History of Johnson County, Indiana, Part 25

Author: Branigin, Elba L., 1870-
Publication date: 1972
Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen, [Evansville, Ind.], [Unigraphic, Inc.]
Number of Pages: 981

USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Indiana > Part 25

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and with the sales of tickets bought the books for the schools. After the books were used during the school year, they became the nucleus of a neigh -. borhood circulating library. The average number of volumes for a year was twenty, and the average cost twelve dollars.

FRANKLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY.

By far the most successful movement for a public library in the county was begun by the women's clubs of Franklin early in 1911. Acting under the provisions of the act of 1901 (section 4916 R. S. 1901) as amended by the acts of 1903, page 301, they obtained a subscription list with pledges totaling about one thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars. This list was filed with the clerk of the circuit court on June 10, 1911, and the judge at once named the following trustees: For one year, R. M. Miller; for two years, Elba L. Branigin, and for three years, Martha C. Johnson. On notice from the said clerk, the common council appointed Robert J. Mossop and Jeannette Zeppenfeld each for a term of one year. The city school board also named Myrtillus J. Voris and Nettie Craft each for a term of two years. All members whose terms have expired have been reappointed. and the same now constitute the Franklin public library board.

These members of the board held their first meeting on June 23, 1911. and organized by the election of R. M. Miller as president, and Elba L. Branigin as secretary. Under the law the county treasurer is ex-officio treasurer of the library funds. The board. in September. contracted with Paul Hulsman for the rental of the old armory room at the second floor of the Hulsman block. at the southwest intersection of Jefferson and Water streets, at twenty-five dollars per month. After certain improvements were made the library was formally opened on December 5, 1911. with Mary Rue, of Coshocton. Ohio, as librarian. Miss Rue made a splendid record, but, because of ill health of her family was obliged to resign September 1, 1912. and her place was temporarily filled by Ruth Wallace. Miss Helen Davis was chosen the next librarian and began her duties November 15, 1912.

The library board made a levy in September, 1911, and again in 1912 of seven-tenths of a mill on each dollar of taxable property in the city, which yielded a return of approximately two thousand dollars, but this levy was increased at the September levy of 1913 one-tenth of a mill. On August 13. 1912, the board of trustees voted to make the Franklin Public Library open to all the citizens of Franklin and Needham townships, on condition that the

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advisory boards of the townships make a levy of five-tenths of a mill. John W. Ditmars, James B. Payne and Walter Farmer, constituting the advisory board of Franklin township, promptly accepted the offer, levied the tax, and . the Franklin Public Library was at once thrown open to all the people of Franklin township. By this progressive step about two thousand seven hun- dred and fifty dollars was made available to the support of the library, and the city and township are united in a most promising educational movement.

The first annual report of date December 31, 1912, shows the following interesting facts as to the finances and work of the new library. The total income from taxation in the city was $1,988.67, and from the original sub- scriptions $1,520. The total number of books in the library was 1,987, and twenty periodicals were regularly received. The circulation of books for the year was 18,589 among 1.352 patrons. The most notable gift to the library was Hart's "American Nation," McMaster's "History of the United States." and complete sets of the works of John Fiske and Francis Parkman, from the Alexander Hamilton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion. Other large givers were Mrs. M. J. Voris, the ladies of Shiloh church of Needham township, the Baptist Young People's Union of Franklin, and the late Malvina C. Hall.

Andrew Carnegie has offered the library a building, if a suitable site is provided, and the near future will doubtless see the Franklin Public Library properly housed.

ACADEMIES AND SEMINARIES.

The Johnson County Seminary, an account of the building of which is given in Chapter IV, was intended as a school for pupils desiring more ad- vanced work than the common schools afforded, but, owing to lack of funds it was never successful and so far as the writer is able to learn no high school branches were ever taught in the building, except in a few private schools held there. The total funds to the county seminary account in 1845 amounted only to $71.25, which by the year 1847 had increased only to $259.45, with no record of expenditures. It is evident that with such a financial condition. no work could be undertaken and when under the new Constitution it was required that the seminary buildings be sold and the proceeds converted into the common school fund, there was neither a suitable building nor sufficient school revenue to maintain schools, at public charge. to provide for higher education. Little is remembered of any of the schools taught in the County Seminary. John L. Jones remembers that, in 1844. only one room had been

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finished, and prior to that time only one term had been taught in this school. It was known, however, that in the fifties a girls' school was maintained in the seminary building, and James Sloan attended one school there conducted by Samuel Demaree. Higher education provided by the state was not to be had until the prosperous days following the Civil war, and in the meantime only private schools and academies supplied the needs for more liberal edu- cation.

But, while the public authorities were slow to undertake higher educa- tion at the public charge, one community in the county made a splendid effort to supply the need. As early as 1854 public-spirited citizens of the Hopewell neighborhood by popular subscription raised sufficient funds to start a building. for an academy, and work was so far advanced that school was opened in the yet unfinished building in 1855. According to Miss Ruth Terrill, the historian of the Hopewell schools, "the academy was built a short distance east of where the present building now stands, at the top of the first level of the hill. It contained six rooms, three above and three below. The building had three wings, and a bell tower on the top. There were two large pillars, with large double porch in front. Some essays which had been given at a spring exhibition were put in a tin box and placed in the pillars when they were built. A history of the school was also placed with them. On remodeling the school building some years later, these were destroyed. The largest room in the building was used as an assembly room. All the pupils from the primer to the highest grade were in this room, where both the primer and Caesar was taught. The east room on the first floor was the music room. Just above the assembly room was a large hall used for the meetings of the literary societies. The rooms were heated with long open stoves. The lower hall, where the wraps and lunches were kept, was called the ante-room. It was not heated and the dinners were often frozen. The studies were writing, reading, philosophy, physiology, analysis on English grammar, American history, algebra, geometry, Latin, arithmetic, higher arith- metic, botany, familiar science and literature. The school year was divided into three terms, the first from September to December, the second from December to March, and the third from March to the last of May or the first of June. Students from all over the state attended this academy. It was then the only advanced school in the county. A boarding house was provided for students who came from a distance to attend,' and what is now the Orphans Home was used as a boarding house. Almost immediately after the organization of the academy a Baconian Literary Society was organized for the young

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men. The duties consisted of orations, debates, declamations and essays. The meetings were held on Friday evenings, and every month open-door debates were held for the benefit of patrons and friends. The girls also had a literary society which they called the Athenian. The motto for the Bacon- ian society was 'Lux et Scientificus,' for the Athenian, 'Puritas et Veritas.' The school had rhetorical exercises every other Friday. Frequent exhibitions were given by the girls at the church, which were very pleasing to the com- munity. These exhibitions were important events and drew people from miles around. The school progressed rapidly, but when the time of the Civil war came, the general peace students were called away to the war never to return."

Perhaps the first teacher who included algebra and Latin in the curricu- lum of the Hopewell schools was Miss Fairchild, who is well remembered by some now living as a scholarly teacher. But the first principal of the Hope- well Academy was Prof. T. P. Killen, who came hither from Waveland. He was a college graduate and a man of much force as a teacher, and his school soon attracted attention throughout this section of the state. One of his pupils, S. Watson Van Nuys, later volunteered as a private in the Civil war, was rapidly promoted, but met an untimely end at the battle of Peters- burg. He had attained to the rank of adjutant-general on the staff of Gen- eral Duncan. Professor Killen, according to the recollection of R. V. Dit- mars, served four years as principal of the academy, when he was followed by Prof. Samuel D. Voris. who came from Vevay and taught two years. Rev. Quincy McKeehan, according to the testimony of some, taught during the school year of 1861-62, while others place him before Voris. It is fairly cer- tain that Prof. Joseph Shaw was principal in 1861 and continued a highly successful school for four years. Shaw came from Bellefontaine, Ohio, and was, like his predecessors, a man with college training, and of fine teaching abilities. Other pupils of the academy speak of a Professor Johnson, a Han- over graduate, who taught the academic work for a year, just prior to Voris' term.

The Hopewell Academy sent other of its sons to war, including John Henderson, Sr., J. M. Dunlap, Will Gordon, J. D. Van Nuys, A. B. Lagrange, Joseph Fisher, Thomas Fisher, and the following named, stricken on the battlefield: Samuel List, Peter D. List, Robert Sloan, who died in the An- dersonville prison, and John Graham, who died from wounds and disabilities.

The Hopewell Academy was easily first among efforts to extend high school privileges to Johnson county students, and in some sense it was even a rival to Franklin College in the years just preceding the Civil war.

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There is now before me a prospectus of the Hopewell Academy for the year 1862. It reads :

"HOPEWELL ACADEMY

is situated three miles west of Franklin, the county seat of Johnson county. Indiana, and just twenty miles south of Indianapolis, in the center of a wealthy and highly respectable neighborhood. For miles around, the popula- tion is almost exclusively Presbyterian, and is remarkable for intelligence and high-toned morality. The academy being in the country, and in the midst of a large and flourishing church, the pupils are free from the enticements to evil of town and city.

"The subjects usually taught in seminaries and colleges will be attended to, and in addition a Normal Department has been opened to qualify teachers for the duties of the schoolroom.

"Facilities are offered for both male and female education. Young men will be prepared for the classes of Hanover College, Indiana. The building is a two-story brick, in the form of a T, containing six spacious rooms. The young gentlemen have a room in which they maintain a Literary Society of some twenty-five members.

"Persons living in large towns or cities, wanting a good situation for their sons and daughters, where good health is combined with educational advantages, will do well to send them here.

"Terms :

Primary course ( 12 weeks) $3 per term

Common schools ( 12 weeks) 1 1

$4 per term

Scientific (12 weeks) $6 per term 1 1

Classical (12 weeks) $8 per term

Extras, piano, guitar, etc. $8 per term

Use of instruments $2 per term

"Three terms each year, opening September 15. January 6, and April 6. Boarding, ranging from $1.25 to $2.00 per week, can be had in the imme- diate vicinity of the academy.

"Text Books-Bullion's Greek and Latin Grammars, Ray's and Robin- son's Mathematics, etc.

"For particulars inquire of Jacob Aten, Samuel Vannuys, P. J. Banta, trustees, or of the Rev. John F. Smith, pastor of the Hopewell Congregation, Franklin. Johnson county, Indiana.

"JOSEPH SHAW, Principal."

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Following Mr. Shaw as principal came Smith G. Blythe, 1865-1866; Robert Shaw, 1866-1868; David Moore, 1868-1873; Robert Sturgis, 1873- 1875; E. P. Cole, 1875-1881 ; Mons Coulter, 1881-1882, and Minard Sturgis, 1882-1883.

A certificate of graduation from Hopewell Academy admitted to the sophomore year in Hanover College, and both institutions being under the control of the Presbyterian faith, most of the graduates of the Johnson county institutions went to Hanover, rather than to Franklin College. The academy was of course supported by benevolences and the small tuition fees received. In March, 1870, the friends of the academy subscribed capital stock to the amount of four thousand dollars and the Hopewell Academy Association was duly incorporated.

Inspired doubtless by the record of the Hopewell Academy, Elder John C. Miller, of Nineveh, conducted a school on similar lines in the Christian church at Nineveh, for four or five years beginning about 1867.

In 1873 the Union Graded School Association was organized to establish a graded school at Union church.

TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOLS.

The township graded high school was not instituted in Johnson county without long and strenuous opposition. The first of such schools to be opened in . the county was at Nineveh in 1872, but the movement was not popular. In other townships of the county no systematic effort was made to teach high school subjects, and, in at least one instance, the question of compelling the school authorities to provide high school instruction got into our courts.

The act of 1869 provided that "the common schools of the state shall be taught in the English language; and the trustee shall provide to have taught in them orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, English grammar, physiology, United States history, and good behavior, and such other branches of learning and other languages as the advancement of the pupils may require and the trustees from time to time direct."

It was argued by the opponents of higher education that it was not in- tended at the time of the adoption of the Constitution that education at public charge should extend beyond the "common branches"; that to give a high school training at the free schools would be to educate a few at the expense of the many. The other side of the question was well set forth in State Superintendent Smart's instructions to school trustees, in these words :

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"It has been asked whether it is the duty of school trustees to provide a course of study adapted to the preparation of pupils for college. The question should be answered in the affirmative. It is fair to assume that the trustees must provide suitable instruction for all the children who have a right to at- tend school; that is, they must afford them such instruction as their attain- ments demand. If a child has mastered all the primary branches, and being less than twenty-one years of age, still desires to attend school, the trustees must provide suitable instruction for him. It is not reasonable to expect him to spend further time on branches which he has mastered. The fact that the law permits children to attend school until they are twenty-one years of age is presumptive proof that the trustees may be required to furnish such instruc- tion as is suitable to their attainments till they reach that age."

This statement of Superintendent Smart, given out in 1875, must have fallen into the hands of Dr. William B. Grubbs and William H. Dungan, patrons of district No. 3 in Clark township some time during the year fol- lowing. Grubbs had a son aged seventeen, and Dungan a daughter aged nineteen, who were advanced in school work and desired to study algebra and Latin in the district school. After repeated demands upon the trustee. James Williams, that he furnish them instruction in algebra and Latin, with- out success, the parent sought the aid of the courts. In February. 1877, they filed a petition for a writ of mandate to compel Trustee Williams to provide instruction to their children in these subjects. . The complaint was drawn by Woollen & Banta and in brief alleges that petitioners are the heads of families and taxpayers of Clark township and have children of school age who are entitled to attend school at that district : that the children are "advanced m their studies, having a knowledge of the common English branches of educa- tion, to-wit: orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography; English grammar, physiology and United States history, and that further advance- ment in useful learning can be best promoted by pursuing a course in algebra and the Latin languages ; that James Williams as trustee has employed Jose- phine Carver in said school. and that she is qualified to teach said branches of learning."

The trustee, by his counsel, S. P. Oyler. answers that at a school meeting of the patrons of the district held just prior to his employment of Miss Carver, it was voted to give instruction only in the common branches, and that he has apportioned his funds in such, manner that he has not sufficient money to provide instruction in algebra and Latin. Judge K. M. Hord heard the evidence. which was written down in long hand by Edward F. White

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and is still on file with the papers in the cause. The evidence showed that no special demand had been made upon the teacher to give instruction in Latin, and hence the court refuses to mandate the trustee to furnish such instruc- tion, but in respect to algebra the court's order and judgment is complete. The judgment of the court is unique, and the case being of such importance, we set out the judgment in full :

"The court finds that the said William B. Grubbs and William H. Dun- gan are residents of district No. 3 in Clark township, Johnson county, In- diana, and that William B. Grubbs, Jr., is a son of William B. Grubbs, the relator, and is of the age of seventeen years, and is unmarried and lives in his father's family, and that he is sufficiently advanced in learning to study the algebra and Latin language, and the court further finds that Elizabeth Dungan is of the age of nineteen years and resides with her father and is un- married, and that she is sufficiently advanced in learning to study the algebra and Latin language.

"And the court further finds that one Josephine Carver is engaged in teaching a public school in said district No. 3 and that she refuses to teach the said William Grubbs and Elizabeth Dungan the algebra and Latin lan- guage, and that James Williams is the acting trustee of Clark township, and that a demand has been made of him to cause the algebra to be taught in said public school by the said Josephine Carver, but that he fails and refuses to so order and direct the said Josephine Carver to teach the algebra to such of her pupils as are sufficiently advanced to study the same. although re- quested so to do.

. "Now, therefore, we do command you the said James Williams that you immediately after the receipt of this writ do order and direct and cause the said Josephine Carver to teach and instruct the children of the relators. to-wit: William B. Grubbs and Elizabeth Dungan, in the algebra."

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL.

The Franklin township high school is widely known by the name of the community in which it is located, and as Hopewell neighborhood is charac- terized by the sterling integrity, high character and progressive spirit of its citizens. so the Hopewell schools are of high standard and represent the best ideals along educational lines. The following sketch is from the pen of Miss .Ruth Terrill of the class of 1911 :

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THE HOPEWELL HIGH SCHOOL.

"The academy was organized into a high school in 1884. A high school building was erected in 1888. It was a large building, erected near where the present one now stands. General high school studies were taken. Lit- erary societies were organized, boys and girls both belonging to the same one. Duties consisting of readings, essays, monologues, etc., were given. For a few winters the students had charge of a lecture course, which proved to be quite a success. Such men as Will Cumback, Dr. Willets, C. A. Bolten and Ridpath, the historian, were brought before the people. With the money made from the lectures, the school purchased a good library, a librarian was appointed each year and a general improvement of the reading matter for the pupils was made.

"An Alumni Association was organized in 1894, but did not succeed, as the interest of the older graduates was not enough to keep it alive. The class of 1894 was a very active one; they were organized, had their historian, class poet, and class song which was written by Miss Emma Covert, now Mrs. Gilbert Henderson. A new building was erected in the year 1904. There had never been but one teacher in the high school until in 1904. when an assistant was obtained. The school was certified under M. J. Fleming and commissioned under Merle J. Abbett. April 9, 1909. Then it became necessary to place three teachers in the high school. Under the su- pervision of Professor Abbett, the school has risen to a very high standard, more attention being paid to the general development of the pupil, not only in the way of book learning, but along all lines. Live, thinking boys and girls · have been developed.

"In 1909 the junior class gave a banquet for the seniors, and a number of former students were present. This was a successful affair, and much credit is due to this class, as a whole, for this gave an impetus to the Alumni Association.

"In 1910 the junior class gave a banquet for the seniors, and a number of the alumni. This was a pleasing affair, and a success. In the summer of 1910 an alumni organization was formed with James G. Covert as president. and Miss Belle McCaslin as secretary.

"The school has made great advancements along all lines. May this always be said of our Hopewell high school and may it be counted a success. "Early in the history of the school the three R's, reading 'riting and 'rithmetic, were the fundamental subjects. Soon they desired to take up new

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OLD HOPEWELL ACADEMY

HOPEWELL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R

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topics and to gain new ideas. Latin was taught in the whole high school. In recent years more prose work has been taken, more books of Caesar and Cicero have been read, but much of this because more time per day is devoted `to it. Nearly all the subjects taken now were taken when the high school was organized, but now there are more teachers and better equipments. Botany is becoming more and more one of the principal subjects, the detailed anaylsis of the plant and plant life in particular. By the aid of the micros- cope, which was purchased a few years ago, better work is accomplished.

"In 1907 a laboratory, which is used in the study of physics, was added; this was of special benefit, although a complete equipment was not secured, yet with what we have many experiments can be performed which greatly aid the pupil in the study.

"In 1908 the study of agriculture was taken up for the first time. This proved to be of special interest to the students, as many of them had lived on the farm all of their lives, and had always been interested in the farm and its products.

"Aside from the regular curriculum, music was introduced in 1905, un- der the direction of Miss Emma Ogle, who taught for two years and was succeeded by Miss Mable Williams, who was in charge of the seventh and eighth grades. Mrs. Eda Hair then had the supervision of the department for one year. She was followed by Mrs. Rose Meredith, who has continued in this place until the present time. Chorus work has been the principal thing taken by the seventh and eighth, grades and the high school.

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History of Johnson County, Indiana, Part 25

Author: Branigin, Elba L., 1870- Publication date: 1972 Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen, [Evansville, Ind.], [Unigraphic, Inc.] Number of Pages: 981

Author: Branigin, Elba L., 1870-
Publication date: 1972
Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen, [Evansville, Ind.], [Unigraphic, Inc.]
Number of Pages: 981