Emma Parsons, my husband's grandmother, came to David City, Nebraska to teach school following her graduation. She married Jacob Gans Ross in 1888. At her death in 1896, her obituary stated she graduated from high school in Columbus, Ohio, on June 26, 1884 with high honors and prized her diploma very highly. Research to prove this statement resulted in the following list, taken from the COLUMBUS DISPATCH OF 26 June 1884. The list also indicated who gave orations, and the topic, along with descriptions of some of the young ladies' costumes.
Emma Parsons gave an oration titled "Bad Bread" and she work Persian lawn, with Swiss embroidery and ribbon. There were 50 girls and 17 men who graduated.
Graduation ceremonies were held at Comstock's Opera House, with prayer by Rev. Francis E. MARSTEN of the First Presbyterian Church.
ALEXANDER, Maud (wrote words to class song; oration)
ARTHUR, Jennie
ASTON, Katie
BELT, R.E. (male)
BORTH (BORTLE), Emily
BROWN, Alice L. (soprano solo of "Magic Waltz")
BUCHSEIT, Amelia
BURR, Jessie
CHAMBERLAIN, Jennie (Valedictorian; oration)
CLARK, Hattie
COMSTOCK, S.H. (male)
COMSTOCK, Theodore B. (Salutatorian; oration)
DAY, Rudolph
DENT, Maggie
FANKHOUSE, Lou
FERRELL, L. Minnie (oration)
FRAMBES, J.A. (male)
GARNER, Marian
GARWOOD, Bessie
GATCH, Etta
GLENN, Jessie
GORDON, Addie
HAIG, Kena
HAMMOND, Jennie
HARRISON, Nannie
HATCHER (THATCHER), Nellie
HOFFMAN, Laura (piano duet with C. Spohr)
HOLTON, H.S. (male)
HOPPER, Flora
HUGHES, D.F. (male)
JELLEFF, Jessie
JUDGE, James F.
JUNKER, Louise
LACEY, Kate M.
LUM, Henry W.
McCLOUD, Emma
McCONNEL, Edward
McDONALD, Muiton
McGUFFEY, Josey/Josephine (oration)
McKIM, Jessie
MILLER, Effie
MILLER, Tella
MOLER, Etta
MORIN, Auda
NEIL, D. Birney (male)
OCHS, Wilhelmina
PALMER, Julia
PARK, Howard C.
PARSONS, Emma (oration)
PRICE, Mamie B. (oration)
PRICE, S. Ada (oration)
PRYCE, Lollie
REED, Sadia
REICHARD, Minnie M. (oration)
ROBINSON, J.F. (male)
ROSS, Eudora
SCHILLING, Jennie
SCOTT, Carrie
SPOHR, Clara (piano duet with L. Hoffman)
SULLIVAN, Josie
TALBOT, Ben
THATCHER, see Hatcher
TROTT, Emma
WAGENHALS, Lincoln A. (oration)
WILLIAMS, Allen W. (oration)
WILLIAMS, mea
WILLIAMS, Sarah
* Joanna Harmon Ross, 805 N. 5th St., David City, NEB 68632
Submitted by Don Ort at [email protected] on 11/03/98.