The Hon. S.H. Feigley, mayor of Rock Falls in 1941, wrote an article that year for the Daily Gazette about the Rock Falls High School. His article follows.
The Class of 1890 was the last one to graduate (in 1891) from the old high school building. This building was an old two-story wood structure that had been moved there years before from lots one and two, block 14, Merrill's addition to Rock Falls. It was commonly known as the "Sandhill School." Lots one and two were directly south of the present I.O.O.F. building on the south side of East Third Street
Later this building wsa moved to its present location, brick veneered, and is now our city hall. The present stairway to the council room was then at the north end of the building as was trod by all the graduates up to 1891, as the high school was the upper floor of this building. In 1897 a new two-story school building was constructed, consisting of eight rooms. The high school was the upper northwest room. The principal's office was in the north end of the upper hall. The school library was also in Mr. Maxwell's office. I well remember this fact because in my last year for deportment not up to schedule for the first month (Sept. 1890) I was relegated to Mr. Maxwell's office, where I spent my last eight months, using the long table in front of the bookcase as my desk, and I was also school librarian. Always the "A" class, the class next to graduate, recited in the principal's office.
The class of 1891 had eight members;
Alice Winters married Robert McNeil (May 3, 1893). They were childhood sweethearts. Mrs. McNeil passed on some years ago in Canada. Mr. McNeil is now living in Spokane Wash. Earl Isherwood was originally of the class of 1890, but when Mr. Rosebrook became Rock Falls postmaster, Mr. Isherwood left the school and worked in the postoffice. At the instigation of Professor Maxwell, Mr. Isherwood studied, passed his final examinations, and graduated with us in 1891. Mr. Isherwood was in the railway postal service for years. He married Miss Pearl Capp of Sterling (December 23, 1896). Mr. and Mrs. Isherwood are both living in Sterling.
Will Long, mayor of Sterling at the time of his death, was a member of the class of 1891 but some months before graduation he left school and went with the C.B. & Q. railroad. Samuel H. Feigley married Grace Loomis in 1899. Mrs. Feigley passed on December 1937. Dora Irene Burdick was a member of the 1891 class, but for some cause now forgotten, she did not graduate in 1892. Miss Burdick married John Dow, and both Mr. adn Mrs. Dow are now living in San Francisco.
Of the group which graduated, class of 1891, only three are still living - Mr. Isherwood, Mr. McNeil and myself.
From the Dailey Gasette July 25, 1967
Lida Wagley, Lucy Shirley, Ella Allison, Matilda Lind, Alice Winters, Robert B. McNeil, Earl Isherwood, and myself. Miss Wagley afterwards married Rollin B. Woods. Both Mr. Wood and his wife passed on some years ago. Miss Shirley married a William Terry. They moved to Chicago where Mr. Terry worked for the Chicago street car system. Mrs. Terry passed on a number of years ago. Ella Allison married a Mr. Brown. Mrs. Brown, after becoming a widow, taught for years and passed on not long ago. Matilda Lind married a Will Newton. Both Mr. and Mrs. Newton died a number of years ago.
Illinois - "Our Way"