ALLEGAN VILLAGE SCHOOL

Allegan did not have the first school in the county, but education began as soon as the first considerable group of settlers had located here. A school term was held by a Miss Hinsdale, of Kalamazoo county, in 1835, and in 1836 the district was organized and the first important public building in the village was erected. A frame building of rather generous proportions for the time, its ground dimensions being 26 by 40 feet, this schoolhouse, which stood on the south side of Trowbridge street just east of Pine, was the first court house and church edifice. The bell in the cupola called the children together in the morning, and in the evenings and during vacations it rang to summon the officers of law to duty or called the people to town meeting or social event; while on the Lord's day it solemnly convoked to religious observance. The subsequent history of this first public building in the village has been described in connection with the account of the court house and other county buildings.

Some of the early teachers in Allegan besides Miss Hinsdale, were Miss Eliza Littlejohn, Miss Mary Parkhurst, Miss Lavia Bingham, Spencer Marsh, G.Y. Warner, E. Parkhurst, and Harvey Munger, all well known names in the pioneer history.

The union or graded school did not find a place in Michigan's scheme of education until during the forties, and the Allegan union school was not organized until 1867. In the meantime the population of the village was about 2,000, and several institutions had been established to supplement the work of the district school. One was the Allegan Academy, organized in 1846, and conducted for several years by Elisha B. Bassett, a man of thorough education and ability, who is also known through his connection with other phases of the county's history.

Most noted of these schools was Pine Grove Seminary, which was built in 1857 by Judge H.H. Booth, in his time one of the most liberal and public-spirited men of Allegan. He donated the use of this building to teachers who would maintain a school of primary and academic grade. Rev. L.F. Waldo was one of the teachers who used it for this purpose. The structure stood in a pine grove, whence its name, on the eminence where the high school is now located. When the movement to organize a union school took shape, Judge Booth sold the building to the school district, and it served for a number of years as the central school of the village. It was a frame building, containing six rooms.

Twenty-five years ago the public school buildings in Allegan were the following: The Central School, which was the old seminary building; the north school, on Race street opposite Water street; the west ward school, occupying the campus with the Central school; and the south ward school, near Fifth and Bond streets. The three smaller buildings, each containing two rooms, were of brick.

Since then have been added two excellent modern buildings to the school architecture of Allegan. The high school building, on the hill where the old Central school stood, is a two-story brick building, with good equipment and accommodations for the older pupils, while the Dawson building contains besides the rooms for the grades, an auditorium seating several hundred persons and used for many public purposes, meetings and entertainments.

The list of superintendents from the organization of the union school to the present are:

1867-68 - William H. Stone
1868-71 - Silas Wood
1871-74 - Albert Jennings
1874-77 - Daniel P. Simmons
1877-81 - Edmund D. Barry
1881-82 - W.E. Bellows
1882-83 - Margaret Morton
1883-87 - W.B. Garvin
1887-88 - W.L. Lawrence
1888-90 - H.A. Simonds
1890-92 - E.N. Brown
1892-94 - Mr. Wixon
1894-95 - W.H. Coburn
1895- - H.W. McIntosh

1876 - Isabel V. Partridge, Eliza Williams, Isabel M. Barclay, Hattie S. Smith, Minnie B. Franks, Lizzie Eager, Chas. Wilkes, Frank B. Lay, Chas. F. Bingham.

1877 - Will Oliver, Kate Dreher, Lizzie Smith.

1878 - Mary Smith

1879 - Dora Chaffee, Della Town, Lillian Grimes, Luella Scott, Leon Chichester, Theodore Williams.

1880 - Nellie Coleman, Tinnie Chaffee, Jennie Whitmore, Will L. Edmunds, Burtis Wood, James A. Latta.

1881 - Delia Cook, Eva M. Dryden, M. Jennie Mabbs, Ettie C. Colburn, A. Louise Walter, Mary E. Goodrich, Frank H. Williams, Fred. M. Sisson.

1882 - Chas. E. Bassett, Austin A. Colburn.

1883 - Zella Leighton, Ella Colburn, Minnie Eisenberg, Anna Young, Ellen Hudson, Chester Wetmore.

1884 - Franc Arnold, Fred. I. Chichester, Grace Hart, Jennie R. Latta, John A. McKeever, Alice H. Lilly, M. Gertrude Porter, Clara B. Sherwood, Lillian Nelson, Will E. Ryan, Frank E. Semon.

1885 - Guy Burton, Florence Lonsbury, Pearl Town, Bertha Pritchard, Rubie Sherwood, Minnie Bucher, Wolcot Butler, Kate Whitmore, Myron Moore, Isabel Stegeman.

1886 - Nettie N. Blackman, Augustus S. Butler, Tillie Waddell, Alfred Calkins, Jessie Thew, Bessie Bell Thew, Oscar Swift, Mabel Dunn.

1887 - Edith Foster, Maud Howe, Chas. Calkins, Lavinda Nichols, Florence H. Pope.

1888 - Lulu H. Williams, May B. Starr, Bess Wetmore, Adah M. Giles, Fannie E. Giles, Will Saunders, Flora E. Williams, Selia A. Ryan.

1889 - Alice Bingham, Kate Murphy, Nellie Van Middlesworth, Emma Knapp, Lizzie Madison, Perl Chaffee, Agnes Ingerson.

1890 - Mary Coney, Ina Bailey, Maud Powers, Kittie Wells, Dora Bailey, Nina Carter, Della Youngs, Rebecca Spears, William De Lano, Grace Williams, Frank Giles, William Coburn.

1891 - N. Ella Van Aiken, Lenora Porter, Nettie Bigelow, Fred P. Austin, Nellie Smith, Hettie Spraw, Mina Rumery, Marion Cook, Belle Buyce, Dwight Calkins, Will Follett, Alexander Heringer.

1892 - Ira Montague, Eva O. Cook, Florence Leweke, Maud Nelson, Orrel Grigsby, Hattie Weeks, Cora Howe, Adah McLaughlin, Ina Moore, Fred Coney, Elwin Spears, Samuel Stegeman, Edna Town, Mary Hirner.

1893 - Mary Robinson, Adah Hoffman, Maud Lonsbury, Mabel A. Cackler, John W. Arnold, Morris E. Harvey.

1894 - Alvie Weeks, Nellie Coney, E. Estella Oliver, Eva Philips, Grant Goodrich, N. Mae Burton, Clifford Manwaring, Anna Wilson, Mary Wilson, Judson Baker, Orcena Luade Spears, Mame Bailey, Bernath Sherwood.

1895 - Agnes Langshaw, Edith Perrigo, Howard Stuch, Aban Weeks, John Bills, Floyd Fuller, Clayton Hoffman, Chas. Spafford, Mae McKinnon, Rena Schuman, Jessie Smith, Minnie Smith, Bernie Woodworth.

1896 - Harlan Lindsley, Hiram Cornell Clapp, Ned Bassett Killian, Albert A. Stegeman, Belle Lewis Barton, Roie C. Seerey, George Stegeman, Park Whitmore, Leon B. Stratton, Clarence Billings.

1897 - Clara Coykendall, Herman Priebe, Ethel McLaughlin, Gertrude Young, Nellie Bailey, Bess Adams, Clifford Russell, Gracia Cook, Idabelle Hullinger, Charles R. Stewart, Grace Morse, Guy Hale, Charlotte Coney, Arcell Spears, Etta M. Hurst, M. Everett Dick, Belle M. Lidsley.

1898 - Lucy Sheffer, Agnes Sheffer, Claudia Lowe, Glen Kent, Lizzie Campbell, Will Sawyer, Fred Sawyer, Elroy Bidwell, Bertha Sisson, Julia Wilson, John Wilson, Harlan Wilson, Dan Arnold Killian, Frank Stegeman, Maud Roberts, Lula Lockard, Mildred Reed, Harrison Weeks.

1899 - Roy B. Fairfield, Elisabeth May Streeter, Niel L. Goodrich, Chas. W. Hullinger, William A. Peck, Walter H. Bidwell, Elsie Orr, Fred Hanchett, Paul Lidner, Flora Mary Koons, Clara Belle Gibson, Hedwig Brenner, Ines Baker, Myrtle Knapp, Grace Louise Howe, Harriette Esther Cook, Novie Iven Lonsbury, James A. Butrick, Roy L. Adams, Myrtle L. Perrigo, Nellie Coykendall, Emeline Ruth Coney, Myrnie E. Malloy, Mame E. Malloy.

1900 - Laura May Fouch, Hugh S. Calkins, Will L. Davis, N. Fern Haynes, Ethel H. Kickok, Alice Ida Liechts, A. Pearl Lilly, Amah A. Nichols, Dessie Priest, Lena B. Sawyer, Bernice Van Kuren, Hazel Van Ostrand, Wiliam Weeks.

1901 - Charlotte Smith, Ada Coney, Glenn DeLano, Louise DeLano, Bessie Hicks, Edith Barnes, John Bidwell, Anna Newell, Maggie Wynne, Margaret Arnold, George Horan, Lizzie Moon, Frank Peck, Bertha Mead, Ada Wager, Wayne Stuch, Ethel Langashaw, Clarence Smith, Alvina Becker.

1902 - Harriett Barrett, Florence Barrett, Mabelle Elenger, Bruce Leighton, Scott Lilly, Amy Lowe, A. Lorraine Oliver, Lura Patrick, Bertha Nuger, Harold Weeks, Elden Soper, George Barney, Grover Tripp, Edwin E. Allett, Jessie McKinnon, Lotie Moon, Harvey Buck, Arthur Maskey, Clara Post, Joseph Griffith, Harold Fritz.

1903 - Matie Blaisdell, Bessie Brown, Ruby Buck, Grace Clock, Harlow Clock, Margaret Campbell, Earl DeLano, Harold Fish, Harry Griffith, Edward Horan, William Kennedy, Maud Maxfield, Altine McKee, Ethel Miner, Fred Moore, Louise Nelson, May Perrigo, Maurice Post, Clara Smith, Frances Sterling, Bess Torrey, Alice Van Henlen, Laura Wise, John LaDue.

1904 - Clinton Mark Walter, Francina J. Slaghuis, Marion Almira Bills, Nellie Mary Stratton, Hazella Letta Cook, Gertrude Louise Nichols, Eva M. Clock, Clare D. Wilbur, Chas. F. Weeks, Russell C. Furber, Elsie Pauline Gitchel, Kittie Bell Nelson, Margaret Netah Barrett, Mary A. Wilson, Grace Louise Williams, Chas. H. Freyer, Roy E. Gibson, Richard B. Van Dusen, Edwy B. Ried, Ray Perrigo, Laura Engle, Grace E. Miner, Bessie M. Barber, Grace Coney, Herbert A. Wood, George F. Wilson, V. Pearl McAlpine, Bessie May Kidwell, Rachel V. Wilson.

1905 - Floyd Holland, Edmund M. Cook, George Updyke, Dana C. Post, Vernice E. DeWright, Harry Lee Barnum, Edna A. Schuman, Nina E. Wynne, Charles DeLano, Otto J. Armstrong, Claude Firestone, Dolly Gibson, Clyde Smith, Fred Bradt, Matilda Swanty, Avis Calkins, Florence C. Kolvoord, Hollis Baker, Anna J. Koons, Eugene Nash, Gertrude Strabbing, J. Ford Stratton, Pearle Bracelin, Reine Conway.

1906 - Floreine May Barrett, Emma Irene Priebe, Will George Cooper, John A. Sommers, Gertrude W. Slaghuis, Lilly B. Dannenberg, Pansy May Lemoin, Elizabeth J. Wearne, Pearl Julia Kolloff, Leon A. Kolvoord, Clarence W. Messenger, W. Clare Fear, George F. DeLano, Guy E. Fairfield, Gertrude H. Langshaw, Emily Seymore Wise, Grace B. Thompson, Lida Calkins, Bernice E. Morgan, Claude V.A. Whitbeck, Mabel F. Sackeiter, MIldren M. Fish, Florence Augusta Ried, Winifred B. Holmes, Alice P. Cook, Charles E. Stone.


PLAINWELL

The history of the educational facilities of this village go back to the spring of 1834, when the first schoolhouse for the Gun Plains neighborhood was built on section 20. A log structure, such as was common at the time, this "Gun Plains schoolhouse" was the meeting place for the early Baptists and Congregationalists as well as the first educational center. Miss Sabra Ives, who afterwards married Dr. L. B. Coates, the first schoolmaster and long a prominent citizen of Otsego, taught the first term of school, the first teacher employed being unable to carry on her duties on account of illness.

When the school system, elsewhere described. was formulated by the first state government, the school commissioners elected for the township in 1837 met in September of that year and divided the town into nine districts. Districts 2 and 3, which were consolidated in February, 1841, as district No. 2, contained originally the territory embracing the present village corporation, namely, sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. For several years the school population in this area was found on the north side of the river, and in 1838 the apportionment of school money was made to only ten children of school age in this district. At the same time there were nineteen school children in district No. 4, in which was located the old Gun Plains schoolhouse, while in district No. 1, in the Silver Creek neighborhood, were twenty-three of school age. District No. 2 had twenty-five pupils in 1843, which showed a relatively larger increase than in the adjoiing districts just mentioned.

The first red schoolhouse was built about 1843, and stood where Dr. Woolsey's house now stands. It was a small frame structure used for schools during the week, for religious services on Sunday, and public meetings, such as singing-schools, spelling-schools and school-meetings on appointed evenings. Some time about 1855 the white school house, then a one story building, was constructed, and the old red building was moved down Allegan street, and still exists as a part of the house owned by Mrs. George A. Brown. The Junction, as it was then called, grew so rapidly that in the late fifties or early sixties a second story was added to the white building, and two departments were organized. In 1867 the small building now used for office at the Dewey livery barn, was built beside the white building for the primary pupils and there existed the primary, intermediate and grammar departments. In two more years the intermediate was divided and a grade was seated in a room of the present opera house.

After much deliberation and frequent calls for special school meetings the present brick building in the southeast part of the village was completed and occupied in September of 1870. The south projection was extended in the year 1886, the amount of contract being $1,574.28. It seemed then that there would be sufficient room for years to come, but at this writing the demand is "more room." The present valuation of the school property is $20,000. Leading citizens whose names appear in the records are Giles Sherwood, J.W. Hicks, George Mills, J.V. Rogers, George H. Anderson, A.H. Hill, N.P. Kellogg and O.J. Woodard. It is a matter of interest to find the records full and carefully recorded during the administration of Mr. Woodard, he having been continued on the board for twenty-seven years.

District No. 2 was organized under a board of trustees into a graded school by vote at the regular school meeting of September 7, 1868. There were then three departments. The high school had its beginnings in 1869, under the tuition of Miss May Wright.

Some of the older citizens recall with pleasure the names of early teachers, among them Orlena Beebe and his spelling school, George Brainard, Mahala Murphy, Edward Phetteplace, a brother of Mrs. Noble Sherwood; of his sister Sarah, now Mrs. Sarah Thiers, of Mt. Pleasant; Miss Mary Woodhams, now Mrs. W.H. Rouse, of California. The superintendents have been May Wright, E.W. Thmpson, N.A. Barrett, W.W. Cole, L.W. Mills, L.E. Ireland from '79 to '91, G.E. Rogers, C.H. Norton, H.C. Daley and E.C. Hambleton. J.W. Hicks, Miss Louise Chamberlain and Miss Lou Kennicott were principals before the high school was organized.

The position of preceptress has been filled by the Misses Chart, Stoughton, Hall from '78-'91, Mrs. Jennie K. Hill, Harriett MacKenzie, V. Blanche Graham, Adah M. Spalding and Elsie Cooper.

In the grades many of the home girls have been employed at different times - some of them are still residents - Mesdames Julia Arnold, E.J. Anderson, W.W. Woodhams, F.F. Patterson, Lizzie Gilkey, Frank P. Heath, M.H. Granger and W.E. Forbes. The names of Mrs. Burton and Julia Dibble could not be omitted - neither can one forget the influence of the departed Mattie VanHorn, Mary Hatfield Warrant, Libbie Conine and Dolly Messick Pursel.

Music as a science has been taught since 1891. Miss Briggs was the first teacher, Miss Bingham organized the ladies quartette, Miss Daisy Soule taught with inspiring zeal, and Miss Lida Sprau continues the work.

In all the years three hundred and twenty have gone out as graduates. The first was a class of five: Charles Hyde, Susie Warrant, Carrie Hatfield Wright, Mattie VanHorn and Mary Hatfield Warrant. In the smallest, class of '74, were Effie Hyde Lewis and Harvey Warrant. The largest class, twenty-nine in number, finished in 1903. Charles Hyde is a practicing physician in Lenawee county, Clemma Woodard Barber was a Bible student and conducted a large correspondence class for several years, Will Hawks is a superintendent of schools, John S. and W.H. Madden are journalists, George Hopkins a judge of probate in Kalamazoo county, and Dwight B. Waldo is president of the State Normal at Kalamazoo. Our citizens may justly be proud of the work accomplished by district No. 2. It has honored representatives in all the walks of life and their success is gratifying.

There is no more popular social function in Plainwell than the annual meeting of the alumni of the Plainwell High School. The association was organized in 1892.

The school library has grown from six volumes, the remains of the old township library, to more than six hundred volumes. The Plainwell high school stands on the approved lists of the State Normal and the University and graduates are admitted without examination.

PLAINWELL HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI

1873 - Chas. Hyde, Carrie Hatfield Wright, Mary Hatfield Warrant, Mattie Van Horn, Susie Warrant

1874 - Effie Hyde Lewis, Harvey Warrant

1875 - Belle Barrett Lilly, Dollie Mesick Pursel, Clemma Woodard Barber, Delmer Woodard

1876 - Georgia Bailey Linton, Libbie Hatfield, William Hatfield, Eda McKay Hubbard, David B. McMartin, Emma Seeley Hicks

1877 - Laura Chambers Pratt, Ella Griffin Fowle, Mary Keeler Dunham, James Rogers

1878 - George Hopkins, Kittie Montieth McLeod, Addison Pengelly, Arthur Roberts, Jennie Sherman Merriman

1879 - Georgia Bush Madden, Florence Elms, Mabel Hatfield Marsh, Mabel Knapp, Anna Marsh Perkins, Ella Surdam DesAutels, Alva Thompson, Dwight Waldo

1880 - Marion Granger, Will Hawkes, Grace Marsh, Chas. E. Monroe, Cora Shepard Granger, Della Siddall Pierce

1881 - Sophia LInton, John S. Madden, Fred Mesick, Belle Winter Howe

1882 - Annie Brush Flanigan, Alice Buchannan Heath, John Conrad, Cora Hill, Dora Montieth, Kittie Scott Eesley, Mittie Smith Henry

1883 - Elizabth Conine, Maud Bristol Owen, Louie Copp Hook, Ida Chamberlain Fletcher, Nettie King Williams, Lizzie McMartin Anderson, Lenora McKay Temple, Jessie Roberts Orcutt, Addie Siddall Marshall, Ella Scott Walker, Nettie Sherwood Scott, Claribel Stiff White

1884 - Fred Bliss, Nettie Brown Johnson, Emma Bussard, Clara Carpenter Peschmann, Eddie Farr, Fred Heath, Jennie Lindsey Wells, Maggie Montieth Harper, Mamie Montieth English, Lois Southwick, Mamie Talbot Mesick

1885 - Mary Buxton Bliss, Herbert Brown, Carl Copp, Nora Heath Blackmore, Laura Hill, Ernest Hawkes, Jesse Johnson, Ella Spencer Murray, John Tomlinson, Lillie Woodhams Price

1886 - Jennie Bean Skillman, Nelson Beers, Kate Crispe, Eva Conine Hawkes, Nellie Dunham Porteous, Mattie Fourmbum Crispe, Nannie Gilmore, Alice Hanna Vosburg, Hattie Ives, Alida McAllister Allen, Cleo Tomlinson Garrison, Effie Madden Brown

1887 - Frank Bean, Sarah Beadle Longyear, Ada Curtis Barth, Lilla Donovan Murray, Minnie Eldred Mapes, Myrtie Ferguson Marshall, Bertha Grable Bicknell, Flo Scott Harwood, Ernest Owen, Rowland Lucius Soule

1888 - Mary Chart, Nettie Carruthers Carruthers [sic], Rose Evart, Minnie Handy Hopper, Nettie Scott Keyes, Dee Storms

1889 - Bessie Hopkins, Clair Jackson, Beulah Marshall Ross, Walter Palmer, Bert Platt, Caldwell Price, Daisy E. Soule Hugo, Ray White, Ida Whitcomb Williams, Clark Wheeler

1890 - Lottie Anderson, Inez Chart, Anna English Taylor, Laura Graham, Lora McAllister Earl, Edna Poore Graves

1891 - Thorne Earle, Lottie Cressey, Lalia Cressey Summers, Alla Hoyt Brown, Carl Jones, Della Kahler Spencer, Olive Kronk Moody, Charles Palmer, Ray Schoonmaker, Marshall Warwick

1892 - Sada Bellingham Dunwell, Otis Earl, Alice Hyder Trites, Anna Kahler, Bernice Lewis, Ellis G. Soule

1893 - Marian Brooks Mathers, Ethelyn Clancey McGee, Katherine Eldred Sinclair, Curtis Gilkey, Sada Howard Soule, Edith Johnson, Cora Mussulman, Belle Warrant

1894 - Carrie Anway, Alberta Brown, Phebe Clendenen Chamberlain, Lee Gray, Frank Hitchcock, Harry Irland, Burton Peer, Jennie R. Scales, Edith Wilson, Wilson Harrington

1895 - L. Carl Anderson, Harold Arnold, William S. Forbes, Bertha Howard Cheever, Alice Harroun Wells, Mattie Hill, Grace Harroun McElroy, Lulu Keiser, Cloe Kahler Woodhams, Ethel Wilson Stout, Martha Walton Dart, Grace Walton, Edward Woodhams

1896 - Lee Clancey, William Knorr, Rena Lasher, William Purdy, Lillian Wheater

1897 - Katie Eldred Johnson, Blanche Kreigbaum, Ray Palmer, Eunice Rumery

1898 - May Billings Burchett, Myrtle Clenden Meister, Charlotte Fenner, Charles Lasher, William H. Madden, Wilbur Chamberlain, Cora Finch, William Jackson, Helen Murphy Fairbanks, Beth Scales

1899 - Bessie Anderson Gilleland, Fred Birchard, George Gilkey, Lillian Harwood, Pearl Hayes Spaeth, Alice Howard, Alfred E. Madden, Laura Thompson, Lura Warner Avery, Edith Whitcomb, Marie Bean Birchard, Harry Crosby, Clare Granger, Adah Hawley, John Hogan, Lucille Irland, Elizabeth Murphy, Grace Travis, Harold Warwick

1900 - Bertha Blakely, Ray Bliss, Bernice DeLano Payne, Rudolph Gilkey, Will Hancock, Charles Jackson, Cora Pell, Maud Stout Harrison, George Thompson, Mildred Wilson Drew, Edward Walton, Lee Bliss, Wirt Cook, John Goldsmith, May Housel, Lee Hubbard, Mina Nelson, Irving Palmer, Gertrude Squier May, Anna Thompson, Pearl Wheater Evans, Charles Woodhams

1901 - Leila Arnold, Evah Brown, Alice Chart, Bert Honeywell, Ernest Hoyt, Grace Miner Freeman, Fred Nelson, Athelia Phillips, Winifred Scales, George Shand, Arthur Brown, Bertha Brest, Marguerite Gilkey, Mabel Hamilton, Della Hooper, Evelyn Neelley, Floy Potter, Minnie Rollins Hall, Alva Stamp

1902 - Maud Armstrong, Louise Bryant, Louise Bovile Johnson, Margaret Benedict, Guy Bliss, Gertrude Carpenter Stuck, Mary Goss Fritts, Lindsay R. Goss, William Y. Gilkey, Kathryn Granger, Dale Huntley, Lou Ingraham, Henry A. Kelley, Mary Madden Goss, Nina Madden Bullard, Nellie McMartin, Frank J. McMichael, Myrtle Root Pell, Adelaide Stearns, Olin H. Stuck, Cora Theobald, Harry C. Walton, Clarence Walton

1903 - Fern Abrams, Heber Bingham, Olive Brigham, Cleo Brown Jackson, Thomas Carroll, Frank Campbell, Hoyt Dunwell, Fred Granger, William Graham, Roy Heath, Lulu Hitchcock, Cleo Hoyt, Homer Hoyt, Clara Hooper Haas, Hazel Kahler, Charles Kester, Fannie Kester, Starr Lasher, Lala McMartin, Anna Murphy, Verne Shand, Dorothy Thompson, JOhn Walker, Clare Wagner, Beatrice Warrant, Grace Warner, Marcia Warner, Walter Wheater, Glenn Williams

1904 - Edith Boman Scribner, Le Roy Brown, Frank M. Bowman, Clara Belle Emery, Julian Elton Gilkey, Bess C. Hall, Margie Hyder, Ernest Jackson, Clark D. Mason, Marian B. Monroe, Bernard C. Roberts, Myrtice Skinner, Lonzella Theobald, Rubie Williams

1905 - Allen Bingham, Mabel Butler, Clarence Collister, Louise Fisher, Frank Hale, Guy V. Howe, Theda Hooper, Hazel McRoberts, Edith Patterson, Mabel Rix, Marion Sherwood, Karl Shultes, Miriam Wheater

1906 - Charles E. Campbell, Fannie E. Denning, Job C. Estes, Ina C. Estes, Catherine O. Goss, Charlotte May Herbert, Ruby L. Hicks, Cleo May Hill, Carolyn May Hicks, Jessie Hollands, Jay E. McCall, Clyde D. McCall, John D. McMartin, Edward R. Negus, Sarah C. Webster, Lois Lapham Warrant, Bernice J. Wenham, Bernice C. Warner, Clarence L. White


SAUGATUCK

In 1838 there was only one organized district in all the region of Newark township, with forty-two pupils of school age. In that year ninety dollars was raised for building a schoolhouse. In the following year five hundred dollars was appropriated for bulding a schoolhouse. A private school, attended by five pupils, is mentioned in that year. The first school in the vicinity is said to have been a private school, held near Singapore. By 1840 three districts were organized in the township, of which district No. 2 eventually became limited to comprise the territory of Saugatuck village.

At a school meeting September 3, 1866, it was resolved to grade district No. 2. Bonds to the amount of four thousand dollars were issued to pay for a new schoolhouse. Thus Saugatuck was one of the first villages of the county to have a graded school. The first board of trustees for the graded district were: James G. Williams, moderator; Geo. E. Dunn, director; Frank B. Stockbridge, assessor, and Samuel Johnson, Warren Cook, H.H. Stimson. Dr. Stimson, the last named, is still living and one of the very oldest residents of the village and vicinity. Clara Stimpson and Mary Porter were hired to teach the first term.

August, 1867, R. Barnard was hired as principal and continued until 1872. His successors have been: W.L. Swan, 1872; W.P. Sutton, 1875; G.W. Bellows, 1878; Ida Shotwell, 1881; E.G. Trowbridge, 1882; James Warnock, 1892; E.H. Calhoun, 1896; P.A. Latta, 1897 to the present time. Mr. Latta is one of the strongest, as he is perhaps the oldest of Allegan county's educators. He has been engaged in school work almost continuously for forty years.

The old school building, together with a ward school, was in use for thirty years. In September, 1896, district No. 2 voted a five thousand dollar bond issue, the bonds payable at intervals through eight years. A bid of six thousand two hundred and thirty-two dollars for construction of a two-story brick building was accepted and has been in use since the summer of 1897.

The following record of graduates of the high school has been taken from the alumni book, there being no list of graduates in the official records of the school officers:

GRADUATES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, SAUGATUCK

1878 - Maria Newnham, Grace Taylor

1880 - Abbie Wheeler, Jessie House, Anna Griffin

1886 - Minnie Breuckman, Clara Elliott

1890 - John Nies

1891 - Grace Baudle, Josie Simonson, Grace Halverson, Mary Hirner, Josie Goshorn

1892 - Louisa Lundgren, William Baker, William Dole, Belle Smith, William Smith, Mattie Hames, Minnie Reid, Clyde Reid, Myrtle Allen, George Knowles, Rena Ames, Rosina Perry, Cora Hollister, Charles Knowles, Winnie Cummings, James Smead, Lena Randall

1893 - Mae Francis, Gilbert Pride, Mae Naughtin, Emma Randall, Archie Pierce, Gertrude Shriver, Ray Nies

1894 - Oscar Wiley, Lanus Swemer, Anna Haut, Mattie Dole, Harry Bird, Susie Tisdale, Mamie Lundgren, Winnie Dole, Nellie Van Leuin, George Pride, Mabel Colf, Lizzie Nysson

1895 - Allan Falconer, Arthur Williams, Carrie Inderbitzin, Ethel Sutton

1896 - Joseph Swemer, Harry Newcomb, John Schumaker, Pearl Phelps, Jason Dick, Bessie Bandle, Bina Annesley, Edith Brown

1899 - Harry Oleson, Murba Greenlees, James Koning, Amelia Shriver, Mattie Simonson, Herman Simonson

1900 - William Tisdale, Edward Winslow, Elsie Vork, Florence Updyke, Gussie Barber, Russell Knox, Laura Miller, Charlie Upham, Bessie Newnham, Mae Belle Haywood, Blanche Baudel, Arie Koning, Ethel Baker, Ella Brown, Worth Durham

1901 - Clarence Winslow, Robert Oleson, John Blink, Jennie Veits, Olive Ludwig, Louisa Walz, Mattie Hirner, Marie Upham, Faith Kirby, Ethel Winslow, Lottie Hancock, Mamie Schumaker, Florence Miller, Howard Coates, Louis Knox, Clarence Halverson

1902 - Jessie Veits, Ellsworth Ellis, Eldon Dick, Josephine Walberg, Louise Johns, Anna Oleson, Stella Dailey, Mildred Ireland

1903 - Margaret Coxford, Pearl Heuer, Blanche McGregor, Bessie Wilson, Edith Leland, Eva Lundgren, Julia Shriver, Jennie Vork, Edith Brown, Bessie Riley, Theodore Hoffman, George Bradley, Arthur Reynolds

1904 - Frank Wade, Blanche Lamreauz, Bessie Smalley, Fannie Dailey, Marie Walz, Lizzie Schumaker, Pearl Olsen, Adelaide Wade, Julia McIntosh, Anna Garton, Milton Coates, Grace Haberer, Bertha Weed, Mona Jones, Lucina Taylor, Mack Atwater, Eva Haberer, Charles Atwater, Lizzie Dreher

1905 - MacLean Babcock, Lottie Force, Edna Oleson, Maud Johns, Frances Garton, Jessie St. Johns, Gladys Rapalee, Edward Burdick, Edna Link, Mabel Wilson, Mary Randall, Nita Fort, Irene Kingsbury, Frank Johns, Eileen Manning, Myron Heath, Estelle Heath, Edward Redpath, Ellsworth Lundgren, Anna Burch, Faye Meade, Sarah Tisdale

1906 - Chris Walz, Dorothy Dailey, Jessie Crow, Cornelia Koning, Alfaretta Smalley, Frank Smith, Charles Gilman, Alta Arens, Leon Chase, Marie Schaberg, Julia Brittian, Helen Erikson, Lizzie Dorman, Lois Helm, Robert Goodwin, Dawn Meade, Dora Wentzel


FENNVILLE

In 1898 a fractional district No. 2, of Manlius, was organized for high school work. Up to that time the old building west of the village had served as the school home, but in that year a new brick building was erected in the village on the north side of Main street, and the old structure abandoned. The high school has been brought to rank with the schools of the other villages in the county. The principals and graduates from 1898 to the present time are as follows:

1898 - W.G. Loomis, Prin.: Floyd Loomis, Millie Turrel, Lee Robinson, Robert Collins, Gertrude Barry, Calvin Wilcox

1900 - C.F. Bacon, Prin.; Bessie Bale, Harry Hutchins, Carrie Hurlburt, Blanche Billings, Louise Smeed

1902 - L.W. Bacon, Prin.; Leon French, Robert Day, Bul Kibby, Ethel Crane, Roy Fisher, Gertrude Fisher, Laura Young, Gladys Chapman, Grace Thome, Ivy Barber, Zelda Barrow, Ruby Wightman, Anna Owens,Hattie Knowlton

1903 - L.Q. Martin, Prin.; Hattie Truax, Harvey Adams, Leo Swartz, John McCormick (dead), Isabelle Thome, Lillian Arnold, Carol Walters, Laura Hutchins, Wm. Hoover, Eugene Mann, Oliver Henderson, Everard Leland, Clarissa Hurlburt, Flossy Taylor, Eva Paine, Russell Wightman

1904 - L.Q. Martin, Prin.; Grace McCartney, Nellie Grant, Mary Peterson, Belva McCormick, George Whitney

1905 - L.Q. Martin, Prin.; Chas Reid, Lee Hutchins, Serene Chase, Mildred Watson, Blanche Stauffer, Tressa Orther, Mary Geske, Belle Silcox, Hattie Johnson, Alice Baron

1906 - W.E. Sheehan, Prin.; Florence Mead, Lelah Frye, Fern Green, Alfa Pearle


BURNIP'S CORNERS

Burnip's Corners district school was organized in 1856 and the school building, or log house, was erected at Salem Center. In 1876 a new frame building was erected one-quarter of a mile north of Salem Center in what is known as Burnip's Corners. The present two-room brick building was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars in 1886.

The school was organized into a graded school of ten grades in 1886, with Eugene Gregory as first principal. The principals to date as follows: Eugene Gregory, 1886-1887; A.J. Dan, 1887-1891; Chas. Bacon, 1891-1895; L.B. Plummer, 1895-1897; Frank Brown, 1897-1898; F.M. Cosner, 1898-1900; Malcolm Smith, 1900 to 1903; Ralph Sprague, 1903 to 1904; Ira J. Arehart, 1904 to present time.

The first commencement exercises were held in 1890. There has been a class each year since, with two exceptions, namely, 1894 and 1898. The following is a list of graduates by years:

1890 - Minnie D. Binley, Norman L. Bond, Lewis Van Wormer, E. Joy Heck, H. Otis Jones, and Gerrit Masselink

1891 - Eleroy A. Smith, Herman A. Rigterink, Roxy Stauffer, Charles R. Newell, Minnie Hardy, John W. Rigterink

1892 - Henry A. Dibble, Benjamink F. Masselink, and Geo. H. Rigterink

1893 - Frank Smith, Francis Goodmann, Dirk Lanting, Arthur Winegar, Garrit Walcott, Bertha Loew, and Nettie Sebright

1895 - Fred Loew, Theodore Long, May Roberts, Cora Sebright

1896 - Oker Gordon, Flossie Heck, Viola Heasley, Iva Hardy, Floy Sprau

1897 - Norman Buege, Loren Heasley, Carl Green, Perry Fleetwood, Imogene Burt, Henry Rigterink

1899 - George Brower, George R. Newell, Martin Loew

1900 - Harry W. Davis, G. Elmer Smith, L. Maud Brady, Grace A. Brady, Huldah C. Heasley, Lulu M. Newell, William Fleser, Flora H. Raab, Tillie M. Slagle

1901 - Maud Strang, Louisa Ritz, Estela Zimmerman, Jennie Long, Ernest Wells

1902 - G. Carl Roberts, Adam A. Sebright, Edythe M. Loomis, Ida M. Newell, H. Faithe Brady, Flossie P. Loew

1903 - Albert A. Riddering, Oscar P. Raab, Arthur A. Buege, Gertrude I. Heasley, Lulu Cronkhite

1904 - Nellie de Jongh, Leafy Mesick, Gladys Hardy, John Vander Bosch, Claud Sturgis, Maud Enos, Glenn Gordon, Orah Leweke, George Claus, Winifred Bear, Peter Giebe, Lydia Buege, George Davis, Laura Raab, George Ritz

1905 - Bessie Newell, Lemuel Brady, John De Jongh

1906 - Hallie Sprau, Mary L. Beck, G. Ray Sturgis, Clara Baker, Martin Van Duine

The curriculum comprises ten grades, the number of teachers is two, and the number of pupils one hundred ten.


WAYLAND

The Wayland graded schools have developed, as other such schools in the county, from the district system. When the township was divided into school districts in 1844, district No. 2 was made to contain the entire northwest corner of the township, namely, sections, 5,6,7,8,17,18,19,20. The log house previously inhabited by Nelson Chambers, located at Chambers Corners, within the limits of the present village of Wayland, was converted into the first schoolhouse. Miss Belinda Eldred (later the wife of Ebenezer Wilder of Martin; her death occurred July 2, 1905) taught a summer term in 1844, among her twelve scholars being children of Nelson Chambers, Joseph Heydenberk and John Parsons. District No. 3, comprising a large part of the south side of the township, had much the greater number of school children, in the fall of 1848 having forty-six against sixteen in district No. 2. There were twenty scholars in the latter district in 1850.

The next school was the little red schoolhouse built about 1850. Its size was about sixteen by twenty feet, with desks on either side and long benches made stationary for seats and was capable of seating about twenty scholars. This was at a time when those that sent children to school had to pay their tuition and when the teachers received for their services about three dollars per week and waited for their pay until the end of the term. The teachers made what was called a rate bill or an assessment roll and the parents paid a ratable proportion of the teacher's wages according to the number of children sent to school, and it was the duty of the teacher to make collections. The parents also had to furnish their proportion of wood needed to warm the schoolhouse. Among the early teachers were Mary West, Amanda J. Chambers, Margaret Mosher, Augusta K. Harrison (now Augusta K. Hunter), Addie McMartin (now Mrs. Addie E. Hoyt). After 1862 the following persons were among the teachers: Emily Chambers, William Mason, Otis Parsons, Cornelia Chambers, Mary J. McMartin (now Mary J. Clark), Deborah Parsons, Ida Loomis, Mary Beach, Fannie Coleman, Minnie Everson, E.W. Pickett, E.S. Linsley, Samuel Hendricks, E. Congdon, George Gable, Ed Gene Arnold and James W. Humphrey. Mr. Humphrey began teaching in the Wayland school in 1877, and it was through his influence that the school was graded, when the new brick school house was first occupied in 1879. This building was burned in 1896 and was replaced during the same year by the one now in use. In 1883 Mr. Humphrey succeeded in establishing a Normal class which lasted as long as he had charge of the school. When he began teaching there were only three teachers employed, but before he finished his work there were five. He left after ten years' successful work to take a position in Hope College at Holland. The teachers associated with him were Ellen Clark, Elva Clar, Jettie Buskirk, Ellen M. Carner, Nettie Conrad, Hattie Wallbrecht, Estella Rathburn, Metta Rawson, Libbie Sooy, Mary Hayes, Lucy Avery, Franc Smith and Jessie Hoyt.

The principals following Mr. Humphrey were A.C. Roberts, William McNamera, E.M. Vroman (for nine years), W.G. Glazier and Charles W. Appleton, since 1902.

The present school building is a fine two-story brick structure with a large basement. It is steam heated, well lighted, ventilated and furnished. Besides the high school, intermediate and primary rooms there is a large recitation room, laboratory and bookeeping room. The physical laboratory contains about $400 worth of apparatus, most of which has been added through the efforts of the present superintendent.

During the past year the enrollment has been about two hundred and forty, of which one hundred and twenty were in the high room, with about twenty-five perent non-resident pupils. Last year the twelth grade was added to the curriculum. The school is now on the approved list of Normal schools of the state and it is hoped to place it on the University list in the near future.


The following is taken from "A Glance at Watson Township's Past", compiled by Catherine Simpson Pardee and Albert P. Germain

WATSON

The educational interests of the (Watson) Township first received attention in 1840. Until then no effort towards the establishment of a school within the boundaries of Watson had been. In that year a log school-house was erected on section 20, upon land owned by Daniel Leggett, and Miss Mary Ann Stone, who was employed in the capacity of teacher. Nine scholars received early instruction and discipline at her hands. Nine whole and two fractional districts included eleven substantial frame school buildings within the Township.

The earliest religious services in the township were held in the first log house erected in Watson, that of Wm. S. Miner. They were conducted by Rev. W.C.H. Bliss, of Allegan, whose zeal in the good cause had made him a pioneer in Christian work in other portions of the county. Later services were conducted in the Miner schoolhouse, which, for a succession of years, was the resort on the Sabbath of the church-going part of Wetheral Lake replacing what is now called Wetheral Lake Road. At Watson Corners the store, church, and school all were moved to make way for the widened and straightened road. Hills were leveled and ravines filled in.

In 1957, the Western part of the road was completed.
In early 1989, M-118 was changed to M-222 to alleviate confusion with M-118 and 118th Avenue which is population of Watson.
In 1953, vast improvements were made to the highway East of the Osborne school (20th Street). A causeway was built across the narrow one mile North.
1959 - School Section Lake was platted.
1960 - Only 4 School Districts were left in the Township, No. 2, No. 4, No. 10, and No. 11.
1967 - All the School Districts in Watson were annexed.