History of Johnson County, Indiana, Part 27

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 27

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).

As elsewhere noted, title to lot No. I in the Old Plat passed to school trustees under an order of the county board in March, 1829. And until the old academy ground was acquired in 1855 this was the only property vested in the school town of Franklin. The school house stood on the alley at the rear of the lot adjoining the Presbyterian church on the east and the only teacher remembered was Miss Christy Ann Peppard.

For many years a private school was conducted in the basement of the

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old Presbyterian church. Among the teachers in this church school were Mrs. McKee, wife of the pastor of the church, and after her health failed, Prof. John Quincy McKeehan, formerly of the Hopewell Academy, opened a . school here, probably in the years 1865-1867. A Mrs. Collins also taught in this room.

Other private schools of the town were those of "Granny Myers" on East King, near Hurricane, and of Mrs. Ritchey in the New-School Presby- . terian church, on South Home avenue. Mrs. Ritchey as well as Mrs. McKee were talented teachers, and indeed ample testimony is at hand that all the subscription schools and private schools of the early days of Franklin were conducted by teachers of good character and unusual attainments.

FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The earliest record relating to school matters bears date of April 19, 1854. While the town of Franklin was probably incorporated in the year 1834, no records of official action prior to the first named date are preserved, and it is fairly certain that no schools were maintained by the town within the twenty year period, and it may be doubted whether any corporate action was undertaken until 1854. The record of April 19, 1854, shows the resigna- tion of Fabius M. Finch, Gilderoy Hicks and G. M. Overstreet, school trus- tees of the town of Franklin, and the appointment by the town board of their successors, Benjamin Leavitt, William Lewis and A. B. Hunter.

On recommendation of this board of school trustees the town board, on May 26, 1854. "for the purpose of erecting and repairing necessary school houses, and for the purpose of maintaining and keeping in operation a graded common school" in the town, levied a tax of twenty-five cents on each poll and of ten cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property in the town, the ordinance to be effective after ten days publication in the Star of Hope. On June 9th, on petition of ninety-nine voters of the town, the levy was increased to fifty cents on each poll. and twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars of property.

For some reason, probably because no suitable building had yet been pro- vided, the town board, on January 28. 1855. directed the treasurer of the county not to collect any school tax for that year. But again on June 25th of that year a school tax was levied and thereafter taxes for school purposes were regularly levied. The first enumeration of school children was reported to the board on October 14, 1858, and showed the number to be as follows : Males between the ages of five and thirteen, 113: females of same age, 81;

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males between thirteen and twenty-one, '48, and females of same age, 43; a total of 285. This did not include West Franklin, East Franklin, "the suburbs or the Hog Chute."

In the meantime the town had, on February 28, 1855, sold the school lot adjoining the Presbyterian church, and on June 28th of the same year had acquired lot five in John Herriott's addition on Monroe street, the "Old Academy" site. This was for many years the only public school in the town, except that residents of East Franklin enjoyed school privileges on lot 62 on Monroe street between Hougham and Forsyth streets, which had been bought by Franklin township in March, 1859.

In the district school on East Monroe street the following teachers are remembered: Rosa Adams, afterward the wife of President Bailey of Franklin College; George W. Grubbs, now a prominent lawyer of Martins- ville; Mary Forsyth, afterward married to Dr. P. W. Payne; Lydia Dunlap (Brown) ; Mrs. Lacy and Mr. Rand.

Among the teachers at the "Old Academy" in the fifties, J. Hillman Watters and J. O. Martin are best remembered. Mrs. Ritchey, wife of the Rev. James Ritchey, also taught in the academy before she opened a school in the Cumberland Presbyterian church property on South Home avenue, which later became the property of the Catholic church. In 1866 F. M. Ferguson was engaged as superintendent of schools at a salary of eighty dollars per month, the use of the academy building, when not in use for public school, and to receive also all tuition fees of pupils attending from the outside. Fer- guson's assistants were G. C. Shirk, succeeded one month later by M. H. Belknap: Myra Tresslar, Mrs. M. R. Isom, Miss Lydia Dunlap, Miss Mattie Tilson.

In 1867 Leander S. Burdick was elected superintendent and Frank O. Burdick. Laura Burdick (Polk), Lydia Dunlap, Myra Tresslar, Jennie Sny- der, assistants. The board adopted a series of text books, including Willson's spellers, McGuffey's readers (new series). Payson-Dunton-Scribner's copy books, Guyot's geographies, Felter's primary arithmetic, Ray's intellectual and practical arithmetics, Ray's algebra, Ray's geometry and trigonometry, Pinneo's grammar, Green's analysis, Quackenbos' history. Cutter's physiology and Wells' philosophy.

In this year ( 1867) Judge Banta was secretary of the board and he ap- pended to the minutes of the meetings many interesting "notes." giving opin- ions, arguments and incidents connected with the board's actions. So also in the year following, when the discussion was opened as to the propriety of

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increasing the school facilities, Judge Banta gives many facts "outside the record." He tells of the prior use of the academy as a Sunday school room, and the annoyance caused thereby; he says further: "The public mind had awakened to the necessity of something being done towards procuring more school room; we had rented the Ritchey school room at ten dollars per month, the past season, and the basement of the Presbyterian church had been secured. The board, or at least a majority, was anxious to have some expression from the public, and about this time (August 1, 1868) a meeting was called at the academy to consider the matter. This meeting was well attended and from the speeches and votes of those present the board was assured that a new and elegant school house was demanded."

Later, he says, "The opinions advanced by those who took an interest in the new school building were various. There were those who insisted upon building an addition to the academy, and this proposition was seriously con- sidered by the board. Others were in favor of building ward school houses, which should be in the architectural style of the country school houses and maintaining therein a system of ungraded schools. The board never dis- cussed the proposition. Others still were in favor of building an elegant house which should be an ornament to the city and be suited to the advanced educational ideas of the time."

On December 17, 1868, the board contracted with L. P. Ritchey for a site at the corner of Water and Jackson streets, at the sum of three thousand dollars. Contract was let for the new building to McCormick & Sweeny at the sum of thirty-one thousand eight hundred and sixty dollars, and in July following city bonds were issued to the amount of thirty thousand dollars.

In the school year of 1868-69 the corps of teachers consisted of Profes- sor Burdick, superintendent ; Julia Talbott. Lydia Dunlap, Laura Overstreet, Mrs. Isom and G. M. Overstreet. Jr. In the year following ( 1869-1870) Burdick was again chosen, with Laura Overstreet, Lydia Dunlap. Laura Barnum, Mr. Strawn, Alice Tilson and Angeline Dunlap as grade teachers. In September. 1870, the board again employed Mr. Burdick, but because of opposition from citizens of the town, the board resigned in a "huff" and T. W. Woollen, Cas Byfield and A. B. Hunter were appointed trustees by the county auditor. It was decided not to open the public school until the new building on Water street was finished, and Miss Lydia Dunlap and Miss Sue Dickey were allowed to conduct a private school in the "Old Academy" until the opening of the public schools.

School was opened in the new building on February 8. 1871. with H. H

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Boyce superintendent, his wife as principal of the high school and the follow- ing teachers: Rose M. Smith, Lydia Brown, Sue Dickey, Emma Watters, Mrs. Belle Isom, Hattie Morgan, B. H. Davis, Tillie Brunger, Flora Green. Mrs. Isom was soon succeeded by Mary Shillito.

With Superintendent Boyce's administration began a new era in school affairs. He and his wife received two thousand fifty dollars per year, a large salary for the time, but Superintendent Boyce was a fine school man and gave to Franklin its first graded school system. He organized a high school and in every department of school work made his influence felt as an educator and disciplinarian. Boyce continued at the head of the school until the close of the school year, May 23, 1873, when the first annual commencement exer- cises were held and Emma Belle Forsyth became the first graduate of the Franklin high school.

This high school was taught on the third floor of the new building, until the autumn of 1887, when a new high school building was ready for occupancy at the old Academy site on Monroe street. In 1898, the Monroe street high school building was much enlarged. but increased attendance and advance- ment in educational methods made it necessary to again seek a new site. and the year 1909-1910 saw the completion of the present fine structure on Hurri- cane street at the east end of Madison. The following facts relating to the present high school building, as well as more general information as to the work of the schools in Franklin in recent years, are for the most part taken from superintendent Alva Otis Neal's report at the close of his term.

The site for a new high school building was selected by the school board on July 28. 1908, the one chosen being a tract of ground one hundred and thirty-two by two hundred and seventy-seven feet on Hurricane street facing west between Jefferson and King streets, at a price of $7,700, on which were located buildings of the estimated value of $1.200. The contract for the building was awarded on December 1, 1908, to M. M. Winship & Son at the sum of $42.403. The heating plant was constructed at a cost of about $5.500; the vacuum cleaning plant at a cost of $997.00: the sanitary wardrobes at a cost of $472: the entire plant, therefore, including fixtures and furnishings, represents an outlay of about $60,000. To meet this charge. a bond issue of $40,000 was authorized on September 15, 1908, and on December 15th of the same year bonds in said sum bearing four per cent. interest were issued, and were later sold at a small premium.

The ground of the new site was broken in November. 1908, and the corner stone was laid with appropriate public ceremony by the Masonic grand

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lodge on February 12, 1909. The building was ready for occupancy on September 12, 1909, and school work for the year was begun at the regular time. The formal dedication exercises were held in the new auditorium on February 10, 1910, Superintendent A. O. Neal presenting the building on behalf of the board of trustees, William G. Oliver responding on behalf of the city, Principal VanRiper on behalf of the faculty, Prof. C. H. Hall on behalf of the college, and Fred R. Owens for the alumni. In the evening, the more formal addresses were given by Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary of the state board of health, and by the Hon. Thomas R. Marshall, governor of the state.

At the close of Superintendent Neal's work in the Franklin schools, he, in an address to the school board, summarized the three years' work in a report spread upon the minutes of the board, a part of which we quote:

"Each year's work consisted of nine months of twenty days each, or one hundred eighty days to the year. During this time, we have had three en- forced vacations upon the order of the board of health, due to the prevalence of small-pox, scarlet fever and measles. In no case, however, did the board of health trace the source of infection to the conditions at any of the schools. The system of weekly disinfection by formaldehyde lamps, and superior work on the part of the janitors and teachers has made sanitary conditions most satisfactory for the health and work of the pupils.

ENUMERATION.

"The enumeration during the past three years has shown a decrease from year to year, due in a large measure to the decreasing size of families. One interesting fact is set forth in the following tabulation of the enumeration, showing the diminishing size of families (under the enumeration of 1910) :

Families of I child of school age 259

Families of 2 children of school age

147

Families of 3 children of school age 1

Families of 4 children of school age. 1

Families of 5 children of school age.

Families of 6 children of school age

Families of 7 children of school age

I 1 1

1 I

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"Enumeration of all children of school age :

White

Colored

White

Colored

Year.

Boys.

Girls.

1907

503

519

1908

515

509

1909

492

487

"In enrollment and attendance, there has been a decided increase. This is caused (1) by holding the children in school for a longer period, and (2) by the increase in the number of transferred children.

TABLE OF ENROLLMENT.

Year.

Boys.

Girls.

Total.

% Boys. % Girls. % Total.

1907

450

489

939

95.3

95.5

95.4

1908

422

485

907

95.87

96.55

95.9

1909

444

467

911

95-7

95.9

95.7

"Salaries have been increased due in most part to the operation of the new wage law. The monthly pay-roll for the year 1908-1909 was $2,311.44, which was increased to $2,512.53 the ensuing year.

"The Franklin high school in the past two years has been, upon special examination and inspection, accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities, and likewise is affiliated with Chicago University. This means that our graduates are permitted to enter the freshman classes of the institutions, without entrance examinations and conditions. Franklin is also commissioned by the state board of education. This year two scholar- ships are open to graduates from the Franklin high school, one from Chicago University, the other from Oxford College for Women, at Oxford, Ohio. Other activities not directly connected with school work, but closely associ- ated with it, have been instituted. Prominent among these, is the high school orchestra. In the English classes, a debating club, and in the history classes a Senate have been organized. In the Southeastern Indiana Association of High Schools, composed of Madison, Lawrenceburg, Aurora, North Vernon, Seymour and Franklin, at the first meeting two years ago, Franklin took first in reading and tied for first place in oratory. This year we took first place in oratory, and third place in reading. A Corn Club of sixty-five mem- bers, and a girls' sewing and cooking club of eighty members have been doing excellent work.

(18)

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"The enrollment in the high school has steadily grown, and especially to be noted is the increased enrollment of boys :

Year.

Boys.

Girls.

Total.

1908

137

221

1909

137

III

248

1910

144

143

287

"The graduating class of 1907 had 33 members (17 girls and 16 boys) ; class of 1908, 28 girls and 9 boys; class of 1909, 32 girls and 5 boys ; 1910, 21 girls and 26 boys.

"The city schools have drawn upon the neighboring communities, and we have had non-resident pupils as follows: 1907-08, 96; 1908-09, 104; 1909-10, 114.

"Under the provision of the Indiana transfer law the tuition is now based upon per capita cost of maintaining the school, and receipts from that source have increased from $1,600 in 1907 to $3,072 in 1909."

Beginning with the more liberal support of the schools dating from about 1870, the Franklin schools have steadily grown in usefulness. A nine- months school was begun in the school year of 1871-72. The work of classifying studies and grades, so ably begun by Superintendent Boyce, was much furthered by Superintendent Arnold Tompkins, a school man of state- wide reputation. Supt. W. J. Williams came to the Franklin public schools from the college and was especially liked for his kindness of heart and per- sonal interest in the individual child. Of the later superintendents. Supts. Horace Ellis, H. B. Wilson and Alva O. Neal are still engaged in educational work of high character, and later historians must write their story.

A survey of the school records impresses the observer with the high character of the grade teachers in the city schools during the past 40 years, and with the fact that so many of them remained so long with the schools. It were invidious perhaps to speak of the present teaching force, but mention ought to be made of the long and splendid service of Miss Jennie Dunlap. Beginning her work in the schools in the fall of 1873, she has faithfully served the schools of this city continuously to this day, with the exception possibly of the school year 1880-81. For forty years she has given herself to this high calling, and for the most part has had charge of the pupils during their first years of work. To keep pace with the advance in educational methods and meet the demands of the school room for two score years characterizes the work of Miss Dunlap better than words of praise.

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Others of the corps of teachers who are especially remembered for their work are Mrs. Martha Coleman Johnson and Mrs. Lydia Dunlap Brown, who continued to be identified with the schools from the last of the sixties to the middle of the eighties; Mrs. Augusta F. White, Jennie Thompson, Alice Farley, Laura Overbay, Fannie McMurray, and Alice Crowell, all of whom taught in the grades for many years. Of the high school teachers, none are more kindly remembered than Miss Kittie Palmer. Miss Palmer began work in the grades in 1883, was made assistant to the principal of the high school in 1885, and in 1887 was elected principal. This place she filled with signal ability for twelve years, much loved for her charm of manner and her engag- ing personality.

This brief mention of teachers must close with a note as to the long and honorable service of Miss Nettie Craft, now teacher of science in the high school. She began teaching in the grades in 1890, and has since been con- nected with the high school staff. She enjoys an enviable reputation among the student body and the alumni of recent years.

THE COLORED SCHOOL.

By the act of May 13. 1869, colored children were admitted to free com- mon school privileges. and for a time thereafter the colored school children were enrolled at the old district school building near the east end of Monroe street. But this school was sold on July 16, 1870, and no permanent pro- vision were made for the colored children until 1873, when the school board purchased two lots on West Madison street, and contracted with Bergen & Company to build a school house there. The first teacher employed there was Miss Laura Overbay in 1875-76.

SCHOOL OFFICERS.

Inasmuch as the success in any undertaking is very largely determined by the personnel of its management, the following table will be of interest :

1866-President, F. S. Woodcock, H. T. Buff : secretary, M. D. Gage; treasurer. A. B. Morey : superintendent. F. M. Furgason.

1867-President, S. P. Oyler : secretary. D. D. Banta ; treasurer, P. W. Payne; superintendent, Leander S. Burdick.

1 868-President, S. P. Oyler ; secretary, D. D. Banta; treasurer, P. W. Payne. superintendent. Leander S. Burdick.

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1869-President. J. O. Martin : secretary, D. D. Banta ; treasurer, P. W. Payne; superintendent, Leander S. Burdick.

1870-President, Thomas Woolen; secretary, A. B. Hunter; treasurer, Charles Byfield ; superintendent, Leander S. Burdick.

1871 -- President, Thomas Woolen; secretary, A. B. Hunter; treasurer, Charles Byfield ; superintendent, H. H. Boyce; principal, Mrs. Boyce.

1872-President, Thomas Woolen : secretary, A. B. Hunter; treasurer, Charles Byfield ; superintendent, H. H. Boyce; principal, Mrs. Boyce.

1873-President, I. J. Armstrong ; secretary, A. B. Colton; treasurer, Geo. F. Herriott; superintendent, W. W. Thompson ; principal, Mrs. W. W. Thompson.

1874-President, I. J. Armstrong; secretary, A. B. Colton; treasurer, Geo. F. Harriott ; superintendent, D. Eckley Hunter ; principal, Jennie Neely. 1875-President, I. J. Armstrong; secretary, P. W. Payne; treasurer, A. B. Colton ; superintendent,, J. H. Martin ; principal, Mrs. J. H. Martin.

1876-President, P. W. Payne; secretary, W. H. Mclaughlin ; treasurer, I. J. Armstrong; superintendent, J. H. Martin; principal, Mrs. J. H. Martin. 1877-President, S. P. Oyler ; secretary, W. H. Mclaughlin ; treasurer, I. J. Armstrong ; superintendent, J. H. Martin ; principal. Mrs. White. 1878-President, S. P. Oyler ; secretary, W. H. Mclaughlin; treasurer, I. J. Armstrong ; superintendent. J. H. Martin ; principal. Mrs. Martin.

1879-President, S. P. Oyler; secretary, S. P. Rowe; treasurer, I. J. Armstrong ; superintendent, J. H. Martin ; principal, Mrs. Martin.

1880-President, I. J. Armstrong ; secretary. S. P. Rowe; treasurer, M. Turner ; superintendent, J. H. Martin : principal, E. W. Kemp.

1881-President, John T. Vawter; secretary, M. Turner; treasurer, S. P. Rowe; superintendent. E. W. Kempt : principal, Mary Adams.

1882-President, John T. Vawter ; secretary. J. R. Fesler ; treasurer, H. C. Barnett ; superintendent, Arnold Tompkins: principal, Mr. Barnett. 1883-President. R. Fesler ; secretary, W. A. Johnson; treasurer, John T. Vawter ; superintendent, Arnold Tompkins ; principal, Mr. Barnett.

1884-President, W. A. Johnson; secretary, I. Mclaughlin; treasurer, J. R. Fesler : superintendent. Arnold Tompkins : principal, E. L. Stephenson. 1885-President, I. Mclaughlin ; secretary, Leon Ritchey; treasurer, W. A. Johnson ; superintendent, Mr. Kirsch : principal. Mr. Martin.

1886 -- President. Leon Ritchey : secretary, D. H. Miller : treasurer, W. H. Mclaughlin : superintendent, P. H. Kirsch : principal. Baily Martin.

1887-President. D. H. Miller : secretary, W. H. Mclaughlin; treasurer, D. H. Miller : superintendent, W. J. Williams : principal. Kitty Palmer.

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1888-President, W. H. Mclaughlin; secretary, E. C. Miller ; treasurer, D. H. Miller ; superintendent, W. J. Williams : principal, Kitty Palger.

1889-President, W. H. Mclaughlin; secretary, W. A. McNaughton; treasurer, E. C. Miller ; superintendent, W. J. Williams; principal, Kitty Palmer.

1890-President, W A .. McNaughton ; secretary, A. B. Colton; treas- urer, E. C. Miller ; superintendent. W. J. Williams ; principal, Kitty Palmer.

1891-President, A. B. Colton ; secretary, E. C. Miller; treasurer; W. A. McNaughton : superintendent, W. J. Williams; principal, Kitty Palmer.

1892-President, E. C. Miller ; secretary, R. C. Wood; treasurer, A. B. Colton ; superintendent. W. J. Williams : Principal, Will Featherngill.

1893-President, R. C. Wood: secretary. A. A. Blizzard; treasurer, E. C. Miller ; superintendent, Will Featherngill; principal, Kitty Palmer.

1894-President, A. A. Blizzard; secretary, E. C. Miller : treasurer; R. C. Wood; superintendent, Will Featherngill : principal, Kitty Palmer.

1895-President, E. C. Miller ; secretary, R. C. Wood; treasurer. A. A. Blizzard: superintendent. Will Featherngill; principal, Kitty Palmer:

1896-President, R. C. Wood : secretary, A. A. Blizzard; treasurer, E. C. Miller ; superintendent. Will Featherngill: principal, Kitty Palmer.

1897-President. A. A. Blizzard : secretary. W. H. Younce ; treasurer, R. C. Wood; superintendent. Will Featherngill: principal, Kitty Palmer.

1898-President, W. H. Younce ; secretary, R. C. Wood; treasurer, A. A. Blizzard; superintendent, N. C. Johnson : principal, Kitty Palmer.

1899-President. R. C. Wood; secretary, C. A. Overstreet ; treasurer, W. H. Younce : superintendent, N. C. Johnson : Principal. A. O. Neal.

I 900-President. C. A. Overstreet : secretary, W. H. Younce ; treasurer, R. C. Wood; superintendent, Horace Ellis ; principal. A. O. Neal.

1901-President, W. H. Younce; secretary. R. C. Wood; treasurer. C. A. Overstreet : superintendent. Horace Ellis : principal, A. O. Neal.

1902-President. R. C. Wood: secretary, C. A. Overstreet : treasurer, W. H. Younce : superintendent, H. B. Wilson ; principal, C. R. Parker. 1903-President, C. A. Overstreet : secretary. R. M. Miller ; treasurer, . R. C. Wood : superintendent. H. B. Wilson : principal. George B. Asbery. 1904-President. R. M. Miller : secretary. R. C. Wood : treasurer, C. A. Overstreet ; superintendent. H. B. Wilson; principal. Herriott C. Palmer. 1905-President. R. C. Wood : secretary, C. A. Overstreet : treasurer, R. M. Miller ; superintendent, H. B. Wilson ; principal B. D. Remy.

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History of Johnson County, Indiana, Part 27

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