When the Goffs lived in Audubon County, Iowa, from 1906 to 1911, their youngsters attended Melville No. 2 school. Melville Township was just east of Leroy Township and the county seat town of Audubon. Audubon County is just west of Guthrie County.
Melville No. II country school, Audubon County, Iowa, 1906 L-R: Back: Ruth Estes, Marguerite Foley, Georgia Goff, Alice Estes, Eleanor Ohm (teacher), Leora Goff, Maude Ruhs, Lulu Leavens. Middle: Ruby Goff, Clara Foley, Pearl Ruhs, Lila Leavens, Zells Smith, Genevieve Crees. Hilda Ruhs. Front: James Crees, Edward Leavens, ___ Estes, Harry Smith, Jennings Goff, Ambrose Foley, Rolla Goff. Absent: Merl and Wayne Goff, who were probably doing field work.
Leora Frances Goff, 8th Grade graduate, 1907
At age 16, Leora Goff passed the eighth grade exam. Audubon County held exercises that June for 54 graduates of rural schools. The thirty who were present to receive their diplomas were urged not to be satisfied until they’d obtained a high school education.
Leora had hoped to continue in high school but Pa declared that as the oldest of ten children, she was needed on the farm to help feed them all, help with the laundry, and help with the younger ones. And help in the fields. Sherd promised to make sure his older kids were well-paid for their work instead of going to high school.
The spring after Leora graduated, the Audubon County Superintendent called for a day of house cleaning for the schools, with community help–floors, walls, windows, yards, outbuildings. This was likely a yearly tradition.
Today Audubon County is in the process of placing historical markers where each of their country schools used to be. I requested to be the sponsor for the Melville No. 2 marker.
