West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 162 by Charlie Miller

- The first recorded graduating class of West Jefferson High School was the Class of 1883, which contained seven members.

James Chase Hambleton- After James graduated, he spent from 1890 to 1900 in Chile, South America, teaching. During that time, he married Sara Paulson, and they came to America in 1900. He became a nationally known naturalist and the first president of the Columbus Audubon Society. He served as such from 1913 to 1928 and again in 1935. He died in 1938

- Frank W. Hoe – He became a Broker for a grocery in Columbus, His father was born in Berlin, Germany. Frank died in 1929 and is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery.

- Alice McNeal – Alice was the daughter of Jacob McNeal, the carriage maker. She married James Longman in 1888 and was widowed by 1910. Alice was still living in 1950.

- Hattie Seymour – She never married, she retired as a secretary for a railroad company. She died in Franklin County in 1958, age 94 years.

- Anna Beach – She was the daughter of John Noble Beach, who was commissioned as Surgeon of the 40th O. V. I. during the Civil War. She married Charles A. Shinn June 14, 1887, he was a clerk in the Paymaster’s Office of the H. V. T. Ry. She was a member of the D. A. R. She died in June of 1943 in Florida.

- Clara Slagle – She was employed as a stenographer and died in 1908 in Prairie Township, Franklin Co.

- Emma Burnham – Between 1884 and 1892, she taught school at the old Union Schoolhouse that was located in what is now Garrette Park. She was the daughter of Lester Burnham. On July 23, 1895, she married Fred W. Thomas, a traveling salesman. He died in 1925, and she died in 1956.

School Commencement.

The first commencement exercises of the West Jefferson High School were held at the School Hall last Thursday evening. The Hall was nicely decorated with evergreens and was well filled with friends of the graduates and the invited public. The class motto was “Palma nonsine pulvere,” made of evergreen. The program is rendered as follows:

Music—Song—Welcome by class

Prayer—Rev. Thomas

Music—“Beautiful Starlight”

Salutatory—Oration-- Emma Burnham continued the next series.