USA > Indiana > Adams County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 15
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 15
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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
DECATUR CITY SCHOOLS
With regard to the dates of their organization, a brief sketch of the ten graded schools, now in session in Adams County, is given.
About sixty years ago Decatur became an incorporated town. Pre- vious to this time, the schools were under the control of the township trustees. In 1854 a six-room frame building was erected at the cost of about $3,000 and it oeenpied inlots 100, 101 and 102, where the present Central School building is now situated. The old frame build- ing may now be seen at the corner of Second and Jefferson streets, as it is used for a seed store on lot number 45. In 1886 the Central building was erected and the school became a Commissioned High School, with G. W. A. Lucky as city superintendent. As the school population increased, ward buildings were erected in various parts of the city-the "West Ward" in 1899; the "North Ward" in 1893. and
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the "South Ward" in 1896. These are all briek structures, with up- to-date modern improvements.
In 1917, inlots numbers 175, 176 and 177, at the corner of Fifth and Adams streets, were purchased and the contract let for a modern fifteen-room High School building, which, when completed, is esti- mated to cost about $90,000. This building is to be ready for the begin- ning of school in the fall of 1918.
The present board of school trustees is composed of John S. Falk, Diek Myers, and Arthur Suttles. The city school superintendent is Martin Worthman.
LINN GROVE SCHOOLS
The second graded school in the county, was at the village of Buena Vista, Linn Grove, as the post office is called. In 1877 Lewis C. Miller, the trustee of Hartford Township, was petitioned to build a two-room house at Buena Vista and employ two teachers. He claimed that he had not sufficient funds to maintain such a school there. A meeting was called at which the county superintendent, William Wal- ters, was present. An arrangement was agreed to by which the pro- moters of the plan subseribed a sum sufficient to build the second story and the trustee agreed to hire a second teacher. We are unable to get a list of all of those who aided in meeting the expense of the second story of the Linn Grove graded school building, but the following were among the promoters of the project : Eugene Morrow, Peter Huffman, L. L. Dunbar and a Mr. Lindsey. After the other exercises were over "Billy Walters," the county superintendent, reeited some of his special selections, among which was "Sheridan's Ride," and the graded school at Buena Vista was an assured fact.
In time this small two-story frame became too small to meet the demands of the township and village. In 1892, Frederick Hoffman, then trustee, built a modern two-story four-room brick school building at Linn Grove. He employed three teachers at first and Jobn H. Bryan was the first school prineipal in the new building. Amos Stauffer is now the principal in this school.
GENEVA SCHOOLS
The third brick school building in the county, was built in Geneva. in 1878. It was a two-story four-room building, fairly modern and cost about $3,500.
Several years previous to this date, two or more teachers were
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employed at Buffalo and the old log church was used as a school room for awhile, in conjunction with the one-room frame schoolhouse built by trustee Henry Miller to the southeast of where the present school building is located.
In 1893 the school corporation of Geneva made an addition to its school building by which several more rooms were added, and more teachers employed for the work. About 1900 the entire school build- ing was destroyed by fire. The coming year the present commodious brick building was built at a probable cost of about $25,000. The
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superintendent of the Geneva schools at the present time is A. E. Harbin.
MONMOUTH GRADED SCHOOLS
In 1879, a two-room two-story briek school building was built in Monmouth, by trustee Perry Robinson. This was the fourth brick school building in the county, and the second one in Root Township. In 1911 this building was torn down and a new commodious modern five-room graded school building was erected by Trustee Charles Mag- ley, at a cost of about $12,000. The present principal of the Mon- mouth schools is L. B. Sawyer.
PLEASANT MILLS GRADED SCHOOL
Under the direction of Trustee A. M. Fuller, the graded schools were begun in 1881. This was the fifth graded school organized in the
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county. In 1907 Trustee William II. Teeple had an addition of two rooms placed to this building which for a time seemed to meet the demands of the village of Pleasant Mills and the adjacent locality.
In 1916 Trustee Erwin W. France began the erection of a com- modions District High School building that will be in readiness for the fall schools of 1918. This will be one of the best and finest school buildings in the county and when completed will cost in the neighbor- hood of $25,000. The principal of the Pleasant Mills schools for the present school year is A. E. Downey.
BERNE SCHOOLS
Within the year 1879, the township trustee of Monroe Township. Robert E. Smith, built a frame schoolhouse in the north part of the village of Berne. This was its first school building. This served its purpose until the year 1888, when the school anthorities built a two- story two-room brick building in the south part of the village and employed Frank G. Haecker and Lila G. Schroek as its teachers. Within a few years it became necessary to add another school room and an assembly room on the second story. In 1909 another revision of the buildings was made, and now there are a superintendent and twelve teachers employed with ample school rooms for the aecommoda- tion of all pupils who are here in attendance. The estimated valua- tion of the school property at Berne is $45,000, and the present school prineipal is C. E. Beek.
MONROE SCHOOLS
The Monroe Township graded school building was erected in 1886, by Township Trustee Christ W. Hocker, at an estimated cost of about $3,500. It was a two-room building and fairly modern in construc- tion. This building served the town and township for a number of years, and supplied a large number of county diploma gradnates. In the year 1912. the school building was remodeled and some other rooms added. It now contains eight rooms, is modern in construction. and is under the control jointly of the Monroe Township trustee and the town sehool authorities of the Town of Monroe. Its present High School principal is W. II. Oliver.
PETERSON SCHOOLS
In 1893. Trustee Joshna Bright built the Peterson graded sehool building. The first teachers in the graded school here were Joseph W.
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Walker and Ella Fleming. This school building has the distinction of occupying the ground held by the last log school house in use in Kirkland Township. Since Kirkland Township has a Central High School, but one teacher is now here employed.
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOLS
Within the county there are two Central High School buildings erected. One is in Kirkland Township and was built in 1917 by Trustee George Ilaugh at a cost of about $12,000. At present it employs three teachers. O. D. Rider is principal.
There is also a Central High School building in Hartford Township, south of Buena Vista. This building was erected in 1917 by Peter Fox, township trustee of Hartford Township, at a cost of about $20,000. It employs three teachers and at the present time the prin- cipal of this school is Alfred Habegger. These buildings have an ample supply of recitation and study rooms, an assembly room each, and are modern in construction in all respects.
DISCONTINUED GRADED SCHOOLS
Washington Township graded school building was erected in 1880, by Trustee John King, and John H. Walters and Anna C. Christen were its first teachers. This school was continued for several years and finally a district school, with but one teacher, was provided for this locality.
BOBO OR RIVARE GRADED SCHOOL
In 1887 Trustee John C. Cowan built a two-story brick two-room building in the Village of Bobo, for the use of a graded school. This was the second graded school for Saint Mary's Township. It had a good attendance and there were a number of county diploma grad- uates from this school, but with the enlargement of the Pleasant Mills School building which is in the same township, this was made a single room school. It is now one of the "concentration" schools to which pupils are hauled in conveyances to a school of larger attendance.
CEYLON GRADED SCHOOLS
The schools at Ceylon were provided with two departments in 1884, by Township Trustee LaFayette Rape, and William A. Aspy and
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Adda V. Snow were its first teachers. This school for several years was one of the chief educational centers in the south part of the county ; and was one of the first township graded schools in the county to establish a school library. This school was continued in operation for eight consecutive years and furnished a large number of county diploma graduates-many of whom subsequently became teachers. The transfer school law made it possible for advanced stu- dents, who could be better accommodated, to be transferred to town or city schools. The High School at Geneva offering better advantages, the graded schools at Ceylon were discontinued and a district school of one room made to take its place in 1892.
THE COUNTY AGENT
Education development is not limited only to the common schools or their surrounding influences. There are several lines of develop- ment through which there have been many marked changes within the last forty or fifty years in Indiana. Changes are different in the vari- ous sections of the country, owing to the environment of that partieu- lar loeality.
Adams County is right in the heart of one of the most productive agricultural countries within the United States. There is not a foot of waste land within the limits of the county; not a farm without its valuable improvements. Taking the lands, the buildings, the drainage and the roads, there is no county within the state that makes a better showing, in advancement, than Adams County. The best breeds of horses, hogs, sheep and eattle that can be found anywhere are found right here in Adams County. Along in the '90s the Great Northern Indiana Fair was held near Decatur. Its stock shows were equal to the State Fair at Indianapolis those days. Farmer's Institutes have received mueh encouragement. They have developed into farmer's schools, with the county agent as the directing supervisor. Some of the subjects receiving his attention recently are such as "Hog Cholera : Its Cure;" "Rotation of Crops;" "Culture and Profits of Soy Beans;" "The Best Uses of Fertilizers;" "When and How to Spray Apple Trees," etc. Among some of the requirements and duties of the county agent are to aid progressive farmers and stockraisers by his special visits to investigate and give advice and practical instructions from a scientifie basis, to help get the best results from the time and money expended by the farmer in his line of business.
In December, 1915, Mr. A. J. Hutchens was chosen as county agent for Adams County for one year. The following year M. II. Overton
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was selected to the position and has served continuously to the present time-January 1918. This educational instruction is at the expense of the United States Department of Agriculture, working with the local authorities and the Purdue University Agricultural Extension Department. Mr. Overton's report to the National Department of Agriculture for 1917 shows that he has mailed to resident farmers over 20,000 circular letters ; has written and mailed nearly 1,400 indi- vidual letters to stockraisers and rural residents; that within the year there had been 118 meetings held within the county, with a total of 6,700 persons in attendance. Some of these meetings were held at farm residences and others at public school buildings. That over 1,300 persons have called at the agent's office, which is in the county school superintendent's room, for information, advice and instructions covering their own special needs or wants. And that the agent has within the past year, made 325 farm visits to make special investiga- tions and suggestions of the most approved methods. To perform his duties, as is required by law, he is compelled to travel all over the county and in many places. The last year's record places over 5,000 miles of travel to his eredit.
LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICERS
For nearly fifty years there were three school trustees in each township in Indiana. They examined, licensed and employed their own teachers. These were known as the Township School Board, of which one member was president, one clerk and one treasurer. Section 8, of the law of 1852, says that "Such board shall take charge of the educational affairs of the township, employ teachers and visit schools, either as a board or by one of their members, at least twice during each term thereof." School trustees were paid one dollar per day for the time actually employed in the management of the school affairs of the township. In 1861 the number was reduced to one trus- tee in each township with the term of office one year between elections.
Previous to 1850, each county had its county school commissioner, who was chosen by a vote of the people. His duties among others were to look after the school lands, school funds, etc. The school commissioners of Adams County were: Benjamin Blossom, 1837; Ezekiel Hooper, 1839; Edward G. Casten, 1843; John N. Little, 1846; James H. Brown, 1848, and Josiah Randall, 1850.
For the next ten years after 1850 there was a deputy state superin; tendent for each county. Ile was a medium between the state and township and county administrations, and was appointed by the state
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superintendent. The deputy state superintendents were: John H. Nevious, 1852: J. D. Nntman, 1853; J. P. Porter, 1854; Josiah Craw- ford, 1856, and David Studabaker, 1858. In 1861 a county school ex- aminer was appointed by the county commissioners for a term of three years. Ile was required by law to examine and lieense teachers ; to visit the schools; have oversight of the collection of fines, escheats, ete., which, when recovered, went to the common school fund of the state. This law also provided for a County Board of Education com- posed of the county school examiner and the township school trustees.
The county sehool examiners were: James R. Bobo, 1862; Samuel C. Bolman, 1868; and Daniel D. Heller, May, 1872, to October, 1875. The law of 1873 made Mr. Heller the first county superintendent, as he was the school examiner at the time the change in the officer was made.
THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENCY
Daniel D. Heller was born and reared in Ohio, graduated from New Hagerstown Academy, came to Indiana and was the first county school superintendent of Adams County. In March, 1873, the school examiners' office was abolished, and the county sehool examiner, by enaetment, became the county school superintendent. Visitation of the public schools was made obligatory, and for neglect of duty the county superintendent could be removed from office by the County Board of Commissioners. In October, 1875, Mr. Heller resigned and William M. Walters was chosen to fill ont his unexpired term.
At that time Adams County had ninety schoolhouses all of which were log or frame, with the exception of two-the Dent school, and the Hartman school, which were brick. Decatur had a frame two-story six-room schoolhouse- the only school building with more than one room within the county. At that time there was a sentiment that the superintendent's visitation of schools was a valuieless requirement. Bills were introdneed in many sneceeding legislatures to abolish the office of county superintendent. Instead of these measures being adopted, the superintendeney was strengthened by new and needed legislation. The superintendeney was made the chief local medium between the township offieers and the State Board of Education.
The second county superintendent was William M. Walters, who was a former resident of Pennsylvania. He studied at the Shippen- burg State Normal School of that state. Ile was a successful teacher, a good scholar, and quite an accomplished elocutionist. 1Ie aided in giving special instructions throughout his work as superintendent. and Vol. I-10
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assisted in a short normal term each year to better prepare the teach- ers for their duties in the school room. The great lack of text books was one of the chief hindrances to even a fair degree of advancement. He did what was possible to have a uniform system of school books brought into general use in the common schools of the county.
Mr. Heller and Mr. Walters are now both deceased-the former departed this life in January, 1917, and the latter in 1910. After quit- ting the superintendency, Mr. Heller devoted his whole attention to the law ; was elected circuit judge of the Twenty-sixth Indiana Judicial District and served iu that capacity for twelve years. Mr. Walters went from here to Clay Centre, Nebraska, and again took up the work of teaching. Later he was elected county treasurer. He subsequently removed to Thedford and was elected probate judge of Thomas County, a position he held for two terms.
The next county school superintendent was George W. A. Lucky, who was born and reared in Adams County, Indiana, and was an at- tendant at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. He was conscientious, earnest, and very resolute in his efforts to place the schools that were under his charge in the best possible working order. One of the first effective aets of the County Board of Educa- tion, of which the county superintendent was president, was to adopt a general series of common-school text books, and to enforce their use in the common schools. Previous to this time, in almost any school district one could find a variety of text books, and in some instances there were three or four series of readers. A course of study was also adopted which when followed closely, aided greatly in classification of the school. Mr. Lucky also assisted, each year, in conducting a county normal for the advancement of those who wished to better fit them- selves as teachers. Among the common school subjects then taught English grammar seemed to be the hobby of some schools.
The county superintendent devoted especial attention to this sub- ject and there were very few important points in Clark's, Holbrook's or Harvey's grammars that were not made axioms in teachers' ex- aminations. Mr. Lucky continued in the school work, after leaving the county superintendency, as superintendent of the Decatur city schools for four years. Subsequently he went to Nebraska and be- came a professor in the Nebraska State Normal School, at Omaha.
John F. Snow was the next county superintendent. He was born at Portland, Indiana, educated in the common schools, county nor- mals and at the Ridgeville College. He began the work as county superintendent in 1883. Within his fourteen years of service, in this
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capacity, the educational tide ebbed and flowed in several directions, in Indiana.
School graduation and classification attained a more satisfactory basis. Graduation from the common school course began in 1883, with twenty-one successful applicants for graduation. These passed a written examination on printed lists sent out to the county superin- tendents by the State Board of Education. The county diploma ad- mitted its holder to the first-year high, school class without further examination. The teacher's license law was changed in 1883, a thirty- six months' license was issued to applicants making the highest re- quired grades, and but one six-months' license could be issued to any applicant. This change permanently separated a large number of old teachers from work in the public schools. It stimulated the young and aspiring teachers to better preparation for the teacher's work.
A few years later the subject of "snecess" as estimated by the teacher's record in the school, was made a part of his or her grade, in examination. The Teachers' Reading Circle, in 1885, and the Young People's Reading Cirele, a little later, added new duties to the county superintendent, as he was expected to distribute the books, and hold the examinations to test the teachers' proficiency in having read them. In 1886 the Indiana School Book Company furnished all of the school books for the state. The county superintendent had the books to or- der, deliver and settle for. In those days there were no deputies, no time for play, and little for anything but hard work.
After the first few years, Mr. Snow discontinued taking part in the county normal, each fall, and these schools were conducted by the various graded school principals and the eity superintendent at De- catur.
Among some of the matters most impressed upon the school au- thorities by Mr. Snow were that distriet school lots should be not less than one aere each of land. That none but modern brick school build- ings should be erected, and that the best positions in the county should be given to those resident home teachers who had fitted themselves by the proper education to handle them.
The fifth county superintendent was Irvin Brandyberry, who was born and reared in Adams County, Indiana, and received his educa- tion in the district schools, county normals, and the Tri-State Normal School at Angola, Indiana. He became county superintendent in June, 1897, and resigned the office on the tenth day of January, 1906. Within his term of office, the subject of supplemental reading in the intermediate grades and the introduction and use of district school libraries, of which the Young People's Reading Cirele books were a
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part, received particular attention. A return to the neglected subject of spelling, for a time created more excitement than the basket-ball games of a few years later. Requirements were made that those who were employed to teach in the district high schools, or the city and town high schools, must have had some normal training; also that applicants for high school licenses shall have their manuscripts, made in teacher's examinations, graded by the state superintendent, or his deputy, "and that the graded school course of study be strictly followed."
In 1901, the compulsory education law went into effect. The county board of education selected the attendant officer, and it was his duty in cooperation with the other school officers of the county,- to see that all children of school age as designated by the law, shall at- tend some school during the whole term that such schools are in ses- sion.
Lawrence Opliger was the sixth county superintendent. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and attended the district and graded schools in Adams County and was an attendant at the Normal Schools at Marion and Angola, Indiana. He was elected to the county super- intendeney on the 15th day of January, 1906, and served until the 13th day of July, 1914. Domestic science was given a place in the course of study. The concentration of district schools was favorably considered. By concentration, the districts with small attendance were abandoned, and the children who were there enrolled were conveyed at public expense to graded schools or to those districts with larger enrollments, and better attendance. Within Mr. Opliger's term of office, several new conditions arose and some new subjects were added to the requirements of teachers. Within his term of office, the attend- ance at the State University and State Normal School from Adams County was increased, and many manuscripts made in teacher's ex- aminations were sent to the state superintendent for grading. Mr. Opliger instituted the public observance of graduation of the district common school graduates, all at one time and all in one place for that school year. This was known as the County School Commencement. The plan was to secure a noted speaker to address the assembled class for that year, at Decatur, Berne, or Geneva, and announce the grades and deliver the diplomas at the time of graduation.
Byron S. King, a noted lecturer and elocutionist, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was once present, and delivered the diplomas and made the address to the graduates. At another time, the then governor of Michigan, Hon. N. C. Ferris, performed a like duty ; made an earnest appeal for further development and higher education.
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Ed S. Christen, the present incumbent, became county superin- tendent of Adams County on the 13th day of July, 1914. lle was born in that county, and educated in the district schools, the State Normal School and the Indiana University. At the June, 1917, meet- ing of the County Board of Education he was re-elected for a term of four years. To him have come some new duties not required of his predecessors. The local district high school sentiment is asking a hear- ing. In answer to this demand the county superintendent must pass upon the cost, location, ete., of such buildings.
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