USA > Indiana > Allen County > Marion in Allen County > History of Mitchell and Marion Township, Indiana > Part 3
USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > Mitchell > History of Mitchell and Marion Township, Indiana > Part 3
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for the day. Every scholar, from the small- est to the largest, was required to stand up and spell in one of the two or three classes. The one who was at the head of the class at the close of one recitation went to the foot in the next. When one missed a word it was passed to the next in line, and the one who spelled it correctly stepped up above the first one who had missed. To have gone to the head the most times in a term of school was considered quite an honor.
In studying reading, each pupil was per- mitted to use any kind of book that he happened to have Often the New Testa- ment was the only reading book in the school room. When the weather was warm all the pupils, and sometimes the teacher, went to school barefooted. In winter time the boys wore home-spun and home-woven linsey or jeans coats and pants, made after the pattern of their fathers, with "gallow- ses" that their mothers had knit of home- spun yarn, crossed in the back and fastened to the pants with wooden buttons. Instead of hats they wore coon skin caps.
SCHOOL GAMES
Not only did the methods of teaching and studying in the early schools differ
from the methods of the present day, but there was also quite a difference in the games played during the school. Such games as foot ball and basket ball were unheard of then. The games in vogue in early times for the large boys were "shinny," bull pen and town ball. The smaller boys would play hat ball and three cornered cat-ball. The large girls would skip the rope, or rather the grape vine they would use for a rope. The little girls would play "ring-a-round-a-rosey." If the teacher permitted the boys and girls to play together, which was not often the case, the whole school would join in play- ing "ant-ny-over.
On each Friday afternoon the children would recite declamations and dialogues. One of the most delightful features of the early schools was the spelling bee or, the spelling match as it was then called. When it was announced that there would be a spelling match on a given night the people came for miles away, not in automobiles or carriages, but walked or rode in wagons or sleds, drawn sometimes by horses, but oftener by siow plodding oxen. The manner of conducting a spelling match was something like this: Two leaders would be selected to "choose up," that is, to divide
the spellers into two companies who, as they were chosen, took their places cn opposite sides of the school room, which was lighted by tallow candles or by a blazing fire in the fire place. The words were pronounced from a spelling book by the teacher. Those who misspelled a word took their seats. This was kept up until the last speller on one side was "turned down" as it was termed. The way some of the pupils could spell in those times would be a surpri e to the people of today. It often happened that page after page. and sometimes the entire spelling book. would be learned by heart To be a champion speller was considered quite an honor. This was a worthy ambition, now much fallen into decay.
Of the qualifications of the early teachers not much can be said. In fact, for quite a number of years no qualification at all was required except that he be able to read and write and cipher. He was also re- quired to know how to make "quill pens." These were made with a sharp knife from goose quills, as the long stiff feathers which grow on the wings of the goose are called. Steel pens were not used for many years. Ink was made at home either from ripe polk berries or from little balls that grew
on oak trees called "ink balls." The rules that the teacher or Master, as teachers were usually called, were very severe. A bundle of switches were a necessary part of the school furniture. Nor were they neglected, but were used upon the least provocation without mercy There were some "Masters" who made regular rounds of the school room and whacked each of the larger boys over the shoulders whether he deserved it or not. The small, timid boys were usually punished by being made to sit with the girls. Harsh and even cruel as those teachers seem to us at this day to have been, most of them had a sincere desire to help the children placed in their charge, and to inspire in them a desire for education and a wish to better their condition.
As has been stated, for quite a number of years after Indiana became a state there were no public school funds, and teachers were paid altogether by the patrons of the school. The pay, however, was very small often not more than ten dollars a month. Teachers in early days usually "boarded around," that is. they boarded among the families of the neighborhood; a week here and a week there until they had spent a
week with each family, and then they would begin a second round. While those early teachers had but little knowledge fo books, and their methods of discipline and instruction were crude, yet most of them had what we do not find in all the teachers ofto day. "common sense, ' which covered a multitude of other deficiencies.
TURNING TEACHER OUT
A common practice in almost all the old time schools was to "turn the teacher out" at Christmas time till he agreed to treat. Sometimes cakes and cider were demanded, and occasionally candy could be procured. If the teacher could outrun the boys or outwit them in any way and gain admittance to the school room by some strategy, the school would lose the treat. This, however, did not often happen, for while the boys were chasing the teacher, the girls would see that the school house door was kept securely barred.
As time went on the interest in education increased among the pioneers. Larger and better school houses were built. Until some time in the forties all the school houses that were built were of logs, but they answered the purpose for which they were erected, very well.
In the year 1845 the Legislature of the State passed a law establishing a free school system with the provision that it should not be enforced except in such counties as adopted it by a vote of the people. It seems strange to us now that more than half the counties of the State voted to reject it. Although this county voted to adopt the system it was by no means unanimous. Many of the people who lived here then had come from states that had no free school system, and they were opposed to taxing themselves to educate other people's children. Previous to the year 1845 all the school houses that were located here were called neighborhood or community school houses as they were built by the people living in the community or neighborhood. After the public school system referred to was adopted they were termed public or district school houses, as they were built with public funds.
Until this time each school had been conducted just as the teacher and the patrons desired. There had been no uniformity of text books, bnt each pupil had been permitted to use any text book he happened to have, and but little qualifi- cation had been required of teachers. It is true that for several years each township
had what was called a "board of educa- tion,' consisting of three trustees elected by the voters. who were supposed to con duct examinations and pass on the qualifi- cation of teachers. It often happened how- ever that no member of the board could either read or write, so the examinations the teachers underwent were surely very superficial
In the vear 1827 congress gave its con- sent to the State to sell the lands that had been set apart as school lands, and as soon as these lands could be disposed of and the money loaned and interest collected, there was a small amount of public funds that could be used to help pay teachers. This added to private subscriptions would, in some instances, provide for a three months school during the year. This was regarded
as quite a long term. In the absence of records I think I am safe in saying that prior to the year 1860 the average school term of Marion township did not exceed three months. It is surprising that the early teachers could have accomplished so much. For it is true strange as it may seem, that out of these old time schools came many boys and girls with enough of the rudiments of knowledge to enable them
to become useful, intelligent and successful men and women in the various walks of life. While not intending to criticise the present methods of teaching, yet I think the teaching in the early schools was more practical than the teaching of the present day; that is, it better fitted the pupils for the duties of the great, busy world in which they were to live I think it is also true that parents in early times took, as a rule, more interest in the education of their children than at the present time. How many parents of today would send their children to school where they had to walk through the mud and snow two or three miles to reach a school house, and make the money to pay their tuition the hard way the pioneers had to make theirs ?
As years rolled on geography and grammar were taught in some of the schools. Later, geography and grammar schools were held at night in many of the school houses where, seated around the open fire in the fire place, the children would pore over the mysteries of these subjects.
In a few of the schools debating or literary societies were organized. Some- times two or three schools would unite and organize a society with a "constitution and
by-laws.' These societies, which always met at night, were often kept alive during the entire year. Perhaps the most noted one of these societies that was established in this community was organized and met at what was called the "Dave Dobbins" school house. which was situated about four miles west of Mitchell. Once a week after a hard day's work the young people of the community, and often the older ones, would wend their way to that old school house, which was surrounded by woods, to discuss and to hear discussed the important subjects of the day. National problems, such as 'Should foreign immigra- tion be prohibited?" the slavery question, the temperance question, the tariff, and other leading topics of that time were debated and settled in a masterful manner. William H. Edwards and Isom Burton are the only persons now living, so far as I am informed, who were members of that society and took part in its debates
Another feature of the early schools that I must not fail to mention is the school exhibition that was held on the night of the last day of school. This was looked upon as a great occasion, and pupils and teacher would spend weeks in preparation.
Perhaps some ola man who reads this will recall the time when a boy } e appeared on the stage at one of these exhibitions and began in a loud and shaky voice "Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish " Some imitator of Spartacus would urge his Gladiators on to battle, and Patrick Henry would demand either liberty or death. The Turk then as now-
, At midnight in his guarded tent. Lay dreaming of the hour When Greece her knee in suppliance bent, Should tremble at his power.
The small boy who "Liked to see a little dog and pat him on the head," and the little girl telling of "Mary's lamb with fleece as white as s ow," were sure to appear on the stage. But all this to the reader, perhaps, seems like echoes from a forgotten world. Yes. there were merry and happy times in those long gone-by- days in spite of the toils and hardships, and many a tired man and woman, when enfeebled by age, has looked back upon them with pleasurable longing.
"Backward, turn backward O time in your flight. Make me a child again, Just for tonight."
This community has, from its earliest settlement, kept constant and steady step in the march of education. Within a very few years after its first settlement the rude huts that were to be used for school houses were built in several localities. Although each of these schools of "ye olden time" has its tinge of history, its interesting past, yet to trace the origin and history of each one would be almost an impossibility, and, were it possible the result would scarcely justify the extraordinary undertaking that such a task would require. I will, how- ever, give a short sketch of a few of the very early schools and one or two of the schools of a later day. As no records were kept of the early schools I necessarily have to rely on tradition for the information that I shall give.
The first school that was taught in what is now Marion township was taught in a little log house which was situated about two miles south of Mitchell on the farm now owned b: the Jenkins brothers. The first teacher was John McClean, who taught a short term in the year 1824. What little salary teachers in early times received was paid altogether by the patrons of the school, and it is said that McLean agreed to take the larger part of his salary
in such provisions as he could use in his family. The second teacher was Samuel Dalton, a one legged man, who taught two or three terms Dalton's successor was a man named Evans, whose career as a teacher was short, teaching but one short term. William Bathay was the third teacher. Bathay taught three terms. and it was said of him that he was a good man and a good teacher. The last pedagogue to hold forth in this little log structure was a We shman by the name of Watkins, who taught four terms. It was said of Watkins that he was a good scholar and a teacher ot more than ordinary ability.
In the year 1825 the second school house in this community was built near the Elkin Spring, about five miles northwest of Mitchell. The first teacher to teach there was an Irishman named Wood, who taught but one short term. Wood was succeeded by a young man by the name of William Bathay, Jr , who was a son of the teacher Bathay previously mentioned. The third and last teacher to teach at this little hut was a man named Crump, who taught three terms, and was regarded a good teacher. All the teachers that I have mentioned, as well as all the pupils who attended their schools, have long since passed to the Great Beyond.
Joe A. Burton has kindly handed me a short history of the schools he attended in his boyhood days, which I am sure is in- teresting : 'The old log school house on my father's farm was built in 1839. It was a small building about twenty feet wide and twenty two feet long. It had two windows, one in the north end and one in the south end. On the east side one whole log was cut out and a row of glass put in to give light. The teachers who taught there were: John McClain, a Mr. Weir, Jesse Archer, Mr. Bridges and Allen C. Burton, who taught the last school that was taught in that primitive little school house Shortly after, a larger and better house was built on the "Bald Knob" which is about a half mile south of where the old house stood The first to occupy the new house was William A Burton, the second, James Madison Baker, third, William Ken- nedy, fourth and last James McConnaha. While the last named teacher was teaching, the house burned. I remember the teach- er, Mr. Weir, as being very harsh and cruel, and one day when a boy named Isom Cox committed some offense, he gave him an unmerciful whipping. I can remember see- ing the blood run down his heels after he had whipped him. The boy s father made
complaint and a meeting of the patrons was called. It was agreed that if the teacher would leave the country there would be no prosecution. Weir left, and I think with
out his pay. I remember seeing the large boys at Christmas time take the teacher. Allen C. Burton, to my father's spring to duck him if he didn't agree to treat. Just as they were in the act of putting him in the water he gave them a half-dollar with which to buy two bushels of apples to treat the school. The last day I wore a dress was while attending Archer's school."
All the teachers whose names are men- tioned here. are long since dead, and the pupils who attended their schools that are still living are: Joe A. Burton, Zack Bur- ton, Riley D. Burton, Nancy Conley and William O'Dell
When the school house burned, which was in the early fifties, a frame school house was built to take its place a short distance east of "Bald Knob" and has long been known as the Burton school house. This was, perhaps, not only the fiast frame build- ing erected in this township, but was also the first one to be built with public funds. FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL
Another log school house built about this time was known as the Woodville, or Sutton
school. It was in this little log structure that the first Sunday School in Lawrence County, south of White river, was organ- ized. This Sunday School was kept alive for several years by Harlan Pope and Owen Bruner, its Superintendents. These two pioneers were intelligent, upright and re- ligious men. Both were teachers and did much for the educational uplift of the com- munity. This little log building was used as a school house until the year 1852. The teachers who taught there, were: Owen Bruner, Arthur Howell, G. W Dodson and Harlan Pope. who taught several terms. These teachers are all dead and so far as I know, there are but three of the pupils now living, who attended the school, Aaron Pless, Mrs A Wood and W. H Edwards.
The second frame school house built in Marion township was located a short di -- tance west of Mitchell and was known as the "Hardin Burton" school house The teachers who taught there were John D. Carter, Daniel Watkins, Henry Burton, George Miller, Mary F. Minter, John Bene dict, Joe A. Burton and Monroe Pless The different schools taught there were largely attended. Two of the teachers. Joe A. Burton and Henry Burton, are still liv- ing. In 1961 the school district was chang-
ed and the school house abandoned. Short- ly afterward it was moved to Mitchell to be used as a residence, where it still stands on east Warren street. This is the only one of the school houses of the long ago that is still standing and if some of the old pupils, who are now living, could visit it, they would, perhaps, find their names deeply carved on its ceiled walls,
"The old school house, the cradle of youth; Thy benches hard, rigid and straight;
Not less hard was thy teaching and truth Which has made great men for the state."
CHURCHES
A large per cent of the early settlers of this community were christian men and women or at least had been reared in chris- tian homes. It is no wonder that they regarded it one of their greatest hardships that they were for so long a time deprived of the privilege of attending religious ser- vices. For several years after this com munity was first settled there was no public religious service of any nature. Sunday was considered simply as a day of rest for the older people and a day of play for the children.
THE FIRST PREACHER
The first minister of the gospel to visit
this community so far as I have been able to learn was a man named Abram Mitchell who held several meetings in the cabins of the settlers as early as 1821. Soon after this another itinerant preacher by the name of William Noblitt came and held services in several homes and also preached a few times in the grove. Perhaps no class of men in early times was more deserving of respect, or accomplished more good than the devoted pioneer preachers. Although most of them were uneducated and lacked cul ture, yet they did an almost incredible amount of useful work under extremely difficult conditions. These men devoted their lives to the cause of Christianity. They traveled from home to home on horse back over rough roads, often with no road at all except a blazed bridle path to guide them As a rule they were kind and sym- I athetic and made themselves pleasant and agreeable wherever they went The lonely pioneer family considered it quite a treat to have a preacher for a guest, and he was always welcome. The ministers of early times considered it their duty to advise and counsel the people in all affairs, either religious or secular. They considered them- selves servants of the people, and for all
this they received as pay a bare subsistence.
THE FIRST CHURCH
The first church to be organized in this community was christened the "Spice Valley Baptist Church." The church was organized in 1822 and has been kept alive for almost a century, as it is the oldest church organization in the county and, perhaps, the oldest country church in the State. I shall give a more detailed history of it than space will permit me to give of the other churches of the community.
It was about seven years after the church was organized before a church building was erected. In winter time the people met for worship in the homes of the members, and in the summer they met either in the grove or in William Maxwell's mill shed. In 1829 a small log 'meetin' house," as a church house was called in those days, was built. This little hut, like most all other buildings of that day, was built of round logs with a puncheon floor and stick and clay chimney. Near this little church a small spot of ground was cleared, a rail fence built around it, and in this little in- closure they would bury their dead. Once a month on the Sabbath day, in winter and
in summer, the people for miles around, dressed in their best homespun clothes, wended their way through the woods to this little house of worship. They had no carriages or buggies in those days, so they came either on foot or on horseback. Some- times the father and mother would ride the same horse, each holding a child before them. If evening services were held the time would be announced as "early candle lightin'." The only lights they had then were candles and tallow dips.
This little church house was surrounded by thick spreading trees, and in summer time the songs of the birds flitting among the boughs were just as sweet as the music furnished by a modern church choir. They had no choirs then and, as many of the people had no hymn books, the preacher would always line the songs to be sung. He would also request the audience to sing either in the "long metre" or "short metre." During the long existence of this church it has managed to have services at least once a month, except at short intervals All of its early pastors have long since gone to their reward.
The first pastor to serve this little church, which is now almost a century old, was
Abram Mitchell, who began his work in 1823 and served as pastor several years. The second pastor was Thomas Vandiver, who continued as pastor eight years. In 1835, and during Vandiver's pastorate the little log church house burned, A man named Ballard was teaching school in it when it burned. A brick building was erected soon after. The third pastor was Joseph Odell, who served continuously for twelve years. It is said of him that he was a man of more than ordinary ability, a warm hearted minister, a fine orator, a good exhorter or evangelist and a highly esteemed pastor. There are a few persons yet living who can remember this old pioneer preacher as he would preach of the duty of right living and the importance of preparing for the Judgment and Eternity. They can. perhaps, recall hearing him speak of his toils, his travels his perse- cutions and his welcomes. His earnestness in presenting gospel truths took deep hold on the minds of the people, and during his pastorate the great revival of 1842 occurred during which seventy-five persons were baptized and received in the church. The fourth pastor was Hardin Burton. Uncle Hardy, as he was familiarly called. was
well known and highly esteemed, He served the church as pastor at different times for many years The fifth pastor was Jacob Crabbs, who was called in 1853 and served three years. In 1856 a man named Moses Edwards, a graduate of an eastern theological college, was called and served as pastor one year. Other preachers who have served the church as pastor at different times are William Baker, R. M. Parks, Volney T. Baker, Nat Williams, Isaac Carothers, A J Essex, Thomas J. Swan, Wright Sanders, W. L. Green, C. J. Bunnell, David Blankenship, Walter Pack, L. S. Sanders, E. A Howard, P. B. Shoe- maker, Warren A. Sanders, H T. Stevens, J. N Nicholson, and Henry B. Sanders, who is the present incumbent.
The second church house built in Marion township was known as Hicks' Chapel or Rock Lick Church. This building, which was made of hewed logs, was built in 1845. Although the building and ground was owned by the Methodists, yet it was a union church building. An old colored man. named John Barnett, deeded the ground to the Methodists, with the proviso that the Baptists could use the building to be erected when not in use by the Metho-
dists. So the two denominations organized a church, one known as Hicks' Chapel, the other as Rock Lick Baptist Church. Although both denominations held services there for several years, I can give the names of but few of the pastors. Rev. Samuel Hicks preached for a number of years for the Methodists, and Isaac
Carothers, Thomas Robinson, William Baker and David Elkins preached for the Baptists. Both churches have long since disbanded and the church building torn away.
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