USA > Indiana > Henry County > History of Henry County, Indiana > Part 31
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Next began a march of eighty-six miles, through swamps, for Kingston. The regiment started March 6, and accomplished the journey in five days. The regiment served in North Carolina without participating in any fighting until July 11, 1865, when it was mustered out at Greensboro. Arriving at Indianapolis, it was present at a grand reception given returned troops on the 25th of July.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
This was one of eleven regiments of infantry recruited for one year's service under a call of Dec. 20, 1864. The Colonel was a
22
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Henry County citizen. Parts of companies C, D, H and I were from this county. Captain Jesse M. Hiatt, of Company D, Sec- ond Lieutenants Wm. M. Saint and Clement H. Weaver, of Com- pany D; Captain Wm. T. Shelly, of Company H, and First Lieu- tenant Thomas J. Cook, of Company K, were commissioned officers from Henry County.
The One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment (Milton Peden, Colonel) was organized at Indianapolis, March 13, 1865. Three days later it left for Harper's Ferry, Va .; thence, on arrival, marched to Charlestown, where it became one of the provisional divisions of the Army of the Shenandoah. Thenceforth, until finally mustered out, on the 4th of August, 1865, it was engaged in guard and garrison duty at Stevenson Station, Summit Point, Berryville, Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights. Aug. 9 the regiment arrived at Indianapolis with thirty-two officers and 743 men. It was publicly welcomed, and received in the State House Grove on the 11th. Speeches were made by Lieutenant-Governor Baker, General Benjamin Harrison and others; to these addresses an appropriate response was made by Colonel Peden.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
There were eighteen or twenty Henry County soldiers in this regiment-a one year regiment of 1865, organized Feb. 25, 1865, at Indianapolis, with N. R. Ruckle, Colonel. It was on duty in Tennessee until it was mustered out of service, Sept. 5, 1865.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In several regiments not already mentioned there were soldiers from Henry County; too few, however, to warrant a special men- tion of each organization. In the three years' service, in the Second, Twelfth, Nineteenth and other battalions of light artil- lery, there were likewise soldiers from this county.
In the preparation of this chapter the writer has relied mainly upon the report of the State Adjutant-General as the chief source of information. Although that report is inaccurate and incom- plete in some particulars, there is no other means of obtaining the required data. Therefore, should any omissions be noted, the reader will remember that the fault is not that of the editor of this volume.
CHAPTER V.
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THE SCHOOLS OF HENRY COUNTY.
OLD-TIME SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES .- THE LOG SCHOOL-HOUSE DESCRIBED. - THE OLD " MASTERS."-THE FIRST SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY .- PROGRESS OF EDUCATION .- CONDITION OF SCHOOLS IN 1830 AND 1840 .- INFLUENCES LEADING TO PROGRESS .- TEXT BOOKS IN EARLY TIMES .- THE NEW CONSTITUTION .- THE BUILDING OF SCHOOL-HOUSES. - STEADY ADVANCEMENT .- STATISTICS OF EDUCA- TIONAL PROGRESS .- THE HENRY COUNTY SEMINARY .- NEW CASTLE AND KNIGHTSTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS .- SPICELAND ACADEMY.
In Henry County the progress of education has kept pace with the advancement in wealth and the development of material re- sources. As soon as the county was sufficiently settled to enable any neighborhood to open a school a school-house was provided and the services of a teacher secured. Often a room of a pri- vate house was occupied, and sometimes the deserted cabin of a squatter became a temporary school-room, in which the old-time masters, who worked " on the tuition plan," flourished the rod and taught the rudiments of reading, writing and arithmetic. The first school-houses built were structures of the rudest kind, such as no pioneer would be content to occupy as a dwelling. Built of logs, with floors and benches of puncheons, with a huge fire-place and a stick and mud chimney, they were little calculated for comfort or convenience. Window-glass was too expensive an article to be used in the construction of a school-house therefore greased paper was substituted for it. The writing desk was a notable feature in every school-house. It generally extended across one end or one side of the room, and was made of a slab, held in its place by wooden-pins. For architectural effect, probably-certainly not for convenience-it was fastened high upon the wall, and the pupil, in order to use it, must climb upon a high wooden bench and sit there without a support for his back or his feet. Of the qualifica- tions of the teachers of those days, the less said the better, generally speaking. Many were accounted good teachers who in
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
these days would be unable to secure a certificate even of the lowest grade. Yet the most of them put to the best use the little talent they had, and succeeded in planting good seeds in the minds of their pupils. Some of the smartest men that Henry County has ever had received their whole school education in the log school- houses of the pioneer days.
According to the recollection of old residents, the first school taught in Henry County began in 1823 in a cabin which stood south of Church street and west of Court street, on or near the Berkshire lot in New Castle. Richard Huff was the teacher, and the late Judge Elliott one of the pupils.
In 1830 there were several school-houses in the county, though but few neighborhoods were able to sustain a school regularly, and never more than three months in a year. Many facts regarding schools and teachers of that day will be found in the township histories and need not be given here.
In 1840 nearly all of the school-houses were log structures, and about the only improvement which had been made in them was the substitution of a few 7 x 9 panes of glass for the old-fashioned paper windows. At that time the text books in common use were the New Testament, Pike's Arithmetic, Comly's Spelling Book and Webster's Spelling Book. Writing books were generally made of foolscap paper, or of leaves out of some old account book, stitched together. The teacher wrote the copies, and made pens from goose-quills for the whole school. Sometimes evening writ- ing schools were held by some itinerant teacher of penmanship. These were attended by as many as could afford to pay the very moderate tuition fee. The young people derived much pleasure from these gatherings and gained some knowledge of penmanship. Debating societies were instituted early in some parts of the county, with very beneficial results to the youth who took an active part in them.
By 1840 some of the townships had begun to have a small school fund derived from the sale of lands set apart for educational purposes. Though the amount of revenue was generally small, sometimes not more than $2 or $3 for each school, yet this amount served as a nucleus and stimulated neighborhoods to maintain schools. Teachers were paid from $5 to $15 per month. Three months was an unusually long term; probably the average length of school terms did not exceed two months. From 1840 to 1850 there was gradual progress in educational matters. Better
347
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
teachers were to be had in the country schools. The Henry County Seminary had a noticeable influence in qualifying those who taught for their duties. At that time the best schools in the county were at Greensboro, Spiceland, Rich Square and Hopewell. From 1844, for several successive years, Thomas Reagan had charge of the Greensboro school, teaching grammar, algebra, natural philosophy and other high branches. About the same time John M. Macy taught advanced branches at Spiceland, and Thomas N. White at Rich Square.
After the adoption of the new Constitution in 1852, a tax of 16 cents on each $100 worth of property was assessed for school purposes, according to law. Then, for the first time in its history, Henry County began to have school accommodations adequate to the wants of its population. School-houses were erected wherever they were needed, in every township, and a short term of free school taught in each. The greatest want was then found to be good teachers and there was great difficulty in securing such as were competent. The examinations as then conducted were simple and easily passed, embracing only reading, writing, arithmetic, geog- raphy and grammar. But gradually new methods were introduced, and the schools improved. That now indispensable feature in every school-room, the blackboard, made its appearance and with it came progress.
The system of county superintendency has had a most beneficial effect upon the schools since it was introduced. Township and county institutes have accomplished much good work, teaching the teacher, giving him a broader view of his vocation, and caus- ing him to abandon old, worn-out and useless methods. Since 1878 the county superintendent has made out questions for town- ship institutes and personally superintended such meetings. To- day the people of Henry County may well take pride in the excellencies of their school buildings, the general intelligence and high character of their teachers, and the good management exhib- ited in all departments of school affairs. Although there is still room for improvement, magnificent results have already been ac- complished by the free-school system.
In 1850, according to the census for that year, Henry County had seventy-two teachers and seventy-two schools, with 3,846 pu- pils. The school income was $3,749, of which amount $2,286 was derived from taxation and $1,463 from public funds. There were also three academies with four teachers and 130 pupils.
348
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
The following table will illustrate the growth of the common schools of this county since the adoption of the present State Con- stitution. In the first item ( the number of school children), it should be remembered that prior to 1860 all children between the ages of five and twenty-one years were enumerated, and that, since that time, only those between the ages of six and twenty-one were included.
1853.
1860.
1870.
1882.
Number of children.
7,416
7,622
7,046
7.664
Number attending school.
3,246
5,305
5.751
6,653
Number of male teachers*
51
106
108
158
Number of female teachers*
22
42
76
Average pay of males.
$22.50
$27.00
$55.40
$50.00
Average pay of females
$12.50
$21.20
$38.60
$36.20
Length of school in days
50
75
125
School fund distributed.
$5,933
$5,954
$15,454
$26,290
Value of school property
$96,295
$142,264
HENRY COUNTY SEMINARY.
The Henry County Seminary, now a thing of the past, was an important institution in its dav, and gave training to many men afterward distinguished in public and private life.
In the early records of the Commissioners' Court, it is stated that Matthew Williams was appointed "Trustee of the Henry County Seminary," in 1824; John Smith, in September, 1825; Ja- cob Thornburgh, in July, 1826; and Elisha Long, in November, 1827. By " trustee of Henry County Seminary" is meant trustee of the seminary fund. This fund was, according to the Constitution of the State then in force, derived from fines for the breach of law and commutations for military service. This fund had become sufficient about the year 1832 to warrant the erection of a small brick building in New Castle and the seminary was soon supplied with a teacher. The name of the first teacher is involved in obliv- ion, but the first teacher of prominence was a young man from Virginia, Wm. G. Henry. He was a fine scholar and a teacher of excellence for that day, and during his principalship the semi- nary made commendable progress. He taught in 1835-'6, and perhaps longer.
Nimrod H. Johnson, George W. Julian and Prof. Linn were early teachers of the Henry County Seminary. Simon T. Powell
*Statistics of the number of teachers for 1853 cannot be found. In 1856 the county employed ninety-six male and two female teachers, and the average length of school was fifty-two days.
Number of school-houses.
91
98
96
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
took charge of the institution in 1841 and remained until 1844. At first he had an average of forty scholars per term. During the second year the number increased to over seventy.
Thomas Rogers became Principal in 1847. In 1850 a new seminary building was completed and the first school taught in it opened in the fall of that year, in charge of James S. Ferris and R. B. Abbott. Both were noted as successful teachers, and before coming here had taught in the Delaware County Seminary for some time. The report for the first term under their charge showed that 185 pupils were in attendance. In the higher branches, twelve studied Latin; five, Greek; two, Geometry; fifteen, Algebra; four, Astronomy; seven, Natural Philosophy; five, Chemistry; and five, Rhetoric.
The Constitution of 1852 provided for the sale of all county seminaries. The Henry County Seminary therefore became the New Castle Academy-a public school when the school money would permit, and at other times a high school supported by tuition.
NEW CASTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
As already stated, the first school in New Castle was taught in 1823 by Richard Huff. Soon after, Abraham Elliott taught a term of school in a cabin which he had erected in the south part of town, near where Thomas Jordan now lives. Jesse H. Healy was also a teacher in New Castle about 1824. The old log court-house (then new) was next made to serve the purposes of a school-house and there the late Judge Jehu T. Elliott taught a term or two as early as 1825. For many years the schools of New Castle did not out- grow the usual state of village schools. Teachers were changed frequently, there was no system of grading, and the work accom- plished was far from satisfactory. We therefore omit further mention of the early schools and pass on to a later period. After the sale of the county seminary building, the school continued doing good work under the name of the New Castle Academy.
Mr. Abbott retired after a year or two, but Mr. Ferris remained at the head of the school until 1855, when he was succeeded by Thomas B. Redding and John Cooper. Mr. Redding taught one year, and Mr. Cooper two.
Among the later principals and superintendents have been H. M. Shockley, 1867-'69; G. W. Hufford, 1872-'75; Wm. M. Blake, 1876; Wm. Moore, John Caldwell, Henry Gunder and Charles W. Harvey.
350
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Rev. Henry M. Shockley deserves especial mention for the work which he accomplished in the public schools of New Castle. Under him the schools were brought to a standard of excellence hitherto unattained. He left the schools in a very flourishing condition.
In 1868 an order was passed in the town council authorizing the issue and sale of bonds to the amount of $8,000 to procure funds for the erection of additions and improvements to the public school building of New Castle. Subsequently two additional issues of bonds, amounting in all to $6,000, were made. The building was completed in 1869. It contains six large, well-ventilated rooms, besides recitation-rooms, music-rooms, etc., and is capable of accommodating about 500 pupils. It is furnished with modern appliances throughout, and is neat and imposing in architectural appearance.
A new school-building for the further accommodation of the. growing population is to be erected on Christian Ridge in New Castle during the present year. A local paper gives the following description :
The building will be seventy-five feet by seventy-six feet and seven inches, and built of brick. The height of the side walls will be thirty-seven feet six inches. The height of the building from the ground to the top of the deck will be fifty-five feet. The roof will have four gables and be covered with Pennsylvania slate. A hallway thirteen feet wide will extend through the building and will contain two platform stairs, of easy ascent. The foundation will be of stone, with substantial footings, and extend three feet above the ground.
The building will be two stories high and contain eight rooms, four rooms on each floor. Each room will have a wardrobe or cloak-room. The rooms will be 27 x 30 feet in size and fourteen feet high. This will allow fifty pupils to be seated in each room in single desks, and will allow ample room for aisles and teacher's desk. It will allow seventeen square feet of floor space and 238 cubic feet of air space for each pupil.
Each room will be heated by the Grossius ventilating stove or heater, which is in extensive use in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and other cities.
The cost of the grounds was $2,000. The contract for the build- ing was let for $14,297. The grounds consist of five acres of land affording a beautiful site for a public school building. The new school-house is not designed as a ward school, but for the accom-
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
modation of half of the school population of the town. The academy building has long been too small for the wants of the schools.
In June, 1875, the first class, consisting of two members, was graduated from the New Castle High School. The High School curriculum as now arranged embraces both English and classical courses. In the classical course Latin is a required study, and Greek an elective; while in the English course modern languages and the sciences are substituted for the ancient languages. The courses are excellently arranged. According to the school enumeration of April, 1884, New Castle now has nearly 900 children of school age. The actual enrollment at last reports was 685. The schools are in a very efficient condition, under the superintendence of Prof. C. W. Harvey, who is a man well fitted for the position which he holds. The Board of Trustees for 1884 is as follows: Adolph Rogers, President; D. W. Chambers, Secretary; David W. Kin- sey, Treasurer. The teachers now employed are the following:
Almeda Donahoo, Grade No. 1; Emma Shriner, Grade A 2; Carrie Goodwin, Grade B 2; Sylva Compton, Grade No. 3; Rella Moore, Grade No. 4; May Moore, Grade No. 5; Sarah Harvey, Grade No. 6; Georgie Lockhart, Grade No. 7; Ida Mullen, Grade No. 8; John Schurr, High School; C. W. Harvey, Superintendent. Miss Almeda Donahoo has been a teacher in the primary depart- ment for the past ten years, and is especially well adapted to her work. Mrs. Georgie Lockhart has been connected with the schools for several years, and is a very excellent teacher in the advanced grades. Prof. Schurr, of the High School, is a graduate of Asbury University, an experienced and thoroughly competent teacher.
KNIGHTSTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The people of Knightstown have always exhibited a marked in- terest in the cause of education. To-day they have one of the best schools in the State, and a public school building which cannot be surpassed by any town of similar size in the whole State.
The first school in the town was taught by Dr. Hiatt in a pri- vate house. The first school-house was erected in 1832, and is still standing, being now used as a dwelling. The house is a frame building, 16 x 20 feet, and was built on the corner of Jefferson and Jackson streets. Asa Heaton was the contractor. The first term after the house was built was taught by Henry Carroll. He was succeeded by Eliza Holman and others. The school-house also
.
352
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
served for several years as a town hall and as a place for public meetings.
In 1836 a stock company was formed for the purpose of erecting a larger school-house. As a result the Knightstown Academy grew and flourished in a building on East Brown street, afterward Captain Steiner's residence. Here Profs. Hannum, Cooley, Hand, Misses Babbitt and Peas, and Rev. Kemper taught. In 1850 a large two-story frame building was erected by William Hatch and used until the brick school-house was erected. It was afterward used as a carriage shop.
In 1856 the School Trustees of the town-Robert Woods, Milton Peden and Amos B. Fithian-determined to have better school ac- commodations, and in the following year the foundation of the old brick academy was laid. The building was well furnished. Will- iam Haughton taught the first term in it. The present school- building, one of greatest excellence, was finished in 1877 at a cost of about $31,500. Prof. Charles Hewitt has served as School Superintendent since 1870.
SPICELAND ACADEMY.
This noted educational institution, which has won an honorable reputation abroad as well as at home, is rightfully an object of pride to Henry County citizens.
The people of Spiceland early gave attention to education. Soon after the Friends erected their first meeting-house, a log building (prior to 1830), a school was taught in it. Dr. Vierling Kersey was one of the early teachers, and Solomon Macy, still living, another. As time passed on, a larger school-house was deemed necessary, and a wooden building was erected on land purchased by the Monthly Meeting. This structure has since been enlarged, and is now one of the academy buildings. The school was con- ducted for many years on the tuition plan, giving instruction in the higher branches to those who desired. Many able and scholarly men officiated as teachers, and many who have since made their mark in the world were students of the institution. In 1863 Clarkson Davis, A. M., became Principal of the academy. With this gentleman at its head the school entered upon an era of pros- perity, and soon achieved a reputation equal to that of any similar institution. Mr. Davis acted as Principal, except when obliged by poor health to give his work to the care of others, from 1863 until 1881. He was then succeeded by Thomas Newlin, the present
Thomas Hale
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Superintendent of the institution. Mr. Davis died in 1883. To him more than to any other the present high standing of the school is due. While under his care the school secured an endowment of $5,000, and was legally incorporated as an academy. A graded course of study was adopted, new buildings erected, and the influ- ence of the institution greatly extended.
The first class was regularly graduated in 1870, and consisted of two members. The graduates, including the class of 1883, now number sixty-eight. From the catalogue for the school year 1882- '83, we learn that the number of pupils attending the high school department was as follows: Seniors, four; second year, ten; first year, thirty-seven; normal department, forty-two. The academy receives and uses the public school money, and the town school of Spiceland is a department of the institution. The school needs a larger endowment, and it is hoped that its friends will soon be suc- cessful in securing it. The institution occupies three good build- ings, two of them brick and one of them frame. It has been incorporated by the Society of Friends, and is under the care of the following Board of Trustees:
Jesse Gordon, Solomon Macy, Elisha B. Ratcliff, Sarah E. Tay- lor, Henry W. Painter and Mattie A. White. The Board of In- struction for 1884 is as follows:
Timothy Wilson, acting Superintendent and teacher of natural science; Ludovic Estes, A. M., teacher of mental science, Latin and Greek; William T. Doggett, teacher of English literature and general history; Hannah E. Davis, teacher seventh and eighth years; Ella Bogue, teacher fifth and sixth years; Olive Wilson, teacher third and fourth years; Ella Wilson, teacher first and sec- ond years. The several courses of study are the primary, inter- mediate, grammar school, high school and normal department. Special courses are offered in the civil engineering and commer- cial departments.
There are three permanent literary societies connected with the school: The Lucernian, conducted by the ladies, and the Crescent and the Glisco, by the gentlemen. There are also literary societies in the intermediate and grammar schools. Three libraries, consist- ing of about 2,000 volumes, are under the control of the institu- tion. Two of them belong to the literary societies and the other to the academy association.
CHAPTER VI.
THE BAR OF HENRY COUNTY.
INTRODUCTION .- CHARACTER AND STANDING OF HENRY COUNTY LAW- YERS .- LIST OF ATTORNEYS ADMITTED TO THE BAR FROM 1822 TO 1884 .- EARLY LAWYERS .- ABRAHAM ELLIOTT, LOT BLOOMFIELD, JAMES GILMORE AND OTHERS .- HON. JEHU T. ELLIOTT. - COLONEL EDMUND JOHNSON .- HON. R. L. POLK .- PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE PRESENT BAR .- HON. M. L. BUNDY .- GENERAL WM. GROSE. -HON. J. H. MELLETT .- HON. M. E. FORKNER AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE LAWYERS.
The history of the bar of Henry County is a record of able and honorable men. At the bar, upon the bench, in official and in. private life, the lawyers of this county have won and sustained reputations for character, integrity and ability entitling them to an exceptionally high rank in the profession.
ATTORNEYS ADMITTED.
The following list includes the names of all the attorneys ever admitted to the bar of Henry County, so far as it is possible to obtain them from the court records. September, 1822, Lot Bloom- field, James Noble, James Rariden, Abraham Elliott, James Gilmore. August Term, 1823, Charles H. Test, Martin M. Ray. November, 1823, William R. Morris. April, 1824, James B. Ray, * James Mendall. November, 1824, Calvin Fletcher, Oliver H. Smith, Philip Sweetsir. April, 1825, Moses Cox. April, 1826, John B. Chapman. October, 1826, Albert S. White. April, 1827, Samuel C. Sample. April, 1828, Marinus Willett, David Patton. October, 1828, William Daley, Caleb B. Smith. October, 1829, James T. Browne. September, 1830, Samuel Bigger, William J. Brown. March, 1831, John M. Alley, Jonathan A. Liston. September, 1831, William Nelson. March, 1832, Samuel W. Parker, David Kilgore, Abner Haynes. September, 1832, David Macy. April, 1833,
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