List of Onslow High School Graduates

TEACHERS WITH LENGTHY SERVICE Grace Maple 25 years, 1890-1915 Miss Estelle McCune 23 years Miss Matie Johanna Harms 42 years, twenty-two in rural schools and twenty years in Onslow and Midland, 1944-1964, when she retired Mrs. Mabel Streeper Gearhart 44 years, four years in Madison Village District near Center junction, forty years in Wyoming, Onslow, and Midland until she retired in May, 1970 Mrs. Mildred Streeper Dreibelbis 45 years, four years in rural schools, 41 years in Onslow and Midland beginning in 1929 and retiring in 1971 Walter Wagner served Onslow as superintendent for ten years Mrs. Ava Streeper Bramer was secretary to the Onslow School Board for fifteen years

THE GRACE MAPLE AWARD Howard Hall, a former resident of Onslow and Cedar Rapids, is the donor of a scholarship to high school graduates of Onslow since 1952 called the Grace Maple Award, because of his great admiration and respect for his first teacher. From 1952 through 1960, this scholarship was given to the senior of the graduating class with the highest scholastic rank of the Onslow seniors. After the Onslow school became a part of the Midland District in 1960, this scholarship has been administered through the Onslow Presbyterian Church. Since that time it has been presented to the senior of the graduating class who is a member of our First Presbyterian Church and has the highest scholastic rank of the Onslow area seniors. Graduates receiving the Grace Maple Scholarship Awards: 1952 Kathleen Moran 1953 Warner Wasson and Janet Wagner 1954 Carol Stickley 1955 James Chaplin 1957 Alice Larkey 1958 Leland Hodoval 1959 Robert Holst 1960 Leland Haring This was the last class to graduate from Onslow High School.

The first school taught in Onslow was not a public school, but a very select or private one taught by Miss Addie Walters of Clay Mills, during the fall and winter terms. She would be a great aunt to Bill Walters, head of Walters Lumber Company, formerly Kennedy Lumber Company of Wyoming. She was paid for her services by the parents of the pupils whom she taught.

The first public school was taught in the spring of 1872, by Miss Sadie Doxsee, in a building located at 301 Summit Street, now incorporated as part of that residence. At that time the school district was a part of the sub-district No. 3 of Wyoming Township. At an election held June 13, 1874, the Independent District of Onslow was organized. Then, by vote of the electors, at an election held on July 3, 1874, the consolidation of the Onslow school district was completed. The school was started by the erection of one room and located on the ground just southwest of the residence at 102 Second Street. (On the southwest corner of 2nd Street and Anamosa Avenue.) In 1878 a second room was added and from this date two teachers were required to properly instruct the children in the fundamentals of education.

Later, part of the school was used as a barn and was torn down in 1946. The other part was moved, used as a residence, and eventually torn down with the lumber being used in constructing another residence.

A modern two story frame building was constructed in 1898. A third teacher was added to their faculty. Provision was made for four rooms to make allowance for increased enrollment and another teacher could be added without delay.

In 1890, Onslow had its first graduation class of eleven members. According to previous records the next commencement was held in 1900 with students completing the eleventh grade. In 1911, the twelfth grade was added with Mr. B. S. Moyle as superintendent teaching all four grades.

Graduation exercises were held in the IOOF Hall until 1918. From 1918 until 1925 students were required to go a high school of their choice to finish the twelfth grade and receive diplomas. Some went to Wyoming, Monticello, Anamosa, Maquoketa, or elsewhere. Again in 1926 till 1960 commencement exercises were held in Onslow. Music was added in 1929. Horse drawn school buses were used to transport students to and from school.

About 1920, the rural district of Defiance Hill consolidated with Onslow. About the same time the south upstairs room was finished for use as an assembly and classroom. Domestic science and manual training were added as elective subjects and athletics, a special activity. Baseball was enjoyed and basketball was played on an outdoor court after the four o'clock dismissal. Indoor basketball games were played in different buildings around town. Bonds of $36,000 were voted and passed in 1936 to erect a new building, then this one was torn down.

In 1936, a new building replaced the 1898 building at a cost of $24,000. It was a P.W.A. project. This consisted of a home economics room and manual training room in the basement. Grades were housed on the first floor and high school on the second floor. We were also privileged to have a school gym for the first time and inside modern rest rooms.

In 1957, a one story addition was extended to the south at a cost of $53,000. It has been used for elementary grade purposes. After reorganizationin 1960, the north part has been used as a Junior High Center. At that time the high school was moved

to the Wyoming building and the Onslow Independent District became part of the Midland Community District. This district included Center Junction, Onslow, and Wyoming in 1960. In 1963, Monmouth voted to join Midland. The Midland name was selected as it identified the Midland Branch of the Northwestern Railroad that had formerly served the area.

The last rural school to close in Jones County was the Spencerville District in 1966-1967. This district then became a part of the Midland District. Hazel Bearinger had been the teacher for twenty-two years. With the closing of this district Miss Bearinger then became the second grade teacher in the Onslow center of the Midland District.

Onslow School Superintendents 1888-1960

1888 - 1889J. J. Billingsly 1889 - 1890J. D. Hullinger 1890 - 1891J. M. Davis 1891 - 1892F. E. Felenocker 1892 - 1893A. L. Franklin 1893 - 1894J. C. Magee & John E. Cameron 1894 - 1895A. W. Albertson 1895 - 1896Dan R. Perkins 1896 - 1897Fred Williams 1897 - 1898W. C. Cummings 1898 - 1899L. Buchanan 1899 - 1903C. D. Walrod 1903 - 1905Frank Fowlie 1905 - 1906Hugh Mossman 1906 - 1907R. W. Fellows 1907 - 1908C. E. Williams 1908 - 1909G. W. Dunham 1908 - 1911B. S. Moyle 1911 - 1912Mr. Evans 1912 - 1914Ruth Spooner 1914 - 1915Earl T. Crane 1915 - 1916Mr. Keyes 1916 - 1917T. Lyle Joseph 1917 - 1918Ralph Bone 1918 - 1919Mr. Foster 1919 - 1920Glenn Bailey 1920 - 1922Guy Stutzman 1922 - 1924Ethel Koon 1924 - 1928Mr. Bowser 1928 - 1929H. E. Irons 1929 - 1934J. M. Macualay 1934 - 1936Ralph Collister 1936 - 1937Keith Lemon 1937 - 1943Arthur F. Pottle 1943 - 1946Wilson Briggs 1946 - 1956Walter Wagner 1956 - 1957E. A. Heland 1957 - 1960Ralph Rogers

The Onslow School District was consolidated into the Midland School District beginning with the 1961 school year.

Onslow High School Songs

Loyalty Song We're loyal to you, Onslow High We're scarlet and black, Onslow High We back you to stand 'gainst the best in the land For we know you have sand, Onslow High Rah! Rah! So on to the front, Onslow High For that is your stunt, Onslow High Our team is our fame protector On boys; for we expect a victory from you, Onslow High!!! Last but not least...this song was sung with gusto and raucous delight at pep rallies before important basketball games. The teachers and superintendent would watch with a bemused look on their faces. Nowadays, this song would not be permitted in the school!!! Beer, Beer, For OHS Beer, Beer for old Onslow High Shake up the cocktails, bring on the rye, Send some sophomore out for gin And don't let a sober teacher in . . . Oh, we never stagger, we never fall, We sober up on wood alcohol Loyal sons of OHS go staggering to the bar for more Rah! Rah! So much for the civilizing effect of education!

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Last updated on Friday, 16-Apr-2021 16:56:11 MST