USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 58
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 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112
Another house seems to have been erected in 1832 on the east side of State street just above North street. It was also a log school house and some of the teachers who taught in this building were Mrs. Church, Caroline Depew, Messrs. Coy. Corkings, Fisher, Mitchell, Ensminger, Meredith Gos- ney and James Templin. Although the above named were all teachers in the early schools of Greenfield there is probably some doubt whether all of them taught in the little log school house on North State street. There is also some uncertainty as to how long this school house was used. It is certain that before the county seminary was built schools were conducted on South street and also at two points on North East street.
On August 23, 1843, a contract was entered into with Cornwell Meek for the construction of a county seminary building. It is again a little uncertain as to just when the first school was taught in the seminary. From an issue of the Greenfield Spectator, published in 1848, it is clear that on September 24 of that year, P. Lawyer and Miss M. Walls were to open their second term of school in this building. William T. Hatch also taught several terms and was followed in 1850 by John Wilson, who is still remembered as an old resident of Greenfield. Mr. Wilson was followed by H. R. Morley and James L. Mason. At the June term, in 1855, the county commissioners ordered the auditor and treasurer to proceed to sell the county seminary, in accordance with the provisions of an act approved January 12, 1852.
With the adoption of the new state constitution in 1852, a system of free schools was inaugurated in the state. Under the new law a house was erected in Greenfield on the north side of North street just east of the first alley west of Pennsylvania street. There seems to be some difference of opinion as to whether this house was erected in 1852 or 1854. It was prob- ably erected in 1854. and stood on the site now occupied by the Catholic church. The first teacher in this house was Jonathan Tague who taught dur- ing the winter of 1854-55. John B. Herod taught the school during the next winter and was followed in 1856 by James L. Mason. In 1857 the Rev. David Monfort established his school, which soon outgrew the building. and was then removed to the second story of the Masonic hall. After the removal
615
GREENFIELD.
of the school to the Masonic hall, it was organized as an academy and was attended by quite a number of students from Hancock county, and from sur- rounding counties. This school, known as the Greenfield Academy, has been treated under a separate caption. The public school was made a part of the term of the academy and a catalogue of the school. in 1859. indicates that it included a session of nine weeks.
At the beginning of the Civil War the only schools in Greenfield were those located in the Masonic hall. There was no school house in Greenfield except the little building on North street, which was entirely inadequate. This occasioned quite an agitation, and much that was said and done appeared in the columns of the local paper of that date. On December 19. 1860. the situation was summed up in the following statement by the Democrat : "The fact that there is now no public school house in a town of the size and with the population of Greenfield, and that to secure the advantages and blessing's of a school alike free to all, our school trustees have to go a-begging for rooms in which to hold it, does not speak well for the public spirit and enterprise of its citizens ; or for that appreciation of the benefits of education, which ought to stimulate all good citizens. If. as has been said, education is the guardian of our rights and liberties, and the hope of the world, in this perilous time, to the free institutions of our common country, it beliooves every citizen to con- cern himself in the rearing of the temple of learning in which the rising generations are to be prepared for successful action in riper years. The old and unsuitable building recently parted with for a church for our Catholic fellow citizens. was a miserable apology in size and suitableness, as well as in external appearance. We suggest that the money derived from its sale. together with the funds that have and will hereafter accumulate for building purposes, and such contributions as may be made by citizens, be employed in the purchase of suitable grounds and the erection of a building of sufficient capacity to accommodate all the children of the town Such a building would not only be of incalculable advantages for school purposes. but would be an ornament to the town and an honor to its citizens. Besides it would be a strong invitation for thirfty and energetic tradesmen and others, to settle among us, and assist in making Greenfield what it ought to be-the seat of learning and the emporium of the county."
On January 11, 1861. a school meeting of the citizens was held at the Methodist Episcopal church for the purpose of selecting a teacher. Ninety- nine citizens were reported present. Thomas Carr, one of the corporation trustees, called the meeting to order : A. K. Branham was elected president and Jonathan Tague, secretary. A motion was then made to select a teacher.
516
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
and M. C. Foley was placed in nomination. There seem to have been fac- tions in this meeting and also strong feeling with regard to the school situa- tion generally. . An angry discussion followed the above motion, as reported in the local paper of that date, and the motion was tabled. \ resolution was then adopted by a vote of fifty to forty-nine, the substance of which was to have no schools at all until a suitable and adequate building should be erected for school purposes. . \ heated discussion followed the adoption of this resolution ; many left the meeting and Mr. Branham withdrew from the chair. At the request of a number of citizens who were present, HI. B. Thayer took the chair. Proceedings were then continued and Mr. Foley was elected.
In the latter part of January, 1861, the corporation trustees appointed H. J. Williams school trustee. He secured a hall and the Methodist Episcopal church for rooms and authorized Q. D. Hughes to ascertain which of the schools the citizens desired to patronize. This created a spirit of rivalry between the two schools. There was more or less ill feeling manifested by the friends of the schools, which caused Mr. Hughes to destroy his list of names and Mr. Williams to resign.
During the winter of 1861 a school was taught at the Methodist Episco- pal church by Lee O. Harris, with Miss Mahala Roney as assistant. In the fall of 1862 Rev. M. H. Shockley and Lee O. Harris were chosen joint prin- cipals of the public school which was taught in the Masonic hall. Mrs. L. S. Gephart, Mrs. Neal and M. V. B. Chapman were assistants. From this time until the close of the war the schools of the city were taught by various teachers, among whom were Mr. Mendenhall, Mr. Johnson. Miss Hall. Lydia Martin and Miss Linda Osborn. In the meantime an agitation was kept up for an adequate school building. In March. 1861, the local paper recited : "We are grateful to learn that the corporation trustees have commenced to work in earnest toward securing a school house for the corporation. They have purchased of Jacob Slifer one acre of ground fronting on the National road, just east of Mr. Sebastian's residence. Brick for the building are to be burned on the ground during the spring months." This, however, proved to be a vision and the building failed to appear.
At the close of the Civil War, on September 13. 1865. another meeting of the citizens was held at the court house to take steps for the erection of a school house. R. A. Riley was elected president of the meeting and William Mitchell, secretary. J. Ward Walker offered the following resolution : "Resolved, that a committee of one from each ward of the town be appointed to solicit subscriptions to build a good and sufficient school house of suf- ficient dimensions to accommodate all of the children in town." This resolu-
117
GREENFIELD.
tion was adopted and the following committee appointed : Morgan Chandler. William Mitchell, H. J. Williams, J. Ward Walker, John W. Ryon and P. 11. Boyd. A committee composed of 11. B. Thayer. F. H. Crawford and P. Guy- mon was also appointed to report on the location and plan of a building and the probable cost thereof. A. K. Branham, school trustee, reported that be had $1.300 on hands in the building fund and that the current levy would raise the amount to $1.500.
The above all looked very favorable and yet it was several years before a new building was constructed. In 1865 Lee O. Harris was again elected principal, with J. M. Stevenson first assistant, and Miss Lou Foley, Miss Linda Osborn and Mrs. Lavina Gephart as other assistants. This school was started in the Masonic hall but was later divided between the Masonic hall and the Methodist Episcopal church. Miss Linda Osborn was principal at the hall , with Miss Mary E. Ogle. Miss Alice Pierson and Mrs. I. S. Gephart as assistants. Miss Lou Foley was principal at the church, and Hattie B. Spinning and Inez Gwinn, assistants. The term continued sixty-five days.
During the fall and winter of 1867-68 the school was conducted by James Williamson: Lizzie Stevens and Miss Linda Osborn were assistants. There were likely other assistants who cannot be recalled at this time. In the mean- time, on December 12, 1867, the trustees of the Masonic hall gave notice that "after the present winter the hall cannot be procured for school services, public or private." The spring term, however, opened on April 6, 1868, with Lec O. Harris, principal, again at the ball, with William M. Johnson, Miss Mary E. Ogle, and Edward C. Galbreath as assistants, and M. C. Foley principal at the church, with Miss Linda Osborn and Miss Nannie Foley, assistants. Dur- ing the winter of 1868-69 the school was taught by D. R. Van Wie and II. F. Spencer, assisted by Mrs. L. S. Gephart and others. Mr. Van Wie afterward taught two private schools in rooms that were rented from the business men of town.
On May 4, 1868, an election was held in Greenfield to determine the site for a school building. The voters were to choose between two sites, one where the West building now stands and the other at the southwest corner of Bradley's addition. In this election one hundred and forty-six votes were cast in favor of the West site and seventy-three in favor of locating the school in Bradley's addition. Benjamin Elder had offered to give the ground now occupied by the West school building on condition that the school house be erected thereon. After the election the school trustees advertised for bids for the construction of the new school house. The bid of Harmon Everett was the lowest, and the contract for the construction of the West building was
518
IIANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
awarded to him for $10,974. About December 1, 1869, another meeting of the citizens was held for the purpose of taking steps to procure furniture for the new school. At this meeting R. A. Riley offered the following resolution. which was adopted: "Resolved, that the board of town trustees be required to issue corporation orders, payable in one year, in such sums as may be needed for convenient use in procuring seats and other necessaries for the school house and that they levy such tax as they may be authorized by law to levy for the payment of the same." H. B. Wilson, Thomas Bidgood, William S. Wood and William Mitchell were appointed as a committee to solicit citizens to accept such orders for money advanced. During the evening and in the following morning this committee raised seven hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose above mentioned.
On January 26. 1870. the Greenfield free school was opened in the new building with two hundred and thirty-six pupils. N. W. Fitzgerald was prin- cipal, and Miss L. A. Osborn, Mrs. Julia Fitzgerald, Miss Mary F .. Ogle, Miss Mattie Flanner, Mrs. E. E. Galbreath and Mrs. J. W. Lacy were assistants. The school board at the time was composed of A. K. Branham. P. H. Boyd and H. B. Wilson. Mr. Fitzgerald was principal of the school just one year, but he introduced some methods that were copied for several years in a greater number of the schools of the county. For the purpose of encouraging industry and attendance at school, he placed upon "Honor Rolls." which were made at the week ends near the close of the term, the names of all pupils who had been perfect in their recitations and deportment and had lost no time by absence or tardiness. These Honor Rolls were published in the local papers. Following are lists of the pupils whose names appeared upon the Honor Rolls that were published from time to time during the spring of 1870.
"Room I, Mary Ogle. teacher-Willie Shenway, Amelia Pie. Charles Danner, Georgia Creed, Emma Rardin, Nancy Anderson, Thomas Webb. Bell Baker. Lorenzo D. Pallou, Mary Lace, Allen Cooper, Eva Lacy, Alice Dobbins. George Gephart. John Crush, Juliet Cooper and Parthenia Slifer.
"Room 2, L. A. Osborn, teacher-Charles Keefer, Arthur Gorman, Wil- lie Sears, Arthur Chapman, Thomas H. Mitchell, Thomas Hogan, Jefferson Cox, Glespie Vickrey, Belle Marsh, Lelia Walker, Anna Chambers, Sarah Lace, Sarah Earles, Mollie Creviston, Kate Howell, Allie Anderson. Douglass Hamilton. Charlie Skinner. Charles Personette, Samuel C. Mitchell, R. Wil- lie Brown, Willie Randall, Frank Addison. Ottie Skinner. Rosa L. Gant. Lina Banks, Fannie Adams. Miranda Nicholson. Allie E. Walker, Ella Nicholson. Jessie Randall, Louisa Sears, George Cooper, Ernest Williams, Joseph Walker.
619
GREEN FIELD.
Frank Hammel, James Walsh, John Walsh, Fernando Carmichael, Emma Carr, Rosalind Banks, Lizzie Crowell, Elza Wharton. Anna Shepard, Josie Tague. Ida B. Cox and Isadora Wilkins.
"Room 3. M. E. Flenner, teacher- Quinn Johnson, Iona Williams, Laura Pope and Arthur Walker.
"Room 4-Elmer Swope, Elva M. Riley, Annie Carr, Fannic Keefer, Penn Bidgood, Edgar Tague, Annie Chittenden, Angie Williams, George Wil- son, Eliza Slifer and Brainard Cooper.
"Room 5, principal department, N. W. Fitzgerald, superintendent-H. G. Amick, Clint Hamilton. Mary L. Wilson, William Hammel, Lizzie McGregor, James A. New. Julia Wilson, Jennie Roberts, John F. Mitchell, Mollie Lacey, William Pierson, J. R. Boyd, Mellie Ryon, Samuel C. Fitzgerald, Laura Brown, T. M. Morgan, Paulina King, Pet Guymon, Edwin Howard, Kizzie Short, William Wilson and Annie Tague."
The Honor Roll proved to be a popular idea. Several teachers in the county adopted the plan before the close of the school in 1870, and for almost ten years thereafter the local newspapers continued to publish such lists from schools in all parts of the county.
The Honor Rolls published by Superintendent Fitzgerald also put the pupils in a much more favorable light than that in which they had found them- selves during the previous summer, when an unsympathetic observer wrote of them in the local paper : "The boys of Greenfield are probably on a par with boys of other towns, but they are a decided nuisance when congregated at the court house yard playing marbles, killing the grass and endangering the trees by their continual tread, saying nothing of their loud and improper talk. They had better be pulling weeds in their gardens, or reading some useful book."
In the fall of 1871, George W. Puterbaugh was elected principal, with F. C. Doran. Lee O. Harris, Miss Frank Ross, Miss Rachel Howell and Miss Mary E. Dille, as assistants. In 1872, Mr. Puterbaugh was again elected principal, with Lee O. Harris. W. P. Smith, W. S. Fries, Abram W. Frost, Jacob Rothenberger, Argie H. Parker, Kate R. Geary and Julia Mathers, assistants. With a few changes the same corps of teachers was employed in the fall of 1873. In 1873 a colored school was organized, with fifteen pupils, and with John L. Bailey as teacher. The school was discontinued after 1895. The corps of teachers employed in the fall of 1874 was composed of George W. Puterbaugh, principal, and Theodore Winn, Kate R. Geary, Bessie R. Good, Angie H. Parker and Julia Mathers.
A little incident occurred in the school in 1875 that aroused quite a great deal of interest. One R. M. Hughes, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was in the
620
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
state of Indiana, visiting schools. He seemed to be especially interested in arousing a love for Shakespeare among the pupils. He offered a beautiful gold medal to the pupil in the Greenfield schools who would best interpret Hamlet's "Soliloquy on Death." Thirty-five pupils read, many others listened and were to have taken part, but gave up the contest. The judges were John H. Binford, James A. New, and Dr. Alvin J. Thomas, minister of the Christian church. The winners of the first. second and third places respectively were. Alice Creviston. Earl Brown and Ida Geary. The inscriptions on the medal given as first prize were : "Presented as a token of respect by a lover of talent, February 25. 1875:" on the reverse side, "Trust in God and allow nothing to prevent you from acting honorable at all times. R. M. Hughes." This gold medal is still treasured by Mrs. Alice Glascock.
In 1875. John H. Binford was chosen principal, with W. S. Fries, Mag- gie Brown. Jennie Sisson, Bessie R. Good, Clara L. Bottsford and Julia Math- ers, assistants. Jacob Rothenberger taught the colored school.
In 1876-77 John H. Binford was again elected principal, with Maggie Brown. Kate R. Geary. Jennie Sisson, Cornelia Lowder. Angie H. Howard. Prudence Hougham and Eva Williams, as assistants. The colored school was taught by Edward H. Tiffany. This was the first term of school taught within the corporation of the city of Greenfield.
In 1877 W. H. Simms was elected superintendent. His assistants were J. J. Pettit, Clara B. Bottsford, Prudence Hongham, Kate R. Geary, Mrs. J. W. Jones. Jennie Sisson. Eva Williams. Edward H. Tiffany taught the colored school.
Mr. Simms was retained as superintendent for the year 1878-79. Miss Mary E. Sparks was the principal of the high school and Mrs. Kate Applegate. Ella Creswell. Aggie McDonald, Ella Bogu, Eva Williams and Kate R. Geary were grade assistants. Edward H. Tiffany taught the colored school.
In the spring of 1879 the first class graduated from the Greenfield high school. On Wednesday evening. April 9 of that year, the first commencement was held and the following program rendered at the Masonic Hall :
PROGRAM.
Class motto-Palma non sine labore. Music. Prayer. Music. Salu- tatory, "The Kaleidoscope." by E. J. Williams. Oration, "Great Men are Beacon Lights," by Samuel C. Mitchell. Music. Essay. "Simon Says Thumbs Up." by Miss Laura Pope. Oration, "Gold Basis," by George H. Cooper. Music. Valedictory. "The Web of Life is Strangely Woven." by Ida B. Geary.
621
GREENFIELD.
Music. Presentation of diplomas, by W. H. Simms, superintendent. Music. Benediction.
The essays and orations delivered by the students on that evening were all published in the issue of April 17. 1879. of the Hancock Democrat. The program above is typical of the programs that were given for a number of years-in fact, until 1896. For a number of years the essays and orations of the students were published in the Hancock Democrat.
In the spring of 1896 the plan of holding the commencement was changed, and for the first time a lecturer was brought to the city to deliver a "commence- ment address." The high school commencement was held on April 10. of that year. at which Dr. J. T. Headley, of Cleveland, Ohio, delivered a discourse on "The Sunny Side of Life." The plan of employing a speaker instead of having the essays and orations of the students was not very kindly received by a great many pepole. Many preferred to hear the students and felt that a commencement was a students' occasion and that a lecturer had no business on the platform. It is interesting to observe the comment on the subject that appeared in the local papers at that time. It was not until a year or two later that protests entirely disappeared from the local press.
Mr. Simms was retained as superintendent of the schools during the years of 1879-80-81. Miss Sparks was also retained as principal of the high school during those years. Only a change or two was made in the grades. Laura A. Pope was added to the list in the fall of 1879. Calvin Gillium was employed to teach the colored school in the fall of 1879 and was retained until the spring of 1882. In 1881 John W. Stout was elected superintendent of the schools and Mary E. Sparks retained as principal of the high school. The grade assistants were Miss Ada Anderson. Kate Applegate. Mattie Sparks. Ida Geary, Laura Pope, Eva Williams and Anna Harris.
In 1882-83 Mr. Stout and Miss Sparks were retained, the grade assist- ants being Ada Anderson, Ida Geary. Laura Pope. Eva Williams, Vickey Wil son, Edna Smith and Anna Harris. Robert A. Roberts taught the colored school.
During the summer of 1883 the east school building was erected. Hunt & Herron were the contractors and Albert Fitz did the brick work. The con- tract price for the building was five thousand four hundred dollars. During the school year of 1883-84 J. M. Strasberg was superintendent and Miss Mary E. Sparks, principal of the high school: the assistants at the West building were Ida Geary. Vickie Wilson and Laura Pope during the first part of the term. The term was finished by Mattie Sparks. Artic Linville. Jennie Willis and Anna Harris.
6,22
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
The first teachers at the East building were Mrs. Strasberg. Ada . Ander- son, Iduna Smith and Iola Coffin. Robert A. Roberts again taught the col- ored school. In 1885 J. V. Martin was elected superintendent of the schools and Mary E. Sparks, principal of the high school. Mr. Martin served as superintendent until the time of his death in 1889. Will H. Glascock was elected in the fall of 1889 and served until the spring of 1891.
Until 1887 the Greenfield high school offered only a three-year course. After that, another year was added. There were no commencement exercises at the close of the term, the class not graduating until the spring of 1888. when they had finished the four-year course.
During the superintendency of Mr. Glascock the schools became crowded and an agitation was started for another building. In 1890 plans for the new building were made before a site for the building had been selected. . At that time the school board was required by law to obtain an order from the city council to build a school house. This privilege the city council refused to give until it was determined where the new school house should be located. The council wanted the building in the second ward, the school board was opposed to locating it in the second ward but wanted it more centrally located in order that it might serve as a high school building for the entire city. To aid in the determination of the matter a meeting of the citizens was held at the court house on the evening of May 10, 1890. Reuben A. Riley was elected chairman of the meeting and William J. Sparks, secretary. Judge Gooding stated the object of the meeting to be "to consider the question of further school privileges for the accommodation of the children of the city." The question for consideration was whether the building should be located in the south part of town or north of Main street. Henry Snow and William R. Hough both spoke on the question urging that the house be located in the second ward. south of the railroad.
The chair then appointed David S. Gooding. William R. Hough and Elbert Tyner as a committee on resolutions. This committee reported in substance that, whereas petitions had been presented to the school board signed by 245 persons, representing more than one-half of the taxpayers of the city and two-thirds of the residents in the first and second wards, asking that the school building be located within the second ward, and that since the people of the second ward were asking for a grade building and not for a high school building, that therefore a four-roomed building ought to be erected in the south ward not nearer than four squares to Main street, etc. This resolution was adopted. The present site of the South building was then determined upon by the school board, composed at the time of D. H. Goble, Joseph Bald-
623
GREENFIELD.
win and Edward P. Scott. On June 14. 1800, a contract was entered into between the school board and Orr & Lane for the construction of the house. for $5.946.
The action taken above settled the matter of the South building. There was still an agitation, however, for a high school building. The high school was still located in the West building, which was becoming inadequate. On March 20, 1895, the city council ordered an ordinance prepared to authorize the city school board to erect a $30,000 high school building. Steps were taken for issuing bonds, which were sold on April 3, 1895. for $28.850. The purchasers, on examining the transcript of the record. however, refused to take the bonds on the ground that they were illegal, exceeding the two per cent. limit. Later in the summer the bonds were sokl.
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.