Just to remind everyone -- Charlotte's "Pearls" are now archived permanently at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/usa_genealogy/mo_newspaper.htm -------------------------------- Jefferson Democrat Hillsboro, Jefferson county, Missouri WEDNESDAY, 30 DECEMBER 1885 OBITUARY - W.H. HENSLEY was born in St. Louis county, Missouri, September 17, 1872, and died at De Soto, December 5, 1885, in the 59th year of his age. Mr. HENSLEY was a well known citizen, having resided for the greater part of is life in this county. In 1853 he married Miss Eliza P. BURGESS, who, with three sons and five daughters, survives him. He was for man years a faithful and consistent member of the Sandy Baptist church; but, after moving to De Soto, transferred his membership to the Baptist church of this city, of which he was a member at the time of his demise. Mr. HENSLEY was truly a religious man. Religion was with him not a matter of form and ceremony, but its truths and themes were the burden of his constant thought and his daily conversation. He knew how to introduce religious topics into conversation, with such an earnest manner and such evident sincerity of purpose, that even the most reckless would listen with respect and the worst scoffer could take no offence. On his death-bed he was visited by his pastor, and in the presence of his assembled family and friends, gave a firm and joyful testimony that the faith he had professed so many years before, was a comfort and supportin death's trying hour. He was buried on the 8th at Sandy cemetery, near the church where he had so often worshiped. The funeral services were conducted by Elder J.M. HENSLEY. In contemplating the life and death of Brother HENSLEY we are tempted to repeat the desire of one of old; "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." De Soto, December 22, 1885. HOUSE'S SPRING - The Rev. John MONTGOMERY is married again. Wm. HELDERBRAN and Susan McDANIEL were married on the 22nd inst. EARLY DAYS - by J.T. McMULLIN - No. 2 - Plattin, Mo., December 25, 1885 - The teacher in the schoolhouse I described last week was named Wm. POTTS. He was a Pennsylvania German, about 60 years of age. On each side of the door were placed two stones, about 1 1/2 feet high; these were called dunce blooks, those on the right being for the use of the boys and those on the left of the door for the girls. On the boys' side hung a pair of leather specks, while the girls' side was furnished with a pair of pasteboard specks. The first offense against the rules of the school was punishable by a ten-minutes stand upon the dunce block, the second by fifteen minutes and the third by twenty. Inside the door hung a paddle, on one side of which was painted "out" and on the other side "in". When one went out he turned the paddle so as to show the word :out" and when he came in he turned it so as to show the word "in." The paddle was supposed to keep a correct record of when a pupil was out, and if one happened to go out and neglected to turn the paddle, woe unto him, for he had to take his position on the dunce block for 20 minutes, with the spectacles on. Our books were Dillsworth's speller, Willson's primer, Introduction to the English Reader and Pike's arithmetic. One half of the school had only the alphabet on pasteboards. As for grammar, we never seen so much as heard of such a book until three years afterwards, when some of us were furnished with Scott's Lessons and the Columbus Orator. After three years, the good people moved the school about one mile down the Joachim creek to another house somewhat like the one already described, never having been provided with a floor. Here we had a new teacher, and in my next I will give you his manner of teaching. While several small boys were playing with pistols, Thursday evening, little Johnny ALRED met with a serious and perhaps fatal accident. A boy, by the name of MARTIN, accidentally shot him, the ball entering the right eye and lodging in the back of his head. Dr. KENNETT was summoned and extracted the ball. The eye is out and the boy is in a critical condition. DEATHS and BIRTHS - The following deaths were filed with the county clerk the past week: Date Name Age December 17 E.B. BECKETT 76 years BIRTHS Date Name of mother Sex October 23 Mrs. F.X. DAHNER girl November 21 Mrs. David E. SMETZER girl December 8 Mrs. Brad BYRD girl December 11 Mrs. William A. SMITH girl December 11 Mrs. L.Y. McCORMACK boy WEDNESDAY, 6 JANUARY 1886 EARLY DAYS - by J.T. McMULLIN - No. 3 - Plattin, Mo., December 31, 1885. Editor Jefferson Democrat: Our Second school teacher was named J. SNIVELY. We used the same books as the previous school and his manner of teaching was similar to that of Mr. POTTS, but his rules were somewhat different. His mode of punishment was striking the hand with a ruler. He taught six months at the place and was succeeded by a man fresh from the Emerald Isle, named GILLESPIE. He gave it to the children right and left, striking wherever he could see a spot exposed; but it was only a short time till he was dismissed. the next teacher was Clifton MOTHERSHEAD, one of the oldest citizens of the county. He was successful as a teacher, and received the approval and commendation of his patrons. He taught two terms at the schoolhouse last named, after which we moved back up the creek, near our old homestead, into a house similar to the one I first described - built of round blackjack logs, with gable end for chimney and no windows; but with the improvement of a rough puncheon floor. Here one of my oldest and earliest friends, William G. WALKER, was employed as teacher. He was then a young man, just from Illinois. He taught several terms and gave full satisfaction. Here the school books were changed, Murray's grammar and Smiley's arithmatic being added to the list. He taught what was called an open school; that is, all the scholars were permitted, in studying their lessons, to read and spell, or calculate, just as loud as they pleased. I am sure that when the time came to study our spelling lesson, we could have been heard half a mile in ordinary weather. Of all the students attending that school I only know of two, besides myself, living, namely Mrs. Sarah BOOTH of Washington county, and old friend, Stewart WILEY of Dry Creek, in this county. </HTML>