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 61
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 61
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 61
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In the vicinity of Chalfin Bridge, in Mitchie Precinct, Edward Humphrey taught a school in 1805, and continued several years. He was a skillful teacher and a man held in high esteem by the people, filling many important positions. Ile was a member of the general assembly, and was register of the land office at Kaskaskia.
Mrs. Ford, who became a resident of this county in 1804, taught an early school in section 30 of T. 3, R. 10, which some of the McRoberts' children attended.
It must be remembered that in these early times there was no uniformity of text-books. The few pioneer boys and girls were sent to school with such books as the family hap- pened to have at hand. For reading books they used the New Testament, histories, biographies of prominent men, and other literature, such as they could command. In arithme- tic one had virtually completed his education when he had arrived at the "Rule of three." Grammar was scarcely within the curriculum of the pioneer school-boy. Times have materially changed since then, and so have the customs and sports of the school youth of that day. Much of the an- tagonism formerly existing between teachers and pupils has passed away. The more humane methods of discipline have softened and refined the manners of the youth and teachers, and inspired respect in the former, and forbearance in the latter. "Barring out" in primitive school life, was a spe- cies of forcible entry and detainer of the school-house by the larger boys, resorted to for the purpose of compelling the teacher to yield the point for which they were petitioning, frequently a jug of rum as a treat. If the boys succeeded in holding the school-house against the efforts of the teacher to enter it, he yielded gracefully to their demands, like the " craven " of the wager of battle of old. On the other hand if the teacher proved the stronger in the contest the boys quietly acquiesced. Those old customs, however, have nearly passed away and gone with thethings that were. A new era has opened up, and the youth of the country have learned that they must give their whole thought, time and energy to prepare themselves to cope with the world in its present advanced stage of general information and education.
From the foregoing it will be seen what obstacles and disadvantages the children of the pioneers were obliged to undergo, in order to obtain even a common school educa- tion. To show the progress that has been made in the con- duct of schools within the last thirty years, we append a synopsis of the reports made to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction of 1851 and 1882.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
For the year ending October 1st, 1851, we glean the fol- lowing :
Whole number under 21 years of age . . 4,100
Number of districts . . 24
Number of schools tanght . 24
Number of teachers . . 24
Number of school-houses 18
Average monthly wages paid male teachers $20,00
Average monthly wages paid female teachers $12.00
Whole amount paid to teachers . 1,420,00
Whole amount expended for public schools
$6,420.00
The following is taken from the county school superinten- dent's report made for the school year ending June 30th, 1882 :
Whole number of males under 21 years of age . 3,499
Whole number of females under 21 years of age 3,373
Total . .6,872
Number of districts in the county 47
Number of schools taught . 53
Graded schools .2
Parochial schools . . 8
Number of teachers in public schools
. 63
Number of school-houses .
.51
Highest monthly wages paid teachers $05.00
Lowest monthly wages paid teachers . $30,00
Annual amount paid to teacher. . $23,482.18
Total school expenses for the year .
$34.520.44
Value of school property in the county . $66, 310
From the above showing, it may be readily be seen with what strides the county has increased in population, and has progressed in its educational interests. In three decades it has nearly trebled in its number of teachers and school- houses. The manner of teaching has kept pace with the age, and the school-houses are mostly of the modern style, and in the main supplied with the latest and most approved furniture and other school belongings. As an example of the manner of the thinking and disfavor of the public school system, in the minds of some no longer ago than 1858, we take the privilege of inserting the sentiment, expressed un- der the head of remarks, by a Township Treasurer, to the then county superintendent of schools. "The people in this section are very generally dissatisfied with the present school law, and if it cannot be amended so as to operate better, they think there had better be no law at all. On the sub- ject last year, four of the districts had a tax to the amount of over $900 of which the collector paid over to the treas- urer $700, and the balance of over $200 is no where, and it caused so much trouble and botheration that I believe they concluded not to try it again. Not a single district has laid a tax this year. The County Clerk, I understand docs labor in assessing the school tax in the county, to the amount of eighty or a hundred dollars, in May, all of which he has to lose because the law has made no provision for paying him anything. If I should suggest anything, it would be to leave the whole business of laying and collecting taxes with the trustees of schools, and not trouble the county officers with it any further than to take the list of property off the assessor's books. The whole business of the exami- nation of teachers by the School Commissioner, and giving certificates is a perfect humbug, and might be disposed of without the least detriment to the community. I do not wish to speak evil of dignitaries, but it rather strikes me that the office of the State Superintendent with the salary of $1,500 a year might also be placed in the same category. I do not know what he has to do to earn his very handsome stipend ; but, I suppose he is a lawyer, and as it is the law- yers that have the making of most of our laws, I suppose it is necessary to have a lawyer to expound and ex-
plain the law for the people, anl thus the office of State Superintendent had to be created. I do not think he has ever shown his face in this part of the State, and all that I have ever heard or kuown of his doing for us was the send- ing around of a few circulars, requesting the names of school officers. All of which is respectfully submitted, etc."
In 1876, a Teachers' Association was established under the auspices of Superintendent W. H. Hilyard, who is yet the efficient officer at the head of the schools of the county. The first attendance was composed of about forty teachers. There was a healthy increase of members, and in 1880, the attendance reached sixty teachers. This Institute was un- der the efficient management of Prof. I. H. Brown of Ed- wardsville, aided by Prof. Mann of Ashley. Much good was done in these sessions for the teaching profession, and it may be hoped that they will be encouraged and fostered for many years to come.
The following is a roster of the names of school commis- sioners and county superintendents of Monroe county in the order of their election ;
Solomon Patterson, appointed September 5, 1832, by county board ; John Morrison, appointed September, 1834, by county board. William Cowell, elected August, 1841 ; Ananias Divers, elected August, 1843 ; C. H. Kettler, elected August, 1845; W. L. Adelsberger, elected August, 1847 ; W. L. Adelsberger, re-elected August, 1851. Mathias T. Horine, elected at a special election February, 1853 ; James A. Kennedey, elected in 1861; Joseph W. Rickert, elected in 1869; Joseph H. Hilgard, elected in 1873, present in- cumbent.
We also append a list of the names of the present Town- ship Treasurers :
Henry Homrighauson, township 3, range 8; Z. J. Voris, township 2, range 9; Hugh Murphy, township 3, range 9; Dr. J. Chewning, township 4, range 9; F. W. Brickey, township 5, range 9; Christ. Brinduker, township 1, range 10; William Bode, township 2, range 10; John P. Hoffinan, township 3, range 10; William Mayeys, township 4, range 10; Philip Mans, township 5, range 10; Frederick Zweig, township 1, range 11; Jacob Meyer, township 2, range 11; Louis Ihorn, township 3, range 11 ; William Feldmeir, Jr., township 4, range 11.
We have thus briefly sketched the rise and progress of the schools of Monroe county. Its advancement will bear favorably with other counties in the State, and it is to be hoped that it will take no backward step in the cause of the free schools. They are the foundation, the grand bul- warks which are to perpetuate the free institutions and gov- ernment of the American people.
PERRY COUNTY.
BY B. G. ROOTS.
For much of the data obtained for the compilation of the schools of Perry, I am under obligations to the present corps of teachers of the county, and specially to the Rev. Peter Hagler, Wm. M. Eaton, and R. H. Eaton, all of whom were school-boys, together, in an early day, and have since been
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
well known as teachers and school officers in the county. I also desire to mention the names of the following persons, who have taken an interest in our common schools, for many years : Hon. P. C. C. Provat, who taught a school on Holt's Prairie, as carly as 1839 ; Nelson Holt, Henry Clay, David A. Hoge, M. C Edwards, Heman E. Kelsey, Laura M. Tuthill, H. West, W. S. D. Smith, C. H. Roe and J. B. Ward.
The carly schools were taught under contracts, signed by both teacher and patrons. I will here append copies of two articles of agreement to teach as written at that time. The first is between Allen Parlier, long an honored citizen of this county, and parties in Washington county, and reads as follows :
"Articles of agreement drawn this 25th of May, 1833, be- tween Allen Parlier, of the county of Washington and state of Illinois, of the one part, and we, the undersigned, of said county and state, of the other part, witnesseth, that the said Parlier binds himself to teach a school of spelling, reading, writing, and the foregoing rules of arithmetic, for the terin of three months, for ยง2 per scholar, per quarter ; said Par- lier further binds himself, to keep good order in said school, will teach five days in each week, all due school hours, and will make up all lost time, except muster days, and will set up with twenty scholars, the subscribers to furnish a comfortable house, with all the conveniences appertaining thereunto, the school to commence as quick as the house is fixed. N. B .- Wheat, pork, hogs, beeswax, tallow, deer skins, wool and young cattle, all of which will be taken at the market price, delivered at my house, at the expiration of said school, day and date above written.
(Subscribers' names.) ALLEN PARLIER." The second article is shorter and without date.
"Ferdinand G. Ilumphreys, proposes to teach a common English school, at the school house near John Baird's Esq., in Holt's Prairie, Perry county, state of Illinois, in town five, south of range two west, for the term of sixty days, at the rate of two dollars per scholar. We undersigned sub- scribers, agree to pay to F. G. Humphreys, the above named teacher, cach for himself, two dollars per scholar, for the term of sixty days, and they agree also, that the said teacher may draw their proportionate share of the school fund."
This is signed by the teacher and ten subscribers, three of whom sign for } scholar each. The whole number of scholars that subscribed for it, is eighteen and one half. The teacher boarded around among the employers, a week or so, in each family, without charge. The articles under which Hon. Philip C. C. Provat taught in different parts of the county, in 1839, and six following years, were much like the above; he agreeing to take young cattle, mink skins, &c., in payment, and not to charge widows anything in addition to their share of school fund. Most of what was due him from subscribers, to one school, was paid in fence rails, de- livered on land which he had bought with what he had re- ceived for teaching. That we may know what was meant by a comfortable school-house, I give a description of one, furnished by Messrs. Eaton, who know whereof they affirm, as their early school days were passed in this house. "Our
school-honse was 18x20 feet, built of round logs, about 1833. The openings between the logs were closed with pieces of wood, split to the right thickness, and danbed with mud ; this was called chinking. At one end was a fire place, six feet wide, for burning wood. The fire place was made of split logs, which were partially defended from the fire by a big slate stone, and clay. The chimney was built of stats laid in mortar, made by mixing wet clay and straw. On each corner of the chimney, at the top, was laid a large ball, composed of this mortar. These balls answered both for ornaments and holding the pieces of the chimney in place. On the east side the upper half of the fourth log, from the bottom, was cut out for 16 feet in length ; the lower half of the log above this, was cut in a similar manner ; through this opening the light entered the building, except in cold and stormy weather. Above this opening was a long plank or board, suspended by leather hinges, which was lowered down, to close the opening in bad weather. When this opening was closed, some of the scholars saw their books by light that came through crevices in the walls, and others gathered about the fire place and studied by light coming down the spacious chimney. Parallel with the lower edge of the opening in the wall, was placed a split log, which ex- tended the whole length of the house, and was inserted into the space between the logs at each end. This half log was our writing desk. In some school-houses a long plank, sup- ported by long pins, driven into holes hored in the logs, took the place of the split log for writing desk. The seats were made of split logs, with holes bored into their lower side, into which, pins called bench legs, 8 to 20 inches long, were driven. The benches were placed near the walls, leaving the central part of the floor vacant. On this vacant space classes stood to recite. There was no floor but the earth. This soon became smooth, so that walking around made little noise." One correspondent says : "To the first school that I attended, I walked 4 miles, in company with two older brothers, in 1833. Webster's spelling-book was the only text book used by my brothers, and one was considered sufficient for both of them. In later years, all that was taught in any of the schools that I knew anything about, was spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic. After finishing the spelling book, we read as class books, the Testament, life of Gen. Francis Marion, and Columbian orator. Most of the studying was aloud, and one passing near the school house could hear simultaneously, " Baker, brier. A. A. S. Fellow of the American Academy,-5 times 1 are 5, 9 times 9 are 81. An old man found a rude boy," etc. The paper on which pupils wrote, was not ruled when it was bought. To enable pupils to have it properly ruled, the teacher had a ruler, to which a lead pencil was attached by a string. Each scholar ruled his own paper, and many a rap on the head we got for ruling irregularly. Our pens were made of goose quills, and one important part of the teacher's quali- fications, was ability to make a good pen. We made our own ink by boiling brier roots, and adding a little copperas. The juice of poke berries was much used for ink, so was a solu- tion of indigo. Not many of the scholars walked as far to school as I did when I first began to attend, but all the children
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
of school age within a radius of 3 miles attended, making the whole number of pupils 17.
After one or two terms an Eastern man taught, and he talked about grammar, and urged the necessity of having it taught in school, but the people seemed to think it was some kind of language, not likely to be much used, and it was kept out of the school for several years after this. Spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, and good manners and morals were all that was taught in most of our schools. In some, geography was taught by singing. All the states and their capitals were wrought into a tune, which was sung.
Corporal punishment was common. The teacher carried in his hand a long hazel switch, and when he saw ten or fifteen boys who sat on one long bench about to go to sleep, or engaged in mischief, he tingled their bare feet and shins with his switch. When a boy was guilty of a flagrant vio- lation of rules, he was called into the middle of the floor, and received over the shoulders a number of lashes propor- tioned to his offence. The severest punishments were ad- ministered with the "ruler," a piece of wood eighteen inches long, one half or three-fourths of an inch thick, and one and one-half inch wide. The teacher took hold of the right hand of the boy with his left hand, straightened out the fingers, held it firmly, and smote it with the ruler, fre_ quently until the hand was blistered. The schools were not commonly crowded with too many scholars; and if one parent was too poor to pay, the early teachers treated him with liberality, and said: "Send your children to school without pay." It was also a common thing for an old pio- neer who had no children to send to school, to pay some- thing to the teacher in order to have the school kept up. At the close of the term there was a spelling match between our school and the one nearest to us. It was attended by nearly all the men, women and children in both districts- more than could get seats in the school-house. The match was decided long before noon-five bushels of apples were distributed among the children. The larger boys and the men present put in most of the remainder of the day in playing ball. Among the players were M. G. Max- well, who weighed 250 pounds, and several gray-headed men.
All the spelling was oral, no scholar having a slate until he was ready to "cypher." It commonly took several terms to reach this point. At least once during every term, a visiting day was appointed by the teacher, and all came,- fathers, mothers and the little ones. This somewhat long description of our primary school, which is a fair specimen of the schools of Perry county from 1830 to 1840, gives a better idea of the schools than any general description that I could give. I will give an instance or two, to illustrate the interest which the early settlers felt in. education, al- though many of them had had very little opportunity for obtaining "book learning" in their youth. I knew one case, in which the chimney, made of sticks and sod, fell down near the close of the school, one day, and was burnt. The teacher sent word by the children, to the men, to come and rebuild it. The next day every man in the district was there to help, and the chimney was completed, so that school
was stopped but one day. About 1841, the school-house on Eaton's prairie was accidentally burned. Iu three days, another house was built on the same spot by the men in the district, without the expenditure of one cent of money, and the school was started again on the fourth day. The schools of the county continued much like the one described until the decade extending from 1840 to 1850. During this period there was great improvement with schools, a large part, but not all, of which was owing to improved school law. They have continued to improve, and will now com- pare favorably with the public schools in any part of the United States. Within a few years past I have visited the schools of every State from Missouri to Maine, and all the schools of this county, and although there is still much room for improvement in our schools, what I have said of them as compared with others I know to be true. The private schools-schools not coming under the name of common or public schools-have done much to cause this improvement.
In 1839, B. G. Roots and wife opened a boarding-school on the land where he now resides. In this school every thing which is now required to obtain a first grade teacher's certificate, and several other branches, were taught. He has taught in the county some part of each of more than thirty years, and from every year's school some have gone out to teach. In 1842, Nelson Holt and his wife com- menced teaching in the county, and tanght much of the time up to Mar., 1851. They did as good work as the graduates of normal schools uow do. Miss A. F. Ilolt commenced teaching in this county in 1860, and is still teaching, and adding to the pedagogue roll. Samuel Eaton, who received his death wound on the field of Shiloh, discharging the du- ties that devolved on him as Major of the 18th Illinois Infantry, commenced teaching in the common school in 1842, and taught from time to time until 1851. Many of his pupils have been counted among the best teachers in the county.
Below I give a list of those who have acted as principals of the graded schools in the county. Most of them have done good work and aided in supplying the demand for good teachers : J. B. Ward, in addition to his other work, has for several years taught during a portion of the summer, and in August conducted an institute for one month. the special work of which is to drill teachers. This teachers' drill in this county was first begun hy R. G. Roots in 1870, and has been conducted by the county superintendent every year since then. I am sorry that I can not name all the veteran teachers, but my memory is fallible, and all my ap- peals have failed to induce them or their friends to give me their names. I take pleasure in making honorable mention of the following veterans, in addition to those named else- where in this paper : James Preston, Thomas W. Blair, Franklin Campbell, J. R. Cleveland, La Fayette Church, Abel Campbell, David M. Iloge, A. J. Dickenson, John Cooper, Lewis Garret, Sarah Heape (now Mrs. Abner Wil- liams), Thos. Saunders, Obadiah West, Jacob Walker, John S. Haggard, William Baldridge, James Holliday, F. G. Humphreys, Rev. Lysias Heape, Isaac Hale-all of whom have ceased to be teachers here, and most of whom have
941
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
passed from this life. To insert all the names of the honored host who have done good work iu our common schools within the last thirty years would require more space than Iam allowed. I believe that John B. Eiton, who has taught some part of each of the last 37 years, and is still doing good work, is the senior of the present force in ungraded schools.
The following list comprises the names of such as I recol- lect of the same class who have taught long enough to be counted veterans, that are not named as principals of graded schools, or otherwise :- Messrs. Samuel Y. Hawkins, John S Williams, John D. Strait, Richard P. Todd, Wm. M. Eaton, Richard A. Hampleman, Benj F. Hammack, James W. Van Bruut, James W. Blair, James R. Blair, Richard S. Guy, Rob't Rushing, Samuel L. Sibbett, John F. Hanna, J. Hosea Thornton, Josiah Malone, Friend Smith, Salomon McPherson, John V. Tyler, Mrs. Eliza Miller Lipe, Julia C. Eaton West, Sophia B. Ross Tuthill, Mattie K. East. Sadie Harshaw White, Emma Hawkins Ward, Mary Cham- berlin Burgess, Franeis Thompson MeMillen, Misses Laura M. Tuthill, Mary F. Loigh, Emma Wheatley, Dora A. Lipe, Sarah Heape, Mattie Heape, (daughters of Rev. Lysias Heape), Mary E. Kelsey, Marianne Milligan, Tillie Hissong, Anna M. Sibbett, Mary E. Cotter and Martha Me Millin.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS AND CO. SUPTS.
The School Commissioner was the successor in office of Commissioner of School Linds, as the Co. Supt. is of School Commissioner.
David Baldridge was first appointed by the County Court as Commissioner of School Lands in 1841. Chas. L. Starbuck became School Commissioner iu 1845. His resignation of the office is dated : Battle Ground N. Orleans July 26, 1846 ; he was followed by Wm. H. Turner in 1846; Nelson Holt in 1847; Marmaduke N. Furguson in 1849; Samuel Eton in 150; tham E. Willis in 1854; Zebedee P. Curlee in 1857 ; Charles E. R. Winthrope in 1861 ; Richard M. Davis in 1863; James W. Blair in 1865; B. G. Roots in 1869; John B. Ward in 1873; R. B. Anderson in 1882; Sinee the schools became really public schools, free to all children of school age all moneys used for payment of teachers or any other purpose connected with schools, pass through the hands of County Superintendent and Township Treasurer. Not one defaulter is found in the list. The School laws show that great changes in the duties devolving on County Superintendents have been made since 1841. Then the care of the finances comprised nearly all his duty. Now the law makes him indeed Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Winthrope was the first Supt. so far as I know, or can learn, who visited the schools officially. His immediate suecessor continued this important part of the work to some extent. Every school in the county was visited by the Supt. in 1870, in 1871 and in 1872, and the Supt. was paid five dollarsa day for the time occupied in visiting the schools. The visitation of sehools by the County Supt. did more to elevate and improve the schools than an equal sum expended in any other way has ever done.
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