Mellette County, South Dakota
County & Town History -
School District 6 & 9
School District 6 & 9
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School District 6 and 9
Written by Mr. Earl L. Liggett
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
In May 1914 I moved my family consisting of myself, my wife, and two children of school age from Gregory, South Dakota to our homestead in the northwest part of Mellette County near the Farley post office and store.
There were several more families with school aged children in the vicinity and when fall came we were confronted with the fact that we had no school. As this territory was all in the White River Town District, we went to White River to see about a school. The school board informed us that they would get us a teacher if we would furnish the building. Buildings were scarce in that part of the country. Mr. Clarence Farley, the man who operated the store and post office, owned some large cottonwood trees down on the Big White River. This was six miles north of the store. Mr. Farley, Mr. Harbaugh and myself cut and hauled the logs and built a log building 18 by 18 for a school room.
The White River board furnished us with some seats and sent us a girl to teach our school. Her name was Bessie Gapen and her folks lived over by Stamford. This was about ten miles north on the north side of the Big White River. The teacher's wages were $50 a month. The names of the children who attended that first school were Milford Liggett, Helen Liggett, Delbert Harbaugh, Lucille Harbaugh, Evelyn Harbaugh, Dorothy Harbaugh, Theador Schamber, Earhart Schamber, Opal Schamber, Alma Schamber, Carrie White Horse, Norvel and Knute Bass.
That winter we had a very progressive Literary Society and had some lively debates, as there were some very good debaters in that neighborhood. We held meetings two times a month and each night the little old log schoolhouse was filled to overflowing. Everyone came for miles around to get in on the fun.
The second teacher was Mrs. Guy Harbough who lived in the vicinity on a homestead. The next teacher was Chesty Baker. Her parents lived on a farm east of the town of White River. During this year we got busy and organized townships 44-31 and 45-31 into the Schamber School District No. 6. At this time Earl L. Liggett, Leslie Leek, and Peter Schamber were chosen as school board members. Two schools were located in this district. One was on the southeast corner of NE 1/2 Sec. 20, 44-31 and was called the Liggett School and the other was situated on the SE corner of the NW 1/4 of Sec. 33, 45-31 and called the Big White River School. These schoolhouses were built new according to state specifications.
The first teacher in the Big White River School was Guen Liggett. His wife, Anna Liggett, taught the Liggett School. In all these schools including the log school we held eight months of school with the exception of the Big White River School whose teacher, Guen Liggett, was called to the army the last of March and did not get to finish his term.
Now quite a few families had come into the townships of 44-32, 45-32, and 44-33. These were in the extreme northwest corner of Mellette County, still unorganized, and still in the White River School District.
I had sold my original homestead in No.6 and having an unproved homestead in Township 44-32, I moved on it to build and prove up.
As this was still in White River District and had no schools, we proceeded to organize Township 44-32 and 44-33 into the Liggett District No. 9. At one time we operated three schools in District No. 9 with an enrollment of about 60 pupils. For a long time there has been no school in this district as there are only five families in the district and they have no school age children.
The first school board members in District No.9 were Earl L. Liggett, James M. Srb, and Mrs. Edward Keaser. These were members for years. I was a school board member continually from the time Schamber District No. 6 was organized and later District No. 9 until I left Mellette County in 1948, about 34 years.
During the war years when everybody was raising money for the Red Cross, we had quite a number of excellent home talent plays at the Liggett School. These were all well attended. The homesteaders were very loyal in helping to put on these plays and they were all a success.
Now this territory is all taken over by large ranches. In the territory comprising Schamber District No.6 and Liggett District No.9 there is only one school operating and it is located on the southeast corner of SW 1/4 of Sec. 17, 44-31, Schamber District No.6.
Written by Mr. Earl L. Liggett
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
In May 1914 I moved my family consisting of myself, my wife, and two children of school age from Gregory, South Dakota to our homestead in the northwest part of Mellette County near the Farley post office and store.
There were several more families with school aged children in the vicinity and when fall came we were confronted with the fact that we had no school. As this territory was all in the White River Town District, we went to White River to see about a school. The school board informed us that they would get us a teacher if we would furnish the building. Buildings were scarce in that part of the country. Mr. Clarence Farley, the man who operated the store and post office, owned some large cottonwood trees down on the Big White River. This was six miles north of the store. Mr. Farley, Mr. Harbaugh and myself cut and hauled the logs and built a log building 18 by 18 for a school room.
The White River board furnished us with some seats and sent us a girl to teach our school. Her name was Bessie Gapen and her folks lived over by Stamford. This was about ten miles north on the north side of the Big White River. The teacher's wages were $50 a month. The names of the children who attended that first school were Milford Liggett, Helen Liggett, Delbert Harbaugh, Lucille Harbaugh, Evelyn Harbaugh, Dorothy Harbaugh, Theador Schamber, Earhart Schamber, Opal Schamber, Alma Schamber, Carrie White Horse, Norvel and Knute Bass.
That winter we had a very progressive Literary Society and had some lively debates, as there were some very good debaters in that neighborhood. We held meetings two times a month and each night the little old log schoolhouse was filled to overflowing. Everyone came for miles around to get in on the fun.
The second teacher was Mrs. Guy Harbough who lived in the vicinity on a homestead. The next teacher was Chesty Baker. Her parents lived on a farm east of the town of White River. During this year we got busy and organized townships 44-31 and 45-31 into the Schamber School District No. 6. At this time Earl L. Liggett, Leslie Leek, and Peter Schamber were chosen as school board members. Two schools were located in this district. One was on the southeast corner of NE 1/2 Sec. 20, 44-31 and was called the Liggett School and the other was situated on the SE corner of the NW 1/4 of Sec. 33, 45-31 and called the Big White River School. These schoolhouses were built new according to state specifications.
The first teacher in the Big White River School was Guen Liggett. His wife, Anna Liggett, taught the Liggett School. In all these schools including the log school we held eight months of school with the exception of the Big White River School whose teacher, Guen Liggett, was called to the army the last of March and did not get to finish his term.
Now quite a few families had come into the townships of 44-32, 45-32, and 44-33. These were in the extreme northwest corner of Mellette County, still unorganized, and still in the White River School District.
I had sold my original homestead in No.6 and having an unproved homestead in Township 44-32, I moved on it to build and prove up.
As this was still in White River District and had no schools, we proceeded to organize Township 44-32 and 44-33 into the Liggett District No. 9. At one time we operated three schools in District No. 9 with an enrollment of about 60 pupils. For a long time there has been no school in this district as there are only five families in the district and they have no school age children.
The first school board members in District No.9 were Earl L. Liggett, James M. Srb, and Mrs. Edward Keaser. These were members for years. I was a school board member continually from the time Schamber District No. 6 was organized and later District No. 9 until I left Mellette County in 1948, about 34 years.
During the war years when everybody was raising money for the Red Cross, we had quite a number of excellent home talent plays at the Liggett School. These were all well attended. The homesteaders were very loyal in helping to put on these plays and they were all a success.
Now this territory is all taken over by large ranches. In the territory comprising Schamber District No.6 and Liggett District No.9 there is only one school operating and it is located on the southeast corner of SW 1/4 of Sec. 17, 44-31, Schamber District No.6.
Grouped at the entrance of Iburg School are from left in the back row, Fred Ellwanger, Alma Manke, Virginia Skinrood, Hilda Ellwanger. In the second row are Bill Ellwanger, Rudy Ellwanger, Irene Manke, Velma Leek, Esther Manke, and Rose Manke. Standing in front are Raymond Schamber, Evelyn Schamber, Dorothy Schamber, and Fred Iburg. This picture was taken during the 1931-32 school year. Mrs. Skinrood was the teacher.
In 1952 this picture was taken of the teacher and students at Big White School. Shown in the back row from left, Mrs. Coffee, teacher; Ralph Kriege, Midge Kriege, Dorothy Vollmer, Very Kriege, Kenneth Vollmer, John Vollmer, Robert Kriege. Front row, Larry Buxcel, Gerald Vollmer, Gladys Vollmer, Jerry Vollmer, Loray Vollmer, and Marvin Buxcel.