Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 44

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126

USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2 > Part 44

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).

The history of Presbyterianism in Schuyler County should also include some mention of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which was founded here in 1834. Rev. J. C. Jewel was their tirst pastor and a church building was erected the year they organized, but the society made slow growth and in after years the members became identified with the Presbyterian Church. Even in the early days of the church, during the period of strife and contention, the local society took a prominent part in affairs, and the Presby- tery for this part of Illinois goes by the old name of Schuyler Presbytery.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH .-- It was in 1829 that the first service of this denomination was held in Schuyler County, and the minister was Elder James Hughes, who was on his way to Missouri from Ohio. Ile stopped at the home of Benjamin Chadsey, one of the prominent early settlers, and was eagerly welcomed. Services were held at Mr. Chadsey's home, two and a half miles north- east of Rushville, and while no attempt was made to found a church, the members of that de- nomination were brought closely together and looked forward to the time when they could have a place of worship in accordance with their be- liefs.

In 1530, Barton W. Stone, of Kentucky, came to Rushville and held a series of meetings in the old log court house.

Great interest attended these meetings, and the following year Elder James W. Davis and James Urbank came from Kentucky to contime their work. Then it was that the first steps were taken towards the organization of a church, which was accomplished in 1839. In that year a church was built and Elder Barton W. Stone returned to perfect the organization. which was accomplished December 29, 1833. In succeeding years the church continued services regularly, and in 1874 the building now in use was erected and was dedicated. March 1. 1875.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH .-- Dis-

sonsions within the Methodist Episcopal Church, growing out of the slavery question, led to the organization in Illinois of the Christian Union Church in 1st, and two years later a church of that denomination was founded in Schuyler County. The Best society was organized at Kin- derhook school house, Rushville Township, Jan- nary 1, 1867, by Rev. Rumsey Smithson. On Jan- nary 17, Rev. D. T. Sherman organized a society at Sugar Grove and. on April 20th, the Rushville circuit was organized.

In June, 1587, the members of the Christian Union Churches of Illinois met at Clinton and decided to change the name of the church to that of the Episcopal Methodist Church, and after being taken under the jurisdiction of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South, the name was again changed.

The church at Rushville was organized in August, INGS, by Rev. William R. Howard, and since that time regular services have been con- dueted in this city and on the circuits.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH .-- Just when the first services of the Baptist Church were held in Schuyler County is not a matter of record, but the ministers of that faith were early in the field and had reached Rushville in the latter 'twenties. A division of the church at this early day tended to disorganize the evangelistie work and the effects of it were felt in this county.

On October 20, 1832, a Baptist Church of Christ, ealled Concord, was organized, and there were twenty-three persons in Schuyler who signed the constitution and articles of faith. Elder Jolin Logan was called as pastor and he served until 1:26 when he was succeeded by Elder Newell. Services had been held princi- padly in the country up to this time, but in 1837 a building was erected in Rushville. After a short time this building was sold and a new church was built on the Macomb road, four and a half miles north of Rushville. Elder Davis was pastor of the church from 1540 to 1847, and during these years there was a great revival of interest. This culminated in the building of a new church in Rushville in 1951, but for some reason the church never thrived in this city, and finally the congregation was unable to keep up their organization, and the building was sold to the Rushville Union School district and is now used for the primary grades.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH .-- In the history of the

712

HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

Episcopal Church of Illinois Rushville stands pre-eminent as one of the first towns to establish a church of that denomination. Although the Diocese of Illinois was not organized until March 0, 1835, Christ Church Parish, Rushville, was organized in February, 1834. There were then but three or four other Episcopal churches in the State and when Bishop Chase, the first Bishop of Illinois, made his first visitation to the State, Rushville was included in his itinerary.

Little is known of the early history of the church in this city, but it is a matter of record that a church was erected and on March 19, 1837, was consecrated. There is added interest in the local history of the church for the reason that the Annual Convention of the Diocese of Illinois was held here on June 4 and 5, 1838, and again in 1842. In this latter year the church records show that there were but 491 communi- cants in the whole State.

It is not possible to review the early history of this church, for all the old members have long since passed away. In the 'forties the church maintained its own building and Rev. Robert J. Walker served the parishes of Rush- ville and Beardstown, giving alternate Sundays to each. Ile was succeeded by Rev. Clotworthy, who remained for a few years and sometime in the 'fifties regular services ceased and the build- ing reverted to the donors. About ten years ago Rushville was made a station in the missionary field, and regular services are now held every fortnight, in a mission room which has been fitted up by the local congregation.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH-Since early in the 'sixties, the Roman Catholics have had services in Rushville, but the congregation was never large enough to support a resident priest. I the early days, when Rushville was a parish in the Chicago diocese, services were held at the home of Patrick Fox, and the priest made reg- ular visits here to minister to the little congrega- tion. About 1570 the present church building was erected, and services are held once a month. When the diocese of Peoria was erected in 1-70, Rushville parish was included in the territory taken from the Chicago diocese.

CHAPTER XXI.

SCHUYLER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN SCHUYLER COUNTY LAID OUT JULY 22, 1825-FIRST FREE SCHOOL LAW ENACTED THE SAME YEAR-WM. II. TAYLOR THE FIRST TEACHER IN THE COUNTY-ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISHI FREE SCHOOLS IN 1826 PROVES A FAIL- URE-JONATHAN D. MANLOVE'S REMINISCENCES OF AN EARLY PIONEER SCHOOL-THE PERIOD OF SUBSCRIPTION SCHOOLS AND OTHER EARLY TEACHERS-SOME CHRISTMAS-DAY LOCKOUTS- STATE CHARTER GRANTED RUSHVILLE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT MARCH 30, 1869-HISTORY OF RUSHVILLE SCHOOLS-LIST OF SCHOOL SUPERIN- TENDENTS-TOWNSHIP SCHOOL HISTORY-THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN THE COUNTY.

The history of the public schools of Schuyler County is coincident with that of the State of Illinois, and it must ever be a source of local pride to know that, at the first meeting of the County Commissioners, held on July 7, 1825, plans were made for the organization of a school district, and by petition the same was regularly formed two weeks later.

The wisdom and foresight of the pioneers of Illinois was shown most clearly in their endeavor to establish a system of public schools at a time when the cause of popular education was by no means popular. The foundations for free schools. thus laid, commands our admiration and surprise. and the names of the early supporters of popular education should be unperishable in the records of the county, and it is our purpose to thus aid in honoring the pioneer supporters of the great free school system.

Schuyler County was formed and granted pow- er's of local government by the Illinois Legisla- ture in 1825, and in January of that year there was passed the first State School Law, under which the district in this county was formed some six months later. The development of the most excellent school system of the State renders it somewhat superfluous to cite reasons for the enactment of this law, but in the pre-

一

--.

----

OLD COURT HOUSE.

OLD HIGHSCHOOL BUILDING, RUSHVILLE. BURNED 1893.

TES!

WLM

WASHINGTON SCHOOL. RUSHVILLE. H.L.

WEBSTER HIGHSCHOOL BUILDING, RUSHVILLE, ILL.

713

HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

amble of the first school law of 1825. they are set forth most lucidly as follows :

"To enjoy our rights and liberties, we must understand them; their security and protection ought to be the first object of a free people; and it is a well established fact that no nation has continned long in the enjoyment of civil and political freedom, which was not both virtuous and enlightened ; and believing that the advance- ment of literature always has been, and ever will be, the means of developing more fully the rights of man. that the mind of every citizen in a republic is the common property of society; and constitutes the basis of its strength and happiness : it is, therefore, considered the pecu- liar duty of a free government like ours to en- courage and extend the improvement and culti- vation of the intellectual energies of the whole; therefore, a common school, or schools, shall be established in each county of this State."

The growth and development of the schools of Schuyler County may be said to date back to the winter of 1523-244. for scarcely had halt a dozen families located within a radius of three or four miles and seenred indispensable sheker in their primitive log-cabins, before effort was made to provide a means of education for the children.

The first school taught in the county was at the home of Calvin Hobart in the winter of 1823- 24, where William Il. Taylor, then a young man who had come to the county with the first set- tlers, acted as teacher. Tiis pupils probably did not exceed six in number, for there was but a small settlement made that year.

At the meeting of County Commissioners held on July 22, 1825, a petition was presented asking for the organization of a school district. and the petition was granted and the district formed as follows: "Beginning at the N. E. cor. of Sec. -1. 2 N., 1 W .. thence west to N. W. cor. of Sec. 1. 2 N., 2 W., thence sonth to the S. W. corner of Sec. 36. thence east to the S. E. corner of Sec. 33, thence north to place of beginning." The district thus formed included the west half of Rushville Township within its boundary.

Jonathan D. Manlove, one of the carly pioneer settlers and among the first school teachers of the county, tells of the attempt to establish free schools in Schuyler County in 1826. He says: "The first school house in the county was built Dear Benj. Chadsey's in 1826. A log house was put up and. perhaps, covered, but no school was

ever taught in it. It was built under a very imperfect law, the first in the State that was called a free school law. But at that early period the same diffienhy in regard to the ways and means and location of school houses existed that too often yet exist. and the school house was never finished because of ignorance and prejudice then extant."

In the summer of 1526. however, a school was taught on Section 16 hy Miss Sophronia Chadsey and another by Mr. Manlove at his ellen. In a letter to the Schindler Citizen, in 1981. Mr. Man- love thus describes his pioneer school: "My mind reverts back to the summer of 1528. when I taught a school in a log cabin, where Mr. Lit- tle's house now stands northeast ot Rushville. The cabin was the largest one in the county, and had been occupied by a family not censurable for the Godly virtue of cleanliness, and was in- fested with a numerous prozeny of bugs, whose odorous perfume was not pleasant to the. olfac- tories of teacher or pupils. They had prior pos- session, and had fortified and were taking pos- session of the books and dinner baskets. We were compelled to declare a war of extermination. We procured a large iron kettle, and when ready with boiling water, all hands moved on the ene- mies' works, and after a long and bloody battle. succeeded in destroying all their army, except a very considerable number of stragglers that re- turned carly to their well-known and impregnable hidings. Peace reigned in Warsaw, the six-inch benches were again occupied, and the daily sup- ply of nisk melons, which was furnished by the teacher, was eaten ; and all were happy and con- tented."

The growth of the public school system, as now understood, was slow, and in a quarter of a cen- tury after the settlement of the county it had made but little progress iu Schuyler. It is true there were schools taught. but they were the result of purely voluntary effort either of an in- dividual or of a few associated persons, and the master was paid by the parents whose children attended the school, a one-room log cabin, whose only furniture was a teacher's desk and rude seats fashioned from the slabs of logs, with poys driven into holes near the end for legs. Text books were few and did full duty where there happened to be several children in one family. The children went to school wearing jeans and linsey, and it was not uncommon for

214

HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

the boys to be attired in buckskin pantaloons and coon-skin caps.

It was in such fashion the schools were begun. and they have been steadily improved in material comforts, facilities and elegance, and in culture, training and efficiency of teachers, until we rea- sonably and justly boast a school equipment throughout the county as complete and thorough as that of any county in our great State.

In reviewing the history of the schools of Schuyler county we will first consider those of the city of Rushville, where the growth from the rude log-cabin to the finely graded schools of the present day present a most interesting study. The evolution of the educational system was not accomplished without strife and bitter warfare, but this is accounted for as more a difference of personal opinion than an effort to embarrass the cause of education. The early pioneers were mien of earnest purpose and strong determination and, when differences of opinion arose as to public school management, there was bitter in- ternecine warfare that, in some cases, lasted for years to the detriment of the rapidly growing system of education.

The first building erected for school purposes in Rushville was a small one-story brick house that stood where the Christian church now stands. It was erected in the early 'thirties, and one of the first, if not the first. of the teachers was Levi Lnsk. In the winter of 1837-38, Up- ton Smith organized a subscription school and oe- enpied the attic of the old Methodist Episcopal church with his classes. The attic was divided into Two rooms, and the boys' department or- eupied the north room. while the girls were taught by a lady teacher in the south room. . 1 few years later I. S. Wright and daughter taught in the same building. Another one of the early teachers was a Mr. Shetland, a man of brilliant mind and attaiments whose career was out short by dissipation, and he died soon afterwards. Miss Rebecca Davis taught a school in the early 'forties on the south side of East Washington about half a block from the square. Miss Sarah MeMacken, of Jacksonville, taught in a log school building that was located on West Lafayette Street, between where Mrs. Little's and Dr. Ball's houses now stand, and Mrs. Houghland taught in a log cabin located a little farther west. Mrs. Joseph Haskell was another of the

pioneer teachers who had a school where the court house now stands.

Of the old pioneer teachers who taught sub- scription schools in Rushville in the forties Ed- ward Bertholf lived to see the development of the present day. Mr. Bertholf taught in the old Methodist Church, and among his pupils was Francis Drake, who afterwards became Governor of lowa.

Following the era of small subscription schools we find that Rushville had its Western Seminary, Cottage Seminary, Female Academy, Scripps' Academy, The Seminary, M. E. Church High School, and Parrott High School, all of which flourished and thrived for a time. but eventually gave way before the progress of the system of free schools which eventually resulted in the formation of the Rushville Union Schools.

On June 25. 1845, John Clarke, Lycurgus I. Kimball. George B. Rogers, Roland M. Worthing- ton. James G. MeCreery. Abraham ToHe, William E. Withrow. Joseph Montgomery and James L. Anderson purchased the Jot where the Webster School building now stands and built The Sem- inary. The school was in charge of Alonzo J. Sawyer. afterwards prominent in educational work in Chicago, with Miss Amelia Dayton and Miss Matilda M. Williams as assistants. The rates of tuition ranged from $2.50 to $6, for a term of eleven weeks. Later teachers in this school were: R. II. Griffith. Miss Sophia Barber. Dr. Thomas C. Nichols, Dr. J. A. Speed, Mr. Lucas. G. W. Scripps, Mr. English, George I. Ramsey. Miss Lydia Ramsey. Henry Smither und others.

Rushville was not without its public schools during this period, but they were small and no effort was made to teach anything but the ele- mentary branches, and the situation was further complication by reason of the fact that the city was in two separate school districts. It was when an endeavor was made to nnite districts S and 9, and form the present Union School Dis- friet, that passion ran riot, and it had its cul- mination in a pitched battle, which took place at the Seminary on May 11. 1858, that was participated in by a number of Rushville's lead- ing citizens.

It appears that Distriet No. 9 had purchased the Seminary building in 1555 and that District No. 8 had come into possession of the Parrott School building. Distriet No. 8 had one hundred

715

HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

more pupils than district 9, while the latter had $75,000 more taxable property, and they re- sisted the effort made to unite the two districts.

After the two districts were united by a vote of the people, some of the leading citizens of District No. 9 met and resolved to regain posses- sion of their property. but the Directors of No. 4. getting news of their intention, entered the building at night, nailed down the windows and barred the doors. The Directors of No. 9 gained Jissession the day following, when the former occupants decided to take the building by storm and armed themselves with rails to batter down the doors. This led to a general melee, and the Sheriff of the county was called upon to establish peace. The matter was afterwards taken into court and was carried to the Illinois Supreme Court, where a decision was rendered that de- clared the union of the two districts legal and the costs were assessed against Distriet No. 9. Eleven years later, by the union of District No. 3, in Buena Vista Township, and District No. S. the Rushville I'nion School District was formed and was granted a special charter by the Illinois Legislature, the same being approved March 30, 1869.

Thus was the foundation laid for carrying forward the work of free schools in the city of Rushville, and, out of the turmoil and strife that had existed for a score of years, there developed a united support of the public schools which has ever since continued and has resulted in the building up of the splendid school system of the present day.

The first Board of Education in the Rushville I'nion School District was composed of the fol- lowing gentlemen : William II. Ray, Thomas Wilson, W. W. Wells. R. Il. Griffith and W. S. Irvin. They went to work at once to provide a suitable school building and. during the year 1870, a three-story brick building was ererted on the site of The Seminary at a cost of $15,000. This building served for school purposes until destroyed by fire in September. 1893. On the site of the old building the handsome and mod- ern Webster School building was erected at a cost of $25,000. In the later 'eighties the growth of the city made it necessary to provide addi- tional room, and the old Baptist church, in the same block, was purchased and used for pri- mary grades. Again in 1593 there was need for still greater expansion, and a two-story brick building was erected in the east part of the city

at a cost of $5,000, which is used for primary grade pupils,

The Rushville Umnon Schools were graded by John F. Gowdy, in 1509. and. in 1871, when the new building was first occupied. they were brought to a high standard of excellence by J. M. Coymer. He was steereded as superintendent by John Hobbs. In Isto. H. A. Smith was put in charge and the following year the first Plass graduated from the Rushville High School. Mr. Soth established the > Sical on a solid eau. rational basis and continued as Superintendent until isst. when he was succeeded by Nathan T. Veatch and. for fourteen years. the schools made most excellent progress under his direc- tion. Henry H. Edmunds. was Superintendent from 1901 to 1907. when he resigned lo go to Clinton. III. L. T. Shaw, was Superintendent in 1907-08, and he was succeeded by C. E. Knapp, who is now in charge

The following history of the country schools of Schuyler County was compiled by Prof. 11. A. Smith, who was Superintendent of the Rushville High School from 1575 to 1SST :

The first school in Oakland Township was taught by a Mr. Preston in a log cabin built by Frederick Noble, on the southeast quarter of Section 24. in the summer of 1535. Scholars in attendance were Abner and William, children of Richard Asheratt : Harriet. daughter of William Burress; Rebe va and Naney, children of Josiah Downer; Benjamin, Martha Ann, Sarah Jane and Joseph S., children of Joseph Logan ; and the three children of the teacher. The school term was three months, and subscription rate was $1.50 per month. Oakland Township sold her school land in June. 1537.

Thomas Bronaugh taught the first school in Littleton in a deserted cabin in the summer of 1525. The pupils were: Julia, Margaret. John and Ephraim L., children of David Snyder: Martha. Nancy, Evaline and Ludwell, children of Elijah M. Wilson : Eliza and Benjamin, children of R. P. Applegate: Andrew Wycoff. a nephew. and John. Thomas. Jacob, Daniel and Asher. children of Garrett Wycoff : Jane. Eliza, Ann and Tolbert. children of William H. Crawford. The first school house was built on the southwest quarter of Section 19, in IMES, and Sammel Horney was teacher. Littleton sold her school land in 1840.

The first school in Brooklyn Township was taught by Richard Kellongh in a log cabin in the

216

HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

village in 1837. The first school house was built in 1842. The school section was sold March 25. 1841.

The first school in Birmingham Township was taught in a log cabin in the village by William Neill in the winter of 1537. The following named persons wore appointed by the Schuyler County Commissioner's Court trustees for the school land of 3 N .. + W .; William Dron. James G. King and J. G. Graham. On petition the Sixteenth Section was sold April 7, 1847.

Mr. Kimball. an old man from Kentucky. taught a school in a small cabin south of Hunts- ville in 1835-36. There were three windows covered by leather, which was fastened up dur- ing the day to permit the light to pass in between the logs, and were closed at night. The teacher permitted all to study aloud. Jeremiah Brisco taught the first school in Huntsville in 1836, in a log cabin built for the purpose that season. He tanght the same school for several terms.

Iluntsville has had many excellent teachers. Miss Mary Hart of Connecticut taught the school south of Huntsville during the summer of 1836. II. E. Bryant, afterwards banker at Bement. Miss Eunice Kimbal, an eastern lady. and Alvin Bacon, each taught several terms at Huntsville. Miss Letitia Biscoe taught in a log cabin near Shilo. The windows of this cabin consisted of an opening between the logs, which was protected by a board fastened up with a strap. The first frame school house in Huntsville was built about 1810. The township school land was sold April 8, 1839.

The first school in Camden Township was taught by John Thornhill in 1836 in a neglected cabin built by a squatter in 1835 on Section 18. The second school was taught in the winter of 1838-39 by George L. Gray. On Christmas Day Mr. Gray was fastened out by the big boys until he would promise to treat to toddy. He finally yielded and furnished the money, when a boy by the name of Brown went to what is now Brooklyn for the whisky. The toddy was made in buckets and the teacher and pupils enjoyed it together and harmony was restored. The rate for tuition was $1.50 per quarter. John Ander- son taught in the northern part of what is now the village of Cantden in 1839. A brief descrip- tion of this school house, may. with very few changes, apply equally well to any of our early "temples of learning" in which the youth were wont to woo the Goddess of Wisdom.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 44

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1126

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126