Columbia City High School Class of 1916

Columbia City Commercial Mail - Friday May 26, 1916
Members of ’16 Class Have Varied Plans

The class of 1916 that graduates from the Columbia City high school next week is one of the youngest ever to receive diplomas here. It comes within one of being the largest class to graduate, the class of 1909 having forty-two members. The average individual age of the members of the ’16 class is 17.2 years, and of their number thirty-eight will go to college, twelve of these having already decided upon the school they will enter. As to the future life work of the individuals in the class, many professions and avocations have been chosen, and if plans are carried through, the class of 1916 should have a wide representation in the future world of industry, business and professions. A short sketch of each student has been prepared, as follows:

• Gail E. Lancaster, aged 17 and son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Lancaster, 330 North Chauncey street, is the class president. He attended school entirely in Columbia City, and plans to enter DePauw University next fall although he is undecided as to his future occupation.
• Robert H. Fagan is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Fagan of this city, and graduates at the age of 17 years. He held the honor of being vice president of his class and will enter the University of Michigan within the next year or so to prepare in medicine and surgery. He obtained all his education to date in the local schools, and was a member of the Senior debating class this year.
• Leman S. Baker, 20, came to Columbia City from Winona last spring to reside with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Baker, of North Elm street, and last fall entered in the Senior class of the high school. His earlier education was obtained in Trumansburg, N. Y., and he will enter Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y., next fall, and make a decision as to his life work within the next two years. Mr. Baker received the honor of being appointed Senior track captain this year.
• Elenora B. DeVine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. DeVine of Etna township, received her preparatory work for high school at Etna, and graduates at the age of 18. She will enter Indiana University next September to take a literary course.
• Edith Jackson, 17, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Jackson, who reside near Lorane. She attended school in Thorncreek township before entering the Columbia City high school, and will take up a course of studies at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., probably next fall.
• Bernice Briggs, aged 17, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Briggs of East Van Buren street. She attended school twelve years in Columbia City, and expects to become a student at Indiana University within the next few years.
• George Albert Burns is the son of Elgia and Elma Burns of Thorncreek township. He was a student at the Johnston school in that township prior to entering the local high school from which he graduates at the age of 19. He will enter Winona Summer school this summer, and will probably take up teaching.
• Carrie Katherine Wetzel, 18, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Wetzel, of North Line street, has received all her education in the Columbia City public schools. She intends to take up book-keeping for a life work, and will enter the South Bend Business college next fall to prepare herself for her chosen occupation.
• Mary M. Yontz, 19, is the only daughter of Guy Yontz of West Market street. She attended school in Columbia City all her life, and has decided to become a kindergarten instructor. She will enter the Chicago Kindergarten school in a few months to take an extended course.
• Willie B. Nichols graduates at the age of 18, and will enter Wabash college next fall, although he has not yet chosen any profession or occupation. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Nichols, Sr., of Thorncreek township.
• Ann Irene Secrist, 17, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Secrist, of North Line street. She prepared for high school in the West Ward grade building and will study at Winona Lake this coming summer, with a view of entering Indiana Universiy later on, where she will take a literary course.
• Naomi Grace Estlick, 18, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Estlick of Troy township, will enter some institution of learning this fall. She received her common school education at the Scott school in Troy township.
• Clarence A. Feist is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. John Feist of this city, and he has held the office of class treasurer for two years. He prepared for high school in the local schools, and has chosen banking as his life work, and expects to enter college within the next few years. He is 17 years of age.
• Mildred V. Crawford, 18, was a student in the local grade schools before entering high school. She plans to enter a higher institution of learning next fall, but is undecided as to her life work. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Crawford of North Chauncey street.
• Cleo M. Coyle received her education in Columbia City and will enter college next year. She is 17 years of age, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Coyle of South Walnut street.
• Ernest Gerkin graduates from the high school after having prepared himself in the common schools of Troy township. He will take up law, but is undecided as to what college he will enter. He is 18 years of age, and the son of Mrs. Ambrose Gerkin of Troy township.
• Laura Keirn, 18, prior to entering the local high school was a student at District No. 10, Thorncreek township. She will enter some college, but has made no decision as to her future occupation. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Keirn of Thorncreek township.
• Ralph Joseph Meyers is 18 years of age, and received his preparation for high school in this city. He will probably enter college this fall. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Meyers of West Spencer street.
• Leo A. Bauer, 17, is a son of George Bauer of this city. He will enter college and take up an engineering course in a year or two, and his education in the common branches was received in the Thorncreek township schools.
• Rex Ball is 18 years of age, and a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Ball, of North Main street. He is undecided as to his life work, but will enter some institution of learning within the next six months. He received all his education in the Columbia City public schools, and was one of those who represented the Senior class in debate this year.
• Edgar Everett Welsheimer, 20, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Welsheimer of this city, and his entire life as a student was spent in this city. He is undecided as to the future.
• H. Marguerite Waugh, aged 18, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Waugh of Thorncreek township, received her common school education in Thorncreek township. She will enter school next winter.
• Esther Grace Brown, 17, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Brown of North Washington street. Her education was received in this city, and she plans to enter a higher institution of learning next fall.
• Nell G. Van Voorst is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Van Voorst of this city, where she received her entire education. She will enter college, but does not yet know just where. She is 18 years of age.
• Katherine Waterfall, aged 18, and daughter of John Waterfall, a prominent local carpentering and building contractor, will enter college next fall. She attended school in this city from the early grades through high school.
• Philip Martin McNear has chosen dentistry for his life occupation, but does not yet know what school he will enter. He graduates from C. C. H. S. at the age of 18 years, has spent all of his life here, and is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McNear.
• Ruth Orner is a daughter of Ex-Trustee of Columbia Township Charles Orner and wife of North Line street. She attended school in the West Ward grade building in this city, and there received her preparation for high school, and it is her intention to enter college within the next few years. She is 19 years of age.
• Edward B. Raupfer, 19, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Raupfer of this city. He prepared for high school in this city, and will enter some university within the next few months.
• Lois M. Rhoads, 18, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Rhoads of Thorncreek township, and prior to entering the local high school, where she spent four years, she was a student at District No. 7 in the above named township. She will enter college next fall, probably at Northwester University.
• Susie A. Rouch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Rouch, is 18 years of age, and spent her early school life in Thorncreek township, where her parents reside. She will take up some line of work in the next four or five years, and plans to prepare for the same in some university.
• Mark J. Terman, 17, is a son of Ollie Terman of Troy township. His common school education was received at District No. 2 in that township, and Mr. Terman plans to enter some college in the fall of 1918, to take up a course in electrical engineering.
• Merle Fisher, 17, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Fisher, the former being president of the Columbia Woolen mills. The family formerly resided at South Bend, Indiana, prior to moving to this city two years ago, and Mr. Fisher received his common school education and part of his high school work there, before coming to Columbia City. He will enter college, but has not chosen any future occupation.
• Marie Friskney, 17, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Friskney, who resied in Thorncreek township, where Miss Friskney received her grade work in school. She will enter college to prepare for some line of occupation.
• Orpha Gandy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. D. Gandy of Ormas, is 17 years of age. She received her preparation for high school work in the local grade schools, and was a member this year of the Senior representative debating team. She will enter college next fall, and has several places in view.
• Ernest Erne, 17, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Erne of West Market street. He attended the West Ward grade school, and will enter college next winter.
• Vernice Carter, aged 18, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman E. Carter of West Market street. She is secretary of her class and has received all her education in this city. She is undecided as to whether or not she will enter college, and has made no decision as yet with reference to her life work.
• Ellen Irene Leininger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius B. Leininger of East Market street, is 17 years of age. She was a student in the West Ward building before taking up high school work, and so far as known at present, will not enter any higher institution of learning.
• Everett Wilcken, aged 17, son of W. F. Wilcken, who resides south of the city, in Columbia township, will not enter college, but has chosen agriculture as his life work, and will become affiliated with his father in that occupation. He studied at District No. 10, Columbia township, before entering high school.
• Mary Hunter Faust, 17, daughter of Mrs. Jessie Hunter-Faust, of North Line street, received her common school education in this city, and after completing three years in high school, entered Ward Belmont college at Nashville, Tenn., where she has nearly completed the first year of a two-year course. She has met all the requirements for graduation in the Columbia City high school, and has turned in a thesis with the other graduates. She is undecided as to her life work, but will make a decision after graduating from her present college course.
• Clara Rosella Colchin is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Colchin of East Market street, and she graduates at the age of 19 years. She received her preparatory work for high school in the Waterloo public schools, and came here three years ago with her parents and family. Miss Colchin will not attend college this year, although very probably she will take up a course of some kind later, and her life work is un-chosen as yet.
• Mary Ellen Bechtoldt, 18, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Bechtoldt, who reside just a mile south of this city. Miss Bechtoldt spent her school life in Columbia City, and has decided to take up domestic science teaching as a vocation, and will take a course some place this winter. While in high school she was a member of the board that issued the “Columbian.”