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Meet the Children
 Della Thompson
Della Thompson was born in Summit Township, Jackson County. She never
liked admitting her age to anyone; her tombstone bears only her date of
death. She was an only child who later wrote down her memories of
growing up on a productive and well-to-do farm. She wrote about the
tastes and aromas of her home's "country kitchen," the doings
of neighbors and church, and the love of family.
Delevan A. Brotherton
Delevan A. Brotherton was born in Marquette on January 21, 1867. His
family moved to Escanaba a year later. Delevan often worked with his
father, a land surveyor. From age 14 through 17, Delevan kept a diary.
He wrote about sports, school, and his friends. He recorded the death of
his mother in 1882 and the remarriage of his father the next year.
Delevan had two sisters and one brother from his father's first marriage
and a sister and a brother from his father's second marriage.
Alice Laura Stevenson
Alice Laura Stevenson was born on January 22,1877, in Adrian. She had
one younger brother. Their father was the second generation to operate
the family lumber business, and Alice grew up in a very prosperous
family. She attended school until seventh grade, when illness forced her
to miss two years. She returned to high school able to attend only half
days. Although she could not graduate from high school, Alice attended
Adrian College. She enjoyed participating in church and community
activities, celebrating holidays, reading, and traveling.
James Corrothers
James Corrothers was born on July 2, 1869, near Cassopolis. His
mother died an hour after he was born, and his father left him in his
grandfather's care. James had no brothers or sisters. He wrote that he
"enjoyed greatly the company of books." He attended public
schools in South Haven from 1874 to 1883. He grew up in poverty and
suffered discrimination because he was black. He moved around a great
deal, and home was often a pile of rags in a barn or shed or a boarding
house.
Adeline Eliza Graham
Adeline Eliza Graham was born in Berrien Springs on August 26, 1864.
She was the youngest of seven children of a prosperous Berrien Springs
farmer. For two years, beginning when she was fifteen, Adeline wrote
about her friends, family, and community in her diary. A ringleader
among her friends, she considered herself a tomboy and preferred to be
called "Adam."
Tour the Exhibit with the Children
 The exhibit labels are color coded to match each child, so you may
choose one or more of the children to follow through the exhibit. A
color-matched card for each of the five children is available (depending upon supply)
in the cloakroom area of the one-room school. Each card gives more
details about the child and provides questions to pique curiosity as you
move through the exhibit. To download the pages with
copies of the cards before you come, click on the
child's name below. You may also download all five pages as one file
(high bandwidth connection recommended). The cards are in PDF format
(Adobe Reader required).
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