Miss Ada B. Sikes attended a one-room school in the post oaks near her home near Rowden, which was the old homestead purchased by her father in 1891. The school was known as Pilgrim. It was originally a log cabin, moved to the mountain, then later north of Rowden. It's frequent removal gave the school the name "Pilgrim." She attended this rural school until 1904 when she went to Baird and entered the Collier's Private School, operated in a two-story wooden structure. She earned a teacher's certificate. In 1906, she went to Abilene Christian College then opening just north of the T&P Railroad in west Abilene. A.B. Barrett was the president. Two other instructors of that day were Charles H. Robinson, James Cox, Edwin Hoover, and Miss Allen Cotton, a sister of the President's ife who taught music. She was the first girl boarding student. Abilene Christian College only had about 25 students. The school consisted of a brick structure and a frame dormitory. Miss Sikes attended a month or two in the fall until a rural school opened in Callahan County in which she taught. She attended ACC for two years, and a whole summer term. She taught at Rowden, HIllside, Admiral, Bayou, Oaklawn, near the B.C. Chrisman place, south of Baird. Miss Ada taught in the Callahan County Schools for 17 years. Whipping was not on her disciplining menu, she only whipped two boys in her teaching career, and one was her brother. She disciplined her students with kindness and love. During the time she taught rural schools Miss Ada boarded with her father and mother on the old homestead place. In 1937, her father died and she gave up teaching to take over the 180 acres farm and ranch. She moved to Admiral, Texas in 1889 from Alabama with her parents. In 1891, her parents bought 90 acres and built the house on the ranch property. Her hobbies included reading magazines, keeping abreast of current affairs, and collecting pottery.

The Baird Star

December 14, 1951