Back to School - Who Was In Gt-grandmother Rosa's Class?

I enjoyed looking at this picture from my father's collection. Gt-grandmother Rosa (Shipman) Smalley was the teacher and I recognized my grandmother, Lucie Smalley, as one of the students. However, someone, I don't remember who, provided names for all those in this photo.

back row: Jay Shipman, Ralph Smalley, Edd Wilson, Rosa Smalley, Ellery Wilson, May Wilson, Cecile Sigman

middle row: Bill Kipps, Arthur Sigman, Frank Sigman, Lucie Smalley, Mart Shipman, Bessie Kipps

front row: Celia Smalley, Clayton Shipman, Gertie Kipps, Lillie Wilson, Lake Smalley

I don't know the date this photo was taken, but can give a guess by knowing when each of the Smalley children was born: Ralph - 1884, Lucie - 1886, Lake - 1890, Celia - 1892. From yesterday's post we know Rosa had a certificate to teach at least from 1894 to 1899. If Celia started school at 6, it would be 1898. But since her mother was the teacher, maybe they let her start at age 5 which would date the photo as 1897. So I think probably 1897 or 1898 is the correct date.

Wedding Wednesday--Two Weddings the Same Day

David Smalley  about 1890

      It was in Saline County, Nebraska that my great-grandparents, Lafayette "Lafe" Smalley and Rosa Ella Shipman were married in December of 1880. It was almost three years later when Lafe's brother David Smalley and Rosa's brother Timothy Crawford Shipman were married on the same day, October 1, 1883.

    David Smalley married Carie Beebe and Crawford Shipman married Mary Wilson. They both were married at the residence of Rev. Wm Le Miller in Olive Township, Saline County, Nebraska. David and Carie were witnesses for Crawford and Mary and Crawford and Mary were witnesses for David and Carie. David was the only one who was over 21, so the other three had permission from their parents to be married.