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The first school was built about 1853 by Solomon Strong, H. L. Caples and John Shaw Bozarth on the A. Lee Lewis place, the present Ed Blum place, according to Abe Bozarth, son of John Shaw Bozarth, in his recollections as written down by his daughter, Leta Rasmussen. This site was one mile south of the present town of Woodland on the Pekin Road. The article follows:

Some of the names of the scholars who attended this school:

Emma Van Bibber (Conrad), Edith Van Bibber (Merrill), Ida Bozarth (Parent), S. Martin, Henry Portwine, Will Bozarth, Alfred Bozarth, Anna Strong (Ballard), Albert Bozarth Emma Bozarth, Amelia Bozarth (King), Alice Bozarth, Luella Bozarth, Arthur Bozarth, John Bozarth, Fred Stallcop, Earnest Stallcop, Milton Bozarth, Scott Bozarth, Walter Bolen, George Armstrong, Sarah Morris, Jimmy Morris, Johnny Morris, A. Butts, Billy Davis, Fred M. Gilligan, Cora Gilligan, Lottie Gilligan, Lizzie Goerig (Martin), Frank Bedford, Edith Bedford (Wright), Ed Goerig, Albert Goerig, John Goerig, Lawrence Goerig, Lyle Lee Lewis, Adolphus Lee Lewis, Harry Lee Lewis, Archie Lee Lewis, Rosee Lee Lewis, Mable Lee Lewis, Oliver Gilson, Martha Gilson (Gardner), Sumner Gilson.

Their subjects were as follows: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Spelling, Grammar, Geography and History. The school hours were from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., with one hour for noon lunch and two fifteen-minute recesses. The boys and girls always carried their lunch in tin pails. Their school play ground was divided, the girls played on one side and the boys on the other side. They weren't allowed to play together.

Teacher Sam Conrad, married Emma Van Bibber and became the son-in-law of Mrs. C.C. Bozarth.

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