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REMINISCENCE NO. 3.
FROM: H. IMES
Ironton Register, March 16, 1899

Editor Register:
In about 1843 we were attached to the Ballard School District on Solida and the next two terms of school I attended were in this district. The teachers were a Mr. Keith and John S. Kelvey. Mr. Keith was a cripple, and had to use a crutch, but he could almost jump across the school house at one bound, when he saw a pupil in mischief. My recollections of him as a teacher are not very favorable towards him; but are just to the reverse for Mr. Kelvey. A more kind, indulgent and competent teacher could not be found. “Kind words can never die, no never die.” What a soothing and cheering influence they leave with us during a life time. The following are some of the names of pupils who attended these schools: Stephen, Isaac, Nancy and Eliza Ballard, Caleb and Med Arthur. There were several more families, Jacob and Samuel Bowman, Silverthorn, Croly, Dunn, Grogan and others who patronized these schools. All the schools I attended to 1846, were subscription schools; each scholar’s parents paying so much per scholar from $1.00 to $2.00 per term of three months.

Most of the settlers at that time were of very limited means, and to raise this small amount of money, was quite a burden to them. But they worked and skimped to raise this small amount, realizing the importance of a limited education at least, for their boys and girls. It was no unusual occurrence to see men of good business ability sign their name with a cross. I remember of hearing father tell of a Mr. Jim Thomas who lived on the river not far above Ironton. He followed keel boating and later on steam boating, and he did not know how to read, but could calculate the amount of a freight bill as quickly as anyone.

It seems like an Herculean task, our forefathers undertook when they resolved to make this vast wilderness, what it is today. Sixty years ago it was almost an unbroken world of dense forests, and today they have nearly disappeared. Orchards, meadows, vineyards and fields of waving grain, have taken their place. Hills and dales are dotted over with comfortable dwellings, which now appear in the place of the rude cabins of ye olden times. Churches and school houses in proximity, are found nestled on these hills and in the valleys; and are attended by a wide awake, progressive population quite a number of them being descendants of the first pioneers of that locality.
H. Imes. Imes, Kans. March 12, 1899.