A little over ten years ago a Professor T. E. Gideon (since deceased) summed up the early history of the Doe Run school in the following words:
"From an early date the people of Doe Run Settlement were interested in education. Before public schools came into vogue, or were legally recognized, the children of the township went to school in the Pendleton Church house, where geography was taught from maps by a singing process.
"Before the Civil War a frame house was erected two miles northwest of the present town of Doe Run. A teacher of some local reputation, by the name of Miss Georgia Ann Mason, taught in this house, even during the war. Soon after the war this frame house was sold, and what was known as the Barry school house was built of logs. In this building Miss Martha Wilborn, later Mrs. Skewes, taught for a number of years. She introduced the study of grammar and geography, along with 'Readin', 'Ritin', and "Rithmetic.' Miss Wilborn was the first graduate of Carleton Institute.
"This log school house was torn down and replaced by a part of the Doe Run system. This Barry school was located three-fourths of a mile north of the present high school. The frame building was burned in 1895. It was never rebuilt, not being needed on account of the growth of the town of Doe Run."
Memories seem to be at variance regarding the first teachers, for Professor Gideon said Miss Georgia Ann Mason was the first teacher, while others say that Mr. Govro was the first. Perhaps the discrepancy comes about with the misunderstanding of the meaning of "first." Actually, Miss Mason appears to have had that honor. Mr. Govro apparently was the first to teach in the frame building built in 1879 which, incidentally, was built by Mr. Govro. When the teaching staff was increased to two members it was by the hiring of J. S. Wood. This was shortly after 1879. We are informed that this was a private school, which was followed shortly by a grade school building and this appears to be the first public school. It was in this school that A. H. Akers taught for several years.
Up until the year 1913 the grade school building served for all public school purposes, including the teaching of two years of high school. In 1925 an auditorium and gymnasium were added at a cost of $10,000.
The Doe Run school system is divided into two sections--six years elementary work and six years high school. The present high school enrollment is 100 and the total enrollment for the whole system is 200. This year 10 pupils were graduated from the high school and it is estimated that a total of 150 have been graduated since 1913. The faculty is made up of eight teachers--four for the high school and four for the grades.
The high school building has five class rooms, and an auditorium and gymnasium with a seating capacity of 300.
Outstanding in athletics this year was the girls' volley ball team, which took the county championship and took first place at a tournament held at Ste. Genevieve. It also defeated the champions of Reynolds County in a private game. Players included Co-captains Alma Wright and Minnie Eva Kassabaum, Lois Starnes, Alma Kassabaum, Flora Mae Matthews, Marrietta Bam, Catherine Morgan and Jessie Irene Porter.
Faculty members are listed below with qualifications and experience for each of the high school teachers and years of experience in this school for the elementary teachers:
Superintendent C. L. Raglan, teacher of commercial subjects and agriculture, received his B.S. in Education degree in 1924 at Southeast Missouri State Teachers College at Cape Girardeau and has done graduate work at Washington University at St. Louis. He is also a graduate of commercial subjects of Moothart Business College at Farmington. He has been superintendent of Doe Run for five years and served formerly as superintendent at Herman, Mo. for five years. Prior to his work at Herman he served for six years as principal of Esther High School.
Grant E. Rickard, principal and teacher of science and mathematics in the high school, received his A.B. Degree in 1934 at Washington University at St. Louis. He has also done graduate work at Southeast Missouri State Teachers College at Cape Girardeau. He has been with the Doe Run school for four years.
Fred Lesh received his B.S. in Education degree in 1935 at the Southeast Missouri State Teachers College, has been here three years, and teaches social science and physical education.
Miss Mae Hennrich, English teacher, received her B.S. in Education degree in 1938 at Southeast Missouri State Teachers College at Cape Girardeau. She has taught at Doe Run for four years and taught formerly in rural schools.
The principal of the grade school is Fred Bourgeois, who teaches the 5th and 6th grades, has been with the Doe Run school nine years and taught formerly at Desloge. He has studied at Southeast Missouri State Teachers College and also at Flat River Junior College.
Grade school teachers include the Misses Ahleda Gruner, 4 years; Alma Steiner, 4 years; and Mrs. Imogene Adams, 1 year. Mrs. Adams is the music teacher.
The information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to MOGenWeb to make it available online.