Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30

Saxton, Lille F. Thomas, Mary E.
Hayre AMI Lizzie Clarke.
Fourth District.
The fourth district schools, which
then largely included that part OF
Washington known as the island"
had as male grammar teacher John E.
Thompson. and the other teachers
were Mary e. Martin, Geneva A.
Reed, Mary A. Lee. Sarah E. Wise,
Laura L. Wilson, Annie M. Adams,
Matte E. Gray, Belle c. Peyton. An
ME M. Bailey, Annie Van Horn,
Rachel A. Garrett. Mary A. Bowen,
M. I. Humphrey. Maggie Garrett, Mol
lie M. Bowen, Sallie johnson. Annie E.
Fowler. Hattie L. Davis. Bette Robin
son. Lizzie j. Riley, Ellie Dunn, Ellen
Halliday and Louise Strobel.
John E. THOMPSON Of the fourth
district was one Of the most
thorough and beloved instructors Of
his day. His death occurred on Sun
day. March 90. 1885, when he was 81
years old. Speaking of Mr.. Thompson
at the time of his death. The Star
mentioned a few of the more impor-
tant men who had received their
final school instructions from him,
saying:
1.-THE roll Of those who graduated
from the fourth district grammar
school under his tutorship includes
Drs. Robert Rayburn. Ashford. Bying-
ton, Leach, Croggin. Amery. Bowen
and Cook Also Prof. Franklin of
Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore;
G. Helprin, H. E. Davis professor at
Wilkes Barre College,, T. w. Moves
lawyer at Sioux Falls, Dakota) and
Joseph Talk NOV a teacher, who won
college scholarships, and others who
went into business right from the
school-the Grays, Thompsons, Gum
nells, Pearsons, Polkinhorns, Lees, W.
Acker, and in fact members Of all
the leading families that have resided
in South Washington"
At this time it was true that Theo-
dore w. Noyes, editor of The Star. was
practicing law at Sioux Falls, then in
Dakota territory, but he returned to
Washington in 1887 and resumed the
journalistic work he had pursued
from 1877 to 1881, becoming associate
editor of The Star. In his final year
at school under Mr.. Thompson, he
won, when only IL years old, the Amos
Kendall scholarship to Columbian
tnow George Washington University.
an honor open to all the public school
pupils of Washington.
An idea of the high regard in
which Mr.. Thompson was held by
his pupils and fellow teachers may
be had when 1t is known that the
teachers and pupils of his school dis
trict, following his death. erected q
monument to his memory In Oak Hill
Cemetery, where he is buried. inscribed
with expressions of concentrations
and love.
AT THIS period there was another
foremost teacher in the public
schools named Thomson, but as will
be observed he spelled his name diff
ferently-omitting the letter "p." He
also turned out . number Of boys who
achieved prominence in various walks
of life. He began teaching here in
the public schools in 1882, and for
many years taught at the so-called
Jefferson Stable School Building, To-
Gated where is now the Hamilton Ma
tional Bank.
AZ . teacher he believed that the
only way to make . boy learn was
to make him work, and work hard.
II the boy would not work 1t was
the worse for him, for Mr.. Thomson
was strong in name and strong In
deed" as the boys used to say. How
ever, 1t Is said his boys knew their
grammar and they could figure, too.
They had to, for II they were remiss,
Strong John" was sure to be after
them with . strap or the birch. Yet,
It Is said, his boys went out into the
world strong, manly fellows. and many
Of them whom he whipped the hard
est-having reached mature manhood
when Mr.. Thomson died In 1879.
praised him the loudest. He was
buried In Glenwood Cemetery.
One Of the greatest events In the
history Of the Washington public