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From the expiration of the three-months’ school term in the Winchell home at Fort Miller, there was no other school in the Millerton district till the spring of 1864. This is attributable to lack of public funds, indifference of trusees [sic], and want of available teachers competent to carry classes beyond the low, primary grade. Furthermore, unattached young women were quickly snatched up by the forlorn bachelors, and became too busy as wives and mothers to engage otherwise.

At that time, Mrs. Winchell opened a private school in the Winchell valley half a mile south of Fort Miller, where a new home had been established. This engagement was in response to earnest solicitations from parents in far-separated districts of the county who were anxious to have their children taught. Mrs. Winchell accepted the call as a duty to the young people of the region, who otherwise, owing to the absence of opportunity and the peculiar social environments of those days, would have failed to receive what it was in her power to give them.

Pupils were sent from near the Chowchilla river, from the Fresno river, from Kings river, from Big Dry creek, from Crane valley and Willow creek, as well as those who lived at and near Millerton and the Fort.

Judge Winchell caused to be built a large, (for those days) room near his dwelling for school purposes, and provided the requisite furnishings. A list of those who attended in 1864-65 maye [sic] be of interest to the present day settlers of Fresno county. It is herewith given:

Mary J. McKenzie, (Mrs. John C. Hoxie); Ellen G. Baley, (Mrs. James C. McCardle*); Elizabeth Johnson, (Mrs. Henry C. Tupper*); Mary Daulton,* daughter of H.C. Daulton; Minnie Rea, daughter of Jonathan Rea; John W. Gilmore* and Tillie Gilmore, (Mrs. Brown of Madera)–step-son and own daughter of the late Mrs. R.P. Mace; William H., and Edwin P. McKenzie*; Allan* and Arza Stroud*; Sewall F. Hoxie*; George W. Baley*; Charles C. Baley; Maggie Carroll* (late Mrs. B.S. Boutwell); George and Belle Winkleman of Crane valley; Martha Glass* and brother, and Lilbourne and Ledyard,* the two sons of the teacher. Those whose names are starred have passed away.

The attendants ranged in age from six to 19 years. From A.B.C’s to the McGuffey’s Fourth Reader and Physical Geography grade. This heterogeneous classification required much time and arduous instruction. A set of illuminated charts comprising a wide range of the subjects taught were a valuable aid to the text books.

History of Fresno County, 1933

Transcribed by Liz Brase