Kester School TeachersNo dates and very few of the names of the teachers have been found before 1860. Caleb Parvin-This name was often used in tales of both school and singing school. A possible date for his teaching would be the fact that he was personal friend of James Masters, who was a miller at the Dreibelbis Mills in 1835-1837. Children came from that locality to the schools on the hill. Thus he may have boarded with the Masters. His home was at Maiden Creek in Bucks County.Hannah Kester- Daughter of Joseph Kester, who built the first schoolhouse, taught at this school.Ruth Kester-Sister to Hannah Kester, was also a teacher. She later married Jackson Robbins. These girls were of the first generation of Kesters born on the Hill. Jackson Robbins- Teacher and music teacher at the Kester School. After marrying Ruth Kester, they established a home in Bloomsburg, later in Jackson Heights of Berwick. Rachel K. Eves-Granddaughter of Aaron Kester, Sr., who lived in the original Kester home. She was the daughter of Charles and Sarah Kester Eves. Mary Ellen Kester-Who was born in 1825, died 1914. She was the daughter of Aaron Kester, Sr. She was born and raised in the original Kester home. Jennie Fruit-1860-1861. Sister of Dr. Fruit of Jerseytown, later Buckhorn. Resigned by request. David Appleman-Finished above term Rachel P. Eves-1861-1862-Rachel married Amos Heacock, he was a school director while she taught. Mother of Laura Heacock Davis, who later taught at Ikelers. Sarah L. Eves-1821-1864, A Greenwood Seminary teacher. Had a certificate to teach from William Burgess, County Superintendent of Columbia County Schools. This certificate was doubtless one of the first issued in Columbia County. Will Burgess was her teacher in the Millville Seminary before he became the Third County Superintendent. He was also one of the first higher education teachers in the country. Pricilla Eves-1864-1865-Sister of Sarah L. Eves, boarded at A.J. Ikelers. Her sister Sarah L. Eves quit teaching to keep house for their father, their mother having died. Kate Betz-1865-1866 Sade Betz-1866-1867- These three sister’s names have been put in Betz places but possibly not in the right order Sallie Ikeler-a subscription school. These schools were held after the regular school had closed in the spring. She later married William Gingles of Jersetytown. Emma Jane Manville-1867-1868. Foster child of Betsy Fairman, raised as a sister to I. M. Dennen on the Dennen farm. She married Henry Potter, a carpenter and lived at Hughesville. James Keeler-1868-1869 Mary Betz-1869-1870 Jane Nixon- Born June 27, 1846, died May 10, 1926. Subscription school. Her father was Robert Nixon. Paxton Kline-1870-1871-He married Teressa Kester and after her death married her sister, Alvaretta Kester. Araminta Heacock-A subscription school. Daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Ikeler Heacock. She married Haines John of Millville and went west. Marianna Burgess-1871-1872. Daughter of William Burgess, first teacher at Greenwood Seminary and third county Superintendent of Columbia County Schools. She boarded at the home of Aaron Kester. Her brothers, Ed and Charlie, came for her in snowy weather and took her home for the weekend on theirhandsleds. She became ill and Hixon Christian, one of her large pupils, finished the term for her. Hixon Christian-After finishing the term for Marianna Burgess, he taught a subscription school. Afterwards he was a successful teacher in the Township. He died in 1897 of pneumonia, while teaching school at Candy, now Millertown. He was the grandson of William Ikeler. The subscription school taught by Hixon Christian was the last term in the old or Kester Schoolhouse.
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