--Photo courtesy of Glen Majors
Teacher Miss Beulah Majors had 50 pupils, from first grade through eighth grade, under her tutelage in the one-room schoolhouse at Drake Spur for the 1914-15 school year. Drake Spur, now known as Mountain Home, is located 13 miles northwest of Searcy on Highway 16. Shown are (left to right): Back row Ray Farrah, Edith Yingling, Gladys Morgan, May Farrah, Zora Whisnant, Floris Hughes, Prentis Morgan, Loyd McCosh; next row Ireine Marsh, Herma Yingling (right of Ireine), Bessie Myers, Chester Hardcastle, Willis Pate, Jessie Myers, Thelma Morgan, Dahlia Hardcastle, Harry Marsh, Curtis Marsh, Hughie Marsh, Irvin Baker (in front of teacher), Bell Morgan, Beaulah Majors; next row Roy Marsh, Esther Yingling, Walter Smith, Ollie Whisnant (wearing cap), Hattie Hughey, Gertie Davis, Willis Hardcastle, Leonard Whisnant, Jodie Myers and Lester Jarrah; front row Ruby Myers, Marie Marsh, Lena Marsh, Sam Marsh, Jessie Davis, Hubert Marsh, Roy Barger (back of Sam and Jessie).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PHOTOGRAPH
In September 2004, Leister Presley of Searcy, 92, an Honorary Lifetime Member of the White County Historical Society, provided additional information on many of the people in this old photo. He lived in the area and attended Drake Spur School a decade later. He stayed in touch with many, and most likely received information on others from his wife Cloie Presley, who was an important genealogist and historian in White County for many years. Following are Leister Presleys comments, following the sequence in which the students are named in the above caption:
Ray Farrar I do not remember him.
Edith Yingling Married Tim Browner. They had eight children all still living. Edith and Tim are buried in Henderson Cemetery at Pangburn.
Gladys Morgan The Morgan family moved to Mississippi about 1920.
May Farrar I do not remember her.
Zora Whisenant Married a man named Shannon. They had a large family and lived in the Kansas City area. They are probably buried there.
Floris Hughes I do not remember her.
Prentis Morgan The Morgan family moved to Mississippi about 1920. Prentis used to come back and visit people he had known here.
Lloyd McCosh Lived near Bluff Hole. Was a soldier in World War number one. Do not think he ever married. In later years he went to live with his aunt in Oklahoma. Probably buried there.
Irene Marsh I do not remember her.
Herma Yingling Married Clifton B. Marsh. They had six children four still living. Clifton and Herma are buried in Henderson Cemetery.
Bessie Myers Married Curt Bogard. I think they lived in Oklahoma. They probably are buried there.
Chester Hardcastle Died young.
Willis Pate I knew him slightly.
Jessie Myers Married Earl K. Judge Wise. They had Mildred and Earl Dean. They are buried in Henderson Cemetery.
Thelma Morgan The Morgan family moved to Mississippi about 1920.
Dahlia Hardcastle Married Irvin Marsh. They had Hershel and Wencil. Irvin and Dahlia are buried in the Little Rock area.
Harry Marsh Married in Little Rock. He died in early middle age and was buried in Henderson Cemetery.
Hughie Marsh Married Esther Yingling. They had four children. Hughie and Ester are buried in the Little Rock area.
Irvin Baker Was in Oklahoma. Probably buried there.
Bell Morgan The Morgan family moved to Mississippi about 1920.
Beulah Majors I did not know her. (Her son Glen, a director of the White County Historical Society, donated this photograph.)
Roy Marsh Accidentally killed in a hunting accident. Buried in Henderson Cemetery.
Esther Yingling Married Hughie Marsh.
Walter Smith Married Clarice Burgess. They had one son, Elton. Walter and Clarice are buried in Mount Pisgah Cemetery.
Ollie Whisenant Married Curtis Baker. They had four children two are deceased. Ollie and Curtis are buried in Henderson Cemetery.
Hattie Hughey Never knew her.
Gertie Davis Never knew her.
Willis Hardcastle Married Mabel Norman. They lived in the Jacksonville area. They are probably buried there.
Leonard Whisenant A half brother of my grandmother. He was living with my grandparents at the time of the picture. He became a railroad engineer and died just a few years ago. He and his wife had no children. They are buried in the Little Rock area.
Jodie Myers The family at that time did not believe in doctors. He died as a young man and is buried in Henderson Cemetery.
Lester Jarrah Do not remember him.
Ruby Myers Married Adolph Raba. They lived at DeValls Bluff. After her husband died she was living with her sister. That was some time ago.
Marie Marsh Married Earl Purkiss. They are buried in Henderson Cemetery.
Lena Marsh Married Walt Nicholas. They are buried in Henderson Cemetery.
Sam Marsh Second child of L.D. and Gertie Marsh. He is buried in Des Arc Cemetery.
Jessie Davis Barely knew him.
Hubert Marsh Oldest son of L.D. and Gertie Marsh. Do not think he ever married. Buried in Des Arc Cemetery.
Roy Barger Do not know about him.
OBITUARIES
Leister Presley also provided the following obituaries.
HERMA GERTRUDE MARSH (Searcy Daily Citizen June 17, 1987) Herma Gertrude Marsh, 87, of Pangburn died Monday, June 15. Born March 26,1900, she was the daughter of Edward and Mary Whisenant Yingling. She was a retired school cafeteria cook, a member of the Pangburn Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the First Baptist Church of Pangburn. She was the widow of Clifton Bodie Marsh. Survivors include three sons, Kile Marsh of Little Rock, Sherral Marsh of Searcy, and Wayne Marsh of Fort Worth; a daughter, Betty Dunn of Conway; three sisters, Bertha Lewis of Clinton, Esther Marsh of Little Rock, and Connie Patterson of Searcy; 10 grandchildren and eight grand-children. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Pangburn. Burial will be in Henderson Cemetery by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home of Searcy. Pallbearers: Rex Hardcastle, Kent Presley, Arnold Chaney, Earldean Wise, Lee Langley, and Norris Cook.
MARY EDITH BROWNER (Arkansas Gazette, April 8, 1983) Mrs. Mary Edith Browner, age 86, of Pangburn died Tuesday. She was a Baptist. Survivors are five sons, Carl, Paul and Edward Browner, all of Little Rock, H. Dean Browner of Columbia, S.C., and Douglas Browner of Huntsville; three daughters, Marie Kimball of Dayton, O., and Reba Donovan and Wanda Spencer, both of Kansas City, Mo.; four sisters, Herma Marsh and Connie Yingling, both of Pangburn, Esther Marsh of Little Rock and Bertha Lewis of Clinton, and 17 grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Pangburn First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Henderson Cemetery McMcEuen Funeral Home of Searcy. Pallbearers: C.E. Jackson, Gary Doyle, Richard Sexton, Omer Betts, Larry Moore and Junior Baker. Honorary pallbearers: W.B. Bowden, Lee Hawthorne, Sammy Adams, Jerome Browning and Jack Snow.
TIM BROWNER (Arkansas Gazette, September 11, 1981) Tim Browner, aged 84, of Pangburn (White County) died Friday. He was a retired farmer and a Baptist. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Edith Yingling Browner, five sons, Carl and Edward Browner, both of Little Rock, Dean Browner of South Carolina, Paul Browner of Jacksonville and Douglas Browner of Alabama; three daughters, Mrs. Marie Kimball of Dayton, O., Mrs. Reba Donovan and Mrs. Wanda Spencer, both of Kansas City; three half-brothers, Lewis Baker of Little Rock, Talton Baker of Cotton Plant and Irvin Baker of Oklahoma; two stepbrothers, Willie and Curtis Baker, both of Pangburn, and 17 grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Pangburn Baptist Church. Burial will be in Henderson Cemetery by McEuen Funeral Home of Searcy. Pallbearers: Cornell Jackson, Bryant Bowen, Phil Clancey, H.C. Red Stegal, Buzz Ray and Jack Snow.
ESTHER YINGLING MARSH (from funeral program) May 29, 1904 February 1, 1999. Graveside service 1 p.m. Thursday, February 4, 1999, Pinecrest Memorial Park. Clergy officiating Dr. Merle A. Johnson. Funeral conducted by Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth. Esther Beatrice Yingling was born May 29, 1904, to Mary and Edgar Yingling. She married Hughie Edgar Marsh lasted 73 years until Hughies death October 21, 1992. Esther and Hughie were blessed with four children, Venwal who preceded his parents in death, Lloyd, Anita and Barbara. She leaves nine grandchildren, Steven, Roger, Keith, Janet, Laura, Sonja, Andy, Mike and Kathy and seven great grandchildren, Lisa, Lauren, Conner, Justin, Jessica, Kevin and Andrew.
HUGHIE MARSH (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette October 23, 1992) Hughie E. Marsh, 93, of Alexander, a retired dairy farmer, died Thursday, October 22) Graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. today at Pinecrest Cemetery. Arrangements are by Griffin Leggett Funeral Home of Little Rock. Memorials may be made to Mabelvale United Methodist Church. Survivors are his wife, Esther Yingling Marsh; a son, Lloyd R. Marsh of North Little Rock; two daughters, Anita Marsh Tunnell of Little Rock and Barbara Marsh Spears of Benton; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
LEONARD O. WHISNANT (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, October 29, 1995) Leonard O. Whisnant, 92, of North Little Rock, died Friday, October 27, 1995. He was a retired Missouri Pacific Railroad engineer, a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He was a member of the Scottish Rite and the Scimitar Shrine Temples. Mr. Whisnant was Deacon Emeritus of Gethsemane Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Dora Wallace Whisnant. He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth by Reverend K. Alvin Pitt and Reverend Mike Seabaugh. Burial will be at Pinecrest Cemetery.
DORA WALLACE WHISNANT (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette May 17, 1994) Dora (Wallace) Whisnant, 90, of North Little Rock, died Sunday. A homemaker, she was a member of Gethsemane Baptist Church and the Grand International Auxiliary to the brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Survivors include her husband, Leonard; a sister, Mary Nuckolls, and a brother, Clyde Wallace, both of Little Rock, and several nieces and nephews. Services will be at 12:30 a.m. today at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Chapel with interment at Pinecrest Cemetery.
OLLIE M. BAKER (Searcy Daily Citizen) Ollie M. Baker, 100, of Pangburn, died Sunday, September 22, 2002, in Searcy. She was born August 5, 1902, at Pangburn to William C. Whisnant and Frances Elizabeth Whisnant. She was a member of the Mountain Home Union Church. She is survived by two daughters, Helen Presley and Linda Baker, both of Pangburn; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 69 years, Curtis Taker; two sons, Lowell Baker and /Curtis Baker Jr.; and one grandson, Barry Baker. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 24, 2002, at Roller-Daniel Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Henderson Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Mountain Home Union Church. Arrangements are by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home of Searcy.
CURTIS OWEN BAKER (Arkansas Gazette, December 4, 1987) Curtis Owen Baker, aged 91, of Pangburn (White County), a retired farmer, died Wednesday, December 2. He was a member of the Christian Union Church. Survivors are his wife, Ollie Whisnant Baker; a son, Lowell E. Baker of Searcy; two daughters, Helen Presley and Linda Baker of Pangburn; three half-brothers, Lewis Baker of Little Rock; Talton Baker of Cotton Plant and Ervin Baker of Durant, Okla., six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral was Thursday. Burial was in Henderson Cemetery near Pangburn by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home of Searcy.
JESSIE NORA WISE (Searcy Daily Citizen, July 3, 1994) Jessie Nora Wise of Pangburn died Saturday, July 2. Born January 27, 1905, in Cleburne County, she was the daughter of Joseph N. Myers and Martha Jane Wilson Myers. She was a homemaker and member of the Mountain Home Union Church. Survivors include one son, Earl D. Wise of Pangburn; one daughter, Mildred Knight of Little Rock; one sister, Ruby Riba of Lonoke; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted today, July 3, at 2:30 p.m. at Roller-Daniel. Burial will be in Henderson Cemetery by Roller-Daniel Funeral Home.
EARL WISE (Arkansas Gazette, September 29, 1969) Earl Kinsey (Judge) Wise, aged 68, of Pangburn (White County) died Saturday. He was a retired carpenter and was a member of the Mountain Home Union Church. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Jessie Nora Meyers Wise; a son, Earl Dean Wise of Pangburn; a daughter, Mrs. Mildred Knight of Little Rock; a half-sister, Mrs. Reuel Vinson of Pangburn, and three grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Mountain Home Union Church (Rev. Dave Blakey and Rev. Carthel Wyatt officiating). Burial will be at Henderson Cemetery (Pallbearers: Oran Baker, Newel Ray, Oran Ray, Clarence Presley, Leister Presley and Huie Crook.)
MARIE ZULA PURKISS (Searcy Daily Citizen, September 27, 2001) Marie Zula Purkiss, 91, of Pangburn, died September 26, 2001. She was born April 20, 1910, in Pangburn to Ed Marsh and Zula Whisnant Marsh. A homemaker and a Baptist, she is survived by one son, Billy Haile, and two grandchildren, all of Pangburn. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Jewell Haile and Earl Purkiss, one brother and one sister. Graveside services will be conducted today at Henderson Cemetery in Pangburn. Arrangements by Roller-Daniel Funeral home.
EARL PURKISS (Searcy Daily Citizen September 17, 1978) Earl Purkiss, 70, of Pangburn died Friday. He was a retired construction worker and a member of the Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Marie Marsh Purkiss, of the home and a half-sister, Mrs. Minnie Covan of Walker, Missouri. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the East Side Church of Christ in Pangburn. Burial will be in Henderson Cemetery by Daniel Funeral Home.