USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 14
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In 1883, the paper became a five- column quarto. The first printing room was McElhiney & Davis' scale office ; thence it passed to more cominodious quarters in Culbertson's building. Afterward, it occupied rooms over the bank, where a bindery department was added. The present office is on Main street, in a building first erected for a schoolhouse, afterward used as a Methodist Church until the present church was built. The present weekly circulation is 675, with a good job printing and book-binding business.
THE "EASTERN ILLINOIS REGISTER."
This is an independent Democratic paper, published at Paxton.
It holds decided opinions upon all matters of public interest, and is fearless and original in expressing them. It is the result of a consolidation of the Loda Register, Gilman Sun, Paxton Appeal and Gibson Press, the first of which was established in 1875 by the present editor and proprietor, J. C. Dunham.
Its circulation and standing has steadily improved from the first, in face of the most unscrupulous and ungenerous opposition of those who dislike its truthful way of stating unvarnished facts.
It asks no favor of politicians and caucus managers of any party, and gives thieves and demagogues no quarter. Subscrip- tion price $1.50 per year in advance.
PHYSICIANS OF FORD COUNTY.
The following facts are taken rom the records of the county : Samuel L. Baughman, Gibson City, graduated from the Chicago Medical College March 2, 1876 ; school of practice, regular or allopathic.
James Y. Campbell, Paxton, graduated from Chicago Medi- cal College March 21, 1865; regular.
M. Cassingham, Roberts, graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 16, 1865 ; regular.
S. D. Culbertson, Piper City, graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, March 10, 1866 ; regular.
L. B. Farrar, Paxton, graduated from Berkshire Medical Col- lege, Massachusetts, November 8, 1848 ; homeopathic.
Laura E. Farrar, Paxton, graduated from Hahnemann Medi- cal College, Chicago, 1872 ; homoeopathic.
H. E. Farley, Cabery, graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 24, 1880; regular.
H. Gilborne, Cabery, graduated from Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, March 9, 1872; homeopathic.
J. I. Groves, Gibson City, graduated from llahnemann Medi- cal College, Chicago, February 26, 1880; homoeopathic.
N. Holton, Gibson City, graduated from Chicago Medical College March 5, 1867; regular.
H. A. Kelso, Paxton, certificate State Board on twenty years' practice June 14, 1880; regular.
E. L. Kelso, Paxton, graduated from Chicago Medical Col- lege March 27, 1883; regular.
Floyd O'Brien, Sibley, graduated from Rush Medical College February 15, 1876; regular.
W. F. O'Brien, Piper City, examination by State Board July 6, 1881; regular.
E. B. Perry, Melvin, graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 24, 1880; regular.
John T. Ragsdale, Gibson City, graduated from American Eclectic College, St. Louis, January 26, 1875; eclectic.
Milton B. Swisher, Paxton, graduated from Pulte Medical College, Cincinnati, March 6, 1883; homoeopathic.
T. B. Strauss, Gibson City, examination by State Board January 12, 1878; regular.
J. M. Waters, Gibson City, graduated from Jefferson Medi- cal College, Philadelphia, March 7, 1868 ; regular.
S. M. Wylie, Paxton, graduated from Chicago Medical Col- lege March 5, 1878 ; regular.
John Wilson, Elliott, graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, February 21, 1882 ; regular.
T. R. Wiley, Gibson City, graduated from Rush Medical College February 14, 1874 ; regular.
W. H. Watson, Cabery, graduated from Rush Medical College February 16, 1875; regular.
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS OF FORD COUNTY.
BY P. O. LOEMAN, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
People always enjoy the contemplation of that portion of their history which has been subject to severe struggles and hard- ships, because all things valuable are acquired by exertion, self- sacrifice and cost, and amid great vicissitudes.
What is true of individual history is equally true of the his- tories of communities and nations. Even the historics of enter- prises of all kinds are subject to the same general law.
It is a lamentable fact, however, that those incidents, in which we feel so keen and lively an interest, are largely wrapped in the obscurity of tradition. This is owing to the small, almost insignificant. beginning of all enterprises, and the little importance attached to the necessity of preserving the early records. We are apt to forget that, however insignificant the beginning of anything may be, it may, in course of time, as- sume vast and paramount importance.
In the collection of data for this chapter, we are much in. debted to Rev. W. W. Blanchard, Hon. David Patton, C. Mc- Keever, J. R. Lewis, George II. Thompson and others.
Near the close of October, A. D. 1853, David Patton re- moved from La Fayette, Ind., to that portion of the present Ford County, popularly known as Ten Mile Grove, about two and a half miles west of Paxton. Ilere Mr. Patton found about a dozen families, who had located along this belt of timber, not venturing far out on the prairie lest they should lack for fuel and shelter, which the timber so gratuitously provided.
The schoolhouses nearest to this point were located at Urbana and Middleport, a distance of abont twenty-five miles. The de- sire to give their children an elementary education existed in the -heads of these families, but no effort had been made to secure the benefits to which all looked forward with an intense longing.
Under the direction of David Patton, a meeting was called, at which it was decided to erect a log schoolhouse. This resolu- tion was not formed to be speedily forgotten, but was acted upon at once.
There was no plethoric treasury, there were no selfish con- tractors, there were no expensive mechanics to employ, so the men shouldered their axes, and in the most primitive manner constructed the most primitive schoolhouse. One week from the day of the meeting, the new schoolhouse was ready for use.
A difficulty at this point, however, presented itself. The schoolhouse was in place, and about thirty-five pupils waiting. eager to slake their thirst for knowledge at the spring from which they had been so long debarred. But teachers were scarce, and none could be found to lead the young minds.
In this extremity, Mr. Patton himself assumed the responsi- bility of teacher, opened the school about the middle of Novem- ber, 1853, and taught till the following spring.
In the spring of 1854, Mr. Patton went to La Fayette, Ind., to buy his supply of groceries, and while there employed a Miss Eulala Lewis, who taught for six months and then married.
During the winter of 1854-55, David Patton was again em- ployed to teach, which he did with much credit to himself and great benefit to the school.
Miss Polly Dops, daughter of one of the earliest settlers, a family of the Button neighborhood, six miles southeast of Paxton, and favorably known by everyone, was engaged to teach for six months during the summer of 1855.
A Mr. Smith, from Montgomery County. Ind., was engaged to teach the school in the Patton district, as it was now called, during the winter of 1855-56. The pupils, some of whom could attend school only a short time during the year, manifested great interest in their work, and pursued their studies with a wonderful seal.
Prospect City, now Paxton, on the Illinois Central Rail- road, at this time gave promise of becoming an impor- tant business center, and many new families came in to share in the profits that often arise from the rapid building up and im- proving of new frontier towns.
Among the new comers was a Rev. W. W. Blanchard, of Ur- bana. Mr. Blanchard was engaged to teach the first school in the Upper Ten Mile, a place two miles further up the stream than the Patton School. This school was taught during the winter of 1855-56.
The people here had not yet built a schoolhouse, but the school was taught in the lean-to of the log house of the late Dan- iel C. Stoner, extensively and favorably known throughout the entire southern part of the county.
An incident worthy of notice, and one that will long be re- membered in that locality ; an incident that varied the humdrum monotony of everyday life, and fixed the beginning of a new era in that neighborhood, was the marriage of one of the pupils, Miss Barbara Stoner, to N. B. Day, one of the leading citizens of the young but enterprising city of Paxton. The teacher, Rev. Blanchard, solemnized the important event. A marriage is always of interest, but in a new country and a young com- munity, it becomes an event of paramount importance. In this case the bride, Mrs. N. B. Day, continued an earnest student till the close of the term, which made the event doubly impor- tant, for not every school has the honor to have on its roll a full blown bride.
Other pupils of this school were the Rev. Franklin Stoner, now occupying the old homestead; Jessie Todd, now an old and respected citizen, who still lives near the same place he occupied whon a pupil; Edmund and Oliver Hagin, worthy citizens, now living near Elliott.
We cannot stop to trace the history of the individual, nor give even a brief biography of each pupil. It is sufficient to state that nearly every member of these early schools lives at the present time, and fills an honorable place in the community where he now resides.
In the summer of 1856, Mr. Blanchard was engaged to teach in the now three-year-old log schoolhouse in the Patton district, District No. 1. During the following winter of 1856-57, Mr. Blanchard taught in the parlor of Mr. Patton, District No. 1,
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FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the old schoolhouse, which had been built in 1853, and at the time of building was intended for a makeshift only, having be- come old and useless.
At this time the population increased so rapidly that it be- came necessary to organize new school districts. This was especially true of Paxton, now s growing young city, but still without a schoolhouse.
Ford County did not yet exist, but the territory now consti- tuting it was still a part of Vermilion County. Applicants for teachers' certificates, therefore, were obliged to go a distance of fifty miles or more to Danville, in order to pass an examination and secure certificates. The journey across the country was not only very fatiguing and expensive, but at times quite impossible, and few could afford to make the long journey.
In order to obviate so long a journey, Mr. Blanchard wrote to the Superintendent at Danville, stating the circumstances, and requested him to appoint Mr. Patton an Examining Committee for the north part of Vermilion County. The Superintendent returned an appointment of Messrs. Blanchard and Patton as such committee. This facilitated the work very much and was hailed with delight by all aspirants for teachers' positions. Mr. Blanchard, being the scholar of this committee, did the examin- ing. while David Patton, who was a live business man. attended somewhat to the general business connected with the office.
Among the first applicants for certificate under the new dis- pensation was Mrs. Salina Allen, an old and experienced teacher of Whiteside County, and sister of the Rev. Blanchard and President Blanchard, of Knox College.
Mrs. Allen was employed to teach the first school taught in Paxton. Among her pupils were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Stites, O. B. Taft, now in Chicago, member of the firm of Pear- sons & Taft. Mrs. Allen taught at different times with much success in the Patton and Stoner districts.
About this time, June, 1859, Ford County was organized, and the Rev. Blanchard was elected the first County Superintend- ent of schools in the new county.
In the summer of 1859, Miss Mary A. Blanchard, daughter of President Blanchard, was employed to teach in the Patton district.
New districts were now rapidly organized, one near the place where Elliott is now located in Dix Township, and Mrs. Allen, who had been teaching with such marked success in nearly all the schools in the new county, was employed to teach.
In 1860, a district was organized in the western part of Dix Township. A portion of the territory forming this school dis- trict was taken from the eastern part of Drummer Grove Town- ship, and was therefore called Union District. Mr. Harvey Nash was the first teacher in this school, and was followed by Mr. Peirpont, who finished his term, Mr. Nash having enlisted and gone to Washington to take up arms in the defense of his country.
Other teachers in this district were Miss Carver, Mrs. Le Fevre and Miss Mary Pierpont, now Mrs. Henry C. Hall, of Paxton.
The country lying northwest of Paxton, and now known as Wall Township, early attracted settlers to its fertile, rolling prairies. But the settlers were so much scattered that no united effort was made to secure educational advantages till the year 1861. In this year, a small schoolhouse was built on the north- cast corner of Section 26, in the Noel neighborhood, and is still known as the Noel School, although it has been moved south one mile, and is now located on the northeast corner of Section 35. Mr. William Noel was the first Township Treasurer of Wall Township. Miss Smith, from McLean County, was the first teacher to officiate in the Noel School.
After Mrs. Allen had closed her term of school in Dix Town- ship, she was engaged to teach during the year 1861 in a new dis- trict in the western part of Wall Township, organized by Mr. Lytle, now an old and respected citizen of Paxton. This school was taught in a log house belonging to Mr. Lytle. Mrs. D. Denman, of Paxton, was one of the first pupils. In the summer of 1862, a school was taught in this district in the house of John Morris, by Miss Katy Bonesell. No schoolhouse was built in this district till 1863, when a small schoolhouse was erected, and euphoniously christened " String Town School," and is known by that name to the present time. The members of the first Board of 'Trustees of this, Wall, township were Abraham Wall, Will- iam McClelland and Samuel Lytle. At the first meeting of this board, William Noel was appointed Township Treasurer.
Mrs. Allen was an earnestly religious woman, and in addition to her school duties found time to organize the first Sabbath school in Paxton, being also the first in Ford County.
During the summer of 1859, Miss Loretta Goodrich taught the first school in the Trickle Grove Schoolhouse, about five miles southeast of Paxton.
A small schoolhouse was built about 1859, in Paxton, and Miss Jennie Lyon, now Mrs. Samuel L. Day, was the first teacher. This schoolhouse was soon outgrown, sold for a dwelling-house, and a larger one, now the Baptist Church, was built. Mr. and Mrs. Amyx were the teachers hero for some time. Soon this schoolhouse also became too small, and was sold to the First Swedish Lutheran Congregation, and was, in 1872, sold to the Baptist body. The nucleus of the present schoolhouse was then erected, and has been added to from time to time, as the occasion required.
The following is a list of names of the Principals employed in the Paxton Schools from its earliest date to the present time : Mrs. Salima Allen, Miss Jennie Lyon, Mr. Amyx, William New- lin, J. M. Hanley, W. J. Button, J. M. Spinning. W. J. Button, J. M. Hanley, J. S. Wilson, Charles Edwards, E. T. Evans,
C. M. Taylor, P. K. McMinn W. A. Wetzell, and the present incumbent, Prof. F. W. Gove.
Of the teachers mentioned in connection with the history of this portion of the county, Messrs. Patton and Blanchard and Mrs. Allen deserve the honor of doing the pioneer work.
We have dwelt upon the details of the work done in this locality, not because it is of greater importance than that done elsewhere, but because the first school work was done here, and gradually spread over the entire county from this point.
The western portion of the county, consisting of Drummer Grove, Sullivant and Peach Orchard Townships, early gave atten- tion to educational work. In the winter of 1854-55, Dr. Davis removed from Cheeney's Grove, McLean County, to the western portion of Ford County, and was for several years the only set- tler. That country in time attracted its share of new comers, and in 1862 Dr. Davis found several families, neighbors to him- self, with no educational advantages. Dr. Davis employed a teacher in the winter of 1863-64, to give instruction to his chil- dren, and, being withal a generous man, he invited the neighbors' children in to be educated with his family.
The first schoolhouse in this portion of the county was built in 1863, in the southeast part of Drummer Grove Township, and is popularly known as the Wantwood School.
In the summer of 1865, two new school districts were organ- ized, the Powers Farm School and the Drummer Grove School. The schoolhouse known as the Powers Farm School answered the threefold purpose of schoolhouse, church and public hall for several years. In 1870, the Powers Farm Schoolhouse was removed and still serves as a dwelling-house. The following year, 1871, a new and larger building was erected in its place, and the name was changed to Union School District No. 4.
Before either of the above-mentioned houses were built, Miss Jennie Frew, of Paxton, taught in a small farm house on the farm of Mr. Asa Canterbury, 1865.
The first school officers elected were Asa Canterbury, Treas- urer ; L. Lavett, C. Palmer and J. Warner, Trustees ; Thomas Green, Lewis Weakman and Caleb Mckeever, Directors.
The first teacher in the Union District was a Miss Emma Clark, a lady without a finger or thumb on either hand, but by means of an elastic band around her wrist, under which she slipped a penholder or pencil, was able to write a very good hand. By securing a switch in the same unique manner, she was enabled to give the obstreperous youths as much of the birch as was thought necessary to aid an elementary education.
The Drummer Grove Schoolhouse was erected in 1866, and in 1872 was removed to Gibson City, and has since then grown into the present efficient graded school. Of the early teachers in the Drummer Grove Schoolhouse, we will mention only a few : Arabella M. Davis, daughter of Dr. Davis, before mentioned, and now Mrs. Weaver White, wife of the present Circuit Clerk ; A. F. Irwin and Weaver White.
The original Drummer Grove Schoolhouse, which had been moved to Gibson City in 1872, soon became too small to accom modate the rapidly increasing school population of the enterpris- ing young city, and it was found necessary to provide a larger building. The people of Gibson City, therefore, who, by the way, were never known to do anything in a half-way manner, erected. in 1874, a large and substantial brick building, at a cost of over 88,000, with four elegant rooms. But so rapid was the increase in population that it became necessary to provide more room. Another schoolhouse was erected in 1882, and Gibson City is now provided with school buildings second to none in Eastern Illinois.
The following is a list of names of Principals of the Gibson Schools : Jesse Hubbard, E. G. Walker, J. W. Mercer, W. A. Wetzell, S. P. Rady, H. J. Clark and the present incumbent, I. O. Jones.
The entire Pan Handle, consisting of Lyman, Brenton, Pella, Mona and Rogers Townships, was known by the name of Town of Stockton until the year 1858.
In 1858, a petition was sent to John C. Short, County Clerk of Vermilion County, asking that notices be issued and forwarded to John R. Lewis, to set off Town 26, Range 9. This was done, and the town of Brenton dates its organization from this time. About the same time, 1858, efforts were made to have the terri- tory lying south of Brenton and north of Wall set apart as a distinct township, forming what is now Lyman Township.
A meeting to elect Township Trustees was held at the resi- dence of John R. Lewis, January 1, 1859, and J. E. Davis, A. J. Bartlett and Saul C. Burt were elected Township Trustees. This was the first step toward popular education in the Pan Han- dle, and from this nucleus the work has spread over the entire northern part of the country. The trustees met for the purpose of organizing, February 9, 1859, at the house of A. J. Bartlett. After the organization had been completed, the township of Bren- ton was divided into two school districts, the south half forming District No. 1, and the north half District No. 2. Jolin R. Lewis was appointed Township Treasurer for Brenton Township, and also received a commission from Superintendent Blanchard to ex- amine applicants for teachers' certificates. Mr. Lewis filled the latter office until the election of James Brown, 1869. It was further provided at this meeting, that election notices for a school election in District No. 1 be posted, and an election held in or- der that something tangible might be done in securing school privileges. This election was held at the house of Jacob Titus, Monday, February 21, 1859, but was adjourned to February 28. At this adjourned meeting, John R. Lewis, Mark Par- sons and Ira Z. Congdon were elected the first Board of Di- rectors in District No. 1, Brenton Township. Nothing more, however, was done in securing a school at this time. There
were no schoolhouses ; the dwelling houses were small, and the obstacles that hindered school work almost insurmountable.
J. E. Davis and A. J. Bartlett, Trustees, had moved from the township shortly after their election in the summer of 1859, and it became necessary to elect other Trustees in their place. Accordingly a meeting for the election of Trustees was called for February 1, 1860. At this election L. T. Bishop and T. W. Pope were elected. Mr. Bishop has been a member of the Board of Trustees ever since his election in 1860, a term of twenty-four years, a remarkable case of tenure of office. So far schools ex- isted here in theory only, and as no education was diffused in this way, great efforts were now made to have a school in reality. To further this end. John R. Lewis offered his shed lean-to for a schoolhouse, which was gladly accepted.
A Miss Annie E. Ilobbis, afterward Mrs. Conrow, wife of County Superintendent Conrow, was the first teacher in the Pan Handle, beginning the school the first Monday in December, 1859, and continued four months. Mr. Lewis, in addition to giving his lean to for school purposes, furnished the fuel to keep the pupils warm, and board for the teacher for the four months. For this he received the very liberal compensation of $24.
The following summer, 1860, the first schoolhouse in the Pan Handle was built on the farm of Mr. Wagner, and is to this day known as the Jacob Wagner School. This was a small building, 16x20 feet, but answered the purpose quite well. Miss Hobbis, who had made a record as a good teacher the winter before, was engaged to teach the pupils that gathered at this diminutive col- lege.
A small village, Piper City, had sprung up in District No. 2, in the northern part of Brenton Township, and it became neces- sary to provide means for education there. A small schoolhouse, probably the smallest ever built, 12x12 feet, was erected in 1865. This house was several years afterward displaced by a larger and more convenient school building, and is now used by Mr. J. A. Montelius as a scale office. The first teacher here was a Miss Mary Thompson. After the close of Miss Thompson's term, a Miss Brown, now Mrs. McElhiney, taught in the little village school. From this small beginning has grown the present effi- cient graded school of Piper City.
Lyman Township was not far behind her sister township, Brenton, in educational work. About the time when Brenton Township was organized, Mr. S. K. Marston sent in a petition to have Lyman Township organized, and the organization of the two townships was consummated about the same time. In the north- eastern part of Lyman Township are several sections of broken, rolling land, which were early settled by people from Con- necticut. They chose this because it stood in such a decided contrast to the surrounding prairie, which to them looked more like a great expanse of marsh than land fit for agricultural pur- poses, and was more in conforinity with the nature of the country in their Connecticut homes. These persons, cager for education- al advantages, organized a school district in 1859, and Mrs. S. K. Marston was engaged to give the necessary instruction. This first school was taught in an upper room of Mr. Marston's dwelling. Among the pupils was G. P. Lyman, brother of S. B. Lyman, ex-Sheriff of Ford County. A schoolhouse was built in this settlement in the summer of 1860, and was named District No. 1. Soon after this, a district was organized two miles south. This was christened District No. 2, and is popu- larly known as the Larkin's District. No schoolhouse was built in this district for some time, but Mr. W. S. Larkins came to the rescue by giving the use of one of his rooms for school purposes. Here Miss Alice J. Jewell scattered the jewels of an elementary education among the rising generation. The second term of school in this district was taught in a small stable, con- verted into a school room, and Miss Jewell again presided as teacher. In 1863 or 1864, a schoolhouse was built, and one of the early teachers was the congenial George II. Thompson ex- tensively known throughout the entire central part of the coun- ty, and now a resident of Kansas.
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