Belmont History

Belmont

Transcribed and submitted by Steve Rose

BELMONT

The Belmont Community, once about 4 miles west of Russell, was a hub of activity for residents. Early accounts indicated the main attraction for students at the school in early times was to watch the covered wagons and prairie schooners passing east and west along the dirt trail that is now U.S. Highway 40. At times a dozen or more wagons would pass during the day.

A few of the earliest names in the Belmont Community were
Jon Rouback & wife (children Hannah, Hilda, John, Solomon, Emil)
Charles Kimble & wife (he's credited with organizing the Russell Band)
John Kimble
John Olson
Pete Olson
Ole Olson
Rev. John E. Wilson
Fred Flyr & wife
Louis Flyr (son of Fred)
Ben Flyr (son of Fred)
Clyde Cook
Harry J. Reiff
Elsie (Olson) Miller
Nellie (Peterson) Cooper
Gertie Flyr
Bertha (Cook) Harris
Ethel (Pierce) Sullivan
Mrs. Close
Mrs. Silas Perkins
Mrs. Nils Peterson
Claude Sprague
Will & John ...
Gus Olson
John Jacobs
Clifford C. Olson
Mrs. Louise (Dockendorf) Palmer
Bert C. Olson
E.W. Voorhis
Mrs. Emma (Laubmann) Griffin
A.V. Olson & wife
John Olson & wife
N.P. Olson & wife
John Brown Jr.
Duke Neil
Mrs. William Smith
Mrs. Mary Ann Lindsay
John Mills
Mrs. Mary (Mills) Little
Walter Cook
Mrs. Cassie (Kenyon) Dockendorf

Teachers at Belmont School over the years:
Mrs. Evans
Mrs. Roxanna (Hall) Newcomer
Mrs. Maye (Lindsay) Cook
Guy Lindsay
Mrs. Opal (Lindsay) Ehrlich
Mrs. Mary (Mills) Little
Miss Elizabeth Brown
Carl Olson
Miss Hazel Barber
Mrs. Minnie (Olson) Carter

At a homecoming at Old Belmont School in 1951, with the following in attendance:
Mrs. Lizzie Opdycke
Mrs. Francis Johnson
Mrs. Mary (Mills) Little
Mrs. Emma (Cook) Bailey
Mrs. Andrew Olson
Harry Johnson
Mrs. Christian Graf (county superintendent of schools)
Mrs. Mabel Plumber
Aug V. Olson

The settlement and school building have since been torn down.