USA > Illinois > Grundy County > History of Grundy County, Illinois > Part 27
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On the 3d of April, 1869, Lot 3, B 2, C. II. & II. C. Goold's addition to Morris, was purchased of Mr. Caspori for the site for 5th ward school at $1,030, and contracts were awarded for the erection of a two- story brick building, 30x46 feet, to Messrs. Massey & Jackson, earpenter work and blinds $1,600; Wm. Stage, brick, stone and plastering for $1,878.50. The following teachers were selected Sept. 13, 1869: S. E. Massey, principal; Myra Massey. Susan A. Phillips, Carrie Barstow, Mary Mc-
IIISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Queston, Emma Ilarrison, Minnie Barstow, Jennie A. Bross, Alida C. Bliss, Lizzie Hennessey, Nellie Hall, and Ada Harrison. Their salaries were fixed at $1,000 to prin- cipal, and $300 to the assistants. On the Ist of Jany., 1870, Mrs. M. W. Loyd was made principal of 5th ward school, and Mrs. Ilarrison was selected to take the place made vacant by the resignation of Miss MeQueston, Miss MeQueston having elected to take a school of one scholar for better or for worse-for life. The school law having been amended or altered so as to bring the election in April instead of August, the election was held April +, 1870, for two directors. This was an ex- eiting election, and resulted in the election of Messrs. John Brown and Benjamin Olin to succeed Messrs. IIanna and Grant. This new board organized by electing Mr. Lane, president, and Olin, secretary. Miss Kate Prideaux was selected April 9, 1870, to succeed Mrs. Harrison who had resigned in Center School. Judge Olin resigned June 1, 1870, and moved to Joliet, and at a special election June 7, 1870, P. A. Arm- strong was elected to fill the vacancy, and was elected elerk of the board. The total number of scholars attending the public schools at this time was 601. While the total number of males under the age of twenty-one years was 786, females, 787: total 1,573. The division of the sexes was close-one majority for the girls. Between 6 and 21 years there were 1,052.
The school law again being changed, re- quiring the election of a board of educa- tion, of six members, at the election held April 5, 1873, Win. A. Jordan, John Duck- worth, J. C. Carr, F. Caspori, Geo. W. Lane and P'. A. Armstrong were elected as such
board. Messrs. Lane and Armstrong drew the short term of one year, Messrs. Jordan and Carr the middle term of two years, and Messrs. Caspori and Duckworth the long term of three years. Geo. W. Lane was elected president of the board, and Mr. Armstrong, secretary. In May, 1873, Miss Lizzie Winters having married, resigned, and Miss T. H. Briggs was appointed to the vacancy, as principal of the grammar school, at $45 per month salary. At the June meeting of the board, Prof. Miller was again appointed principal, on the same salary as before. Miss Dora E. Schoon- maker was appointed as assistant principal at $500, Misses Bliss, Bross, Hare and Gill at $400, Misses Harrison, Foster and M. E. IIare, 8375 each. The census report showed the whole number of persons under 21 years of age, 1,715, of whom 11 were colored. Whole number of pupils enrolled in the Morris public school, 858. It also showed an excess of 102 females. Miss Gill de- clined and Miss E. F. Hare was made prin- cipal of the grammar school, and Miss Julia Pomeroy was placed in 3d ward briek in place of Miss Hare, and Miss Alice 1. Conlong was also employed as a teacher that year; also Miss Lizzie A. IIoek as as- sistant in 4th ward school, at $300 per year. On the 3d of January, 1874, Miss Maggie Brown was assigned to the 4th ward school in place of Miss Hoek, re- signed, and įMiss Damon to the 3d ward school in place of Miss Foster. On motion of the secretary, the following was adopted as an additional rule, viz .: " Those teachers who are most successful in governing their pupils without resorting to corporal pun- ishment, other qualifications being sutli- cient, shall be awarded by the board a
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higher degree of appreciation, and receive the preference over all others in promotion and appointments." Miss Damon, being unable to manage her school, was transferred to Center school, and Mrs. Dukes was em- ployed as principal of 3d ward school, in February, 1874. At the April election, 1874, for two members of the board of edu- cation, Stilman E. Massey and Mr. Arm- strong were elected (Mr. Lane refusing to serve any longer). Mr. Jordan was elected president, and Mr. Armstrong secretary of the board. In June, Prof. Miller was again selected principal, on salary of $1,500. Lizzie Royce, assistant, $500. Miss Bliss, grammar school, $450. The older teachers were allowed 8400 each and the newer ones $300 to $340. The new teachers were Misses Lizzie Massey and Mary J. Noble. The fiscal report of the clerk for year ending June 30, 1874, shows total receipts. 87,707- .54. Expenditures, $8,203.54. The nun- ber of teachers employed, 13-1 male; 12 females. On the 7th of January, 1875, Prof. Miller tendered his resignation as principal, to take effect at the close of the school year. The board assured him that if the only reason for his leaving the school was insufficiency of salary, that should be raised. At a meeting of the board, June 9, 1875, Prof. Miller was again elected prin- cipal by a unanimous vote, and his salary increased to $2,000 per year. But he had already agreed to take charge of the public schools of Pittsfield, Ill., and declined the position herc.
By the secretary's fiscal report, the re- ceipts from all sources, from June 30, 1874. to Jnne 30, 1875, were $10,066.70. Dis- bursements, 89,001.33. Balance in treasury $1,065.37. The board of education, in
parting with Prof. Miller, say among other things, June 19, 1873:
" As an organizer of a thorough system, both of studies and discipline, and a thor- ough educator, we consider him second to no man in the State. * * Ile adds to a thorough classic education a fine under- standing of the law as well as a practical education. A man of sound judgment, quick discernment and admirable tempera- ment." He is now practicing law in Chi- cago.
At the same meeting the old corps of teachers, except principal and assistant, were re-elected with a slight increase in salaries. On the 6th of July, 1875, Prof. Mathew Waters was unanimously elected principal on a salary of $1,500. On the 25th of June, a petition signed by C. II. Goold and some sixty tax payers of the district was presented to the board, praying the erection of a new school-house which had been referred to the committee on grounds and buildings, and at the July meeting this committee by Mr. Caspori made a verbal report relative to eligible sites, etc., when it was ordered to submit the question of building a new school-house to a vote of the people. Miss Flora Trum- bull was elected assistant principal, at $600, July 20, 1875. On the 2d of August, 1875, on motion of Mr. Carr, the series known as the " Independent series," published by A. S. Barnes & Co., were adopted to be intro- duced, as classes were formed, etc. This, in the opinion of the writer, was the most foolish act of this Board of Education, not- withstanding we voted for it. We con- sider the Independent series the poor- est of all the recent series of school books published. But there is and always
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will be serious objectious to frequent changes in school books; with all their pre- tended improvements, we have not been able to find among the vast number of new Readers any one that equals the old time " Columbian Orator, "or " National Read -. er." On the 230 of August, a vote was taken on the new school-house proposition, the new school-house to cost not exceeding 830,000, which resulted in favor of such new school-house 193 votes, and 120 votes were cast against the proposition. The law simply requiring a majority of the votes cast to make it obligatory on the board to act, said proposition was declared carried.
In October of that year the schools were so full that two rooms in the city hall were procured, and schools opened there. On the 30th of October, a vote of the people was had upon the proposition to purchase the east half of block eighteen, Chapin's 2d addition to Morris, for $7,000, which resulted 191 for, and 61 against said prop- osition; this resulted in the selection of the present beautiful site of the best and among the finest public school buildings of this State.
The committee on grounds and build- ings having visited many of the best school-houses in the State, reported ver- bally to the board, Nov. 20, 1875, recom- mending the plan of the new Jones school- house of Chicago, with slight changes. Mr. Bigelow, who was the architect of the Jones school-house, came before the board with the plans and specifications of said Jones school, and fully explained the same. On Dec. 1, on motion of Mr. Carr, the committee on grounds and school- houses were instructed " to procure plans,
specifications, and working drawings for a building nearly similar to the new Jones school of Chicago as to internal arrange- ments, with exterior something like the Rochelle school building." Mr. Duck- worth moved, " that the new building be constructed of brick with stone trimmings." Mr. Armstrong moved to amend this mo- tion by striking out the words " brick with stone trimmings," and insert the words " Au Sable stone," upon which motion the aves and nays were called; those voting ave were Messrs. Massey and Armstrong, two; those voting nay were Messrs. Caspori, Carr and Duckworth, three; hence, the amendment was lost; the vote recurring ou the original motion of Mr. Duckworth, it was carried: Mr. Armstrong alone voting nay; Mr. Jordan, the president, was in favor of a stone building, but could not vote ex- cept upon a tie vote, which never can occur with a full board of six.
Bonds bearing not exceeding ten per eent. interest were ordered to be issued to pay for the school-house site, at this meet- ing, to the amount of $7,000, the purchase price thereof. The next meeting of the board was on the 5th of January, 1876, when J. HI. Bigelow, the architect, pre- sented plans and specifications which were accepted. It was also decided to advertise in the Morris papers for sealed proposals up to the first Monday in February. 1876, to furnish material and perform the labor in the erection of a school-house in con- formity with the plans and specifications prepared by the architect, now in the of- fice of the secretary. The first plan pro- vided for a slate roof. Bids were solicited for a brick buikling with stone trimmings, and also for a stone building. On Mon-
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day. February 7th, the board met, opened and examined the bids, thirty-three in all, and as there were many bids for some special parts that required time to arrange and compare, the board adjourned to the 9th of February, 1876. At this meeting it was found that the lowest bid, even for a briek building, was $31,000, which was above the limit of the appropriation. The board having reserved the right to re- ject any or all bids, by their advertisement, on motion of Mr. Armstrong it was: " Re- solred, That each and every bid submitted to this board on the 7th inst., pertaining to the ereetion of the new school-house in said District No. 1, be and are hereby rejected; that the roof of said proposed building be changed to near an eighth pitch, and stand- ing groove iron be substituted for slate; and that tin be substituted for galvanized iron for the valleys and gutters; and that the architect be, and hereby is required to make such alterations in the plans and spec- ifications as he may deem necessary to fully carry out the above named changes and alterations; that the board re-advertise for scaled proposals, to be opened Feb'y 21, 1876; that bids be invited for the ereetion of a brick sehool-house with stone trim- mings, also for a stone sehool-house, ete.
On the 21st of February there were some thirty-five proposals opened and examined. The difference between the cost of a stone building and a brick one as shown by the bids, was less than two thousand dollars. The bids of Messrs. Gordon, McGaveny, Boyer, Stage, and Gorieh, who were finally awarded the contraet, made bnt $1,650 diť- ference in their bids between stone and brick. Their bids were for stone $25,977, for brick 827,327. After comparing the
bids and discussing the question as to whether the building should be of brick or stone, the board adjourned to February 22d, when Mr. Armstrong submitted the fol- lowing resolution upon the passage of which he ealled for the ayes and nays : " Resolved, That the action of this board at their meet- ing of December 1, 1875, relative to the material for the ontside walls be and the same is hereby amended by striking ont the words 'brick with stone trimmings,' and inserting in | lieu thereof the words 'Au Sable sandstone,' in accordance with the plans and specifications prepared by the architect," which was carried. Those vot- ing aye were Messrs. Jordan, Duekworth and Armstrong, and Messrs. Carr and Cas- pori voting no. Mr. Armstrong had indneed the architect to make plans for a stone building, pledging himself to pay for the extra labor the sum of $35, if the board should not finally adopt stone. Messrs. Jordan and Massey were in favor of stone all the time.
The contract for a stone building was awarded to our fellow townsmen Miles Gordon, Andrew J. Boyer, Thos. G. Me- Gaveny, William Stage and Jacob Gorich, together with two wooden privies, for the sum of $28,977.00. They furnishing all materials and keeping an insurance on the building as it progressed. The work was well done. Indeed, every one of the con- tractors lost their time and some of them considerable money on their parts of the contraet, but they did their work and did it well, and the best school house in the State stands a monument to the skill and perse- verance of the builders. The entire cost of this building which is a stone building 74 by 84, three stories and basement, includ-
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ing superintendence, was $30,030, with 87.000 for site, making a total of $37,030, which is probably the cheapest school-house, in proportion to its real value, in the State; it has 12 rooms large enough to accommo- date 63 scholars each, with a single desk ; well may our people feel proud of our pub- lie school building and of our public schools. At the April election, 1877, John Duck- worth and George Woelfel, were elected members of the board. Prof. Waters with Miss Mosier as his assistant, and very nearly the same corps of teachers, were se- lected for the school year commencing Sept. 3, 1876; Miss Mosier's salary was raised to 8700; she was a very fine teacher and an accomplished young lady. The new teach- ers were Misses Hattie Hall, Carrie Rog- ers, Hettie MeFarlane and Abbie M. Kier- sted; Miss Irene Henry, being the only old teacher, dropped out; she preferred a school of one seholar, and changed her name to Putt; the lowest wages paid this year was $340, and the total aggregate of the fifteen teachers' salaries was $7,280.
The census report for this year shows whole number of males under 21, 876; whole number of females under 21, 914; between 6 and 21, males, 584; females, 655; males between 12 and 21 who can not read and write, 12; females, G.
The winter term was opened Jan'y S, 1877, in the new building; Miss M. E. Hare having resigned, her place was filled by the selection of Miss Myra Woods, Dec. 27, 1876; Miss E. F. Hare resigned April 2, 1877, and her sister, Sarah A., was selected in her place, and on the next day Miss Liz- zie Massey resigned, and Miss Anna E. Ilarvey succeeded her; at the April election for members of the Board of Education,
Messrs. Lott, Comerford and Stephen were elected to succeed Messrs. Armstrong, Mas- sey and Jordan, the latter having resigned, and Mr. Wm. Stephen was cleeted to fill the unexpired term; Mr. Stephen was elect- ed president, and Mr. Carr secretary of the new board. On the 31st of August, 1877, the old corps of teachers, except Miss- es Mosier, Woods, Kiersted and Rogers, all of whom declined a re-engagement; the new teachers were Misses Alforetta Clute (assistant principal), Lillie II. Fyfe, Sadie T. Hall, Ella M. Pasegate and Lizzie E. Cody; their salaries were slightly reduced, but not materially so; at the April election, 1878. Messrs. E. Ridgeway, L. W. Claypool, and R. B. Strong, were elected members of the board vice Mr. Carr, (who declined a re-election), Mr. Stephen and Mr. Duck- worth who " got lost and never was found- ed." This new board organized by electing Mr. Lott president and Mr. Claypool see- retary, who still hold their positions re- speetively; Miss Clute "all the way from York State," a maiden lady of uncertain age, assistant principal on a salary of $600 per year, proved to be much abler in teach- ing the arts of wooing than the sciences; this compelled Prof. Waters to do a large amount of extra labor; a fine teacher and ambitions, he neglected his health, and finally broke completely down during the spring term, 1878; his nervous system was destroye 1; he was eonfined to his bed here all that summer, and is now an inmate of the Home of the Inenrables in Chicago; his limbs are all drawn up into a rigid, crooked shape; unable to feed himself, yet his mind and memory are as strong and active as they ever were, but there is ahso- lutely no hope of his recovery. S. E. Mas-
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sey, A. M., took his plaee as principal for the unexpired year for Mr. Waters, whose salary was paid him in full by the board, June 24, 1878.
The Morris high school graduated nine scholars this year, which, in addition to the former graduates. made the full num- ber of twenty-eight. In the class of grad- uates for 1873 were Miss Alice A. Con- long, who has been for many years a pop- ular teacher in the Morris publie schools, and Miss Maggie Brown, now the wife of Ilenry C. June, Esq., of Oak Park, Illinois. In class of 1874, Miss Mary J. Noble, also for many years last past a popular teacher in the Morris schools. Miss Hattie Coy, since married, Miss Emma E. Jones, now wife of F. Starr, Esq., of Streator, Illinois, and Miss Carrie E. Rogers, for awhile one of the teachers in Morris school.
In class of 1876, Miss Kate A. Horrie and Miss Eliza Jones, now the wife of Benedict Zens, Esq., of this eity.
In class of 1577, Misses Della Robinson, Ettie F. Johnson, Mary H. Shaffer, Lizzie E. Comerford (now a teacher in the school), Lizzie E. Cody, now the wife of E. II. Quigley, Esq., railroad agent at Mor- ris, Mary Comerford, Fannie Lane (since married), Gertie Nelson, Susie C. Brown, Nora Marshall (now one of the teachers), and Charles J. Reed, since then a graduate of the Ann Arbor University, and now principal of the Princeton ( Illinois) sehools.
In elass of 1878, Miss Nellie Barr, Hat- tie E. Parker, Lulu Ross, now Mrs. T. P. Bailey, Nellie F. Cody, now wife of Mr. Davis, of the firm of Cody & Davis, Em- ma E. Leacock, Abbie C. Woods, Minnie D. Porter, Ida Caspori and Win. J. Lea- cock. In August, 1878, Prof. L. T. Regan
was elected principal, and has continued as such up to the present, and has been en- gaged for the ensuing year; and the only changes in the board of education are, Mr. Wm. Stephen and J. S. R. Scovill have succeeded Messrs. Strong and Comerford. This brings the public school history down to the time when the memory of our peo- ple is fresh, and as our chronicle is growing too long we stop here with our history of the Morris public schools, of which we feel a just pride.
ST. ANGELA'S ACADEMY.
On the 12th of March, 1858, John Me- Nellis and wife exeented a conveyance of out lot S, in the Canal Trustees' subdivis- ion of the S. W. 4, See. 3, T. 33, R. 7, containing ten acres (less the streets), with a large three story briek building at a con- sideration expressed at one dollar to " Rev. E. Sorin, Provincial, of the congregation of the Holy Cross, resident of Notre Dame University, of the county of St. Joseph, and State of Indiana, and to his successor in offiee * on condition that a Catholic school shall be kept on said premises for- ever." Father Sorin immediately estab- lished and opened thereon and therein St. Angela's Academy, with Mother Frances- a sister-in-law of Senator John Sherman of Ohio, as Mother Superior, for the thorough and practical education of young ladies. This school is second to no academy in this State. Its attendance has been large from its inception up to the present, and we can commend this school to all persons wishing a first-elass boarding school for young ladies, whether Catholie or Protestant, as no effort is allowed to be made toward proselyting. It is a model of good order,
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and is supplied by the very best of teachers. Of course the teachers are all nuns; Mother Frances was taken further West to open other convents, but a competent Lady Su- perior has taken her place. This convent has been much enlarged, and the Sisters of the Holy Cross are doing their good work as silently as the dew falls, yet thoroughly and intelligently. The only effort they make at public notoriety is their annual commencements.
They have students from all over the northern part of the State. Being an ad- junet of Notre Dame, it is essentially a preparatory department to that leading Catholic University. In painting and mnsie St. Angela's Academy stands high, while its curriculum is practical and well selected. With commodious buildings and extensive grounds highly enltivated and adorned with exoties, plants and flowers, St. Angela's is a very pretty place as well as a pleasant one.
THE MORRIS NORMAL AND SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL is the outgrowth of the "Morris Classic Institute," started by N. C. Dougherty, A. M., over the office of Mr. Sanford. in 1869. Mr. Dougherty, now principal of the Peoria schools, came here an entire stranger, rented a room and opened a private school under the above title, and made a decided success of it. A man of push and energy, with a large degree of self-confidence, he soon es- tablished the Morris Classic Institute upon a firm basis. So rapid was its growth that his quarters were too small. He then rented a portion of the present Normal School building, and employing assistant teachers, transferred the Institute to that building where he soon established a fine
reputation as an educator. He, however, did not remain long at his new quarter .. Having received many offers of positions in other schools, he finally accepted the position of principal of the Mount Morris Seminary, and sold his interest in the Mor- ris Classie to a Mr. Ross, who proved a failure. Ile in turn sold out to a Rev. MIr. Sloat, who imagined himself a natural-born Demosthenes and Spurgeon combined. But with all his supposed ability, the Morris Classic went into a rapid decline. It had a consumptive eongh; hollow-eyed and feeble it lingered a short time and " gave up the ghost." Several efforts were made to revive the " Morris Classic Institute," but they proved unavailing or spasmodie.
In October, 1875, J. J. Kinkaide, A. M., of Oil City, Pa., rented the building and tried to resuscitate it. Although a teacher of many years experience, he found he had undertaken a difficult task. Ile succeeded in injecting some little life into the de- funct institute, but did not restore it to full life and vigor.
Ile was sneceeded in his efforts by A. W. Bulkley, A. B., and he in turn by Prof. Beatie, with about the same result-a sickly kind of disappointment. In the fall of 1878, Messrs. Cook & Stevens rented the entire building and changed the name to " Morris Normal and Scientific School." Comparatively young men, full of energy and push, with unbounded confidence in their own ability as organizers and educa- tors, they soon commanded success and placed the Morris Normal on a sure foun- dation as one of the very best preparatory schools in the State. This school brings to our city talented young gentlemen and ladies from all over the country-not only
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from Illinois but from other States. The curriculum is a judicious one, whilst the energy and perseverance of the entire corps of teachers have been such as to win the confidence and command the respect of all. We notice the sale of the interest of Messrs. Cook & Stevens to Messrs. Kean & For- sythe. They are no strangers here. Prof. Kean has been a successful teacher for many years, and for over a year past he has been one of the principal teachers in this school, while Mr. Forsythe has also had considerable experience as a teacher, and was one of the regular teachers of the school before purchasing. And whilst many may regret that Messrs. Cook & Stevens have sold out their interest in the school, none need fear of its complete suc- cess under the new management. With fonr separate fine brick and stone public school buildings, with fifteen school rooms, well filled with scholars, under a compe- tent superintendent, with fifteen assistants, with a population of 4,200 people, Morris is well prepared to edneate her own ehil- dren. Add to this St. Angela's Academy and the Morris Normal and Scientifie School, we may well be proud of our edu- cational facilities. No city in the State ean exeel Morris in that line. We now turn to our
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