USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 19
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The several counties distributed this among the districts, but any district which had failed to sustain a school for three months was not to receive any of this fund. This system of schools, which was designed to furnish a plan for the education of the citizens of the state, was truly in advance of the times. It met with violent oppo- sition from its numerous enemies. Opposition to taxation was great, and the legality of the appropriation from the state treasury was questioned. This opposition was so violent that the system soon became practically inoperative, and was virtually annulled by an act approved February 17th, 1827, which repealed the five-
72
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
family clause, made taxation for the full or half support of district schools optional with the voters of the district, and forbade the tax- ation of any one for the support of a free school without his consent in writing.
This is the only aet which stigmatizes any legislation on the question of free schools in our state, and is in strong contrast to either its predecessors or successors. But neither personal opposi- tion nor biased legislation could impede or smother the germ of the free school system, so deeply rooted by the sacred ordinances of 1785-7. It was deeply rooted in the fertile soil of the publie mind, and was fostered by the true friends of education. Subsequent legislation had but little effect upon the schools for a decade, when an aet providing for the incorporation of the townships became a law. It provided for a board of trustees, who should have the superintendence of "the business, and affairs of the township in relation to education and schools generally."
In this law appears the first requirement for a certificate of qualification from the township trustees, before any teacher could be paid out of the school funds. Still this improvement on the acts of 1827, did not mend matters very materially, for many see- tions of the state neglected to avail themselves of this opportunity for perfecting a better organization. But a certain amount of energy and educational enterprise still remained with the people, and their first object after securing a comfortable home, was to provide educational facilities for their children. In 1844 a " Com- mon School Convention " was held in Peoria. This representative assembly appointed John S. Wright, H. M. Weed and Thomas Kilpatrick, a committee to draft a memorial to the legislature on the subject of " Common Schools." The paper drawn up by the committee was an able and exhaustive one, and plead for a State Superintendent with a salary of nine hundred dollars, and recom- mended local taxation for the support of schools. This movement among the teachers served to bring the matter before the legisla- ture. In February, 1845, an act was approved, making the Seere- tary of State ex-officio state superintendent of common schools, and the county school commissioners ex-officio county school super- intendents, whose duty it should be to examine and license teachers.
It also provided for local taxation on a favorable majority vote of the citizens of the respective distriets.
All the district tax for schools in 1846-7 did not reach one mill on the one hundred dollars. The auditor, by this bill, distributed the interest on the school fund to the counties in proportion to the total number of persons under twenty-one years of age. This in turn was distributed to the several townships in the same manner by the county superintendents. This same aet made the qualifica- tions of teachers embrace a knowledge of reading, writing, arith_ metie, geography and history, but required a little more than an elementary knowledge of these branches. Owing to the apathy of the majority of the people to educational interests but little was done. Though living on the borders of civilization, they failed to recognize the fact that education is the distinguishing characteristic between civilized and savage society.
The relations between an intelligent ploughman and a school- room were unrecognized, and scholars were not wanted in frontier life. In 1847 the standard of qualifications had to be lowered in order to supply the schools with teachers. A certificate could be obtained for a knowledge of any one of the above named branches. Schools were by no means numerous even with this regulation. In 1849 the standard of qualification was again raised to the former grade. The directors could grant special privileges as to any branch desired to be studied. This was something like the " pro- visional certificate," of 1872-3, which authorized the directors to
employ some favorite or relative who would "give good satisfac- tion " and absorb the public school funds. Little did the average school officer then know of the necessary and judicious discrimina- tion as to the local needs in the choice of a competent teacher. When we see employed, first in our publie-schools, the poorest teachers who are licensed by the county superintendent, we are able to feel that the same weakness prevails among them to-day. In 1857 the rate of taxes for school purposes was raised to one dollar on the hundred by a majority vote. The taxable property of the state was at that time one hundred millions, which should have furnished a fund of one million of dollars for school purposes ; but the amount actually raised did not exceed $51,900. This shows to what extent indifference to the best interests of the common- school cause prevailed among the masses, and that the law was a dead letter. The supervision of the schools was given to the dis- triet officers, who were often ignorant, narrow-minded, and unfit for superintending school methods and school work. It soon became apparent that something more than this was needed as the schools inereased and the interest in them was growing. The spirit of progress had been aroused. The press took hold of the matter, and strong leaders urged the necessity of better schools. From the east and south came a better class of citizens, to make this state their home. They brought with them advanced ideas of education, and urged its importance to the people here. Convocations met and discussed the question. These influences stirred the people up in their own interests. In 1854 the legislature created the separate office of State Superintendent of Publie Instruction, with a salary of $1,500 per annum. The first State Superintendent was to be appointed by the Governor, and should hold his office till his sue- cessor could be elected and qualified. The Hon. Ninian W. Ed- wards, appointed superintendent by Gov. Joel A. Matteson has the honor of framing a bill for our Free-school system. It met with a hearty acceptance by the legislature, and took the form of a law February 15th, 1855. It forbade the employment of a teacher for a public-school without a legal certificate of qualification. It pre- seribed a state tax of two mills on the dollar to be added annually to the six per cent. revenue from the school funds, and required that schools should be kept in operation at least six months in the year -with a penalty of forfeiture of the state fund for non-compliance. The system thus inaugurated -- the first which really made schools free by providing for a sufficient state and local tax for their sup- port-continues substantially the State system to this day, with alteration in some details. While the new law promised more vigorous action among the people, the searcity of competent teachers was a serious hindrance to that degree of advancement so fondly hoped for by the strongest supporters of the new system. Whenee were they to be had ? What methods could be adopted to secure them ? To meet this waut of efficient teachers and supply the increasing demand, the Northern Normal was established in 1857. This state institution for the special preparation of the teacher was located at Normal, a small village near Bloomington, MeLean county. The number of students during the first year was ninety-eight,.viz .: forty-one gentlemen and fifty-seven ladies. The first graduating class, 1860, consisted of ten, viz. : six young men and four young ladies.
The number of students in attendance for the year 1878, was 425, viz. : 185 males and 240 females. From the date of the opening of the Normal school, the demand for more and better teachers was so great that the Southern Normal was established iu 1869, for the especial training of teachers for the public-schools of this state." This school is located at Carbondale in Jackson county, aud is in a flourishing condition. In addition to these, the
73
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Illinois Industrial University, opened in 1868, is both state and national, having received a grant of lands from the national government, intended for the establishment of colleges of agricul- turc and the mechanical arts. This institution is at Urbana, Champaign county, where it has one of the finest buildings of the kind in the country. The college embraces a school of agriculture proper, and a school of horticulture, a school of engineering, schools of mechanical science, civil and mining engineering and architecture ; a college of natural science, with schools of chemistry and natural history, and a college of literature and science, with a school of English and modern langnages, and one of ancient lan- guages and literature. There are also schools of commerce, military science and domestic science aud arts. Entire freedom in the choice of studies is allowed cach student ; but the completiou of one of these courses or the prescribed equivalents is necessary to graduation.
Besides the normal schools and colleges named, Illinois has twen- ty-six colleges, thirty-two academies, two law schools. Six of the preceding arc classcd as universities. The vital principle of the present law is this : The property and wealth of the state, as well as the county, shall educate the youth.
Many important changes in the school law were made by the thirty-first General Assembly. The amended law went into effect July first, 1879. It requires all school officials having care of funds to strictly account for the same. The county superintendent must annually examine the books and accounts of each township school treasurer. The school month corresponds to the calendar month. To make legal contracts, teachers must have valid certificates at the time of employment, and covering the time for which they are employed. Treasurers are appointed for two years. Graded schools in cities are placed under the control of boards of education, instead of city councils. Efficient means for refunding indebtedness are provided. The corner-stone of our educational structure has been well laid, and firmly established in the appreciation of an intelligent people ; it is only a question of time, when Illinois will boast of one of the most perfect systems of education in our land. Older states, and European nations, view with admiration, and study with delight, our educational system, and now many of its branches are being engrafted into theirs.
Such is the rapid survey of the growth of the common school in Illinois. They have not arisen in a night, or in a day ; they are the fruitage of a generation's constant and laborious effort, and to those early movers in this direction Macon county owes and attrib- u tes much of character and prosperity.
EARLY SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY.
Like her sister counties, Macon has no well-written history of her common schools, and, like all comparatively new counties, her edu- cational history did not show much system until the present revised law went into effect, in 1855-60. The schools of our fathers were like the schools of to-day, just what the teacher made them. There were many good teachers in the early school days of this county, and many poor ones ; the same can be said of to-day. But then the facilities of " ye olden tymne " were much in arrears of to- day-and may we not safely say that the poorest teacher of to-day has facilities about him to make himself far superior to "ye peda- gogue " of the long ago? Like all frontier settlements, the standard of teaching was very low, and the man who could make a good pen from the quill of the " buzzard or mother goose," or " whale the boys like blazcs " was the best ideal of the available school-master in some of the first settlements, but to make such assertions of the later settlements of Macon county, is sheer nonsense. Less was 10
required, and less expected of the teacher then, than of those of to-day. The qualifications of the carly teachers of Macon county were such as they brought with them from the states of their nativity. They were not such ignorant fellows as many would have us believe. The first teacher was just what the teacher of the east or the south was, the best that could be procured from the number that cmigrated to this county, and may we not safely say that some good teachers came to Macon at an early day ? The teachers, like those of all new settlements, were poorly paid in the okler townships ; the people had enough to do to raise their "Injun corn " and prepare for the dreaded "blows " of winter, without giving much attention to the schools.
The school-houses and their furniture were then of the most primitive kind. The houses were constructed of unhewn logs, and covered with boards, which were held in their proper places by weight poles.
OLD LOG SCHOOL BUILDING.
In some cases mother earth supplied them with a floor, in others the rough hewn puncheon, matched with the axe, offered a level base on which "ye school-master " mustered his forces. For windows, a log was cut out for the admission of light, and in the absence of glass, greased paper was pasted over these apertures in winter. It is said that a school-master on Stevens' crcek early discovered that the wild turkey's oil gave the best light, and highly recommended it to his fellow-sufferers. The furniture was of the rudest character. The seats were usually made of split logs, slightly hewn, having wooden pins driven into them for legs. Of course, they had no back rests, but then the " deestrict " directors wisely placed the soft side of the seat upward.
OLD SLAB SEAT.
The writing desks were simply low shelves placed ou pins driven into the wall at an angle of fifty-two degrces. (Who knows but that we may have derived our standard slant for the script letters from this fact ?) The branches taught in these schools were ortho- graphy, reading, writing and arithmetic. But these grand old school days did not last long. The Yankee, Kentuckian and Ten- nesseean could not long endure this backward state of affairs, and as the little settlements grew and expanded it was only a question of time when the little log-house and sacred slab desk should dis-
(NOTE: Our artist furnished a view of one of the better class of houses having the boards nailed to the " ribs.")
74
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
appear. About 1847-8 a few houses were built, having the improved board desks, usually fastened together in pairs, but sometimes they were so arranged in sixes or eights. Samples of these desks may be scen in some of our schools to day.
But from and after the year 1855 many of the first school-houses were properly seated with the very best of school furniture; and now the only drawback in this direction is the prevalent want of sehool apparatus. There has been but little attention given in this direction, and the result is that scarcely any house is supplied with the absolutely necessary globe, wall-map or dietionary. May we soon see the time when these and other much needed articles may find their way into our country sehools ?
In 1872, the law was so amended that it required teachers to pass a satisfactory examination in orthography, reading, penmanship, arithmetie, English grammar, modern geography, the history of the United States, the elements of the natural sciences, physiology and the laws of health. The addition of the elements of the sciences gave a new impulse to education throughout the State, and no one doubts the good results from it in Macon county.
The County Superintendents had held occasional Teachers' Insti- tutes till 1876, when the few teachers in attendance resolved to hold an Annual Institute in 1877. Since that time an institute has been regularly held, and the interest has increased till the institute of 1880 numbered one hundred and thirty-five in attendance. These institutes have done much to build up the best interests of the schools by introducing new and improved methods of instruction and by putting the teachers on a common working level. A Teachers' Library Association was organized in 1877, and has steadily grown from a few volumes in number to over fifty volumes of the better class of books pertaining to the teacher's association. The institutes are not supported at the public expense, but by those who attend them. The public, recognizing their importance to the teachers. give them favorable consideration, and prefer those teachers who attend them.
Our teachers complain of the limited salary paid them for their labors in the public schools. The highest price paid outside of Decatur or the village for 1879 was $60.00 per month, and this was only in a single isolated ease. The average wages for females, $30.52, and for males $43.55 for the same year. The lowest salary being $23 per month. During the year 1879, there was paid to the teachers in the connty $54,576.55, and for other necessary expenses, $19,719.70. During the same year there were employed two hundred and twenty-nine teachers in the public schools of the county. This excessive number is due to the fact that many teach- ers obtain employment for a single term, and then give way to some one else.
There are a hundred and twenty-nine school-houses in the county used exclusively for school purposes. The estimated value of school property in the connty, ineluding libraries and apparatus, is $166,095. The total amount of special tax levied for school pur- poses was $51,100.88. These revenues onr people cheerfully pay, and feel that they are amply remunerated by the work done in the schools. Efficient connty supervision had mueh to do with the success of the schools of the county from 1863 to 1872 inclusive. At the latter date the Board of Supervisors voted to discontinue school supervision, and no effort has been made to restore it. It is to be hoped that they will allow this much needed special help at no distant fntnre.
The office of County Commissioner was first filled in 1832, by appointment of the court. In 1865, the title of the office was changed to that of County Superintendent of Schools, and the term of office extended from two to four years. Below is given a list of
the names of persons who served as school commissioner and super- intendent with dates : James Johnson, 1832 to 1834; James Ren- shaw, 1834 to 1835 ; Charles Emmerson, 1835 to 1838 ; H. M. Gorin, 1838 to 1840 ; P. D. Williams, 1840 to 1847; W. S. Crissey, 1847 to 1860; C. C. Burroughs, 1860 to 1864; Edwin Park, 1864 to 1869; O. F. McKim, 1869 to 1873; S. P. Mickey, 1873 to 1877 ; John Trainer, 1877, and is the present incumbent.
THE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.
The first building erected for the purpose of a school-house was constructed in 1826, on Stevens' creek, and stood about two hun- dred yards S. W. of the present dwelling-house of Mr. John Saw- yer, in Decatur township.
What has been mentioned in regard to furniture, &c., will apply to this house. The building has long since been torn down.
The first school-house in Harristown township was erected in 1829, on Mr. James Miller's land, just south of Mr. Charles Hunsley's, in the timber.
The enterprising teacher adopted the Turkey oil experiment of the Stevens' creek teacher,-for securing a fine mellow light, and highly commended it to others. Mr. Miller attended this school twelve days, and informs us that this was the only schooling that he ever received.
The first school-house in Blue Mound township stood in the tim- ber east of the present farm-house of Mr. Green Hill, near a fine spring of water.
Mr. Daniel McCall was the first teacher, in 1828. (Mr. McCall has the honor of being the first county judge, circuit clerk, and connty clerk of Macon county). Mr. William Anstin, now living, taught there in 1832.
In Hickory Point, the first school-house was built on section 34, south of Mr. Smallwood's present residence.
The first school in Friends' ereck township, was taught in 1835 and 1836, on the old camp ground, north of the east fork of Friends' creek.
The first house was erected in 1838, near the present residence of D. K. Wilson, since removed two miles east, and used as a dwelling-house. We learn that this house had the extreme primi- tive furniture.
In Oakley township the first building was erected in 1830, near the site of the brick school-house, Dist. one, 17-3.
Mr. Alexander Patton was the first teacher; he died in 1877, near Oakley, at an advanced age.
The first school-house in Maroa township, now standing, was built about two miles west of the village of Maroa, and known as Dist. one. Mr. Alvin Woodard was the first teacher.
The first sehool was taught in Pleasant View township, on the N. E. quarter of the N. W. quarter of section thirty-five, Town 15, N. R. 1 E., in 1857.
The first sehool-house in Illini township was a frame building, erected in the year 1861, on the farm of the late D. S. Allen, a few miles north of Harristown. It has since been removed to the S. E. corner of the farm owned by J. S. Childs, two and one-half miles S. E. of Warrensburg, and is now known as the Childs' school- house.
The first honse was built in Macon township in 1854; Mr. Bradford Stuart was the first teacher. The honse was erected one and one-half miles west of the township linc, near the Shelby county bonndary.
The first school in Austin township was taught by M. T. Scott in 1858, on Lake Fork. The house has since been removed, repaired, and is now known and used as the Town Hall.
75
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The first school-house erected in Whitmore township, stood on what is now known as the Union Cemetery, and was built in 1841, by free contribution of such materials as the early pioncers could afford. It was known as the Orthodox School-house, and was used as its builder designed, for common school, singing school, “ spelin- skule," debating societies, lecture-room, political meetings, religious meetings, and in fact everything that came along of an entertaining nature. The building has since been sold, and is now a part of a dwelling house. This building was constructed entirely of oak lumber, and " filled in between the studding with soft brick." A man named Sanford was the first teacher.
The first school-house erected in Mt. Zion township, stood about three-fourths of a mile west of Mt. Zion Academy, and was built about 1840.
The first house built in Long creek township, for school purposes was erected about 1840, on the farm of John Myers, and is now owned by John Jones.
The first school-house in Niantic township was built in 1847, in Dingman's Grove, on the N. E. quarter of section twenty-three, James Harper, now living in Christian county, first wielded the birch. The first sessions of the Christian Church were held in this house in 1850, and used as a place of public worship till 1854, when the Dingman Church was erected near the site of the old sehool-house.
In most cases the schoo' township lines do not coincide with the political township lines. This fact gives rise to a great amount of confusion, since many of the inhabitants do not understand the difference between the town, range, etc., and the proper name of the township.
The following are the names of the township treasurers as ap- pointed by the board of trustees, in April, 1880.
Township.
Treasurer.
Post Office.
14 N. R 1 E
I. B. Gordon,
Blue Mound,
14-2
B. H. McHenry,
Moawequa.
14-3
Hiram Johnson,
Moawequa.
15-1
II. A. Miller,
Boody.
15-2
R. H. Woodcock,
Macon.
15-3
J. S. Hughes,
Mt. Zion.
15-4
T. E. Mayes,
Dalton.
16-1
J. B. Camp,
Harristown.
16-2
John A. Brown,
Decatur.
16-3
J. S. Kizer,
Long Creek.
16-4
Samuel Bowman,
La Place.
17-1
J. J. Batchelder,
Harristown.
17-2
J. Y. Braden,
Decatur.
17-3
Joshua Green,
Decatur.
17-4
Cerro Gordo.
18-1
Philip Dobson, S. O. Davis,
Warrensburg.
18-2
Joseph Jones,
Maroa.
18-3
W. A. Van Leer,
Maroa.
18-4
Caleb Hedges,
Argenta.
16-1. W.
George Wrec,
Niantic.
17-1. W.
John Gordy,
Niantic.
Decatur district, Lowber Burrows.
The law provides that treasurers be appointed for two years instead of one as formerly. They are required to give bond to the township trustees for twice the amount of funds placed in their hands, and to give additional security when required.
DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The history of the Decatur schools dates baok almost to the foundation of our enterprising little city. The first schools were of
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