WAUPACA REPUBLICAN POST

June 6, 1912

 

COMMENCEMENT IN 1876.

 

First Commencement Program.

History of First Class to Graduate at Waupaca Written Thirty-Six Years Ago

 

            This week on Thursday and Friday evenings, the class day and commencement exercises will occur at the opera house and the class of ’12 will have passed its first milestone. As this will be the last class to graduate from the old high school, it may be interesting to our readers to have a brief account of the first graduation from the Waupaca High School, which was held June 16, 1876, in Stetson’s Hall.

            Seven young men and three young women on that night received diplomas signed by David Parish, president, P.A. Chesley, secretary of the school board, J.G. Daves, principal of schools and C.W. Packard, County Superintendent.

            Following is the program of the first commencement held here:

June 16, 1876.

            Motto:  “To Live is not enough; we ought to live well.”

Order of Exercises.

            Oration.  The Centennial and its Celebration, Paul Browne.

            Essay.  A Hard World for Girls, Lizzie Chesley.

            Oration.  American Enterprise, Phineas Munger.

            Oration.  Aim at the Sun, least your Arrow Fall Low, Irving P. Lord.

            Oration.  Oliver Cronwell, Murray Weeden.

            Essay.  Twilight Dreaming, Belle Smith.

            Oration.  Success, Julius Nelson.

            Oration.  Commerce, Will D. Parish.

            Oration.  Geology, W.J. Zahl.

            Essay and Valedictory.  Sowing and Reaping, Flora Belle Rich.

            The class history as read by the late Phineas L. Munger, who was a member of the class may also be interesting.  It follows:

Class History.

            During the winter of 1874-75 a course of study was arranged by the principal, J.G. Daves, for the public schools of Waupaca.  About half a score of the most advanced pupils determined to finish the course and graduate at the end of the next year, which they successfully accomplished and thus formed the First Graduating Class of Waupaca Free High School.

            It is my duty as historian of this class to give brief biographical sketches of its members.  By the act it is not supposed that the world will be made wiser or better.  The object is rather to create a class feeling to unite the interests of its members and establish a fraternal relation between them.

            When life’s thread is nearly spun,

            And our work is nearly done,

Let this manuscript be a pleasant reminder of our youthful days of bright anticipations when we wondered what the future would be, then all disclosed.  Then will we compare those anticipations with the real.  Then shall we see the various paths we have trod, and the places we have filled amid the great infinity of beings moved irresistibly towards the end, that other beings of fresh life may take their places to help in the rearing of the Temple of Progress.  Whatever may be our successes be assured that no days will present as pleasant recollections as those spent in the school at Waupaca.

 

 

 

 

            We will now be acquainted with the Alumni in alphabetical order.

Paul Browne.

            Paul Browne was born Aug. 18, 1859 in Waupaca, where at the age of seven he began his educational career.  He has acquired a knowledge of and practice in the “noble art” of printing.  He intends to finish his education at the State University, and is undecided whether to become a printer or a lawyer.  As a lawyer is first pleas which will be preceded by numerous “briefs” will doubtless be to a young lady as follows:  “Please will you have me” etc.

Lizzie H. Chesley.

            Lizzie H. Chesley was born in Waupaca, Dec. 6, 1857.  She began going to school when eight years of age. Her school attendance has been regular with the exception of two terms during which she was engaged in teaching.  She intends to prepare herself for the office of “school main” and will teach a year or so before resuming her studies.  May she prosper.

Irving P. Lord.

            Irving P. Lord was born in Waupaca, Oct. 10, 1858.  When three years old he accompanied his parents on a year’s visit to Vermont.  He began his school days at Waupaca at seven years of age, where he improved them until the year 1866 when he returned to Vermont where he abode two years under his grandmother’s care and then came to his birthplace again, entering the Union School and regularly attended to “commencement”.  Sickness has detained him from his studies but a few weeks.  His employment has alternated between extracting screenings from wheat in his father’s mill and feeding the same to Bramah roosters in the “Riverside Poultry Yards”.  He says the acme of my desires is the study of law.  A University course is in view probably at Appleton.

Phineas Munger.

            Phineas Munger was born in Pleasant Valley, Waupaca county, Jan. 3, 1859.  Owing to distance and other difficulties he did not attend school before the age of eight, but learned his alphabet and first reader in a log cabin.  After attending a country school two terms he moved to Waupaca in time to enter the “New Union School” at its first term.  Since he has attended regularly, having lost but two terms.  Health good; mental faculties strong and brilliant; imagination well developed.  Future course undecided.

Julius Nelson.

            Julius Nelson was born in Copenhagen, Mar. 6, 1858.  Here he suffered several adventures, narrow escapes from being run over or lost in the streets of the great city.  In 1863 he moved with his parents to Scandinavia, Waupaca county, Wis., U.S.N.A.  After two months’ residence he removed permanently to Waupaca. Began attending school at six years of age and steadily rose to the High School while attending which he lost six terms but caught up on reentering.  His employment has been quite diversified.  Cobbling, “Odd Jobs”, and “Yankee Corporation Fiddling” being prominent occupations.  Has worked two summers in a stave, bolt and barrel factory. Takes special delight in science.  Intends to continue climbing at the State University.  Aims at becoming a teacher in as high a sense as possible, and to that end, like the balance of the masculine portion of the class he will study law (Nature’s Law.)

Will D. Parish.

            Will D. Parish was born May 26, 1856, in Waupaca.  He began his educational career at the age of six.  His advantages were not improved as much as they be.  Like Newton he never cared but little for his books.  Mathematics agrees best with him.  He has a fair mental foundation for a good superstructure and will attend the Oshkosh Commercial College.

Belle Rich.

            Belle Rich was born about six miles from the city of Waupaca, Nov. 12, 1857.  In 1862 she moved to Waupaca where she has since resided.  Attending school regularly except one term out of each year for six years.  Health good.  Her present employment is teaching.  Mathematics have been her favorite study.  Future unknown but will depend largely on the fellow who becomes captive to her charms.

 

 

 

Belle Smith.

            And now we will be introduced to a very musical Belle.  Fate tried to conceal her by naming her Smith but fortunately was as unsuccessful as in the case of the Poet Holmes’ youngster.  However, we must not speak lightly of so weighty a subject.  Belle Smith was born four days after Washington’s 127^th birthday, in Lind, Waupaca county.  Began her school days when six years old.  Continued in the district school until 1872 with the exception of one and one-half years attendance at Weyauwega school when she removed to Waupaca, completed the course and honorably graduated.  History most congenial to her tastes; although in Physiology she makes a fair figure.  Intends making music a specialty and will therefore continue developing under the supervision of some renowned professor.

Murray Weeden.

            Murray Weeden was born May 13, 1857 in Lind.  Began schooling at the age of three under the care of his grandmother in the village of Cavandish.  In 1862 he moved to Waupaca, where he regularly attended school until his 14^th year, during which time his natural desires for mathematics were fully gratified.  Only two winters have been employed in school room study since and his thoughts have been scattered in various channels.  His strong and brilliant mind will be educated at some good cottage for a work of future usefulness.

William J. Zahl.

            Last of all we have William J. Zahl, who was born at Springfield, Ohio, Feb. 23, 1857 at 3 o’clock a.m.  Began schooling at Waupaca n 1864. Remained five years at the later place and then removed to Dayton, Ohio, after one year’s stay at Dayton he came again to Waupaca, where he resided to graduation.  School attendance irregular, only seven out of eleven years occupied.  Health good.  Has worked in a Tannery and poultry yard.  Intends ent teaching in Minnesota.  Intends to make law his profession.

 

            The class has as a rule been orderly and obedient at school, striven to promote its interests and obtain an education.  Although in it are no extraordinary geniuses, still the majority possess strong and bright minds, who if they continue the work begun will be ornaments in society and promoters of civilization.

            In religion and morality the members differ more in theory than in practice.  All live lives of comparative purity and uprightness while some are bright lights shedding forth a purifying influence felt by all around in theory there exists a pleasing diversity. Church preferences are:  Baptists 5; Episcopalians 3; one prefers “most any” and one is a heretic.

            The age, weight and height of members is computed to June 16, 1876.  The total age of the class is 1 century, 4 score and 4, 1 month and 27 days.  The average 18 years, 4 months, 29.7 days.  If the members were placed end to end they would stretch 3 rods, 1 yard, 2 feet, 16 inches.  Average height:  5 feet, 6.7 inches.  As the weight of one member was estimated by the cubic yards the aid of solid geometry and a Table of Lograithins and further-more contains an unknown quantity, the weight can only be given approximately:  13 cwt., 24 lbs.  Average:  132.4 lbs plus 10x.

            As to facial and other personal attractions the class compares favorably with other Alumni.  30 per cent of our number being represented by the fair sex, they need no eulogium.  It is to the sterner representatives we turn for subject matter under this head.  On account of their youth but little may be expected.  Sufficient it is to say that each is engaged in cultivating with earnest regard something near 13-1/2 prophetic “pin-feathers” which will one day adorn the epidermis of their superior labials.

            Matrimonially considered the class could not be more variegated.  None are married.  Four intend to marry – one on Leap Year and one “If I get a chance”.  One is somewhat engaged and one is engaged but intends to remain single.  Four are undecided.

            As regards habits:  one smokes and chews, four are temperance, two are total abstainers.  Four use tea and five use coffee.  All use water of three different varieties in the following order a to frequency, well, cistern and surface-water.  This water is applied internally and externally.  As to sleeping the majority have profited by Saxe’s Advice in “Early Rising” and hence they are up when the sun is up.  Altogether the class is as interesting as the youth of most great men and institutions.  At any rate it is as promising and may engage the attention of future generations.

            Let not this codicil be the only means of strengthening the bond of union between the members.  May they know one another by living contact; then will there be a real union and friendship.  May that union never be broken and may that friendship never grow cold.

                                                                                                                                    Amen.