Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society

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Home > Historical Tidbits > People > 1873 – First Pekin High Graduating Class

1873 – First Pekin High Graduating Class

1873 – First Pekin High Graduating Class

Photo of First Pekin High Graduating Class (1873)

First Graduating Class
Pekin High School
1873

Standing (L-R):
Caesar A. Roberts & Hannah K. Turner

Seated (L-R):
Sara Turner, Addie L. Turner, Eunice M. Sage, & Josephine Goodheart
Another class member, Ada McHenry, died prior to graduation.

Josephine Goodheart would eventually become principal of Pekin High School.

According to family stories, Josephine was in love with Caesar Roberts, but he jilted her for someone else.  Josephine eventually married Lemuel Allen in 1898 at the age of 44.  She never had children.

Josephine also appeared in a previous historical tidbit - the Civil War era Busy Bee Sewing Circle.

Cover of First Pekin High Commencement Program
Photo of First Pekin High School (1869)
First Pekin High School
built in 1869 on the site
later occupied by the West Campus

Photo and text contributed
around 2002 by
Ellen Rowan Taylor
Sierra Vista, Arizona
(Ellen is Josephine Goodheart Allen's great-grandniece )

If you have a Tazewell County related
article, photo, letter, or document you'd like to share,
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