Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 32

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 32

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

in the rural schools, and even to "pass to higher grades" was unheard of. The passing was from the speller to the reader, and from the reader to the arithmetic, was all the changes known.

Women in those days were not "fitten to teech," because they could not subdue and con- quer the rude young men, who went to school, and a man with a good physique, was usually employed. A couple of large hickory withes were as essential then, as blackboards and maps are today. Originality and individuality were as marked then as now, and with even the limited opportunities we then had, they were then, as now, stepping stones to future use- fulness and success. The bull pen, town ball, and drop the handkerchief were among the sports indulged in on the school grounds, and the teacher usually joined with the sports. When we think of these old customs and op- portunities for an education, and the good that was accomplished for our country, by them, we let our minds revert to the character of tbe teachers we had in those days. The organizing teacher, Doctor Wyman, the bewhiskered pro- fessor, Doctor Brown, the versatile and schol- arly teacher and college president, Dr. Francis Springer, the beloved minister and educator, Dr. A. A. Trimper, the Eastern young man, who came to Hillsboro with a saddle and bridle, Hon. D. H. Zepp, the impetuous and courag- eous, Samuel Inglis, and many others who came close on the heels of the condition we have described, and whose work laid the founda- tion for great futures for many both here and from other communities, might be lauded if space permitted. To master a school was the chief function of the old-time teacher; to mas- ter the elements of a good education and to master the art of imparting that knowledge are the present day requirements.

A FEW EARLY TEACHERS.

Mr. Brazzleton taught the first school in the county, at Clear Springs. Mrs. Jesse Town- send, wife of the first Presbyterian preacher in the county, taught probably the second term of school at the residence of John Kirkpatrick. Miss Nancy Crumba, sister-in-law of David B. Jackson in Hillsboro, was another early teacher as were the following : Miss Rosetta Townsend, a daughter of Jesse Townsend, taught at Clear Springs, and afterwards was married to An- drew M. Braley; Miss Eliza Braley, a daughter

of the above, taught in Hillsboro; John Col- ton Terret was the first to teach the classics, Latin and Greek, in a public school in the county, being in Hillsboro; Hiram Rountree had taught these studies in Edwardsville, and to private classes in Hillsboro, but not in a Montgomery County school; Superintendent Wetherell and Mrs. Wetherell were the first teachers in the Hillsboro Academy, brought here from the east by John Tillson; Professor Wy. man, principal of the female department of the Hillsboro Academy, who was married to Miss Elizabeth Hadley, was also a teacher in the Academy, having charge of the instrumental music department; Eliza Brown taught on the west side of Bear Creek precinct in a log schoolhouse; the place of the schoolhouse being now known to a very few living people; Major Campbell, of Carlyle, taught in the old Hillsboro log schoolhouse; Maj. John H. Rountree taught in the old log schoolhouse at Hillsboro; James M. Bradford taught in the log house in Hills- boro, he being the father of the founder of the Greenville Bradford Bank; Jolin Hays, Mr. Stringer, Alexander Bouie, W. L. Jenkins, Frank Dixon and others taught in the same old log schoolhouse as James W. Bradford. These were among some of the very first teach- ers in the county, and are here enumerated merely as a reminiscence of the old school days.

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS.

Under the county organization law the lead- ing county school official was known as the school commissioner, and his functions simi- lar to those now devolving on the superintend- ent of schools though not so mandatory as un- der recent statutes. No mention was found in the county records of school commissioner prior to 1835, but in that year we find Israel Seward named as commissioner, and he appears to have filled the office till 1841, when William H. High was elected, serving till 1845. Then David B. Jackson assumed the functions of the office, serving four or more years. We give a list of those following him as full as we have the information.

Years

1858 to 1862 John W. King 4

1862 to 1866 Spartan Grisham 4

1866 to 1870 John C. Tulley .

1870 to 1874 Hiram L. Gregory 4

John Langen & Family.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

1874 to 1878 Francis Springer

1878 to 1SS2 Thomas E. Harris

1SS2 to 1890 Jesse C. Barrett 8

1890 to 1894 Jacob L. Traylor 4

1894 to 189S W. H. Groner

189S to 190S William J. McDavid

1906 to 1914 John M. Harp

1914 to 191S Evert A. Lewey 4

OLDEST TEACHER IN THE UNITED STATES.

A community is distinguished by the people who become its leaders. To mention a com- munity without stating who were its moving spirits is to omit half the story. Mrs. Emma Bangs, after having a career as a teacher, was married to Mr. Bangs and for several years was associated with him in editorial and repor- torial work, in which she excelled. After his death she went to Donnellson, which by the way is a little town ready to appreciate merit, when its people are the beneficiaries, and this was especially true in this instance. Mrs Bangs obtained a position as a teacher in the public schools, and established herself in the hearts of the people to such an extent that no thought was ever entertained of her having a successor. How long she was there as a teacher added to her prior experience as an educator, would require some figuring to determine, but her body at length gave way and she went to her reward. After her death, Superintend- ent Blair said in the Educational Press Bulle- tin : "Mrs. Emma T. Bangs, aged eighty-five years, died at her home in Dounellson recently after a short illness. Mrs. Bangs was, without doubt, the oldest school teacher in the United States. She was teaching her twenty-first suc- cessful term at Donnellson at the time of her death. She had been a teacher in the county for over fifty years. She held a life certificate issued by Newton Bateman, superintendent of public instruction of the state of Illinois, something like a half century ago." Her death was in April, 1911. just when her school year was nearing its close. With no children of her own to love, the children of the community became the objects of her affection, and her long life was one of devotion to others, to that extent that she was indifferent to her own financial affairs. as the writer knows as he was the school treasurer and handled her orders, and he often had trouble in getting her to accept what was due her. Such unselfish devotion is worthy

of perpetual record here, as it is in the great Beyond.

OLD LOG SCHOOL HOUSE.

A. H. H. Rountree in 1873, wrote as follows : · "Soon after the establishment of Hillsboro, our first residents, who were mostly intelligent and educated men, united in the labor of build- ing a school house, which would answer, not only for school purposes, but be a sort of town hall for all purposes of assemblage including religious services. Its construction like that of all similar edifices of that day was of the simplest kind. It was built of logs, not hewed, but scalped. the cracks chinked and daubed with mud. Its chimney occupied nearly one whole side and was built so as to take in ten or twelve feet wood. The fire place was daubed with clay jambs and back. There was no ceiling over head, but the roof was made of clapboards kept on, not with nails, but weight poles. It had a puncheon floor, clapboard door, and what was rare at that day, there were two glass windows. Its benches were made of round logs split, and the flat side made smooth with an axe and legs put in on the bark side. Its other furniture, if any, was of the simplest kind, consisting of a few shelves for hats, bon- nets and books, and perhaps a few pegs for other purposes. Situated as it was on the hill, just above the spring in Rountree's pasture, ft was on high and dry ground, convenient for water. and surrounded by forest and hazel thickets, that provided for the protection of horses as well as switches for the unruly. This house was perhaps the most useful one in the town. In it schools were taught, and its teachers were men and women of education and culture, some of whom became considerably eminent. Major Campbell of Carlyle and Major John H. Rountree, now a prominent politician and legis- lator of Wisconsin. James M. Bradford, who has held many offices, and been a useful man in Bond County; John Hayes; Mr. Stringer ; Alexander Buie; W. L. Jenkins; Frank Dick- son, and many others, might also be mentioned, all taught there. There were educated in this house in part, the Cross', the Rutledges, thie Blockburgers. the Seymours, the Boones, the Rountrees, the Grubbs, and others. Tom Rut- ledge had a battle royal with his teacher, Jared Seymour in which, with many sobs, Tom de- clared if Seymour would quit he would.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

There in part was educated Rev. R. J. Nall ; also Rev. W. S. Prentice, both Methodist presid- ing elders; also James and Sidney Harkey, of the Lutheran Church, all good and useful men as well as preachers. There too, in part was educated General Tillson of Quincy whose ex- ploits in the Civil War rendered him distin- guished. No doubt many others whose early education dates from "the old log schoolhouse" have arrived at wealth and honors, all whose early bias was given by the pioneer teachers. In that old house our people worshipped God, and it was there that the first sermons of our brother, Bishop Ames was delivered. There preached Morris the bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church; John T. Mitchell; James Mitchell; Peter Cartwright; Newton Cloud ; Charles Holliday ; John Dew; Sam Thompson; Father Barnes; Jesse Hale ; Barton Randle ; and others of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In that house was organized the nucleus of the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Lutheran churches. In it preached Thomas Spillman, the first regu- lar pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and father of the two young preachers of that name now preaching in this county. Daniel Scherer who organized the Lutheran Church preached in it. Our temperance and debating societies, were organized and conducted there, and other enterprises so many in number and interest that it is simply impossible to enumerate them here. No doubt the memories connected with it are still kept warm in the hearts of the older resi- dents, but the schoolhouse is gone, and other buildings have been erected to take its place."

OLD HILLSBORO ACADEMY AND COLLEGE.

Very early in the history of Hillsboro, the academy was built and started on a broad and liberal foundation. Being the only institution of its kind for a long distance, it was patronized by students from all sections of the west and south, some coming from as far south as Louisi- ana. Upon its rolls were names which have since become famous in local and state history. Gov. Zadek Casey educated his children here, one of whom was a senator in our State Legis- lature. Prominent men in the state at that time, such as General Alexander of Paris, Gen- eral Kitchell of Paris, General Thornton of Shelbyville, Harry Wilton, and others from time to time moved here to educate their families. The history of the Hillsboro Academy is an

interesting one. Most of the facts concerning its founding, equipment, and teachers have been taken for this article directly from the records although much has been gained from newspaper accounts, chief, of which being a series of "Early Reminiscences" written by Judge Hiram Rountree.

In 1835 the people of Hillsboro united their purses and built what was then esteemed a most magnificent building. The architect was Doc- tor Shurtleff, later the founder of Shurtleff Col- lege of Upper Alton. The building was called the Hillsboro Academy and its stock was bought by public-spirited men of Hillsboro, the most prominent of whom was John Tillson, who not only gave the land and the largest amount to- ward its erection, but also guaranteed to the teachers their full pay and presented the school with a fine set of philosophical apparatus, a piano, and other equipments. Among the other stockholders are found the names of :

John Tillson, 120 shares, $6000.00; Hiram Rountree, six shares, $300.00; Isaiah Seward. four shares, $200.00; Lloyd Morton, four shares, $200.00; Charles Holmes, four shares, $200.00; John Hayward, four shares, $200.00; Andrew Brailey, two shares, $100.00; William S. Rus- sell, two shares, $100.00; Lucius Kingman, two shares, $100.00; Rev. Daniel Scherer, two shares, $100.00; Thomas A. Spillman, one share, $50.00; William Witherspoon, one share. $50.00; James Holmes, one share, $50.00; John Holmes, one share, $50.00; Thomas Sturtevant, one share, $50.00; John Hunt, one share, $50.00; Abner Hope, one share, $50.00; Edwin A. Casey, one share, $50.00; John Watson, one share, $50.00; John Kicheval, one share, $50.00; F. H. Huford, one share, $50.00; M. S. Cushman, one share, $50.00; making a total of 160 shares, or $8000.00.

Hillsboro owes a debt of gratitude to John Tillson about which too much cannot be said. He had a genius for succeeding in whatever he undertook, and always chose that which bene- fited the community as well as himself. He was born in Halifax, N. S., March 13, 1796, and not only founded the Hillsboro Academy and sustained it for years, but also the Illinois College and was one of its trustees. His death occurred at Peoria, Ill., May 11, 1853.

The stockholders were pledged to make up any deficiency that might be incurred in the pay of the teachers, and as a result good teachers were procured. Mr. Tillson brought

795

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

from the east the first superintendent, Isaac Wetherell with his wife for associate in the female department; Prof. Edward Wyman, as- sociate in the male department, and Miss Eliza- beth F. Hadley, teacher of instrumental music. With these instructors the academy opened the first Wednesday in November, 1837, and the educators continued the same until 1839, when Mr. Wetherell and wife returned east; and Marshall Conant and wife, with Edward Wy- man and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hadley Wyman, and Miss Beulah P. Lufts, as associate, took charge of the school. In 1840 there were added to the corps of teachers, Miss Harriet Comstock, Mrs. Susan T. Grant, and John P. Sartle. In 1841, Edward Wyman became principal with Mrs. Wyman. Miss Margaret S. Springer, Miss Beulah P. Tufts, Miss Jemima Dickson, and Miss Mary P. Wyman, were associates. In 1842, Miss Martha Powell took the place of Miss Tufts, while Azel S. Lyman, Jeremiah D. Low, and Miss Eunice Clark were added. In 1843- 44, Ephriam Miller with his associates William Weer, Jr., Miss Mary Dustin and Miss Eunice Clark had charge of the school.

In 1845, James W. Sunderland was principal with his wife, Mr. F. Eugene Baldwin, and Miss Mary Davis, as associates. In 1846, while A. A. Trimper was principal, the trustees of the Hills- boro Academy sent a petition to the Senate, asking consent to transfer their charter to the "Literary and Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church of the Far West." The peti- tion was written by John S. Hayward, secre- tary of the board of trustees. The petition was granted and in 1847, the name of the Academy was changed to the Lutheran College, generally known as the Hillsboro College. This college, while essentially a Lutheran institution, was in some respects a popular Hillsboro enterprise, and had the support of the citizens of the com- munity, without regard to denominational lines. At one time Doctor Springer, Doctor Trimper, and others circulated a subscription to partly endow the college. The plan was to raise by subscribing to scholarships the sums of $10,- 000.00. The interest was to be used in running the institution, paying its instructors, etc. One subscribing $125.00 would be given a scholarship good for twelve years, one subscribing $200.00, received a scholarship good for twenty-seven years ; while one subscribing for $400.00 received a perpetual scholarship. The fund was raised and quite a number of young people received

the tuitional part of their education from these scholarships. They were retransferable and frequently poor young men were allowed to use them without charge by the owners, as an act of philanthropy. These scholarships became worthless on the reorganization under a new charter at Springfield.

The college had been managed very success- fully for five years, with Rev. Francis Springer as president, while A. A. Trimper, his assistant, had charge of the female department in the Lyceum building. In 1852, the Lutherans think- ing Springfield a more favorable locality for their college, moved it to that city, and the academy once more opened with O. C. Duke as principal. After the removal of the college the academy continued some twenty-seven years longer. After being located in Springfield, the college was placed fully under the control of the officials of the Lutheran Church and the name changed to the Illinois University. The idea of the Lutheran people was to make it a great institution at the state capital, but an adequate support was not forthcoming, and after an uncertain career for some years, the Luth- eran Church officials, began searching for a more congenial location. The old city of Carthage in Hancock County was finally selected and there it was moved, and we understand has had continuously since to the present a very creditable support. Mr. Cress of this city was at one time on its faculty, and was an instructor in it, and quite a number of pupils from this city have enjoyed the benefits of se- curing an education in the institution and in this cultured little city.

In 1853, George C. Mack with his wife, Miss Abbie Fischer, and Miss L. C. Dearborn, as assistants had charge of the academy. The next three years saw as many changes of teachers. In 1855, Rev. William McGookin, was principal, E. B. Douthit, assistant, in 1856 Wil- liam Gunning principal, and Miss L. C. Lyman assistant, and in 1857 Charles H. Burbank, prin- cipal. In 1858, Edmund Miller came as principal and remained until 1865. Among his assistants were Miss F. H. Hunt, Miss Abbie Miller, Miss E. B. Chute, Miss F. Sargent and Andrew Shat- tuck. In 1866 Rev. J. R. Brown was principal with his wife and Miss Fannie Kidoo, and S. M. Inglis as assistants. From that time until 1879 there were frequent changes of teachers. In 1867-6S, F. M. Easterday was principal. 1869- 70. L. S. Brown, with his wife and Miss Abra-

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IHISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

ham, as assistants; from 1871 to 1873 L. B. Whitten, in 1874 Rev. Francis Springer, in 1875 Rev. W. J. McDavid in 1876, C. C. Lyerly, 1877- 88, L. B. Whitten, and in 1879, Frauk Helsell with his assistants S. M. Ladd and Miss Cromer. On January 28, 1880, under Mr. Helsell, the acad- emy closed and went into the hands of the public high school.

WILLIAM JORDAN EDUCATIONAL TRUST FUND.

Prior to the death of William Jordan in 1896, he made a will, and providing for the needs of his widow according to a pre-marital agree- ment, he gave the remainder of his estate, as his children had all died before his demise, to the cause of maintaining the school district in which lived, to which he set apart $10,000 and the remainder for the benefit of the other dis- tricts of the township, naming A. T. Strange, as the trustee of the fund. After his death, his widow entered suit to declare the pre-marital agreement null and void, on the pretext, that a word or two, had been changed after their marriage; which in effect made it a post-mar- riage contract. The Conrt sustained the con- tention of the widow's attorneys, and, as a re- sult, over half the estate went to the widow and the attorneys. The sum of $10,000, however, was set apart to the credit of District 7, now 134, and the remainder, of a little less than " $1,000, to the credit of the other districts of the township. The money is loaned or other- wise invested, and the net income is paid the districts entitled to it, and by them used in the maintenance of the districts. The dis- tribution of the fund to the districts, except No. 134, is made on the basis of the school census of the children in the several districts. The beqnest was a peculiar one and serves a bene- ficial purpose. It is about sufficient to maintain his old home county district, with an annual pittance to the other districts of the township.

MUSICAL DEVELOPMENTS.

Any effort that succeeds in cultivating an in- terest along æsthetic lines is worthy of commendation. Hillsboro like every other town has its critics in art and its amateurs in music, and it is only to mention the exceptional that this is penned. Several years ago a family con- sisting of father and nine sons and several female members, came to Hillsboro to work in

our splendid coal mines. Either before or soon after coming they organized the "Mollmans' Nine Brother Band," with the father as bass drummer. These brothers made no display, blew no personal horns, exhibited no trills, but kept on mining and playing, their reputation in the meantime spreading over the community. When the public needed music they were always ready and never failed. They grew in execu- tion and musical techniqne as well as in the estimation of the public, and as calls became more frequent for important entertainments, they gradually added to their number as neces- sity required until today, after sixteen years of persistent and harmonious practice, they have as well an organized and as harmonionsly conducted band as can be found of twenty-two pieces anywhere in the country. Their work is so universally acceptable and dependable as to present a unique advancement in any city of Hillsboro's size. The original members and those now enlisted in the band are as follows : John Mollman, leader, Henry: Mollman, An- toini Mollman, Thomas Mollman, Alexander Mollman, Fred Mollman, Frank Mollman, Wil- liam Mollman, Herman Mollman, David Archi- bald, E. B. Strange, Thomas McLain, Harry Blockburger, Frank Darda, Jerry Darda, Ben- jamin Darda, Angelo Paris, Louie Paris, Henry Devlin. William Gerhart, Eugene Friochi, and Earnest Cunagranda.

In the days of "ye olden time" the common avenne of musical expression was through the "singing school" or the "fiddle." The singing school has been superseded by the choral class and the fiddle by the orchestra. The singing school teacher was one who could read "buck- wheat" notes, had a voice and could keep time with hand. Milton Paden and others conducted "singing schools," and the good times had at these gatherings will, and should be, long re- membered. The "fiddler" knew nothing of the art of music but did have natural ability and skill and when he warmed up to the old time "rosin the bow" and other music, the feet of the young people could not be kept still. It was not the "light fantastic" that we speak of to-day, but the noisy rattling inelegant "hoe

down" that the fiddle inspired. "Uncle" Ben Wilton and others were in those days fiddlers in great demand, and were treated royally by their appreciative andiences. Those days have passed and are recalled with a tinge of regret, bnt modern musical culture has given tone and

11,

MRS. C. C. LEWEY

C. C. LEWEY

797

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

artistic realism to musical societies and homes. The music teachers of today are trained and well equipped graduates of conservatories, who have by ardnous study and tedious practice pre- pared themselves for careers of usefulness, as well as pleasure. Mrs. Gilmore and Professor Williams of Hillsboro, Mrs. Mamie Charles Towey and Mrs. Rena Belle Jamison McWil- liams, and many more, have hy sweetness of song and temper endeared themselves to a music-loving clientele of untold numbers of young and old. There are many musical aggre- gations and societies here which might appro- priately be mentioned.

HILLSBORO CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

Through the generosity of Andrew Carnegie and John M. Whitehead, and the earnest efforts of several Hillsboro citizens, the city of Hills- boro has a very well equipped public library. Mr. Whitehead donated the lot on which to build, that today is worth $1,500, and Mr. Car- negie made a donation of $11,000, to be used in erecting a suitable building. At our request Miss Bertha Welge prepared a historical sketch of the library which we are pleased to present here :

"It is to the earnest work and perseverance of the Ladies Reading Circle of Hillsboro, that the city is indehted for the library of which it is so proud. This club of women never ceased their efforts to hring home to the community the need of such an institution in its midst, and finally through the help of the various organizations of Hillsboro, a meeting was held, a board of directors elected, and the library started. It was formally opened to the public on November 12, 1895, in the upstairs corner room of the corner block building at Main and Wood streets with a small number of donated books. Miss Otta Gannon was appointed li- rarian and took up this work in connection with her work as a public stenographer. The "Bachelor Girls," a club of young ladies of Hillsboro gave the first entertainment for the benefit of the library, and the proceeds, $90.10, was the welcome sum with which the purchase of new books was hegun in the early days of its existence. In June, 1896, the city council took over the control and support of the library and appointed the following directors: Hon. Amos Miller, Mrs. William Abbot, George Wal-

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 32

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810