The Woodford County history, Part 1

Author: Woodford County Sesquicentennial History Committee; Woodford County (Ill.) Board of Supervisors; Yates, William
Publication date: 1968
Publisher: [Bloomington, Ill.]
Number of Pages: 238


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27


THE


WOODFORD COUNTY


HISTORY



LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS


977.353 W85w


I .H.S.


The Woodford County History


R J W


2


R


1


R


A. 2 E.


WASHBURN .


· MINONK


T 28 N


CAZENOVIA


LINN


CLAYTON


MINONK


PARTRIDGE


. BRICKTOWN


CAZENOVIA ·


SLOW POINT


SPRING BAY SPRING BAY


· METAMORA


₸ 27 N


WORTH


METAMORA


ROANOKE


GREENE


PANOLA


·


GERMANTOWN HILLS


R


EL PASO ·


INDEX MAP WOODFORD COUNTY ILLINOIS


CRUGER


OLIO


PALESTINE


PASO


BOWLING GREEN


KANSAS


· FARNIVILLE


·CONGERVILLE


· SLABTOWN


7 25 N


· CRUGER


· EUREKA


E L


T 26 N


· VERSAILLES


KAPPA ·


MONTGOMERY GOODFIELD.


· SECOR


· BENSON


· WOODFORD


· ROANOKE


· BAY VIEW GARDEN


· PANOLA


The Woodford County History WOODFORD COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-1968 Compiled by the Woodford County Sesquicentennial History Committee- Mrs. Kenneth Smith, Chairwoman Edited by Mr. William Yates


Published in conjunction with the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the State of Illinois ISIS-1968-Woodford County, Illinois


Library of Congress Card Number 68-8885 Manufactured in the United States of America At Pantagraph Printing and Stationery Company Bloomington, Illinois 61701


. . What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, or bristling sea coasts, the guns of our war steamers, or the strength of our gallant and disciplined army. These are not our reliance against a resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All these may be turned against our liberties, without making us stronger or weaker for


the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, every- where. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors . . .


-ABRAHAM LINCOLN


-


Abraham Lincoln, the Sixteenth President of the United States, rode the Eighth Judicial Circuit which included Woodford County from 1844 to 1856. The line drawing on the cover of this book is the Metamora Courthouse where Lincoln practiced law.


Preface


Woodford County 1841 to 1968


In this year of 1968, the Sesquicenten- nial, or 150th anniversary of our statehood, the history of Woodford County is being brought up to date from the history written in 1878. The preparation of the material used in this history has been generously done by individuals volunteering their time and service. If there are any omissions, these are regretted and not intentional. All items were researched as thoroughly as possible within the timetable allowed for compiling material for the history.


Our aim was to make this book an in- formative as well as interesting account of our county's history for all who read it. We


hope it will prove as valuable to the future generations as the 1878 History is to this generation.


Woodford County's first Board of Super- visors was elected on April 16, IS55; from that time elected boards have reigned as the governing body of the county.


The book committee would like to take this means of expressing their appreciation to the present County Board of Supervisors for all of their cooperation. This coopera- tive assistance made publishing this book possible.


MRS. KENNETH SMITH, Chrm. MIRS, MARVIN KEYS MRS. ERNEST SULLIVAN


-


Members of the Woodford County Board are front row: Elmer Gerjets, Greene; Francis Kull, Linn; L. Eugene Speer, Olio; John Wuethrich, Cruger; Lawrence Guard, Panola; second row: Maynard C. Durst, Worth; Arthur L. Garber, Cazenovia; Ivan Beavers, Partridge; Lloyd Wagner, Clayton; third row: ttoward Heinhold, Montgomery; newcomer, Harold Crump, Kansas; Chairman Robert T. Hocker, El Paso; Arthur F. Sparks, Palestine; Wallace Tipsword, Spring Bay; Erwin A. Beenders, Roanoke; back row: Leland Klein, Metamora; Leonard Stonier, Minonk; Sheriff, Paul Meador.


Woodford County Organized


In the early 1800's, as the population of the eastern states increased, available land for homesteading sites became hard to find. So those who sought to avoid the "crowd" set out to conquer the prairies of the West- in the new state of Illinois they sought a new life.


Woodford county was organized in 184] by a committee of pioneers, headed by Thomas Bullock who came to Walnut Grove (now Eureka) in 1835 from his birthplace in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky. The county and its first county seat, Versailles, were both named by Mr. Bullock in honor of his boyhood home. Versailles village ceased to exist many years ago.


The Woodford County Courthouse-Eureka, Illinois.


Abraham Lincoln was one of the early day lawyers who practiced in the Versailles Court, and later at Hanover (now Meta- mora ) when the county seat was moved in 1843. Eureka became the county seat in 1894.


The county's affairs were conducted by a board of three commissioners until the year 1850 when the present township or- ganization plan was adopted. Until 1890 each township was represented by a super- visor elected annually. Then supervisors were divided into two classes and the two- year term adopted. In 1930 the present


four-year term was established by a state law approved June 10, 1929.


Woodford county took its place as a new county in a comparatively new state-to- gether they faced the challenges of a changing world and today they continue to grow in both size and status.


Agriculture in Woodford County


Illinois continues in the forefront as one of the leading agricultural states of our nation; with Woodford County being one of the many counties which make this pos- sible.


The changes in almost all areas of farm- ing have been many and have benefited the farmer. The use of more modern and scientifically proven methods of farming has meant a higher yield in crops planted. Such things as fertilizers, chemicals, and soil analysis were unheard of when the early farmers struggled to plant and harvest their crops. Today, the latest information is available to the farmers through their County Extension Service. The farmer has an important role to play in the health and development of the nation.


Farmers of Woodford County did not stand still while all these changes were being made and evidence of their achieve- ments can be seen at County and State fairs where Woodford County farmers col- lect their share of prizes. For proof of our progress, drive down a country road in the fall and look over the picturesque land- scape of fields ready for harvest.


The following chart, supplied by the Woodford County Extension Service, shows the county average yield per acre over the years:


CORN


Year


Yield


1925


47


1935


48


1945


51


1955


63


1965


97


1967


105


WHEAT


Year


Yield


1934


S.9


1944


20.1


1954


27.3


1964


.39


OATS


Year


Yield


1939


33.3


1949


42.9


1959


35


1966


61


SOYBEANS


Year


Yickl


1939


27.0


1949


29.7


1959


30


1967


.33


Where Buffalo Roamed


Under the passive eye of the Indian, the tall prairie grasses grew untrampled and the great forests along Partridge and Wal- nut creeks stood in grandeur: the silence was broken only by the call of the birds or the occasional ery of some animal.


Huge herds of buffalo roamed over the country feeding on the coarse grass; in the summer they wallowed in the mud creat- ing pits in the soil that remain to this day. Other wild animals abounded-deer, rab- bits, squirrels and foxes made their homes here.


Occasionally, a prairie fire would sweep through the tall grass driving all before it. Sometimes started by nature, and some- times by the Indians to drive back enemies, fires became so frequent in some areas that they prevented the growth of trees on the prairie.


For the most part, the Indians did little to disrupt a tranquil scene. They were mostly of the Potawatomi tribe, although there were some Fox, Sac and Ottawa pres-


ent in the Woodford area. Most of their time was spent in taking part in village life-they were a rather peaceful group. They were not by nature violent, although they were sometimes disposed to indulge in petty thievery. During the great snow of IS30-31. they proved to be of great assist- ance in bringing the settlers provisions; they did this in a most expedient manner- by using snow shoes.


The first settlers, who had been drawn westward by the ever increasing demand for more land, began to build near Part- ridge and Walnut creeks. They built their early homes of timbers hewn from the forest; then later of brick, hand burned locally. OF necessity, they grew their own food and made their own clothes. It was almost as if time had been turned back two hundred years to the days of the early colonists.


But it was not to remain so; change was not long in coming. The wilderness began to turn into a civilization. The land was cleared, and homes were built; communi- cations between this frontier and the east, which had been slow and difficult, began to increase.


A stage coach road was opened by drag- ging a heavy log through the tall prairie grass. Whereas, before the people had fol- lowed the age-old path of the Indians or the trail of wild animals, they now began to follow the roads.


The story of the early development was told in old records and documents which were kept by the pioneers. The settlements of the county were confined to the timber and along streams. Nearly all the land was in the hands of the government and offered for sale at $1.25 per acre.


During a few short years, man had altered a land which had remained for hundreds of years-a land of great forests and tall prairie grasses. And he had changed it for all time. This is how it was in the beginning. . . .


Contents


Township Page 1 Cazenovia . By Mrs. John Damerell and Mrs. Clifford Cordes


Clayton


35


By Mrs. Rose Toole


Cruger 47


By Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Kennell El Paso .. 51


By Mrs. Ethel Eft


Greene


77


By Mrs. Ivan Kindig


Kansas


By Charlene Proctor


Linn


85


By Ralph Laible


Metamora


SS


By Mrs. Kenneth Smith, Mrs. Ernest Sullivan and Mrs. Marvin Keys


Minonk


106


By Harry D. Smith and Robert W. Webster


113


Montgomery


By Mrs. Forrest Lemons, Mrs. Eli Hohulin and Mrs. Gertrude Greshman


Olio


121


By Burrus Dickinson


Palestine 131


By Mrs. Henry E. Stockhausen


135


Panola


By Mrs. Ethel Eft


Partridge


141


By Mrs. flugh Macmillan and Mrs. Frank Poignant


Roanoke 153


By Mrs. June Barra and Mrs. Elsie Ferrero


169


Spring Bay.


By Mrs. Rosa McCarty


Worth .


183


By Mrs. Peter Rohman


Charles and Abigail Rich Letters


195


81


Cazenovia Township


by MRS. JOHN DAMERELL and MRS. CLIFFORD CORDES


CAZENOVIA TOWNSHIP received its name from Cazenovia Lake, in the state of New York. There were four brothers-in-law liv- ing near Lowpoint-Jeter Foster, Elisha Rice. Thomas Clark, and John Safford- who came from the neighborhood of the lake above alluded to, and talked so much about its beauties that they finally received the name of "Old Cazenovia" among their neighbors. The name was bestowed on them in good humor, and received in the same spirit, and clung to them until it became almost as common as their true names. When the county was organized into townships, in 1852, the matter of a name for this one evoked considerable dis- cussion, until someone, as a joke on their good-natured neighbors, proposed Caze- novia, which was unanimously adopted without debate.


The home of James Owen was the vot- ing place when there were only three pre- cincts and three voting places in the county. The citizens of Partridge and Spring Bay Hills came here to cast their ballots and settle neighborhood disputes, at times aided by whiskey at 20e a gallon.


The first supervisor under township or- ganization was John W. Acres. James G. Bayne was the first clerk, and Morgan Buckingham, Sr., was the first justice of the peace.


The board of highway commissioners was not organized until ISS4. At the April 15 meeting, James Piper became president; Jacob Held, treasurer; John T. Clark, soc- rotary, and commissioners were Jacob Held. James Piper and F. E. Day.


At the annual meeting. April, 1884, a poll tax assessment of two dollars for cach able- bodied person in the township was voted


for highway purposes, these persons to be notified by letter to have this assessment paid by the first monthly meeting in June, or be summoned to appear before Justice of the Peace court to make payment plus court costs. Zion Held, constable, charged 50c for serving and returning an execution of judgment against Peter Wheeler on Dec. 6, ISSO. The judgment was for $38.35. costs $5.05, travel 20c, and service 50c.


Elections in ISS4 were conducted much as they are at present. Judges fee was $3.00 a day and by 1967 it became the present fee of $20.00. In 1SS2, the tax on real estate and personal property was 20¢ on $100.00.


The labor for hire in 18SO was noted as: 4 days with team, working on the roads. $12.00; and on March 31, ISS5, shoveling snow by hand, $2.50 a day. When the highway commissioners met on Jan. 17, ISS5, they allowed the following bills: J. G. Raddelmiller, tiling road, $5.40; R. C. McCullock, for tile, $29.70; J. M. Black, lumber. $16.00; C. Boys, lime, $2.70; Stinger & Sharp. nails, $6.25; Samuel Laible, labor, $3.00; John Daub, labor, $5.00; George Swartz, labor, $1.25; M. S. Fulton, 2 order books, $1.50. Total $70.80.


The township board met in the old town hall in the village of Washburn until 1904, when the hall burned. At the April, 1905, annual meeting, it was decided to erect a new building.


The board met monthly in this building until Dec. 1967, when a new township building was completed in the southeast corner of Section 2.


Levy for road purposes in 1905 was $1600.00; Frank Ehringer was town clerk at that time. Budget and appropriation


1


2


Woodford County History


ordinance recommended by Cazenovia Township Board to be voted on at the annual meeting April 2, 1968 was for Town Fund and General Assistance, $19,- 155.00; for Road Purposes $20,077.00. There are 50 miles of blacktop and gravel roads in the township and 14 bridges. The newest bridge which crosses Snag Creek in Section 12, was finished in 1966 at a cost of $25,000.00.


In May, 1909, the Board of Health was organized; serving on it were W. T. Wal- lace, N. L. Peabody, and H. E. Tweddale.


On May 15, 1915, the homes of Tom Holland, Harry Crawford, Charles Foster, Robert Hood, and Adam Meismer were quarantined for smallpox, by order of Dr. S. M. Burdon and Dr. C. L. Boon.


Due to a threatened scarlet fever epi- demic the following notice was published in February of 1934; "All children shall re- main on their premises. All gatherings, public and private, in any school or church, public or private meeting place, all loiter- ing or loafing in any store, shop or club shall be prohibited in the village of Wash- burn until further notice. Signed, State Board of Health."


This was before antibiotics had been dis- covered. It was at this time that Ruth Barth daughter of William and Gladys West Barth, died of this dread disease.


The oldest man in Cazenovia Township is Ed Quiram, who was born January 7, 1877. He became a local resident in March 1880. In 1905, he married Anna Laible, who is now deceased. One daughter, Esther ( Mrs. Robert Thierer), and her husband, make their home with him.


The oldest lady in Cazenovia Township is Mrs. Jean ( Asa) Stivers of Cazenovia, born in 1873.


Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Rose have cele- brated 67 wedding anniversaries, which is more than most couples do. They came to Washburn in 1944, both natives of Dahl- gren, Illinois. They have ten living chil- dren, all of whom have claimed Cazenovia Township as their residence at some time in the past. Mrs. Erscle (Jennie) Scrivner and Mrs. Merrill (Ola) Kenedy live in


this community. The Roses have 27 grand- children, numerous great grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.


Township officers elected in 1965 for four year terms were Arthur L. Garber, supervisor; Grace Damerell, clerk; Robert J. Tomlinson, assessor; Melvin Bachman. highway commissioner; and Betty Ann Fitschen, Kenneth Pelz and Ralph Whisler, auditors.


The Washburn Bank


The Washburn Bank, Washburn's old- est business institution, was founded by F. N. Ireland in 1870.


In the summer of 1871, Mr. Ireland bought a building and moved it from the original part of town to the Fulton corner on Jefferson Street. In this building M. S. Fulton and Co. started a drug store and Mr. Ireland was the "and Co." of the firm. The 7x20 foot bank room was in the back part of the building.


In February, 1876, the banker bought the present bank corner and built a two- story building with a fireproof brick vault. This was the town's first brick building. Here the banking business was conducted until the big fire in June, 1887. A new safe, with fireproof jacket was purchased.


In 1910, the bank moved a few doors south until the old building could be torn down, and new quarters established and opened March 26, 1911.


John H. Lesch was with the bank from 1898 to 1911, when he died. Anna Buck- ingham came to the bank in 1906 and re- mained until ill health caused her retire- ment about 30 years later. Clifford C. Ire- land retired from the bank in 1909, to prac- tice law. Clare T. Ireland was assistant cashier, then cashier, until 1933, when he became a federal bank examiner. F. N. Ireland retired from active service in 1920, and his son, Charles H. Ireland, became bank president. He continued in that office until his death in 1930, when Adolph Wolt- zen succeeded him. Mr. Woltzen came to the bank on April 1, 1912, and was a part- ner from the time of his arrival. Present officers are F. N. Ireland, president; N. C.


Patrons Directory for Woodford County Cazenovia Township (Copied from 1873 Atlas)


Place of


Located Here


Occupation


Post Office


Nativity


Arrowsmith, Thomas


. Farmier .


Low Point


England


18.14


Arrowsmith, C.


. Farmer


Cazenovia


England .


1852


Buckingham, A. D.


. Stock Raiser


Washburn


Woodford Co.


18.12


Butler, G. C ..


. Merchant


Washburn


England .


1858


Bayne, J. G.


. Farmer and Merchant


Low Point


Brown Co., ().


1846


Crawford, W.


. Farmer


Washburn


Ireland .


. 1840


Coen, P. A ...


. Farmer


Washburn


Carrithers, E. C.


. Hotel Keeper


Washburn


Dodds, J. E ..


. Merchant and Post Master.


Low Point


Montgomery Co., (


1836


Drennen, T.


. Bookkeeper and Township Coffeetor. . Low Point


Allegheny Co., Pa ..


1855


Farnsworth, Mary


Farmer


Cazenovia


New York


. 18.14


Farnsworth, E. \


. Farmer


Washburn


. Chautauqua Co., N.Y


1846


Farnsworth, S. C.


. Farmer


Washburn


Windsor Co., Vt ..


1846


Frazer, D. V


. Farmer an Merchant


Low Point


Washington Co., Pa.


1856


Fisher, Sarah


. Farmer


Washburn


. Virginia .


.1859


Freeman, 1.


Merchant


Washburn


Woodford Co., Il.


1842


Hanmers, Jesse


. Farmer


Cazenovia


Fayette, Pa. .


1835


llammers, J. A


Farmer .


Cazenovia


Woodford Co., HI


.18.10


Hall, E.


Farmer


Cazenovia


Orange Co., Vt.


1855


Ireland, F. A.


Merchant and Post Master


Washburn


St. Joseph Co., Ind.


1858


Junker, August


Miller


Washburn


Prussia . .


1855


Kirby, A. J ..


. Farmer


Low Point


. Greene Co., Pa.


18.18


Kirby, J. R ..


Farmer


Low Point


Greene Co., Pa ..


. 18.17


Kirby. O. W ..


Farmer


Low Point


Greene Co., Pa ..


18.17


Kirby, John H1.


Farmer


Low Point


Greene Co., Pa.


18-17


Kice, 1. 1.


Blacksmith


Cazenovia


Virginia


1870


McCulloch, J. M.


Farmer


Low Point


Cumberland Co., Pa


1853


Mochel, J.


Farmer


Washburn


Bavaria .


1860


Maloney, N. V


Physician


Washburn


Lancaster Co., Pa.


1858


McCulloch, C. F


Farmer


Washburn


Cumberland Co., Pa.


185-1


Martin, J. T.


Farmer and Carpenter


Cazenovia


Perry Co., () ..


1853


Norris, A. T ..


Farmer .


Cazenovia


Baltimore Co., Md ..


.1857


Pickerill, C. B.


Farmer


Cazenovia


Brown Co., () ..


1851


Patrick, S.


Merchant


Washburn


. Cumberland Co., Pa


18 17


Shugart, Oscar


Farmer


Washburn


Marshall Co., Ill.


1869


Seifert, John


Farmer


Washburn


Bavaria .


.1833


Sheifer, B.


Farmer


Washburn


Westphal, Prussia


.1846


Stevenson, Wm.


Farmer


Low Point


Knox Co., (


.185-1


Safford. J.


Farmer


. Low Point


New York


18.10


Tool. J. B ..


Farmer


Low Point


Augusta Co., Va.


1833


Tanton, Richard


Farmer


Cazenovia


England . .


. 18.12


Truckenmueller, M.


Carpenter


Cazenovia


Wirtemberg. Germany


1870


Tanton, T. ( ..


Farmer .


Cazenovia .


Woodford Co., Il.


1850


West, J.


. Farmer


Washburn


Brown Co., () ..


1857


3


Webber, Isaac


. Farmer


Washburn


Cumberland Co., Pa .. .1865


Waggoner. S. J.


Farmer


. Low Point


. Carroll Co., ( ..


1867


Loraine Co., ().


1860


Hanmers, W. ().


Merchant


Cazenovia


Ireland


1856


Marshall Co., 11.


1871


Cazenovia Township


Windsor Co., Vt. . 1867


Piper, J.


Farmer and Merchant


Low Point


4


Woodford County History


Logan, executive vice-president; Mrs. F. N. (Edith) Ireland is vice-president; F. N. Ireland, Jr. (Jerry) is cashier; Mrs. Mary Ann Jury is assistant cashier.


The Washburn Bank, oldest bank in Woodford County, and one of the oldest banks in the state, was operated as a pri- vate bank until 1920, when it became a State bank.


Other banks that have done business in Cazenovia Township were the People's Bank of Washburn which organized in June 1908 with these officers: William G. West, president; J. F. Shepard, vice-presi- dent; L. F. Shepard, cashier. It was capitalized at $50,000 and was in operation until 1930, when it sold its business to The Washburn Bank.


Lowpoint had a bank which was under the roof of Banta Brothers and Company's store and run by them. It belonged to the Bankers Association. In 1933, two weeks before the bank moratorium, it closed its doors.


Bachman Brothers in Cazenovia also did some banking business.


Schools


The first school taught in Cazenovia Township was possibly the first free school in the state of Illinois. In 1836, a school district was formed which inchided an area from Morsetown to Lowpoint and west to Bricktown. Captain Parker Morse, Rev. James Owen, and Mr. Thomas Jones were interested in furthering education. School was held alternately in the Owen home and in the first schoolhouse, which was built in 1838 near the Owen home. This schoolhouse was of rough logs and had a wood chimney made of sticks and mud. Miss Love K. Morse was the first teacher. This was the first school paid for out of the public fund in northern Illinois. Later, the schoolhouse was moved to Bricktown, and then a few years after that across the hollow. Other early teachers in the log schoolhouse were George W. Taylor and Joseph Perry. To replace this log school- house, the first frame schoolhouse in the


township was built at Bricktown on what was then the Michael Wagner farm.


Over the years, more schools were built. In 1846, on land donated by Henry D. Palmer, a Christian minister of Marshall County, a one-room school was built to serve the Washburn area.


It is believed that Phillip H. Jenkins built the first school building as he was the only carpenter living in Washburn at that time. The building stood near the southeast corner of the school lot, facing east. The room was 14x24 feet, with a 9 ft. ceiling. A long wood stove in the middle of the room, with pipe straight up into the chimney, heated the room in the winter. Wide wooden benches were the seats for the pupils and against the wall was a shelf and a blackboard upon which the children did their writing and figuring. The room had but one door, at the east, two windows at the south and one to the north. Oak siding and studding was used in the struc- ture; shingles, doors, and door and window frames were of walnut.


Not only did the building serve as an educational institution, but it was used for the preaching of the gospel and for many other public meetings. In 1857, having served its purpose, the building was moved southeast, into the edge of the street, to make way for a new and larger school- house. In January 1858, the old building was purchased by Thomas H. Snell, who moved it to Lot 9, Block 9. Echol's Addi- tion. He sold it to William Carson, who sold it to Frederick Benecke, who later sold it to Benjamin Schultz. Mr. Schultz died soon after becoming the owner of the property, but his widow lived there for 22 years. She finally sold it to Mrs. Elizabeth Graber. It has passed through a number of hands since the Graber family left Wash- burn and is now part of the George Rink- enberger home and is one of Washburn's oldest homes.


In IS57, a larger school, 36x26 ft. took its place, to be used until 1877 when the Old Brick School (68x70 feet) replaced it. The outmoded building, purchased by


5


Cazenovia Township


Robert C. McCulloch for $137.50. was moved south one block to Block 5 of Me- Culloch's Addition.


The Old Brick school had two stories and basement, and boasted an ornamental bell tower. Its brick was trimmed with stone. There were four classrooms, library, lunchroom, cloakrooms and elosets, and spacious stairways and hallways. It was well-lighted and had steam heat. The first session in it was held Jan. 2, 1877. In IS78, 141 males and 114 females were in attend- ance; of these, 17 were tuition pupils. There was also a private school, taught by Rev. Ledebur, with 22 pupils.


The first high school class was graduated in ISS4. while Edward Bangs was princi- pal. Graduates were Lilla Fulton, Meta- mora; Eva Hutchison ( Blackmon); Ella Hess, Charles H. Ireland, Emma Younger (DeVault), Josephine Fraser (Holman), all of Washburn; and George Coen of Cazenovia.




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