Washington Elementary School Second Graders, 1959-1960

Margaret Ellen (Ewing) Osting's class

St. Mary Grades 3-4, 1964-1965

St. Mary Grades 3-4, 1962-1963

Teacher in top left photo is Margaret Ellen (Ewing) Osting

Burney School 4th Graders

Margaret Ellen Ewing's 4th grade class at Burney School, early 1940's

Burney School 4th graders in the 1940's

This photo was taken in the early 1940's.

Back of photos says, "Burney School Group. 4th graders"

Class photo at Washington Elementary School

Back of photo says, "Linda Burnett 3rd Grade 57-59 Washington School."

1955 class photo

Unlabeled class photo, c. 1955

Washington School 3rd graders, 1958-1959

Third grade class, Washington School, Margaret Osting's class, March 1959

Margaret Osting's 3rd grade class, Washington School

4th grade boys, Burney School, April 1942

Love those facial expressions!

Mabel Rohlfing's 1957 4th grade class

Clarksburg class photo by C. B. Harrell

The back of this photo is stamped, "C. B. Harrell, Photographer, Clarksburg, Indiana."  Probably taken c. 1900.

Calvin B. Harrell was born in 1870. He married Alice (Allie) Higgins on 31 August 1892 in Franklin County. In 1894, he became a postmaster in Sandusky, Clinton Township, Decatur County. 

In 1910, Calvin and Allie lived in Fugit Township, where Calvin was a jeweler. Later, they moved to Greensburg, where he worked as a watchmaker. He never listed himself as a photographer in the census.

Calvin died in 1951; his wife in 1958. They are buried in the Hopewell Cemetery in Richland, Rush County.

Sources: U.S. Census records for 1910, 1930, and 1940; Appointments of U. S.  Postmasters, 1832-1971. Accessed on Ancestry.com

Fourth grade girls, Burney School, 1942

Fourth grade girls, Burney School, 1942

Frances Applegate's class, 1929

Frances Applegate's 4th grade class in Greensburg, 1929

West End School 

Jerman School Sixth Graders, 1958-59

From top-

Row 1: Jim Miller, Linda Young, Steve Konzelman, Melita Hancock, Bob Thompson (?), Susan Young, Mike Storms, Carol Stewart Woods

Row 2: Jane Smyser Howard, Jim Small, Carol Jane Sheese, Richard Richardson, Nancy Robbins, Robert Ray, Bonnie Roberts Holzbacher, Patrick Ewing Osting

Row 3: Larry Hunter (?), Gail Page Wildman, Mike Holbrook, Jerilyn Cummings (?), unknown, Betsy McKay, Alan Barnett, Karen VanOsdal

Row 4: Beverly Lay, Maurice Amy, unknown, Rick Acra, Beverly Niles, Dixie Schoenke Osting, Sally Thornburg Grenz, Teresa Tetrick

Thanks to Lou Alexander, Linda Gibb, Carol Jane Koutz, Bob Melcher, Jim Miller, and Sally Ann Thornburg Grenz for identifying most of the kids in this picture!

If you can identify anyone, or see a mistake, please leave a comment or email losting@greensburglibrary.org.

Mabel Griffin's class, Adams, Ind.

Written on the back: "Mabel Griffin Adams Ind."

According to the census, Mabel Griffin was born c. 1900, the daughter of Douglas and Fannie Griffin. 

Teachers who made a difference: Lillian Knox

Back of photo says: "Old West Blding. 1954, Miss Lillian Knox, teacher"

Last week, when I posted about Elinor Platt, I asked readers to name their favorite Decatur County teacher. The response was incredible! Thanks for all your feedback and for taking a moment to share your appreciation for the teachers who made a difference.

Lillian Marie Knox was nominated four times as a favorite Decatur County teacher. Lillian was a lifetime resident of Greensburg, born 3 June 1913. She attended Ball State University, and received her degree from Butler. During her 41-year teaching career, she taught at Letts and Greensburg. She passed away in 1986, at the age of 73.

Julie Westhafer Hanmer said, "I just remember that she was an amazing person to me and made 1st grade a place that was full of love and learning and not at all scary. She was a teacher and I had been waiting soooo long to have one of those so I was sort of in awe. She had a schedule in her class and all sorts of incredible things for us to do and she some how kept us all under control! It was just the perfect introduction to formal education!"

Barbara Jacobs said Miss Knox was a spectacular teacher who made a huge difference for her:

"Lillian Knox was my first grade teacher at Billings Elementary during the 1966-67 school year.  My memory of that time is a little sketchy because I was very ill with encephalitis and was hospitalized for quite a while at Riley Hospital.  I was in a coma for a period of time and forgot many things.  Miss Knox retaught me many of the skills that I had learned before my illness and was most likely the reason that I was successful in school despite the illness.  I remember her as being very patient and kind.  Billings Elementary had many great teachers, but I owe her a lot for taking the time and dedication it took to make sure that I did not fall behind my classmates."

Was Miss Knox one of your favorite Decatur County teachers? 

Please share your own memories of her in a comment below!

Source: Lillian Knox obituary, 12 June 1986, Greensburg Daily News

Burney High School, 1950

Top row, L-R: Charles R. Israel, Patsy Avonell Cook, Nick Anderson, Jane A. Hawkins, Dale C. Bottom, Bonnie J. Lonaker, Edward Smith
Middle row, L-R: Roberta Ann Sanson, Clement B. McIntosh, Carlos Elliott, Gail Simmonds, David L. Meyer
Bottom row, L-R: Jack Wilson, S. Boyd Todd/Principal, Jack P. Joslin/Sec.-Treas., William E. Elliott/Pres., Bud Williams/Vice-Pres., Marie D. Shannon/Sponsor, Oscar Wullenweber