Sharon Center October 1922

YODER, SCHWIMLEY, STRICKLER, STUTSMAN, WEBER, RHODES, KESSELRING, ROBERTS, PLANK, MARNER, KEMP, HERSHBERGER, SMALLEY, HALL, WINBORN, WHITMORE, JONES, KNEPP, BRENNEMAN, SEHR, SABS, MILLER, CAMPBELL, PARROTT, SCHLAUBAUGH, HOCHSTEDLER, SWARTZENDRUBER, ZAGER, GINGERICH, KINSINGER, MARTIN, KEMPF, TROYER, SCHNEIDER, GAFELLER, SHRADER, ALT, SASS, SWANTZ, BOLLER, BRANDT, HAMMER, BONTRAGER, PETERSEIM, BARTZ, NIGGENEGGER, KEPPLER, STOLTZFUS, DEHKEY, KAUFFMAN

Posted By: Mistina Christner (email)
Date: 8/13/2018 at 11:11:58

Source: Iowa City Press Citizen Oct. 9, 1922

SHARON CENTER

Tuesday, October 3, was a perfect autumn day and long before the noon hour the grove back of Center school, popularly known as "Boone School", was filled with a merry crowd composed of those who are or were pupils or teachers of the school, together with their families. Shortly before noon the company was called to order by Rev. S.E. Yoder who made a few fitting remarks on the object of the gathering, and introduced Rev. Adam Schwimley. The Schwimley family came to Iowa in June 1835 and Adam attended school the next winter. He was the oldest pupil on the grounds and probably the oldest living pupil of the school. He recalled the old log school house which stood on the ridge just south of the building on the old Charlotte Strickler farm now owned by E.C. Stutsman. He described the puncheon floor and the plank on pegs in the wall which served as a desk, the pupils standing to write. Fred Weber, a brother of Chas Weber of Iowa City, was the teacher. The others present who also went to the old log school house were John, Dave, Barbara and Lena Rhodes, Mrs. Elizabeth Stutsman Yoder and Mrs. Susan Stutsman Yoder. This log school house was followed by a frame building which was built over on the diagonal road near the Gottleib Kesselring place. This building was later moved to the site of the present building. About twenty years ago it was sold to D.J. Kemp who still uses it as a shop, and the present building was erected.
After a brief prayer by Rev. S.E. Yoder, dinner was served, caeteria style.
After dinner, while many of the younger ones engaged in sports, including baseball and pitching horseshoes, the older people gathered around and enjoyed a program which was in charge of Rev. S.E. Yoder. A number of the teachers present were called upon and responded with reminiscences of other days. Mrs. Mary Roberts was the oldest teacher present. Her talk was followed by Wm. Plank of Kalona (a pupil) who recalled the days when he went to school to Will Marner and "spoke a piece" which he had spoken then, "Mary had a little lamb" (revised verson). He was followed by Mrs. Dora Kemp Hershberger, a former teacher, and Mrs. Belle Strickler Marner who had been a pupil under Mary Roberts and had later taught the school. Ray Smalley and Miss Modena Hall were the next teachers to respond with recollections of former days. Dr. Eli Stutsman said, although he had taught the school, he liked best to recall when he was a pupil here. He had always been an "Angel Child" but could remember many of the pranks of others. Mrs. Grace Winborn Whitmore (a teacher) was followed by Miss Sarah Marner who also preferred to remember her school girl years rather than her period as teacher. She recalled her first picnic. School was closing on July 4 and the teacher had the pupils march two by two, the leaders carrying a flag. They marched from the school house to the nearby grove where tables were set. Miss Annie D. Jones was next, called but requested one of her pupils, John Winborn to respond in her stead, which he did. I.J. Marner and George Plank spoke on behalf of former directors. Mr. Plank also recalled that Fourth of July, "Last Day" picnic and that Grandpa Boone led the procession beating his drum. A short business meeting followed. It was unanimously voted to make this an annual affair. A committee was appointed: Levi Stutsman, Lewis D. Yoder, John L. Winborn. Lewis D. Yoder, Route 1, Kalona, is secretary and all communications should be addressed to him.
All those who were present were requested to register as teachers, pupils or visitors. Nearly all did so, there being 376 names on the list. E.C. Stutsman was the oldest man on the grounds. He was director of the school over fifty-years ago.
At the request of many present the names of the teachers and former pupils who registered are here given:
Teachers - Rev. S.E. Yoder, Mary Roberts, Dora Kemp Hershberger, Belle Strickler Marner, R.E. Smalley, Minnie Knepp Brenneman, Grace Winborn Whitmore, Sarah Marner, Mebel Schwimley Winborn, Minnie Sehr Sabs, Modena J. Hall, Annie D. Jones, Dr. Eli Stutsman, Earl Miller, Ruth Hall Miller, and the present teacher Miss Maude Campbell. Miss Edith Parrott, who was unable to be present, sent a letter of greeting.
The following were formerly pupils at the same time and were instrumental in getting up the picnic. They also furnished hot coffee for all. Chas. Strickler, Katie Schlaubaugh Yoder, Bertha Kesselring Stickler, Sam Hochstedler, Iva Miller Hochstedler, Eli Miller, Mahlon Schlaubaugh, Barbara Hershberger Swartzendruber, Carrie Schwimley Marner, Henry Kesselring, Nettie Zager Gingerich, Ledger Yoder, Emma Kinsinger Martin, Mabel Schwimley Winborn, Anna Sehr, Calvin Stutsman, John Hochstedler. Other former pupils were: L.L. Stutsman, Jos. H. Miller, J.B. Strickler, Sarah Jane Hall, Maggie Rhodes Kempf, Mary Troyer, Francis Kesselring Kinsinger, Ella Miller Yoder, Emma Stutsman Yoder, Katie Troyer, Maggie Plank Yoder, Lizzie Hershberger Rhodes, Emma, Mary, Ivan and Raymond Rhodes, Fannie Troyer Schneider, Barbara Rhodes, Emma Iselin Gafeller, Lydia Hershberger, John T. Winborn, Eva Shrader Troyer, Ada Alt, Lida Alt Smalley, Elsie Sass, Cora Sass, Ray E. Marner, Lloyd E. Elmer J and Raymond R. Strickler, Forrest L. Strickler, Glenn E. Marner, Lewis Winborn, Oren Alt, Ella Rhodes, Katie Rhodes, Ida Ellen Yoder, Ida Mae Kemp, Ida Schlaubaugh Kemp, Joe Troyer, I.J. Marner, J.A. Knepp, Sarah Stutsman Miller, Vivian Stutsman, Gideon Jacobs, John A. Hochstedler, Susanne Plank Brenneman, Willis Stutsman, Omar Hochstedler, Rev. Adam Schwimley, Moses S. Yoder, John J. Knepp, Jacob Troyer, Geo. Riley Hall, Lester L. Strickler, Chris J. Rhodes, George D. Rhodes, H.W. Strickler, Chas. Zager, Geo. W. Plank, John R. Swantz, Ollie Miller Gingerich, Frank E. Rhodes, W.H. Hershberger, Emma Miller Boller, I.G. Marner, Elenore Sehr Brandt, Susan Stutsman Yoder, Lena Kesselring Hammer, Lydia Bontrager Peterseim, Peter S. Yoder, Mathilda Bartz Sehr, Mrs. Jacob Swartzendruber, Mrs. Amelia Yoder, Katie Shrader, Mrs. Harry Miller, Cora Miller Troyer, Lydia Plank Yoder, Wm. Plank, Bertha Zager Strickler, Sarah Strickler Niffenegger, Fred Niffenegger, A.C. Yoder, P.F. Schwimley, A.C. Sloughbaugh, Lewis O. Gingerich, Ida Miller Gingerich, Marion Keppler, Frank Sehr, Carl Sehr, S.W. Hershberger, L.W. Schwimley, D.I. Troyer, Kate Rhodes, Ava Marner, Vina Plank Stoltzfus, Grace Marner, Ella Strickler Marner, Lena Rhodes, Lillian Strickler Troyer, J.J. Rhodes, D.J. Rhodes, Anna J. Rhodes, Florence Strickler Miller, Violet Troyer Yoder, J.G. Marner, Paul Stutsman, W.D. Dehkey, S.S. Hochstedler, Raymond and Monroe Hochstedler, Edwin Knepp, Cass Hall, John R. Knepp, Eli J. Knepp, Lewis Hochstedler, John R. Rhodes, Lloyd Knepp, John Kauffman, Ledger Yoder, and C.C. Stutsman.
The committee who arranged for this day's pleasure was Chas. Strickler, Mrs. L.D. Yoder and Mrs. H.W. Stickler. They wish to tank Clifford Berkey, Eli Miller, Calvin Stutsman and John Strickler for their work in hauling the truck loads of plank, chairs and benches to and from the grounds, and all others who united to make the occasion such a success.