OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The citizens of La Grange take great pride in the public school system of the town. Our schools are second to none in the state for a town of 1,800 inhabitants. There are eight grades in the grammar schools and two in the high school department, requires ten years' study for a pupil to complete the entire course. Thoroughness has been the watchword of those who during the past half a century have had charge of our schools, and as a consequence the graduates of our high school have gone forth to fill important positions in life without pursuing courses in other schools.
A large and commodious building was erected for school purposes years ago. It contains four large recitation rooms, a principal's office and numerous cloak rooms, besides the large halls through the center.
The board of educations of La Grange has always endeavored to secure only the best qualified men for principal of our public schools. In 1875 Professor Dudley B. Jeter was employed to take charge of the schools. Year after year he was re-elected, till 1885 he was appointed postmaster in this place and resigned from the principalship of the schools to accept the post mastership. He held his position till 1889, when a change of presidents caused a change in post office appointments and Professor Jeter was reelected principal of our schools. This position he has held ever year since excepting the two years from 1893 to 1895, during which time he was principal of the Kahoka public schools.
Dudley Bell Jeter was born at Palmyra, Mo., October 14, 1850, his parents moving to La Grange when he was eight years old. He received his entire education in La Grange college, graduating from that institution in May, 1872. The class contained many other men who become prominent in the world. Among this list may be mentioned Dr. J. P. Green, president of William Jewel college, Liberty, Mo., Hon. R. M. Wallace, of Mesa, Ariz., who for many years was editor of the La Grange Democrat and who became one of the leading journalists of northeast Missouri; Hon. J. M. Wood, once attorney general of this state, and Hon. Samuel Wood, a leading lawyer of Quincy.
Professor Jeter's ability has been highly recognized by the teaching profession throughout the state. In 1884 he was chosen vice-president of the Northeast Missouri Teacher's association, and at their session held at Mexico, Mo., in the absence of the president, Professor Jeter was advanced to the chief office of the meeting.
The secret of his success as a teacher is his sound judgment, power to lead his pupils along in their work and impart his own knowledge to them when they are in need of assistance. As a business man Professor Jeter has been a pronounced success. Conservative, cautious and a good reasoner his judgment is sought by many persons in relation to their business transactions. He owns a number of valuable pieces of property in La Grange and is one of the stockholders in the La Grange Pearl Button Company. Material is now being hauled for the construction of a costly residence on Third street near the Catholic church, and which he and Mrs. Jeter will occupy as a home.
The efficient corps of teachers in the grammar grades of our schools have greatly assisted in making they system what it is. Mrs. Josie Bradshaw-Raines has been a teacher in our schools for more than a dozen years and her services have been highly satisfactory.
Miss Louise Wolff is a young lady of much skill in teaching and for a number of years has been at the same post of duty.
A third teacher is Miss Edda Simpson, a young lady of much ability who has also held a position in our schools.
The above corps of teachers were reelected at a recent meeting of the school board, who by this act endorsed the work of each teacher during the past years.