The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-27

- GENERATIONS have come and
gone in the f1fty-five years
- that Miss Susan Amanda Viii
son, affectionately known as MISS
Sue" has taught the primary Sunday
School class in the Presbyterian
church at Greenfield.
The rebellion's guns were yet I'M
stilled when Miss Sue" came to
Greenfield from Anderson in 1864 and
became a member Of the congregation
There was no church in those days
and the congregation was obliged to
hold it's weekly services in the old
Masonic temple, now a rapidly crumb-
ling structure, sacred because it was
the scene Of the unsuccessful his
trionic efforts of James Whitcomb
Riley, the poet.
Some of the Nations and many of
the States celebrities have come I'M
der the matronly tutelage of Miss
Sue" and some of her present youth
full disciples will be able to attribute,
in retrospection, their success to the
influence Of this gentle woman.
Successful Men Her Reward
A few names of pupils show the in
f1uence of this remarkable woman:
VIII Vawter of Nashville, Indiana
artist, most noted, perhaps, for his
mastery Illustrations of Riley's child
lore poems; Col. Edwin P Thayer, a
regimental commander in the Spanish
War and many times sergeant-at-arms
at Republican national conventions
William A. Hough, former president
Of the Indiana State Bar association.
now a member of the State tax
board; Clarence Hough, brother of
William A Hough, Chicago journal
list; John F. Mitchell Sr., publisher of
the Hancock Democrat; John F.
Mitchell Jr., associate editor of the
Hancock Democrat and playwright
There are many more, all of whom
pay deep homage to a woman whose
continuous service as a Sunday school
teacher perhaps is unequaled in the
State.
Teacher for Generations
In many of these families Miss
Sue" has taught two, three and
sometimes four successive genera
lions. With a memory undulled by
time Miss Sue" today recalls the
caprices of each child. Enthusiasm
for her classes grows as the years
pass. and today her boys and girls
linger at the door to her classroom
as their day Of promotion approaches.
I'VE know a good thing when we see
it. No. We'll Just stay with Miss
Sue. one of her boys remarked re-
Gently, when informed by the SUI
perintendent that he had been passed
to a higher class.
Years ago I was teaching my class
the wrong Of using whisky" Miss
Sue" recalled.
"a small. inquisitive girl in my
class. after the discussion, inquired:
Miss Sue it wouldn't be wrong to
use 1t for your stomach. would it?'
IT tried to avoid an answer" Miss
Sue" said, but before I could re-
cover the child added: Mamma drank
g whole glass before she came to
Sunday school this morning"
THE childs mother was teaching
a class near mine and overheard the
conversation. After the classes were
dismissed the mother came to me and
said: That girls going to be the
death of me yet"
One on VIII HOugh
Miss Sue" tells one on William A.
Hough, when he was a stripping.
Hough, apparently, was a keen adj
mirer of one DR.. Barnett, founder Of
the Greenfield Presbyterian Church.
When asked who was the first man
in the world. Hough sprang to his
feet and cried out, why, DR.. Bar
nett, Of courses"
In her eighty-f1fth year, Miss Sue"
spends her time with her sisters,
Miss Marian F. Wilson and Mrs. John
a. Riley, sisterin-law Of the late poet.
Mrs. Riley, youngest of five sisters,
is in her seventy fourth year. With
the two other sisters, Mrs. Mary F.
Spencer Of Mansfield Ohio. and Mrs.
Sarah E. Brown of Charlottesville. the
family Is reunited once each year.
Two years ago the entire family was
entertained bV the brother William