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February 5, 2004 |
Top Row: Len Henderson, Burton Lindley, Ruth Sanders, Roy
Smith |
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The 1918 Aubrey School annual was prepared by the Senior Class members. It provides a very brief biography of each senior. We have accumulated much information about the people that occupied the community of Aubrey and much has been written about the past, but as we go along we continually find new information to supplement the history. If you can remember, I recently explained how the community got started – the Key settlement began back in 1858 with the Methodist church being established in a small one room log house with a dirt floor. The Key family began the first school which held school three or four months out of the year. It was one of the three free schools in operation in Denton County. Dr. George Key has several descendants in this area, one of them is our former Mayor and loyal civic minded citizen, Lewis George. Lewis is an example of the spirit of the old Key settlement. He gave our community the necessary boost to make it what it is today. The early day people did not have roads to travel on leading to the school and church. They had to travel across the open fields that did not have barbed wire fence to get from their homes to the church and school. There were about ten families who traveled across the wide open ranges and to settle in the cross timber oaks and scrub brushes. The cross timbers area provided the native Americans a place to hide when danger presented itself. The local people of this time called themselves Black Dutch and not Cherokee which was their native ancestry. From 1858, to 1918 the local community had advanced to a worthy institution of knowledge. The group of 1918 were a highly sophisticated and intellectual group of high school seniors. The seniors of 1918 were offspring of the folks that went across the open pastures in order to get to church and school. The boys basketball team was undefeated for the year of 1917 - 1918. At this point in time the United States was at war with Germany. The school had a Kaiser Klanners Klub, which they referred to as a patriotic organization that emphasized national loyalty. Velma Smith was one of the seniors during 1918. She wrote the class biography which is as follows: As you see in the picture there are only eight members in the Senior class of 1918 – four boys and four girls. Madge Henderson, Lynn Henderson, and Will Graham Mullins have spent all of their school days in Aubrey. In 1912, Mary Slaton began school here in the sixty grade. Ruth Sanders was enrolled as a "Prep" in 1913. In 1914, Velma Smith, Roy Smith and Burton Lindley became members as Freshmen. Madge Henderson was born in Aubrey, June 14, 1899. In 1906, she entered school, and is the last one to date her school life back to the old plank building. Madge has been the life of the class since her entrance. She has always made us see the bright side of life, and made school seem really worth while. Lynn Henderson, the class poet, was born in Aubrey April 29, 1901. At the age of six, in 1907 he was placed in school, and it was then that he was given the name "Fatty." He has won much fame in athletics, especially basketball. He is the favorite of the class because of his mild and good disposition. Will Graham Mullins, class valedictorian, was born in Aubrey January 1, 1901. He has been a success in athletics, and helped win the county championship in basketball. We are glad his name is on our class roll. Mary Slaton was born in Aubrey July 27, 1901. At the age of two her parents moved to Denton where her first school days were spent. But returned to Aubrey and received her high school courses here. She is the class baby and has always been a bright light in our class. Ruth Sanders was born December 25, 1899. Her home was out of town about five miles. She went to Bloomfield, a rural community near Pilot Point, to live with her grandmother. She spent her first school days there, then returned home and tried the New Hope school. Her parents moved to town so that she might receive a high school education. She is the class mathematician, and is loved by all. Roy Smith was born July 2, 1899, about four miles south of town. On May 27, 1901 his sister Velma was born. When very small they moved with their parents to the Liberty community. Roy entered school in 1907 and Velma in 1908, at New Hope. They attended school at Liberty in 1913, and having finished grammar school came here as freshmen in 1914. Roy has always been known as "Honest Roy." He is loved and admired by all who knew him. Velma has made an excellent record in school and is the class Salutatorian. She is a little mischievous, but has always stood for the right, and is truly loved by all. Burton Lindley was born in Douglas County, Mo., Aptil 11, 1897. His parents came to Collin County, Texas, when he was very small. Clear Lake was honored with his first school years. Later he came to Aubrey to high school. He is the champion speller, and has won the friendship and admiration of all who know him. By Velma Smith. It is when we can read about some of the people we know and remember even though they are talking about what happened in 1897. I would like to comment just a little further by saying that two of these seniors are my ancestors, Mary Slaton from my Dad’s side of the family and Will Graham from my Mother’s side of the family. A lot of valuable information was recorded by Velma Smith in the annual. This gives us an incentive to write what we can about what we know for our future generations. |
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