Home    Print    Login   

Washington School (District 24), Nemaha County, Nebraska

This school was located about two miles northwest of Johnson and operated from about 1884 until 1956.  It seems to have played a big part in the lives of my Snodgrass ancestors.  According to A History of Nemaha County Laura Snodgrass taught there in 1874.  The history goes on to tell us in that year she taught 120 days for a total salary of $165.

While going through an old suitcase full of pictures and other memorabilia handed down from my grandmother, Carletta (Thomas) Snodgrass, I found a Washington School “Souvenir Class List” for the 1896-1897 term and a photograph.  As can be seen in the picture below, the “Souvenir Class List” tells us that T.E. Snodgrass was the director of the school board and Ward, Gertrude, Elsie, Ohmer [sic], and Roy Snodgrass were all students.  (This is the only place I’ve ever seen the name Omer spelled Ohmer.)  Omer, Roy, Elsie, and Gertie were the four oldest living children of Thomas E. and Emma (Starr) Snodgrass and Ward was the only son of Thomas’s brother, Price Lafayette Snodgrass.

Washington School Souvenir – 1986-1897
[Click on above photo to open a new window with a larger copy.]

The photograph shows what I take to be 46 students and their teacher.  On the back my grandmother had written: “Omer's school at Lincoln Grove by Johnson” and “Omer Roy Elsie Gertie Bunt.”  Bunt (Blanche) were the fifth oldest living children of Thomas E. and Emma (Starr) Snodgrass.  So, the question is – are all five of those children in this photo or did all five of them attend Washington school at some time?

I’m pretty sure Omer is standing in the back row, third from left and Roy is standing in the back row, 7th from right but I’m unable to identify any of the others.  If you can identify anyone in the above photo please drop me an email and I’ll add caption data.

Washington School circa 1899
[Click on above photo to open a new window with a larger copy.]
[Very large file!]

If we assume all five of the children are in this photo we can also assume the photo would have to have been taken between about 1899 and 1900.  Any earlier and Bunt would not have been in school, any later and Elsie, Roy, and Omer would probably have graduated eighth grade and no longer attending this school.