Hampton School Profile
Introduction to Hampton School
School Genealogy
The first school was established here in 1833–34 in a log cabin north of Albert Oltman’s farmhouse near the river. Lucius Wells taught the first term. Students included members of the Wells, McNeal, Danforth, Richardson, and Thompson families. Other teachers at this school were John and William Kelley and Mr. Thurston.
For several months afterward, a small school was held in a cabin east of the present Hampton Cemetery. Teachers there were John Lamberson and H. G. Reynolds, and the school was supported by the students’ parents. In the summer of 1839, a log schoolhouse was built specifically for a public school, just south of the present school building. The first teacher in this new schoolhouse was Samuel Lamberson.
In 1844, a one-story brick school building was erected beside the log schoolhouse. By then the town had grown to about 20 houses, and a better school was needed. The first teachers in the brick school were Philip and Addison Chamberlin. In 1857, a two-story brick school building was erected on the same site as the present schoolhouse. Miss Sawyer and Miss Blanchard were two of the teachers. This building stood for many years until October 29, 1879, when it caught fire during a school session and burned down. Classes were then held in the old Catholic church at the foot of the hill near the Wilkens farm, and in a small house east of the present Catholic church (2026), both of which have since been torn down. Teachers during this period included W. C. Smith, Carrie Spencer, and Mary Hobert.
The original one-story brick building (built in 1844) was sold on January 21, 1858, to the German Lutheran church for $400. Services were held there for about six years, until the congregation built a new church on the bluff two miles east of Hampton, known as Zion Lutheran Church. In December 1864, the church sold the old building and land to the Town of Hampton for $200, and it was used for town meetings and elections. On May 2, 1904, it was sold to the school trustees for $50 to be used as a playground; the building was then razed.
The present schoolhouse was erected in 1880. The first teachers were W. C. Smith, Miss Merritt, and Miss Hobert. Hampton schools have been well managed and have kept pace with the educational standards of the times.
In 1928, the teachers were Paul W. Powell, principal; Helen Mangrove, Intermediate Department; and Grace C. Kerns, Primary Department. The present directors are Harry Kipp, Glenn Tompkins, and Ralph Meeske.
Hampton Township Trustees and District 29
The first trustees of Hampton Township, who hold title to all school buildings and grounds, were George R. McMurphy, John Skinner, and George C. Parker, appointed by the county commissioners in September 1836. The township was divided on February 19, 1842. The Hampton district, originally numbered 2, is now numbered 29. The first school treasurer was Luther D. Edwards. The first school directors in this area were William E. McLellan, Robert Harvey, and Lucius Wells. The first school census was taken on December 29, 1843; it listed 222 children in the township under the age of 21. In 1938, the school secretary and treasurer was E. C. Dennhardt of Silvis. The school trustees were Charles E. Sikes, Louis A. Schave, and Henry Johnson.
School Principals
1833-1834 – Lucius Wells taught at the first school here in 1833-34, in a log cabin located above the Oltman farm dwelling.
1838–1839, Samuel Lamberson and John Lamberson taught in a small cabin school east of the present Hampton cemetery, funded by the parents of local scholars. With the construction of a dedicated log schoolhouse in the summer of 1839, located just south of today’s school building. Samuel became the first public-school teacher. His role laid the foundation for formal education in the young settlement.
W.C. Smith – 1880ish
George W. Wood – Lawyer from Moline
Guy V. Pettit – married Sophia Black
Spurlock
B. Colgrove – c. 1894
Len Brown
A.H. Foster – c. 1901
Mary B. Edelman – c. 1930
Paul W. Powell – c. 1938