USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Parke County > History of Parke and Vermillion Counties, Indiana : with historical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
It is impossible to state just what qualifications were required of the early teachers. There was no uniformity, even in the county. The patrons were the judges of the qualifications of one who wished to teach their chil- dren. However, we do know that he was a severe disciplinarian, who be- lieved that the rod should not be spared, and many tales are told of the "awful" floggings that were begun by the teacher on the opening day of school and continued as an essential feature throughout the term. The writer had the pleasure of hearing "first hand" of the general condition and the character and scope of the work of our early schools. He was qualified to speak because he attended school in the early forties and taught in the early fifties. In the earliest schools, the "three R's" only were taught, "Readin', Ritin' and Rithmetic." to the Rule of Three. By 1840 some history and geog- raphy were added to the curriculum. The early teacher received a salary of about twenty dollars per month and "boarded around."
It is impossible to say when the teacher ceased to teach subscription schools and became a teacher of public schools under a real system. How- ever, in 1861 we find Parke county with a school examiner, whose duty seems to have been to pass upon the scholarship of an applicant. Later he was given the added duty of visiting the schools of the county and reporting to the state superintendent of public instruction. Each examiner determined in his own way as to the standing of the applicant. Barnabas C. Hobbs thus describes his first examination : "The only question asked me was, 'What is the product of twenty-five cents by twenty-five cents?' As the question did not occur in Pike's arithmetic, I could not answer it. The examiner thought it was six and one-fourth cents, but he was not sure. We discussed its merits for an hour or more, when he decided that he was sure I was qualified to teach school, and a first-class certificate was given me." Mr. Hobbs probably did more than any one man to give Parke county recognition in the educational world. For more than fifteen years he was principal of Friends Blooming- dale Academy. Then in 1866 he was elected president of Earlham College and in 1868 he became state superintendent of public instruction. While hold- ing this office he was chosen chairman of the committee for considering a scheme for federal aid to education in all states where it might be needed. In 1871 he returned to Bloomingdale and again assumed the principalship. which position he filled several years more.
In 1873 the General Assembly abolished the office of county examiner
138
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
and created that of county superintendent, or rather merely changed the name and enlarged the powers of the old office. Mr. Siler was the first super- intendent of Parke county.
The list of county examiners and county superintendents, date of elec- tion, and length of term follows :
Wilson Hobbs-June 4, 1861, one year.
Edwin F. Hadley-September 4. 1862, two years.
Chester G. Bartholomew-June 14, 1864, one year.
John M. Mclaughlin-June 9, 1865, two years.
Joseph Foxworthy-June 1I, 1867, one year.
Ared F. White-June 5, 1868, five years.
Elwood C. Siler-June 2, 1873, two years, eight months.
Oliver Bulion-January 28, 1876, five years.
W. H. Elson-June, 1881, ten years.
Charles E. Vinzant-June, 1891, six years.
Jesse M. Neet-June, 1897, fourteen years.
Homer J. Skeeters-February, 1911, to present time.
The foundation work for the county institute is to be credited largely to Superintendent Elson, although the development has come through many years and each superintendent has contributed his share. In 1887 the en- rollment was 171 and the cost $205.00. In 1912 the enrollment was 160 and the cost $340.00. It is doubted if any movement in the schools of any state has been a greater source of inspiration than has the county institute, bring- ing as it does the best men of this and other states with messages of cheer.
Along with the county institute has come the township institute, which has been of direct benefit to the schools. The teachers of the several town- ships meet and discuss questions of local interest and study hooks which deal with the history of education, psychology of the child, method of the recita- tion or possibly a text which is wholly inspirational. These books are se- lected and outlined for study by the state board of education. Each town- ship chooses its leader ; but once each year, in each township, the county su- perintendent is the leader.
One cannot write a history of the development of the schools of this county without speaking of the Indiana Young People's Reading Circle move- ment. This movement began in 1884. but it was several years before it was a vital factor in the schools of the county. This work was furthered greatly by the unceasing energy of Superintendent J. M. Neet. Mr. Neet for six years was a member of the Indiana Young People's Reading Circle board and had the honor to serve for two years as its president. More than one
I39
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
year of his term this county was the banner county of the state and thousands of good books are purchased each year and placed in the hands of the chil- dren of the county as a result of his efforts in that line.
Consolidation can only be said to be in use in two townships and in those two, Liberty and Reserve, it is not carried out in the largest sense. Several other townships have abandoned schools and now transport the pupils to adjoining districts, but without changing the conditions of the school affairs of the district that cares for the children.
Township high schools have made a marvelous growth since the town- ship high school law passed by the General Assembly of 1901, whereby the township trustees may provide secondary education. At the present time the following townships maintain high schools: Florida, at Rosedale; Union, at Bellmore : Wabash, at Mecca ; Washington, at Marshall ; Raccoon, at Bridge- ton, and Liberty, at Tangier. Superintendent Skeeters has been very instru- mental in getting the standard of his township high schools such that the state board of education will place them on the list of certified and accredited schools. Besides these township high schools there are three other schools offering secondary instruction: The public high schools of Rockville and Montezuma, and Friends Bloomingdale Academy.
The academy has had an interesting history. In 1845 Harvey Thomas, a well known educator of Pennsylvania, conceived the idea of establishing a Western manual labor school for the purpose of furnishing a thorough edu- cation to young persons of both sexes. At first there was a farm of about forty acres on which a suitable building was erected. It was soon discovered that the manual labor system, though correct in theory, was not at all practi- cable on the small scale here tried and the plan was abandoned. The Friends church had been much interested and decided to take over the property. Ac- cordingly the Friends Bloomingdale Academy was chartered under the law. to be managed and controlled by the Bloomingdale quarterly meeting of the Friends church. The board of trustees selected the principal and gave direct control to him. Those who have served in this capacity are B. C. Hobbs. Seth Hastings, John Chawner, Josiah P. Edwards, Thomas Armstrong, A. F. Mitchell, Irving King. W. J. Reagan, R. S. Coppock, William Hill and Milton J. Hover. Three years ago Prof. William Hill, a former resident of Bloomingdale, but now connected with Chicago University, organized the academy for the purpose of eventually establishing an agricultural school. The citizens of Bloomingdale and the friends of the academy were greatly pleased by his plan and much assistance was given the school. The grounds were beautified, the buildings remodeled, the faculty increased, courses in agricul-
140
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
ture and domestic science were offered. An agricultural guild was estab- lished by a number of farmers of the community. The present principal, Mr. Hover, has been working in sympathy with that movement. It cannot be told just how permanently the purpose of the academy has been changed, but the movement is laudable. The alumni of the academy numbers more than two hundred and fifty, the first class having graduated in 1869.
The attempt at graded schools in Rockville, the county seat, probably dates back to 1832. In 1839 Parke County Seminary was organized. A brick building was erected in the west part of town. James Brown was the principal and Matthew Simpson, later Bishop Simpson, was the assistant. In 1873 a new building was erected at a cost of thirty-six thousand dollars. The graded schools were held here and the old seminary building was used for a colored school and is so used to the present day. Rockville is the only town in the county that provides separate schools for the colored race, instruction in both common school and high school studies being given in their own build- ing. The building of 1873 becoming inadequate, due to the increased attend- ance in high school, a fine modern building was erected in 1908. This has been a very strong factor, promoting interest in the schools, being a matter of common pride of the pupils and patrons as well. That the town and com- munity has availed itself of the high school is shown by the fact that four hundred and twenty-five have graudated from the high school since 1876. Rockville has always been fortunate in having as members of her board of education able and public-spirited citizens who have been glad to serve the best interests of the town and community. The present board consists of J. S. McFadden, president ; O. M. Teague, secretary, and W. S. Ferguson, treas- urer.
In order that the statistical report of the present county superintendent may mean anything in showing the advancement of the schools I shall briefly give some comparative figures :
In 1870 there were 118 schools; in 1912 there were IIO schools.
In 1870 the total enrollment in the grades was 5,232, and in the high school, 142; in 1912 the total enrollment in the grades was 4,530, and in the . high school, 383.
In 1870 the average length of the school year was 98 days, Howard and Greene townships having 58 days and Rockville 178 days; in 1912 the average length of the school year was 147 days, Howard and Sugar Creek townships having 120 days and Rockville 165.
In 1870 there were 131 teachers-92 males and 39 females; in 1912 there were 178 teachers-69 miles and 107 females.
141
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
In 1870 there were four teachers employed in high school work; in 1912 thirty teachers gave all their time to high school work.
Average wages in 1870 were $2.00 per day ; average wages in 1912 were $2.90 per day.
In 1870 the value of school buildings was $89,000 and the value of equip- ment was $6,900; in 1912 the value of school buildings was $230,000 and the value of equipment was $10,000.
In 1870 the total tuition expenditure was $26,688.05; in 1912 the total tuition expenditure was $73,415.86.
In 1870 the total special school fund expended was $14,091.51; in 1912 the total special school fund expended was $68,551.29.
Such is a brief sketch of the development and progress made in the schools of Parke county. It is a record of which every citizen can be justly proud. And best of all, we are not content with the attainments already reached, but we can foresee even greater progress in the next quarter of a century than has taken place in the last half century.
CHAPTER XIII.
AGRICULTURE AND MINING.
Agriculture and coal mining operations are the two leading industries and sources from which wealth is derived in Parke county. It was by the former that the sturdy pioneers made their living, and really is the great source which has developed the county into its present state of prosperity and perfection. The various township histories will deal considerably on this subject, in connection with the development of the county, but it will be well here to note some of the points connected with the resources of the county from these two industries.
The land is somewhat more hilly than in other parts of the state, yet there are thousands of acres of rich alluvial soil within Parke county that yields up its annual harvest to gladden and repay the industrious husband- man. It is seen in reports made to the state in 1880-nearly a third of a century ago-which gives the following report of the productions of this county :
In 1880, Parke county produced in bushels: Wheat, 636,000; oats, 68,000 ; clover , 3,600; corn, 1,85,942; Irish potatoes, 14,000; fall and winter apples, 78,000 ; peaches, 4,600; and of small fruits, 45,000 pounds of excellent grapes, 1,500 gallons of strawberries. 8,200 gallons of currants, blackberries and raspberries, 6,000, with many cherries, etc. In the month of August, 1881, it was reported to the state that Parke county had growing 38,000 acres of Indian corn; 11,000 of timothy meadow; 11,000 of clover ; 35.000 in blue grass; and that the year previous it had produced 32,000 gal- lons of cider, 11,500 of sorghum, 7,000 of maple syrup and made 28,000 pounds of butter. The number of cattle reported that season was 16,000 head; fattening hogs, 33,000; stock hogs, 21,000; sheep, 29,000 head, from which wool was clipped amounting to 100,000 pounds. The same year there were 150,000 chickens, 6,400 geese and ducks, 700 stands of bees, with a production of 8,800 pounds of honey.
For the year ending. April, 1881, there was mined in Parke county. 8,000 tons of bituminous coal; number of coal miners, 166; 200 tons of fire- clay. It had sixty miles of first class turnpike, with twenty-five miles more
143
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
under construction. The present number of miles of gravel roads is some- thing over eight hundred miles, second to only two in Indiana.
In 1910 Parke county, according to the United States census bulletins, had 2,448 farms, and were classed as follows: 183 had from three to nine acres; 146 had from ten to nineteen acres; 475 had from twenty to forty- nine acres; 669 had from fifty to ninety-nine acres; 581 had from one hun- dred to one hundred and seventy-four acres; 250 had from one hundred and seventy-five to two hundred and fifty-nine acres; 118 had from two hundred and sixty to five hundred acres; 21 had from five hundred to one thousand acres ; 5 had from one thousand acres and over. The total land area was 286,080. Land in farms, 256,392 acres. Improved land in farms, 166,74I acres ; woodland in farms, 67,326 acres ; per cent. of area of land in farms, 89.6: average number acres in a farm in the county, 1041/2 acres.
The value of all farm property in 1910 was placed at $18,234.495. In- crease in value in last decade, 87 per cent. Average value per acre, $51.27. Value of cattle, $464,000 ; horses, $890,000 ; mules, $103,000 ; swine, $298,000; sheep, $89,490 ; poultry, $90,600; colonies of bees, 987 ; value of bees, $3,852.
AGRICULTURAL, SOCIETIES.
More than half a century ago Parke county farmers took steps to organ- ize and sustain agricultural societies and associations, some of these being successful many years, while others fell for want of united interest and effort. Parke and Vermillion counties were long associated together in county agri- cultural and annual fair enterprises. The old newspaper files disclose the facts that in 1855 and on through the Civil war period up to and including 1865, fairs were held annually by these sister counties, jointly, some of which were held at Montezuma, while others were held elsewhere. Another ac- count shows that the Parke County Agricultural Society was holding its first annual fair in 1880, after a lapse of more than twenty years. The fair grounds were dedicated; McCune's Band was present and an admission was charged to the grounds on the day of public dedication. Races were had between some of the fastest horses in Indiana. The president was S. Coll- ings ; vice-president, James A. Allen; secretary, David H. Webb; treasurer, N. W. Cummings; general superintendent, Shelby C. Puett. The grounds consisted of forty acres, with a splendid driving or race track; Ladies Hall, and many stock sheds and stalls. No "skin-games" of gaming and gambling were allowed on the grounds, no matter what price was tendered them by such gamesters.
144
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
In June, 1866, there was held what was known as the Parke County Horticultural and Rural Institute, at Bloomingdale. The president was E. C. Silers; treasurer, Perley Pearson; secretary, John M. Hill.
At all of these exhibits there were hundreds of fine displays in farm, garden, fruit, stock and handiwork, all from Parke county.
At Bridgeton, Raccoon township, in the spring of 1860, Abel Mitchell offered a premium for the best colt that could be shown in Bridgeton in June. At the appointed time there were twenty colts brought and about five hundred persons were present. This gave the idea of a fair. June 16th, that year, was organized what was styled the Bridgeton Union Agricultural Society, which became a joint-stock company and was incorporated. The fair grounds consisted of about twenty acres, with a good trotting race course. In 1880 the reports show the society to have been in a flourishing condition. A few years later, however, all fairs in this county went down, including the Rock- ville fair, which closed about 1890.
CROPS AND WEATHER.
A record was kept on Silver Island, from 1834 to 1881, by Norburn Thomas, which shows the weather and crops in that vicinity for the years included in the period named :
1834-All grain in bottom destroyed.
1835-36-37-38 and '39-Raised a good crop.
1840-Wheat badly rusted.
1841-42-A crop. 1843-Half destroyed. 1844-All destroyed July 7th.
1845 to 1850-A crop.
1851-All destroyed June 15th.
1852-3-4-Very dry season.
1855-A crop and very wet year.
1856-No summer so dry since the settlement of county.
1857-Driest spring ever witnessed.
1858-Crop all destroyed. 1859-62-Good crops.
1863-Corn all frost bitten.
1864-Short crops.
1865-Partly lost in October.
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 145
1866-7-Crops good. 1868-Half lost.
1869-73-Fair crops.
1875- All destroyed; highest water ever seen.
1876-One-third lost.
1877-A good crop.
1878-9-Small portion lost. 1880-To June Ist, one-third lost so far.
(10)
CHAPTER XIV.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS-RAILROADS.
The state railroad commissioner's reports for 1911-2 show the number of miles of each railroad in Parke county, main track, as follows: Central Indiana, 15.38; Brazil division. of . the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, 26.08; Terre Haute division, Chicago & Eastern Illinois, 4.21 ; Chicago, Indiana & Western, 20.89; Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis, 1.07; Toledo, St. Louis & Western, 3.08; Vandalia, 23.44. This makes a total of 91.45 miles of main trackage in Parke county.
By an old newspaper file at Rockville, dated November 20, 1859, it is gleaned that at that date the first attempt, in public, to secure a railroad for Parke county was made, by holding a mass meeting at the court house, that week, to look toward securing the Evansville & Crawfordsville line. The company wanted Parke county to donate, in subscriptions, money to the amount of sixty thousand dollars. There were subscriptions made at this meeting amounting to ten thousand dollars. The work went forward, men worked for and against the project, and meeting after meeting was held, but subscription was not popular. 1861 came and with it the Civil war opened, which stopped all such enterprises. After the war, the county was still without a railroad line. Coal had been struck in paying quantities in many sections of the county, and was seeking its outlet to the great outside world, through some system of transportation. Five different lines sought to enter or cross this county in the early seventies, and all but two failed to accomplish their iam. First, the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwest- ern, which was surveyed to Rockville in 1870, commenced to be constructed in 1871, and was completed to Rockville in 1872. Soon the old Evansville & Chicago line was leased to this company and it then made direct connec- tions between Terre Haute and Logansport.
The east and west road, later styled the Indianapolis, Decatur & Spring- field line, had already gotten as far from the west as Montezuma, this county, by the time of the 1873 panic, and by a series of mysterious business negotia- tions, its course was turned to the northeast and by Bloomingdale, and it was finally completed across the county in 1877-8. So it will be observed
147
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
that Rockville, the county seat, had, with the central part of the county, a splendid grade and right-of-way, while the northern portion had the road itself; the crossing, instead of being at Rockville, as popular belief was that it would be, was at an inconsiderable way station, with several small towns and hamlets, instead of the concentrated railroad and commercial interests usually found at a county seat. The road, starting out from Attica, Foun- tain county, was destined, it was supposed, to run through this county, en- route to the southeast, but after several miles of track had been provided for in this county, it found its coal interests led it farther to the west, hence that did not materialize to do any commercial good for Rockville.
After the shifting scenes of a full third of a century and more of pro- posed and completed steam railways, in this county the list has been narrowed down to these: The road from Terre Haute to the northeast, known as the Vandalia (of the Pennsylvania system) ; the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton line, from Montezuma eastward across the county; the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, running from north to south through Parke county, entering the territory in Liberty township and passing out at the south from Florida town- ship; the Central Indiana line. The commissioner's reports on the mileage of these various roads is found at the commencement of this item, and gives a total of less than ninety-six miles of road, but which gives ample outlet for the products of Parke county, in all directions one may desire to ship in or out.
COAL MINING OPERATIONS.
Some of the enterprising men tried boring for oil, but that was soon shown to be a geological absurdity in this county. Then all talk was about coal. Before the war, Professors Cox and Brown had made a hasty survey of Parke and shown that it was fortunately located on the eastern edge of the great Illinois coal field. Then local enthusiasts took up the work and proved that this county contained enough workable coal to supply the world for a thousand years. Later surveys lowered this claim a little, but proved be- yond controversy that Parke had eight good seams and enough for all prac- tical purposes. Mines were opened in every section of the county, but it soon appeared that there would be no market without a railroad, and in a little while no less than five lines were laid off through the county, of which two were actually completed. First was the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwestern, which was surveyed to Rockville in 1870. Work began in 1871 and trains started to Rockville early in 1872. Soon after, the company
148
PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA.
leased that part of the old Evansville & Chicago, above Terre Haute, and after that the road was managed entirely by them from Logansport to Terre Haute.
Meanwhile the mining interests had developed rapidly. On Sand creek, three to four miles northeast of Rockville, private banks had been worked for many years; but the survey developed the fact that immense wealth in coal was waiting development there, and as soon as the Logansport railroad reached the locality active business began. The Sand Creek Coal Company, the French Mine Company, and several individuals worked the ground actively for a while, and the large and flourishing village of Nyesville sprang up in the beech wood. For a long time development was hindered by strikes and other results of the ill adjustment of labor and capital, but ere long the coal mine there established a reputation which made it the preferred of all the accessable markets for heating and steam making. Long before the war there had been some coal mined from the Wabash bluffs, in Florida township, but now the improved transportation gave it a great stimulus, and the village of Clinton Locks was in like manner built up by miners and their families. And similarly, the mines on Lower Raccoon built Rosedale and other settle- ments.
Coming down to the present day, the mining reports of Indiana give us these figures : Number of tons coal produced in Parke county in 1910, 728,000 tons ; wages paid for mining the same, $780,260. The names of the mines operating in Parke county in 1910 were: Brazil, No. 9, seam four feet and three inches thick; Superior No. 2, four feet and four inches thick ; Superior No. 3, three feet and three inches thick; Superior No. 5, three feet and three inches thick; Fairview, five feet seam; Parke No. II, six feet six inches thick; Parke No. 12, six feet seven inches thick; Lyford No. I, six feet in thickness; Moore, four feet thick; Harrison, three feet five inches thick; No. I, four feet two inches thick.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.