Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 60

Author: McDonough, J.L., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.L. McDonough & Co
Number of Pages: 578


USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 60
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 60
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 60


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121


Township 6-5, containing Steelesville and Perey, had a school as early as 1812, or six years before Illinois became a State. The school-house was an old log cabin which stood where Steelesville now stands, then a dense forest. John White was the teacher. The first, regular school-house was constructed of round logs, in 1820, and was located in the N. E. quarter 'of section 17, and familiarly known as the " Jones' School-house." Mr. White was succeeded by the following teachers named in order : Col. Gabriel Jones, Mr. Carnes, Mr. Bender, Martin Jernigan, James Guthrie, Benjamin Wham, Isaac B. Brown, Mr Ward, Mr. Ellis, Archibald Smith, Mr. Hill, Mr. Spears, Miss Ford, Nathan Cole, now of St. Louis, and onee mayor of that city, Miss Ilerd, Miss Herdman, Biddy Farnan, Dr. William A. Gordon, now of Chester, Mary G. Malone, W. W. Doggett, Wm. B Bergfield, Mr. McDaniel and James M. Malone, present post-master of Steelesville, the latter taught before the free school law was in operation and for many years afterwards.


This township furnished School Commissioner, Mr. Eli Lofton, and a county Superintendent, Mr. John A. Malone. To the latter we are indebted for the organization of the Randolph County Teachers' Institute. The township has now seven schools, including the graded school of Steeles- ville, 548 children of school age and a township school fund of 8943 00.


Township 7, Range 5, including Shiloh Hill. The first school-house was ereeted in this township about 1830, on the S. E. corner of section 10, and Isaac B. Brown was the first teacher. There was also a small log school-house built within the present limits of the village of Shiloh Hill, in 1836, and Josiah Cully taught in it in 1837. The building was also used for preaching.


Bridget Farnan, sister of the late Dr. James Farnan, of Sparta, taught a school in 1843, in a vacant house near the site of the present Mill Creek brick school house. Among the other early teachers, the following names oceur : Hora- tio Newberry, William McAdams, now of Chester, Richard Davis, now a popular Baptist preacher, James Hanna, Daniel Lynch and the venerable Paul Hallworth. Mr.


30


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


Hallwerth, theugh now well advanced in life, is still active, energetic and progressive in eduational matters.


Senator John A. Logan, the distinguished soldier and statesman, attended Daniel Lynch's school in this township. It has been fortunate in having, within it, a number of men who were warm friends of education, and particularly of the public schools. Among those who deserve mention are : Paul Hallworth, mentioned above, and his co laborers, Judge Jas- Gillespie (father of Col. Gillespie), John B. Burke, John Bar. row and Judge Martin Ireland. The latter has been intimately connected with the school interests of the township for nearly forty years. There are now four schools in this township, 277 children of school age and a school fund of $844 01. The origin and particulars of the Shiloh Hill College, will appear in the history of the village.


Township 8, Range 5, containing the town of Rockwood. The first school was taught in the northwestern part of the township in 1829, by Mr. Conant, an eastern gentleman, of classical education, afterward a resident of the county, who lived to an old age. Another early school was taught by J. H. Clendinen, in the present limits of the Ebenezer District, prior to 1833. The first school-house was built by Louis Garrett in 1836. The school consisted of 35 to 40 subscription scholars. About this time, a very eccentric teacher, William Robinson, was known here. He taught school north of Kaskaskia, as early as 1812 or 14, and some of the earliest residents of the township were his pupils. He was often with the Indians, and one occasion after his absence of two or three years, his wife received a letter from him, containing only the words "Sane; Yours William Robinson." Israel Curtis in 1838 and '9, taught in the present limits of Rockwood village. In 1838, Robert Jef- frey kept a winter term of school in a cooper shop, in the present limits of the Ebenezer District. Forty years after, his grand-daughter, Mattie Jeffrey, is teaching about 100 yards from the same place. He was an excellent penman and a very successful teacher. Dr. Lynch taught in the township in 1840. While teaching at Shiloh, he predicted the future notoriety of his pupil, John A. Logan. The Ebenezer log school-house was built in 1842. Mr. Seymour Straight, since a prominent Ohio dairyman and millionaire, taught here in 1843 or '4.


The first public school-house was built in Rockwood in 1848. Joseph Walker was the first teacher. The second was built in 1852, in the Ebenezer District. The lumber was sawed with the whip-saw, one man above and the other below the log. The township has now two schools, one hundred and sixty children of school age, and a school fund of $847,75.


Township 8, R. 6, including the village of Houston. The first school in this township of which we have reliable in- formation, was taught in 1834, near the farm of John Mc- Millan, about three fourths of a mile west of Houston. The school-house was a deserted log cabin. The first teacher was James Finley, of Hill Prairie, the next, Thomas An_ derson. Afterward the house was moved to a point near Matthew Lessley's farm, and Hugh McKelvey, son of Chas. McKelvey, taught there in 1837. He was followed by Jas.


Parks and Mr. Glenn. In 1844, Robert Steen taught in a small house built by some settlers, in the northern part of Gordon's Grove, near the present United Presbyterian church. In 1846, Mrs. Delilah Meek taught a school in her own house, on the hill, where the residence of Mr. Hugh Mathews now stands. On the eastern side of the township, schools were taught at an early day by Adam Marshall, uncle of Dr. S. W. Marshall, of Sparta. One of these schools was kept on the hill, near old Dr. Marshall's, and another on Plum creek, near Samuel McClinton's. This township has now seven schools, 424 children of school age, and a township school fund of $1119.90.


Township 5-R. 6, containing part of Blair. The first school in this township was probably taught in a small log school-house, on the old Dial place, more recently the Frazier place, in sec. 4. As best remembered, it was origi- nated by Major Andrew Borders, father of judge James J. Borders, now of Sparta, William Temple, father of Mr. John Temple, and Joseph Weir, father-in-law of Mr. Wm. Weir, both of Lively's Prairie. The first teacher was James Guthrie, who taught in 1826. A Mr. Armour, probably John Armour of Sparta, taught in 1834. Stafford C. Meek, Coe W. Caice, John C. Means and Thomas Slater, were among the early teachers. There was also a school taught at a very early day on the creek east of Major Borders' farm, in sec. 3, but no facts can now be gathered of its date or teachers. As late as 1848 there was but one regular school-house in this township, and even it was used for preaching as well as for school. Another school was kept in the old Associate Reformed Church, in Opossumden Prairie, near the site of the present United Presbyterian Church, in sec. 24. The township has now seven schools, 414 children of school age, and a township school fund of $909.01.


Township 6,-R. 6, containing Bremen and part of Blair. The first school in this township was taught by Ezekiel Robbins, for a number of years, in the neighborhood of Randolph, now Bremen. The first school-house was situated in northwest qr. of sec. 27, and had been the log dwelling of some early settler. The first house built for school pur- poses, was of logs, and about 25 feet square, and was located on the northeast qr. of sec. 26. The first school-house in the neighborhood of Blair, was a round-pole deserted dwell- ing, but no one remembers the dates or early teachers. James Hughes taught Ex. Gov. John Reynolds and others, at his own house. This township furnished one school com- missioner, Mr. Marcus L. Burns, who held the office credit- ably from 1861 to 1865. It has now 6 schools, 422 children of school age, and a township school fund of $1842 00.


Township 7-R. 6. The first school of which we can learn anything in this township, was taught by Nathan Conant, in 1823. He taught also in 1824. These schools were taught in the summer time, to enable children to attend, living from a distance. The school-house was on the south side of Mary's river, near its mouth, in what was then known as the Brain and Hindman settlement. Nothing more can be learned of the schools of this township till 1849, when the names of Almira Smith, R. G. Davis, William Taylor,


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


James Pinkerton, Margaret Phillips, F. R. Douglass, P. N. Russel, Wm. McClure, James P. Craig and Wm. McAdams, appear as teachers. Among the leading men in educational matters at an early day, were Isaac Rust, John Smith, Mr. Aldrich, Mr. Phillips and Abel Crisler. This township has now five schools, 322 children of school age, and a township school fund of $1875.00


Township 8, Range 6, is a fractional township on the Mis- sissippi river between Chester and Rockwood. The first school in this township was taught by a Mr. Garrett, in a house in the southwest qr. of sec. 11, belonging to Samuel Mansker, in 1836. In 1842, William Clark kept a school in a house belonging to John Moore, in the southwest qr. of sec. 12, and, in 1843, a Mr. Thompson taught in the same house. In 1844, Truman Strate kept a school in a house of Samuel Mansker, in the southeast qr. of sec 2. The first house built for school and choreh purposes, was erected on Robert Moore's land, northwest qr. of sec. 2, and was named the Pleasant Ridge school-house The first free school was taught by Soherry Morgan, brother of Wm. HI. Morgan, of Shiloh Hill, in 1857, in the Clifton school house, in south- east qr. of scc. 2. The leading educational men in early times were Samuel Mansker, Alexander Hindman, Robert Grissom, Joab Parks and Robert Moore, who were elected school trustees in 1835. The school lands in this township were sold in 1836, for 81 25 per acre The township has now two schools, 71 children of school age, and a school fund of $318 86.


Township 4, Range 7, containing Baldwin. The first school in this township was taught in the old Fort, in sec. 33, in 1816 or 1817, by an old sailor, named Davis. Of those who went to this school, the only survivor is Mrs. Jennie L Nelson, of Baldwin. The second was taught by one Summers, in 1818, in a cabin on sec. 28. Mr. Summers was acquainted with military tactics, and drilled the boys at noon, and other spare times. John A. Wilson, late of Sparta, then a little boy, acted as drummer in this youthful company. The third school was in see. 21, just above Cox's Ferry, on the Okaw river, and was taught by Mr. Davis, above mentioned.


The first house built for school purposes was in sec. 27, on Plum creek. It was erected in 1822, and Robert IIill was the first who taught in it. Aboot 1828, a split log house was raised in sec. 23, and the first teacher to teach in it, was Isaac Hill. He was followed by Thomas Anderson, Mr. Wilson, J. T. W. Rodgers, Mr. Pattison, Andrew Wilson, J. H. Nelson and James Bane. The leading educational families in this township were the Andersons, Thompsons, Coxes, Wilsons, Mudds and Hills The township has now six schools, 381 children of school age, and a township school fond of $1019.47.


Township 5, Range 7, including Preston. The first school remembered in this township, was taught by Archibald Thompson, in 1820, in his own kitchen. The next was kept by Henry Noah, in 1826, in a log house, on the old John Campbell place, a mile or so west of Preston. The third was on the farm of Andrew McCormick, near the southern side of the township, on a branch of the Nine Mile creek,


and was taught by George- McCormick, Andrew's son. Mr. William Foster, now an old man, living west of Sparta, attended Mr. Noah's school, near Preston, when a little boy. On one occasion Mr. Noah whipped William for misspelling a word, and a splinter of the switch stuck in William's face. The teacher wished to pull it out, but the boy would not permit this evidence of mistreatment to be removed, till his father should see it. As Mr. Noah rode home from school, he took William on the horse, behind him, perhaps to con- cilate him. On reaching Mr. Foster's, the child's story and splintered face made a temporary storm, and no doubt our Noah would have gladly entered an ark to escape the danger that threatened, had one been present. This township has now eight schools, 333 children of school age, and a school fand of $735.25.


Town .hip 6, Range 7, containing Kaskaskia and Ellis Grove .- James Thompson, familiarly known as Judge Thompson, father of J. D and R M., of Central precinct and Chester respectively, taught school in Kaskaskia in this township from 1814 to 1817. Mr. Thompson became a prominent man in this county, filling many positions of public trust for long periods. In 1822 Rev. Samuel Wiley, late pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian church of Eder, assisted by G. T. Ewing, then a theological studenta nd after- ward a mini-ter of the same denomination, opened an aca- demy in Kaskaskia, and carried it on till about 1829. The early schools in the country settlements are not remembered. The township has now six public and several private schools ; 524 children of school age and a township school fund of $1674.55.


Township 7, Range 7, including the city of Chester .- The following are the names of most of the early teachers, tore- ther with the dates of their labors : Mr. Osborn, in a log school-house, near Mrs. Ellen Cotes' present resilence, about the year 1830 or 1831 ; Miss Kinsas Leland, in same house, about 1832; also James Robinson, in 1834; Mr. Holliday, at Portland, where the Southern Illinois Peniten - tiary now stands, about 1835; Mr. Holloway, a Scotch Vir- ginian, in a log house near the present residence of Hon. W. Hartzell, about 1836, and summer school, in 1873; Mrs. Drew, summer school, 1838; also winter school in town, 1838 and 1839; Mr. Humpris, in a log school-house near Mr Hartzell's, in 1838 and 1839; James Askins, father of W. P. A>kins, of Sparta, in same house summer school, in 1840 or 1841; Rev. James Glenn, just at north line of town ship, near Pleasant Ridge church, winter school, 1843; George Lindsey, in the old Porter house, now in Senenberg's addition, fall and winter, 1846.


The later teachers in Chester were as follows in the order named from 1840 to 1854: Miss Drew, John C. Means, Mr. Sax, Dr. Jonk, Miss Huntingter, Miss Commings, James Glenn, Mr. Jenkins, De. Johnson, L. D. Skilling and wife, Miss Frone, Ilugh Corringtou. The present school is a graded one, including a high school department, and has one of the finest school buildings in Southern Illinois. The township now contains three schools, 1051 children of school age and a school fund of $2006 32.


Township 4, Range 8, including the city of Red Bud .- The


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


first school remembered was tanght by John C. Crozier, in 1826. The house used for the school was a little abandened pole cabin, near the Monroe county line. Mr. Crozier was the father of Samuel Crozier, one of the founders of Red Bud, and of James Crozier, who still lives in that city.


When the first school was taught in Red Bud is not now known. This township has now five schools, including the graded school of Red Bud, 916 children of school age, and a school fund of $110.00.


Township 5, Range 8, containing the towns of Ruma and Evansville .- The first school in this township was taught by Mr. Henry O'Harra, in his own house. The exact date of this school is not now known. The next school was in 1830, and taught by Mr. Henry Noah, whose name occurs in con nection with other early schools. He taught several years in succession, receiving 83.25 a quarter per scholar, and five cents a day from day-scholars, of whom he had several. The first school under the free-school law was taught in 1856, by William P. Boyle. This township has now four public and several private church schools, 405 children of school age and a school fund of $3517,82.


Townships 6-8 and 7-8 are both fractional townships, lying principally between the Mississippi and Okaw rivers. As their schools were not organized till a comparatively re- cent date, no history of early schools is given. The former has now two schools and 121 children of school age, but no township fund; the latter has two schools, 109 children of school age and a township fund of $1353


Township 5, Range 9 .- The first English school in this township twas taught in Prairie du Rocher, by Henry Slaggus, date not known. Charles McNabb taught an Eng- lish school here as early as 1820. The first free school was also in Prairie dn Rocher, and the teacher was paid by the county school commissioner. Afterward a board of trustees was elected, who hired teachers and controlled the school. In 1850 Mr. F. W. Brickey became a member of this board, and hired William P. Boyle as teacher. In order to induce him to encourage the people to patronize the school, Mr. Brickey agreed that he should have as his salary $3.00 per quarter for each scholar in attendance. But this plan was unpopular with the people, and they would not send their children to the school. Mr. Brickey then hired Mr. Doyle at a regular salary per month, and the patrons resumed sending and a good school was the result. There are now eight schools in this township, five supported by taxation and the public school funds, and three by the income of the Prairie du Rocher commons. The commons fund is some- thing over $14,000 00, the interest of which is more than sufficient for the three schools. This large fund has been ac- cumulated by leasing the commons. These lands are very rich and valnable, and the income will more than keep pace with the demands of the common schools. Mr. Brickey is treasurer of the township and also of the commons funds and is in every way a representative man in the edu- cational interests of the township. This township has now eight schools, 485 children of school age, and a township school fund of $546.93.


Township 6-9-is a fractional township in the extreme


western point of the county. It has but one school and 83 children of school age. It has no school fund.


The first school in Sparta, was taught by John Armour Sen. in 1831. The school was kept in one end of Robert G. Shannon's warehouse, which stood north of the present old brick store. The following year the same school was taught by John Armour, Jr., son of the preceding. John Armour Senior was the grandfather of Mr. James Armour, now of this city. The next teacher was Adam Wylie, brother of Rev. Samnel Wylie, late of Eden. He taught in 1833 and 1835. Benjamin Wham, later Dr. Whamn mentioned before followed Mr. Wylie. The last two taught in an old log house which stood where the residence of Mrs. Henry Gard- ner now stands. The house was afterwards used by Col. James Morrow for a printing office. James G. Parks fo]- lowed Mr. Wham. In 1839, Hugh Mckelvey, brother of S. W. McKelvey near Sparta, taught, and was followed the next year by his consin, Hugh MeKelvey, son of Alexander McKelvey. Dr. Beggs followed Mr. McKelvey. Dr. Chas. B. Pelton, and wife taught from about 1846 to 1849. In 1838 the first regular school-house was erected. It was of brick, one story high, and was seated somewhat like a church. Two teachers were usually employed in this house, though it was all in one room, the teachers hearing their respective classes at the opposite ends.


The building was known as the Sparta Seminary and stood near the site of the present school building. Many learned men and excellent teachers were employed in that old sem- inary. The Union Academy, founded in 1858, and presidcd over for several years by Rev. M. M. Brown, was for a time an excellent school and gave a good academic education to many who are now filling places of public trust and honor in this and other states. Sparta School district has 685 children of school age. The present school building has a seating capacity of 600, which is about the average enroll- ment of the school. The school has eight grades exclusive of the high school. The high school has a course of study extending over a period of four years, and embracing Greek, Latin, Book-keeping, Chemistry and the bigher mathematics. It has a large attendance of non-resident students. The school as a whole employs thirteen teachers


The county has 91 ungraded and 6 graded schools, 16 private schools and 200 teachers, 70 males and 130 females. Children of school age, 8722 An aggregate school fund of $25,135,43. In 1882 it received from the state funds $9,254,00 and levied a school tax of $29,395,65. It has 14 log school houses, 63 frame, 25 brick and 3 stone, exclusive of private school-houses. The school commissioners and superinten- dents as far as the records give them are as follows :


Commissioners. Dates


Eli Lofton .. 1857


W'm. McBride


1830 Marcus L. Burns


1861


Samuel G Thompson. .1840


1×43


John A. Malone .. 1865


Thomas Roberts


.1844


Robt. P. Thompson


1869


Elisha Seymour.


.1845 P. N. Holip 1873


James W. Glenn


1×49 R. M. Spurgeon 1877


J. B. Parks


1851 8. B. Hood. .1881


Robt. Mann.


1834


Superintendents.


M. A. (filbert.


The Randolph county teachers' Institute was organized in 1866 or 1867. This association meets yearly and spends from one to four weeks in a review of the common school branches conducted by the best teachers that


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


can be obtained. Among these appear the names of Hon. Newton Bateman, Presidents Edwards, Hewet and Aylin, and Pro's. John W. Cook, Granville F. Foster, Joseph W. Ewing, James H. Brownlee, I. H. Brown, Major J. B. Merwin and State superintendents Etter and Slade. Besides giving instruction in the common studies, the conductors have presented and discussed modern systems of education and late and improved methods of teaching and disicpline.


MONROE COUNTY.


The general character of the English taught schools of this county was a fair type of those conducted in the State for more than a half century following. The old time school-master, could not, in the general parlance of to-day, be termed a professional teacher. He was selected amid the pioneers, as the one best fitted to fill the position, -one who had a fair smattering of the common branches, and at the same time knew well the corrective influence of the hazel switch and ferule. We do not employ this language to cast any reflections, or bring censure upon the zealous scholastic labors of the pioneer pedagogue ; but, as illustrative of the ideas and modes of training that existed among the people in those early times. The author of the " Hoosier School- master," express the sentiment multum in parro, when he quotes the language of " Bud " Mean's father (then trustee of his " deestrict ") " that where there was no licking, there was no larning." Yet in after years the grey hairs of the pedagogue of long ago were thought of in kind remembrance by those who had grown to mature years, and whom time and experience had taught to appreciate the honest etfort of those whose lot it had been selected to become their tutors.


Monroe county bears the palm, and has the honor of hay- ing the first English school taught within the boundaries of the Prairie State. Ere the clicking of the type shall have ceased, which shall record this as a part of the State's his- tory, the centennial anniversary will have arrived of the first English school taught in the western frontier. The first American schoolmaster in Illinois, was John Seely, who taught in the summer of 1773, in the " New Design " settle- ment, now New Design precinct. The school-house was an abandoned squatter's cabin. Round poles were placed in it for seating purposes, aud what little desk facilities were furnished, were merely small logs flattened by a few strokes of the ax and placed with the hewed side up. A log was ent out of one side for lighting purposes, and with mother earth for a floor, the reader will have a vague idea of how, a century ago, the pioneer children obtained their meager education.


The next teacher was Francis Clark, who taught a school in the fall and winter of the same year. Ife provedl to be an intemperate man, and the school was not a success. Following him was an Irishman by the name of Halfpenny, who taught school within the State for many years after- ward, and subsequently became noted, and might be appro- priately termed the schoolmaster-general of the State, in those early times. He was a man of active mind, and as early as 1795, he erected a water mill on Fountain creek, a


little west of the present city of Waterloo. A little later an educated man, John Clark, taught in the neighborhood. Ile was a Scotchman by birth and a minister by profession. He taught the higher branches in mathematics, philosophy, etc., and became very popular among the people of this set- tlement. As late as the year 1800 there was only one school in Monroe county-at New Design. Charles Walker taught a school in a log cabin that stood within the corporate limits of Columbia near the Waterloo road as early as 1815. About 1817, Levi Piggott kept school in a log house that stood in the timber, near a spring, still discharging its waters into Biggs' creek, a little north of the town.




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