USA > Illinois > Madison County > History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches > Part 69
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Edwardsville .- The pioneer school of this township has already been mentioned as having been maintained in a cabin about two and a half miles south of Edwardsville, in the year 1809. No record of its teachers is obtainable. The first name receiving recognition as that of a teacher is Joshua Atwater, a native of Massachusetts, who first came to St. Clair county in 1801; thence to Madison county. He commenced teaching as early as 1807. In this calling he was successful, and many old men gratefully remember his efforts in imparting to them instruction.
In this township there are now three brick and four frame school-houses. Employment is given to seventeen teachers, nine of whom are engaged in the Union school in the city of Edwardsville. This school has a library of eight hundred
270
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
volumes and apparatus valued at near three hundred dollars. Under the efficient management of Prof. I. H. Brown the schools are making fine progress.
Collinsville .- It was in this township the first school of the county was taught, already briefly referred to. James Bradsbury was the teacher. He was represented by pioneers to have been an able and earnest instructor ; not a scholar, but faithful in teaching what he knew. He carried several pupils through the intricacies of the old " rule of three," by the aid of which almost all arithmetical sums were solved.
In the year 1814, a school-house was built in this town- ship between Judy's and Whiteside's. It stood idle more than half the time. Two years prior to this, in 1812, a school was taught by Elisha Alexander, in Mr. Judy's door- yard ; a Mr. Thompson had first taught in the cabin that was put to such use. Whilst school was in session here, the British war was going on. The martial spirit ran high. Accounts of sharp struggles-doubtless exaggerated- reached the ears of youth attending this school. They put their crude ideas into vogue by barricading their teacher. Alexander saw the odds were against him, andcompromised by treating to cider and apples. He was succeeded by Mr. Yancey, and after him, in 1816, came Mr. Enlow, and next in order was the school of Benialı Robinson. From these humble beginnings, the cause of education has flourished in Collinsville and township, until now, under the supervision of Prof. H. H. Keebler, a gentleman who rauks high among the educators of this county, their schools are among the best in the county.
The city of Collinsville boasts an elegant building, eligibly situated, in which a Union school is maintained, employing nine teachers. In this township there are four brick, and three frame school-houses Employment is given to fifteen teachers. Great interest is taken in the cause of education.
Jarvis .- The first school taught in this township was that of Jesse Renfro, in 1824, in the " Old Gilead Church." Mr. Renfro's labors as a teacher were very acceptable to the pioneers. He was engaged in the work several years. During the last year of his teaching, he had forty pupils un- der instruction for six months, and for his services and the books which he had contracted to provide, he received one hundred dollars, or a little over sixteen dollars per mouth The books furnished were the old U. S. speller, Pike's arith- metic, and the testament. There are in the township six school districts. Employment is given to nine teachers four of whom are engaged in the graded schools in the vil- lage of Troy. Of the school-houses, two are brick and four are frame structures.
St. Jacobs .- The first settlers of what is now St. Jacob's township took special care in educating their children. Whilst gathered together within the walls of an old fort, in 1812 and '13, for safety against incursions of Indians, they maintained a school, taught by David Smeltzer. As soon as peace had settled over the country, their earliest thoughts were for their children's welfare, and in 1817. they erected a cabin, between the residences of Parkinson and Anderson, for school purposes. Upon its abandonment, a new house of hewed logs was put up on the present site of Augusta Church.
A school-house was built near the Uzzle Spring in 1828, and school was first taught here by Alexander Trusedale. In the same neighborhood a school was taught, prior to this, by Mr. Edmonds, in an abandoned cabin that stood near Dug- ger's ox-mill. John Kile was among the pioneer teachers of the township. There are now six schools, employing ten teachers, three of whom are now in the graded school in the village of St. Jacob's, now under the superintendence of J. W. Wells, a thorough teacher. Of the school-houses, three are brick and three frame.
Marine .- The first school taught in what is now Marine township was that of Arthur Travis in an out building be- longing to Major Ferguson in the year 1814.
In 1819 a young man from New Haven, Connecticut, opened a school in an empty cabin that stood between Capt. Blakeman's and R. P. Allen's. In 1821 a substantial Union Church house was erected which was likewise used for school purposes. It is believed to have been at the time the best building devoted to educational uses in the county, as it was a frame building, with clap-board siding, supplied with split shingle roof, and glass windows. Six school-houses, three of them brick structures, have been erected for the accommodation of the children of this township. Employ- ment is given to ten teachers, four of whom are engaged in the schools in the village of Marine. Under the manage- ment of Prof. W. E. Lehr these schools have taken high rank, being held second to none in the coanty.
Nameoki .- This township, and Venice, 3-10, are so inti- mately associated in pioneer affairs as to be properly treated together. In fact old Six Mile, as the original precinct was styled included both. As early as 1805 a school was taught here near the present Six Mile house by Edward Humphrey, and a few years after a house was built by the neighbors entirely of poles, about two miles north, in which school was taught by Joshua Atwater and subsequently by Mc- Laughlin, an Irishman whose chief merit as a schoolmaster lay in his strength. A pupil relates of him that he carried his bottle regularly to school with him, always went armed with a well seasoned "shillelah " and never failed to repre- mand any short-cummings in pupils. He taught during the war of 1812, and more than one father had a "settlement " to make with him on return from the field of battle because of injuries inflicted on their sons.
Five teachers are engaged here and five houses-all frame buildings accommodate the schools of the township. In 3- 10 are two brick and two frame school-houses. Five teach- ers are given employment.
Helvetia .- This township was originally settled by Ameri- cans; subsequently Swiss and German people came to America to enjoy her free institutions, they were not slow to avail themselves of the advantages extended through free schools. Even the naming of the streets of their beautiful city, Highland, indicates their love of the cause-preserving as one of them does the name of one of the fathers of free education, Pestalozzi, and as others do of leaders in the same cause of our own country. Among the earliest schools taught in this township was one by George Ramsay, in 1824; he was succeeded by James A. Ramsay in 1828;
271
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
and John Shinn taught here in 1830; in 1825 or '26 James A. Ramsay, and others caused a house to be erected, which was used for Church and school purposes, it stood near Craig's improvement and was constructed of hewn logs. In the township are seven school-houses, six being of brick and one a frame. Employment is given to thirteen teachers, six of whom are engaged in the Union Graded Schools of Highland. In addition to the public schools, private ones maintaining three instructors are well supported.
Hamel .- The first school-house was built on the land of Bobert Aldrich, and near his residence in 1825. It was a flimsy, temporary structure of poles, without floor, door or window. It was used but a short time. So few scholars lived in the neighborhood that a school worthy the name could not at that early day be maintained. Joseph Thompson and a Mr. Carver, each taught a term here, whereupon it was abandoned about the same time a good log school-house was built at Lamb's Point. It was better than the average school-houses of the day in that it was supplied with a stone chimney.
At present four school-houses, three frame and one brick, meet the demands for school, and employment is given to a like number of teachers.
Pine Oak .- Soon after the first settlement of Pine Oak township, citizens were blessed with the labors of Joshua Atwateras a teacher. Actuated by the true missionary spirit he went from one community to another, stirring up the people to the importance of education, and laboring constantly in the capacity of a teacher. Near the residence of Jubilee Posey, in a rudely constructed cabin, briefly occupied as the home of a pioneer, he opened a school in 1809.
1
Another pioneer teacher who labored here was Thomas S. Waddle, who taught also in a deserted cabin on section 35, on a farm belonging to James Keown.
There are five school-houses in this township, all frame buildings. Employment is given six teachers.
Alhambra .- William Davenport had the honor of having taught the first school within the present limits of Alhambra township. He took posession of an empty cabin, in the Hoxey neighborhood. He taught but a short time. In 1832 a house was erected for school purposes, on section 19, and George Denney was the first to occupy it as a teacher. A man named Nichols taught simultaneously with the above in a private house. At present, there are eight school- houses here, all frame. Ter teachers are given employment.
Saline .- As early as 1825, the Cumberland Presbyterians improved a camp ground on section 31, and on this ground in a cabin belonging to Captain Abraham Howard, was taught the first school by John Barber, Jr. He continued in the work for several terms, finding great favor with pio- neers. There are now two frame and two briek school-houses in this township. A like number of teachers are employed.
Leef -. Six school-houses, five frame and one brick, accom- modate the scholars of this township. Six teachers are given employment. There were no very early schools here. Such as were, however, will be mentioned in township history. The school district with building situated in the village of Saliue, belongs to both Leef and Saline townships. It is a
graded school with two departments, and has for the last three years been under the charge of Prof. James Lane, a thoroughly practical and efficient teacher ; he has brought the school up to a high standard, making it compare well with those of other towns in the county.
New Douglas .- The first settler in this township was Daniel Funderburk, who was a teacher. As soon as the neighborhood justified the effort by having accessions to their numbers, he opened a school at his home place in a house built for the purpose on section 6. This was in 1823. There are now five frame buildings devoted to school purposes. Employment is given to seven teachers, three of whom are engaged in the graded schools in the village of New Douglas. This school, for several years under the charge of Mr. Ken- nedy, compares favorably with any in the county.
Wood River .- To this township is accredited the honor of maintaining the first Sunday-school in the State of Illinois. Inasmuch as elementary instruction, such as the letters of the Alphabet, reading and spelling were taught, as well as Bible Ilistory, it may well be recognized as the beginning of the educational work, of which in its full fruition this section is so justly proud. This school was taught in 1819, by the wife of Rev. Thomas Lippincott, at the time a mer- chant in the town of Milton. The following year a similar effort was engaged in by Enoch Long and Henry Suow in Upper Alton. The earlier efforts engaged in here are inti- mately connected with the progress aud growth of Shurtleff College ; hence are given elsewhere in this work. In the township are two brick and five frame buildings, occupied by public schools. The services of ten teachers are required, four of whom are engaged in graded schools.
Olive .- Henry H. Havron was the first teacher. Taught in the year 1833. Four frame buildings accommodate the school of this township. Employment is given to five teachers.
Fort Russell .- First settled by a stirring, enterprising people ; they were not slow to avail themselves of the ser- vices of a teacher. The old block-house on section 18 was soon after its abandonment as a fort, used as a school-house, with Rev. William Jones, a Baptist minister, as a teacher. On the same section, the first regular school-house was sub- sequently built. Four frame buildings, all good and sub- stautial structures, accommodate the schools of this township. Employment is given to a like number of teachers.
Educational _lids .- Institutes have always, since their inception, beeu regarded as aids to educational work. 1n pursuance of a public call of teachers, school officers and friends of education in Madison county, a meeting was held iu the Methodist church, Edwardsville, on Saturday, Janu- ary 16th, 1858, for the purpose of, organizing a Teachers' Association or Institute. Of this association, William Hay- den, of Alton, was chosen President; Henry Wing, of Col- linsville, and E. M. West, of Edwardsville, Vice Presidents ; W. J. Ela, of Edwardsville, Recording Secretary ; James Newman, of Alton, Corresponding Secretary ; M. G. Dale, of Edwardsville, Treasurer. An Executive Committee, con- sisting of M. G. Atwood, Alton, H. K. Eaton, and Joseph H. Sloss, Edwardsville, were given charge of the programme
272
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of exercises. In April, 1858, the first Institute was held. In 1875, Institutes failing longer to hold the attention of Teachers, and proving too inadequate to meet the demands of the profession, were exchanged for Normals, as they are denominated, being simply Institutes for several weeks' duration. The first was held under the direction of A. A. Suppiger, with F. E. Cook, of St. Louis, as Instructor in Collinsville. The second was held in the same place, in 1876, under direction of B. F. Sippy, County Superinten- dent, with H. H. Keebler, of Collinsville, and W. E. Lehr, of Marine, as Instructors. The third was held in 1877, in Edwardsville, same supervision, with J. S. Stevenson, of St. Louis, and W. E. Lehr, as Instructor. The fourth, same place and same management throughout.
The Normal has met the demand made by live teachers, aud supplied their longing for instruction in their work.
As indicative of the progress of education we present Statement of the distribution of the State Funds for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. These certainly make a very favorable showing.
STATEMENT FOR THE YEARS 1850 AND 1860.
Township. Census, 1850.
Amount. Census, 1860. Amount.
3-5.
57. . . . $ 71 00.
1,015 . $ 684 50.
4-5.
378.
46 97 .
517 .
529 29.
5 -- 5
· not organ'zd
135 .
235 86.
6-5.
90.
10 26 .
180 . . 240 01.
3-6
430 .
53 57 .
617 . 482 75.
4-6 .
377 .
46 97 .
801 . ..
572 42.
5-6
187
23 30 .
441 . . .
387 91.
6-6.
207. 25 79.
346 . . 325 37.
3-7
570.
71 02 .
776.
554 72.
4-7
260.
32 39 .
351 . . .
343 13.
5-7
164 .
20 45 .
469. .
360 30.
6-7
:52.
31 43 .
360. 343 00.
3-8 .
580
72 26
1,065 .
706 11.
4-8
472 .
59 81 .
1,150 .
749 62.
5-8
321
40 00 .
529 . .
442 32.
6-8.
320
39 87
608 . 461 33.
3-9.
320 .
36 87 .
359 .
346 29.
4-9.
200.
24 92.
260 ..
280 05.
5-9
985 .
122 73
1.158 .
742 12.
6-9
344 .
43 31 .
723 . . .
516 65.
3-10.
215.
26 78 .
320. ..
206 65.
4-10 .
42.
5 35.
40. . .
30 31.
5-10.
1,626 .
202 59.
3,260 . .
1,607 30
6-10.
515.
65 16.
848 . 581 61.
STATEMENT FOR TITE YEARS 1870 AND 1880.
Township.
Census, 1870.
Amount.
Census, 1550. Amount.
3-5.
1,303 .
8 877 60. .
$1,155 80.
4-5.
438.
443 60 .
8.57 . . 601 40.
5-5.
329 .
348 63 . 571 . 400 70.
6-5.
433.
348 45. 494 . . . 347 40.
3-6.
724 . .
586 75 .
890 . . . 624 55.
4-6.
977.
709 50 .
889 . . 623 85.
5-6.
634 .
536.75. 627 . . . 440 00.
6-6.
538 .
468 25.
464 . . .
325 60,
3-7.
913.
671 00.
977 . 685 65.
4-7.
512 .
476 65 .
587 . 411 95.
5-7.
558 .
509 05.
591 . 414 75.
6-7
489.
457 50
663.
465 30.
3-8 .
1,577 .
1,008 50 .
.2,230 . 1,564 09.
4-8 .
1,841 .
1,140 13 .
2,002
1,404 95.
5-8.
732 .
597 30 .
609.
425 95.
6-8.
669
538 22 .
662.
464 60.
Township. Census, 1870. Amount. Census, 1880.
Amount.
3-9.
634 .
535 10. . 582 .
408 45.
4-9.
597 .
493 05.
410 .
7 75.
5-9.
414 .
388 85 .
718. 503 90.
6-9.
1,033 .
715 47 .
913. .
640 70.
3-10.
388 .
252 63 .
545.
383 45.
4-10
86.
52 23
99 .
69 50.
5-10.
487 .
263 44 .
457 . 320 70.
6-10.
1,245
823 15
797 559 30.
Alton .
3,006 .
2,221 43 .
.4,782 . 3,355 80.
Upper Alton . . 763 .
406 41
713. 500 35.
In the county there are in all one hundred and thirty-six school-houses. Ninety-two frame and forty-four brick struc- tures. Employment is given to two hundred and ten teachers. From Superintendent Sippy's report the following items are gleaned. During the year ending June 30, 1881, there were 292 applicants for teachers' certificates, examined. Of these 134 were males and 158 female. Ten first grade certificates were issued to male teachers, and four to female. Seventy second grade to male, and sixty-six to female. Male applicants rejected 42, female 71. During the year twenty-seven certificates were renewed.
Under the efficient management of B. F. Sippy, the schools of Madison county have proven more flourishing than ever before in her history. Examinations have been rigid -- the standard of requirements necessary to secure cer- titicates being constantly advanced.
SIIURTLEFF COLLEGE .*
SHURTLEFF COLLEGE had its origin in a " Theological and High School " known as Rock Spring Seminary, estab- lished in 1827, under the labors of Rev. John M. Peck, D. D., and through the help of contributions received from a few friends in New York and New England. In THE BAP- TIST MEMORIAL for 1842, Vol. 1, page 205, Dr. Peck says : " In 1827 the Rock Spring Theological High School was opened. Rock Spring is a country situation, 18 miles East of St. Louis, and on the great stage road to Vincennes and Louisville. The Seminary commenced with 25 students of beth sexes, which number was increased in a few weeks to 100. At that period no school for boarders, under Protes- tant direction, existed in Illinois or Missouri. In 1831 the school closed with the view of its removal to Upper Alton, as the commencement of a College. The Institution opened again in 1832, under the name of Alton Seminary.
In pursuance of the plan of removal there was an early tranfer of the movable property of Rock Spring Seminary to Alton Seminary, consisting, as we are told, of " some $300 or $400 worth of property, " embracing, among other things, the library of the Rock Spring Seminary, most of which is still in the possession of the College. One teacher also, John Russell, LL. D, who was Principal at Rock Spring after the first year, followed the school to its new location, and was appointed to the position of Principal also in Alton Seminary, during a temporary absence in the interests of the school, of Rev. Hubbel Loomis, Principal de facto.
The new organization rendered necessary by this change
*From data furnished by A. A. Kendrick, D.D.
273
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of location was effected at Upper Alton, June 4th, 1832, under the name of "The Board of Trustees of Alton Seminary. " Its object was declared to be "to take into consideration the establishment of a Seminary as the foun- dation of a College." The school was put in operation, and Rev. Hubbel Loomis was elected Principal, to whose wise plans and efficient labors, is, undoubtedly, to be attri- buted much of what Shurtleff College has since become.
In March, 1833, the State Legislature granted a charter incorporating the seven gentlemen who were named as " The Trustees of Alton College of Illinois." To prevent any complication of ' Church and State '-it is supposed-and to exclude all sectarian ascendency, this charter provided that no " particular religious faith should be required of those who become Trustees of the Institution." Nor could any " Professor of Theology ever be employed as a teacher at said College, nor any Theological Department be con- nected therewith or in any manner attached thereto," with- out rendering the act granting the charter " pull and forever void." The charter was not accepted. Nor were efforts to forward the object of the Association thereby retarded. In January, 1835, measures were adopted to raise $25,000 for " the immediate wants as well as the permanency and pros- perity of the Alton Seminary," viz : $10,000 for buildings ; $7,500 a fund for salaries of professors ; and $7,500 a fund to aid beneficiary theological students. The self-constituted Trustees proceeded to lay off streets, town lots and a college campus, and appointed and commissioned itinerant agents to solicit funds and enlist the co-operation of friends of ad- vanced education in several of the Eastern, Middle and Western States.
In February, 1835, a new charter was granted, in its gen- eral features sufficiently liberal, but retaining the offensive proviso with reference to a Theological Department. How- ever, this charter was accepted. Without dissolving their mutual covenant the seven subscribers to the original com- pact, with other elected members, became a distinct Board of " Trustees of Alton College of Illinois." The Association now conditionally surrendered to the new corporation its entire property-" reserving fifty acres of the land for the education of the ministry of the gospel, and also such dona- tions as may have been made for this special object." In accepting the property surrendered, the College Board placed on their records a resolution, " That it is understood in good faith that the principles of the original compact of the said gentlemen herewith recorded, be preserved by this incorporation inviolate ; so far as said compact is compatible with the charter of this incorporation." The feature of the compact thus specially guarded was, " That it is and shall ever continue to be a prominent object to aid in the educa- tion of young men of genuine piety designed for the Gospel ministry in this section of the Valley of the Mississippi."
The original Association now assumed for its name, " The Trustees of Alton Theological Seminary." The two Boards, thus composed mostly of identical members, co-operated harmoniously in advancing their cherished enterprise. The Trustees of the Seminary appointed their Professor of Theology, and the Trustees of the College appointed their 35
Professors, and their teachers of the Preparatory Depart- ment, and students in both Institutions pursued their pre- paratory studies in the same classes and boarded together at the common refectory.
In January, 1836, the charter of the College was amended by changing the name of the Board to "The Trustees of Shurtleff College of Alton, Illinois." This change was in consideration of the-thens-very liberal donation of $10,000 to the endowment of the College, by Benjamin Shurtleff, M. D., of Boston, Mass.
In February, 1841, the offensive provisos of the college charter were repealed by the Legislature, and the Trustees were authorized to organize " additional departments for the study of any or all of the liberal professions." Soon after this a schedule was made of all the property' belonging to the Seminary and held by its Board in trust for Theological purposes, and in the following July, its Trustees, at their annual meeting, closed the records of its history as follows :
" Whereas, by an amendment of the charter of Shurtleff College granting the right, the Board of Trustees of that Institution has established a Theological Department which supersedes the necessity of a separate organization.
" Therefore resolved unanimously, that all the property of this Institution herewith be transferred to the Theological Department of Shurtleff College.
" Resolved-That this Board be dissolved, and all its books and papers be transferred to the Trustees of Shurtleff College for its Theologieal Department."
From the foregoing it appears that Theological instruction has been a prominent idea in the plans of its friends from the very inception of the Institution. The original school at Rock Spring was called a Theological School. In conse- quence of the proviso originally belonging to the charter of the College, first granted in 1833, preventing the existence of a Theological Department, a separate Association was formed, known as " The Trustees of Alton Theological Sem- inary." Under the auspices of this body, Rev. Lewis Colby was elected Principal of the Theological Seminary, and served acceptably in this capacity during the years 1835-6 and 1836-7. When the College charter was amended by striking out the offensive proviso alluded to above, a Theo- logical Department was at once established, in which Alton Seminary was merged. Special arrangements were made for carrying on Theological instruction, which has been main- tained, although with varying success, until the present time.
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