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.

LaCarne Concert Band

Here is another one of those anomalies. I have found two copies, one is printed on a postcard and simply says "Will" on the back. The second is a much larger copy and actually has a list of names on the back. Assuming it is labeled correctly we have in the first row from left to right William Michel, _____ Floro, Lowell Rymers & Bartell Moore. In the second row there is Milton Floro, Burton Opper, Graydon Rymers, John Tettau, Otto Balduff, Forrest Moore & Marion Opper.

Timeframe: There are no dates on either image. The postcard on the back doesn't have postage so I can't date the stamp. William Michel was born in 1888. Lowell Rymers was born in 1891. Milton Floro was born in 1884. Burton Opper was born in 1883. Graydon Rymers was born in 1891. John Tettau was born in 1892. Since the guys look to be in their late teens or twenties I am guessing this is between 1910 & 1920.

How It Fits: William Michel is the son of Frank Michel & Emilie Fritsche. Emilie is the sister of Robert J. Fritsche. Milton Floro is the son of Jacob Floro & Julia Finken. Graydon Rymers is the son of Ruben Rymers & Lavina Kleinhans.