1889 - First two Everett High School graduates - Mary Pattigrew & S. Howard Gump

A Tale of Romance
Everett’s first two graduates
The first graduating class of Everett High School in 1889 has a romantic story. There were only two members in that graduating class Mary F. Pettigrew and S. Howard Gump. They married in 1892 and had one daughter, Janet. Mrs. Gump died in October 1895.
S. Howard Gump led an interesting life. He was born in Everett August 2, 1868, son of John A. and Elizabeth (Stuckey) Gump.
For a while after high school, he was associated with his brother, H. Frank Gump, in the hardware store; he managed a grocery and tobacco store for five years and for 18 months worked at the L. C. Mann Clothing Store. Mr. Gump decided to resume his education by enrolling in a college. In 1902, he graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in Philadelphia and became Everett's first dentist.
Mr. Gump was also active in civic affairs. He was a member of the Everett Masonic Lodge, Odd Fellows, John Taylor Encampment, Tussey Council of Royal Arcanum; was a choir member at Trinity Reformed Church; borough auditor; school director; and conducted a winer course of lectures and musicals.
He married Alice Grove in 1903 and had 4 children-Marjorie, S. Howard Jr, John, and Elizabeth. Mr. Gump was born on August 2, 1868, and died on September 24, 1928 (Reprinted from an article in the Bedford Gazette, with revisions). You can view a list of graduates from every Everett High School class online at www.everettareaalumni.org The first class to graduate from the new high school on North River Lane was 1956. That class had 84 graduates.