USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 9
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These pupils who were the objects of so much legis- lation must have a home so that one of the first provisions necessary was a school house. In this county, school
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houses and furnishings were at first very primitive. Set- tlers were few; property was scarce; and as usual taxes were the great burden. But surely our forebears could not complain of the kind of school buildings they had. They were made of logs with a dirt floor and a hole in the middle of the roof or at one end for the smoke to go out as the fire was built on a dirt floor. The windows were spaces where logs were left out for light and incidentally although they were not so planned, for ventilation as there. was no glass in them. The seats were logs split, the flat side up, with legs made by boring holes on the underside of the log and putting heavy wooden sticks in them. Sometimes the logs were laid across other logs for seats. The only desk was a wide puncheon, also made from a log and smoothed off and placed on wooden pins stuck in the wall and called the "writing desk." Only those pupils who took writing could sit at this desk and they only at "writing time."
In these early schools the pupils were allowed to "study out," that is every one said over his lesson so every one else could hear. While some studied spelling, others were reading, still others were adding a "sum." Every few min- utes a pupil snapped his fingers, the teacher nooded assent, the boy or girl then placed a finger under a word on the page, went up to the teacher and held it up for pronouncia- tion. This custom obtained long after the quiet work was required in the school room. To get a head mark was a great incentive to memorize one's spelling lesson. Spelling was recited orally and if the one above failed to spell a word and you spelled it, you "turned him down" and went above him. One might turn down a half dozen at one time or even a whole class. The pupils securing the most head marks in a certain length of time was usually rewarded with a prize from the teacher. Another obsolete custom is that of compelling the teacher to "treat" at Christmas time, that is, provide candy or fruit for the school. In some cases they were real rough if they were not treated, the pupils might lock him out in the cold until he decided to treat.
The first school house the author remembers was a frame building, a long box wood stove in the center, the inevitable writing desk now made of a smooth plank, ink
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stained and barlow carved, still reserved for "writing time." The seats were made of plank with backs that struck you about half way up; lucky, indeed, you were if you reached school early on a zero morning and could get on a bench next to the stove. Nails were driven in the wall for hats and coats and a bench placed abainst the wall for the lunch buckets. Across the end of the room the floor was raised about two feet, with steps the entire length, making a dias or stage; the wall which was across the back of the stage was all black board, simply painted black and on the stage sat a huge desk made of lumber with a lid that raised. This was the teacher's desk where pupil's books were put at night provided there were any beside the old blue back spelling book. The room was really well lighted.
But the main piece of furniture must not be forgotten -the water bucket. "Teacher can Lizzie and I bring some water?" was the oft repeated question. Delighted they were when the affirmative answer was forthcoming. The spring was a pleasant journey; they did not hurry and they al- ways passed the water on their return letting each pupil dip out a drink, and return the dipper to the bucket.
The number of school houses in the county in 1878 was 52; 25 of them were log. In 1884, of the 62 school build- ings then erected, 2 were brick, 52 frame and 8 still re- mained of log. In less than 50 years from the beginning of the present system, 1855, all log buildings were elimi- nated. At the present time, there are in the county, 7 brick, 65 frame school buildings, all meeting the standard of construction and sanitation required by the act of 1915.
Up to the year 1890, women had little or no active part in this county as school officers. But in 1891, Mrs. Viola (Smith) Brown was elected on the school board of district No. 9. She served as clerk for several years and as the first woman in the county to serve in that capacity, made an excellent member of the board. Mrs. Sarah Poor and Mrs. R. M. Fisher were made members of the school board for Vienna in 1892, having the honor of being the first women of the town advanced to that position. Since then, it is not uncommon in Vienna to elect women to the school board. They take fully as much, if not more, interest than the men in matters of education. Miss Sarah J.
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Whittenberg, now Mrs. D. Cover was elected county super- intendent of schools in 1894. She was the daughter of J. S. Whittenberg who had served in the same office 30 years before. She filled her position admirably, in fact, she set such an excellent example that Miss Emma Rebman was elected to the same position soon after. The quality of the service rendered by these women is of as high standard as that given by men.
The custom of an annual graduating exercise for the pupils of the county who had finished the eighth grade was begun in 1891 under the supervision of M. T. Vancleve, County Superintendent. These exercises are always held at the county seat some time after the close of the school term with appropriate program and are a stimulus to the students to finish the course, especially those who intend to take a higher education. These county certificates en- title the holder to entrance in any accredited high school without an examination.
The number of pupils for all graduating classes could not be definitely obtained. The following are the figures available: 1892, 16 or 18; 1894, 20; 1896, 32; 1900, 23; 1901, 13; 1903, 29; 1904, 64; 1905, 35; 1906, 59; 1907, 55; 1908, 100; 1909, 30; 1910, 13; 1911, 40; 1912, 47; 1913, 109; 1914, 126; 1917, 63; 1918, 237; 1919, 208; 1920, 165; 1921, 176; 1922, 203; 1923, 101; 1924, 110. The very appropriate ceremony of planting a county class tree was begun under Miss Rebman in 1913. In addition to the graduation there are state scholarships in the form of four years free tuition in any normal or university in the state given to the pupil making the highest grade in the township. The students securing the scholarships for 1918 were G. E. Chamness, Goreville; Allen Cavitt, Tunnel Hill; Velma Harper, New Burnside; Nora Smoot, Simp- son; Laura Soper, Bloomfield; Evert Elkins, Elvira; Opal Brown, Grantsburg; Violet Avery, Vienna; Edith Bishop, Cache.
The State Fair School of Domestic Science was organ- ized in 1896 under the supervision of the State Agricul- tural Association. Any county having an agricultural association may send one representative to this school and under certain conditions two. Miss Jennett Heaton was given honorable mention for grades made during the term
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of 1919. The State Fair School for boys was organized in 1910 under the same association as the Domestic Science. Each county is entitled to two delegates. Johnson County has usually taken advantage of this opportunity and profit- ed therefrom. F. M. Simpson, a Johnson County boy, had charge of this State Fair School as instructor in 1911. The instructors are from the University of Illinois. William M. Grisson did much during his term of office as county superintendent of schools, to interest the farmer boys; he organized a "Farmers Boys' Club" which reached a mem bership of 400. He offered prizes for the best corn and pigs and created a lively interest among the young agricul- turists. This stimulation of interest was much needed as there had been a tendency for many years to get away from the farm.
The first teachers meeting or institute that was held in the county was under the supervision of H. M. Riden- hower, Sr., who began teaching in this county, 1855, and J. F. McCartney, of Massac County, father of M. N. who is now principal of the V. T. H. S. in 1859 or 60. The Civil War interfered somewhat with education and al- though the meetings may have been continued in some form the first regular institute with program and teachers was held at the old C. P. or Union Church in Vienna, September 12 and 13, 1878 with P. T. Chapman as County Superin- tendent of Public Instruction. From that time, teachers institutes have been annual events in the county. They have added prestige to the school teacher and meant much to them in many ways, especially before attendance at the Southern Illinois Normal became so general. During the summer term, 1885, Dr. D. B. Parkinson now deceased, of the Southern Illinois Normal University, came to Johnson County as an instructor for the county institute for teach- ers, and was recalled regularly in that capacity for ten years. This may explain the large number of Johnson County teachers at Southern Normal.
This story of education so far has dealt mainly with elementary education : there is still a good deal to be said concerning higher education in the county. The city of Vienna realizing the need of and having a suitable .build- ing which had just been finished, opened a high school at its own expense in 1894, with Professor M. N. McCartney
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as Superintendent. Other teachers for the first year were Miss Letha Simmons, (McFatridge), Miss Kate Gray, Miss Lute Fisher, Miss Etta Craig (deceased). This school filled a long needed want in the community and was a suc- cess from the very beginning. The first commencement was held May 10, 1895, at the M. E. Church with the fol- lowing as members of the class: Misses Essie Beal, Ila Covington, Belle Trammell, Anna B. Hook, Ada B. McCall, Ida E. Spann; Messers Walter Jackson, George L. Elkins, James Polk Simpson, Eugene McCall. Dr. Bratton as president of the board presented the diplomas. And the citizens of the little community felt justly proud of the high school. Professor McCartney continued as principal for years. He was succeeded in this capacity by Profes- sors Rubelt, Harry O'Brine, M. T. Van Cleve, Ray Springer Smith, A. L. Whittenberg and A. C. Lentz. The exercises for the final year were also held at the M. E. Church, May 15, 1914. Four girls constituted the class, Francis Simp- son, Harris Ridenhower, Mary Hooker, and Mae Arnold, Mrs. P. T. Chapman presented the diplomas as president of the board; and L. O. Whitnell, of East St. Louis, form- erly of Vienna, made the class address. Thus ended our once high hopes but the need for a high school was greater than ever and while the burden of supporting one was heavier than the small town could bear it was thought there must be some way to provide one.
There had been some agitation for a township high school for some time and in 1911 the question of equiping and supporting one was presented to the people. The peti- tion was lost by a vote of two to one, but the necessity was so great and the promoters were so determined that the matter was presented again in 1913. It carried by a majority of 18 votes. Because of the time it took to issue and place the bonds; the school did not open till the fall of 1914. M. T. Van Cleve was chosen first principal with Mr. Myer, of Clinton, Miss Pritchard, of Lagrange, Mo., as teacher. The residence of James Carter was rented for the term. This was a large house built many years ago by Colonel Samuel Hess and occupied by him as a residence. Although it was a commodious and elegant residence it. was not suitable for a school. Notwithstanding the opposi- tion and the inadequacy of the building and equipment,
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it was a most successful year with an enrollment of ninety- five and a graduating class of six.
A petition was circulated and an election held to dis- continue the high school, June, 1915. This election was contested, but the objections were up-held. As soon as pos- sible another petition asking for a high school was circu- lated and presented to the County Superintendent. She ordered an election September 4th, 1915, and the proposi- tion carried by the small margin of two votes. This de- cision insured a high school and the work went on. A site was decided by ballot. The following year, February, 1916, the matter of voting bonds for a building was carried by sixty-six majority. This vote demonstrated the change in sentiment in favor of higher education.
The township high school building was begun in the summer of 1918 at a most expensive and inconvenient time. Labor and material were both high and hard to get. The cost was perhaps one-half more than it would have been if the project had not been opposed so vigorously in the beginning and the building had been erected two years be- fore.
The term of 1919-1920 was taught in the second story of Chapman's brick building which faces the square and runs along North Fifth street to Vine. Prof. M. N. Mc- Cartney was again at the helm as principal. The graduat- ing exercises of 1920 were held in the high school building. The wisdom of the majority was confirmed that year in the large enrollment of one hundred and seventy five pupils. The present high school is housed in a large two story brick building supplied with auditorium, class rooms, recep- tion room, domestic science room, all equipped for use. There is an excellent heating plant, a lighting system, and a private acetyline gas plant for the household science room. It is, in other words, in every way an up-to-date and mod- ern school building. It was finished in 1920 at a total cost of $70,000.00.
The following statement of the financial condition of the V. T. H. in 1922 will go a long ways to affirm the wis- dom of establishing the high school. Tuition from Johnson County non-high school districts $5,902.36, from Pulaski County $264.00, from Pope County $88.00, individual $19.32. For the year 1923, tuition from non-high school
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district $5,844.27, from Pulaski County $86.70, from Pope County $120.00, total $6,050.97.
During the time of our city high school, 1904, the Southwestern League was formed including several schools. in this section of the state. The object of this league was to test the intellectual, physical, and artistic capacity of the several schools. In 1905 Vienna won the Intellectual and Athletic banner. At different times they won several points in other contests, but not a sufficient number to secure the banner. S. J. Hess, now a student at the Ann Arbor Law School, represented the Vienna township high school, at the Interscholastic Meet in Urbana, in 1916, and won five points for the school.
Archie Mathis, another Johnson County son made the wrestling team at University of Illinois, 1924. This team won the championship of the Big Ten Conference that year. He has a medal for individual work as a wrestler, welter weight, 145 pounds, and was selected by Walter Eckersal for his all All Western Wrestling Team, 1924. Each year the V. T. H. S. has maintained a good foot ball team ready to meet at all times any challenge offered. Ralph Chapman, a Johnson County boy was selected as captain of the Univer- sity of Illinois foot ball team 1913. This team defeated Chi- cago University team of 1914 which had not happened many times before. This team also won the championship of the Six Conference Gridiron Teams the same year. Chap- man was unanimous choice as All Western Guard and was selected by Walter Camp on his honorary "All American Team" as the greatest guard of the year."
Encouragement has been given on different occasions to the students of the county in a small way offering prizes for papers of their own composition. Daniel Chapman Chapter D. A. R. offered a prize in 1912 to any student in the county who would write the best essay on "The Ameri- can Flag." Ray Ford of Robinson district, received the first prize and Joseph W. Looney of Oliver district the sec- ond. The same society offered another prize the following year on the subject of "Good Roads." Miss Sara J. Aus- broks, of Vienna, secured first prize, Orin Nobles, of Bun- combe, the second and Marie Stanley of Vienna high school, received honorable mention. In 1921 a prize was offered to the high school girls for the best paper on "Why should
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I become a nurse." This topic was suggested by the Red Cross to stimulate interest in the duty of nursing. The prize of money was donated by citizens; Mrs. Maggie Hill taking the trouble to collect it and put the proposition be- fore the superintendent. The first prize went to Miss Essye Watson, second to Miss Francis Harvick, third to Miss May Hankins. In 1920 a study of the ability of seniors in the accredited high schools of the state to write English was made. A subject was assigned and themes were written simultaneously by seniors in accredited high schools. These themes were submitted to the University of Illinois and were there scored by the Hilaegas method. Of the three hundred and twenty-one public high schools submitting, V. T. H. S. ranked first. It was third of all the schools. Two private high schools ; Mckendrie, of Lebanon, was first; and Villa De' Chantel, an academy in Rock Island was sec- ond.
Another fact showing the lasting influence of the high school is the life of the Alumni Association. This society was organized the second year of the city high school, 1896, and has been a part of each years' school events since then. It is now twenty-eight years old.
PRESS
The first newspaper published in Johnson County be- gan it's existence some time in the year 1858, possibly in the later part of 1857, the exact date is not known, but the delinquent tax list for the county was printed in "The Jones- boro Gazette" of Union County, May 1857, which is proof there was no paper published in our county at that time. J. D. Moody was the owner and publisher of this initial journal. It was known as "The Johnson County Enquirer." It was a small sheet about one fourth the size of the ordi- nary county paper of today and was issued weekly. Moody must have continued as editor two or three years. Mrs. Eliza Dwyer says he left here about the time of the break- ing out of the Civil War and that his wife issued the paper a short while after he left. We find Jasper Johnson pub- lished, presumably, the same paper in 1861 under the name of "The Advertiser." Johnson enlisted in the Union army 1862, and Andrew Roberts took charge, changing the name to "The Union Courier," Roberts gave a receipt to the sheriff, for advertising land sales, August, 1862, showing he still had charge of the paper at that time.
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The political tendency of the paper must have been republican, judging from the name and an editorial pub- lished in the "Courier" in 1864, of which the following is a part: "It is an undisputed fact, so far as we can learn, that Hon. A. J. Kuykendall is able to more fully concen- trate the strength of the Union element of the thirteenth Congressional district than any other one man." This shows which side of the great question this paper was on at that time. There is also a communication from Captain John T. Mozley of the 120th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the same issue, as follows : "Casualties resulting from the trip through Mississippi, Private John Wood killed instantly and left on the field; wounded, Johnathan B. Green; missing, Lieut. W. A. Francis, James H. Read, Sergts., Charles A. Bain, Absalom English, Henry C. Mullinax; Privates, John B. Cline, James F. Farris, John Jones, Aron T. Fain, John Sereds and John D. Young." Jasper Johnson was again editor in 1864 as a receipt to the sheriff for printing con- firms this fact and it may have been he was editor when the above was published. The paper was sold to Crum & Hogg, who published it for a short time, as we find T. A. Stewart succeeded them in 1866.
The authentic history of the paper at this time is that O. A. Harker and Charles W. Bliss, two young men em- ployed in our schools as teachers, bought the paper in 1867 and issued it as a side line with their teaching. O. A. Har- ker's history is well known to our citizens, and Bliss be- came well known as an editor. He edited "The Montgom- ery News" and gained nation wide fame through his hum- orous "weather prognostications."
Bliss, years afterwards, told his first experience as a journalist at a press meeting, as follows: "Harker and I bought this paper at Vienna, and tried publishing it for awhile, when a man came along wanting to buy a paper. This man felt that he was not financially able to buy the entire plant but made a contract to take over a half interest. He had but one eye. Harker and I were so anxious to be rid of this paper that we got the whole thing off on him be- cause of the defect in his sight." The man referred to in Bliss' story was the Rev. A. Wright. He took charge of the paper in 1868 and changed the name to "The Vienna Artery." He, with his sons as associates, forming A.
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Wright & Co., continued its publication till 1872. It was at this time a seven column paper, with one side printed away from home, and was issued weekly at $1.50 per year.
A. Wright & Co. sold the paper to T. A. Stewart, who published it about two years under the name of "The Her- ald." In 1874, A. J. Alden bought this paper and another small paper, published here by George Johnson, called "The Vienna News" which he consolidated into "The Journal" and thus were brought together the two papers represent- ing the two different factions which had existed in the county.
Later Alden moved to Anna and J. J. Penny succeeded him as editor and publisher for a year or two. "The Jour- nal" fell into the hands of T. Chapman and was edited by J. B. Chapman for a short time, when the plant with its good will was sold to M. A. Smith in 1876. The paper had been issued as the exponent of republican principles, at least since 1864, and for twelve years, Smith having re- christened it "The Johnson County Journal," continued its publication along these same lines. In 1888, he decided to dedicate one page of the paper to the Prohibition cause and issued it as a Prohibition paper under the name of "The Journal" till 1892.
J. F. Hight and W. D. Deans bought the paper fron! Smith, changed its name to "The Reformer" and again turned its interest to the Republican cause. After a short time they sold it to T. J. Murray, 1894, who devoted it en- tirely to the interests of the "Peoples Party. In 1895 the plant and office was burned. Thus ended the life of this struggling press, which had existed almost forty years in our midst. We realize now the necessity of the local paper, but it was not appreciated nor so well supported in its early existence as at the present time. "The Journal" was issued weekly for $1.00 a year until 1886 when the price was raised to $1.25.
"The Johnson County Yoeman" was established here in 1874, by F. W. Shuckers of Cairo, and was first issued in the interest of the Farmers Club campaign. This paper was later devoted to the propagation of democratic prin- ciples, Shuckers was followed as editor by John T. Keith, who had charge for about two years, when T. G. Farris, Jr.
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took it over and continued its publication on this line till his death, in 1879, when the paper was discontinued and the press was moved to Metropolis.
Dr. C. A. Parker established a Democratic paper here in June, 1888, calling it "The Egyptian Democrat." He sold it the following September to his brother, Lucas, who continued its publication for twenty-two years. This was a long time for a Democratic paper to survive in such a decidedly Republican community, demonstrating the pop- ularity of the editor.
"The Burnside Bugler" was published semi-monthly at New Burnside by George Harris of that village, 1893. for a short time. R. A. Hundley bought the "Vienna Her- ald," a Republican paper published here, 1897, and moved it to Tunnel Hill where it was issued as "The Johnson County Republican." It lived less than a year.
For a short while, from 1878 to 1880, there was only one Republican paper in Johnson County. In 1897 there were two Republican papers published here, "The Johnson County Herald" and "The Vienna Times," also one Demo- cratic paper "The Vienna Democrat."
"The Goreville News" was a weekly paper founded in Goreville about 1901 by Isaac Cooper; its policy was inde- pendent. It was issued successively by John Cremeans, Cooper Stout, Ebert Thulen and finally sold to T. H. Sheri- dan in 1905. He brought it to Vienna and published it as "The Vienna News" till 1910. Sheridan engaged in a con- test, publishing scurrilous articles against the county officers and others which created a great deal of bad feel- ing. It engendered bitterness between some of the citizens of the county which took many years to overcome, and fin- ally resulted in Sheridan's killing of Harry Thacker, be- cause of an attack he had made on Harry's father, F. B. Thacker, as a county commissioner. In September, 1905, T. M. Jones, a citizen of Goreville Township, began publish- ing "The Goreville Record," W. H. Hardesty, a Mr. Bramble and J. U. S. Terry were editors of this paper at different times. It was suspended in 1913, having been issued as an independent journal.
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