USA > Illinois > Edgar County > Our first one hundred and fifty years : Hunter, Stratton, Elbridge Townships, 1818-1968 > Part 6
USA > Illinois > Edgar County > Stratton > Our first one hundred and fifty years : Hunter, Stratton, Elbridge Townships, 1818-1968 > Part 6
USA > Illinois > Edgar County > Elbridge > Our first one hundred and fifty years : Hunter, Stratton, Elbridge Townships, 1818-1968 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
1
The law concerning the pupils -
1. Pupils must be between the ages of 6 and 21 years, and bona fide residents of district where they attend.
2. Children can attend school in a different district from that which they reside, upon the consent, in writing of both Boards of Directors - and on no other conditions.
3. Persons over 21 may be admitted, at the discretion of the Directors and upon payment of such tuition fee as they may prescribe; provided, that no legal school-going child is thereby excluded or incommoded. But no scholar over 21 or under 6 can, in any case, be entered in the schedule upon which the public funds are apportioned; nor can a child of school age be in any case excluded, or expelled when admitted, except for per- sistent misconduct in school.
65
4. Returned soldiers who, during the late war, entered the army while in their minority, are permitted to attend, free, any public school in the districts where they severally reside, for a length of time equal to the portion of their minority spent in the military service of the United States. FROM THE ANNUAL FOR EDGAR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS - GEORGE W. BROWN, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
COUNTY STATISTICS
Record by years of Edgar County Schools
Colum 1 Years beginning with 1900
Column 2 Number of Library Books in all schools of County. The number added each year may be found by subtraction.
Column 3 Average daily attendance of pupils in schools of two or more rooms.
Column 4
Average daily attendance of pupils in schools of one room.
Column 5 Tuition paid by parents living in country for the education of
their children in neighboring High Schools. This column shows & smaller amount at present than formerly because many districts are paying the tuition of eighth grade pupils in High Schools. All districts may do this under the present law.
Column 6
Average monthly wages of male teachers for eight months school.
Column 7
Average monthly wages of female teachers for eight months of school.
Column 8
Graduates from four year High Schools.
1
2 3
4
5
6
7
8
1900
2297
125
93
1017.47
48.36
38.19
19
1900
2297
125
93
1017.47
48.36
38.19
19
1901
2441
124
94
1191.08
50.28
38.27
27
1902
3001
124
97
1227.27
48.22
39.83
35
1903
3155
127
89
1228.76
50.06
38.60
35
1904
4728
128
111
1427.60
50.47
40.40
48
1905
6278
133
103
1572.04
53.77
39.69
44
1906
7423
128
10
1657.99
58.48
42.44
63
1907
8573
134
111
2228.62
57.67
43.51
56
1908
9636
135
106
2090.96
70.75
46.58
60
1909
10430
137
11]
1666.67
67.76
48.69
67
66
FARMERS INSTITUTE IN SCHOOLS
The change in the methods of conducting Farmers Institute by bringing these meetings nearer the farmers and county schools has proved by the in- tense interest awakened to be a forward movement.
The general plan of these meetings was to hold a Corn School and Ex- hibit on the first day. Only ribbons were given as prizes. The opportunity for farmers and their boys to compete with neighbors and friends made very creditable exhibits at all centers. The eighty grade pupils with their teachers from all nearby schools attended. A day spent by teacher and pupils with grownup people was always helpful and inspiring.
The second day was used for the Institute. The College of Agriculture furnished three speakers who presented the topics of livestock, soil fertil- ity and domestic science. At each place, the women of the neighborhood serv- ed an elaborate and bountiful dinner. The meetings were worth while for the hearty good feeling that was engendered in the hearts of many who met each other for the first time.
The evening meetings were conducted by the County Superintendent of the Schools who gave his stereopticon address, "Forward Movements in Farm and School, " which was preceded by a short program by the children from the vari- ous schools.
After a few years other attractions came into the schools and the Farm- ers Institute in Edgar County was held at the High School without any school connection and was finally taken over by the Farm Bureau and was terminated as Farmers Institute.
The basis of the educational system of the State of Illinois was the Act of Congress, called the Northwest Ordinance, in which one thirty-sixth of the public lands was donated to the Northwest States for the purpose of aiding Public Education.
In 1855, the Legislature of the State passed a law levying an annual
67
school tax of two mills on the dollar on taxable property of the State. Edgar County received around ten thousand dollars annually. For any school to share in this money they were to hold school for five or six months each year.
As the population of the country increased there were new schools started and improved.
The Illinois State Legislature in June of 1945 passed the School Survey law which required all County Superintendents of schools in Illinois to call a meeting of all School Board Members of the counties to vote on a proposition providing a school survey in each county before December 1, 1945. The survey committee was organized November 27, 1945. The vote of the school board mem- bers was 100 votes for and 42 against having the school survey. A tentative report filed November 27, 1948, by the survey committee recommending formation of a Unit School District around Paris, excluding District 95, which is a chartered School District. An election was held March 27, 1948 on formation of such a District with 591 votes for and 120 against. The election of the school board was held April 24, 1948. The Community Unit No. 4 is made up of Elbridge, Stratton and Symmes Townships, most of Hunter Township, the southern half of Edgar Township, and eastern portion of Buck and Grandview Townships, a small portion of Shiloh Township, all of Paris Township with the exception of the City of Paris.
The School Board of Community Unit No. 4 began plans for the new Crestwood School and the school was finished in 1956 and school was started in the new school in September, 1956, with 631 students from the unification of 23 country schools - they also have four grades at the Vermilion School.
They started with a teaching staff of 26 with an average salary of $2,000.00. The Crestwood School has continued to grow and the school board is now planning on building additional class rooms to care for more pupils. The number of Whit 4 students for the 1967-68 year was 827, with an additional 348 Crestwood students in Paris High School.
The expenditure for tuition to the Paris High School for the 1966-67 year
68
was $174,875.77.
Teachers for the 1967-68 year in Unit 4 was 45 with the average salary of $6,000.00.
The total number of teachers, bus drivers, janitors and other help for this year was 85.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
FARM BUREAU AND COOPERATIVES
Probably nowhere in history has cooperatives played a greater role in the development of a country than in the United States. Dating back to the day the first ship load of settlers arrived in America to the present day, we find our people banding together in cooperatives to help one another. From the co- operative venture at Jamestown, which was a failure, to some of our large commercial cooperatives of today, we find Americans joining hands in a spirit of togetherness to help themselves and one another.
Some of the early types of cooperatives were house and barn raisings, butchering, threshing, hay-making, and defense. The early schools were of this type for they were started before tax money was made available for education. Our early roads were built and maintained locally through the cooperative ef- forts of those people living on them. As the need for a kind of service being done cooperatively, died out or was replaced by more modern methods, the co- operative just died and became a memory, such as the threshing rings. New needs grew and the people turned to the government for services previously done by the cooperatives. Examples of this are our schools, roads, fire protection, and cemetery maintainence.
The government also established a system of agriculture colleges and ex-
69
1
the Farm Bureau's service. They were A.E. Staley (17 years), Leo Swinford (7 years), Byron McCoy (8 years), and Paul Stafford (3 years).
The order of work as approved at the first meeting was as follows:
1. Systematic and comprehensive effort to make the soil more productive and to maintain its fertility. Encourage personal visits by all members of the Farm Bureau to the Experimental Soil Plots at the State Experi- ment Station. Encourage the reading and study of the publications issues from time to time by the State Agricultural Authorities and the adaptation of these results as applicable to the farm conditions in Edgar County.
2. Increase the interest in more and better livestock of all kinds for the county. Encourage as much as possible the adoption of one breed of beef cattle, one breed of hogs, one breed of dairy cattle, etc., so that Edgar County can make for itself a reputation as a producer of a certain breed of livestock. Encourage the use of nothing but purebred sires and dams so far as possible.
3. We suggest that the executive committee keep in mind, that there are members interested in all departments of farming and that each class should have its proportional share in the time, and the attention of the Farm Adviser.
4. We recommend that the organization keep in touch with other Farm Bureaus of the State and to cooperate with them in securing Legislation for the improvement of agricultural interests.
5. We suggest that a special effort be directed toward encouraging the use of pure farm seeds, especially clover seed.
6. We advise the encouragement of boys' and girls' club work in the county, and think it will do much toward keeping the farm boy and girl on the farm.
7. We recommend a close affiliation of all organizations in the county, that have for their object the improvement of the conditions surrounding the farmer.
Although the Farm Bureau was organized as an educational service it was soon recognized by the leaders that it could provide commercial and legislative
71
service to its members, also.
The Edgar County Seed Company was founded and operated until 1921 when it was sold to Mr. M.J. Money. This sale was made not for lack of business but because the company was under-financed.
The Purebred Livestock Association was formed and 275 head of purebred cattle and 325 head of purebred hogs were brought into the company.
A demonstration of 4, 5, 6, and 8 horse hitch's was held on the W.A. Dennis farm showing how to eliminate side draft in plowing.
Soil testing and application of needed amounts of lime and phosphate were promoted.
A Dairy Herd Improvement Association was organized in 1922. A Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized 1923 and with it reduced premiums for light- ning rods, fire extinguishers and fire resistant roofs.
In 1924, Chester Boland entered a sample of Manchu soy beans in the In- ternational Hay and Grain Show and was awarded the Grand Champion prize.
In 1926 the Edgar County Supply Company was organized and in March of 1927, it and eight other county companies organized the Illinois Supply Supply.
In 1928 the Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau sponsored the organization of the Equity thion Creamery which opened on West Madison Street.
Corn husking contests were started in 1931. Also the Edgar County Grow- ers Association was forced to sell strawberries.
The federal farm programs of the early thirties were backed by Farm Bureau.
On November 25, 1936, a Rural Electrification meeting was held and a community survey was started. Meetings were scheduled to give farmers in all parts of the county a chance to hear the REA story. Personal contacts were made. The Farm Bureau played an extremely important role in providing leader- ship and helping with the canvassing of farmers to get the sufficient number of signatures. In December a Farm Bureau committee consisting of W.A. Dennis, B. M. Huffman, Lawrence Langford, and H. Zeis Gumm was named to check into the
72
possibility of organizing the cooperative. One of their main chores was get- ting signatures on tentative agreements to use electricity, if it became a- vailable, and drawing up maps getting up the project. The Farm Bureau Board authorized Mr. Gumm to divert his attention from collecting Farm Bureau membership dues and to sign members to the Electric Cooperative.
By July of 1938, after hundreds of hours of free work by interested farmers wanting electricity, the first loan was applied for by the Edgar Elect- ric Cooperatives. It was approved for $280,000 to build 255 miles of line to serve 593 members.
The Edgar Electric Coop has grown until now it has almost 1400 miles of line in 5 counties serving 4000 members. The first board of the electric coop was composed of Bernie Curtis, O.J. Bandy, 0. Cliff Winans, Walter Little, Clayton Perisho, B.K. Huffman, and John O. Honnold. Later Mr. O.J. Bandy resigned to become the Coops first Manager and Russell Elledge was ap- pointed to the board in his place.
During the past 25 years Farm Bureau affilates have been rather stable. The Edgar County Locker was built in 1947 and a grain company was started in 1948, later liquidated in 1952. At the present time Farm Bureau affilates are, in addition to the Locker Plant, the Country Companies Insurance (1926), The Edgar County Marketing Association (1941), the Illinois Auction Commission which is owned by the Marketing Association (1963), and Producer's Supplies which is a service of livestock health supplies.
Farm Bureau has supported 4-H from its beginning but the gift of a plot of land adjacent to the fair grounds by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Fite was the start of a modern 4-H grounds. In 1953, under the direction of Homer Myers, Ward Watson and the 4-H Committee, the first 4-H building was erected on the land given by M. and Mrs. Earl Fite. A loan of $2, 000 was made by the Farm Bur- eau to complete the project. Two thirds of the assets of the Edgar Courty Fruit Grower's Association were added to the 4-H Building fund and one third given to the Edgar County Children's Home when the Association was dissolved.
73
In the spring of 1955 the 4-H Committee purchased more land from Mr. and Mrs. Fite. The home economics building and rest rooms were completed in August. The Farm Bureau paid all outstanding accounts until such time as the 4-H Building Committee could reimburse them through contributions. Supporters of the county 4-H program were so generous in their contributions that by the spring of 1956 the debt had been paid and there was a surplus in the building fund. Farm Bureau was very active in the development of the 4-H grounds which have become one of the best in the State. In 1962 a County Association was form- ed to assume all the responsibility and ownership of the property. Walter Kimble was appointed to represent the Farm Bureau on the Association's Board of Directors.
In November of 1954, Memorandum 1368 was received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture which in effect separated Extension Service and Farm Bureau. The original purpose of Farm Bureau was to support Extension Service. Through the years as needs arose, commercial affiliates and the legislative programs were developed by Farm Bureau. Naturally this drew criticism from people in com- petition with affiliated companies. Memorandum 1368 called for the separation of Farm Bureau and Extension Service. Thus it was necessary for Edgar County Farm Bureau to continue its support over the past 13 years in an amount over $100,000.00 and are presently contributing $7200.00 per year to the support of Agricultural Extension Service in Edgar County.
SUMMARIZATION BY BEN ROBINSON
As we think back over the 50 years that Farm Bureau has served the farmers, of Edgar County, one cannot help but marvel at the initiative and foresight of the leadership that has guided our organization through the trials and tribu- lations of a half century of progress.
The Edgar County Farm Bureau has been working to help the cause of the in- dividual farmers in every thing that affects his well being.
To point out a few of the specific things - first we might mention the
I
1
1
74
legislative forse that we maintain at Springfield through IAA Legal Department. These men are the watchdogs of the farmers welfare in the Legislature. Many hundreds of dollars have been saved for the farmer through the legislative efforts of the Farm Bureau. Such legislation as gas tax, refund on non-highway gas, no sales tax on feed and fertilizers, no licensing on farm tractors and wagons.
Next we might mention the Farm Bureau Affiliates. They were brought into being to fill a certain need. The purpose of a farm cooperative affiliate is to improve the profitability or the convenience of farming. As we check hack over the history of the Affiliates in Edgar County, they have pretty well lived up to the above test. However, a few mistakes have been made and it is quite likely that we will be guilty of making a few more.
Farm Bureau has always taken an active part in the youth work in Edgar County. They have given a great deal of financial support to 4-H work in Edgar County and are continuing that practice, at the present time.
The schools of Edgar County have also benefited by the Farm Bureau. It was a Farm Bureau appointed Committee of nine men that worked with the County Superintendent of schools and was aided by the Legal Staff of IAA that was primarily responsible for the School Consolidation that took place in Edgar County during 1945-1946. At that time, the number of School Districts, or Units as they are called now, was reduced from well over one hundred to the present number of six.
Farm Bureau has always been a voluntary organization and many of us, hope it always will be. In a nation that has a Democratic form of Government, it does not seem right that one should see organizations to which you are forced to belong, if you are to pursue a certain field of endeavor.
Mr. A.E. Staley who served as President of our Organization for seventeen years once said in one of his Annual Reports, that "he hoped that Farm Bureau would never be guilty of asking for favors from Society that would cause a serious hardship to any other segment of Society." As we review the history
75
of Farm Bureau, it seems that they have lived up to that idea.
As we close this Chapter, in the History of Farm Bureau in Edgar County, we hope that Farm Bureau can continue to represent and serve Agriculture in the County for many years to come.
"It's only through serving that an Organization can hope to live and grow."
Prepared by : Byron McCoy.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
¥
*
*
*
SOME OF THE FIRST FOUND LAST
Clarence Staley's farm of 320 acres located in Elbridge Township, Section 12, Range 10, was entered by John Elliott, October 19, 1816 of Vincennes Territory at Vincennes, Indiana.
* * * * * * * * * On a tombstone in New Providence Cemetery the inscription reads :
William Ewing, died September 9, 1817. Age 76 years, 2 months, 28 days. On a tombstone in New Providence Cemetery the inscription reads:
Ardella Ray, daughter of J.and M.Ray died August 14, 1824. Age 9 years.
Information received from: Fred Staley.
1 1
1
76
ELBRIDGE GRANGE 974 P. of H.
School House Dis. No. 1, T. 13, R. 10, Elbridge Township.
Edgar County, Illinois Jan. 26th. A.D. 1874.
The following named persons met for the purpose of organizing a grange and made application to National Grange through Dept. - A.P. Forsythe for dispensation to work. William French, Daniel Reed, M.C. Easom, Isaac Trog- den, T.J. Trogden, John Easom, Wm. A. Tweedy, Thomas Knight, Lee Cassle, E.A. Easom, James Sanders, James Vance, M.D. Fuqua, James E. Fuqua, Fleming Fuqua, Miss A. D. Rice, Miss Julia Tabler, Miss Della Tabler, Mrs. Mary A. Easom, Mrs. Rebecca Easom, Mrs. Lue Fuqua, Mrs. M.J. Rice, Mrs. Martha Mc- Farland, Serency Rice, John Vance, Noah Fightmaster and Peter Goule and William Tabler.
A public lecture was given by Dept. A.P. Forsythe after which all pre- sent but those making the application for dispensation was requested to re- tire by the Dept. which request was complied with. The Dept. then proceeded to call of the list of names and collect fees from each person above named, total amount collected $65.00. He then give the four degrees to all the above named that was present. William A. Tweedy, Mary A. Easom, Rebecca Easom and Lue Fuqua not present.
Elbridge was adopted as the name of Grange and Election was then held for Master & Sec. Jas. E. Fuqua was duly elected Master. William Tabler was duly elected Sec. The officers elected was duly installed by Dept. A. P. Forsythe. A motion and sec. that we buy a $5.00 Seal. Motion carried. Dept. Forsythe then Rec. $15.00, to send for dispensation, $5.00, to send for Seal and $7.00 for his fee. Total $27.00. Adjourned to meet Feb. 2nd. 1874. William Tabler, Sec.
We have no record of the closing of this order. The last meeting record in this Secretary's book was a regular meeting held March 6, 1880 signed by J.E. Fuqua, Sec.
This GRANGE HISTORY was taken from the Secretary book of J.R. Vance, Grand- father of Paul Vance.
77
TYPICAL CONVERSATION WHEN FISHERIEN !EET
"Hiyamac." "Lobuddy. " "Binearlong?" "Coplours." "Cetchanenny?" "Goddafew." "Kindarthay?" "Bassencarp."
"Ennysizetoom?"
"Cuplapowns." "Hittinhard?"
"Sordalike."
"Whachoozin?"
"Gobbawurms."
"Fishanona boddum?
"Rydona boddum. "
"Whatchadrinkin?" "Jugajimbeam."
"Igoddago." " Tubad." "Seeyaroun." "Yeahtakideezy." "Guluk."
* ***
The bank robber shoved a note across to the teller which read: "Fut the money in a bag, sucker, and don't make a move." The teller pushed back another note: "Straighten your tie, stupid, they're taking your picture.
********
Summer is the time of year when children slam doors they left open in winter.
****** **
Speaking of tranquilizers, even back in Grandpa's time, there was something to make you sleep. They called it WORK. *******
COP: "use your noodle, lady; use your noodle." Rattled Driver: "My goodness! Where is it? I've pushed and pulled everything on the dashboard." ********
Do your duty in all things. You
Cld blonds do not fade. They just
could do no more. You would not wish to do less. * dye away.
********
"Willie, you're a pig. You know what a pig is, don't you?" "Sure, Daddy. A pig is a hog's little boy." **** ***
"Oxygen is essential to all animal existence," lectured the scientist. "Life would be impossible without it; yet it was discovered less than 100 years. ago. A voice from the back row demanded, "What did they do before it was discovered?" *****
The echo always has the last A gossip is one who burns the scandal at both ends.
word.
A laugh, to be joyous, must flow from a joyous heart, for without kindness there can be no true joy.
*****
A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he be- gins to blame somebody else.
*****
For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happi- ness.
***** Violent exercise after 40 is considered very harmful, es- pecially if it is done with a knife and fork. *****
Everytime you throw a little mud, you lose a little ground. ***** The reason a dog has so many friends is that his tail wags instead of his tongue.
*****
The best time to argue is later on.
***** Well-balanced people never try to throw their weight around. *****
Gossip always travels faster over grapevines that are slightly sour.
* The world would be overrun with millionaires, if folks were paid for the time they spend in running the other fellow's business.
*** **
ILLINOIS
BY ACT of the Fifty-fourth General Assembly the song "Illinois" became the official State song. The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sena- tor Florence Fifer Bohrer, daughter of the late Governor Joseph W. Fifer and the first woman to serve as member of the Illinois Senate. The bill passed both houses without opposition and became law by executive sig- nature.
"Illinois" had long been the State song, but it had been given no of- ficial recognition prior to the passage of the bill. The song was written by Charles H. Chamberlin some time between 1890 and 1894, in connection with plans for securing the World's Columbian Exposition for Chicago. Many states were attempting to secure the exposition, Illinois making strong efforts herself with the able assistance of U.S. Senator Shelby M. Cullom and U.S. Senator John M.Palmer, Col. O.B. Knight, a friend of Mr. Chamberlin, in the meantime, was singing throughout Illinois and in Washington, D.C. and so the song was written primarily for him to sing. The lyric was composed by Mr. Chamberlin, but the music had been written by Archibald Johnston in 1870 with another lyric by Charles Mackey. In it's original form the name was "Baby Mine", under which title it won great popularity in the '70s. * *
By thy rivers gently flowing Illinois, Illinois O'er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois Comes an echo on the breeze
Rustling thru the leafy trees, and its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois, And its mellow tones are these, IL - LI - NOIS!
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.