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From the Oconto County
Reporter –History of Little Suamico 1969-70
I believe written by
Alice Koehne
The One-Room Schoolhouse
Closely
associated with St. John’s is the Cottonwood Schoolhouse, not only because
many of the same persons were organizers of both, but also because the
school building now serves the church as a parish hall.
As with the
church, the settlers organized a school before a building was available
to house it. The beginnings of the School District No. 4 goes back
to 1892 under the leadership of Henry Koehne, director of the school board;
Obediah Ferdon, clerk and Alex Zoeller, treasurer. For the first
few years, the scholars met in Ferdon’s home on county trunk S to learn
their three “R’s” under the tutelage of Gusta Jacques. Ferdon received
$4 a month rent for the use of his home and the school teacher was paid
$30, out of which $10 went for room and board. Until August of last
year, when it was destroyed by fire the house was the oldest in the school
district. (It had been owned for the last years by the Vincent Larsons.)
Two of the Little Suamico youngsters who attended school there were Mrs.
Ed Allen (Edna DeMaiffe) and the late Minnie Koehne Liebert.
Early in the
summer of 1894, John Virtues obtained 26 signatures on a petition to be
presented to the town board requesting authorization for a school district
to encompass a cited territory. The petition notarized by then Justice
of the Peace William W. Foster, was favorably considered by the board members
Harry D. Whitcomb, Obediah Ferdon and Henry G. Bramschrieber, and school
district No. 4 was born.
A few days
later, on June 9, the new district called its first meeting and again elected
Henry Koehne as director of the board, John Gierke as treasurer, and August
Aland as clerk. So many people turned out for the meeting that the
gathering had to move from the house to the barn to conduct the business
at hand.
The following
summer, the school board contracted Gust Papenfus to build a schoolhouse
on land leased from Asa Foster Sr., (grandfather of the present Asa Foster).
For the sum of $490 Papenfus furnished both material and labor, including
seats and desks. Grandfather Koehne donated the blackboards.
By 1905 there
were 48 students enrolled in grades one through eight in the one room schoolhouse.
Some of the boys, their education interrupted while helping their families
become established in a new land, were as old as 18. The task faced
by the young school teachers in handling so many students of varying ages-
in discipline as well as teaching- was formidable, and all for the compensation
of $25 a month. School was held for six months out of each year.
During the
66 years of its existence, Cottonwood had 34 teachers all of women with
the exception of Willard Allen who now serves as mail carrier for the village.
The roster reads as follows:
Gusta Jacques,
Rose Touchette, Vira McGinnis, Ester Minian, Pearl Trechette, Kathryn Herald,
Laura (Johnson)Virtues, Ida (McDowell) Herbert, Clarice Roy, Lenore Kehl,
Kathryn Noonan, Mrs. Gertrude Larson, Ethel Armstrong, Georgia LaVigne,
Berna Berman, Mrs. Violet Laduron, Muriel (Coopman) Hicks, Willard Allen,
Mae (Young) Koehne, Bernice (Krueger) Bergh, Mildred Murphy, Margaret Rabe,
Mary (Whitcomb) Papenfus, Helen (Carey) Daul, Alice (Lorang) Koehne, Adella
(Berth) Pagel, Patricia (Young) Mathey, Margaret (Jahnke) Sarvick, Anita
(Ward) Kennin, Alice Thome, Nora Johnson, Caryl (Leigh) Hazen, Janet (Jensen)
Reed, Mary Ann Otrodovec and Laurell LaCount.
During the
tenure of one of the early teachers, a tree planting was carried on around
the new school, each student responsible for planting and caring for one
cottonwood. Not all the new trees made it, and the first sapling
to die was the one planted by Margaret Virtues. When Margaret herself
died soon after, the students read into this an ominous significance and
became keenly interested in the survival of their particular trees.
Most of the
trees grew and flourished, however, and in 1919, when the school board
began searching for a name they decided on Cottonwood Grove School.
Early in 1960
the last class met at Cottonwood school. The following year District
No. 4 became part of the Oconto Falls school system and Cottonwood
went the way of most of the one-room country schools which have been closed
in the past decade.
It was however,
rescued from oblivion when the congregation of St. John’s church bought
the building at a cost of $801 from the Oconto Falls school district.
The one-time school house was extensively remodeled inside and out and
has become an attractive and serviceable parish hall.
Souvenir - District Number Four
Little Suamico, Wisconsin
1906
Vire McGinnis, Teacher
School Board.
August Brendemihl, Director
John Foster Clerk;
Peter Weber Treasurer.
Names of Pupils
Lena Luebke, Jake Brendemihl,
Tom Brendemihl, Fred Ruiter, Vivian Kohne, Ida Reiter, Viola Ingram, Mabel
Hornbrook, Walter Hornbrook, Emma Luebke, Ella Bauman, Marnie Ferdon, Mary
Brendemihl, Erwin Fredon, Obadiah Ferdon, Ella Durand, Grace Virtues, Oliver
Zoeller, Helen Jankauski, Anna Jankauski, Mary Jankauski, Lillian Virtues,
Klimer Jankauski, Alex Zoeller, Clyde Williams, Ross Williams, John Virtues,
Chester Ferdon, Elmer Ferdon, John Weber, Will Ferdon, Joe Jankauski, Willard
Hornibrook, Adeline Zoeller, Francis Zoeller, Louisa Virtues, Margaret
Virtues, Edward Durand, Leona Ruiter, Floyd Ferdon, Arthur Ferdon, John
Zoeller, Ormie Virtues, Otto Luebke. |
Please
click on each photo for a larger view.
1906
|
 Back
Row—L to R: Elsie Ferdon, Vivian Koehne, Grace Virtues, Everal Papenfus,
Margaret Virtues, Tillie Brendemuhl, Laura Johnston (Teacher), Russell
Moore, Jake Brendemuhl. 2nd R: Ethel Richard, Dorothy Virtues, Mae Papenfus,
Lucy Brendemuhl, Jack Brendemuhl, Gopher Moore, -- Lindsley, Alex Zoeller,
Ruben Plouff, — Lindsley. 3rd R: Myrtle Plouff, lola Papenfus, Olive Virtues,
Beatrice Papenfus, Beatrice Koehne, Myrtle Brendemuhl, Art Brendemuhl,
Louis Ward, Frank Ferdon, Henry Koehne, Carl Ward, Art Richard.
1915
|
Unidentified boys
|
Unidentified girls
|
Left to right-Back to
Front: Betty Geano, Johnny Zoeller, Lucille Foster, Isobel Zoeller, 2nd
Row: Lucille Geano, Arliss Foster, Spike Ferdon, Gerry Foster, Gloria Zoeller.
3rd Row: Hulda Friedman, unknown, Helen Foster, Bill Friedman, Elaine Foster,
unknown. 4th Row: Gene Foster, Earl Koehne. Last Row: Dan Koehne, Gordon
Papenfus, Elmer Lade, Helen Friedman, Erma Lade.
1930
Teacher May Young
|
Front Row: Marvin Durand,
Lucille Pleckman, Ruth Durand, Florence Peters, Gloria Zoeller, Ruben Pleckman,
Lillian Stephenson, Gertrude Zoeller. Second Row: John Zoeller, David Donahue,
Rudolph Retatty, Betty Geano, Lucille Geano, Lucille Foster.
1935
|
Front Row: Norbert Lepinski,
Billy Gokey, Donald Laabs, Lester Blan, Angeline Lepinski, Mona Matravers,
Second Row: Robert Laabs, Elva Durand, Gertrude Zoeller, Bernard
Lepinski, David Stephenson, Fred Foster, Phyllis Friedman. Third Row: Wesley
Durand,
Marvin Durand, Neal Eichman,
Lillian Stephenson, Ruth Durand, Velma Blan.
1940
|
Lower Grades 1942-43
Patsy Gokey, Margaret
Larsen, Bobby Laabs, Donald Laabs,Jim Virtues, Raymond Ostrenga, Roy Laab,
Bobby Gzonka, Lowell Virtues, Celtus Laabs, Frank Gzonka.
|
Upper Grades 1942-43
Wesley Durand, Marvin
Durand, Joan Grzonka, Neil Eichman, Phyliss Friedman, Eva Durand, Dorethy
Grzonka, Teacher Adela Berth, Billy Gokey, Fred Foster and Jerome Pansier.
|
Playing Outside 1942-43
|
1942
|
Field Trip 1942-43
|
Eighth Grade Graduation
1944
Adella Berth, Marvin
Durand, Phyliss Friedman, Neil Eichman, Jerome Pansier, Wesley Durand and
Fred Foster
|
Left to Right:
Ronnie Joachim, Nancy Barrett, Roy Laabs, Bernadine Ostrenga, Bill Koehne,
Lowell Virtues, Marilyn Barrett, Bob Grzonka, Glen Virtues, lone
Durand, Frank Grzonka, Helen Eichman, Karen Joachim, Raymond Ostrenga,
Eddie Eichman, Bob Laabs, Donald Laabs, Jack Koehne, Jim Virtues, Cletus
Laabs.
1945
|
 .
Row: Lowell Virtues,
Ione Durand, Ray Ostrenga, Marilyn Barrett, Cletus Laabs, Helen Eichman,
Donald Laabs, Nancy Barrett; Mrs. Tuome. Second Row: Gerrie Foster, Mary
Koehne, Bernadine Ostrenga, Audrey Larsen, Virginia Jankowski, Ruth Thome,
Elaine Jankowski, Susan Vincent, Georgianna Pyrek, Marge Koehne, -- Vincent,
Gerald Vincent. Front Row: Al Barrett, Bill Koehne, -- Vincent, Eddie Eichmann,
Glen Virtues, Roy Laabs, Jim Ostrenga, Fred Koehne, Bill Walla.
1948
|
Front Row: Marjorie Koehne,
Bernadine Ostrenga, Mary Koehne, James Ostrenga, Virginia Jankowski, Audrey
Larsen, Elaine Jankowski, Albert Barrett, Danny Koehne, Geraldine Foster.
Back Row: Carol Plouff, Ruth Thome, lone Durand, Nancy Barrett, Marilyn
Barrett, Sherry Plouff, Mrs. Thome, Roy Laabs, Glen Virtues, Edward Eichman
William Koehne, William Walla, Fred Koehne. Absent-Robert Grzonka
1949
|
 Christmas
Program
(right photo)
Dan Koehne, Al Barrett,
Ken Krueger, Ted Schultz, Richard Grzonka, Ronnie Ostrenga, Bill Foster,
Judy Koehne, Diana Wilbur, Laurie Krueger, Sharon Matuszewski, Jean Koehne,
Anna Larsen, Pat Matuezewski
1953-54
(Left photo) Back Row: Billy
Walla, Mary Koehne, Billy Koehne, Bernadine Ostrenga, Carol Plouff, Elaine
Jankowski. 3rd Row: Jim Ostenga, Fred Koehne, Kenneth Krueger, Billy Foster,
Albert Barrctt, Audrey Larsen. 2nd Row: Judy Koehne, Jean Koehne,
Jackie Plouff, Sharon Laabs. Front Row: David Grzonka, Laurie Krueger,
Patsy Matuszewski, Richard Grzonka, Anna Lee Larsen . |
David Grzonka, Laurie
Krueger, Ted Schultz, Diana Wilbur, Patsy Matuszewski, Sharon Matuszewski,
Jim Ostrenga, Sharon Laabs, Ken Krueger, Dan Koehne, Ron Ostrenca, Mary
Koehne, Elaine Jankowski, Richard Grzonka, Judy Koehne, Anna Larsen, Audrey
Larsen, Billy Foster, Jean Koehne, Allie Barrett, Gerrie Foster, (Standing)
Delia Wilbur, Miss Ward, Margie Koehne.
1954
|
Front Row: Ronald Ostrenga,
James Barrett, Gerald Matuszewski, Billy Gronka, David Grzonka, Sharon
Matuszewski, Patsy Matuszewski, Second Row: Richard Grzonka, Jean Koehne,
Anna Lee Larson, Judy Koehne, Billy Foster, AIbert Barrett, Danny Koehne,
Dennis Deaton, Third Row: Mrs. Kennin, Diane Deaton, Marjorie Koehne, Sharon
Laabs, Billy Zachow, Elaine Jankowski, Audry Larsen, Gerrie Foster.
1955
|
Back Row:Bill Foster,
Allie Barrett, Danny Koehne, Bill Zachow, Gerrie Foster, Sharon Laabs,
Diane Deaton, Mary Frisque, Mrs. Hazen 2nd Row: David Grzonka, Raymond
Frisque, Dennis Deaton, Richard Grzonka, Ruth Frisque, Jean and Judy Koehne,
Anna Larsen. 1st Row: Ronnie Ostrenga, Gerald Matuszewski, Jim Barrett,
Patsy and Sharon Matuszewski, Darlene McGraw, Christine Grzonka, Shirley
Ostrenga.
1956
|
8th Grade Class Trip
1956
|
Back Row: Laurell LaCount
(Teacher), Jim Gatz, Shirley Ostrenga, Pat Matuszewski, Sharon Matuszewski,
Christine Grzonka, Carol Mundt, Billy Grzonka, Jim Barrett. 2nd Row: Kim
Kolberger, Robert Benedict, Gary Kaminski, Anthony Frisque, Chris Kolberger,
Jean Ann Pagel, Cecila Frisque, Busier Matuszewski. Front Row: Paul Koehne,
Gary Friedman, Roger Friedman, Jim Koehne. Nancy Friedman, Bonnie Mundt,
Darrel Mundt, Randy Pagel, Cindy Mundt.
1961
|
Last Cottonwood Picnic
May 31, 1961
Teacher Laurel LaCount
School Board:
O.G. Virtues
H. J. Koehne
William Page;
|
Cottonwood Grove Reunion
Commitee 2002
Gerrie Foster, Judy Koehne
Boyce, Sherry Plouff Kamps,
Audrey Larsen Hanes,
Marge Koehne Sutrick,
Marilyn Barrett Bramschrieber,
Margaret Larsen Follett
(absent)
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