Week 44 - Rural - Isham/Sheridan

Edythe Mae Isham was born Aug 11, 1905, in Middleton, Gratiot County, Michigan. She was second born of six children of Archie and Florence (Vickery) Isham. The six children were Pauline, Edythe, Kendall, Maynard, Corrine and Gerald.

Edythe, along with her older sister Pauline was a teacher in rural one-room schools beginning in the 1920's in the Gratiot County, Michigan area.

Edythe had done her schooling at the Michigan State Normal School located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Now Eastern University, she received her diploma to teach in 1924.

Graduation Announcement Michigan State Normal School

She taught in a number of small, one-room schools. Hoxie school was located on the east side of Begole Road in the Elm Hall/Sumner township area. There she lived with the family of a student (one time with the Perry's and another with the Hnetynkas) and would walk to school each morning.  The district had a school board made up of four members and at the end of each month, she would have to walk to each member's home to have them sign her 'timecard' in order to be paid. 

In the winter there was ice in the water bucket at school, a pot belly stove to be stoked for warmth and she not only taught all grades but often had older boys who were twice her size. Edythe was very small and stood less than 5 foot tall. She was a good sport and once or twice had a frog or a cricket in her chair or a desk drawer.

After teaching at Hoxie, she also taught at Johnson school, Dobson school in North Shade township, Bridgeville in Washington/Fulton township and also in Perrinton school.

Hoxie School

Hoxie School - celebrating Thanksgiving

Otto School - Edythe Isham (back row with X)

Her fiancé Glen Carson had asked his friend Mike Sheridan to come along on the drive to take Edythe back to Lansing to catch the train to Ypsilanti. Edythe broke the engagement and on November 30, 1928, she and Mike went to Bowling Green, Ohio and were secretly married. Since she had already signed a contract to teach that school year, they lived apart until the school year ended. Back then in rural areas, many felt that teachers should not be married and should leave the jobs open for single women.

During her few years off from teaching Edythe and Mike had a daughter Pauline born May 19, 1935. Mike worked at the Borden's Condensery in Perrinton. As school districts became more open to married women working, Edythe began teaching again.

In 1946/1947 school year she taught in Perrinton, Michigan at Fulton School. Here is her class picture (33 students!) that year. If you look closely on the left side of the picture, you will find her.

Perrinton School 1946/1947 school year

Between 1947 and 1950 the small family moved to Keego Harbor, Wayne County, Michigan where Edythe taught in the public school system there and Mike worked for General Motors. After a total of 38 years of teaching, Edythe retired to Bonita Springs, Florida where she and Mike enjoyed their final years.

Uncle Mike was my mom's oldest sibling (my mom was the youngest) and she had told me many times that Aunt Edythe was always a part of her family - as she and Mike had married when mom was only four years old. 

Barbie

Mike & Edythe 1928






Comments

  1. Anna K.October 29, 2025 at 10:24 AM

    Interesting read. :) I am related to your Isham ancestors via marriage (going back in your tree to Isaac Isham and Abigail Lumbert).

    ReplyDelete
  2. BarbieOctober 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM

    Hi Anna - always happy to make contact with family.

    ReplyDelete

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