USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 8
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FAIRS
Most agricultural counties hold a Fair in the late sum- mer or fall of the year. This usually includes racing as well as exhibits and necessitates grounds with a track, stalls, booths and pens for horses and stock together with a large inclosure for eating stands, side shows, merry-go- rounds and various little money making devices. Also much space is used for the wagons, buggies and automobiles of the visitors. There is an ampitheater for the convenience of those who want to see the races, riding and displays of stock. There are suitable buildings for Art exhibits, poul- try, farm and garden products. The object of this annual gathering is quite well understood and the fairs held in this county have, without doubt, been most advantageous in im- proving the grade of live stock, poultry and farm products. It is not known just when the first fair held in this county was organized but it was some time before or about 1861. The grounds included the present site of the Big Four station and the field on the left hand side of the road leading to the station. The promoters were, no doubt, the promi- nent business men and farmers of that time who likely were John Bain, Samuel Jackson, Hon. A. J. Kuykendall, Samuel J. Hess, Samuel S. Copeland, Josiah Throgmorton, S. J. Chapman, D. C. Chapman, Hiram Carson, John Wright, B. S. Smith, William Perkins, James Oliver , S. M. Glassford, Thos. Farris and others. Little is known of the result of this fair or how long it lasted as there are no records to be found at the present time. It is known for certain that A. J. Gray was the most graceful horseback rider at these fairs and that the grounds were used for a camping ground for the soldiers, who were entering the Federal army. They camped there from August until October. Another fact is from the "Vienna Artery" June 1871, "The Old Fair Grounds will be sold at sheriff's sale on the first day of July under excution in favor of Mesrs Sexton and Wright.
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The second Fair Association was organized in 1883 or 1884. The promoters were W. C. Simpson, J. B. Kuyken- dall, T. B. Powell, J. N. Poor, P. T. and J. C. Chapman, Samuel M. Glassford and others. The officers for the year 1888 were S. M. Glassford, president; Thomas B. Powell, secretary; J. N. Poor, treasurer. The financial exhibit for that year was gate and entrance fees, $2,212.00, rents and permits, $310.70; sale of shares of stock, $2,475.00, other resources, $178.70, paid in premiums, $1,626.11 paid for real estate buildings and improvements, $3,519.84, balance in treasury, $31.15. The grounds where this exhibit was held were just across the drainage ditch south and east of Vienna on the left of the road leading to Belknap in what is now P. T. Chapman's fleld. Some of the men securing premiums for graceful horseback riding at this fair were J. K. Elkins, M. A. Hankins and Alfred Oliver, some of the ladies were Lenna Oliver, Fanny Throgmorton and Julia Bridges. This asociation soon fell so far behind financially that it was abandoned.
The third fair corporation was completed in 1905 with William More, J. B. Kuykendall, P. T. Chapman, N. J. Moz- ley, D. W. Whittenberg, W. M. Grisson, J. C. Carter Charles Marshall, C. H. Mason, M. L. Hight, Harry Beauman, J. K. and I. N. Elkins and others as stock holders. The grounds for holding this fair were leased from J. H. Carter, Jr., and lay on the left of the road leading from Vienna, north past the Fraternal Cemetery. They are conveniently located and well arranged with a good track, buildings, and booths. Annual exhibits and races have been held since its organ- ization. It is not a money making institution, so far in its history, but the losses are small and they "carry on." The fair is a paying proposition even though it should not be a financial success. It undoubtedly, has inspired a desire for better live stock, finer fruit and the best in farm products, The year, 1907 was made memorable by the "Home Com- ing" which was held during the fair. It was a decided success and many former citizens coming from all parts of the United States met here, who had not seen each other for many years. The fair adds much to the social activities of the county, acquaintances and friends from this and neighboring counties meet and visit together at the fair that possibly do not meet at any other time.
Each year the managers have had some special feature
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for entertainment. In 1912 they brought the first flying machine here that had ever landed in the county. It was an aeroplane. In 1920 a byplane did a good business during fair week taking parties for flights at $10.00 per trip. J. B. Hankins of Vienna has always taken the prize for the best horseback rider at this fair when he would enter. He also always has some fine saddlers on exhibition, if he does does not enter the competition, everyone knows he would have been entitled to the blue ribbon as the best rider and as having the best saddle horse. Very few ladies ride horseback in this county since the days of automobiles. Miss Gertrude Powell took the blue ribbon for the best lady rider at the fair several years ago. The fair association was reorganized last year (1923) with J. M. Brown, E. F. Throgmorton, P. T. Powell, George Gray, J. N. Mozley, Lloyd Farris and T. C. Taylor as stockholders. The state assists all agricultural fairs.
SPORTS
The rod and gun have furnished sports and diversion since the days of Nimrod, perhaps before, as well as being the principal means of furnishing sustenance for oneself and family before the days of plenty. There has always been an abundance of game in Johnson County on account of the timber and secluded places for their propagation. Trapping is now and has been a lucrative business in this county many years. We have many fur bearing animals, coon, mink, otter and fox. Fox hunting is a favorite diversion with many of our sportsmen. They take their dogs to the bluffs and caves which are the haunts of the fox, and get one started running. The sport is in listening to the dogs as they run and send up their peculiar wail. The hunters enjoy their music and are able to tell whose dog is in the lead in the race. It is not the intent of the sportsman to catch the fox as the English do, but merely to have the chase. It is a picture to see the hunters going out about sundown, several in a group, with their automobiles filled with hounds and many following.
Fishing is another pastime indulged in by some of our citizens. The larger streams abound in cat and grinnell. The smaller creeks have perch and we have a few game fish, none native. The State Commission have stocked pri-
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vate ponds so that some of our farmers, who have taken the trouble, have good fishing.
Much of the wild game has been exterminated, but thanks to our state game law, we still have some wild game such as the quail and squirrel, but in later years. our home game has been too tame for some of our sportsmen and a hunting club was organized in 1892. L. A. Knowles was captain and always led the van, never permitting anything to hinder him from the hunting trip to Mississippi, Louisi ana, or Colorado, which always occurred in the fall. Other members were Judge A. K. Vickers, Cass Oliver, M. A. Smith, W. L. Williams, Judge W. W. Duncan, of Marion, Judge Wm. Butler of Cairo, Daniel Clymer, John Thornton,. John Mowery, Dick Redden, H. V. Carter, W. G. Jackson, L. L. Sanders and Henry Curtis. These men went annually and spent a month or six weeks' killing deer, and what ever small game they would deign to notice, and no doubt forgot all their worries, if they had any, and giving way to the aboriginal in them for a time. Judge A. K. Vickers, M. A. Smith, Henry Curtis, L. A. Knowles and Judge But- ler have passed on. It remains to be seen if the hunting club survives.
Quail hunting is, and no doubt, has always been one of the most widely followed sports of this county. These beautiful and useful little birds abound on every farm, and following an open winter, one will see coveys of them on the road side every few rods. During the season when the quail law is off or on, whichever way one looks at it, one can see the hunters with guns and dogs going out early and late. Many farmers now post their farm and hunting is allowed only by permission. In former times, when this was not a rule, crowds of hunters came from the cities and neighboring towns to this county for bird shoot- ing.
The squirrel season is rather short, the hunters think, but killing squirrel is not considered as fine a sport as quail shooting, and many farmers are glad to have the pretty little gray pests killed, as they destroy a great deal of corn in the fields. In the winter season when the snow is on, many enjoy rabbit hunting, especially the boys. It furnishes sport for Saturdays, if they have a good dog, and also a little pocket change, as rabbits are shipped to city markets from here during the winter season.
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EDUCATION
As in all other frontier countries the opportunity in this county for an education was very meager. The few schools, were taught in residences, churches, or improvised school houses. They were private or subscription, the par- ent or guardian paying so much per month or term for each scholar subscribed. The teacher boarded round with each pupil as part of his salary .. These terms were irregu- lar and the teachers were all men. Teaching was not held in very high esteem these first years for it was usually considered a "lazy man's job." The reason for this mis- conception, no doubt, was that many men without families who were not qualified mentally or morally fell onto the plan of teaching as a means of getting a living. Since in the new country, there were no fixed standards of qualifi- cation this was an easy matter. This was not the rule but there was enough of this class to discredit the profession.
The first free school law was framed and passed in this state in 1825.
Under this law the first school district was laid off in this county, May, 1825, as follows: Beginning at John Copeland's (the farm where Alfred Hook now lives,1922) and running northwest with the road leading toward George Brazell's so as to include John Finny and Charles Fain, (who lived west of Vienna about where the Huster settlement is now) from there so as to include John Gore, the farm just this side of the rocky hill on the West Vienna road known as the Dicky Carlton farm, from there east so as to include James Jones, whose farm is now included in the Fred Shelter and J. M. Brown farms and Mathew Mathis, (the Looney farm,) James Bain, (Levi Smith's also known as the Vickers farm) to Joel Johnson's who lived at that time where Lloyd Farris now lives, so as to in- clude Johnson, thence in a southwest direction to include Dave Shearer, (this farm is now owned by James Beach and John Dunn) then to John Copeland's, the place of beginning. All this was to be known as the School dis- trict of Vienna. From this description of the bounds of the first district, it is not hard to conclude that the guid- ing principle in shaping its boundaries was to include cer- tain families regardless of the resulting size and shape.
The court also ordered the following boundaries.
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Recognizing the petition of the citizens under the free school law of 1825 To-wit: "Beginning at James Jones, Sr., thence a south course to the school district line of Vienna, thence east along so as to include Elias Harrell thence north to include W. J. Wise and Samuel McGown, thence west so as to include Joseph Kuykendall, thence to the be- ginning and the said district be known as the Bloomfield district.
And that a school district be established and called the Cache district commencing at George Brazel's, thence north so as to include William McGinnis, thence west so as to include Robert Lott, thence southwest to the county line so as to include John Standard, thence east to Cache, thence to the beginning," both ordered June term court, 1825.
June, 1825, ordered that a school district be establish- ed within the following boundaries, To-wit: "Beginning at Sec. 16, Township 13, Range 2, east running westward so as to include Thomas Standard, Lewis Worrell, William Jones and the widow Standard, thence to the county line, thence south along the county line to Cache River, thence up the same to the range line between 2 and 3 thence up said line north to a point due east from the 16th Sec., thence west to the place of beginning." This was West Eden dis- trict.
The fact that those early settlers took advantage so quickly of this free school law indicated their tendency to- ward progress. There was no compulsory school law as yet. A great many parents, having no education themselves, did not believe in it for their children, and did not take ad- vantage of the opportunity offered by the free school law. The benefits of educations were not, therefore, reaching the masses as had been hoped. Realizing that the educa- tional system then in operation was not doing for the people what it should, the legislature enacted into law in 1855, the foundation of the present state system. Townships were laid off into school districts, three and four to a township. An attempt was made to provide that no pupil be obliged to walk more than two miles to school and school boards were compelled to maintain school not less than six months in each year and to authorize a sufficient levy to support them. Older people have said that this law
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met with a great deal of bitter opposition in this county. This new uniform program raised the standard of quali- fications of the teacher and added thereby dignity to the profession.
The earliest teacher that we have a record of in this county was Daniel T. Coleman. It is not certain, even, that he taught in the present limits of the county. The evidence to establish him as the first teacher is found in the estate of Nathaniel Green.
From Major A. J. Kuykendall we glean the following interesting information concerning the first school, in the present limits of Johnson County. The school was taught in 1819 by Hiram Chapman, a native of N. Y. and a great uncle of Judge P. T. Chapman. It was taught near the present site of Bloomfield. The most advanced pupil in the school was James Kuykendall, a brother of the Major and five years older. The nearest school to this was Equal- ity in Saline. That school was conducted by an eastern man, as they were then called, and the most advanced pupil in that school was Choisser, an uncle of W. V. Chois- ser of Harrisburg. During the school term, Chapman re- ceived a challenge from the teacher of Equality in which the most advanced pupil in each school was to be matched against the other in "saying pieces." The challenge was accepted and the contest at the Bloomfield school resulted in victory for the Bloomfield pupil. This was a notable event in those days and well it may have been, when we consider the distance and mode of travel at that time.
From the statement of his grandson, James P. Cope- land, John Copeland, the pioneer, helped to build the first school house in his neighborhood and taught the first school in it. This school may have been the first free school in 1825. It is clear that the last two teachers named taught in the present county limits. Some other early teachers were Hezekiah West, Nesbit Allen, 1818, father of W. C., Isaac Stalcup, James Pattilla, a Scotch- man, William Peebles, Herrelstone, Samuel Hambleton, Joseph Carmichael, Russel, J. W. Terrell, A. A. Mather, C. W. Bliss, Dr. J. B. Ray, Hiram Wise, Minnicks, A. J. Kuy- kendall, David Bayles, Barney Smith, L. L. Madden, H. M. Ridenhower, Sr., Asahel Burnett, J. S. Whittenberg, L. W. Fern, Dr. W. A. Looney, Joseph Warder, A. M. Marschalk,
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B. F. Lewis, Col. Toler, D. C., Lee and Tamerlane Chapman, Barney Smith, C. N. Dawson, Standard, W. A. Spann, Jasper Johnson, Franklin Thomas, Samuel and James Cope- land, L. F. Jacobs, Joshua and James Simpson. Most of these antedate the Civil War; some were about war times; and the following a little later : I. A. J. Parker, B. F. Olden, O. A. Harker, Charles W. Bliss, P. G. McAvoy, A. B. Garrett, M. A. Smith, A. G. and C. N. Damron, Dr. John Keesee, P. T. Chapman, A. G. Benson, J. S. Francis, W. S. Curtis, R. M. Fisher. Some of these men have gone into other professions and made a name for themselves.
The first woman teacher recorded was Miss Emma Driver, a young English girl from New York. She prob- ably came to Johnson County some time before 1855. She taught a private school in Vienna. Mrs. Joseph Warder and Mrs. Isabell Marschalk were teachers here about 1854 or 1855. There were also Mrs. Chase, wife of an architect, Mrs. Mariah Benson, Miss Ann Stewart. In 1878 there were only four women teachers in the county; by 1881 there were thirty-five. The number of women teachers employed in the schools at the present time is 55. The average wage paid men in the grades is $678.26. The av- erage wage paid teachers of the county for the year 1858 was $151.00; in 1860 there was no report; in 1870, $180.00 in 1880, $185.00; in 1890, $183.00; in 1900,$226.00; in 1910, $271.00 ; in 1920, $495.00. It can be seen that the pay for teachers has doubled in the last twenty years. In 1884 there were 5,268 children of school age in the county ; seventy-five teachers were employed with an aver- age wage for men of $39.15 per month, and for women, $34.17 per month. In 1908 there were 7,588 children in the county, with 4,792 enrolled in the schools; the average monthly wage paid men for that year was $47.10, women $35.10.
In 1914, under the superintendency of Miss Emma Rebman the county was given a large flag, 13x30 feet. The state presented this flag as a prize to the county because it had the best average attendance in proportion to the number of pupils enrolled. It may be interesting to men- tion at this point some personal records of attendance. Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Harris, living in school district 57, Berea neighborhood had six children in school during the term of 1908-09. Not one of these children was absent or tardy
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during the entire term. Another record of strict attend- ance to business which deserves mention, is that of Miss May Hankins of Vienna who finished the Vienna Town- ship High School, June, 1921. She had not been absent from schol an entire day since she entered the first grade. How much it would mean to teachers and pupils if this were the rule instead of the exception.
In 1819 the county commisioners court was given gen- eral powers over school land as well as establishing dis- tricts; by an act of 1825 the office of school trustee was created. The name of this board was changed to "school directors" by an act of the legislature of 1841. 1827 an act was passed whereby the county commissioners should appoint township trustees. Later the office of trustees as well as school director was made elective. The township trustees had about the same duties they now have except for a short time, they were given power to examine teachers. The following is an extract from an old trustee's record of 1864-68. In 1864 John McCorcle, Thomas A. Gillespie, and J. F. Holt were the trustees for township 13, S. Range 3 east; A. M. Marschalk taught in district 1, 1864-65. His schedule amounted to $200.00 for the term; Mrs. I. Marschalk taught at the same time in the same dis- trict, for the same amount. T. Chapman taught in district 2, in 1864-65 his salary was $270.00. C. W. Hutchinson and D. R. Watson were teachers of 1863-64. In 1864, $10.15 was allowed district No. 1 from district No. 5 for tuition for William, Sarah, Dicy, Susan and Frank Morris. Other teachers of 1864 were Samuel E. Bancornis, John N. Johnson. In 1865 they were Mariah Benson, J. W. Jen- kins; 1866, Joseph Warder, O. L. Ridenhower, W. L. Blackwell, M. L. Kuyler. Trustees for 1866 were B. F. Bellemy, James W. Bales, Samuel Jackson, John S. Crum, Treasurer. The list of teachers from 66-68 is, Aschel Burnett, Nancy E. Williford, Richard Thatcher, C. S. Norris, W. H. Thomas, W. W. Boyt, N. J. Slack, O. A. Harker, W. S. Curtis. The number of children in the Vienna district in 1873 was 236.
The office of school commissioner was established in 1831; in 1841 such commissioners were given authority to examine teachers. This office was changed to county super- intendent in 1855. The name of W. J. Wise is given as
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school commissioner in 1836, also as late as 1850. The power of passing on the qualification of teachers was exer- cised by the county superintendent until 1913, when it was delegated to the State Examining Board. W. H. Culver was elected county superintendent in 1855 and served in that office till 1865. He signed as commisioner through common usage.
The following is a receipt which was given to D. C. Chapman as Sheriff and there were several other similar ones that ran up as far as 1863: "Received of D. C. Chap- man of fine money assessed in the circuit court against A. H. Hill in five cases, $10.00 each, fifty dollars of which this is a duplicate, (date not known), this 6th day of June, 1857. W. H. Culver, School Commissioner," which should have been County Superintendent. The fact that these receipts cover a period of seven years indicates that he held the office two terms and that Culver was the only one holding the office of County Superintendent under the 1855 law, till 1865 from which time we have a complete record.
Under the office of school commissioner they were allowed to appoint examiners who issued certificates. J. B. Chapman was an examiner at one time, having issued a certificate to W. A. Spann in 1861. H. M. Ridenhower, Asahel Burnett, Newton Pearce, Dr. Bratton and Dr. J. M. C. Damron are names which have been given orally as examiners at different times, but there is no record of these and there were, no doubt, many other examiners whose names have not been obtained. J. S. Whittenberg is the first name recorded in the county as superintendent of schools and the following is a report sent in by him to the State Superintendent in 1865. It is evident from the phrasing that this is not his first report indicating that he probably followed Culver in the office of County Super- intendent. "Since my last report of the public schools in this county, the cause of education has steadily advanced, and a position is now gained from which we may antici- pate greater results in the future. A more intimate ac- quaintance with the workings of the free school system has dissipated, in a great measure, the prejudice of its opponents, and secured for it a surer place.in the confidence of the masses. Among the hopeful indications of the year just closed are, an increased interest shown by the people
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in regard to their schools, a more careful selection of men to fill the offices of trustees and directors, and a growing demand for a better class of teachers. These encouraging facts inspire the hope that the day is not far distant when our public schools shall receive the attention their import- ance demands. The last returns of township treasurers to this office, though not entirely free from error and incon- sistency, are much more full and reliable than formerly. During the last year I have visited all the schools in the county and in most of the districts have met the citizens at night, and given them a lecture on questions of educa- tional interest. As a result of my visits, I have seen the necessity that exists for thorough supervision. Teachers and school officers need to consult freely with some one intimately acquainted with the conditions and wants of each particular school and district, and at the same time familiar with the improvements in school discipline, text books, school architecture, etc., which are continually being made. I am fully satisfied that an efficient man in each county, with sufficient salary to enable him to devote all his time and energy to the work, would render the money annually expended for the support of schools more than doubly efficacious than it now is.
As to amendments to the school law, I have none to submit, except to provide for a more perfect supervision of school. This may be done by allowing the superinten- dents a reasonable per diem in cash, in the place of the per diem in county orders, which generally fall one-third be- low par, thereby making the superintendent's pay merely nominal."
The school law of our state has been improved from time to time since 1855 by lengthening the term and in making attendance compulsory. The first law of this kind was passed in 1883, compelling parents or guardians to send children under 14 to school a certain number of days in each year. In this same law such varied subjects as physical training and proper care of the teeth were made obligatory and as early as 1897 the effect of alcohol and narcotics became a required subject.
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