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 40
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 40
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 40
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The first school taught outside of the town of Albion, was about three miles west of the village. The school- house was the old style log building with puncheon floor, seats and desks, and a hole cut out in one of the sides to admit the light, which was called a window. The manner and means of building. it were as unique as the structure. Four or five English farmers and two or three New Englanders, living in what was then consid- ered a close neighborhood, none being more than a mile from the common center, met at an appointed time, some with oxen and others with axes. They went to a neighboring wood, (Congress land) where they prepared the logs and hauled them to the spot chosen for the site. The raising was performed by the united efforts of those interested in the school. It is said that it was at this school-house, that Ex-Governor Augustus C. French taught his first school. The first teacher in this school- house was Isaac Coper, in 1820.
The first school-house built and the first school taught in French Creek precinct, was in 1821. The school- house was a rude log building of the primitive style, and was situated in section 17, township 3 south, range
14 west, and within the northern limits of the city of Graysville. The first teacher was Daniel R. Jacobs, "and in his time was considered good."
In Salem precinct, although having territory among the first settled in the county, the pioneers were so few and scattered, that it was not until 1824, that a school could be established and maintained. The first school-build- ing was erected in the above year, and was situated on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 21. The building was of round logs and other appur- tenances to match. It is claimed, however, that this building had a window of real glass, instead of the usual greased paper posted over the aperture to admit light. Prior to the building of this house, a school had been taught a year or so before, in a deserted cabin The first teacher's name that we are able to record in this part of the county, was a colored man, by the name of Sweat. Other early teachers were, Lothrop Rude and Daniel Abbey.
In Dixon precinct, the first school was taught in a log cabin, situated on the Churchill land, in 1824. The teacher was Daniel Bain, a transient person from some part of the east. He taught but a term or two, and afterwards migrated to some other portion of the State.
The first school in Shelby precinct was taught by a Mr. McCowen, in 1827. The place for holding the school was in a log cabin, located in the northwest quar- ter of the southeast quarter of section 33, township 1 north. The next teacher was a man by the name of Moore. The first building erected for school purposes was in 1856. It was a frame building, and was situated in section 33, township 1 north.
The text-books of those times were such books as the family might have at hand, some read in the Testament, others in histories or biographies such as the family library could produce. There was no uniformity of books in the schools, and classification was not thought of. Each pupil was trotted up to the master's side and read or recited according to the book he might possess. In a few years, a partial system of text-books came into
160
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
use, and the cause of teaching received quite an impe- tus. The first real system of text-books was not intro- duced until about 1835. Among those used in the county were Pike's, Smiley's and Smith's arithmetics ; Murray's, Smith's and Kirkham's grammars; the old English reader, and later, Goodrich's series ; Morse's, and Mitchell's geographies; and above and beyond all as the text-book, was the old " blue back," Webster's spelling book. Sometimes we hear those of this more progressive age, condemning the " fogies," as they term the old people, because of their advocacy and desires of again placing the " blue back " speller in our schools. If " Young America " could comprehend the value, in its time, of this much reverenced, now abused book, they would surely be prepared to exercise the charity for the merits of an auxiliary, which, for the good it has served, cannot be supplanted by any other text-book which is now or shall in the future be placed in print.
The progress of the schools of the county has been of a slow but healthy growth. The sixteenth section of each township, granted under the stipulations of the ad- mission of the State into the Union, have been disposed of, and the proceeds distributed to the various town- ships. The swamp land fund of five townships is yet in the hands of the county superintendent, and subject to his distribution of interest. The school, college and seminary fund in 1841, was $1,687.05, and the amount paid out for school purposes to that time was, $1,188.49, leaving a balance in favor of the county, $499 46. The following is a showing of the school affairs of the county for 1858, according to the biennial report of the State Superintendent for that date:
Whole number of schocis in the county .
47
Number of maie teachers . 36
Number of femsie teachers 23
Average salary of male teachers $25
Average salary of femsie teachere. $15
Number of msie scholars 1,166
Number of female scholare . 896
Number of school-housea built in the year 11
Number of school-houses . 25
Number of white persons under twenty-one . 3,110
Number of white persona between five and twenty-one 1,762
Amount paid to teachers . $3,47 For building, repairing and renting school-houses . $1,454
Whole amount received for school purposes. "$4,529
Whole amount expended for school purposes . $5,116
Number of colored persone in county under twenty-one years . 34
Number of colored persons in county between ages of five and twenty-one . 21
In 1867, we glean the following from the report of the County Superintendent to the State Superintendent :
White persons between the ages of six and twenty-one. 2,614
Colored persons between the ages of six and twenty-one 32
Number of school-houses 47 Number of school districts 39 Number of schools in the county 44
Whoie number of pupils in attendance 2,046
Number of teachers in the county. 64 Amount of state and county funds $2,878,21
Amonut paid to leachers . $7,145.04
Total expenditures for the year $14,285.87
Highest wages paid. $75.00
Lowest wages paid $9.83
Again, in 1882, we glean from the annual report as follows :
Number of pupiis between the ages of six and twenty-one .. 3,083
Number of school districts . . .. 43
Number of schoois conducted in the county 48
Number of pupile in attendance . . 2,568
Number of teachers in the county 63
Number of achooi-housee. 48
Highest wages paid . $84.00
Lowest wages paid . $16.00
Total amount paid teachers $11,748.77
Total expenditures of schools . $15,794.66
Amount on hand due the county. $3,396.68
Henry Bowman was appointed the first school com- missioner in 1838. Mr. Bowman died soon after ap- pointment, when Henry I. Mills was appointed to fill the vacancy, which position he held until 1842. His successor was James Hean, who served until 1851. The following is a roster of school commissioners and super- intendents to the present time: Cyrus Rice in office from 1851-61; Edgar W. Brandon from 1861-65. Subsequent to this date the name of the office is changed to "County Superintendent of schools." In 1865, Lothrop T. Rude was elected, and served until 1869, when Levinus Harris was elected, and has filled the office to the present time.
The following are the names of the present school treasurers of the county :
Township 2 south, range 10 east, E. H. Harwick.
Township 1 south, range 10 east, B. P. Reid.
Township 3 south, ranges 10 and 11 east, Thomas W. Gibson.
Township 3 south, range 14 west, C H. Spring.
Township 2 south, range 14 west, John Marriott.
Township 1 south, range 14 west, Orion Rice.
Township 1 north, range 10 east, Robert Marshall.
Township 2 north, range 10 east, M. L. Howe.
Township 1 north, range 11 east, H. A. Tietze. Township 1 north, range 14 west, H. A. Tietze. Township 2 north, range 14 west, J. A. Berry.
Township 2 north, range 11 east, E. R. Harrison. Township 1 south, range 11 east, James Stone.
Township 2 south, range 11 east, E. D. Jacobs.
The first teachers' institute in the county was held at Albion in the fall of 1866, and was conducted but three days. This was under the instruction and management of L. T. Rude, County Superintendent, and Levinus Harris, present Superintendent. The number of teach- ers in attendance was about fifteen. With the exception of two years these associations have been kept up, and have been productive of much good to the teachers and school interests of this county. These associations have been mainly under the supervision of the present effi- cient County Superintendent, Levinus Harris. In 1880 a Normal Institute, of eleven weeks' duration was con- ducted by the County Superintendent aud Charles Har- ris, there being about seventy persons in attendance. The year following, another Normal session was held for a term of eight weeks, the same parties conducting it. In the institute, all the common branches were taught,
Average number of months taught .
6
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
161
also the "sciences," book-keeping, theory, and practice in teaching, and Latin. Among the assistants in these institutes was the popular educator, Professor James H. Brownlee, of Carbondale, who takes a prominent rank among the able educators of Illinois.
Monthly teachers' associations are held in different portions of the county, and much good is growing out of them. The grade for obtaining license to teach is well up with the times, and it may be truthfully be said that the present Superintendent of Schools, is discharg- ing his duties in an efficient and conscientious manner.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
THE EARLY SCHOOLS.
From the best information, the first regular school taught in Lawrence county was in 1817, by George Godfrey. The school was conducted in one of the log houses situated within a fort built in Dennison township, during the time of the Indian troubles. Prior to this he had taught in Compton fort, at Allendale, Wabash county. A school-house was built in 1826, and situated in section seventeen, township three, range eleven. Chas. Martin taught the first school in it. Another early teacher in this precinct was Jeremiah Flemming. A school was taught in Lawrence precinct as early as 1818, Lakin Ryle being the first teacher. The school was kept in a deserted log cabin situated in section 34, township 4, range 12. Mr. Ryle taught in this vicinity for several years, when his health failed, and he was obliged to cease his labors. The first house built for school purposes, was in 1822, and was located in section 3, township 3, range 12. It was constructed of sound hickory logs, and was of the most primitive style.
A double log building, for both school and church purposes, was erected by the New Light or Christian denomination in Allison township, as early as 1818. Eli Harris was one of the first teachers. The house was named "Center " school-house, and is known as such to the present time. It has been remodeled and repaired from time to time, and is yet in a fair state of preserva- tion, and used for school purposes. A school was taught in 1819 by John Martin, in a small pole cabin situated in section 18, township 3, range 12, Bridgeport precinct. About two years later, a log house was built for school use, not far from the above cabin, and was known as "Spring Hill " school-house. This being the first locality settled in the west part of the county, the children for several miles around, attended school in this house for quite a number of years. Another early teacher, of this portion of the county, was James Swainey.
The first teaching done in Luken township was in 1819, by Mrs. Clark. The school was conducted at her own house, situated in section 24, township 2, range 13. A log house was built iu 1820, and located in section 24, township 2, range 12. In the spring of.1819, Ag- 21
nes Carrie taught a select school of about fifteen pupils. The school was conducted in an abandoned log house in the door yard of her father, in section 30. The first school taught in Bond township was about 1820. A school-house was built in 1822, and was situated near what is now Pinkstaff station. About the same time, another house was built about two miles east of the station. These houses accommodated this entire settle- ment. In 1828 they united and built a house in the Dolahan neighborhood. The first teachers were, Law- son Childers, John Dolahan, and a man by the name of White.
Samuel Borden, a native of New Jersey, taught the first school in Russell township, as early as 1817. The school was conducted in a vacated cabin, situated in sec- tion 4, township 4, range 10. The first house built for school purposes was in 1822, and located in section 5, township 4, range 10. Petty precinct did not afford a school building until 1833. It was constructed of round logs, and was situated on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, township 4, range 12. Washington Douglas was one of the first teachers.
To show the progress the schools have made within the last two decades, we here append a synopsis of a re- port of the condition of the common schools made in 1862, and also the statistics of similar items made in 1882.
For the year ending October 1, 1862, the following report is given.
Whole number of schools In the county 61
Whole number of pupils In attendance 2,922
Whole number of male teachers 62
Whole number of female teachers . 26
Whole number of districts . 57
Whole number of districts having six months school or more . 45 Whole number of school-houses 50
Amount outstanding district debts $ 725
Surplus in tressury belonging to districts
620
Highest monthly wages paid teachers
40
Lowest monthly wages paid teachers
Principal of county fund 1,883
Total amount received for school purposes 8,198
Total smount of expenditures .
7,380
Report for the year ending June 30, 1882:
Whole number of districts In the county
67
Whole number of school-houses
70
Total number of graded schools 8
Total number of pupils enrolled . 4,070
Total number of teachers in the county 119
Highest monthly wages paid . $
75.00
Lowest monthly wages pald .
12,00
Estimated value of school property
88,700
Bonded school debt .
3,891
Principal of county fund
2,339.47
Total recelpts for the year
32,837.54
Total expenditures $26,909.54
The only Normal Institute held in the county was in the summer of 1880. The session was conducted six weeks under the efficient management of Prof. P. J. Anderson, aided by Prof J. H. Brownlee of Carbondale, and Prof. L. Prugh of Vincennes. Fifty two teachers were enrolled, and much good grew out of this brief ses- sion. An annual Teachers' Institute of five or six days duration, is conducted by the county superintendent.
162
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
These meetings are held in various parts of the county, and, usually, are very well attended.
The following is a roster of the School Commissioners and County Superintendents since the office was estab- lished : Abner Greer was appointed Sept. 7th, 1836, and was removed at the June term of the commissioners' court, 1842, for failing to file his bond. William R. Jackson served from 1842 to 1844; A. S. Badollet, from 1844 to 1857; Luenberg Abernathy, from 1857 to 1861 ; John B. Saye, from 1861 to 1865; T. P. Lowery, from 1865 to 1869; O. V. Smith, from 1869 to 1873; F. W. Cox, from 1873 to 1881. C. H. Martin was appointed by the county board for the year 1882, when Mr. Mar- tin was elected by the people for four years, and is thus the present incumbent.
We give below a list of the names and location of the present school treasurers :
N. H. Norton, township 3, range 10
T. J. Ford,
4,
10
William H. Higgins,
5,
4€ 10
Wesley Potts,
2, 11
E. Schmalbausen,
3, 11
Lee Warner, 4, 11
John B. Rich, "
5,
16
11
A. B. Buchanan,
2,
12
Walter L. Gray,
3,
12
Samuel Stoltz,
4, 12
E. Rundle
5,
66
12
Stephen E. Morgan,
2,
13
C. B. Jones,
=
3,
13
C. H. Martin,
4,
13
David A. Watts,
5,
13
WABASH COUNTY. THE EARLY SCHOOLS
The privileges for an education among the pioneer children were of the most meagre kind ; yet the first set- lers did what was within their power and means to give them the advantages of an education sufficient to meet the requirements of the times. This will be made man- ifest, when it is known that they, even in the perilous times of frontier life, surrounded by wild savages, did not neglect this important duty to their children. The first lessons were given in the forts by persons selected who were capable of giving the needed instruction.
The first regular school taught in the county of which we have any record, was in 1816. It was con- ducted in a deserted log cabin near Barney's Fort, in Friendsville precinct. The first teachers in this house were John Griffith and Betsey Osgood. A house was erected for school purposes in 1820, a quarter of a mile east of Friendsville. Its structure and appurte- nances were of the usual style of those days, being con- structed of round logs, puncheon floor, puncheon seats and desks, greased paper pasted over a crevice for lighting purposes, etc., etc. The village of Friendsville has performed a creditable part in the matter of higher
education. For some years prior to 1866, Rev Samuel Baldridge had instructed pupils in the classics and other higher branches of learning in the church. In that year, through the efforts of Mr. Baldridge seconded by the friends of education, a building was erected for high school purposes, and till recently was occupied in that behalf by Mr. Baldridge himself. The school has turned out some apt and proficient scholars who have taken their places in business, or found their way into our col- leges or seminaries. The building is a frame, 40x60 feet, and is surmounted by a bell tower, supplied with a bell. The public school of the village is in a prosperous condition. The school-house is a frame building 30x40 feet in foundation, and was erected about 1866. The schools of the precinct are generally in a prosperous con- dition, under the management of efficient teachers and are supplied with comfortable buildings and proper equipments.
The first school taught in Coffee precinct was as early as 1818, by William Townsend. He was a single man, and not only taught school, but conducted religious ser- vices in the settlement. The school-house was of the primitive style, and was situated on the southeast quar- ter of the southeast quarter of section 10. Townsend taught in this house, and was succeeded by Reuben Fox. The latter became quite a fixture, and taught in the county for several years. The pupils who attended this first school were of the name of Arnold, Landsdown, Baird, Lovellette, and Degan, and were about twenty in number.
Reuben Fox taught school in Compton Fort, in Wa- bash precinct, probably in 1814 or '15. In this school James Stillwell received all the education he ever got. Robert Gibson, of Warren county Kentucky, a nephew of Levi Compton, visited his relations in the Timber Set- tlement, and taught school between the years 1815 and 1818. A log dwelling was converted into a school-house about the year 1820. It stood in Section 13, Township 1 North, Range 12 West. The first school was taught by Morris Phelps, who afterward became a Mormon preacher and emigrated to Utah. A log school-house was built about 1824, at the center of section 14, same town and range. Stephen Midget, now one of the judges of the county court, who lived in the neighborhood, at one time taught school in this building.
The first school house in Allendale was built original- ly in old Timberville, and was moved to the former vil- ' lage. The present school-house is a handsome brick, two-story, three-room building, and was erected in 1879 at a cost, including furniture, of about $4,000.
Schools were conducted in Mt. Carmel as early as 1819. The first teachers were : Mr. Curry, Mr. Schu- field,-and, a little later, Mrs. Joy became one of the prominent teachers. A school-house was not built until about 1823. It was a log building of small pretensions, and was situated on the lot now occupied by Charles Russell.
From this rude beginning the schools of this city have
163
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
grown to magnificent proportions. Her school-houses are large and commodious, well furnished and well sup- plied with the means of making study pleasant as well as profitable. They are now under the efficient manage- ment of Prof. J. W. Henninger, supported by an able corps of assistants, and are in a flourishing condition.
The first school taught in Lancaster precinct was in 1820, by a man of the name of Abbott. The cabin in which he taught stood on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 3. In 1822 a school building was erected on the present site of Lancaster. The first to teach here was Reuben Fox. A few years later the house was moved a half mile west to accommodate the settlers on Long Prairie.
A frame school building was built in the village in 1846. It served its purpose for a period of twenty years, but was outgrown by the numerical increase of pupils, and was superseded, in 1866, by the present frame two- story building erected at a cost of $1800.
Oliver Thrall was probably the first teacher in Bell- mont precinct. A little later-1828-Alvin Kenner taught a school in section 32, township 1 south, range 13 west. The first house built for school purposes was in 1837, and was located in the southwest quarter of section 18, township 1 south.
The first school-house in the village of Bellmont was erected in 1874, and David Dean taught the first school in that year. The present house was built in 1881. It is a frame two-story building and cost, exclusive of fur- niture, $1921. The school is well equipped, and is under the efficient instruction of H. W. Van Senden.
Schools were not in vogue in Lick Prairie precinct until 1830. There were but few settlers, and, up to this time, they sent their children to the adjoining schools. William Townsend, before mentioned, was their first teacher. He was a Methodist preacher, and opened his school with prayer, and was considered an excellent teacher in his day.
School Commissioners and Superintendents -Gilbert C. Turner, elected 1833 to 1849. James Mahon, elected 1849 to 1853. W. M. Harmon, elected 1853 to 1882. Alfred P. Manly, elected 1882. The latter is filling the position of county superintendent with ability and satis- faction, and, through his attentive and careful manage- ment, the schools of the county have been gradually raised to a higher grade of scholarship.
The crude, old-fashioned school-houses and their be- longings have passed into oblivion ; and the neat, airy and cheerful ones of the present age are occupying their sites. The pupil of to-day listens with interest to the description given by his grandsire of the puncheon seats, greased paper for a window, and other peculiarities of the old-time school-houses when he was a boy. The manner of teaching has also kept pace with the age. Improved text-hooks have been auxiliary in aiding the teacher to classify his pupils and otherwise aid in the school-room economy.
The Mt. Carmel public schools, under the efficient
management of Prof. Henniger, is a model of modern schools. It now has enrolled over four hundred pupils and graduates more or less every year. This year- 1883-six students will be sent forth with the honors of having passed the examination necessary to graduate.
The following statistics will give a fair showing of the progress of school affairs in the last two decades. From the report made to the State Superintendent in 1861, we glean as follows: Pupils between the ages of five and twenty-one, 2760. Number of school districts, 52. Aver- age number months school taught, 5-9. Number of persons under twenty-one years of age, 4048. Number of male teachers employed, 29. Number of female teachers employed, 44. Lowest monthly wages paid male teachers, $16.33}. Lowest monthly wages paid female teachers, $5. Highest monthly wages paid male teachers, $50. Highest monthly wages paid female teachers, $26. Total amount paid for school purposes $6,529.69.
The following are the same items for the year 1882 : Pupils between the ages of six and twenty-one, 3326. Number of school districts, 52. Average number of months school taught, 6-9. Number of persons under twenty-one years of age, 4885. Number of male teach- ers employed, 51. Number of female teachers employed, 31. Lowest monthly wages paid male teachers, $22.50. Lowest monthly wages paid female teachers, $6.00. Highest monthly wages paid male teachers, $100.00. Highest mouthly wages paid female teachers, $60.00. Total amount paid for school purposes, $19,926 86.
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