USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1913 > Part 21
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A superintendent and board of commissioners were elected in April, 1856, and met on the 11th. It consisted of F. W. Hatch, re- elected superintendent ; Dr. C. Burrell, David Maddux, John F. Dre- man, J. F. Thompson, A. Montgomery and C. H. Bradford. On May 12th the board apportioned $25 a month for the colored school, which was to be taught by J. B. Anderson. This was the first aid the colored school had received. In November J. B. Harmon succeeded Burrell. The report of Superintendent Hatch showed studies pursued in the various schools as follows: Grammar, 312; arithmetic, 612; reading, 821; spelling, 843; writing, 538; geography, 372; history, 103; algebra, 63; Latin, 28; chemistry, 39; geometry, 4; composition, 227; declama- tion, 151.
A new board consisting of J. G. Lawton, superintendent; Samuel Cross, R. A. Pearis, David Murray, H. J. Bidleman, P. W. S. Rayles and J. G. Simmons, commissioners, took their places. In the latter part of 1857 the building of the Franklin grammar school, at Sixth and L streets, now known as the old Armory, was begun. December 22nd the corner stone was laid in the presence of a large assemblage, under the auspices of the Masons. The lot cost $4,500 and the building $7,500.
May 4, 1858, the school directors, composed of the board of educa- tion appointed under the Consolidation Act, held their first meeting and elected Samuel Cross president and Dr. Simmons secretary. Daniel J. Thomas was appointed a director by the board of super- visors in place of Dr. R. A. Pearis, but the board of education de- clared the appointment illegal.
The board of education organized October 4, 1858, consisted of G. J. Phelan, A. G. Richardson, H. J. Bidleman, T. M. Morton, H. B. Osborne, G. I. N. Monell, John Hatch and G. L. Simmons; Phelan, president. Hatch did not qualify and the board of supervisors elected David Meeker to fill his place. Dr. Simmons resigned in January, 1859, and was succeeded by C. A. Hill. Early in 1859 a school build- ing was erected at a cost of $3,800, at Thirteenth and G streets and named the Washington school house. Secretary Bidleman was re- moved May 9th, and was succeeded by Monell.
A new board met October 3, 1859, consisting of Cyril Hawkins, H. J. Bidleman, J. M. Frey, G. L. Simmons, J. J. Murphy, G. I. N. Monell, D. J. Thomas and Henry MeCreary. Dr. Frey was presi- dent and Monell secretary. An unsuccessful attempt was made to establish a Normal School, to be taught two days in the week. At the close of the year there were one high, four grammar, two pri- mary and intermediate, and six primary schools in the city. Scholars enrolled, 1031, with an average attendance of 790. Fifteen teachers were employed, one assistant and ten monitors, salaries amounting
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to $1,850 a month, the board believing the monitorial system less expensive and giving more teachers.
The board of education for 1860 met December 3rd, with G. Taylor, J. F. Crawford, H. Miller, J. M. Frey, J. M. Milliken, A. C. Sweetzer, S. M. Monser and J. Bithell members; Miller president and Sweetzer secretary. It discharged all the teachers and monitors, graded the schools, decided that male teachers should be employed as principals of the high school and of the first grade of the grammar school. J. W. Anderson was elected principal of the Franklin gram- mar school and Miss Doyle his assistant. Jnne 7, 1861, Anderson was elected principal of the high school, and Mr. Templeton to fill his place in the Franklin school.
Jannary 6, 1862, the board organized was composed of J. F. Dreman, D. J. Thomas, W. Bidwell, H. Miller, W. H. Hill, J. M. Milliken, S. M. Mouser and Edward Collins; Hill, president. In March Mrs. Folger was elected teacher of the colored school, the board vot- ing to pay her salary whenever the building and furniture should be furnished by the parents interested. On the 3rd of March the schools, which had been considerably damaged by the flood, reopened, except the one at Sixteenth and N streets, which was still surrounded by ยท water. Mouser resigned and his place was filled by J. T. Peck. The schoolhonse at Tenth and P streets was erected, at a cost of $2,500.
The board elected in Jannary, 1863, comprised Edward Collins, John F. Dreman, W. H. Hill, H. H. Hartley, Paul Morrill, D. J. Thomas, W. Bidwell and H. J. Bidleman. Hill was president. At the close of the year 1093 pupils were enrolled, average attendance, 795. The graduating class numbered 215. Pupils in the colored school, 32, average attendance 27. A building for the colored school was erected at Fifth and O streets, but was set on fire by an incendiary and con- sumed with its contents. Total disbursements for the eleven schools, $24,483.57.
In January, 1864, W. Bidwell, M. C. Briggs, J. H. Carroll, J. F. Crawford, Henry H. Hartley, Paul Morrill, O. D. Lambard and II. J. Bidleman composed the board, which elected Briggs president. When the year closed the number of schools had increased to thirteen -- six primary, three intermediate, one high, one grammar, one ungraded and one colored, with 1202 pupils in attendance, 919 of whom were born in the state. The intermediate school at Thirteenth and G streets was opened, as also an ungraded one at Twenty-ninth and J streets. The board, in compliance with a petition from the colored people, placed their school on the same footing as the white schools, except as to grade. The expenses for the year were $28,660.08; receipts, $27,276.86.
The board of 1865 organized in January, with M. C. Briggs, W. E. Chamberlain, O. D. Lambard, Eugene Soule, J. W. Avery, J. II. Carroll, J. W. Crawford and Paul Morrill. Briggs was re-
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elected president. The Union schoolhouse at Seventh and G streets was completed and accepted February 7th. J. L. Fogg was chosen principal of the grammar school, Mr. Templeton being made prin- cipal of the high school. The total number of pupils had increased to 1458, of which 870 were born in the state. The first story of the Union high school was completed May 1st, and two schools moved in. Cost, $15,786.56. Receipts, $31,489.35. Expenses, $34,459.68.
In January, 1866, the new board organized, with J. W. Avery, W. E. Chamberlain, Paschal H. Coggins, John F. Dreman, G. R. Moore, O. D. Lambard, Paul Morrill and Eugene Soule, directors; president, W. E. Chamberlain. The close of the year showed 1524 pupils enrolled, 1010 born in the state. There were now fourteen schools in the city. H. H. Howe was elected principal of the grammar school, Fogg having resigned. A schoolhouse for colored children was erected costing $700, and a frame schoolhouse at Ninth and M streets, costing $3946, and school was opened there August 1st. Re- ceipts for the year, $34,443.31; expenditures, $32,136.43, receipts for the first time exceeding expenses.
The board of 1867 was composed of the same members, Paul Morrill being president. At the close of the year 1736 children were on the rolls, 1227 born in California and 457 elsewhere. Early in the year the Lincoln school building was erected, the cost being $8049.69. In March $200 was set aside from the state apportion- ment for a school library. About 250 volumes were purchased and the number has increased yearly since. Lambard resigned and was replaced by John F. Crawford, and Soule resigning, David S. Ross was elected in his place. Receipts, $33,639 ; expenditures, $+4,207.
In 1868 the board was: J. F. Crawford, Joseph Davis, J. W. Avery, Henry Miller, D. S. Ross, F. A. Gibbs, Paschal H. Coggins and Horace Adams. Miller was president. The year closed with 1727 names enrolled, 920 boys and 807 girls,-with an average at- tendance of 1142. Born in the state 1241. Receipts, $43,194.68; ex- penses, $48,362.
In February, 1869, the board was: J. F. Crawford, J. W. Avery, P. B. Redding, Henry Miller, David S. Ross, F. A. Gibbs, W. L. Campbell and Henry McCreary; Miller, president. The year closed with 2200 pupils enrolled-1128 boys and 1072 girls; average at- tendance 1584. A wooden addition was made to the school building at Thirteenth and G streets, but within a fortnight it was destroyed by an incendiary fire, together with the old building, and the school had to be continued in other quarters until the new two-story brick building for the school could be completed. It cost $13,720 and was known as the Washington school. A wooden addition was also made to Franklin schoolhouse. In November 400 German citizens peti- tioned the board to introduce the German language into the schools. which was done. Arnold Dulon being elected teacher, with fifteen
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pupils in the high school and one hundred and ninety in the grammar school. At the close of the year there were seventeen schools in the city-one high, one grammar with four grades, four intermediate, nine primaries, one ungraded and one colored. Recepits, $78,000.94; expenditures, $77,840.44.
In 1870 the board was composed of John H. Dreman, J. W. Avery, Henry Miller, David S. Ross, F. A. Gibbs, Daniel Brown, J. F. Mont- gomery and B. B. Redding, with Miller as president. H. H. Howe resigned the principalship of the grammar school and A. H. Mc- Donald was elected to the position, two new departments being added. A two-story brick schoolhouse was erected at Sixteenth and N streets, at a cost of $9,000, but a few days after its completion it was set on fire and destroyed. The board immediately erected another, which was completed the following year. The yearly roll showed 1219 boys and 1137 girls; total, 2356. Receipts, $81,115.51. Expenditures, $80,- 770.47.
The next board organized January 26,1871, was composed of W. C. Stratton, J. W. Avery, E. T. Taylor, D. S. Ross, Henry Miller, Daniel Brown, J. F. Montgomery and Henry C. Kirk, Montgomery being president. The pupils increased in number to 2458-1249 boys and 1209 girls. There were now twenty schools in the city and receipts for the year were $72,810 and expenses, $71,351.
In 1872 the board was: Henry C. Kirk, W. C. Stratton, Henry Miller, E. T. Taylor, E. I. Robinson, John F. Dreman, C. H. Cum- mings and H. K. Snow; Miller, president. Judge E. B. Crocker ac- quired the ground on which the schoolhouse at Second and P streets stood, and the school was removed to Fourth and Q streets. The city donated the public square between I and J, Fifteenth and Six- teenth streets, and the present commodious brick building, known as the Sacramento grammar school, was erected at a cost of $60,000, to accommodate the other grammar schools. George Rowland was elected a member of the board, vice Stratton, resigned. Underwood resigned as principal of the grammar school and A. H. McDonald suc- ceeded him. The board decided to open a night school in the two lower rooms of the Franklin grammar school, at Sixth and K streets.
In 1873 the board consisted of C. H. Cummings, J. F. Dreman, James I. Felter, E. I. Robinson, H. K. Snow, George Rowland, Felix Tracy and B. B. Redding; Cummings presiding. The census showed 3389 children between five and fifteen years of age, with 3053 en- rolled; average attendance, 1810. Receipts, $73,952; expenses, $67,300.
The board as organized in 1874 consisted of C. H. Cummings, D. W. Welty, J. F. Dreman, J. I. Felter, George Rowland, Felix Tracy, George Waite and W. F. Knox; Tracy presiding. A new course of study gave two grades in the primary schools, instead of three. Intermediate School No. 5 and Primary School No. 10 were organized and an additional assistant was employed at the gram-
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mar school. The high school opened with a new corps of teachers and 118 pupils. A truant officer was employed in September with good results. Mr. Straube resigned as German teacher and A. H. Unger was elected. The receipts were $95,041; disbursements, $122,249, and the deficit of $27,208 was met with borrowed money.
January, 1875, the new board as organized consisted of C. H. Cummings, J. F. Dreman, Albert Hart, W. F. Knox, T. M. Lindley, J. F. Montgomery, Felix Tracy and George S. Waite; Tracy pre- siding. Superintendent Hinkson reported the receipts as $68,946.05 and the expenditures, $57,579.72. Total number enrolled, 2633; av- erage attendance, 2143; born in California, 2134. The cost for each pupil was estimated at $21.86. The Union and Lincoln and other schoolhouses were repaired during the year. The superintendent's report showed the schools to compare favorably with those of the other states, and the system of weekly and monthly examinations was instituted with satisfactory results.
In 1876 the board was composed of John F. Dreman, Albert IIart, F. M. Lindley, T. B. McFarland, J. F. Montgomery, A. T. Nelson, J. F. Richardson, Felix Tracy, and Secretary Hinkson. School Cen- sus Marshal's report showed an increase of 355 children during the past year. Total number of children attending school, 2850; average attendance, 1982; born in California, 1843; number enrolled for the German class, 191. Expenses, $64,894.35. The superintendent reported against any change in text books.
The board for 1877 organized with J. F. Dreman, J. I. Felter, H. HI. Linnell, T. B. McFarland, John Stevens and J. N. Young. Felter presided. The superintendent's report showed that there were in the city 4011 white and 71 colored children between five and seven- teen years of age. Of these 2458 were attending public schools. There were 55 public school classes in the city and the high school was maintained for ten months during the year. There were in all, twelve school buildings; boys enrolled, 1627; girls, 1496; average attendance, ninety per cent. The high school erected this year was a fine struc- ture with four class rooms, library room, laboratory, etc.
The board of 1878 organized with J. F. Dreman, J. I. Felter, E. Greer, Matt F. Johnson, H. H. Linnell, John Stevens and J. N. Young as directors; Felter presiding. Sixty-eight teachers were em- ployed, including one of French and German. Several new school rooms were rendered necessary this year by the accession of pupils. The number of pupils enrolled was 3148. Current expenses were $69,- 872. The superintendent recommended that school books be fur- nished to all children under restrictions that would prevent abuses. Eight additional teachers were employed and two new classes estab- lished in the grammar grades.
In 1879 the board organized with Director S. W. Butler, E. Greer, Matt F. Johnson, J. F. Dreman, John T. Griffitts, F. A.
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Hornblower, James McClatchy and T. B. McFarland. The latter pre- sided. The superintendent reported the value of school property at $198,000. Number of pupils enrolled, 3539. Receipts, $78,947.26; expenditures, $74,082.94. He recommended the erection of an addi- tional school building in the southern part of the city, the grading of teacher's salaries, and free supply of books to the pupils; of the sixty-three class rooms one had been abandoned on account of its unhealthy location. Seventy-three teachers were employed, with an average salary of $72.83. Prof. Albert H. Unger, principal of the German elasses, died this year. The night school had one hundred pupils enrolled, under Professor Brier, and was reported as in a high condition of efficiency.
The board of 1880 organized with Directors S. W. Butler, J. T. Griffitts, F. A. Hornblower, W. R. Knights, J. D. Lord, James Mc- Clatchy, W. D. Stalker and K. F. Wiemeyer. Griffitts presided.
Knights resigned and Felix Tracy was elected to the vacancy. F. L. Landes succeeded A. C. Hinkson as superintendent. The latter reported receipts for the previous year as $82,380.32; disbursements, $81,014.95; one new schoolhouse, a fine ten-class primary school on Q street, between Ninth and Tenth, costing $9,413, and other build- ings, amounting in all to $10,733 and furniture to the amount of $1852 were among the items, giving ample accommodations for pupils. The sale of the Franklin grammar school, at Sixth and L streets, occupied only as a night school, was recommended. Total number of pupils enrolled, 3489; teachers employed, 79, two of them being in the evening school. The principal of the high school was O. M. Adams; vice-principal, Kirk W. Brier, who afterwards became principal. A. H. McDonald was principal of the Sacramento gram- mar school and Joseph W. Johnson principal of the Capital gram- mar; W. J. Hyde, principal of the night school.
Up to this time there had been four superintendents-W. H. Hill, S. C. Denson, A. C. Hinkson and F. L. Landes.
Since 1880 the boards have been as follows:
1881-K. F. Wiemeyer, W. D. Stalker, J. D. Lord, L. K. Ham- mer, S. W. Butler, Felix Tracy, Philip Herzog and W. S. Mesick. Mesick resigned and C. H. Stevens was elected to succeed him.
1882-John F. Slater, Philip Herzog, C. H. Stevens, W. D. Stalker, S. W. Butler, Felix Tracy, Mathew C. Cooke, L. K. Ham- mer; G. H. Hancock succeeded Hammer, resigned.
1883-John F. Slater, C. H. Stevens, Mathew C. Cooke, W. D. Stalker, O. P. Goodhue, Felix Tracy, George W. Hancock and S. W. Butler. Goodhe died and Elwood Bruner was elected to the vacancy.
1884-John F. Slater, C. H. Stevens, Mathew C. Cooke, J. L. Chadderdon, Richmond Davis, D. Johnson, Elwood Bruner, Frank Avery.
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1885-W. M. Petrie, John F. Slater, A. Conklin, J. L. Chadder- don, Richmond Davis, Frank Avery, C. H. Stevens, E. K. Alsip.
1886-A. Conklin, C. H. Stevens, J. W. Todd, W. M. Petrie, Richmond Davis, O. W. Erlewine, John F. Slater, E. K. Alsip. Stevens resigned and B. F. Howard was elected to fill the vacancy.
1887-A. Conklin, W. M. Petrie, J. W. Todd, Richmond Davis, John F. Slater, A. S. Hopkins, H. C. Chipman and O. W. Erlewine.
1888- Richmond Davis, W. M. Petrie, E. M. Martin, A. Conk- lin, J. W. Todd, A. S. Hopkins, H. C. Chipman, John Skelton.
1889-J. W. Todd, A. J. Senatz, E. I. Martin, Joseph Hopley, R. Davis, A. C. Tufts, H. C. Chipman, John Skelton.
1890-H. C. Chipman, W. H. Sherburn, A. C. Tufts, A. J. Senatz, Joseph Hopley, J. N. Payne, O. W. Erlewine, Win J. Davis.
1891-O. W. Erlewine, M. Gardner, W. H. Sherburn, C. M. Har- rison, J. N. Payne, R. Davis, A. C. Tufts, H. C. Chipman.
1892-A. C. Tufts, W. H. Sherburn, C. M. Harrison, Eugene A. Crouch, H. J. Davis, O. W. Erlewine, H. C. Chipman, M. Gardner.
1893-No election. Same board held office. Sherburn, president.
1894-95-Win J. Davis, W. H. Sherborn, E. A. Crouch, J. H. Dolan, A. N. Buchanan, T. W. Huntington, D. D. Whitbeck, M. J. Dillman, P. S. Driver.
1896-97-Win J. Davis, E. A. Crouch, J. H. Dolan, T. W. Hunt- ington, D. D. Whitbeck, M. J. Dillman, P. S. Driver, W. H. Sher- burn, A. N. Buchanan.
1898-99-P. S. Driver, W. H. Sherburn, George B. Stack, C. A. Elliott, F. L. Atkinson, C. C. Perkins, H. K. Johnson, H. S. Ranson, E. S. Panabaker.
1900-01-P. S. Driver, Ed. J. Kay, George B. Stack, J. A. Green, F. L. Atkinson, Herman Mier, H. K. Johnson, H. S. Ranson, E. E. Panabaker.
1902-03- P. S. Driver, Ed. J. Kay, J. A. Green, Herman Mier, H. S. Ranson, Edward McEwen, W. M. Petrie, Howard K. Johnson, Robert Martyr.
1904-05-Howard K. Johnson, B. M. Hodson, Daniel Flynn, J. A. Green, W. M. Petrie, John T. Skelton, L. G. Shepard, Robert Martyr, William Lampert.
1906-07-J. A. Green, B. M. Hodson, Daniel Flynn, W. M. Petrie, William Lampert, J. M. Henderson, Jr., John T. Skelton, W. F. Jackson, L. G. Shepard.
1908-09-W. J. Taylor, R. L. Wait, D. Flynn, J. A. Green, W. M. Petrie, T .. D. Littlefield, J. M. Henderson, W. F. Jackson, W. G. McMillin.
1910-11-J. A. Green, R. L. Wait, J. R. Garlick, W. M. Petrie, T. D. Littlefield, S. A. Smith, W. J. Taylor, Thomas Coulter, W. G. McMillin.
The superintendents since 1880 have been: Dr. J. R. Lane,
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January, 1882, to January, 1886; M. R. Beard, 1886 to 1890; Albert Hart, 1890 to 1894; O. W. Erlewine, elected under the new charter, February 3, 1894, was subsequently re-elected and served continuously as superintendent under the commission until he resigned early this year, being succeeded by C. C. Hughes.
Under the new charter adopted in 1911, changing the govern- ment of the city to the commission form, the commissioners con- stituted the city board of education, Mrs. Luella B. Johnston being the commissioner of education for the ensuing year, and being suc- ceeded this year by E. J. Carragher.
THE HIGH SCHOOL
The embryo of the high school was created May 22, 1855, when it was proposed by Dr. F. W. Hatch that Willson's History, astron- omy, bookkeeping, Latin, French and Spanish be added to the course of study. An order to add these studies to the course was adopted at that time, but was not put in force till the following year, when the classes in these studies were taught in the schoolhouse on M street, between Eighth and Ninth, by J. M. Howe. Eighteen girls and twenty-one boys were enrolled the first year and the remarkably high average attendance of 36.8 out of 39 was attained, May 8, 1857. Howe declined to be examined in Greek and was succeeded by C. A. Hill. Hill resigned in August following and was succeeded by A. R. Jackson, and early in 1858 the school was removed to Fifth and K streets and J. P. Carleton was elected to teach French and Spanish.
May 20, 1858, Charles A. Swift was elected principal, with a salary of $200 a month, and Professor Lefebre was chosen to teach French and Spanish in place of Carleton. As soon as the Franklin grammar school was completed, the high school was removed to it. In June, 1859, Professor Lefebre left the state and was succeeded by Professor Jofre. In November, 1859, the natural sciences were added to the course by the board, and A. R. Jackson was elected to teach them. The next October Swift showed evidences of insanity and a vacancy in the principalship was declared and Jackson was appointed to the position, but refused the following April to serve longer as principal, declaring the salary insufficient, and J. W. An- derson was appointed in his place. Anderson was succeeded Septem- ber, 18, 1862, by R. K. Marriner and the latter resigned March 27, 1865, and was succeeded by J. L. Fogg, who served till April 29th fol- lowing and was succeeded by Milo L. Templeton as principal.
The school was removed to Seventh and G streets July 25, 1865, and in November Alexander Goddard was elected teacher of French and in April, 1870, Jourdon W. Roper was appointed principal. He resigned in April, 1872, and was succeeded by H. H. Howe, and early in the year Edward P. Howe was appointed to take his brother's
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place. His successors to date have been Oliver M. Adams, who re- signed in June, 1884; W. W. Anderson from that date until the close of the school year in June, 1888, when James H. Pond was elected principal. Pond resigned in 1901 to take the principalship in the Oakland high school and was succeeded by Frank Tade, who con- tinued as principal until the close of the school year in June, 1910. when he resigned to take the principalship of the Night High School and was succeeded by H. O. Williams, the present principal.
The high school building at the corner of Ninth and M streets was completed September 2, 1876, at a cost of $10,687, and the school was opened in it January 1, 1877. An addition was made to it in 1904, nearly doubling its size, and in 1909 it was burned. In 1907-08 a new high school building was erected on the block between K and L, Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, which had been purchased for the purpose by the board of education from the directors of the Protestant Orphan Asylum. The building is a fine one, the lower story being of cement, and the remainder of brick. It is four stories in height, with thirty-five class rooms, and cost in round numbers a little over $254,500. It is strictly up to date, has ample apparatus for the scientific classes, and a gymnasium for the boys in the lower story. It was calculated to furnish accommodations for about eight hundred pupils, and that it would be ample for all the needs of the school for ten years, but the growth of the city since has been so rapid that it is already overcrowded, the classes for the first semester of 1912 showing that about one thousand pupils must be taken care of. The bond issue of $800,000 for the schools sanctioned by the people in 1911, has provided for an addition to the high school facili- ties, and it is advocated by many that a new high school building be erected in the suburban district recently annexed by the city, al- though an addition may be built to the present building.
COLORED PUPILS
In 1873 a colored pupil applied for admission to the night school and two colored girls applied for admission to the grammar school. The question arose as to whether under the statute prohibiting the attendance of colored children at the white schools they could be admitted without endangering the receipt of the state and county monevs for the support of the schools. The board granted the re- quests, pending the decision of the supreme court on the constitu- tionality of the law.
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