Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 133

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell
Number of Pages: 876

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John Shields and Aaron Darnell were early preachers of the Pre-destination Baptist Church. Mr. Shields was a man of Southern birth, of good mind and fine physique. He had so familiarized himself with the Bible that his sermons were, in a great part, quotations from passages of Scripture. The members of his church had great respect for him and he was an influential citizen. Mr. Darnell was a sin- cere man and the father of nineteen children, many of whom survive him.

At a later time James L. Crane came to the county and worked at the tailor's trade in Grandview; later became a student at Edgar Academy; was regularly ordained as a Meth- odist preacher and married a daughter of Col- onel Mayo. He was a man of much mental force and successful as a pulpit orator. He entered the army as the Chaplain of the Twen- ty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was first commanded by General Grant. A strong friendship, then begun, existed between Gen- eral Grant and Mr. Crane during their lives and when the General became President he appointed his former Chaplain Postmaster at Springfield, Ill., and continued him in that position during his presidency.

E. D. Wilkin was a Methodist preacher of note. He came from Crawford County, Ill., married a daughter of Colonel Mayo and preached in Paris and elsewhere in Illinois with success. He succeeded Mr. Crane as Chap- lain of the Twenty-first Illinois and was mus- tered out with the regiment. He was an elo- quent speaker, and his stirring addresses at soldiers' reunions will always be remembered.

Jarrett W. Riley was a man of note and a strong preacher in the Missionary Baptist Church. He came into the county at an early day and spent a long life in ministerial work in that denomination.

Mention has been made elsewhere of Samuel Newell, a man of much talent, who was the minister of the Presbyterian church in Paris, for a quarter of a century. In the pulpit and out of it he dwelt within orthodox lines; yet he had much faith in mankind and great good wishes for all men everywhere.

The churches in Edgar County are enjoying the ministrations of the following named gen- tlemen: Presbyterian-Paris, Rev. John Allen Blair; Grandview and Dudley, Rev. B. H. Fields; Kansas, Rev. Arthur M. Elliott. Meth- odist-Paris, Rev. M. G. Coleman; Vermilion, North Arm and Ashland Chapel, Clay's Prairie and Camp Chapel, Rev. J. P. Morton; Kansas and Harmony, Rev. D. W. English; Grandview, Dudley and New Hope, Rev. T. H. Holley; Chrisman and Scottland, Rev. R. Y. Williams; Hume, Rev. M. F. Collier; Metcalfe and Cherry Point, Rev. Jasper Miller; Christian- Pleasant Hill and Bell Ridge, Elder H. M. Brooks & marked forthe ore

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIV.

EDUCATION.

FIRST PROVISION FOR THIE MAINTENANCE OF PUB- LIC SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS-FREE SCHOOL LAW ENACTED IN 1855-BASIS OF THE COMMON SCHOOL FUND-FIRST SCHOOLS IN EDGAR COUNTY -SCHOOL MANAGEMENT AND TEACHERS' SAI- ARIES-SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS - PRESENT SYSTEM OF SCHOOL HOUSE ARCHITECTURE-PARIS CITY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL OFFICERS-SALARIES OF TEACHERS-EDGAR ACADEMY AND METHODISE SEMINARY.

Provision was made by the General Govern- ment before the organization of Illinois as a State or Territory, for the education of its people, by the donation of Section 16 of each township of public lands for the maintenance of public schools within such township. Be- sides this, two entire townships within the State were set apart for the support of a sem- inary of learning, together with three per cent of the net proceeds derived from the sale of public lands as a general fund for the encour- agement of learning, of which one-sixth of the last item was to be devoted to the support of a college or university, the remainder going to the benefit of the public schools.

The application of the fund thus created was more or less confused and impeded until 1855. when the General Assembly enacted a free school system, whereby good common schools could be had wherever the people chose to or- ganize and establish them-free to all persons over six and under twenty-one years of age, who were residents of Illinois.

Under the law as it now exists, the common school fund consists of the receipts of a two- mill tax levied on each dollar's valuation of property in the State, together with three per cent interest upon the proceeds of the sales of public lands-one-sixth part of the latter ex- cepted-and the interest on what is known as the surplus revenue distributed by act of Con- gress and made a part of the common school fund by act of the Legislature of March 4, 1837.

The first school in Paris of which anything is now known, was taught in a cabin at the south end of the alley which divides the blocks on the south side of the public square. This school house stood on the southeast corner of a lot then owned by General Alexander, which was part of his homestead and was afterwards occupied by Dr. and Mrs. John Ten Brook as a residence for a short time after their mar- riage. This school was taught in 1824 by Amos Williams, who succeeded Colonel Mayo as Circuit Clerk. Isaac Alexander, a brother of General Alexander, taught school in the same house in 1828. In 1835 one room in a building on the front of lot 16, on the alley south of where the Baptist church now stands, was used as a schoolroom. There were schools kept in various places in the county as people came; but until 1855, and the enactment of the Free School Law, educational opportunities in Edgar County were limited to those who were able and willing to pay the expenses which that law required the public to pay. . From that pe- riod the common schools of Illinois have been the pride and bulwark of the State; and no- where in a higher degree than in Edgar County. After the enactment of the Free School Law of 1855 the Paris School District at once took the steps necessary to receive the benefit of that salutary law by selecting a site and erecting a good building with seven schoolrooms. The same educational enterprise was exhibited throughout the county and school districts were generally organized.

In Edgar County there are twenty-five whole (or parts of these) school or Congressional townships, and one incorporation known as "Paris Union School District," which was created by a special act of the Legislature in the year 1869 under the direction of some of the most public-spirited men of Paris. The management of each township is vested in a Board of three Trustees, who appoint a School Treasurer, who is not a member of the Board of Trustees. The Paris Union District is con- trolled by a Board of six members, who are clothed with the additional power of acting as the Board of Education for the district.

Except in Paris, which embraces a part of four school townships, the fund realized from the sale of the sixteenth section is not divided, but. is managed by the Board of Trustees regardless of county lines. Only nineteen of these school townships and the Paris Union School District

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

lie wholly within Edgar County. In many of the townships the land was sold at a very early date and but little was realized. The whole section in some instances was sold at a dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Most of the land would now sell for $150 per acre, or easily produce a rental per annum of almost four thousand dollars. The township fund of the whole county is, in round numbers, $4,800. This fund is gradually decreasing through failures of principals and sureties to repay their loans. Too much praise cannot be given to these va- rious trustees who for nearly half a century, without any compensation whatever, have guarded with such sacred fidelity this trust fund bequeathed by congressional legislation. Our fathers should not be harshly criticised for disposing of this land at so early a date. In the early history of this country the people were poor and were much in need of the little revenue arising even from so small a princi- pal. With schoolhouses to build and teachers to pay, it was no small burden to make pro- vision for the education of their children. And then, who of that hardy band of pioneers who peopled this country would have dared even to dream of the fabulous rise since then in the value of real estate?

As previously stated, the Legislature of 1855 passed a law levying an annual school tax of two mills on the dollar on all taxable property in the State. This law has been repealed for some time, and in lieu thereof one million dol- lars is appropriated annually as noted above for the support of the public schools of the State. Many efforts have been made, in the last few years, to increase the appropriation to two million dollars but so far without suc- cess.

While some townships of the State made a more profitable disposition of their school lands than others, and have consequently received a larger income from that source, as a general rule, the largest part of the funds for the sup- port of schools is derived from the direct tax on property within the district levied by the School Directors. The limit as now fixed by law is two and one-half mills on the dollar for educational purposes, and the same amount for building purposes. Many districts, in order to maintain a high grade of schools, must exceed the limit as fixed by law. This excess limit is paid without complaint except by some wealthy corporation. The total expenditures for the

purpose of maintaining schools in Edgar Coun- ty for the current year (1903-4) was $110,467.84, of which $71,482.91 was paid for instruction. For the same year the average monthly wage scale for males was $50.47, and females $40.41.

The first school in the county was opened in a little log building on the Risser farm, in Hunter Township, in what is now known as the North Arm neighborhood. It is worthy of note that the goose-quill pen was but three years behind the pioneer's axe. The honor of teach- ing this school is generally given to Amos Wil- liams. Mr. Williams was, without doubt, a competent teacher for this time, especially in writing, as shown by the early records of the county. When Edgar County was organized in 1823, Mr. Williams was appointed Clerk of the County Commissioner's Court (or "C. C. C. C."), as he signed himself. The records, as kept by him at that early date, are yet a model of neatness and accuracy. His method of writing his name officially is worthy of note. It was signed "A. WILLIAMS," all the letters of his name being capitals and joined very closely. In 1826 having moved to Vermilion County, he was selected as the first "C. C. C. C." of that county.

The first school district of this county was organized by the County Commissioner's Court on March 7, 1826, and embraced the village of Paris and the adjacent farms. The following is a copy of the order creating the school: "A petition was presented by Smith Shaw, praying for a school district, which was granted agree- able to the prayer of the petitioner, to-wit: Be- ginning at the center of the east line of Sec- tion 31, in R. 11 West, T. 14 North, running west to the center of the west line of Section 35 in R. 12 West, T. 14 North; thence south to the southwest corner of Section 2, in R. 12 W., T. 13 N .; thence east to the southwest corner of Section 1; thence south to the middle of the west line of Section 12; thence east to the cen- ter of said Section; thence south to the middle of the north line of Section 13; thence east to the middle of the north line of Section 13; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 7, R. 11 W. T. 13 N .; thence north to the place of beginning." The boundaries almost conform to those of the "Paris Union School District," and from this the reader will note that the Paris schools have had an official existence since 1826. The same Amos Williams, who has the honor of being the first teacher in the county, was the first teacher in Paris in the

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

year 1826. The first school building was a rude structure of logs surrounded by a stock- ade, and stood south of the square, just west of the Masonic Temple.

Schools were established at an early date in all the townships, excepting the northwestern portion of the county. The public school sys- tem at first met with some opposition; but the beneficial results arising from it soon became apparent. For a person to speak of the pub- lic schools in any manner other than to acknowledge their merits would classify the speaker as opposed to good government. To bring about a state nearing perfection in our public schools is a task which is not possible, for any single individual without unlimited powers, to accomplish in a single generation.

A slow but sure growth toward that desirable end has been the inspiration of the various men who have directed the school affairs of the country.

The present office of County Superintendent had its origin in the office of School Commis- sioner, who was appointed by the County Com- missioner's Court to negotiate the sale of the sixteenth section. His duties were simi- lar to those of a real estate broker. His only compensation was a percentage on lands sold. The first School Commissioner was Jonathan Mayo, who was appointed in 1843. Mr. Mayo resigned and was succeeded by Garland B. Shel- lady, who also resigned shortly after his ap- pointment. Mr. Shellady was followed by John M. Kelly who acted as agent of school lands for about ten years. Mr. Kelly also served a term as Clerk of the Circuit Court during the same time he was acting as School Commissioner. Following the long service of John M. Kelly, Jonathan Mayo again served a short time, and was succeeded by John W. Blackburn. In the meantime a law was passed by the Legislature giving the County School Commissioner power to examine and license teachers. The first man called to this important duty was Sheri- dan P. Read in 1858, after the public school system had been in operation about four years. We find in his report to the State authorities the following: "Under the present law there has been a great improvement in the schools of this county, and an increased interest is awakened in their behalf. The districts are erecting good, comfortable houses, and I do not fear but that Edgar County will take a high stand in educational matters hereafter. The

great want that is felt here now is for well qualified teachers. With that supplied, the schools will flourish."

Mr. Read was succeeded by James A. Eads, a man of rare tact and business ability, who, in conversation with the writer, stated that his purpose while superintendent was to guard with care the school fund arising from the sale of school lands, and to improve the schools by granting certificates to men and women of strong personality and noble character, rather than to depend too much upon the teacher's technical ability to pass examinations.

Mr. Eads was followed by W. G. Burnett, who, in turn, was succeeded by R. N. Bishop. These two gentlemen served from 1861 to 1865, during the time the great war cloud hovered over our country. Under the circumstances, these men deserve much credit for their energy and conscientious devotion to the cause of the public schools. Any institution that could come through the great war in as good condi- tion as it entered was indeed fortunate. These men should be given much credit for preserv- ing the school sentiment and adding much to its impetus. Often the teacher and all his large boys would enlist and desert the school room for the camp and battlefield. It is, per- haps, not out of place in this article to say, that a large majority of the volunteers who went forth at their country's call were school boys. All hail to their memory! Many sleep in nameless graves on Southern battlefields. Others returned and furnished the brain and brawn by which our country has taken front rank in educational development.

The next Superintendent was George Hunt, afterward elected Attorney-General of the state. Mr. Hunt, in one of his reports says: "The schools of this county are gradually improving. A new interest is being manifested on the sub- ject of schools, and a better class of teachers is demanded. Teachers' wages are still in- adequate to secure the services of that class of teachers which the educational interests of the county require."

The next Superintendent was A. J. Mapes, who presents the following opinion in his re- port to the State Superintendent: "The gen- eral educational interest in this county is decid- edly encouraging. The Directors and people seem to manifest a greater degree of interest in good schools and teachers than formerly. The schoolhouses which have recently been

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

constructed, and those in process of construc- tion, are a great improvement on those of other days, being better, more commodious, well ven- tilated and generally having excellent seats, desks and blackboards." Two years later we find the following in Mr. Mapes second report: "During the past two years there has been a great improvement in the schools of this county in every particular; in fact, a greater degree of progress has been manifested than ever was known in the history of schools be- fore." Mr. Mapes brought to the office an ex- tended experience and knowledge of the needs of the public schools. He did much to raise the professional standard of our teachers. He is at present a resident of Paris and takes a lively interest in school questions.

R. S. Cusick, now Cashier of the State Bank of Chrisman, was Mr. Mapes' successor. To Mr. Cusick should be given the credit of estab- lishing many summer normals throughout the county, where the beginner and inexperienced teacher might receive instruction from the most vigorous and capable teacher of that vi-

cinity. Many young men and women from these summer normals received such an im- petus for higher education that they were en- couraged to complete their studies at our va- rious State normals, colleges and universities. Mr. Cusick is yet a student of great school questions, and his earnest efforts are ever in favor of the advancement of the schools of his home city.

The successor of Mr. Cusick was W. H. Roth, who capably served the people for five years. Mr. Roth extended and intensified the summer school for teachers, and advanced students by organizing one summer school for the entire county. He divided this school into depart- ments and placed his most learned and ex- perienced teachers in charge of these various departments. These early efforts to educate teachers did much to create a desire in the General Assembly of Illinois for strong and vigorous normal schools.

Dr. D. T. Stewart was chosen as the next County Superintendent. He was a practicing physician when elected, but he soon convinced the people that he could give wholesome pre- scriptions for the organization of the many schools into one united purpose. Dr. Stewart introduced, for the first time, a uniform course of study for the entire county. This plan met with much opposition at first, and was often

discussed with much animation in the country debating societies. It has now had several years of successful operation, and is used by every school in the county not having a special course of its own.

James A. Kerrick, the successor of Dr. Stew- art, was, perhaps, the youngest man ever called to the office of Superintendent, being not quite twenty-four years of age. Mr. Kerrick was earnest and scrupulously honest in all his deal- ings. His firm stand for a higher grade of teachers has done much to assist his successors in elevating the standard. Mr. Kerrick per- fected the organization initiated by Dr. Stew- art, and spent much of his time in supervision of the country schools. His life was an inspira- tion to all his teachers. He ever stood between the extreme idealist and the sordid, so-called practical. Mr. Kerrick served two terms.

George H. Gordon was the next Superintend- ent of Schools, and, like his predecessor, served two terms. Mr. Gordon, early in his official career, conceived the idea that the rural, one-room school building should be better con- structed as to heating and lighting. With the assistance of able architects he has given to the world a model one-room school, with all the conveniences of large building. Edgar County now has thirteen of these model school houses. Briefly described, these buildings are constructed as follows: A solid air-tight foun- dation is laid, upon which the sills are placed in mortar. A square at one corner, and just within the foundation and beneath the floor, is walled separately, and over the square sets the heater. The cold air is admitted from beneath the heater and rises near the heater, which thus warms the air entering the room. The house is constructed as near air-tight as prac- ticable except openings for the admission of cold air and for the exit of the warm impure air, which escapes near the floor through a double chimney. The other side of the double chim- ney carries off the smoke. Light is admitted from but one side, thus avoiding cross rays. The temperature of the house, heated in this manner, can be kept uniform throughout. The entire floor space can be used for desks. A model of one of these buildings was exhibited at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904, and receive very favorable comment.

Mr. Gordon was succeeded by George W. Brown, the present incumbent. Much work has been done in building up the school library.

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HISTORY OF EDGAR COUNTY.

At present almost every district has many books suitable for children. A uniform high- school course has been outlined. It is now pos- sible for a pupil doing work in our various schools with a two-year high-school course, to be admitted to the junior classes of the fully accredited high schools of Paris, Kansas. Chrisman and Hume. A uniform seven or eight months' school term, without a vacation between winter and spring terms, is now observed by nearly all the rural districts. The salary of teachers is slowly but surely rising, and soon the business of "teaching the young idea how to shoot" will be classed as a pro- fession, equal in dignity and compensation to that of the lawyer, physician or minister.

The following are the statistics of Edgar County schools for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1904:

Number of persons under 21. 12,020

Number of persons between 6 and 21 8,623

Number of school districts. 143

Number of school buildings 145

Whole number of pupils enrolled. 6,326

Male teachers 84

Female teachers 143

Schools of one room. 124

Schools of two or more rooms. 21

Private schools 3

Whole amount paid teachers $71,482.91 Total expended for support of schools.110,467.84 Estimated value of school property ... 260,630.00 Principal of township fund. 47,132.03

PARIS CITY SCHOOLS.

The Paris Union School District was organ- ized under a special act of the General Assem- bly of Illinois in 1869. The Board of Educa- tion consists of six members who have the power of School Directors and School Trus- tees. A graded school was organized in Sep- tember of that year, and it has been placed upon a high plane, the graduates being admit- ted on their diplomas as freshmen in the University of Illinois and colleges in this State and Indiana.

The original Board of Education of the city of Paris was H. VanSellar, Obed Foots, H. R. Miller, Levi C. Mann, George E. Levings and Samuel Graham. Two members retire each year, thus leaving a majority holding over and preventing undue and ill-advised changes.

The first Superintendent of City Schools was Prof. Josiah Hurty. He was an efficient organ-

izer, and in a very few years placed the school on a high grade, where it has since remained under the management of Prof. A. Harvey (who was Superintendent for eighteen years) and Profs. William Black, J. D. Shoop and H. W. Monical, the present Superintendent.

Paris High School has ever been superior, especially so under the principalship of Mrs. Maria L. Nelson, who was assisted by Miss Mame Boyd. Each of these teachers was the complement of the other, and each was a model of excellence in her sphere. During this time Miss Mary Perrott was incomparable in the Grammar School and Miss Mary Vance in the Primary Department. The entire corps of teachers was very good, but the ladies men- tioned above were "way up" in the superlative degree in the profession.

The present Board of Education of the city of Paris is as follows: John C. Risser, Pres- ident; J. E. Dyas, Secretary; H. S. Tanner, R. S. Lycan and M. F. Winn. R. G. Suther- land is Treasurer. A statistical report of the Paris High School is pertinent here:

Total enrollment for the past year ... 212

Total enrollment in other grades ... 1,200

Grand total enrollment. 1.412

Salaries of instructors for the year 1903-04 .$13.900.00

Other expenditures for the year. 13,500.00

Salary of Superintendent, H. W. Mon- ical 1,500.00

Salary of Principal of High School, Miss Bertha Miller. 900.00

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Edgar County, Part 133

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Number of Pages: 876

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell
Number of Pages: 876