School Days - Part II

This might seem rather cut and dry but it isn't as easy as it looks. The back of this image identifies the teacher as Burton Opper. The sign the child in the front row identifies this image as taken at the "Dist. No. 4, May 14, 1908". Now, who are the children? From other images I can identify the Michel boy on the far right, the second one with the light colored shirt and jacket on. He has his hand on the little girl in front of him. See him? I didn't recognize anybody else BUT I did find a "Souvenir 1908". It appears to be something akin to a graduation bulletin. According to this B. R. Opper was the teacher at the public school in Port Clinton, Ohio. The school board is James Snider and W. F. Kirk, clerk. (Ugh, can you imagine being addressed as Clerk Kirk.) Now, for the pupils we have:

• Viola Snider (7th grade)
• Lucy McRitchie (7th grade)
• Mable Floro (7th grade)
• Merle Fritsche (7th grade)
• Edward Michel (6th grade)
• Orin Ohm (6th grade)
• Gladys Minier (6th grade)
• Viola Short (6th grade)
• Elsie Juntsch (4th grade)
• Clifton Kirk (4th grade)
• Bertrice Snider (4th grade)
  
• Rosella Gentsch (4th grade)
• Hanna Pauls (4th grade)
  
• Lester Short (4th grade)
  
• Henrietta Whiting (4th grade)
• Elmer Guntsche (3rd grade)
• Carl Minier (3rd grade)
• Emery Short (3rd grade)
  
• George Floro (3rd grade)
  
• John Minier (3rd grade)
• Emma Short (3rd grade)
  
• Thelma Bronkhorst (2nd grade)
• Chester Floro (2nd grade)
• Watson Minier (2nd grade)
  
• Hazel Bronkhorst (2nd grade)
• Elmer Floro (2nd grade)
  
• Eva Short (2nd grade)
• Orilla Whiting (2nd grade)
  
• Stella Cluckey (1st grade)
  
• Wilson Kirk (1st grade)
  
• Emery Whiting (1st gade)
• Luella Guntsche (chart class)
  
• Fay Ohm (chart class)
  
• Sophia Short (chart class)
  
• John Floro (chart class)
  
• Eva McRitchie (chart class)
  
• Ernie Short (chart class)

There are 32 children, 1 adult and 1 dog in the image. There are 37 children listed as students in 1908 so who happens to be missing? I can identify Edward Michel so that leaves 31 other children to identify. I talked to Chuck Whiting at lunch one day and he spotted all three of the Whiting children so that means we have a total of four children identified. (Chuck is the son and nephew of the Whiting children in this image.) Can you spot any other people on the list?

Timeframe: May 14, 1908.

Where It Fits: Lucy & Eva McRitchie are the daughters of John McRitchie & Mary Ransom. Their brother, Burton, married Ada Bisch. Ada Bisch is the daughter of Louisa Leutz Bisch. Louisa is the daughter of Gustav Leutz.

Merle Fritsche is the daughter of Robert Fritsche & Caroline Hopfinger. She is the mother of Mary Cary, Robert & A.J. Leutz.

Edward Michel is the son of Frank Michel & Emilie Fritsche. Emilie Fritsche is the sister of Robert Fritsche, that makes Edward and Merle cousins.

Viola, Lester, Eva & Ernie Short are the children of Chalion Short & Mary DeWitz. Their youngest brother, Alvin, is the second husband of Velma Taylor a.k.a. Velma Johannsen.

Wilson Kirk is the son of Arthur Kirk & Amy Broekley.