USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 34
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1896-Ambrose Wilson Teel; course at Keo- kuk; graduated 1895.
1899-A. M. Thompson; course at Keokuk; graduated 1875.
1899-Joel H. Todd, Marysville, Mo .; regular course at Keokuk ; age, 49; graduated 1877.
1902-W. A. Thomas, Burnside, Ill .; eclectic course at Eclectic Medical, New York; gradu- ated 1891.
1903-Benjamin F. Tomlin; course at Cin- cinnati Medical; graduated 1860.
1904-J. C. Taylor ; regular course at Keokuk ; age, 30; graduated 1899.
1906-Louis Neill Tate; regular course at Rush, Chicago; age, 26; graduated 1905.
1907-Isaac W. Traverse; course at Keokuk ; graduated 1893.
1914-William F. Turner ; course at American Medical College; graduated 1897.
1880-Wm. H. Veatch, Carthage, Ill .; regular course at Rush, Chicago; age, 48; graduated 1867.
1
1904-Richard Ellis Valentine; regular course at Louisville, Kentucky; age, 23; graduated 1904.
1909-Bertha L. Ventress.
1909-Kit C. Ventress.
1877-Chas. A. Warner, Warsaw, Ill .; regular course at St. Louis Medical ; age, 47 ; graduated 1863.
1878-L. K. Wilcox, Warsaw, Ill .; regular course at University of Missouri ; age, 46; grad- uated 1852.
1878-Wm. D. Wade, Plymouth, Ill .; eclectic course at Cincinnati; age, 36; graduated 1870. 1879-George Willis, Brooklin ; regular course ; age, 41.
1879-Alexander Woodard, Carthage, Ill .; regular course; age, 46; 10 years practice in Illinois.
1880-William P. Wimmer; regular course at Keokuk ; graduated 1878.
1881-Wm. L. White, Bentley, Ill .; regular course; age, 24.
1884-Charles D. Warden, Carthage, Ill .;
.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
homeopathic course at Hahnemann Medical ; age, 32; graduated 1878.
1885-Wm. T. West, Sutter Ill .; regular course at Keokuk ; age, 41; graduated 1885.
1890-Wellington L. Winnard, Warsaw, Ill .; homeopathic course at Chicago; age, 22; gradu- ated 1890.
1891-Nicholas E. Wilson, Plymouth, Ill. ; reg- ular course at Keokuk; age, 42; graduated 1881.
1895-Frederick A. Waggoner ; regular course at Keokuk; graduated 1895.
1895-Thomas Alexander Wilson; regular course at Louisville, Kentucky ; graduated 1895.
1896-Augustus H. Warren; regular course at New York ; graduated 1886.
1896-H. F. Worley ; regular course at Keo- kuk; graduated 1896.
1897-C. F. Wahrer; course at Keokuk ; grad- uated 1887.
1899-Jesse M. Worthen, Warsaw, Ill. ; homeo- pathic course at St. Louis; age, 26; graduated 1898.
1900-Robert Williams, Carthage, Ill. ; regular course at Rush, Chicago; age, 26; graduated 1900.
1903-W. Scott Warder, Powellton, Ill .; reg- ular course at Keokuk; age, 26; graduated 1902.
1903-Edward H. Wade; eclectic course at Cincinnati; age, 26; graduated 1903.
1904-Carl Wm. Wahrer; regular course at Rush, Chicago; age, 24; graduated 1902.
1907-Charles Ottis Wilkins; regular course at Keokuk; age, 34; graduated 1906.
1907-Luther . F. Wooley; regular course at Missouri Medical; graduated 1887.
1909-Ralph Engene Worrell; regular course at Northwestern University; age, 28; graduated 1909.
1912-J. D. Worrell; osteopathic.
1915-Thomas Alfred Wayland; course at University of Illinois ; age, 24; graduated 1915.
1917-Horace Lyman Wilson ; course at Rush, Chicago; graduated 1885.
1895-John Gilbert Young; regular course at Keokuk ; graduated 1895.
1902-Oliver B. Yarnell, Bowen, Ill .; regular course at Keokuk; age, 25; graduated 1902.
1904-James A. Young; course at Keokuk; graduated 1894.
1879-Charles Zuppaun, Warsaw, Ill. ; regular course Rush, Chicago; age, 27; graduated 1877.
1886-John Zingre, Appanoose; age, 56; 30 years practice in Illinois.
CHAPTER IX
EDUCATION
EARLY SCHOOLS-THE SCHOOL FUND-DEVELOPMENT IN COURSE OF STUDY-SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS- SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS-SCHOOL SUPERINTEND- ENTS-GROWTH OF SCHOOL SYSTEM-CARTHAGE FEMALE SEMINARY-WARSAW UNIVERSITY-LA HARPE SEMINARY-CARTHAGE COLLEGE.
EARLY SCHOOLS
When the county was in its infancy the educa- tional training of its children was given in the homes of the more progressive settlers, but very soon after a locality was opened up little log cabins appeared in which were held the sub- scription schools of the period. These schools were usually taught by students of law, medi- cine or divinity, who while pursuing their own studies, instructed others in the common branches and earned sufficient funds to enable them to enter college. Some of the men who later took an important part in shaping .the destinies of the nation were engaged early in their careers in teaching school and more than one of the present residents of the county points with pride to the fact that he studied under this or that celebrity.
THE SCHOOL FUND
With the advancement along other lines in the country came an appreciation of the neces- sity for a setting aside of public lands so as to establish a stable fund upon which the proper authorities could draw for, the establishment and maintenance of public schools.
The ordinance of 1787 provided as follows:
"Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happi- ness of mankind, schools and the means of edu- cation shall forever be encouraged."
The Act of Congress, April 18, 1818, to enable the people of the territory of Illinois to form a constitution and state government, provided that the convention of the territory should have the right of free acceptance or rejection of the following proposition, which, if accepted by the
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
convention, should be obligatory upon the United States and the State of Illinois, to-wit :
"The section numbered 16 in every township, and, when such section has been sold or other- wise disposed of, other lands equivalent thereto, and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to the State, for the use of the inhabitants of such township, for the use of schools."
This proposition was accepted by ordinance adopted at Kaskaskia, on August 26, 1818, by the convention which framed the first consti- tution of Illinois.
If these school lands had been held and sold at the present day, the county school fund, at the prevailing prices of lands, would be large enough to contribute to a considerable extent to the maintenance of the schools of this county. But these lands were mostly wild and unculti- vated and non-productive when they were sold, and it was deemed proper to convert them into money which could be loaned and made to pro- duce an income at a time when an income was of supreme importance.
DEVELOPMENT IN COURSE OF STUDY
The pioneer children were only taught the common branches and oftentimes had few if any books. Their ink was homemade and they knew nothing of modern methods The Bible oftentimes served as both reader and speller and the problems (sums) in arithmetic came from the teacher's brain. When the public-school system was inaugurated, however, new studies were introduced, and year by year the course was broadened until the grammar grades now contain many subjects formerly not taught out- side of seminaries ; while the high school course fits the pupil for entrance into any institution of learning, and credit is given in some of them for several years of work. Within recent years domestic science has been introduced into the schools with very satisfactory results and other practical studies are taught, varying according to the localities.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
Modern ideas have been introduced into the building and maintenance of schoolhouses and sanitary conditions are observed. The county has some very excellent examples of modern schoolhouses.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS
On January 22, 1829, an Act was passed by the General Assembly requiring the county com- missioners court of every organized county, at any regular term, to select and appoint the commissioner for the county, which commis- sioner was to represent the county in the sale of school lands, and this official was known as the school commissioner. The school commis- sioners from 1834 until 1846 were the follow- ing: 1834-39, Benjamin F. Marsh; 1839-41, Malcolm McGregor (died in office and Walter Bagby served last six months) ; 1841-42, Rich- ard Wilton; 1842-43, Franklin J. Bartlett; 1843-44, Robert D. Foster (failed to renew bond) ; 1844-45, Chauncey Robison (appointed and served till he left state).
By Act of the General Assembly in force on February 26, 1845, it was provided that a school commissioner should be elected on the first Monday in August, 1845, and on the same day every two years thereafter, who should have power to sell the common school lands for the use of each township, in the manner required by law, to loan the funds of the township, to apply the interest accruing upon township funds to the support of the common schools, and to perform such other duties as should be required by law. This Act made the school commis- sioner ex officio superintendent of the common schools of his county, and required him, by him- self or by some other qualified person, to visit all the townships in his county, as often as practicable, to inquire into the condition and manner of conducting the schools, and to use his influence to carry out the system proposed by the state superintendent. He was required also, with the assistance of such person or per- sons as he should associate with him, to exam- ine every person proposing to teach a common school. in his county, touching his or her qual- ifications properly to teach orthography, reading in English, penmanship, arithmetic, English grammar, modern geography, and the history of the United States. Upon finding such person qualified, and on being satisfied of his or her good moral character, the commissioner was required to give such person a certificate of qualification.
The school law was thoroughly revised by an Act containing ninety-eight sections, enti- tled, "An Act to Establish and Maintain a Sys-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
tem of Free Schools," which went into effect on February 16, 1857, and which repealed certain former acts, and all other acts and parts of acts in conflict with the provisions of the new act. Under this act the school commissioner was to be elected on Tuesday next after the first Mon- day in November, 1857, and every two years thereafter. The powers and duties of the school commissioner were enlarged, and the school sys- tem greatly improved by this act.
The school commissioners in Hancock County from 1845 to 1865, when there was a change in name and length of term, were the following: 1845-47, Jason H. Sherman; 1847-51, Michael Rickard ; 1851-53, John M. Ferris; 1853-57, John S. Spangler ; 1857-59, Asa N. Hawley ; 1859-61, George W. Batchelder; 1861-63, William Scott; 1863-65, George W. Batchelder.
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COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS
By Act in effect in 1865 the former Act was amended in essential particulars, among them by changing the name of the school commis- sioner to that of county superintendent of schools, and increasing the term to four years, the first election to be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1865. Thus the office of the principal school officer in the county was exalted and dignified, his powers and re- sponsibilities were increased, and the usefulness of the public school system greatly promoted. Since that time laws have been passed re- peatedly, amending and enlarging previous en- actments, under which the schools of Illinois have been advanced to a high degree of effi- ciency.
The law as to official name and length of term of the county superintendent of schools has remained unchanged since 1865, except as to a short term of one year from the first Mon- day of December, 1881, until the first Monday of December, 1882, when there was a term of one year only, for which short term the office was filled by appointment by the County Board. Up to this time some county officer had been elected in years of even number and some in years of odd numbers, and this change was made so as to dispense with elections in years having odd numbers. The act making this change went into effect on July 1, 1881, and provided that the next election for county superintendent of schools should be held on the Tuesday next
after the first Monday in November, 1882, and every four years thereafter. Inasmuch as the term of the superintendent would expire on the first Monday , of December, 1881, the county board was required, in December, 1881, to ap- point a county superintendent, who should hold for one year, and until the election and qualifica- tion of his successor.
Under this act Samuel W. Layton was ap- pointed for the short term of one year. He held a term of four years, by election, from 1877 to 1881. He was elected for another term in 1882. Thus he held the office for nine years.
The county superintendents of schools from 1865 to the present time have been the follow- ing: 1865-69, George W. Batchelder; 1869-77, William Griffin; 1877-86, Samuel W. Layton ; 1886-90, Linnaeus P. Cravens; 1890-1902, John A. Califf ; 1902-10, J. E. Williams ; 1910-, Stephen D. Faris (the present superintendent).
FIRST CARTHAGE SCHOOL SITE
On March 6, 1834, the County Commissioners' Court ordered that a lot in the town of Carthage be donated to its citizens for the purpose of building a schoolhouse, and that the citizens have the privilege of selecting the same, and on June 3d following, it was ordered that lot 3, in block 2, which had been selected by the citizens of Carthage, be donated to the citizens for the purpose of erecting thereupon a schoolhouse and for no other purpose.
It seems that this lot was not conveyed by the county until August 6, 1855, twenty-one years after the above order had been made, and was then conveyed by Wesley . H. Manier as agent for Hancock County to Bryant T. Scofield, who, in turn, with his wife, conveyed the lot, on June 28, 1856, to the trustees of schools of town- ship 5 north, range 6 west, of the county of Hancock, in the state of Illinois, and their suc- cessors in office.
On August 15, 1861, the trustees of schools, Abram Shoup, Newton Cauthorn and David E. Head, conveyed the north half of the lot to Joel T. Oneal, and on the same day conveyed the south half to John B. Vertner. On July 12, 1856, John Carlin conveyed to the trustees of schools lots 1 and 8 in block 32, where the schoolhouse was subsequently erected.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
PUBLIC SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR 1860
On December 15, 1860, Newton Bateman, su- perintendent of public instruction of the State of Illinois, submitted to his excellency, John Wood, Governor of Illinois, the third biennial report of the Department of Public Instruction, which covered 301 printed pages, showing that the public schools of Illinois were then receiv- ing careful attention from those having them in charge.
This report shows for Hancock County 8416 "scholars," and payment of $24,486.60 on sal- aries of teachers, being at the rate of $2.90 for each scholar. (The word scholar has fallen into disuse as applied to pupils or students in our public schools.)
The same report gives a tabular statement of Hancock County schools for the year ending October 1, 1860. Parts of this table are here given.
Augusta-Number of schools, six; number of scholars, 458; number of male teachers, six ; number of female teachers, four; average num- ber of months taught, six and six-tenths ; num- ber of schoolhouses, six; average monthly wage of males, $33; average monthly wage of fe- males, $20; whole amount expended, $2,925.
St. Mary's-Number of schools, fourteen; number of scholars, 446 ; number of male teach- ers, seven ; number of female teachers, ten; av- erage number months taught, seven; number of schoolhouses, eight; average monthly wage of males, $28 ; average monthly wage of females, $20; whole amount expended, $1,970.
Hancock-Number of schools, five; number of scholars, 204; number of male teachers, four; number of female teachers, one; average num- ber months taught, six ; number of schoolhouses, five ; average monthly wage of males, $26; aver- age monthly wage of females, $20; whole amount expended, $943.
Fountain Green-Number of schools, eight; number of scholars, 517; number of male teach- ers, eight; number of female teachers, five ; average number months taught, six; number of schoolhouses, eight; average monthly wage of males, $30; average monthly wage of fe- males, $16; whole amount expended, $1,155.
La Harpe-Number of schools, seven; num- ber of scholars, 300; number of male teachers, three; number of female teachers, four; aver- age number months taught, seven and six-
tenths ; number of schoolhouses, seven; average monthly wage of males, $28; average monthly wage of females, $18; whole amount expended, $1,065.
La Harpe City-Number of schools, two; number of scholars, 210; number of male teach- ers, two ; number of female teachers, one; av- erage number months taught, six; number of schoolhouses, two; average monthly wage of males, $35; average monthly wage of females, $25; whole amount expended, $690.
Chili-Number of schools, six; number of scholars, 312; number of male teachers, four ; number of female teachers, four; average num- ber months taught, seven; number of school- houses, six; average monthly wage of males, $23; average monthly wage of females, $18; whole amount expended, $838.
Harmony-Number of schools, seven; number of scholars, 244; number of male teachers, five; number of female teachers, seven; average num- ber months taught, six and nine-tenths ; number of schoolhouses, six; average monthly wage of males, $25; average monthly wage of females, $19; whole amount expended, $1,619.
Carthage-Number of schools, eight; number of scholars, 472; number of male teachers, six ; number of female teachers, nine; average number months taught, six; number of school- houses, five; average monthly wage of males, $32; average monthly wage of females, $20; whole amount expended, $2,253.
Pilot Grove-Number of schools, nine; num- ber of scholars, 290; number of male teachers, four; number of female teachers, five; average number months taught, seven and five-tenths ; number of schoolhouses, seven ; average monthly wage of males, $21; average monthly wage of females, $18; whole amount expended, $880.
Durham-Number of schools, eight; number of scholars, 383; number of male teachers, eight; number of female teachers, eleven; av- erage number months taught, seven and four- tenths; number of schoolhouses, seven; average monthly wage of males, $27; average monthly wage of females, $19; whole amount expended, $1,195.
St. Albans-Number of schools, eight; num- ber of scholars, 400; number of male teachers, seven ; number of female teachers, eight; aver- age number months taught, six; number of schoolhouses, seven ; average monthly wage of males, $22; average monthly wage of females, $16; whole amount expended, $1,017.
.. .
AMANDA E. CLARK
JOHN A. CLARK
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Bear Creek-Number of schools, six ; number of scholars, 270; number of male teachers, six ; number of female teachers, four ; average num- ber months taught, six ; number of schoolhouses, seven; average monthly wage of males, $30; average monthly wage of females, $22; whole amount expended, $1,452.
Prairie-Number of schools, three; number of scholars, 238; number of male teachers, six ; number of female teachers, two; average num- ber months taught, six; number of school- houses, three; average monthly wage of males, $25; average monthly wage of females, $22; whole amount expended, $978.
Rock Creek-Number of schools, three; num- ber of scholars, 159; number of male teachers, four; number of female teachers, two; average number months taught, ten; number of school- houses, three; average monthly wage of males, $22; average monthly wage of females, $18; whole amount expended, $1,148.
Pontoosuc-Number of schools, seven; num- ber of scholars, 465; number of male teacher's, seven ; number of female teachers, three; aver- age number months taught, seven and five- tenths; number of schoolhouses, seven; average monthly wage of males, $27; average monthly. wage of females, $16; whole amount expended, $2,338.
Walker-Number of schools, eight; number of scholars, 347; number of male teachers, nine ; number of female teachers, three; average number months taught, seven and. five-tenths ; number of schoolhouses, eight; average monthly wage of males, $30; average monthly wage of females, $20; whole amount expended, $1,949.
Wythe-Number of schools, nine; number of scholars, 446; number of male teachers, eight ; number of female teachers, eight ; average num- ber months taught, seven and seven-tenths; number of schoolhouses, nine; average monthly wage of males, $33; average monthly wage of females, $16; whole amount expended, $2,249.
Montebello-Number of schools, seven; num- ber of scholars, 680; number of male teachers, seven ; number of female teachers, eight ; aver- age number months taught, six and seven- tenths; number of schoolhouses, seven; aver- age monthly wage of males, $32; average month- ly wage of females, $17; whole amount expend- ed, $3,216.
Sonora-Number of schools, five; number of scholars, 279; number of male teachers, six : number of female teachers, four; average num-
ber months taught, seven; number of school- houses, five; average monthly wage of males, $26; average monthly wage of females, $15; whole amount expended, $916.
Appanoose-Number of schools, five; number of scholars, 380; number of male teachers, five; number of female teachers, five; average num- ber months taught, six ; number of schoolhouses, five; average monthly wage of males, $27; av- erage monthly wage of females, $16; whole amount expended, $1,794.
Rocky Run-Number of schools, two; num- ber of scholars, 147; number of male teachers, two; number of female teachers, two; average number months taught, nine ; number of school- houses, three ; average monthly wage of males, $28; average monthly wage of females, $15; whole amount expended, $686.
Wilcox-Number of schools, five; number of scholars, 125; number of male teachers, five; number of female teachers, four ; average num- ber months taught, six and five-tenths; number of schoolhouses, three; average monthly wage of nales, $29; average monthly wage of females, $18; whole amount expended, $684.
Warsaw-Number of schools, six ; number of scholars, 328; number of male teachers, three ; number of female teachers, four; average num- ber months taught, ten and five-tenths ; number of schoolhouses, three ; average monthly wage of males, $52; average monthly wage of females, $30.
6 N. W. Nauvoo-Number of schools, six ; number of scholars, 328; average number months taught, six; number of schoolhouses, three; average monthly wage of males, $37; average monthly wage of females, -; whole amount expended, $1,653.
Another table, which relates to the entire county, shows that the number of schools taught by male teachers was thirty-nine, and number taught by female teachers, thirty-five, the num- ber taught by male and female teachers at the same time, seven, and the number taught by male and female teachers at different times, seventy ; also that the total attendance was 8,416, the largest number taught by one teacher at the same time, eighty-four, and the average number to each teacher, thirty-eight.
Another table shows that there were at this time seventeen log schoolhouses in the county and 108 frame schoolhouses, and that there were twenty-one districts in which no schools had been opened during the year.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Another table shows that there were twelve brick schoolhouses in the county, three stone schoolhouses, and eleven schoolhouses contain- ing more than one room. It appears also that there were eighteen private schools, with an attendance of 444 pupils. Also that there were eight graded schools and eleven district school libraries. At this time there were 233 acres of school land remaining unsold.
Another table gives the highest monthly wages paid to male teachers as $70, the highest to female teachers, $40, the lowest to male teach- ers, $15, and the lowest to female teachers, $8.
(The summary for the entire state gives the highest monthly wages paid to male teachers as $180, to female teachers, $75, and the lowest monthly wages paid to male teachers as $8, and to female teachers, $4. In this year, 1860, there were 195 pupils in the Normal University.)
In Superintendent Bateman's report appear the following extracts from the report of George W. Batchelder, school commissioner of Hancock County :
"In presenting my annual report of the con- dition of schools in this county, I would say that there has been much improvement, when compared with former years. School officers, generally, understand and perform their duties better. In visiting the schools, last winter, I found them, with few exceptions, in a flourish- ing condition. We have a number of promising graded schools, at the head of which that of Warsaw stands pre-eminent. This school is equal to any this side of the Alleghanies, in every particular. Augusta, La Harpe, Car- thage and Hamilton are working in earnest, and I expect to be able to report great progress during the present year.
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