USA > Indiana > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 55
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much. A great deal has been done by school visitations, and more by the examination of teachers.
Prior to the year 1837, there were three Township Trustees who examined all applicants for teachers' positions. Some of the fun- niest things in the world have happened while the primitive teach- ers were undergoing this ordeal before the old Board of Trustees. A pioneer teacher once told the following story on himself: He was "on examination." " What is the shape of this 'yarth?' " asked the spokesman. " Well, said the teacher, who was some- thing of a policy-man, and afterward became a celebrated poli- tician, "I can just teach it any way you like." " We want it taught as she is - flat." " Alright, gentlemen, I always aim to please the people," responded the teacher. He got the school, but since he had no class in geography to deal with, we never found out how he taught the shape of " the yarth." February 6, 1837, the General Assembly passed a law taking away the power of examining teach- ers from the Township Trustees, and created a board of three County Examiners. These were appointed by the Judges of the Circuit Court and were often lawyers, sometimes clergymen, and fre- quently physicians. Their questions, always given orally, were often practical and suggestive, and although they were not what we would now call " professional," they answered the purpose very well. In 1852, the Legislature made one officer answer for the purpose of examining the teachers, and he was called the County Examiner. Eden H. Davis, now deceased, a former prominent at- torney of Shelbyville, was Shelby County's first examiner. He was a staunch friend of the common school system. Among the attorneys he was celebrated for his remarkable memory. Mr. Davis was examiner for several years.
In 1873, the County Superintendency was established, and in June of the same year, the State Board of Education devised the plan of issuing questions for the examination of teachers. William R. Norris was the first person ever elected to that position. He had served the last term as examiner, and now claims the proud distinction of being the last County Examiner and the first County Superintendent. Mr. Norris was a careful man, and took great pains in managing the details of his office. By examining the twentieth report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for IS72, we find that Shelby County has the most complete and best writ- ten report to be found. Mr. Norris served from 1873-1875. After him, came Mr. S. L. Major, who was " the right man in the right place." He made the examinations for teachers' license very rigid, and many incompetent and unsuccessful teachers were dropped from the list. He worked diligently to secure a uniformity of text-
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books and succeeded. During his term a continuous fight was made in the Legislature against the County Superintendency, and the office came very nearly being abolished several times. Mr. Major did the cause of education a great service by becoming a member of the " Third House," and working among the Legislators to prevent the proposed dangerous legislation. He served the county faith- fully for six years from 1875 to 1881. He was followed by W. T. Jolly, a Baptist minister, and a thoroughly good man. Mr. Jolly had a complexity of duties to perform. He was very popular throughout the county, and was called to preach at more funerals, and marry more couples, than any other two preachers in the city. He also filled the pulpit of the First Baptist Church at Shelbyville. His time was so completely taken up in other duties that he could not devote as much time and energy to the schools as he would liked to have done. However, he was a good speaker, and did much toward popularizing education by his timely remarks upon many occasions. He was genial and whole-souled and kept up a feeling of good will and fellowship among the teachers and the people. He published during his term of office, a small pamphlet containing the " course of study," and the rules and regu- lations of the County Board of Education. The schools advanced under his administration as they did also under the administrations of his predecessors. His term lasted from ISSI to 1883. He was succeeded by Douglas Dobbins, the author of this sketch, who de- sires to make one statement before heralding his own accomplish- ments. He has given more space to a detailed account of what took place during his administration, than to those of the other superintendents, because the department of public instruction was in charge of an unusually active man, who kept one improvement following upon another quite rapidly, and the County Superintend- ents of the State were stimulated by his example to attempt many things heretofore unattempted. Again the author, as a portion of this history, has set apart a description of the school system at the present time, and a great deal of what follows will come properly under that head. Lastly, your most obedient servant has just passed through a four years' term and is very familiar with the work- ing of the educational system as it is to-day. It is said that one can write best concerning the things with which he is most fa- miliar.
In the fall of 1883, the first county manual was published. It was a pamphlet containing thirty-two pages devoted to educational ;opics of importance to the schools. Five hundred of these were pub- 11shed and placed in the hands of all of the teachers and many of the pupils and patrons. In the fall of 1884, a " Supplement to the
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County Manual" was printed, containing fifteen pages. During the year IS85, a new and complete manual was published, contain- ing sixty-six pages. Twenty-five hundred copies of this work were printed and distributed to all of the patrons, teachers and school officers in the county. The last manual included a brief " Historical sketch of the Schools of Shelby County."
During this administration a great effort was made to increase the per cent. of attendance at the schools. A prize consisting of a beautiful silk banner was offered to the township having the largest per cent, of attendance. After the schools closed in the spring of ISS4, it was found that Moral Township had won the prize. Her average daily attendance upon the enumeration was 56 per cent. An " Educational Mass Meeting " was held in Shelbyville. May 30, 1884, at which meeting State Superintendent J. W. Halcombe presented the banner to the people of Moral Township. It was a beautiful prize, glorious in gilt and spangles and contained the following: "All Honor to Those Who Try - Awarded to Moral Township - 56 Per Cent. Average Daily Attendance." This had a great effect throughout the county, and the attendance has kept steadily increasing ever since.
In the spring of 1884, the first examination for pupils wishing to graduate from the common schools was held. Over thirty pupils appeared for that purpose, and about twenty passed the examination successfully. The first township commencement exercises were held in Jackson Township, at Mt. Auburn, under the auspices of Mr. E. T. J. Jordon, principal of the Mt. Auburn schools. The people flocked for many miles to attend the exercises, and were greatly pleased and interested in hearing them. Since that time many commencements have been held in Shelby County, and the system is thoroughly established. August 27, 1885, the first "Graduates, Prize Contest " was held in Blessing Opera Hall, in Shelbyville. A representative was selected from each township or corporation commencement held during the same year, who was to reproduce his commencement oration at the "contest." Those two who did best should be awarded prizes. The first prize was a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, and the second an edition of Dante's In- ferno. Five judges were selected who gave Miss Mary Jones, re- presentative from the Shelbyville schools, the first prize, and Claude C. Conner, of Shelby Township, the second prize. August, 1886, the second annual " Graduates' Contest " was held. Frank Clayton, of Hendricks Township was awarded the first prize, and Lizzie Addison, of Noble, the second.
During the same administration great pains was taken to cele- brate " Arbor Day, " that is to plant trees and shrubs in the school
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yards throughout the county. A number of teachers observed " Arbor Day " with proper ceremonies. But the work of beauti- fying the school yards and grounds has only just begun.
In the spring of 1884, Messrs. Levy, Baker & Co., a school supply house in Indianapolis, offered three prizes in order to stimu- late the system of township graduation throughout the State as fol- lows: For the best manuscript, submitted at any graduates' exam- ination, one grand gold medal; for the second best, an edition of the People's Cyclopædia; for the third best, an Unabridged Dic- tionary. Only one manuscript was to be received from each county. A committee was appointed to pass upon the merits of the work sent in from the different counties, and gave to Miss Met- tie Burgess, of Shelby County, the gold medal.
In IS84-5, the Cotton Centennial at New Orleans was held. The State Superintendent asked all of the County Superintendents in Indiana, to prepare an exhibit of work done in the country schools. Shelby County responded by sending 136 manuscripts of various grades, and many maps and drawings ; with this exhibit was sent a handsome little banner bearing this inscription: " A dot on the map of our nation; a fraction of the Northwest Territory, Shelby County presents her tribute to the Crescent City." All of the townships were represented.
The last report of the enumeration of Shelby County, shows the number of children to be as follows: White males, 4,437; white females, 4,169; colored males, 67 ; colored females, 61. Grand total, 8,737. The reports from the teachers throughout city and county, show the number enrolled to have been: Males, 3,446; females, 3,112; total, 6,517. The daily average attendance for this number enrolled, was 4,417. This makes the per cent. of attendance based upon the enumeration fifty plus. The number of brick school-houses, including those of the city, is ninety- three: number of frames, thirty-six. The whole number in the county is 129. There are eight district graded schools and five township graded schools. In all of these thirteen graded schools, higher branches, such as Algebra, U. S. Constitution, Physical Geography, and sometimes Latin are taught. The district schools are in a manner graded, but the term " graded school," as used above, is taken from the statute establishing it, and is held to be a school having two or more departments and employing two or more teachers. In the common district schools a course of study is in vogue dividing the work into five grades, corresponding to a series of five readers. As the pupils advance through the course from the first grade, they are gradually inducted into a study of all of the common branches, by simple oral lesson at the beginning, by
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primary text-books, in the intermediate grades, to a study of com- plete works in Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar, History, Phy- siology, Orthography, Penmanship, and Reading. This course of study is most systematically observed in some of our schools, while in others great looseness prevails. It will take time to make any system of gradation entirely complete. If the school system improves in the next seventy years as it has in the last, our schools will be little short of perfect.
In the old County Superintendent's records we find the follow- ing entry:
"July 31-August 4, 1865. - Held a teachers' institute, con- ducted jointly by the examiner and Mr. Charles Peterson. The number of teachers enrolled was thirty-four (34). Average attendance 26 1-5.
J. J. SMYTHE, Examiner."
The last Shelby County Teachers' Institute was held August, 1886, the number of teachers, and those aiming to be teachers, enrolled was 210, while there were several hundred visitors. The County Institute lasts one week each year, and is a period which teachers devote not only to receiving instruc- tion, but to having a general good time and a grand reunion. The Township Institute is held on some Saturday of each month in every township. Each teacher employed in a township is com- pelled to atttend or forfeit one day's wages. At the Township Institute questions relating to school economy are discussed. Last year fifty-seven Township Institutes were held during the winter and spring terms of school in Shelby County. The schools of Shelby County are in a prosperous condition. The corps of teachers is unusually strong and active. Last year the average number of days taught in the county was 128, and the amount paid male teachers per day was $2.692/3 ; females, $1.912/3. Per- haps no county is so blest in some particulars.
The term of Douglas Dobbins, as County Superintendent, began June 8, 1883, and his successor was chosen June 6, 1887. The name of the present Superintendent is Mr. Lester Clark. He was elected on the fifty-first ballot by the Township Trustees receiving eight votes against a scattering six. He will administer the office with faithfulness and ability, and his many friends predict a success- ful and prosperous term. Without doubt the schools will advance and improve under his administration. May success attend him, and may blessings ever rest upon that noble institution, the common school.
Shelbyville Schools. - In the winter of 1822-3, a school was taught by William Hawkins, in a log cabin built by Frank Wal-
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ker. It was the first house built in the town, on the northwest cor ner of Washington and Tompkins Streets, where Mrs. Susan Dixon's residence now stands. In 1824, the first school-house was built on what is now the southeast corner of the Public Square. It was built of round logs: one log on each side was cut out and greased paper pasted over the openings, for windows. In IS26, a brick building 20x26, was built in the east part of town for a school- house. This was also used for town meetings, for holding court, and other matters of a public nature. In 1835-6, a somewhat stylish County Seminary, with cupola, was built, between Jackson and Broadway Streets. The first teachers in this seminary were the venerable and well-aged Rev. Eliphalet Kent, and his first wife. Said Kent, commonly called " Father Kent," is still living on a farm two miles west of town at the advanced age of eighty-seven. Shelbyville was incorporated as a town, by act of the Legislature, February 21, 1850, and divided into school districts, and an enumer- ation taken of all children between five and twelve years of age. No record of their number was kept, but the seminary was so crowded that the trustees rented the old Presbyterian Church, for an additional school, in which the Rev. Eliphalet Kent, above men- tioned, taught the following winter and spring.
Mr. Eden H. Davis, an eminent attorney, was the first School Examiner, an office somewhat similar to the present office of County Superintendent. He was ordered by the Township Trus- tees and County Commissioners to license no teacher who could not furnish a certificate of good moral character. In IS51, the new constitution made it the duty of the Legislature "to provide by law for a general and uniform system " of free schools. In order to carry this law into effect, the council levied a tax to build a school-house. Meetings of the citizens were held in favor of the measure, and a site and plan were chosen. In 1852, the town con- tained 241 voters, the number of children between the ages of five and twenty-one. was 477, and the entire population was 1.424. This year the common school fund was apportioned among the "scholars learning the elementary branches, to-wit: reading, writ- ing and arithmetic," and the tuition of the advanced pupils was paid in full by the subscribers.
As the schools continued to demand more room on account of the loss by fire of the Seminary, the town council in 1852 and 1853, rented the basement of the Baptist Church. During the summer William Petit taught in the old Presbyterian Church, and in the upper part of Mr. James Harrison's brick building, southwest corner of Har- rison and Franklin Streets. The construction of the school build- ing on the site of the present Seminary, or school-building No. I,
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northeast corner of Franklin and Pike Streets, was delayed for a lack of funds, and frequent levies were made "to discharge the debt on the school-house." In 1855, a cupola was added to the Seminary, and Eden H. Davis, the School Examiner, was ordered by the city council "to organize a graded school as near as circum- stances would permit, and place the same under the control of one teacher." In the spring and summer of 1856, the building was completed and furnished. In March of that year, Mr. J. H. Moore " was employed as Principal of the school at a salary of $1,500 for self and assistants," and " and ordered to determine competency and employ teachers." The said Mr. Moore superintended and taught successfully for two years. In February, 1858, the Presi- dent of the School Board. Mr. Solomon A. Gorgas, laid before the Board a decision of the Supreme Court of Indiana, declaring the school law unconstitutional, and it was decided not to attempt the col- lection of any more school taxes. Most of the schools of the State suspended, but the people of Shelbyville subscribed and placed in the hands of the Trustees sufficient money to continue the schools FREE until June. In September of that year the school was again organized: Mr. W. F. Hatch was elected Principal. In February following the school was again suspended. In 1859, Mr. H. Clark- son was elected Principal. In 1860, a bell weighing 600 pounds, costing $205.23, was purchased by private subscriptions for the use of the school building. The school for 1861-2, commenced Sep- tember 17th and continued nine months. Mrs. M. E. Powell com- menced teaching in 1860, and continued up to 1878, a period of eighteen years. In 1861, Mr. J. M. Taylor, of Washington, Pa., was elected Principal. This year Miss Amelia Mckenzie com- menced teaching, and continued teaching with brief intervals in the public schools of Shelbyville until 1875, when she secured a posi- tion in the Indianapolis Public Schools at an increased salary, where she remained up to the fall of 1880, when declining health compelled her to resign. She died in March, ISSI, after having taught nearly nineteen years.
The school of 1861-2, had an enrollment of 720, and an aver- age of 317, with nine teachers. In 1862, Mr. A. D. Lynch, was elected Principal. At the end of the term the enrollment was 555; average 320. At this time the Board added a number of new studies, and ordered, that when a class should have completed the course and passed an examination, they should be graduated, and receive a diploma. School commenced for 1863-4, January 3rd, 1864, and closed in April. No report is on record. In 1864-5 public and private were taught as before, but no record can be found. In 1865, Mr. A. D. Lynch retired from the profession
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having acceptably filled the position of Superintendent for three years. In 1867, he was elected a member of the School Board, which position he held until 1874.
The next Superintendent was Mr. Levi Wright, of Ohio. During the summer $2,500 was expended in repairing the Semin- ary and it was insured for $10,000. November 5th, 1865, at noon, the building caught fire and was entirely consumed. A large and valuable library, together with an extensive and costly phil- osophical cabinet, and the books of the pupils were also destroyed. Ward meetings were immediately called to recommend what course should be taken by the Board. It was recommended that no effort be made to have school during the winter, keeping the funds for the spring of 1866. The insurance on the building was promptly paid, and active preparations for rebuilding commenced. The question of ward schools was discussed, but the present building on the old site was determined upon. Additional ground was pur- chased, and in 1868, the present building was erected at a first cost of $29,000. The public schools were again opened in 1867, with D. Eckley Hunter as Superintendent, who remained with us in that capacity for one year.
For 1868-9, Prof. W. A. Boles was employed as Superintend- ent. School commenced September 14, 1868, and closed March 5, 1869, number of teachers employed, ten. During the year 1869-70, there were fourteen teachers employed and an enrollment of 729 pupils: length of term, six months. This is the first year that a separate school was organized for the colored children. In 1871-2, the enrollment was 771; average attendance, 500; number of teachers, thirteen: length of term, eight months. This year a class of six were graduated from the High School department, the first for the Shelbyville schools. The class consisted of Miss Eva Stod- dard. Cannie Robertson, Louisa Tindall, Carrie Levinson, Mr. Charles Wright and Mr. Charles Major. Prof. Boles had charge of our schools for nine years consecutively: he was an able and industrious Superintendent. In 1877, he resigned his superintend- ency, he having secured the superintendency of the Public Schools of Lawrence, Kansas, a much larger place, at a substantial increase of salary.
Prof. R. S. Page, a Principal of one of the ward schools of Indianapolis, succeeded Prof. Boles in the superintendency of our schools in 1877, he remained with us six years, but having been chosen Superintendent of the schools of Ironton, Ohio, a large city, at a corresponding increase of salary, he resigned the superintend- ency here and went there, where he still remains. He had been educated early in life for a physician, and during his superintend-
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ency here he benefited many of our pupils by practical hints and suggestions in sanitary Hygiene and the preservation of their health. He had many warm friends, and his departure for other educational fields was generally regretted.
In the summer of 1883, Prof. W. H. Fertich, Superintendent of the Schools, at Mishawka, St. Joseph County, Ind., was selected by the School Trustees for Superintendent of our city schools. He was an author and lecturer of some note on elocution, and a leader in County Institutes. He held the position for four years, or until the close of the last school term. In the summer of 1887, a new school board having been organized, composed of Messrs. Henry Doble, Thompson Francis and Harry C. Morrison, they, in obedience to the public demands of the people, selected out of a very large number of applicants for the position of Superintendent of the Schools, Prof. J. C. Eagle, of Edinburg, Johnson Co., Ind., where he had filled the post of Superintendent of Schools for eight years successively, with very general satisfaction to the people of that flourishing town.
Shelbyville at this time possesses ample accommodations for pupils in the way of school buildings, of which we have three: First, The Seminary or school building No. I, situate on East Franklin Street, which we understand has cost the city $35,000, this includes the large lot on which it stands, the school furniture, interest, repairs, improvements, etc. School building No. 2, the Colored School, situate near the South end of Harrison on the east side thereof, a two-story brick house, with stone foundation, costing $3,000. School building No. 3, situate in the southwest part of town on the high bluff grounds at the intersection of South and Miller Streets. It is a large and elegant building, erected in the most substantial manner, with stone basement and foundation, massive brick walls, surmounted by a handsome tower, and is con- sidered a model of school architecture. It cost the city $21,Soo. The cost of the three school buildings, it will be seen, aggregate $59,800.
ADDISON SKETCHES.
THOMAS J. CONGER, fruit raiser and gardener, a native of Shelby County, was born in Noble Township, near Cave Mills, All- gust 4, 1842, being the next eldest in a family of five children born to David J. and Delilah (Jeffras) Conger, who were both natives of Butler County, Ohio, their marriage occurring in 1838, and they immediately moved to Shelby County and settled at the farm on which they now live. Our immediate subject grew to manhood on
1
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that farm, remaining with and assisting his parents until he attained the age of twenty-two years, receiving a common school education. October 23, 1864, his marriage with Charlotte F. Peak, was sol- emnized, and to their union this one child was born, Jefferson L., aged twenty years. May, 1864, Mr. Conger realized the neces- sity of the preservation of our Union, and enlisted in Co. E, One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, in the 100 day service. He was a member of Col. James Gavin's command of militia who pur- sued Morgan in 1863. He was honorably discharged at Indianapo- lis, August, 1864. He has always made farming his occupation. In IS82, he removed to his present location, since which time he has made the raising of small fruits a specialty, and he has been quite successful, having fifteen acres of land, one-half of which he has in fruit plants. He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He formerly was identified with the Grange movement. In politics he is a Republican.
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