Maple Grove - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

The Kyle family (likely Silas F. Kyle) gave property for this school likely in about 1890. (Thanks to Suzie). As you can see by the picture provided by Bill Boone, the Jeff Walters family made this old school into a residence. Sure wish more would have done that :( . In the January 1991 Montgomery Magazine, Pauline Walters writes: On Sept 19, 1831, the US sold land to John and Nancy Barnett Pottenger. 130 acres in Clark Township. It was sold to John and Jane Creeson Barnett on Feb 24, 1836. John Barnett married Jane Creason Feb 24, 1836. Jane died and John remarried Rebecca Ann Watkins Gregg, a widow. On August 2, 1880, they sold a half acre (1/4 of Section 6, Twp 17, Range 3) to Silas F. Kyle, trustee of Clark Township for a school. This school was built and called Maple Grove School by Clara Peffley and a friend. Clara was the mother of Ruth Conner Harshbarger Buser, who was head librarian at Ladoga Library for many years. Silas Kyle paid $30 for the half acre. On Oct 31, 1919, after the school had been closed since 1911, John Brown bought the school from Ed Barnes, Trustee for $50. Mr. Brown's daughter and husband bought the school and it was remodeled several times until a beautiful country dwelling. We purchased it in 1965 for $2500. But in 1970, a tornado came through and almost tore the whole building down.