History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 77

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 77

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domestic life-and cited as illustrations the food seen on the tables, etc., set upon the grounds to- day. Ile related, with inimitable humor, his first visit to St. Louis, and his experience at the Planters' House with a bill of fare, and the mis- takes he made in calling for food by the aid of this bill of fare. He then spoke eloquently of the advancement of our country and the people, making it one of the grandest and most glorious lands in the world. None could compare with it in all that made a people happy. He was glad to be here once more, and to meet old friends; it was to him the happiest day of the year; but he understood well that the time was not far distant when he would not be here. He had a list of the names of the old settlers who had gone to the other country, and soon others would fol- low, and the band of old settlers would be thin- ned one by one.

The closing remarks were eloquent and touch- ing, and were received with great applause.

Mr. Alexander Irwin then made a report of the deaths of old settlers in Pleasant Plains, Cartwright township.

Maxwell Campbell; born in Cobarrus county, North Carolina, October 29, 1795; departed this life August 10, 1881; aged about eighty-six years.

Mrs. A. W. Hays; born in Pennsylvania, Lancaster county; married in May, 1834; died in March, 1881; aged sixty-seven years and four months.

Horace Howard; born in Vermont, April 0, 1803, and departed this life May 4, 1881; aged seventy-eight years and one month.

Thomas Mostiller; born October 8, 1807, in Butler county, Ohio; married in Franklin county, Indiana; came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1830; died February 22, 1881; aged seventy-four years.

Mark A. Mowrey; born July 12, 1815, in Smithfield, Rhode Island; married August 13, 1840; settled in Sangamon county in 1849; died April 24, 1881; aged sixty-five years, nine months and eighteen days.

Mrs. Anna M. Johnson; born in Champaign county, Ohio, June 6, 1830; departed this life April 9, 1881; aged forty-four years, ten months and three days.

After reading the list he made a humorous but brief speech about our country, which was well received by the audience, but for want of space we must omit even a synopsis.

General Anderson came forward, and said that he probably had as much vanity as anyone, but he had not vanity enough to attempt to make

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a speech, and he would not do it. He would say that he had been here over fifty years, and had seen all incidents to a settler's life. He borrowed money to purchase his first eighty acres. He gave an interesting account of how he was obliged to do in early days, and closed with giving some good advice to the young people present, and closed by thanking all for their attention.

Hon. James H. Matheny offered the follow- ing preamble and resolutions, which were unan- imously adopted :

WHEREAS, The President of the United States has been shot down by the hand of a cow- ardly assassin, and now lies in a critical condi- tion at the Executive Mansion,

Resolved, That the old settlers and friends assembled deeply deplore the calamity which seems about to befall the country-a calamity which would be none the less deplorable than the assassination of our old friend and pioneer settler, Abraham Lincoln.

Resolved, That our prayers will ascend to the Throne of Grace for his speedy recovery, and

that our deepest sympathies be extended to his family and to the Nation, in this, their great affliction.

At this stage of the proceedings Mr. L. Hu- ber, of Cartwright township, exhibited an in- strument little known at the present day, called a " hackle," which he found here when he came in 1855. The instrument was used in prepar- ing flax and hemp. It excited considerable atten- tion.

President Diller then made some compli- mentary remarks in relation to the meeting in Salisbury. He had not seen a drunken man dur- ing the meeting, which had not occurred at any other meeting, and he was proud of Salisbury, and her citizens had reason to be proud of the meeting. In conclusion he told the people that they could go home, as the old settlers' meeting for 1881 was closed, or in other words was ad- journed.

The old settlers, after a general hand- shaking, left for their respective homes with pleasant thoughts of the old settlers' meeting for 1881.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XX.

EDUCATIONAL.

Few even of the older States of the Union have an educational history more rich, varied and instructive than that of Illinois. When that his- tory shall be written and due honor shall be given to those who have raised the State to the high position which she now holds, worthy men- tion shall be made of that association of young men, who, early in 1829, while pursuing their studies in Yale College, devoted themselves to a life-work in the cause of education and religion in the then new State of Illinois. The names of those seven men were Mason Grosvenor, Theron Baldwin, John F. Brooks, Elisha Jenney, Wil- liam Kirby, Asa Turner and Julian M. Sturte- vant. The first fruits of their exertions was the establishment of Illinois College at Jacksonville. The after fruits of their united and individual action, both general and special, cannot be esti- mated.

The first educational convention in the State, was held at Vandalia, February 13, 1833, by gen- tlemen from different parts of the State, desirons of encouraging education and especially common schools. After an address on education by James Hall, an association was organized un- der the title of the " Illinois Institute of Educa- tion." An effort was made to procure statistics and information in regard to schools and the condition of education, but with little success.

A second convention was held at Vandalia, December 5 and 6, 1834, at which sixty delegates were present from over thirty counties of the State, principally members of the General As- sembly, then in session, among whom were Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas and others, whose names became well known in the State. IIon. Cyrus Edwards was chosen Presi- dent, and Stephen A. Donglas, Secretary. Through the influences of this convention some important changes were effected in the previous school laws of the State, of 1825, 1829 and 1833.

In February, 1841, was formed the "Illinois State Education Society " at Springfield, "to pro- mote by all landable means, the diffusion of knowledge in regard to education; and especially to render the system of common schools through- out the State"as perfect as possible." Its first officers were Hon. Cyrus Edwards, President; Col. Thomas Mather, Hon. William Thomas, Hon. S. H. Treat, Dr. W. B. Eagan and Onslow Peters, Vice-Presidents; A. T. Bledsoe and C. R. Wells, Secretaries; and P. C. Canedy, Treas- urer. A memorial was prepared and presented to the legislature then in session, urging the ap- pointment of a State School Superintendent, and other amendments to the school system. A new school law was passed, which, however, embraced but few of the desired improvements.

Another effort was made by the friends of popular education to secure through the legisla- ture of 1843, the establishment of the office of Superintendent of Schools, which was now re- garded as essential to a comprehensive system of public instruction. Petitions in this behalf were widely circulated for signatures, but it was found that the people generally were them- selves opposed to the change, chiefly on the ground of supposed expense, and consequently nothing was done by the legislature. Notwith- standing this ill success, it was believed by many that the time was ripe for the proposed measure, and that a general convention should be called together, of the right men, not for investigation and discussion merely, but to devise a system of common schools that might be recommended with confidence to the succeeding legislature. The proposition was very favorably received, and an appointment was made for a convention of delegates, teachers and friends of education, to meet at Peoria, October 9, 1844.

The convention was not largely attended, but was unanimous in favor of a State Superin-

Respectfully yours

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

tendency, and taxation for the support of schools. A plan of school system was drawn up and a long and able memorial to the legislature pre- pared by a committee. The proposed bill was explained and sustained by J. S. Wright before the legislative committee. The result was a general revision of the school laws, and the pas- sage of an act making the Secretary of State e.c-officio Superintendent of Schools, authorizing special taxation for school purposes, and intro- ducing other decided improvements upon the former system.

An educational convention met in Springfield, December 16th, 17th, 19th and 23d, 1846. Va- rions topics of educational interest were dis- cussed and a committee instructed to memorialize the legislature for amendments to the school law, especially in making the school superin- tendency a distinct office to be filled by the legislature.

A convention met at Springfield January 15th to 18th, during the session of the legislature. A committee was appointed to prepare a memo- rial to the legislature and draft a bill for a school law that should embrace the following principles: That the property of the State should be taxed to educate the children of the State; that the office of State Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction should be separate and distinct from every other office; that the County Com- missioners should receive reasonable compensa- tion for their services as ex-officio County Super- intendents of Schools; and that a portion of the college and seminary funds should be devoted to aid in the education of common school teachers. These several principles were now for the first time pressed upon the attention of the legisla- ture, but, though the school law was revised at this session, the system was left essentially as it was before.

On the 26th of December, 1853, there was convened at Bloomington an educational con- vention, composed more strictly of teachers, superintendents and commissioners of schools and other friends of popular education. Com- mittees were appointed to petition the legisla- ture for a State Superintendent of Schools, for the establishment and support of a Normal School, and a school system without taxation.

The petition was at last favorably received by the General Assembly, and a separate depart- ment of education was created, and Hon. Ninian W. Edwards, of Springfield, was appointed the first State Superintendent of Public Instruction, by whom a free school law was prepared, which, in its main features, is in force to-day. Thus, a

citizen of Sangamon county became the author, virtually, of our common school law.

The present Superintendent of Public Schools is James P. Slade. Shortly after his election to the position, a teacher wrote the New England Journal of Education of him as follows:

"We have a new State Superintendent -a teacher, and the choice of the teachers. We are so elated at this victory of the profession over politicians, that I want to tell you some- thing of our new chief.

"James P. Slade has long been a familiar name upon the rolls of our State Teachers' Association and of our State Association of County Super- intendents. Always present at their meetings, always performing with marked ability every duty assigned, he has long been accounted one of the 'stand-bys;' executive committees knew that when they placed his name upon the pro- gramme they were sure of a good exercise. His business capacities were so generally recognized, that since a time to which the memory of man (or woman) runneth not to the contrary, he has been treasurer of both these State Associations. He has also filled acceptably other offices, usu- ally those requiring much hard work and making very little show; and this is characteristic of the man. He is a quiet, diffident man, never put- ting himself forward, unless there is some hard work to be done which nobody else is ready to undertake. He is not a college-bred man: but so far from boasting of it, as some so-called self- made men do, he feels it to be a disadvantage, and all his life has regretted that the circum- stance of his early years forbade his receiving that thorough mental training which a good col- lege can give. But he is a born student, and his whole life has been given to study,-the study of books, of nature, and of men. Thus, outside of college walls, he has gained that men- tal discipline which some fail to gain even within them. That he has gained this is attested by the fact that he holds a State certificate for Illinois, and that the honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon him in 1873 by Shurtleff College.

" Mr. Slade was born in Westerlo, Albany county, New York, February 9, 1837. His father was a farmer in very moderate circumstances. The story of his boyhood, is the familiar one of the struggle between an intense desire for an education and hard, unrelenting poverty. Only a few months each year could he go to school; the rest of the time was spent in work upon the farm. The spring he was seventeen his school- time was extended two months, during which

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time he attended the Chesterville Academy, two miles from home, boarding at home and doing chores nights and mornings. That summer, while helping to gather the scanty harvest from the not over-generous soil of a small farm, he persuaded his father to send him to school the following winter. The necessary money must be borrowed; but the boy, who had already de- termined what should be his life-work, promised to repay all with interest as soon as he could earn enough, by teaching to do so. As a result, he spent six months ( 1854-5) as a student in Fairfield Seminary, Herkimer county, New York. In the spring, being now eighteen years old he commenced teaching; for his first five months of pedagogic labor he received $80 and ' boarded round.' The following winter was spent in teaching, and the spring found him a student in Hudson River Institute, at Clave- rack.

" The summer vacation was spent, as usual, in the harvest field. In September, 1856, antici- pating Greeley's advice, he went west to Belle- ville, St. Clair county, Illinois, which has ever since been his home. In less than a month he secured a country school for nine months, receiv- ing a salary of $35 per month. The next fall, being then but twenty years of age, he was made teacher of the grammar school of Belle- ville. From that time to this he has been con- stantly and closely connected with these schools, rising by sheer force of merit to the highest ed- neational positions in his city and county, as now he has risen to the highest in his adopted State.

"The circumstances connected with his elec- tion as Principal of the High School are sug- gestive. By agreement, each member of the Board made out a list showing his choice of teachers. On comparing these lists, made with- out any consultation together, it was found that each had the name of James P. Slade as Prin- cipal of the High School. This result was a complete surprise to Mr. Slade, who thus, at twenty-four, was put in this responsible position. Ile filled it with marked success. Before me, as I write, lie letters from some of his old pupils, and these give, perhaps unconsciously to their writers, a better idea of Mr. Slade as a teacher than any words of mine can do. Says one: ' He honestly and conscientiously dealt with his pupils, with a view, not only to their intellect- ual, but also to their moral, advancement.' Under date of July 19, 1866, one, just entering upon a university course, says: 'I think the principle he inculcated of knowing the why and

the wherefore of things, and of getting, not so much what the book said, but the sense, the root of a thing, will be of great use to me at the uni- versity. Among the most important things learned, or partially learned, while in his school, is the science of study, the manner of getting lessons, or, rather, the science of applying one's mind to the investigation of a subject.'

"We could give pages of such testimony, were there room.

" Mr. Slade continued principal of the Iligh School for six years; then (1867) he was ap- pointed County Superintendent to fill a vacancy. At the expiration of this term, 1869, he was elected for the full four years' term, by a major- ity of more than 1,200 votes over two competi- tors. These six years were devoted to the super- vision and visitation of the schools of St. Clair county, and they wrought wonders in those schools. He was re-appointed principal of Belle- ville High School, and continued to hold this position until after his nomination for the office to which he has just been elected.

"But the county could not spare his services. The County Superintendent died about a year after his election, and the Board of Supervisors persuaded Mr. Slade to take that position again; he did so, served out that term, and at the two elections since he has been re-elected by over- whelming majorities.

"This is his record since, as a boy of nine- teen, he came into our State: One year's teach- ing in a country school; fifteen years in the Belleville schools, eleven of them as Principal of High School; ten years County Superintend- ent, six of these years devoting his whole time to the supervision of county schools, four of them serving both as Principal of High School and as County Superintendent. That he is a faithful and successful worker is proved by the fact that he was retained in the same schools so long, never leaving one situation except for one higher.

" From the time he first commenced teaching, Mr. Slade has been a constant subscriber, and of late years a valued contributor, to one or more educational journals. Of his work in State and county educational gatherings I have before spoken. He has also attended several meetings of the National Association, and counts it as one of his greatest privileges that at the meeting at St. Louis he saw and heard Horace Mann. He is one of the leading spirits in the Southern Illi- nois Educational Association, which has done so much for the cause of education in our 'Egypt.' Ile has attended each of its three annual meet-

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ings, and been once its Secretary and once its President.

" So much for the professional record of our chief. In business capacity and executive ability he also stands approved.

" His personal characteristics command the re- spect of all, and the tender devotion of those who know him best. He is a man of fine presence, and impresses you at once as a gentleman and a scholar. So modest is he that lie says, 'Of three things I am certain: 1. I am not a great scholar; 2. I am neither a rapid nor a skillful writer; 3. I am neither fluent or eloquent in speech.' But we, looking upon his work with unprejudiced eyes, know that he underrates his own abilities, and feel sure that, as Dr. Bateman predicts, 'he will justify the reasonable expectations of the many good men who are looking to him with confidence and hope.'"

Progress in this county is nowhere better illus- trated than in connection with our Public Schools. In the early day good schools were like "angel visits, few and far between," and it was considered very fortunate indeed if an op- portunity was offered for obtaining even the rudi- ments of a common school education. A person competent to teach the three branches, common- ly and sarcastically spoken of as the three " Rs," " Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic," could sel- dom be obtained. Some of the few scattered settlements could not afford to employ a teacher, and were therefore compelled to do without, or send their children through the timber or across the prairie to some more fortunate settlement where a school was in operation. Some were sent a distance of six to nine miles, walking the entire distance morning and night of each day, in order that they might avail themselves of the opportunity of acquiring a little knowledge of their mother tongue, and thus fit themselves for the duties of life. How different now! In every township there are from seven to eleven schools in successful operation. Competent teachers are employed, many of whom have spent years in fitting themselves for their vocation, and who make teaching a profession, by preparing them- selves as thoroughly for this work as the lawyer, doctor, or divine are presumed to do.

The description given elsewhere of the old log houses will answer for the old-fashioned school house. The school furniture was slab seats for the scholars, a three-legged stool and a hazel or birch rod for the teacher. As for books, but few were needed, the less the better, as the teacher could get along the more readily. The walls of the school room were decorated by the

artistic hands of the scholars, with drawings of the teacher, instead of being hung with such beautiful and instructive maps as are now found in all our school buildings. Instead of the beau- tiful specimens of penmanship now-a-days set for our children to copy, teachers were then em- ployed who, in many cases could scarcely write their own names. Altogether, in the light of to- day, the schools of forty and fifty years ago were very dreary affairs.

By law, the sixteenth section of every town- ship was to be used for school purposes, but there being little or no sale for land, and the government price of $1.25 per acre being all that could be realized from its sale, the income to be derived from it could amount to but little. Subscription schools, therefore, had to be de- pended upon.

It was not until after the passage of the law framed by Hon. Ninian W. Edwards, that much was done in behalf of the free common schools. The various townships in the county were at once re-districted, and a thorough system of pop- ular education was undertaken. In the quarter of a century that has past, much has been done. School houses have been erected at almost every cross-road, and the advantages of the common school system are now appreciated by all.

For the year ending June, 1881, as gleaned from the report of the County Superintendent of Public Schools, there were twenty-seven thousand, three hundred and thirty-eight per- sons under twenty-one years of age: between six and twenty-one, there were eighteen thous- and, eight hundred and sixty. There were en- rolled in the public schools, eleven thousand, one hundred and forty-one pupils. There were one hundred and fifty-two male and one hundred and eighty-five female teachers employed. Of brick school houses, there were thirty-four; of frame, one hundred and fifty. The highest monthly wages paid male teacher, was $150 per month; highest paid female teacher, $80; lowest paid male, $25; lowest paid female, $20. The estimated value of the school property outside of Springfield was $196,440. Estimated value of school property in Springfield, $120,000.

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY.

The Literary and Theological Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Hillsboro, was incorporated by an act of the legislature of Illi- nois, January, 1847, and immediately went into operation. The institution was divided into two separate departments, the one collegiate, and the other theological, and so independent of

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each other, that donations could be made to either department, and the donors have assur- ance that their gifts would be appropriated to the object designated. While the theological seminary was designated for the special benefit of young men who were desirous of qualifying themselves for the ministry in the Lutheran Church, the collegiate department was open to all alike, without any discrimination as to re- sigious profession, provided only that their de- portment be conformable to the moral principles and precepts which are universally acknowl- edged by Christians of all denominations.

The college began operation in 1849, and issued its first annual catalogue August, 1850. It had fair success during its existence in Hills- boro, but believing a better field to be open in Springfield, those most interested in its pros- perity secured the passage of an amendment to the charter, permitting its removal to the latter place and changing its name to Illinois State University. Among those instrumental in its removal, living in Springfield, and who became members of its first Board of Trustees, were James C. Conkling, John T. Stuart, Eljah Iles, John M. Burkhardt, E. R. Wiley, Thomas Lewis, Jacob Divelbiss, David Miller, John B. Weber, Revs. James Smith, Albert Hale, R. V. Dodge, Francis Springer, Edmund Miller, S. W, Harkey, and C. B. Thummel. John T. Stuart was elected President of the Board; Rev. A. A. Trimper, Secretary; Thomas Lewis, Treasurer.

The following named constituted the faculty as first organized: Rev. Francis Springer, M.A., President and Professor of Political and Moral Seience; Rev. S. W. Harkey, D.D., Professor of Christian Theology and Natural Science; Rev. Edmund Miller, M.A., Professor of Mathematics and Principal of the Preparatory Department; Rev. C. B. Thummel, M. A., Professor of Ancient and Modern Languages.

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History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 77

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084