USA > Illinois > Cass County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Cass County, Volume II > Part 25
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The Walnut Grove schoolhouse, on the south- east corner of the southwest quarter of section 25, township 17, range 10, was built in 1833, and this was known as the Princeton school for a number of years, as the children from that hamlet attended there before a building could be found or erected in Princeton for school pur- poses. It cannot be learned who taught the first school, but one of the early teachers was
Joel C. Borinson, who taught during 1835 and 1836, and perhaps earlier. The schoolhouse was of logs and served well as a school building until 1845, when a storm in the nature of a cyclone, in June, 1845, scattered its logs through the timber.
In 1842 Alexander Huffman taught a private school in his own house. in Monroe Precinct.
In 1830 a rude log schoolhouse was built on section 35, township 19, range 9, on the Peters- burg and Beardstown road, in what is now Rich- mond Precinct. It was about where the Dick schoolhouse of the present is located. An Eng- lishman named James L. Grant, taught the first school. Among his pupils were C. J. Wilson, Pollie Dick, John Hash, James and Levi Dick, and Henry Taylor. It is said that Mr. Grant was an excellent teacher. At Puncheon Grove, south- east of Mr. Grant's school, the Baptists erected a church building in 1842, which was used as a schoolhouse during the week days.
In Hickory Precinct, which was then named Bowen, the first subscription school was taught by B. F. Nelson in the fall of 1834, in a vacated log cabin. standing near the site of the Jacob Houk residence, on the Sangamon Bottom road. Mr. Nelson is described as a person prepos- sessing in appearance, scholarly, and gentle- manly in his manners, but entirely without energy and industry. The cabin caught fire and burned down from his carelessness, so it was thought, and this ended the school for that sea- son and for several others, as no more school was held in that neighborhood until 1836, when William Cole built a small cabin for the sole pur- pose of a schoolhouse, and tendered it to any person competent to teach. Carlton Logan accepted the challenge and subscriptions and taught during the winter of 1836. In 1810 a log schoolhouse was built on the present site of the Hickory schoolhouse, which served the pur- pose of a schoolhouse for seventeen years. A new frame building was erected in 1857, and for five scars the distinguished L. U. Revis wielded the birch. or more properly speaking. the split clapboard, as no birch grew in that neighbor- hood.
In 1839 a schoolhouse was built on the present site of Bluff Springs, but its exact locality can- not be ascertained, but it is believed to have been located where the store building of John Clark was burned a few years ago, at the crossing of the two public highways. Henry Babb was the first teacher, and Mary Ann Lindsley the
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BEARDSTOWN
FOURTH STREET LUTHERAN CHURCH, BEARDSTOWN
F
SIXTH STREET LUTHERAN CHURCH, BEARDSTOWN
1121
ST. ALEXIE'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. BEARDSTOWN
NEW BEARD SCHOOL, BEARDSTOWN, BUILT IN 1914
WASHINGTON SCHOOL, BEARDSTOWN
CENTRAL SCHOOL, BEARDSTOWN
LINCOLN BUILDING Home of the High School, Beardstown
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
second. Miss Lindsley was the wife of John L. Buckley, to whom she was married June 2, 1844. The third teacher was Mr. Humingston, whose Christian name is not known. In 1860, Bluff Springs built a substantial frame school build- ing about half a mile south of the present village, and has since added another room, and now has as excellent a country school as may be found in the county.
Oregon Precinct secured a schoolhouse at what is now known as Quebec as early as 1840, through the efforts of James Garner, Elijah Carver and James Mathews. Its first teachers were William Pallet and Miss Dorothy Major. The next school built in Oregon was at the point near the center of the precinct which had borne the name Oregon from about the time of the organization of a church society in the neigh- borhood. In 1855 a congregation of Methodists was established and a schoolhouse built for the common purpose of a school and meeting house for the church. Until about this time all the schools mentioned heretofore had been conducted on the subscription plan. There was no such thing as a publie tax for the maintenance of schools. Nearly everyone in a neighborhood who had children to send to school paid something, if they did not have money they paid in produce of some kind, and almost any kind was regarded as legal tender in those pinching days. A col- lege education was not necessary as a qualifica- tion for a teacher in pioneer days. A knowledge of "readin', 'ritin' and 'rethmetic," and in the latter branch of those mysterious arts, to be able to cipher to the double rule of three was deemed sufficient for all practical purposes. Many of the early teachers, however, did know much more than these rudimentary branches, but did not deem it wise or safe to reveal their more advanced learning. Had a teacher been discovered demonstrating a problem in Euclid he would have been regarded as a necromancer, and looked upon with grave suspicion.
In villages and cities, the beginning of local- ities which have since developed into schools, was much the same as in the districts which have remained rural. In the Panther Creek set- tlement, which ultimately became the thriving village of Chandlerville, the first school was con- ducted by Mrs. Henry Ingalls, who opened and taught the school in her private residence, south of the Dr. Chandler home. After several terms she discontinued the work and was succeeded by Mrs. Emily Chandler Allen, a sister of Dr.
Chandler, who permitted her the use of his home for school purposes. The school was con- ducted for a year. John Rickard taught a school at his residence on the farm south of the set- tlement, known for many years as the Hashi farm.
In 1838, Dr. Chandler becoming tired of having his private residence used as a schoolroom, built a small frame house toward the cast, and near the present business part of the village, where Mrs. Ingalls resumed teaching, and continued until the spring of 1841, at which time a church society had been organized and a church build- ing erected and the small schoolhouse becoming crowded, the church building was tendered for use as a schoolroom, and from the beginning of the winter term of that year on there was a regular, school, taught in turn by Miss Dunham, Miss Pease, and Miss Hosford. Others who taught subsequently were: David Craig, Peter Rickard, Emily Chandler and Helen Cotton. These schools were all subscription, and this kind of school prevailed until 1856, when the new free school law began to be put into action. That year a frame building was erected on lot 60 of the original town, which is the site of the present school grounds, and that answered for a school building until 186S, when a portion of the first brick school was erected. In 1878 the brick building was completed then containing five rooms. The attendance however increased to such an extent that in 1906 a new, substantial brick building with many modern conveniences was built, and Chandlerville now has a first class school in its limits, and a number of country schools in the precinct.
Arenzville Precinct had the same experience with the early schools as did the other parts of the county. A church building was erected in 1839, within the present town limits on ground donated by the proprietor of the town, Francis A. Arenz, which was used during week days as a school. About 1858 a school building was erected on the south half of block 4 of the original town, and used as a school until 1877, when lot 3 of the same block was purchased and a building was erected. It served the village until 1892, when grounds and buildings were sold to the village trustees, and are now used as town hall and calaboose. In June, 1891, the district bought a part of out lot 9 and commenced at once to erect a new school building. It was completed in 1892 and was occupied until November 11, 190S, when it was burned at 2:30 p. m. and com-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
pletely consumed. Prompt action was taken by the school board and in 1910 a splendid new up-to-date building was ready for use, and has furnished the village and school district with every accommodation deemed necessary for school purposes.
Ashland did not come into existence as a village or precinct until the free school system was in operation, yet it had some difficulty in getting schools inaugurated. In 1859 a school was organized and an old abandoned building previously used as a grocery store was fitted up as well as possible, and there George Coffin taught the first school within the village limits. The only school outside the village prior to that date was one known as the Beggs school, For three years school was conducted in the old gro- cery building when the present site was pur- chased, in block 97 of the original town, and a frame building erected which served until 1866. In that year a new brick building of two rooms was erected, but the next year it was badly dam- aged by a storm. It was repaired and lasted until 1881, when the present building was erected under the supervision of William Doug- las, William Jones and Silas Hexter, Ashland schools have a well developed progressive system of grade and high schools.
BEARDSTOWN SCHOOLS.
Beardstown, the village, the town, the city, has been most active, energetic and successful in establishing and maintaining a public school system, that now stands in the very foremost rank of city public free schools. The founder of the town, Thomas Beard, and his most inti- mate friend and associate, Francis A. Arenz, were both graduates of colleges, and appreciated highly the advantages of an education, Although these men, as well as many other enterprising early settlers of Beardstown, lent their aid in every way possible under the environments and primitive conditions, Beardstown had many of the experiences that other parts of the county had in laying a foundation for the education of the children. The history of the Beardstown schools is presented in a brief sketch entitled "Educational Progress in Beardstown," by Hon, Jolin Listman, clerk of the city court of Beards- town, and secretary of the school board for a number of years.
"Early education in Beardstown was carried on under very discouraging conditions. There
were no free schools, and all the schooling the children received was from subscription schools common in those days. Such schools were main- tained by the heads of families, by paying so mnuch per month for each child. These schools were taught by parties who had sufficient learn- ing to give instructions, including the 'birch' and 'hickory,' but had no special preparation for teaching. These schools were hard on the chil- dren of the poor. If a man could not pay the fee he could not send his children. These schools were held in shops, warehouses, and other build- ings very poorly equipped for school purposes. The first school taught in Beardstown was a subscription school kept in an unused building facing on State street, between First and Second streets. In the year 1833, Thomas Beard, the founder of the city, erected a building on Sixth street, immediately east of State street, which he donated to the public for educational pur- poses ; and later the building was occupied by Dr. Hoffman as an office and chemical laboratory, During the forties, an old warehouse, situated on the corner of LaFayette and Second streets, was used as a schoolhouse for several years. Be- tween the years 1830 and 1853, schools were held in different buildings; and parochial schools were also maintained during that time by vari- ous churches. In 1852, Beardstown began the erection of a spacious brick school building,. known as the Brick School, on block 36, March and Beards' addition, where now stands the Central building. This building was completed in 1853, and was the first free school in the city. It served the people unti! 1884, when the present Central building was erected at a cost of over $26,000. In 1SS7, two rooms were erected in the East ward, and two rooms in the West ward. In 1889, two more rooms were added to the West ward building, and in 1890, two more rooms were added to the East ward school, now called the Washington school. In 1893, the Second and Fourth ward buildings were erected. In 190S, the Second ward building was removed and the Lincoln building was erccted on the same lot ; and was opened in the spring of 1909, and is now the home of the high school, which is growing rapidly. Two more rooms have been added since to the Washington school, making it a six-room building.
"But the problem of taking care of the chil- dren of the west side of the city has been for some time, so to speak, the child of sorrow, to the board of education, and was not easy of solu-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
tion. The Fourth ward building had for a time been considered unsafe, and yet could not be dispensed with unless other provision could be made to house the children residing within the bounds of the west side district of the city. But the solution came sooner than anyone expected or looked for. In the spring of 1913, during the extreme high water, it became evident that the Fourth ward building was unsafe, and had to be condemned and abandoned. It thus became im- perative for the board of education to take some decisive action in reference to making provision for the children residing within the West ward district, and to erect a building on some site centrally located within the district and easily accessible to all children residing within its bounds. It so happened that this site became available, a bond issue of $25,000 was voted, and after due deliberation the board proceeded 'to erect a school building of eight rooms, and which should be artistic in its arehitectural aspects ; to be equipped with all modern devices, and to make it in all respects as nearly as possible an idcal sehool building which would be a credit to our city, and in which we all could feel and take pardonable pride,' the board being prompted by the principle that the best is only good enough for our children. The building known as the Beard school, situated on the site of tlie old city cemetery, was completed and formally dedicated October 30, 1914. The total value of our school property today, including this building, is about $170,000. The enrollment in our schools last year was 1,421 pupils."
Thus it appears the public schools of Beards- town have made a most creditable progress. About thirty years ago when the idea was first attracting the attention of school boards and teachers, manual training was introduced in the Beardstown schools, but did not remain long enough to give it a fair test as to its utility, but five years ago it was reinstated and seems to be gaining in favor. A new feature in school work is the organization of Parent-Teachers' Associa- tions. They have such an association now in Beardstown, and it is proving of very great help- fulness to the discipline of schools. Truancy of pupils in Beardstown has been reduced to the minimum. A circumstance connected with the Beardstown schools especially worthy of note is the fact that one person was for so many years employed as a teacher. The Illustrated Direct- ory of Cass County Schools, published by A. E. Hinners, then county superintendent of schools,
1902, contains a portrait of Mrs. J. G. Dowler, and the editor has this to say :
"We take pleasure in presenting the picture of Mrs. J. G. Dowler, who is a pioneer school teacher of this county and perhaps of the state. Mrs. Dowler has taught tor forty-four consecu- tive years in the Beardstown schools. A great many of Beardstown's prominent citizens were at one time pupils of hers. In addition to her many years of experience, Mrs. Dowler keeps abreast with the times and is well posted on the modern methods employed in teaching. We be- lieve that Mrs. Dowler's record as a teacher can hardly be duplicated." Mrs. Dowler continued with the schools as a teacher until 1907, making in all forty-nine years' service in the public schools of her native city.
The schools of Beardstown and the two rural schools in the district are under the supervision of Prof. H. G. Russel, superintendent, while the school board of education has a system of com- mittees by which the general management is attended to. These committees are: Buildings and Grounds, E. E. Nicholson, chairman, Dr. C. E. Soule and John Listman ; Rules, Forms and Complaints, A. S. Coil, chairman, Charles F. Kenedy and John T. Garm: Teachers and Sal- aries. John Listman, chairman, and Dr. C. E. Soule ; Auditing and Finance, Dr. C. E. Soulc, chairman, John T. Garm and E. E. Nicholson ; Supplies and Expenditures, John T. Garın, chair- man, John Listman and E. E. Nicholson ; Text Books and Library, C. F. Kenedy, chairman, A. S. Coil and Dr. C. E. Soule ; and Printing, Dr. J. T. Schweer and John Listman. Dr. J. T. Schweer is president of the board.
SCHOOLS IN THE CITY AND PRECINCT OF VIRGINIA.
School experience at Virginia does not differ materially from that of other points in the county. The earliest schools and their teachers outside of the city have been mentioned. When the town of Virginia was platted a few lots were designated as school lots. One of these was north of the present site of the new Methodist church. and it is said on that lot as early as 1837 a cabin was built and used for school pur- poses. It is doubtful about the building being a cabin, but there was a school kept in a build- ing there and Miss Ann Jordan was the first teacher. Her successor was a Miss Williamson. Above the room used as the Harris Chair fae- tory. on the west side of the public square, there
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
was a vacant space, a sort of attic, but it was fitted up and used as a school room for girls and small children. Another school was kept in the upper story or loft of the Protestant Methodist church building, on one of the lots designated on the plat as a church lot, and being lot No. 64 of the original town. Still auother school was held in the Dwelle property on South Front street, which was a private residence. All the schools were subscription or select oues. Among the early teachers other than those mentioned were : Miss Mary Ann Lindsley, later Mrs. John Buck- ley, W. H. H. Carpenter, who subsequently be- came county clerk, a Mr. Morgan, David Blair and others whose names are forgotten, all of their pupils having passed away loug ago.
In 1845, the county seat having been removed to Beardstown from Virginia, the courthouse, which had been erected in 1838, became vacant, and the county commissioners for the advance- ment of education, entered an order at the July term of the Commissioners' Court on July 14, 1845, directing the clerk of the board to make a lease of the public square and the buildings thereon, being the house erected for a court- house, to the trustees of towuship 17, range 10, for a term of ten years, for a consideration of one dollar, the directors of District No. 1 of said township to have control of the property with authority to make necessary repairs and modifications of the building to fit it for use as a schoolhouse. The lease was executed and the building fitted up and used as a schoolhouse until 1851, wheu, at the December term of that court, on December 3, the commissioners. pur- suant to a petition from the inhabitants of Vir- ginia, and the school district, finding it was the wish of the people of the county, donated the said property to the trustees of township 17, range 10, for District No. 1 of said township, for school purposes, with provision that if the prop- erty or any part thereof be used for any purpose other than for schools, it should revert to the county. The property was accepted and used until 1867, when the building was remodeled. From then on it was used as a school, being the only school building in the city until the purchase of the seminary property as before described. After the purchase of the seminary building, the old building was used for a primary building and continued as such until May 5, 1911, when it caught fire and the upper parts were so badly damaged that it was remodeled as a one-story building and is still in use for the primary de-
partment. Some of the early teachers were : John A. Loomis, Henry Phillips, now Judge Phillips of Beardstown, Miss Melvina Blair, and later in the sixties, J. N. Gridley, R. H. Beggs, Miss Mary Hansford and Miss Sallie Ross.
The old seminary building and spacious grounds were coutracted for in 1870, but the deed was not made until May 17, 1871. In this old building the high school of Virginia was iuaugu- rated in 1873, with a three-year course. The first class to graduate was that of 1876, under Prof. Johnson, now a lawyer of California, and consisted of four members only, namely : Miss Flora B. Bergstresser, a daughter of a leading merchant of Virginia at that time; J. C. Cherry- holmes, a sou of Abraham Cherryholmes, au early settler of Virginia ; Miss Nellie Snyder, a daughter of Dr. J. F. Snyder of Virginia ; and Miss Sallie Ruth Beadles, uow the wife of Judge Charles Æ. Martin.
LARGE LOSSES BY FIRE.
In 1892 the school board and the citizens gen- erally believed the city should have a new and more moderu building for the increasing school population. They immediately set to work. The old seminary building was torn down to make room for the new building, and on September 18, 1893, the new school building, which had cost $20,000, and was a model structure, with all modern improvements and conveniences, was opened. Professor T. W. B. Everhardt was the superintendent of the city schools when the new building was dedicated. With this splendid new building and the old one in excellent repair and conveniently remodeled on the interior, Virginia people felt they were well provided with school buildings of which they were justly proud, and which would serve them for generations to come. Alas for human hopes and calculations. In a few years both buildings were burned. The new high school building caught fire on the night of January 11, 1912, aud was almost consumed by the flames before anyone was aware of the fire. It was a bitter cold night, the temperature at zero, and nothing could be done to save the building. All the school books, the records aud the splendid library were at the mercy of the flames, and became a total loss. The year 1911 and the first few days in 1912 were disastrous times for the schools of Virginia. First there was the burning of the primary building; then the cyclone of November 11, 1911, which damaged
J. p. Crum
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
the high school building very badly, and then the culmination of the disastrous fire of January 11, 1912.
FINE MODERN STRUCTURE.
The Virginia people, having the characteristics of the American people everywhere, did not lose courage but provided for continuing the schools in the vacant rooms wherever a class could be located. The directors then proceeded to arrange for rebuilding. A bond issue of $20,000 was voted by the people of the district, which, together with the insurance money received for the burned building, provided means for erecting a new building and it was dedicated April 4, 1913. This building is of the most modern design, plain in exterior appearance, but equipped on the interior in a manner the experience of teachers and architects has demonstrated is best suited for school purposes. It cost about $33,000, and is built upon the same ground as the pre- vious building. These grounds comprise about nine acres, and are well shaded with trees and the property is one of the best in the county. Some objections were made by the citizens of the district to the location on account of the fact that it is so far from the center of population, it being at the extreme southwest corner of the city, but the grounds being so exceptionally suited for a school campus, and no steps taken to secure another location, the subject was dropped. The school has a department of man- ual training which contains some features of domestic science. Prof. A. M. Santee is at pres- ent the superintendent of the city schools. These schools are upon the accredited list and are as progressive as any schools of the county.
There are no high schools outside of the vil- lages and cities ; the legislature, however, by an act passed and approved June 26, 1913, provided for attendance upon high schools by pupils from districts where no high school is maintained, and the work of the school does not go above the eighth grade. The parent may select the high school for his children to which he wishes to send them, but this selection must have the approval of the directors of the district in which the pupil resides, and tuition is to be paid by such district.
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