Beard,

                   Amy Rogers, Fairy (Layman) Howe, Edna (Crain) Brimberry, Ermine (Mulvaney) Dunn, and Hazel (Higgs) Johnson

Front Row: Floyd Crain, Arthur Long, Bessie (Chapman) Nicola, Opal (Mulvaney) Luttrall, Esta (Crain) Althin, Bernice (Long) Wells,

                   Rose (Rogers) Fulfer, Mary (Chapman) Parish, Gladys Long, Clark Howe, Bessie (Howe) Uchitjil, Mildred (Long) Wells,

                   Hazel (Aumiller) Briscoe, Isola (Layman) Howe

 

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Siloam School; Omega twp., Marion Co., IL; Maude (Bass) Barksdale - teacher – 1913

Back Row: Ula Middleton Beard, Rose Rogers Fulfer, Irmine Dunn, Jessie Long Weyhrich, Chester George Long, Maude Bass Barksdale, Teacher,

Mary Mulvaney, Clark Howe, Ethel Painter Williams, Fairy Laymon Howe

Third Row:  Arthur Long, Bessie Howe Uchitjil, Vera Jackson Barksdale Middleton, Bernice Long Wells, Omah Mulvaney, Neva Long Lungard,

Opal Rogers Branch, Carrie Linder, Opal Mulvaney Luttrell, Gerald Mulvaney, Mildred Chapman Middleton, Basil Mulvaney

Second Row: Velma Rogers Beard, Collins Lindey, Isola Laymon Howe, John Chapman, Madonna Linder, Berthal Middleton, Nonda Rogers,

Easley Chapman, Paul Long, Neil Laymon Olson, Eveline Linder, Eva Laymon Beaver

Front Row: Sylvia Beard Peterson, Ivan Linder, Fay Howe, Archie Mulvaney, Lois Lonnon Alderson, Lena Baker Hays, Nelda Long Hanks, Verada Jay,

Lesta Linder, Everett Long, Sylvia Jay