Searching For Ancestors: Grandpa Modrell Fails School?!?! But Wait

I was researching at the Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society Library in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri. They have some great records and I highly encourage anyone who is researching their roots from Northwest Missouri to go and see the very nice and extremely helpful staff of this small library – but don’t let the size fool you because they have records on three levels, however, you need to ask assistance for the records on the top and bottom levels.

I happened to inquire about old school records since both my grandparents on my father’s side went to school in the area. I didn’t know which school my grandpa attended, but I had discovered that my grandma attended Lafayette High School, but didn’t know where she went prior to that.

The Librarian went to the basement and came back with a very large book that says School Record 1921 (written in marker on side), and she informed me it was located on the east side of the basement (in case I want to look at it again). I thumbed through that massive, moldy smelling and fragile old book until I located a page that provided the following information:

School is Ebenezer

Harry Modrell

Age 15

Address is Saxton

Spelling - 57

Reading - 25

Writing - 80

Arithmetic - 55

Grammar - 75

Physiology - 64

Geography - 68

US History - 53

Average - 59 5/8

Remarks - F (Failed)

I was so shocked!! We are taught that our elders know everything – right? I was so intrigued that I had to keep turning the pages to see if he quit school at that point. So, I finally found the following information which answered my question:

School is Ebenezer

Harry Modrell

Age is 16

Address is Saxton

Teacher is Ruth Dyer

Spelling - 75

Reading - 80

Writing - 87

Arithmetic - 89

Grammar - 75

Geography - 83

US History - 80

Agriculture - 81

Average - 81

Remarks – Passed

How awesome is that?!?! He not only continued with his school, but his grades improved immensely (look closely at the reading and arithmetic scores for both years)! I also found a photo in the 1923 Wakitan (the Central High School Yearbook for his Junior Year) of the Mathematics Club - and he is in it!! And that is not all - according to the 1940 US Federal Census, after graduating from Central High School in 1924, he completed two (2) years of college!! I am so excited for him – I only wish he was around to ask which college he went to and what he was studying. Just another record I need to try and find in my quest of Searching For Ancestors…