White Oak School 1910-1912

The Historical Society is in possession of several original documents entitled “Schedule of a Common School.” These are forms which were completed monthly by the teachers, listing names and ages of students, as well as the number of days they attended.   A schedule for White Oak shows that there were 19 boys, and 35 girls ranging in age from 5 to 17 in grades 1-8, enrolled during the 1910 -1911 term.  Grace Daily, the teacher, was paid $40 a month.  The only school holidays in 1910 were New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. The president of the school board was Albert A. Moore and the clerk was L. R. Turner.

Among the students who attended that year were Omer, 15, John, 12, Grace, 10, and Kate, 8, the younger siblings of E. Coen Cunningham whose parents were Silas and Laura Cunningham. Ralph, 12, and Ray, 6, were children of Milo and Lora Traylor. Elmer, 15, Jennie, 12, Bessie,10, Rena, 8, and Evalene,5, were children of Daniel and Emma Heath.

There were fourteen children with the surname of Moore. Dewey,10, belonged to George W. and Edith Moore. Irwin, 12, Willis, 10, and Noble Dale,6, were sons of Albert S. and Mary Moore. Daisy, 14, Zelpha,12, and Roy,8, were children of John C. and Effie E. Moore. Zasle,12, and Ira, 6, were children of Marion and Lula Moore. Verna Irene,12, and Nancy Gale,8, were children of Frank A. and Sarah E. Moore.  Sylba,9, was a daughter of Lymon and Bertha Moore. Blanche,9, and Bonnie,7, were daughters of J. William and Effie Moore.

Connie,6, was a daughter of Marion and Hattie Wright.  Ina,16, and Effie,14, were daughters of Edwin and Cora Lint. Ira,10, was a son of John A. and Ida White. Edith,12, and Elsie,9, were daughters of Albert A. and Rada White. Harry,10, Louisa,12, and Carl,7, were children of Jacob and Nancy Bass. Lillie,12, Genevieve, 10, and Dudley,8, were children of Sylvester and Libbie Fiscus.

Earl,7, and Dortha,6, were children of Levi and Caroline Turner. Zed,8, was a son of Charles and Rebecca Lewis. Maggie, 14, Dolas, 12, Douglas, 8, and Dortha, 6, were children of Charles A. and Drizela Corrie. Stella May,17, Daisy, 15, and Grace,12, were the daughters of George Peters, a widower. Cozy,8, was a daughter of John W. and Mary Peters. Naomi,11, was a daughter of Edgar and Mary Williams. Verna, 11, Nellie,9, and Tressie,7, were daughters of Herman and Jane Kuehling.

According to the 1910 census, Hubert Brunson, 9, was living with William H. and Ella Schrader and May Miser, 11, was living with and doing housework for Glen and Rosa Welston.   

1912 Corn day. Note that the mothers of some of the students are included in photo.

A unique photo of the interior of a rural one room school.  

This was taken at White Oak School, 1912 on Corn Day. The room was appropriately decorated for the occasion.  The judges were Erwin Moore, Ralph Traylor, John Cunningham, Daisy Peters and Daisy Moore, all upper-class students. The winners of the second prizes were Emily Moore and Dorothy Turner, younger students. While no other information about this particular program could be found, corn day was also observed at Billett School November 7, 1912, and included readings, songs, drills and recitations, as well as talks by the teachers.