Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1, Part 24

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 982

USA > Indiana > Adams County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1 > Part 24
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1 > Part 24

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).

ent time, as well as in the past, the county may be truthfully considered surprisingly free from " shysters." One testimony to their ability is the fact that attorneys are seldom imported from other counties to at- tend to important cases. During the early years of the county's history, lawyers fre- quently came from Fort Wayne, and later from Bluffton and Portland, but this now happens less often.

Beatty Mcclellan came to Decatur in 1840, from Greene County, Ohio, remained a few months, and removed to Winchester, Ran- dolph County. He taught school here, and also took what legal business he could find; hence he may be called the first resident attorney of Deeatur. Ile afterward became a very able lawyer, and when last heard from he was leading a retired life at Columbus, in Bartholomew County.

William H. Bugh and William Carson came to Decatur in 1848, and left in 1851. Bugh was from Ohio, and went from here to Wisconsin. He was a Whig, and while here was a candidate for Representative, and also clerk. Carson was from Ft. Wayne, whither he returned from this place, and where he is

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still in the practice of the law. He was, while here, a candidate for Representative on the Whig ticket, but afterward affiliated with the Democratic party.

W. G. Spencer practiced law from 1849 to 1860, and then was elected county anditor. Since his two official terms of four years cach he has been a hardware merchant of Decatur. Ile has always been a Democrat. ,

David Studabaker studied law with Judge Jacob Haynes, of Portland, and in June, 1852, chose Decatur as his first location for the pursuit of his profession. Ile practiced continuously for thirty-one years (longer than any other attorney ever in Adams County), and since 1983 has given his attention to banking. Ile is politically a Democrat.

James R. Bobo studied with Mr. Studa- baker in 1858-'59, and commeneed the prac- tice in 1860. IIc devoted himself to it continuously until November, 1877, when he took the office of circuit judge, to which he had been elected in 1876. He is now serving his second term of six years. Judge Bobo is politically a Democrat. lle has been two terms in the House at Indianapolis, and one in the Senate.

The oldest attorney now regularly devoted to the profession is Robert S. Peterson, who read law with Mr. Studabaker. The other resident practitioners are John T. France, Daniel D. Heller, E. A. Huffinan, Paul G. Hooper, J. T. Merryman, Elias G. Coverdale, Jay Dorwin, John T. Bailey, Judson W. Tecple, Clark J. Lutz, L. C. Devoss, J. F. Mann, J. E. Thomas, Philip L. Andrews and J. Fred France. At Geneva, in the south part of the county, are P. B. Manley and William Drew.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

There is no calling requiring higher quali- fications or involving greater responsibilities on the part of its followers than that of medi-

cine. These requirements are none too highly compensated, especially in a new country. As humanity is everywhere physically imper- feet, the first settlers of the county had not been here very long, or become very numer- ous, before the doctor was needed, to look after the "chills and fever," or some other ailment. In those days, when people were poor and money was scarce, much of the physician's work was pure benevolence, in- volving long trips through a sparsely-settled country, at inelement seasons and for uncer- tain remuneration.

The first physician resident at Decatur was named Williams. Ile came in 1837 or 1838 from Ohio, and after five or six years moved to Willshire, Ohio. William Tront came in 1840 from Pennsylvania, and practiced nntil his death in 1885, forty-five years after he settled. Pomeroy Porter came carly in the "forties," and was killed while in the army, during the civil war. William Moore was an carly physician. Ile remained until a few years ago, when he went to Iowa. Ile is now at Bluffton, Ohio. Drs. Little and Champer were here in an carly day, and died at Decatur. Among the physicians best re- membered in the county were the Pierces, three in number. John Pierce came from Willshire, Ohio, abont 1850, and returned to that place, where he is still in practice, about twenty years ago. Jacob Pierce was here eight or ten years, and died before the war. Thomas Pierce practiced a few years at De- catur, moved away, and is now dead. The present physicians of Decatur are: T. T. Dor- win, D. G. M. Trout, Jonas Coverdale, B. R. Freeman, C. A. Jelleff, J. S. Boyers, J. S. Mann (Ilom.), P. B. Thomas and II. S. Cos- tello. At Geneva, II. M. Aspy, James Brels- ford and S. G. Ralston are all practicing physicians. W. Broadwell has the field to himself at Berne.

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BY J. F. SNOW, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.

IlE pioneers of Adams County were a moral, industrious and relig- ious people. They had great respeet for law and order though their educational advantages were limited. It mattered not what their religious differences were, there was a common agreement in regard to the re- quirements of their children at home and at school. They were edneated to observe good habits, polite manners and to maintain their honor; men, nations, and even school-boys believe as they are educated. The pioneer was edneated to believe that the pugilistie encounters were often necessary to maintain his honor. The pioneer teacher was not an exception to the rule, and resorted to frequent applications of the rod to appease his wrath and vindieate his honor.' In many of the pioneer schools

were sown the seeds of education that have sinee grown to ripe fruit. Numbers of our solid citizens relate their experience as school-boys and eredit the great ineonven- iences to which they were subjeet as useful assistants in their preparation for life's school.

FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSES.

The early settlers were surrounded by many inconveniences that nothing but a develop- ment of the country could overcome. Their lands were covered with heavy forests; mar- kets were distant; roads and bridges were unknown and the country was sparsely set- tled. As time was required to overcome these hindrances it was not until abont 1839 that the first school-honse was erected in Adams County. It was located on seetion 20, Root Township, and is said to have been built of hewn logs; it had a puncheon floor, and a linge elay chimney and fire-place. The elapboard door swung on wooden hinges, and greased paper was used as a substitute for glass in the windows. The school enjoyed

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an abundance of fresh air, as the ventilation was unquestionably good. The inner walls were provided with wooden pins upon which hats and dinner pails were hung. The sub- stantial baekless seats completed the outfit of school furniture. Perhaps near the same date the second school-house in Adams County was built near the center of section 20, Wabash Township. It was built in ac- cordance with the specifications given in the school law of 1824, and was similar in the main to the one previously built in Root Township. About the same date, 1839, De- catur claims honors in the same direction, her first school-house being a hewed log house of lawful dimensions. Probably the last log school-house erected in the county stands in the southeast corner of section 2, Kirkland Township. It is yet in quite a fair state of preservation, and is used as a dwelling house by one of the citizens of Peterson. The number of school districts did not rapidly increase, and when State Su- perintendent Larrabee asked for a statistical report from the county school commissioner in 1852, he ascertained that there were but seven school-houses within the limits of Adams County. In 1873 the last log school- house gave place to a commodious briek. The old rickety rough bench without a back has yielded its place to the improved modern folding seat. The days of the log school- house and puncheon seat have passed away, and but few of the sturdy pioneer school- boys are left to relate their history. Most of the schools in this county are fairly pro- vided with educational appliances and appa- ratns. The new Constitution of 1851 made provisions for the establishment of a gen- eral and uniform system of common schools wherein tuition shall be without charge and open to all. The seliool law made in the following year was quite liberal, and was

founded upon the principle that the property of the State should educate the children of the State. Provisions were made by which free libraries were established in each town- ship; these libraries at the present time eon- tain about 2,000 volumes, but they are but little used and may be considered worthless as educational assistants. Trustees were em- powered to build school-houses independent of the vote of any particular district and pay their teaeliers in cash.

This was an era of prosperity and hence- forth the schools steadily prospered and inereased in usefulness.

The first brick school-house in Adams County was erceted in 1873, and is known as the Dent School, in Root Township. At the present time there are thirty brick school buildings within the county, and are distrib- uted as follows: Blue Creek Township, six; Root Township, five; Washington Town- ship, four; St. Mary's and Monroe Townships, three each; Preble, Kirkland and French Townships, two each; Union Township, Geneva and Deeatur, one each. The remain- ing sixty-four buildings are frame, five of which will likely be supplanted the coming year by substantial briek buildings. The total estimated value of school property within the county in 1885-'86 was $94,575, which includes school apparatus to the amount of $4,975. The estimated value of the Geneva building is 84,000. The Union School Building of Decatur is valued at $16,000.

TEACHERS, EXAMINATIONS, ETC.

It is not an easy matter to determine who taught the first school in Adams County, for several persons began about the same time, and this before any regular school buildings were ereeted. James Smith is said to have been the first to honor the legally authorized

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pedagogical chair in this county. But little can be ascertained of him except that his stay in these " back woods" was of short duration. Ile taught the first school in the building located in Root Township as above deseribed. He taught early and late, shook with the ague and fought mosquitos in true pioneer style. 'Tis true the pioneer teacher had many inconveniences with which to contend and many privations to endure, but he was ever exempt from virtue from morn- ing till night in an attempt to answer lists of questions to test his special fitness to teach in the public schools. This important matter was carefully weighed by the three township trustees until 1837, when the law was changed and three school commissioners were ap- pointed to enquire into the natural and acquired abilities of applicants and license those considered competent. The qualifica- tions of applicants were tested on reading, writing and ciphering, or arithmetie; and in later years spelling was considered as an accomplishment worthy of partienlar mention. Books were searee and the teacher who could produce the best "eiphering book " of his own construction and write a fair hand was always in demand. The edneational pulse grew stronger as the county developed, and from 1852, under the new school law, the number of school districts rapidly increased. Eight years later, in 1860, teachers were gratified to learn that they could find employ- ment in the school-room for from ten to twelve weeks within the year at a cash salary of from $1.40 to $1.50 a day. Quite a sensa- tion was produced in the pedagogical fraternity when the Legislature of 1865 passed the act requiring applicants to pass written examinations, and to pass on two additional branches: physiology and history of the United States. At this time those applicants who cvineed the special fitness

were searee, and many trustees had difficulty in procuring the required teachers for their schools. The new regime met with deter- mined opposition by the old teachers, but the younger ones and new aspirants to pedagogi- eal honors packed their grip-sacks and started in the direction of the Liber College, near Portland, Jay County, Indiana, or the Meth- odist Episcopal College at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in order to prepare in the new and objection- able branches. This gave a temporary boom to those institutions, and Liber College especially saw her most prosperous days. The same Legislature abolished the school commissioner's office and instituted the county sehool examiner in its stead. The examiner held fast to the requirements of the law, and many who would not comply with the demands of the times wearied by the wayside and fell from the pedagogical ranks.

Since 1850 the German element has rap- idly increased in several parts of Adams County; especially so in Root, Preble, French, Ilartford and Wabash townships. The early school laws made no provisions for German to be taught in English sehools until 1869, when an aet was passed permitting German to be taught as a branch in any public school in the State where a desire of the same was set forth in a petition to the township trustee by the parents or representatives of twenty- five or more school children. At the present time there are twelve sehools within the county in which German is taught as a braneh, and seventy in which German ehil- dren are pupils.

Nearly all of the older German pupils can read and talk the English language. Until 1873 there was no uniformity in the lists of questions nsed by county examiners of the varions counties, in the examination of ap- plicants for teacher's license. Each examiner made his own list of examination questions;

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hence they were light in some counties and severe in others.

In 1873 the State Board of Education be- gan the publication of uniform lists of ques- tions for the examination of teachers in the various counties of the State. County ex- aminers issued licenses to successful appli- cants for six months, twelve months, eighteen months and twenty-four months. A general average of 65 per cent and not falling below 55 per cent entitled the applicant to a fourth grade eertificate or license; a general aver- age of 75 per cent entitled the applicant to a third grade license; a general average of 85 per cent entitled the applicant to a second grade license; a general average of 95 enti- tled the applicant to a first grade license.

The new arrangement was met by strong opposition, but it prevailed and caused many of the time-honored pedagogues to leave the ranks never more to return; others still clung with a death grip to their six months' license, renewing it semi-annually until June, 1883, when an act, of the same year, came into etl'eet, abolishing the eighteen months' license and creating the thirty-six months' license, and making the six months' license a trial license issuable but once to any applicant in any county. Again the number of the weak- er members was reduced. At the Superin- tendents' Convention in Indianapolis June, 1883, it was agreed upon by resolution that the success of teachers should be weighed in granting licenses, and the success of teachers has since been graded and marked upon their certificates at examination. The same con- vention placed the standard of grading the various licenses as follows: Fourth grade, general average of 70 per cent; third grade, general average of 80 per cent; second grade, general average of 90 per cent; first grade, general average of 95 per cent; and not falling below 60 per cent in the lowest

branch for a fourth grade license, nor be- low 80 per cent in the lowest branch for a first grade lieense. In November, 1884, the general average required to pro- cure a fourth or third grade license was raised 5 per cent, making the standard at the present time 75 per cent for fourth grade and 85 per cent for third grade. At the May meeting of 1886 the State Board of Education made an order that after Decem- ber, 1886, all applicants shall furnish a writ- ten review or essay of not less than 600 words upon one of the following subjeets: Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Ivan- hoe, Heart of Midlothian, Henry Esmond, The Spy, The Pilot, The Scarlet Letter, The Sketch Book, Knickerbocker's History of New York, The Happy Boy, Poems of Long- fellow, Poems of Bryant, Poems of Whittier, and Poems of Lowell. Applicants are re- quired to place their signatures to a state- inent that the production is their own original work and in their own handwriting; this production is to be graded the same as other branches upon which applicants are exan- ined. At present the various grades of teachers' licenses are represented in Adams County as follows:

There are three teachers holding fourth grade or six months' licenses; there are forty- two holding third grade or twelve months' licenses; there are forty-one holding second grade or twenty-four months' licenses; and there are twenty-three holding first grade or thirty-six months' licenses. As yet there are no teachers in the county holding State licenses.

SCHOOL BOOKS, COURSE OF STUDY, ETC.

The public schools previons to 1853 were not provided with any uniform series of school text-books, bnt each pupil used as a text-book what he happened to have at hand. The New Testament met with much favor as

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a reading book, and was used in many schools. In 1853 the State authorities made an attempt to scenre uniformity of books under the recent statute providing for such uniformity. Among the books manufactured for school use were Webster's Spelling Book, Murray's Readers and Grammar, and Pike's Arithmetic; later, The Elementary Spelling Book, Kirkham's Grammar, Morse's Geographies, Ray's Arith- metics and the Eclectic Readers. Until 1878 there was but little effort made to classify or grade the distriet schools. At this time appeared the first regular course of study for the district schools of Adams . County. Its introduction was of natural consequence very slow, as many pupils could be induced to take only those branches for which he had a particular taste. The patrons also objected to having their sons study any branch that they could not directly apply to every day business life. Arithmetic and spelling were made hobbies, and the test of a pupil's ability as a scholar was to " spell down" all the schools in the vicinity, and "work all the sums" in his arithmetic. The district school course has been modified from time to time to meet the demands of the schools. In this county there is also a graded school course, which comprises a number of the higher branches in addition to those found in the district school course.

COUNTY GRADUATES.

The subject of graduation from the district schools was under discussion by the promi- nent edneators of the State for a number of years previous to 1883, at which time the plan was put upon a working basis. The first examinations held for county diploma applicants were held in 1883. Applicants were required to pass a creditable examina- tion in the eight common school branches. As a result of the first examination there

were twenty-one successful applicants. The examinations have been held annually ever since the plan was perfected, and at the present time, February, 1887, there are 107 graduates from the district schools of this county, forty-six of whom have since become teachers in the public schools. Since the spring of 1885 interesting commencement exercises have been given by the graduates at Geneva, Linn Grove and Pleasant Mills. The graded schools of the county, since 1883, have annually furnished county graduates.

SCHOOL TERM AND GRADED SCHOOLS.

In the pioneer schools the term was neces- sarily short, and as late as 1860 the term seldom exceeded ten or twelve weeks in duration. As the school advantages multi- plied the term was increased until the pres- ent time, at which the average length of the school term in this connty is abont six and a half months annually. The average wages of teachers for winter sessions is about 81.75 per day. The fall or spring session is about $1.15 per day. A majority of the spring or fall terins are taught by beginners and by lady teachers.

There are now six graded schools within Adams County, including the city schools of Decatur. The first school of more than one department was the Decatur school, which was organized in 1854 in the third school building for Decatur, and known as the " High School Building." At the beginning of this school there were three teachers employed, but we are unable to learn their names. The first attempt to arrange the school with regard to classification or gradu- ation was in 1872. Thomas Wright was the principal at that time, and met with strong opposition in the attempt to accomplish his object; hence it was not until 1878, under the management of S. G. Ilastings,

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that the school was thoroughly graded. In 1881, under the management of Dr. Hastings, it sent forth seven graduates as its first class. In 1882 the school was commissioned by the State Board of Education as a high school, and its graduates invited to enter the State educational institutions without farther ex- amination. Since 1878 it has been under the management of S. G. Hastings, C. G. White and G. W. A. Lnekey, the present superintendent.

The school has gradnated thirty-eight pupils in the last six years, in the regular course. In 1885 a post graduate course was established, which was completed the next year by five of the regular graduates. Of the thirty-eight graduates there are seventeen who became teachers, ten of whom have taught in the primary departments of the eity schools. The school is composed of ten departments, and has an attendanee of about 460 pupils. The past year, by the pupils' entertainments, to which a small admission fee was charged, a library of about 100 volumes has been secured. This is in good demand, and is much used by the pupils of the school. The present school building was erected in 1885, at a cost of about $15,000. The Geneva schools were graded about 1873, the old Methodist Episcopal church building being used for one division of the school. Mr. - Walker was the first principal. In 1879 the Geneva corporation erected a com- modious four-roomed brick school building, at a cost of about $4,000. I. O. Jones was chosen as principal. The school was thoroughly elassified and graded. Mr. Jones was followed in turn by W. C. Ladd, J. F. Snow, L. W. A. Luekey, G. W. Peterson, and W. A. Aspy, the present principal. This school has furnished a number of graduates from the district school course. , It employs four teachers, part of whom were graduated

from the school. The other four graded schools in this county and the dates of their organization are as follows: The Linn Grove school is located at Buena Vista, in Hartford Township. It was organized in 1877, with G. W. A. Luekey as principal. The principals who followed him are L. W. A. Luekey, F. F. Mendenall, G. W. Musser, and Geo. W. Bolds, the present principal. The Monmonth graded school is situated at Momnonth, Root Town- ship, and was organized in 1878, with Ray Berg as principal. The principals who fol- lowed him are J. H. Walters, F. P. Hocker, and G. II. Laughery, the present principal. The Pleasant Mills graded school is situated at Pleasant Mills, St. Mary's Township, and was organized in 1879, with G. W. Peterson as its principal. The principals who followed him are HI. W. Kirby, R. K. Erwin, and Charles Dailey, the present principal. The Ceylon graded school is located at Ceylon, in Wabash Township. It was organized in 1884, with W. A. Aspy as principal. Its present principal is S. MeD. Snow. Under the man- agement of the present principal a school library of fifty or sixty volumes was placed in the school, and is mneh used by the more advanced pupils.

The graded schools at Ceylon, Monmouth and Pleasant Mills each support good literary societies, in the exercises of which a majority of the pupils participate. The people near these schools fully appreciate their benefits, and the near future will add to the number of townships possessing them.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

Within the county there are several paroch- ial sehools. Some of these may be found in Union, Root and Preble townships, and the eity of Decatur. The Lutherans began their schools with their church organizations in Preble Township, about 1840. At present

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their schools continue in session three days within the week, and are taught by the min- ister in charge. The Lutheran organizations own three frame school buildings in the townships heretotore named, and send their children to school until they are about four- teen years of age. A majority of the pupils of these schools also attend the distriet public schools during a part of their sessions.

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Author: Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 982

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 982