USA > Illinois > Edwards County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 39
USA > Illinois > Wabash County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 39
USA > Illinois > Lawrence County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 39
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Privat.s .- Armer, John (Lawrence Co).
Addison, Aaron (Lawrence (o.), must. out Sept. 4, 1865, as Sergt. Davis, William (Lawrence Co.), must, out Sept. 4, 1865, as Sergt. Johosen, Jas. R. (Lawrence Co.), died at Tullahoma, Tenn., May 2, 1865.
Lee, Francia M. (Lawrence Co), died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Aug. 16, 1865. Lee, Charles E. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 4, 1865. Tinsley, William N. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 4, 1865. Woods, John (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 4, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY O.
Privates .- Cook, Thomas (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 4, 1865. Gassert, Henry (Edwards Co.), mustered out Sept. 4 1805. Moure, John (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 4, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY E.
Privates .- Banghman, Oliver (Edwards Co.), mustered out Sept, 4, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY A.
Privates .- Bucklin, Sylvester (Lawrence (Co.), mustered out Sept, 20, 1865. Godrich, Charles B. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 20, 1865. Hayworth, William (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Sept. 20, 1865. Noble, Lewis G. (Lawrence Co.), died at Memphis Aug. 8, 1866.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY F.
Musicians .- George C. Grimes (Lawrence Co.), M. O. Aug. 25, 1865, ss Sergt. Laybourn, Benj. (Lawrence Co.), absent sick at M. O. of Regt. Lawness, Isaac C. (Lawrence Co.), mnstered out Sept. 20, 1865. Loomis, Defariet (Lawrence Co.). mustered out Sept. 20, 1865.
136th Regiment Indiana Volunteers.
The following named parties enlisted in this regiment from Wabash county, Illinois :
J. T. Burkett, Company H, 136th Indians Vols. James Parkinson, Co. H, 136th Indiann Vols. James H. Beall, Co. H, 136th Indiana Vols. Wm. P. Habberton. Co. H, 136th Indiana Vols. James H. Bell, Co. H, 136th Indiana Vols. S. D. Greer, Co. H, 136th Indiana Vols. Thomas Sharp, Co. H, 136th Indiann Vols. Wm. Turner, Co. H, 136th Indiana Vols. L. M. Turner, Co. H, 136th Indiana Vole. M. L. Tilton, Co. C, 136th Indiana Vols. Stephen Williamson, Co. C, 136th Indiana Vols. Juo. Voll, Co. C, 136th Indiana Vols. Christian Walter, Co. A. 136th Indiana Vols. Mack H. Moyer, Co. F, 136th Indians Vols.
Cavalry Service-4th Cavalry Regiment.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY A.
Recruits .- Bellows, Wm. H. (Lawrence Co.), transf to Co. G, 12th Ill. Cav. mustered out Oct. 11, 1865.
Karney, Patrick. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out May 22, 1865. ParkIns, James H. (Lawrence Co.), transf to Co. G, 12th III., Cav. Mustered out Oct. 11th, 1865.
5th Cavalry Regiment.
This regiment was organized at-Camp Butler, Nov. 8, 1861. Ordered to Jefferson barracks, Mo., February 20, 1862. March 3d, reached Pilot Knob. On the 29th of June following became a part of General Curtis' command. Also, took part in the fight at Cotton Plant, and the expedition to Duvall's Bluff, and engaged in the pursuit of Marmaduke. In July was with Sher- man's army at Jackson, Miss. Was in the expeditions to Meridian, Canton, Grenada and the Yellow Bush.
156
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Participated in the battles and skirmishes at Browns- ville, Port Gibson, Natchez and Tonica Bend. In '64 was in an expedition to Arkansas and Louisiana. Sta- tioned for a time at Hempstead, Texas. Ordered to Springfield, Ills. Was mustered out, receiving final pay- ment, Oct. 30, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY F.
Veterans .- Karna, John R. (Lawrence Co.) muat, out Oct. 21, '65, as Sargt. Recruits .- Hendrick, George (Edwards Co.) must. out May 11, 8865. Snider, Jolin (Lawrance Co.) mustered out Oct. 21, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY G.
Recruits-Edmundson, William (Lawrence Co).
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H.
Recruits .- Ewing, Johnaon (Edwards Co.), died Camp Butler, Ill., Feb. 28, 1864. Smith, William (Lawrence Co.)
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY I.
Recruits-Andrews. Jno, (Lawrence Co.), Corpl. transf. to V.R.C. May.,15, '65 Buchannan, Joseph R. (Lawrence Co.), must. out Oct. 27, 1865. Chapel, Philo N. (Lawrence Co.), muatered out Oct. 27, 1865. Derrermes, Louis (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Oct. 27, 1865. Drennan, Benj. (Lawrence Co.), died at Vicksburg Aug. 31, 1864. Eaton, Alonzo (Lawrence Co.), Discharged July 25, 1864. Edmundson, Jas. E. (Lawrence Co.), died at Vicksburg Ang. 8, '64. England, Jefferson (Lawrence Co.), died at Vicksburg Oct. 10, '64. Garrison, Manchester, )Lawrence Co.), must. out Oct. 27, 1865. Kelley, Thomas J. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Oct. 27, 1865. Litherland, George (Wabash Co.), mustered out May 31, 1865. Litherland, John (Wabash Co.), died at Vicksburg Oct. 8, 1864. Mienro, Chas. (Lawrence Co.), died Lawrenceville, Ill., Mar, 4,'65. Orr, Jesse F. (Lawrence Co.), muatered out May 13, 1865. Patterson, George (Wabash Co.), muatered out Oct. 27, 1865." Pelkey, Joseph Lawrence Co.), mustered out Oct. 27, 1865. Potvine, Chaa. (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Oct 27, 1865. Patterson, Wm. (Wabash Co.), died at Vicksburg March 28, 1864. Paeper, Charles ( Lawrence Co).
Quick, John (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Oct. 27, 1865. Ramaey, James E. (Wabash Co.), must. out Oct. 27. 1865, as Corpl. Racine, Henry (Lawrence Co.), diad at Memphis March 18, 1864. Smither James (Wahash Co ), died at Vicksburg Nov. 5, 1864. Tugana, Felix (Lawrence Co.), mustered out May 24, 1865. Utter, Henry (Lawrence Co.). mustered out Oct. 27, "65, a + Corpl. Warren, William (Wabash Co.), must. out Oct. 27, 1865, as Bergt.
UNASSIGNED RECRUITS.
Coffman, Leander (Lawrence Co). Do an, John (Lawrence Co). Edmison, William (Lawrence Co). Southerland, Asa (Lawrence Co). Smithers, Louis M. (Lawrence Co).
Adjutant .- Sylvanua Gard (Edwards Co.), resigned Aug. 29, 1865. MUSTER ROLL COMPANY E.
First Lieutenant .- Jos. Frazier (Edwards Co.), mustered out Nov. 6, 1865. Serund Li utenant .- Elijah G. Tarpley (Lawrance Co). . First Sergeant .- Arthur St. Clair (Edwards Co ), vet., must. out Nov. 5, 1865. Ser eanl .- Jefferson. Spray (Edwarda Co.), veteran.
Corporuls .- James Curtis (Edwarda Co.), vet., died at Mound City, Itl .. May 15, 1855. David Great house (Edwards Co).
Farrier .- Chas. E. Marks (Edwards Co.), mustered ont Jan. 4, 1865. Privates .- Asa, James (Edwards Co.), mustered out Jan. 4, 1865.
Brock, William (Edwards Co). Blakely, Thomas (Edwards Co.), died at Memphis Oct. 7. 1864. Blakely, James A. (Wabash Co.), died at Memphis May 4, 1864. Byford, John H. (Edwards Co).
Bradshaw, John (Edwarda Co). Bratton, James (Edwards Co). Bond, Leonard C. (Edwards Co.), vet., muat. out Nov. 5, 1865. Bond, Martin (Edwards Co).
Biehl, Daniel (Edwarda Co.), mustered out Jan. 4, 1865. Cropper, Lovel E. (Edwards Co.), vet., must. out Nov. 5, 1865. Curtis, Henry (Edwards Co).
Esly, Daniel (Edwarda Co.), mustered out Nov. 6, 1885. Gaddy, Sion (Lawrence Co.), vet., mustered out May 5, 1865. George, Thomas'(Lawrence Co.), mustered out Jan. 10, 1865. Gaddy, George M (Lawrence Co.), mustered out Jan. 4, 1865. Gaddy, James E. (Lawrence Co.), vet., must. out May 5, 1865. Greathouse, Isaac (Edwards Co.), died in Cahaba prison, Ala. Aug. 4, 1864.
Guyot, Adam (Edwards Co.), disch. Deo. 18, 1864. Term oxp. Hill, Sterling M. (Edwards Co.), muatered out Jan. 4, 1865. Lewis, Stephen S. (Edwards Co.), mustered out Jan. 4, 1865. Mounts, Thomas (Edwards Co.) disch. Dec. 18, 1864. Term Exp. Mount«, Hiram (Edwards Co.), vet., mustered out Nov. 5, 1865. Mullmey, Wm. (Lawrence Co.), diach. Dec. 18, 1865. Tarm exp. Park, Elsberry (Edwards Co.), vet., mustered out Nov. 5, 1865. Shelby, George C. (Edwards Co).
Thread, John F. (Edwards Co).
Terry, John A. (Edwarda Co.), vet., musterød out Nov. 5, 1865. Thorne, Jatoea T. (Edwards Co). Turoar, Jesse (Wabash Co). Vaughn, Samuel H. (Edwards Co). Whitaker, Aquilla (Edwards Co.), disch. Dec., 1864. - Tarm axp. Recruits .- Clodfalter, George (Edwards Co.), vet. MUSTER ROLL COMPANY F.
Corporal .- Samnel F. Draka (Wabash Co).
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY M.
Second Lieutenant .- Benton E. Batterbenner, (Wabash Co.), mustered out Nor. 6, 1865.
Seventh Cavalry.
This regiment was organized September, 1861, with Col. Wm. Pitt Kellogg in command.
MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY E.
Captains-John Etheridge, (Edwards Co.), pro, to 1st sergt. then 2d and 1st lieut. pro. capt. May 23, 1863, musterod out Nov. 5, 18+ 5. Corporals-Butler Enlow (Edwards Co.), disch. March 14, 1863; diaability. Joseph Noble, (Wabash County), died Jan. 8, 1862.
Buglers-William Shultz, (Edwards Co.), vet., M. O. Nov. 4, 1865, as corpl. John Mathers, (Edwards County), disch. Nov. 6, 1862; disability. Privates-Brisendan, John (Edwarda County), transferred to Regimental Band, mustered out July 4, 1862.
Bender, Frederick (Edwards Co.), vet., mustered out Nov. 4, '65. Etheridge, Job D. (Edwarda Co.), M. O. Oct 15, 1864, as corporal. Etheridge, Michael (Edwards Co.), M. O. Oct. 15, '64, as corporal. Enlow, James W. (Edwards Co.), dis. Oct. 27, 162, 88 corpl .; dis'ty. Helke, Jolın G. (Edwards Co.), vet., M. O. Nov. 4, 1865, as corpl. Hea. sum, George (Edwards Co.), vet., M. O. Nov. 4,'65, as sergt. Lischer, Samuel B. (Wabash County), vet., promoted Asaiatant Surgeon, 100 U. S. C. I. McC ary, John (Edwards County), died Jan. 22, 1862.
Maxwell, George R. (Edwards Co.), M. O. Oct. 15, 1864, as sergt. Orin, Charles F. (Edward& Co.), vet., M. O. Nov. 4, '65, as Ist sergt. Rutt, Augustus (Edwards Co.), killed at Memphis, Aug. 21, 1864. Smith, Stephen (Edwarda Conoty), mustered out Oct. 15, 1864. Spencer, Henry E. (Edwarda Co.), vet., M. O. Nov. 4, '65, 89 sergt. Taylor. John (Edwards { ounty), vet., muatered out Nov. 4, 1865. Voigt, F A. (Edward& Co.), vet., M. O. Nov. 4, 1865, as sergeant. Webber, Mathias (Edwards Co.), M. O. Oct. 15, 1865, as sergeant. Wiad, Jolın (Edwards Co.), vet , M. O. Nov. 4, '65, as blacksmith. Recruits-Goforth, Wm. A. (Wabash County), mustered out Nov. 4, 1865. Handle, Adam (Edwards County), mustered out May 31, 1865. Maser, Joseph (Wabash Co.), killed at Memphia, Aug. 21, 1864.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY G.
Recruit-Leathers, John M. (Wabash County), muatered out Nov. 4, 1865. Unasagned Recruits-Phillips, George (Lawrence County.) Robinson, Georga (Lawrence County.)
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY G.
Private-Hutchinson, Claiborn D. (Lawrence County), died May 29, 1863.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H.
Ebenezer C. Litherland, (Wabash County), muatered out at Consolidation. Corporal-Alfred H. Clark, (Wabash County.) Privates-Akin, Joseph (Wabash County )
Fowler, Frederick (Wabash County.)
Litherland, Charles (Wabash County), discharged Feb. 20, 1862, for promotion as Hospital Steward, U. S. A.
Phillip-, Absalom (Wabash County.)
Ramsay, James E. (Wabash Co.), disch. Oct. 7, 1861; disability.
Thompson, William (Wabash County), died at Banton Barracks, Nov. 6, 1861. Tice, Joseph J. (Wabash County.)
Veteran-Hill, Elkanah M. (Wabash County), sergeant, transferred to Co. I 10th Cavalry as Consolidated.
Battery M, First Artillery.
Privates-Ryan, Daniel (Lawrence County), mustered out July 24, 1865. Ralph, Joseph (Lawrence County), mustered out July 24, 1865. Unassigned Recruits-Clay, Henry. Caton, Thomas.
First Army Corps.
ENLISTED MEN OF COMPANY NO. 6.
Metzdorf, Anton (Lawrence County.) Mitchel, Adam (Lawrence County.) Rambeau, Lewis (Lawrence County.)
2nd U. S. Artillery.
RECRUIT FOR THE REGULAR ARMY, Smith, John (Lawrence County.)
- CHAPTER XII.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS .- THE SCHOOL SYS- TEM OF THE STATE-ITS GROWTH, RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT.
HE educational history of few even of the older States is more instructive or full of interest than the educational history of Illinois, and especially that part relating to the development and growth of her system of common schools. It has en- couraged and nurtured education since its admission into the Union.
157
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The present school system really dates from January 15, 1825. Illinois was admitted as a State in 1818, and the act of admission contains the following stipulations imposed by Congress: " Whereas the Congress of the United States, in the act entitled " An act to enable the people of Illinois Territory to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State in the Union on equal footing with the original States, passed the 13th of April, 1818, have offered to this con- vention, for the free acceptance or rejection, the follow- ing proposition, which, if accepted by the convention, are to be obligatory upon the United States, viz: 1. The section numbered sixteen in every township, and when such section has been sold, or otherwise disposed of, other land equivalent thereto, and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to the State for the use of the inhabitants of such township for the use of schools. 2. That all salt springs within such State shall be granted to the said State for the use of said State, and the same to be used under such terms, and conditions and regula- tions as the Legislature of said State shall direct: Pro- vided, the Legislature shall never sell or lease the same for a longer period than ten years at any one time. 3. That five per cent. of the net proceeds of the lands lying within such State, and which shall be sold by Congress from and after the first day of January, 1819, after de- ducting all expenses incident to the same, shall be re- served for the purposes following, viz .: Two-fifths to be disbursed under the direction of Congress, in making roads leading to the State; the residue to be appropri- ated by the Legislature of the State for the encourage- ment of learning, of which one sixth part shall be ex- clusively bestowed on a college or university. 4. That thirty-six sections, or one entire township, which will be designated by the President of the United States, to- gether with the one heretofore reserved for that purpose, shall be reserved for the use of a seminary, and vested in the Legislature of the said State, to be appropriated solely to the use of said seminary by the said Legisla- ture.
From the foregoing it will be seen with what care and jealou-y the general government guarded the school interests of the new formed States. These grants and conditions were accepted by the convention which assem- bled at Kaskaskia in July, 1818, for the purpose of framing a constitution for the new State. Hon. Shad- rach Bond, a man of marked ability was elected first Governor of Illinois. In his inaugural address to the general assembly, he called their special attention to the educational interests of the State in the following forci- ble language : " The subject of education, the means for which have been so amply provided by the bounty of the general government, cannot fail to engross your se- rious attention. It would be well to provide for the ap- pointment or election of trustees in each township, suffi- ciently populated, and empower them to lease, for a limited period, the section of land reserved and granted for the use of schools within the same, requiring them
to appropriate the rents arising therefrom to such use and in the manner to be prescribed by law. The town- ships of land which have been granted to the State for the use of a seminary of learning, cannot, it is believed, be so disposed of at present as to authorize the passage of a law to commence the undertaking ; but at least a part of them may be leased, and the rents arising there- from may be laid up or vested in some productive fund as a secure deposit to be hereafter appropriated to the object to which the grants were made; such a course will render those lands productive, and when the period shall arrive at which it may be advisable to sell them, they will be extensively improved and of great value. These donations, together with the three per cent. upon the net proceeds arising from the sale of the public lands within the State, which have been appropriated for similar purposes, with proper arrangements, will create a fund sufficiently large to educate the children of the State to the remotest period of time. It is our imperious duty, for the faithful performance of which we are an- swerable to God and our country, to watch over this interesting subject. No employment can be more en- gaging than those of husbanding those resources which will spread through all classes of our fellow-citizens the means of wisdom and of knowledge, which in the free- dom of our institutions will make the child of the poor- est parent a useful member of society and an ornament to his country."
The first general assembly was too much engrossed with other matters of state to give this portion of the governor's message the attention it deserved; but at its second session it took cognizance of the recommenda- tions contained in his first message, and a bill was passed by both houses, and approved by the governor, March 2, 1819. It provided for the appointment by the county commissioners in each and every county, of three trustees in each township, who were in six months after appointment authorized to employ a surveyor, who should lay off section sixteen in each township into lots not con- taining less than forty nor more than one one hundred and sixty acres, and to lease the same for a term of ten years, for the purpose of creating a revenue for school purposes. As this law was general in its tenor, it was sufficient to protect and throw around these school lands a proper safeguard; and had the recommendations of the governor and the provisions of the law been ad- hered to until the lands became valuable, the public fund in nearly every township in the state would be to-day sufficient to maintain our public schools, without special taxation. Unwise counsel prevailed somewhere, and the most of this munificent gift of the general gov- ernment has been largely sacrificed.
From 1819 to 1825 but few changes were made in the school law. Although the changes were few and un- important, there was a decided growing sentiment fa- vorable to the free-school system; and in 1825 the general assembly passed an act providing for the estab- lishment and maintenance of public schools. In the
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
preamble to the act, the following patriotic sentiment was expressed : " To enjoy our rights and liberties, we must understand them; their security and protection ought to be the first object of a free people, and it is a well-established fact that no nation has ever continued long in the enjoyment of civil and political freedom which was not both virtuous and enlightened; and be- lieving the advancement of literature always has been, and ever will be. the means of developing more fully the rights of man, that the mind of every citizen in a republic is the common property of society and consti- tutes the basis of its strength and happiness. It is, therefore, considered the peculiar duty of a free gov- ernment like ours to encourage and extend the improve- ment and cultivation of the intellectual energies of the whole."
This act is unquestionably the foundation-stone of the grand structure of the present free-school system of the state of Illinois. The act was mandatory, as will be seen from the language of the statute in the following passage : " There shall be established a common school or schools in each of the counties of this state, which shall be open to every class of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one years." It also provided for the election in each district of the following officers : Three trustees, one treasurer, one clerk, one assessor and one collector. The trustees were empowered to perform many of the functions now allotted to the duty of county school superintendents, such as the examina- tion of teachers, visiting and superintending schools, reporting to the commissioners, et :. Some of the pro- visions of the law of 1825 were repealed by the act of 1827, creating a general law of the state relating to the common schools; but no material changes were made until 1841, when the legislature made a complete revi- sion of the school law, approved February 26th, 1841.
Among the changes by this act were the following provisions : Each township was entitled to have as many schools as the inhabitants of such township desired ; the people of every organized district were required to meet and elect from their number three trustees, and to agree upon the plan and manner of conducting the school. These trustees or directors were vested with power to execute the plan adopted, and were required to visit and superintend the schools. This law was the first that required schedules to be kept by the teachers and re- turned to the township treasurers. It also required a teacher to pass an examination for a certificate to teach. The law did not mention the branches to be taught, nor did it specify the branches in which the teacher should be examined, but required that the certificate, when issued, should enumerate the branches in which the ap- plicant was qualified to teach.
In 1845 another revision of the school law was made, and many new features were incorporated in it. The secretary of state became ex-oficio state superintendent of schools. Among his various duties the statute pro- vided that he should counsel with experienced teachers
relating to the latest and most approved methods of conducting the common schools ; he was required to advise the school commissioners as to the best manner of managing the schools-of constructing school-houses, and procuring competent teachers ; to recommend the best text-books, charts, maps etc., and to bring about a uniformity of the same. Under this law-whose duties were those of secretary of state-the first state super- intendent was the Hon. Thomas Campbell, who made a very efficient and useful officer. Many of the sugges- tions made by him in his report to the governor could be used with profit to our school system of to day.
The duties of Secretary of State confined his atten- tion almost wholly to his office as the State developed, and the demands for a special officer to discharge the duties of this department became a necessity. Hence, in 1854, the Legislature passed a law making the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction a separate one. The duties to be performed were similar to those under the act of 1845. The office was to be filled by appoint- ment by the Governor until after the election in 1855. The Hon. Niuian Edwards, received the appointment, and was the first to have the honor of framing a bill for the unification of the school system of the State.
Again in 1872, there was another general revision of the school law, since which time there have been but few important changes made. Of this last revision, we should do this history great injustice without the men- tion of the name of Hon. Newton Bateman, who has no superior in this country, as a an educator, or friend to the free-school system. Our Legislators, in the above mentioned revision, which caused our common schools to rank with the best in the land, gave the greatest heed to his judgment and counsel.
From the foregoing it will be seen there have been five marked epochs in the school history of Illinois --- 1825, 1841, 1845, 1854 and 1872. In the main we have a most excellent free-school system in our State; but there are changes that should be made in the law, which would prove wholesome to all concerned. We have special reference to the want of clearness in the lan- guage of the statute. The school law, above all others, should be the plainest in all its details, and so well arranged as to be intelligible to all who are able to read.
The permanent school fund of the State comprises : 1st, the school fund proper, being three per cent. upon the net proceeds of the sales of public lands in the State, one sixth part excepted; 2nd, the college funds, consisting of the above one-sixth part ; 3rd, the surplus revenue derived from the distribution in 1836, of the surplus revenue of the United States; 4th, the seminary fund, derived from sales of lands granted to the State by the General Government; 5th, county funds created by the Legislature in 1835; 6th, township funds, arising from the sale of public lands granted by Con- gress for common school purposes.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
EDWARDS COUNTY.
THE EARLY SCHOOLS.
To establish and maintain a school in a new country, is and has been, one of the difficult problems of the first settlers. These inhabitants were backwoods hunters, whose cabins are several miles apart. Their mode of life requires no education in the scholastic meaning of the term. Their habits are independent of literary ac- quirements, and their children grow up without knowing how to execute the most simple sum by the rules of arithmetic, or write a word, or read a sentence. Yet some of these untutored men of the woods, by some complex reasoning of their own, are capable of reach- ing correct results with greater dispatch than those who have mastered the books. In a town or village, even in its infancy, a school may be established and main- tained. If there be but a half-score of families, a school is easily assembled, and a suitable teacher pro- cured. This was the case in Albion, in its earliest days, as it was here that the first school was taught, in what is now Edwards county. The teacher was Oswald War- rington, who had come to the county from England, among the first emigrants. This school was established in 1819, and was what is termed a private or subscrip- tion school. Mr. Warrington excelled in penmanship, and there were many of the young men of that early day, who owed their skill in writing to their first master, Mr. Warrington. He subsequently removed to Cincin- nati and went into the mercantile business. The first regular or public school in Albion, was conducted by John Love, in an old building then situated, on the lot of Robert Curdling. Ex-Governor French, was also among the early teachers of the town. The first school building erected here, was situated on the ground now occupied by the Presbyterian church.
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