Photo contributed by Barbara The back of the photo reads: Room 4 taught by Lottie leFevre in 1886.
Back row L-R: Ezra Kenney, Paul Johnson, Frank Hoofstitler, Christ Weller, Walter Breidlung, Arthur Davis, Gus Buber, Harry Williams, John Decker and Will Dudley.
Third Row R-L:John Rourk, Will Oyer, Frank Aument, Charles Hoofstitler, Ben Aument, George Beckey, Frank Libby, Romeo B?, Frank Bossler, Oscar Buck and Will Kadel.
Second Row- L-R: Miss LeFevre, Ida Overholser, Nellie Herrman, Mable Lingle, G? Smith, Edith Buzzard, Pearl Capp, Emma Rutt, Sara Hartman, Gerry Green, Carrie Gettel, Teckla Tornrouth and Metra Crand?
Front Row R-Left: Ida Camp, Anna Schimmelpfenning, Kate Buek?, Elsie Wagley, Grace Pfisterer, Hattie Phillips, Lillie Wooley, Li? Wood, Alice Knabe, May Johnson, Polly Hague and Belle Harpe?
In foreground: Charles Over-left, Charles Sprinkel center and right ? Horner.

Second Ward School forms District No. 3, and the school for quite a time was held in a wooden building erected in 1859, on the ground where the present building now stands. The building originally cost two thousand dollars, and with some addition served until 1867, when the noble structure which is now the pride of Sterling was erected. This building is four stories high including basement, and contains eleven well furnished school rooms which will seat six hundred pupils. Its original cost was sixty-five thousand dollars. School was first opened in it on the first of April, 1867, under the principalship of Prof. C. C. Buell, with five assistants. The school has grown steadily since that time, until thirteen teachers have to be employed. The Principals of the school have been successively: Clinton C. Buell, Mrs. S. S. Robertson, Hailan P. French, 0. J. Stowell, M. W. Smith, and Alfred Bayliss. The school is organized into four departments— Primary, Intermediate, Grammar, and High School, the three lower departments being divided into grades. The, time spent in a grade is not fixed, but pupils are advanced as fast as their abilities demand. The High School course covers a period of three years. The first class graduated in 1873, and among them are some of the most successful teachers in that school, as well as in others in the county. The number of scholars now attending the school is over six hundred, filling every room to its utmost capacity. The number of graduates so far have been: 1873, nine; 1874. eleven; 1875, eleven; 1876, sixteen; 1877, nine. The Second Ward has had for sometime a Board of Education, the present one being composed as follows John G. Manahan, Elias LeFevre, W. F. Eastman, Ralph B. Colecord, M. S. Henry, and Sidney T. Osmer.

To show the generous manner in which the citizens of Sterling support their schools, we append the following tables of taxes for school purposes 1865 to 1876 Second Ward :—1865, $8,901,63; 1866, $7,866,38; 1867, $9,574,08; 1868, $12,241,69; 1869, $13,693,69; 1870, $13,751,85; 1871, $13,656,93; 1872, $15,084.79; 1873, $18,536,54; 1874, $15,873,84; 1875, $18,455,79; 1876, $10,221.19

Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County 1877

Third Ward School comprises District No. 8, of the township and was organized in 1866. Until 1874 the departments of the school were kept in three wooden buildings originally erected at a cost of about five thousand dollars These buildings were separated from each other, and caused a great deal of inconvenience. As the Ward grew in population, it was found that new buildings had to be erected for the convenience of teachers and scholars, and in 1874 the present imposing stricture was erected at a cost of twenty-eight thousand dollars, including heating apparatus, wells, fencing, etc. The building is constructed of Milwaukee pressed brick, and situated on Fourth street, between E an F streets, and has a seating capacity for five hundred pupils, every department being now occupied, requiring nine teachers. The rapid growth of the Ward will soon call for more school room. The Board of Directors consists of William A. Sanborn, B. C. Church, and James M. Wallace.

To show the generous manner in which the citizens of Sterling support their schools, we append the following tables of taxes for school purposes 1865 to 1876 Third Ward :—1865, $3,436,16; 1866, $2,760.10; 1867, $4,093,39; 1868, $4,945.26; 1869, $4,759,58; 1870, $3,595,42; 1871, $3,595,42; 1872, $5,121,56 1873, $6,126,29; 1874, $9,861,99; 1875, $15,375,28; 1876, $10,258.77.

Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County 1877

The city was divided into three wards, and each ward was a school district. As the population increased and the city was divided into five wards, the names First, Second and Third Ward schools was incorrect, as district No. 3 included the Second, Third and part of the First wards. The First ward, district No. 7, named their school the "Lincoln School." The Fourth and Fifth wards, district No. 8 called theirs the Wallace School. The board of district No. 3, thinking that eventually there would be but one high school, decided to name the school the "Sterling School." We find no reliable records of district No. 3 until April 1864 when Joseph Golder, A.A. Terrill and L. Vaughn were the directors. Theyw ere the Board when the present large building was erected in 1866 and 67. Prof. C.C. Buell was the first superintendent in the new building, with five lady teachers. He first graded the school, organized the high school, and arranged the course of study. Prof. Buell was succeeded by Sarah Hackett Stevenson, one years, (since noted in literary circles), then Prof. H.P. French, O.J. Stowell, M.W. Smith, Alfred Bayliss, C.H. Crandell, then Prof. Bayliss again, adn the present efficient Superintendent H.L. Chaplin, with sixteen lady teachers and two specials. In 1886 the building was so crowded that it became necessary to have more room, and the new building just east of the main edifice was erected which is used exclusively for the high school. The first class was graduated in 1873, and the present number of graduates is 276. The first Board of Education (Six members) was elected in April 1873. The members of the present Board are Rev. E. Brown, President; John W. Niles, Secretary; C. Burkhlder, J.H. Lawrence, R. Keeney, W.W. davis and W.W. Haskell.

The Sterling Standard December 11, 1896

Edwards Seminary was instituted in 1875, the school year of 1876 attendance of one hundred students, requiring the labor of three teachers.

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