USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume II > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
110
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
recommended a one mill tax for school purposes and further recom- mended that, if necessary, money should be borrowed temporarily for the benefit of the city schools.
"By centering our eye the other day upon the financial report of our city for the present year we were astonished to find that the school fund was now receiving $517 yearly income from the leas- ing of the school block. This block had been lying perfectly idle till rented under the administration of our present mayor for the above sum."-(Chicago Democrat, February 24, 1844. )
In 1845 Mrs. and Miss Whiting conducted a day and boarding school for young ladies and taught English branches, needlework, French, higher mathematics, Latin, German, drawing, flower paint- ing and music on the piano. They advertised to furnish board at $2.50 per week. In October, 1845, George F. Wilson opened an English and classical school.
In the spring of 1846 the school section of Palos township was offered for sale by George Manierre, school agent.
The act of February 27, 1847, incorporated the University of Chicago, to be located in or near the city. The incorporators were Thomas Dyer, Walter L. Newberry, Francis C. Sherman, J. Young Scammon, Alexander M. Stewart, Hugh T. Dickey, R. T. Swift, Benjamin W. Raymond, Charles M. Gray, William B. Ogden, Alonzo Huntington, Peter Page, Buckner S. Morris, the mayor of Chicago and the judge of the Cook County court, the latter two ex-officio. The institution was given all the powers usually con- ferred upon schools of the kind-to provide courses of study, grant degrees, etc.
By act of February 27, 1847, the St. Francis Xavier Female Academy of Chicago was incorporated, the incorporators being Margaret O'Brien, Catherine McGuire, Mary A. McGuire, Eliza Corbett, Ellen Reilley, Mary Mulhallan and Eva Smith.
On February 27, 1847, the Chicago Bethel association was in- corporated, designed to be a bethel church and a sailors' home. The incorporators were Grant Goodrich, Orrington Lunt, Charles Walker, Levi D. Boone, Tuthill King, Sylvester Lind, Benjamin W. Raymond and William H. Brown.
SCHOOLS, 1847. Pupils.
Districts 1 and 2, A. W. Ingalls, principal 600
District 3, M. Ballard, principal .. .300
District 4, A. G. Wilder, principal. .500
A sum accrued to the school fund of Illinois in consequence of the state's having the right to tax government land for five years after sale, but about 1846-47 this law was repealed and no more funds were received. Thomas Dyer, receiver here, obtained $9,000 of this fund in January, 1847.
The University of St. Mary of the Lake, Rev. J. A. Kinsella,
111
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
president, was incorporated in 1847. Several school lots on the North Side were sold at auction in November, 1847. The Chicago Academy, with George F. Wilson principal, began its winter term in November, 1847. Mrs. C. Wilson was his assistant.
The school inspectors in the spring of 1848 were G. W. Meeker, D. McIlroy, E. S. Kimberly, A. Peck, G. W. Southworth and W. E. Jones. An important and interesting public school examina- tion was held January 15, 1848. At this date there was one big school building in each of the three divisions.
During the '40s the school sections of Wheeling township, Schaumburg township and other subdivisions of the county were of- fered at public sale. Late in the '40s George Manierre was school commissioner of Cook county. He had the most to do with the sale of the school sections throughout the county. In October, 1848, there were nineteen private schools in this city in addition to the public schools. The city at that time contained four regular school districts, but districts Nos. 1 and 2 were united. In addition there had been established a school at Bridgeport and one near the resi- dence of Mr. Jackson. The average attendance in 1848 was as follows: Districts 1 and 2, 605 ; District 3, 363; District 4 (N. S.), 398; Jackson's, 75; Bridgeport, 43; total average attendance, 1,484. At this time the total enrollment was 1,949.
In 1848 the people of District 2 urgently demanded a new school- house. The building was crowded to suffocation and even the attic was used and was likewise crowded.
"Cook presents a better condition than any county in the State, so far as school funds are concerned; but as regards schoolhouses and teachers there are other counties far ahead of her in these respects."-(Democrat, February 9, 1849.)
CITY SCHOOLS, 1849.
SCHOOLS.
Scholars Enrolled.
Teachers Employed.
1
474
6
Teachers' Pay. $1,627.75
2
439
4
1,386.43
3
532
5
1,513.59
4
515
5
1,462.13
Totals
1,960
20
$5,989.90
The average attendance was only 1,273.
In May, 1849, Miss Beecher, of the National Educational society, visited Chicago in the interest of education generally. The society with which she was connected sent to the West large numbers of trained teachers. Ex-Governor Slade, of Vermont, was the presi- dent of that society. He came here in May, 1849. with eleven trained young lady teachers, all of whom were found positions here or elsewhere in the West. At this time it was claimed that Chicago had more free schools according to population than any
112
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
other city in the world. This claim, however, should be taken with some grains of allowance.
"The Public Schools .- There are over 8,000 children in Chicago of suitable age to attend school. Provision is made for only about 2,000 in the free schools."-(Democrat, July 26, 1849. )
During August, 1849, a new schoolhouse was in process of erec- tion at the corner of Clark and Harrison streets.
In February, 1849, the following was the condition of the Cook county schools : Number of school districts, 53; number of schools, 91; schools taught by males, 37; schools taught by females, 20; number of scholars, 4,621; number of children under twenty years, 10,746; amount of school fund, $48,988; fund raised by ad valorem taxation, $7,500; number of schoolhouses, 41; average wages per month for male teachers, $13; average wages per month for female teachers, $6.
In 1849 the school agent reported that during the years 1845 to 1848, $15,048.22 had been lost on bad loans.
In the fall of 1850 Catherine Beecher came to Chicago in the interest of trained teachers who desired positions in the West :
William H. Brown, school agent, reported as follows:
On hand February 21, 1848. $ 694.68
Received during the year 1848-49. 10,752.88
-
Total
$11,447.56
Expenses
9,464.29
Balance on hand.
$1,983.27
The receipts were as follows :
Principal
.$ 2,787.00
Interest
4,192.43
Rents
1,079.21
From city of Chicago
1,000.00
State dividends
1,694.24
Total $10,752.88
In 1850 George Manierre, county commissioner of schools, called a convention of the teachers of Cook county to be held at Chicago on November 27. At this convention twelve towns were repre- sented. William Young, of Thornton, served as chairman and Alanson St. Clair and Michael Gormley as secretaries. One of the objects of this convention was to select a uniform series of school- books for the whole county. After a laborious discussion of nine hours the following schoolbooks' were selected : Webster's spelling book, Sanders' readers, Colburn's first arithmetics, Day and Thomp- son's advanced arithmetics, Bullion's grammar, Mitchell's geogra- phy and Willard's history of the United States. During the con- vention cvery subject connected with county education was dis- cussed in detail. The convention recommended certain changes in the law concerning the system and the government of schools in
113
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Cook county. Inasmuch as only twelve towns were represented at this convention, it was not expected that its proceedings would be binding upon the whole county, which had twenty-six towns. The convention appointed the following permanent business committee : George Manierre, William Bross, Alanson St. Clair, George M. Huntoon and M. L. Dunlap.
STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS OF CHICAGO FROM 1841 TO NOVEMBER 1, 1851.
YEAR
School Tax Paid by City
Revenue of School Fund from Other Sources
Expendi- tures Made by School Agent
Number of Children Taught in Public Schools
Value of School Fund
TOTAL
Cash and Securities
Real Estate
1841
$1,984.89
420
1842
1,530.21
$ 947.83
$4,284.27
531
1843
1,232.71
2,317.15
4,575.91
808
1844"
5,722.08
4,964.91
3,621.19
915
1845
_3,090.38
5,611.35.
5,113.89
1,051
1846
4,455.40
4,901.28
5,635.87
1,107
1847
5,155.58
6,440.13
4,248.76
1,317
1848
5,761.832
6,118.48
5,790.82
1,517
.
1849
6,676.68
6,200.70
4,896.17
1,794
1850
7,220.24
6,771.17
6,037.97
1,919
1851
12,844.07
5,384.14
5,705.93
2,017
$55,939.69 57,719.69 53,625.76
$113,000.00 $ 168,939.69 124,000.00 150.000.00
181,719.69 203,625.76
After 1847 the expenses of the school agent were confined to incidentals and the payment of teachers. After 1847 other expenses such as construction, fuel, janitor, etc., were paid by the common council.
"The crowded state of the schools during a large portion of the year, and the large number of children in the streets, whose time is worse than wasted for the want of schools within their reach, would serve to admonish us of the necessity of providing more ample means of public instruction. It is believed to be a duty, as it un- doubtedly is the true policy, to provide for the free education of all the children of suitable age in the city. To do this a constant in- crease of expenditure will be requisite. At least two schoolhouses should be erected the next season, and there can be little doubt but one or more will need to be added every year thereafter to meet the wants of our rapidly increasing population. To erect these houses, furnish them, and supply them with teachers will require more money each year than the tax of one mill on the dollar now allowed by law will furnish. A considerable portion of the real estate be- longing to the school fund is at present unproductive. It may be well to inquire whether these lands should not be made to yield a revenue by being rented at such prices as would insure their per- manent occupancy. A heavier tax under an amended charter may be advisable." -- (Democrat, December 7, 1850.)
"It is believed that if the teachers were required to occupy a portion of their time on Saturday by holding a teachers' institute, the result would appear in the improved condition of the schools." -- (Recommended by the Democrat as an amendment to the city school ordinances. )
114
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
"There are in the county, twenty-six towns, each having four school officers, making 104, or, including the seven inspectors of schools for the city, 111."-(Democrat, December 11, 1850.)
During the years 1850-51 Frank Lumbard was instructor of music in the public schools. The following was the condition of the city schools for the month ending January 24, 1851:
South division, District 1, attendance 480
South division, District 2, attendance 439
West division, District 3, attendance 600
North division, District 4, attendance 532
Total 2,051
In February, 1851, George Manierre, school commissioner, ad- vertised for sale the school section in the township of Hyde Park. It was located about five miles south of the city and one side fronted on State street. About the same time he also advertised the school section of Township 36, Range 14, Thornton township. He called attention to the fact that a turnpike ran across the western part of the section. In August, 1851, contracts for two new schoolhouses, to be located on the North and West sides, were let to contractors. At this time the school tax here was 15 cents on the $100.
The following resolutions were passed by the city council in Oc- tober, 1851 :
"WHEREAS, The Board of Inspectors of common schools, in com- pliance with an ordinance of the common council, did in December last adopt certain resolutions providing for and requiring the estab- lishment of a teachers' institute and making it the duty of all the teachers employed in the schools to attend the same for the purpose of their improvement as teachers; and,
"WHEREAS, The improved condition of the schools and the in- creasing degree of success with which the different branches of study are taught sufficiently demonstrate the usefulness of the insti- tute and the prosperity as well as necessity of its continuance ; there- fore,
"Resolved, That it is the duty of all the teachers in the public schools of this city to attend the meetings of the institute with promptness and regularity; and that no reason for non-attendance will hereafter be deemed satisfactory which would not be sufficient excuse for the non-performance of any other portion of their duties as teachers."-(Democrat, October 29, 1851. )
"The public schools of this city have never been in better condi- tion than at the present time. There are, we learn, nearly 1,900 children in attendance."-(Democrat, December 8, 1851.).
During the month of June, 1852, the attendance at the public schools of the city was as follows: First district. 325 ; second, 265; third. 390; fourth, 382; fifth, 115: sixth, 127. For the monthi of September, 1852, the attendance was reported as follows: First
115
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
district, 285; second, 222; third, 357; fourth, 380; fifth, 96; sixth, 169. In September, 1852, Mr. Waughop, school commissioner, sold the school section in Bremen township for $3,300. The whole amount was immediately loaned at 10 per cent. interest. In Decem- ber, 1852, the first Teachers' association of the county was formed. In 1852 Rev. Byrd Parker, pastor of the African Methodist Epis- copal church, established a school for colored children in this city. In 1852 Cook county received as its share of the interest on the school, college and seminary fund $2,358.46, and for 1853 $2,- 367.19.
In February, 1853, W. H. Brown, who had been school agent of the county for thirteen years, resigned. The Democratic Press of February 9 said: "He deserves and doubtless will receive the thanks of every parent in the community for the faithful discharge of those duties in which they and their children have so deep an interest."
In December, 1853, a State convention of teachers was held at Bloomington. Among the Chicagoans in attendance were the fol- lowing: H. L. Lewis, W. H. Bigelow, Miss C. S. Smith, Miss Childs, Henry H. Lee, Prof. W. Goodfellow, R. N. Porter, D. C. Ferguson, Miss E. McClure, Miss A. M. Day, Miss J. Graves, F. A. Benham and C. G. Hawthorn.
"The common schools of Chicago are the pride and the glory of the city. We have now six large public school edifices, two in each division of the city. From 300 to 700 children are daily gath- ered in each."-(Annual Review of Chicago, January, 1854.)
In addition, the city had many private schools and seminaries, also an excellent commercial college, conducted by Judge Bell.
In January, 1854, so popular had become the Chicago Female Seminary that they raised by subscription, for building purposes, the sum of $30,000.
In January, 1854, at a large educational meeting held here, reso- lutions favorable to the establishment of a State industrial uni- versity and normal school were passed. The meeting also favored the establishment of a State superintendent of public instruction.
Early in 1854 the school attendance in Chicago was as follows: First district, 601; Second, 607; Third, 565; Fourth, 606; Fifth, 336; Sixth, 516; Seventh, 52; total, 3,283.
In March, 1854, Mr. Philbrick refused to accept the appointment of superintendent of city schools, whereupon John C. Dore was nominated for that position. In the spring of 1854 the city school inspectors were as follows: South division, E. C. Larned, F. Mose- ley, J. H. Foster; North division, A. J. Brown, G. W. Mellecker ; West division, T. B. Dwyer and S. M. Wilson.
In the spring of 1854 M. W. Edwards, of Springfield, became the first State superintendent of public instruction.
In December, 1854, the County Teachers' Institute was held in this city. Dr. Gregory lectured to the teachers assembled.
116
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
On December 11, 1854, Alderman Evans, of the committee on schools, presented to the city council a report in favor of the estab- lishment of a high school in connection with the free schools of the city. The report was concurred in and immediate steps to com- mence such a school were taken.
In January, 1855, the Garrett Biblical Institute of Evanston was formally opened, with Rev. Dr. Dempster as principal. His inaugu- ral address was on the subject of "The Necessity of a Specific and Thorough Education to Qualify the Christian Ministry for Its Work." Among those present- at the opening services were Rev. Dr. Evans, Rev. Burroughs, Rev. P. Judson, Rev. J. V. Watson and others.
The interest on the school, college and seminary fund and the amount of school tax fund distributed to Cook county in 1855 was $32,874.13.
In January, 1855, the city council passed an ordinance for the establishment of a high school. It was provided that it should be under the control of the Board of Inspectors, and it was further provided that the principal should be paid a salary of $1,500, a male assistant $1,000 and female assistants $600 each.
In March, 1855, the city had seven public schools, thirty-five teachers and about 3,000 scholars in attendance. A great improve- ment in the conduct of the schools was reported at this date. At this time it was decided that no more school land belonging to the city should be sold, but that all should be rented. It was estimated that the city school land which had been previously sold was worth $6,000,000. For this reason mainly it was resolved to part with no more of the city school land at any price.
At a city public school exhibition held in March, 1855, under the management of John A. Dore, city school superintendent, the program embraced select reading, recitations, declamations, speak- ing and singing. In March, 1855, the school agent made the fol- lowing report of the Chicago schools :
Loaned on personal security $ 7,246.81
Loaned on personal mortgage 34.649.68
Total $ 41,896.49
Chicago school lands worth
475.000.00
Outside school lands 25,000.00
Total real estate
$500,000.00
Cash
41,800.00
Wharfing privileges 150,000.00
Entire school fund. $691,800.00
At this time two new schools, one at Bull's Head and one on Union street, were opened for the first time. These new school- houses had been ordered built near Union park and at the corner
117
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
of O'Brien and Union streets, to accommodate 150 scholars each. "It affords your committee peculiar pleasure to be able to say that several of our public schools are now equal if not superior to any others to be found in the city," said the Democrat.
In about 1855 bids for the new high school building were called for. It was located on Monroe street, west of Division, and by August was well advanced toward completion. In November, 1855, evening schools were started in several of the districts. The high school building was estimated to cost $33,072 and the whole structure completed at about $40,000. Upon the opening of the high school there resulted a vigorous contest as to who should be admitted thereto. It was desired that the scholars in the grammar schools having the best standing should receive the appointment. Four times as many as could be admitted made application. In October, 1856, the high school opened with 113 selected pupils. Charles A. Dupee was principal and J. Moore instructor of the nor- mal department.
In the spring of 1856 J. C. Dore, superintendent of city schools, resigned and William H. Wells was appointed in his place.
In September, 1856, Miss Stevens conducted a high school for young ladies and called the same the Dearborn Female Seminary.
In October, 1856, a classic school for boys, to be conducted dur- ing evenings, was established by Mr. Bruce.
In December, 1856, the State Teachers' association met in this city. Many teachers were in attendance and great interest was manifested. In December, 1856, the Northwestern Female college at Evanston was burned to the ground. In February, 1857, so great had been the growth of the city that two new school buildings were imperatively demanded by the West division.
In the spring of 1857 there were in Chicago 17,100 children between the ages of five and fifteen years. However, the attend- ance at the public schools of children between those ages was only 8,306, showing that more than half of the children of that age did not attend the public schools. At this date there were fifty-six private schools in Chicago, with a total attendance of 3,850, between the ages of five and fifteen years. The whole number enrolled at the private schools was 4,400.
In 1851 the school census showed that there were in Chicago 12,111 children of school age. In October, 1853, the school census showed the following number of children of school age in the city : South division, 5,838; West, 6,285; North, 4,930; total, 17,053.
Upon the opening of the high school the course was divided into three departments: Classic, English high, and Normal. Of the 326 pupils from the public schools who were assigned for ad- mission into the high school, only 141 passed. Late in 1856 the city had nine public schools, each with a grammar and a primary depart- ment. By about 1857 the number had increased to ten, with sixty teachers and one musical instructor.
-
118
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Dearborn Seminary was incorporated by act of February 16, 1857, by E. S. Wilkins and others.
By act of January 30, 1857, the University of Chicago was in- corporated by Stephen A. Douglas, William B. Ogden, Hiram A. Tucker, Charles A. Walker, Samuel Hoard, James W. Woodworth, Levi D. Boone, E. D. Taylor, John H. Kinzie, Robert H. Clarkson, John C. Burroughs, Mason Brayman, Walter S. Gurnee, James Dunlap, Ichabod Clark, Charles H. Roe, Elijah Gore, Henry S. Weston, Simon C. Miner and Noyes W. Miner. A board of re- gents was also appointed.
During 1857 two first-class schoolhouses were built and fur- nished at a cost of about $28,000 each-to accommodate about 1,200 or 1,300 scholars. One similar house had been built in 1856, so that in 1858 the schoolhouse capacity was about 2,500 greater than two years before in the spring of 1856. In the spring of 1858 it was proposed to erect one new schoolhouse to accommo- date from 800 to 1,000 additional scholars each-one in the North division or perhaps in the South division. It was proposed also to erect a building outside of the Scammon school to accommodate 400 children. Even with these additional facilities it was estimated that 3,000 children had not attended, 1,000 of whom would have attended had there been room for them.
The whole number of different scholars attending the public institutions during 1857-58, including high school, were, in round numbers, 10,786.
STATEMENT APRIL, 1858.
Amount of real estate belonging to the school fund, within the limits of the city estimated at. $900,000
Amount of real estate outside the city 25,000
Money loaned, principal. 52,000
Total $977,000
Increase of school fund for a year ending February 1, 1858, was: Interest of $52,000 loaned. .$ 6,240.00
Rents 11,648.50
State dividend 18,255.60
Total $36,144.10
Amount paid out for salaries of teachers, school agents and superintendents $36,079.18 Balance left over was. 64.92
The whole cost of supporting the schools for 1857-58 was as fol- lows:
Salary of teachers, school agents, and superintendents ... $36,079 Incidentals, including fuel, repairs, care of buildings, office expenses, etc. 9,622
Rent of schoolhouses, including interest on buildings and
lots belonging to the city, estimated. 17,000
Total $62,701
119
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
On February 27, 1858, the Board of Education made the follow- ing changes in the names of the city schools: Number 1 was changed to Dearborn; Number 2, to Jones; Number 3, to Scam- mon; Number 4, to Kinzie; Number 5, to Franklin; Number 6, to Washington; Number 7, to Moseley; Number 8, to Brown; Num- ber 9, to Foster; Number 10, to Ogden.
As early as 1855 a number of prominent ladies of the city organ- ized the Ladies' Industrial School association. The object was to seek the neglected or abandoned children of the city and place them under proper educational instruction. In 1858 this association made the following report: The school on Indiana street was con- ducted by Miss McLain, who had collected about 100 ragged, pro- fane and wicked children and had furnished theni a preliminary education. On the West side on Union street, between Owen and Fourth streets, Miss Martha Lake had opened a similar school in March, 1857, and by 1858 had enrolled 268 scholars. Children not properly clothed were supplied by the Ladies' society. In the South division similar schools had made a corresponding advance. At this date the officers of the Ladies' Industrial School association were: A. S. Farnum, president; Anna R. Bentley, secretary ; and E. C. Farnum, treasurer. The following is an extract from their report :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.