The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-06-29


the third generation Of that family.
The hardships and perils Of that
journey can hardly be described. It
was almost a constant warfare from
start to finish.
I have a clear recollection of many
Of these men and women. They were
big men and women with iron constitu-
tions, and long lived. Many of them
were hearty in 1860.
Upon arrival these men entered their
lands, laid out the town, organized
government, established churches and
schools, the Fosters taking up large
tracts of timber III Pike woods build
ing homes and saw mills, first water
power, later steam mills One would
hardly believe today there ever was
water enough in Pike creek for power,
but / saw those mills at work and
went on trips with teamsters deliver
ing timber for the plank roads being
built out from Kenosha and Racine.
- The first school was taught by ia
son Lothrop. He was also first pastor
of the Baptist church. He prepared
young men for college. Among them
| knew John G. Mcclellan, afterwards
a prominent lawyer in Chicago.
The next teacher was Louis F. Har-
vey, my mothers teacher, afterwards
governor of Wisconsin. Oliver Adams
established private school which
gave place to the present free school
system III 1916, the first free school
ever established outside of New Eng
land, and as [ know, ante dating the
Boston school system by two years.
/ was entered in the north side school
in 1850, aged six years, and remained
until our graduation, April 5th, 1861.
Next of our teachers was John G.
McMynn, Conant, j. G. MCKINLEY, I'M
der whose administration the building
was remodeled and improved, Josiah
Bent, and T. j. Conatty, under whom
the school was graded and the high
school established. During these
years, Leander Stone taught the gram
mar departments teaching classes in
photography and languages in the
high school,
Of the female teachers, Kate Dem
ing, Miss Mary B. Patterson, Miss
Briggs. and Miss Darling were all darl-
ings and dear to our youthful hearts.
All in due course married, except Miss
Patterson, who for many years was
a teacher in Dearborn Seminary in
Chicago, and later went abroad, In
organizing the high school those of us
young enough to remain and take the
whole course were organized into this
class of 1861. Others older who could
not remain were so classified as to
remain one or two years. Our class
mate has spoken of the class and it's
record. l may refer to a few Incl
dents, perhaps not known to her,
Were it not for our good health, early
discipline and correct lives, so MANY
of us could not be here at this semi
centennial,-an event unique in the his
tory OF education. Is there a case on
record where seven -ninths OF a class
ever came together after fifty wears 2
In all the years of our association, I
can remember only one unpleasant oc-
currance. We had our debating So
ciety and one time my honorable and
lifelong friend, "the Judge" was OPP
posed to me upon what seemed to us
a very vital question. We were sure
we had them beaten to a fragile, and
we had, if the other fellow had not
brought in outside help. The Judge IS
father was a learned man, one of my
best friends, interested in the welfare
of his own and other boys. He had
very sweet voice and a very persuas-
i've manner. I have heard him read