Smyrna times., 1908-04-22
KENTON SCHOOL IN 1862
7. z. Brooks a Former Kenton Boy
Becomes Reminiscent Over School
Days During The Civil War

Philadelphia, April 20:-Not
since 1866 l think have I contri-
buted anything to the Times.
gave something occasionally to the
Times and to the Clayton Herald
while teaching the Kenton public
school in 1872, and the Poplar Green
school in 1864-65-66. Joseph H.
Hoffecker then edited the Times, and
Mrs. Rebecca McConaugly published
and edited the Herald at CLAYTON Mrs.
McConaugly was intensity patriotic
and vigorously supported the Lincoln
administration during those days of
bitter civil stife. l found the
people of all that section in which
| was engaged worthy of my acquain-
tance, confidence and my esteem.
At KentOn most of the men were
Democrats, and few as might be ex-
pected, sympathised with the south.
Some Old and Respected Residents.
Indeed l found but two men in the
village who were ADMITTEDLY Republi-
cans. DR.. Hamilton and the village
shoemaker, General" Taylor. l
loved to sit and talk with Taylor as he
! pegged and sewed, and in my heart
l have ever kept his memory green.
| cannot recall a single man in the
entire school district l did not like.
Billy Jump kept the village store
and postoffice. Mr. Bowman was the
village hotel landlord, Squir Jones
was the uphOlder of the law. Squire
James Wilds was the man of largest
wealth, an poor Jimmy" Downes I!
how many of my readers remember
his sad end? My predecessor was
Colonel Hickey, as he was known,
anG l cannot recall his first name.
Hickey left a memorial at the school
house in the form of patched door,
which he had battered in with an axe
on the morning of February IA, 1861,
when the big boys had locked him
out, with the determination of taking
a self-provided ST. Valentine holiday.
| fancy the girls We're in sympathy
with the plot, just for the fun of the
thing. Hickory was indignant and
determined, and after securing an ak
4 soon made his way in through the
lower half of the door. Between the
effects Of the panic and the rush of
cold air through the hole in the door,
it was found useless to attempt to
hold a session that day, and the house
was given over to the carpenters for
repairs.
A St. Valentines Day Episode.
As ST. Valentine Day approached in
my time the trustees called my atdten-
tiOn to the previous years episode and
left the matter of deciding for or
against a holiday to me. I found
the plot gain under consideration and
securing the big door key the day
previous and explaining to the boys
that it was a poor year for fun of
that kind, we had school the next day
as usual. That was forty-six years
ago and l am wondering how many
of those children are still moving in
the walks of life or may catch sight
of this artice. l have a reminder
of those school days in the form of
tickets with which the boys of the
neighbOrhood played epolitics while l
was there, in imitation of their
elders. Frank Temple gave me
copies of their tickets which l still
have in good state of preservation.
Some of these boys have figured in
real politics since then. Here are
the tickets: Union Ticket-For COVER
nor, Joseph Jones; For Representa-
tive in Congress, Frank G. Dawson
Senators, Henry P Melon, William
Smithers; Representatives Enoch
Clark, Henry Hilliard, H. Smithers
Isaac Green, Chas. Walters, Will
liam S. Cow, EnOch George; Sheriff,
Charles Numbers; Coroner, William
Hackett; Levy Court Commissioners,
James Green, Winfield Coverdale,
VILLAIN Scotten, John Numbers,
Democratic Ticket, Governor, Josh
M. Authors, Representative in Con-
gress, Dennis N. Connor, Senators,
Franklin Temple, Samuel F. Jones.
J. Frank Wilds, Representative in
General Assembly, William H. Young,
John D. Green, Alexander P Moffit,
William N. laughter, Frank M.
Hawkins, Edwin Temple. Corner,
William B. Boyd, Levy Court Com
missioners, Francis M. Burris, James
David, Henry Green, Timothy Attix,