USA > Indiana > Tippecanoe County > Past and present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 34
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
The string of horses that were received here from France in 1909 took all premiums at the greatest horse fair in the world-Paris.
There are other horse raisers in this county, but none doing so extensive a business as Mr. Crouch.
The Romney Stock Farm, in Randolph township, is also another large ranch where are bred and raised many fine animals-both cattle and horses. It may be stated, of a truth, that much of the wealth of this county has come by reason of the men who have engaged in raising fine stock, com- mencing away back years ago, when Banker Fowler engaged in the enter- prise.
347
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
PRODUCED IN 1908.
In 1908 Tippecanoe county raised, among other products. the follow- ing : Eleven hundred bushels of tomatoes; thirty-six thousand, six hundred and forty-six tons of clover from nineteen thousand, four hundred and sixty-two acres; timothy, fifteen thousand acres and twenty-three thousand, seven hundred and fifty-eight tons of hay; ninety thousand acres of corn which produced twenty-eight and a fraction bushels per acre. aggregating over two million, five hundred thousand bushels; wheat, twenty-one thousand acres with a total of four hundred and twenty-nine thousand bushels; cheese produced, ten thousand pounds.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY-"GRANGERS.
In the month of March, 1872, the first grange in Tippecanoe county was established at Battle Ground; Wells Sheaker was the master. April 22d, the same year, Wabash Grange was organized; then Hebrew Grange, with J. H. Henderson as its master. Grange after grange was added to the list until forty-three had been established in the county. So great was the movement that the days of "middle-men" seemed forever numbered. A great ageney and supply store was established at Lafayette and the cus- tomers from over three thousand farmers in this county became members of the Patrons of Husbandry movement. Farm machinery, groceries and almost every article of household use was supplied at this agency, which was managed by John Hall. He in time was succeeded by C. Tinker who procured his supplies of sugar, tea, coffee, ice, etc .. by the cargo direct from New Orleans. A. C. Harvey, purchasing agent for Wabash Grange, pur- chased in one invoice three thousand pounds of tea in San Francisco and had it speedily distributed throughout the state of Indiana to different gran- ges. The result was the drop in prices on tea from one dollar and forty cents to sixty cents per pound, while the price of sewing machines dropped from eighty dollars to thirty-two dollars and fifty cents, with many articles in the same proportion.
In 1872 the legislature of Indiana authorized the incorporation of granges, after which immediately there sprang into existence hundreds of such societies, and they built large halls and warehouses and grain elevators. It was believed that fifty per cent. of the middle-men had received their death blow. Every grange was a school in which the productive elements of econ-
348
PAST AND PRESENT
omy were inculcated into the minds of the individual members-both men and women taking part in the school work. The secretary of these granges was the "big" man and was supposed to be superior in knowledge and observation of all that was passing on in the outside world, and he was to come before the granges at the weekly or monthly meetings and report all that he had learned of prices, real and imaginary, in the great marts of trade the world over. By his word the members made radical changes and held or sold crops, at his suggestion. For a number of years, here, as well as at almost every point in America where farming was carried on, these granges flourished, but there came a time when the war was carried to a bitter termination. The contest for office and supremacy among the mem- bers themselves, together with the sharp competition with the local mer- chant and middle-man everywhere, brought prices down and the object for which the grange stores had been established, had been covered and the general trend of national policies had so materially changed the whole aspect of commerce, including the enactment of the inter-state railroad com- mission, fixing a more just set of freight rates, this and a dozen other rea- sons caused the granges to go down. However, the lesson taught was good in its general result. The Patrons of Husbandry still continued to do good work as an educator of the farming classes. They frequently met and dis- cussed the questions of farm and garden and orchard. But the matter of trading at grange stores soon became a thing of the past.
Then came the township and neighborhood "Farmers' Clubs," which have come to be very popular and beneficial to the rural part of the com- munity. While the "Grange" was a fad, it was a great educator to the yeo- manry of this country. It caused the farmer to read more, to post up in all public measures and finally to cast a more intelligent ballot than he had been accustomed to cast. The merchants, the common carriers and the national and state legislatures took more notice of the rights of farmers and even to this day the influence is going on.
OPINIONS RADICALLY CHANGING.
That the opinions of farmers and landowners have materially changed in the last quarter of a century, it only needs to be cited as an illustration that in 1880, or thereabouts, Rufus Lockwood, a large landowner, whose farms are situated along the northern line of this county, had much very swampy, wet land in his holdings, and he seeing that it would certainly be of benefit to his land to drain the same out. by a system of ditches and
349
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
tiling, went heavily in debt in order to procure means with which to execute such improvements. His farm neighbors, as well as many of the business factors within his section, called him anything but a wise calculator, and predicted that he would wind up poor, and that his land would be eventually a barren waste only suitable for cactus to be grown upon. However, he went ahead and made the ditches and finally others fell in with his theories and today that section of the county has come to be a veritable blooming garden spot, and is very much more productive and valuable than lands at that date called first class. Now it is not a theory, but every landowner who can possibly do so is tiling all of his land, and that with much profit in the annual production of excellent crops.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE TREND OF EDUCATION IN TIPPECANOE COUNTY.
(By Brainard Hooker.)
THE SUBSCRIPTION SCHOOL.
All schools in the county from the time of its organization in 1826 to 1836 were paid for by subscription, wholly or in part. The first school house in Tippecanoe county was built near "Davis' Ferry," in 1824, and this was probably the first school taught in the territory of the county. In 1825 a school was taught in a cabin on the farm of one Samuel Black, who later was elected school commissioner. This cabin became known as the "Black School," in Wea township. In 1827, Joseph Tatman taught school in a cabin near Little Wea creek, in the same township.
The first school in Sheffield township was taught by Mrs. Richard Baker, in 1825. School was held in her house. She taught the subscription school during the week and the Sunday school on the Sabbath.
In 1826 the first school was taught in Wayne township by a Mr. Wiles. The house was located on the banks of the Wabash.
In 1826 Randolph township had her first school: the term was four months.
In 1829 Lauramie township had its first subscription school and Mr. Cormeen taught. Hon. James Cole was a student in this school.
Wabash township had no school until 1832, when Sanford C. Cox taught in a newly erected building.
PERRY TOWNSHIP EARLY SCHOOL INCIDENT.
One of the early school houses of this county was located where now stands Monitor high school. The house was log of the original type. The floor was puncheon. The desks were puncheon, on pegs driven into the logs that composed the walls of the house. The window was a glass occupying the space of one log in but one side of the house.
The term was three months or sixty-five days. The subjects were spell- ing, reading, writing and arithmetic. The teacher's salary was paid by the
.
JOHN PURDUE 1851
WILLIAM P. HEATH 1851 - 1855
-
ISRAEL SPENCER 1851 - 1855
A
JACOB CASAD 1851 - 1855
SAMUEL HOOVER 1851 - 1855
#
MEMBERS BOARD OF EDUCATION
W. K.ROCHESTER 1855
JAMES FOWLER 1855
JACOB WEAVER 1855
<
RUDOLPH S. FORD 1855-1873
J. B. MCFARLAND 1855
C.F.WILSTACH 1855. 1858
MEMBERS BOARD OF EDUCATION
351
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
parents of the children in proportion to the subjects taught and the length of time employed.
In 1840 Joseph M. Hershey, father of W. H. Hershey, now of Dayton. Indiana, taught school. In those days young men and women twenty-five years of age were pupils; for there were no high schools and the academies had not yet been started. Agreeable to an ancient practice, a custom which still lingers at the dawn of the twentieth century, the teacher was expected to "treat" on special occasions, particularly at the close of the school prior to the Christmas holidays. And to determine the matter. pupils resorted to "penning out" the teacher, thereby gaining his consent in many cases to treat to candy and nuts. A few instances are handed down by memory of the boys failing to secure the coveted sweetmeats. One Friday morning prior to Christmas time, as Mr. Ilershey approached the school from the west, he observed two of the largest boys standing in the door ; suspecting a plot, he stepped aside and cut a "gad." Carrying this under his left arm. he turned up his coat collar, pulled down his cap close over his face and eyes and went his way, apparently not observing the boys. As he reached the second door step, the two young men pushed him back and said, "You can't come in here." Apparently surprised, the teacher raised his head and stared at the boys a moment, then deliberately taking his long "gad," proceeded to strike at the boys, hitting the top of the door casing to break the force of the blow, but causing the boys in the doorway to flinch each time. As the "gad" grew shorter, the boys retreated and Mr. Hershey advanced until, seeing his opportunity, he dashed through the door where he discovered the whole school drawn up in double file behind the two large boys in the door. Three sharp stamps of his foot on the floor, accompanied by "Take your books," disarmed and drove into obedience all but the largest boy. He sulked a few minutes and decided to take his book, too. They had lost their treat.
On another occasion, Henry V. Hershey, an uncle of W. Il. Hershey. was teaching in the same house. The boys wished to make him "treat." Ile refused. The boys carried him to the foot of the hill to the middle fork of Wild Cat creek. cut a hole in the ice, ducked, almost drowned and froze their teacher. Mr. Hershey, with much of that original "grit" of early teachers, refused to treat and the boys, thinking they had carried their fun to the limit of safety. withdrew without the promise of the good things desired: At the following Christmas the boys locked and barred Mr. Hershey from entrance. With the thought of defeat came the plan to foil the pupils. Quick as a flash the teacher gathered an armful of leaves, mounted the low roof
352
PAST AND PRESENT
and stopped the chimney. Volumes of suffocating smoke issued from the crevices and the boys and girls "took to the woods."
The following is the copy of an interesting receipt, now in possession of W. H. Hershey :
(Face of receipt. )
"Received of Andrew Mikesel, one half chord of good Sound Wood, cut stove length and delivered at the door of Coffee Run School house on Friday the 6th of January, A. D., 1843, as witness my hand.
"FRANKLIN PAIGE." (Reverse side.)
"Received of Andrew Mikesel $2.31, cents for summer school for year 1847 in full of all demands of myself at District No. 4, Town 23 North, in range 3 West, for the summer school June 16, 1847.
"S. M. THORP."
THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
The statutes of 1829 provided for a school commissioner. His duties were to sell congressional school lands, lend the money, receive the interest and distribute school funds to the township trustees. This officer was elected by popular vote for one year. He was paid $1.00 per day for his services. Probably the first school commissioner of Tippecanoe county was Samuel Black. Jesse Evans was the incumbent in 1839. The office was abolished in 1849 by statute and a part of the duties went to the county treasurer and a part of them to the county auditor. This was a county officer of the subscription school period, though he was concerned with the public support of the schools.
COUNTY SEMINARY.
An act of 1838 provided for the establishment of a county seminary in every county in Indiana. The act provided for the appointment of a trustee by the commissioners, and, when four hundred dollars was in the treasury, the election of three by the vote of the county. In 1839 the trustees of Tippecanoe County Seminary were authorized to borrow money to construct a building and put it into operation. The report of no ap- pointment can be found in the commissioners' records, but a report of two trustees is found in 1840-R. S. Ford and J. S. Hanna made the report- which showed that they owned an acre of ground bought of L. B. Stockton,
£
6
DR. FONDA 1857
E. AVERY 1867
ROBERT HEATH 1856-1863
J.J. BINGHAM 1856
MARTIN BISHOP 1855
E. T.JENKS 1857-1873
MEMBERS BOARD OF EDUCATION
JOHN B . RUGER 1863
E . M . WEAVER 1858-1867
J . B . FALLEY 1871
ROBERT BRECKENRIDGE 1857-1886
MARK JONES 1863-1867
4 .
THOMAS MOORE 1871
+
MEMBERS BOARD OF EDUCATION
353
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
and that they had spent nine hundred seventy-four dollars and forty-two cents for materials for the building. The report of Ford, Hanna and L. B. Stockton, trustees for 1842, shows that they had a building com- pleted and that they had sold one-half acre of ground.
This was the only institution of higher learning in the county until the private academies were established in the fifties, and it must have exerted a strong influence on the people of the county. It had ceased its operations about 1855.
The deed records show that the entire "Seminary Lot." as it was called, was sold to the Rt. Rev. John Henry Luers, first bishop of Ft. Wayne, for a consideration of four thousand seven hundred dollars, in 1859. This money, by the constitution of 1851. went into the common school fund. The property was soon occupied by the Sisters of Providence, who established the St. Ignatius Academy.
THE ACADEMIES.
Under an act of 1852. legalizing the incorporation of high schools, academies, colleges, universities, theological institutions and missionary boards, a number of academies sprang into existence in the county.
Before the above act was passed there was an academy where now stands "Shawnee Hall." known by the name of "Shawnee Academy." It was an academy only in name. The building was brick and had a single room. Ann H. Manlove taught the first school in "The Academy" in 1845. In 1847 the "Shawnee Hall" was built. The latter was built for literary purposes. The former was only a district school.
In 1851 Farmer's Institute was organized with James P. Ellis, Elihu Hollingsworth. Buddell Sleeper and Milton Hollingsworth as the original trustees. The first principal was Joseph Fisher. Tuition was charged, as was the case with all the academies. Such subjects as physics, botany, geom- etry and the languages were taught. The laboratories were fitted up with ex- pensive apparatus, and a high grade of work was done. The school was for a time under the control of the Friends' church. The last principal was Harvey M. La Follet, who afterwards became state superintendent of public instruc- tion. The school was closed as an academy in 1882. In 1883 it came under the control of the Union township trustee and Dr. W. S. Nesbit, of Dayton, taught the grammar department. The school building was two story. A large dormitory was also used when the institution was in a prosperous condition. These buildings are still in use. Doubtless the influence of the
(23)
354
PAST AND PRESENT
high schools and the universities were instrumental in closing this as they did other academies of the county.
In 1856 two academies were organized, Sugar Grove and Battle Ground. The former was short-lived, for some unknown reason. The first teachers were John W. Cartwright and J. S. Smith, brother of B. W. Smith of In- dianapolis. Mrs. Mark Borum attended the Sugar Grove Academy in 1872, the last year of its existence as such. In 1873 it went into the hands of the township. The site of the academy is now occupied by a handsome three- room brick school. This academy, as well as that at Battle Ground, were under the control of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The Battle Ground Collegiate Institute was more fortunate, for it was longer lived. In 1858 there were one hundred twenty-five students, and Rev. E. H. Staley, A. B., was principal. The next year Miss Jennie Blanchard taught music in the school. In 1860 two hundred students were enrolled. In 1862 the Rev. D. Holmes, D. D., was principal and there were two hundred twenty-two students. In 1868 the institution was reorganized and occupied a handsome new building. Rev. George W. Rice, A. M., was the principal. Under his presidency the school reached the zenith of its efficiency. Labora- tories were fitted with the most approved apparatus and in 1875 three hundred twenty-seven students were enrolled. There were two college teachers and two grade teachers. Benton Stranahan of Dayton graduated with the class of 1875.
Extensive courses were offered in almost any subject desired. Stu- dents were prepared for the law, medicine, teaching and theology.
The rise of DePauw University is probably the chief reason for the decline of this institute, though the presence of Purdue and the growing public high schools, in which latter the tuition was free, are not without their influence in the same direction.
This school closed its doors in 1882.
The Stockwell Collegiate Institute, as well as the other academies under the control of the Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, was among the chain of higher institutions of learning reaching from Indiana Asbury University to the academy at South Bend, including Thorntown and Valparaiso in the chain.
In 1860 a few men of energy began the erection of a brick building one hundred and two feet by sixty feet, two stories high. The structure stood on an eighteen-acre tract of land in a beautiful grove in the town of Stockwell and was valued at twenty thousand dollars. Class work was begun December 1, 1861. J. L. Smith was appointed financial agent.
355
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
In 1862 the institute was in charge of H. S. Jackson, A. B. With him was a competent class of teachers. The enrollment reached one hundred and sixty-five the first year.
The list of the principals has in it: Prof. J. A. Rich, A. M .; R. R. Brown, A. M .; J. P. Rouse, A. M .; Rev. R. D. Utter. A. M., D. D .. now living in Lafayette ; Prof. J. G. Laird, A. M., and Rev. H. A. Merrill.
The last principal of the institute was Professor Owen, of Plainfield, in 1886-'87.
In 1869 a boarding house was built on the campus. In 1880 only sixty students were enrolled, thus showing the decline of the academy. In 1885 the public schools were conducted in connection with the institute. In 1887 the public high school took the place of the academy. The academy building is now destroyed.
This institution, as well as the others of the county, has left a wholesome influence upon the county. Hardly a farmer in retirement or in active life in the southeast part of the county today but has known the force of character of the sterling men and women who taught in this institution. Among its graduates are such persons as Burton Steele and wife of Dayton.
The Dayton academy was established in the fifties. B. W. Smith was elected principal in 1858 but declined to serve. In 1866 John Royal, Will Royal and Benjamin Wallis were the trustees. In 1867 the property was transferred to the Methodist Episcopal church. Thomas C. Ratcliff, B. S., was principal, and the Northwest Indiana conference appointed WV. O. Wyout, L. Taylor and I. W. Joyce, visitors. This committee reported good work in 1868. In 1869 Mrs. Rateliff. A. M .. was the assistant and there were one hundred and seventy-nine students enrolled. The Rev. E. H. Staley was principal at one time. Mrs. W. O. Crouse of West Lafayette taught in the school. The academy ceased to be in 1873, when the public schools gained the ascendency. In that year a large brick structure was erected for the public school and the difference in tuition drew the students to the high school.
The large two-story frame building now occupied by the Lenz carriage factory was the academy structure and is in a good state of preservation.
The general culture of the older and middle-aged people of Perry and Sheffield townships attests the valuable work of this early academy.
Colburn Academy .- In 1900 a parochial school was opened at Colburn, Indiana, through the efforts of the pastor of the Colburn parish. Rev. P. C. Wike, and Prof. G. M. Moser was called as instructor. After two years of success of this school and the fact that it had attracted students from other parishes. led the Chicago synod. at its convention held in Mulberry, Indiana,
356
PAST AND PRESENT
to nominate and elect a self-perpetuating board of directors, consisting of five clergymen and four laymen to which was given the ownership and control of the school. This board at once formed itself into a corporate body under the name of the board of trustees of Colburn Academy.
The school was opened as an academy in 1902 and Prof. G. M. Moser, the teacher of the parochial school, was called as principal. The beginning was small and unpretentious, but such had been its steady growth and prog- ress during the three years of its new management that it became necessary for the board to consider a change of location for the future development of the institution. After careful consideration Mulberry was selected as the permanent location. The school was moved in 1905 and was conducted in the chapel of Zion's Church until the present building was completed.
The school now has a handsome building on a twenty-acre tract of land beautifully located, and bids fair to a useful and influential existence. The catalogue of 1909 shows an enrollment of fifty-four students.
As the County Seminary followed in time the subscription schools, so it was succeeded by the academies, which, in turn, have been supplanted by the school supported by taxation, rather than by subscription, conscience money or private donations. The public school has come to stay.
THE COMMON SCHOOL.
The common schools were established by an act of the legislature of 1837, which provided that land sold for taxes and escheated estates should be used for public school purposes. The law provided that any school dis- trict might draw fifty dollars from such fund for the erection of a school- house. This was for the encouragement of the common schools.
In 1848 the people of a district could vote for or against a tax to main- tain schools from three to six months. In 1850 a special act for Tippecanoe, Fountain and Warren counties authorized a tax on the one hundred dollars to build and repair schoolhouses. The greatest impetus given the common schools came from the constitution of 1851.
"Knowledge and learning generally diffused throughout a community, being essential to the preservation of a free government, it shall be the duty of the general assembly to encourage, by all equitable means, moral, intel- lectual, scientific and agricultural improvement, and to provide, by law, for a general and uniform system of common schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge and equally open to all?"
H.W. MOORE 1885-1891
JAMES J . PERRIN 1873-1885
CONSIDER TINKLER 1873 - 1876
JOHN R . COFF ROTH 1882-1885
WILLIAM L.WARD 1873-1881
LOUIS KIMMEL 1885 -1888
MEMBERS BOARD OF EDUCATION
.
A J VAWTER 1855 -1863
EDWARD AYRES 1890-1902
JACOB T. MERRILL 1867-1890
RUSSELL K. BEDGOOD 1902 - 1904
ROBERT. FOSTER.HIGHT 1904-
J.W . MOLIERE 1863-1867
+
-
MEMBERS BOARD OF EDUCATION
357
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, IND.
Section two of article eight provides for the common school fund, the principal of which can never be reduced.
In 1855 free schools were authorized in cities and towns. The grade schools and the high schools have grown up since 1873. The academies were converted into public schools and high schools in most cases. The high schools at Stockwell, Battle Ground and at Dayton are the direct result of the academies at those places. The old county seminary at Lafayette grew into the present high school.
The beginning of the present century marks a decided movement in the common schools. Under the supervision of County Superintendent Crider many of the district schools were closed and concentrated at central points of the townships or in the small towns. At the close of Mr. Crider's term of office there were only sixty district schools in the county. The report of 1899, Mr. Sullin's last year of office, shows one hundred and twenty-five district schools.
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.