School Teachers

Samuel Fitch 1626-? worked as a teacher in Hartford, CT between 1650-1655.

Cynthia (Powell) Lathrop 1793-1853 taught school in Richford, VT prior to her marriage in 1815.

Henry Lathrop 1817-1903 son of Cynthia above, in 1839 secured a position as a teacher of a subscription school, and after following this 5 months he had saved $100.  IN the winter of 1840 and 1841 he again engaged in teaching in Lawrence County, IL.  Rachel Laws attended the common school of that period, taught by Henry Lathrop, who fell in love with his pupil and married her.

William Lawrence 1865-1912 Wayne Co., IL 1900

Mary (Fee) Barnes 1875-1945 music teacher in Lawrence Co., IL 1900 - During her young womanhood Mrs. Barnes taught music and throughout her life was vitally interested in good music. One of her greatest joys was to have friends in her home for an evening of music and singing.

George Stine 1879-? Lawrence Co., IL 1900-1934, later became a United Brethren minister

Harry Peters 1884-? was listed as a school teacher in the Clark Co., IN 1910 census.  He gave it up to become an insurance salesman.

William Lathrop 1885-1948 Lawrence Co., IL 1910.  Mr. Lathrop was formerly a school teacher and was best known for his ardent church work throughout the county.  He had been most recenlty interested in the project of consolidating the several school districts in his community in an effort to give rural children better educational facilities.

Bill Lathrop at Salem School ca. 1980

Perna Stine 1885-1973 Lawrence Co., IL 1910, Gilbert, MN in 1920, teaching college at Minot State University in Minot, ND earning $1800 per year.

Harry Lathrop 1887-? University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1920, he had moved to University of Wisconsin-Madison by 1930 eventually he came to Illinois State University and taught in the Geology Department.  A scholarship is available in his honor.

Maynard Butler 1891-1913 he was one of Wayne county’s young and successful teachers, having received his education in this county and at the State Normal at Normal, Ill.

Albert Lathrop school photo

Leafy Lawrence 1901-1982 Wayne Co., IL 1930+

Albert Lathrop 1906-1971 He taught in one room schools for 24 years and in consolidated schools for 20 years, the past five at the Aden grade school.  He taught at Sims and at the old Scrub Hill, Keenes and No. 9 schools, among others.  He had a great concern and love for children and enjoyed teaching them.

Elizabeth Speer 1906-1985 completed two years of college and taught school in Oldham Co., KY 1930 prior to her marriage to Pete Abney.

Ivy Braddy at Oak Grove

Ernest Johnson 1909-1995  Wayne Co., IL 1940, Mr. Johnson was a retired farmer and school teacher and a World War II veteran.

Susan (Johnson) Sundholm 1913-? Wayne Co., IL 1940

Ivy (Johnson) Braddy 1903-1988 taught at Oak Grove and probably other schools in Wayne County. Retired spring 1970. 

Gail Lathrop 1925-2003 He was a social science teacher at Beecher City from 1950 to 1954 and from 1955 to 1958 at East Richland High School.  He was ERHS guidance director from 1958 to 1959 and East Richland Community Unit District guidance director in 1960.  He was principal at ERHS from 1961 to 1965.  He was academic dean at Olney Community College from 1965 to 1968.  He was vice president and Dean of Instruction from 1968 to 1969 at Olney Central College, president from 1969 to 1975 and instructor of American History Political Science and Sociology from 1975 to 1985. 

Norman Gentle 1929-2014 taught at one room schools Screamer & Frog Pond, Woodlawn Grade School and Ina Grade School.

Bonnie (Lathrop) Holler taught 3rd grade at the American International School in Dhaka, Bangladesh for five years.

Bill Lathrop 1936-2007 Berry Grade School 1958-1959, Oak Grove Grade School 1959-1971, Opdyke- Belle Rive Grade School 1971-1992

Trixie (Erkman) Lathrop teacher’s aide in Wayne City kindergarten and art teacher Orchardville Grade School

Dorothy (Lathrop) Utley

Phil Utley 1941-2013 earned his Doctorate in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky and began his career as a research professor with the University of Georgia at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton in 1970.  He became the head of the Animal Sciences Department and in 1996 he was named Assistant Dean of the University of Georgia Tifton Campus as the director of the Coastal Plain Experiment Station until his retirement in 2001.  Of this time with the UGA-Tifton Campus, Dr. Utley felt that "he was blessed to work with some of the finest people in the profession.

Jackie (Holler) Hogue taught 5^th grade at Marine Grade School

Shawn Utley, teacher and coach Coffee County High School, assistant principal Turner County Middle School, principal Turner County Elementary School, vice president Moultrie Technical College, interim president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

And Then There Were None

Revised 5/6/2020