Posted on: Jackson County, WV Bios Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/WV/JacksonBios/216 Surname: RILEY, STARCHER, EVANS, MORRILL, PROGLER ------------------------- This sketch taken from "Pioneers of Jackson County", by John House, it appears in the section "Lower Mill Creek". Ripley Schools The first school house was of the type common in the backwoods. About 1833, John Riley taught a school in an old log house on the Cleek farm, just above town. >From 1836 to 1840, Mrs. William Starcher, nee Sarah Evans, taught in one room of her own house, a one story brick, situated on the lot owned by J. C. Hood in 1900. In 1840, money was raised by subscription, and a frame schoolhouse erected on the lot where B. F. Riley resided in 1890. Daniel G. Morrill, a local preacher, and later Clerk of the County Court, was the first teacher. These were all subscription schools, and usually for a three month term. The first free schools were in this house, but in 1869, the Board of Education bought the hotel of Major Progler, which was used as a school house until 1888, when the present building was erected on the same lot.