History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 21

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 846

USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 21

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and asked that the district might be made to commence at the southwest corner of said township, which would be, as then constituted, the southwest corner of section 31, and to ex- tend three miles east and three miles north. William Shay was the first director, S. R. Southwick the first clerk, and John Kinney the first treasurer of this district. The first re- port is dated September 5, 1867, and shows 39 children of school age in the district. No public school was taught in the district until the fall of 1868. The clerk's report, dated September 12, 1868, shows 51 children of school age, and that Matilda Quinby had taught a three-months' subscription school, with an attendance of II males and 13 females. The next winter S. R. Southwick taught a three-months' school at $35 per month, and in the spring Miss Frankie Hull taught a three- months' school at $25 per month. The first school was taught in David Wagoner's vacant house on the southwest quarter of section 18. The first school meeting was held on the open prairie of John N. Watson's claim, on the northwest quarter of section 29. It was there agreed that each person should bring in a few logs, and that they would put up a log school- house. This project was not carried out, and in the spring of 1869 they put up a frame house. D. U. Watson is credited with having been present at every school meeting that has ever been held in the district.

BLACKFORD DISTRICT, NO. 6.

What I have said in speaking of Districts Nos. 4 and 5 may be referred to at this place for a fuller statement in reference to this dis- trict. Aside from the order granting District No. 6, which I have heretofore assumed to be intended for a description of District No. 5, I

find only these matters of record which would indicate that at any time there was any district designated as No. 6 prior to 1872. There is a report dated August 15, 1867, signed by J. B. Huntly, clerk, which he represents to be a report for District No. 4, but at the bottom, evidently in the handwriting of the superin- tendent, it is marked District No. 6, and is said to be in Oswego township; and in May, 1871, by the notices of election returns, it seems that Stanley Foland was director ; Joseph Wat- son, clerk; and Wm. H. Payne, treasurer of District No. 6. On May 28, 1872, Superin- tendent Horner gave notice that he proposed to take the northeast quarter of section 27 and the southeast quarter of section 22, township 34, range 20, from District No. 6. If there was originally a district of this number or- ganized, it seems to have lost its organization very soon, and its territory must have been em- braced in other districts. The policy of the superintendent seems to have been, when a dis- trict of any number became extinct, to give that number to the next new district which should be organized, and this number was given to an entirely new district, situated in the central- southern part of Howard township. This dis- trict was formed by an order made March 17, 1872, on a petition dated March 9, 1872, signed by H. C. Long, William Blackford and others. The first school meeting in this new district was held at the house of E. R. Lee, on March 30, 1872, and the following officers elected : R. M. Roberts, director; John Morse, clerk; WVm. Stevenson, treasurer.

BISHOP DISTRICT, NO. 7.

The original order for the formation of this district located it in the southwest corner of Oswego township, and a portion of Ricli-

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land township lying north of Labette creek. A report dated September 14, 1867, signed by Francis M. Brockus, shows 31 children of school age in the district. This was the only item in the report, and this was the only re- port of the district as thus located which is now on file, and it seems that within the next few months this territory was absorbed by other districts, and this district became extinct. On December 14, 1869, Abner DeCou, Alex- ander Bishop, D. S. Bishop, Henry Newcomb and Henry G. Pore petitioned for the forma- tion of a district to embrace sections 10, II, 12, 13, 14 and 15, in Hackberry township; and by an order made on the 17th of that month this territory, and also section 7 in Rich- land township, was formed into a new district designated as No. 7. A school-house was built in the fall of 1870, but before the erection of a school-house one term of school had been taught in a private house belonging to Henry Pore, on section 10. This first school was taught, commencing in the fall of 1869, by Miss Esther Biggs.

SHILOH DISTRICT, NO 8.

This district is located in the southwestern part of Montana township. The first officers were: Samuel Dunham, director; R. S. Cor- nish, clerk; Joseph Brown, treasurer. The first report of this district is dated September I. 1868, signed by R. S. Cornish, clerk, and shows 37 children of school age in the district, but no school having been taught therein. The first school in the district seems to have been taught in the spring of 1869, by A. A. Biggs. The report dated September 10, 1869, signed by E. G. Robinson, clerk, shows 37 children of school age, and an attendance of 21 at school, the average daily attendance being 15;

and the salary of the teacher $24 per month. A log school-house was put up in 1868, and in 1871 a good frame building took its place.

BED ROCK (OR RED BUD) DISTRICT, NO. 9.

This district is located in Montana town- ship, east of the Neosho river. It must have formed in 1867, although there is no record of its organization ; nor indeed is there any record showing anything in reference thereto prior to 1870, when the district board is reported to have been composed of David M. Watson, Benjamin F. Hanson, and James H. White. On December 5, 1881, the school-house was de- stroyed by fire; and as the limit allowed by law for bonds had previously been reached, and the bonds were still outstanding, it was determined to raise funds by subscription with which to build. Considerable outside aid was secured, especially from the business men of Oswego. In this way the district was again soon supplied with a house.

LABETTE CITY DISTRICT, NO. 10.

This district was originally organized by Superintendent Newlon, embracing two miles in width on the north side of Fairview town- ship and three miles in width on the south side of Liberty township, from the east line of said township five miles west. Wm. H. Cline was the first clerk, and on September II, 1867, reported no school having been taught in the district, but an enrollment of 24 males and 19 females of school age. The first school in the district was taught by Wm. H. Cline, as is shown by the report of W. J. Conner, clerk, dated September 1, 1865 (evidently intended for 1868), at a salary of $33.33 1-3 per month. The school was taught in a claim cabin on the

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southeast quarter of section 27, belonging to the estate of A. W. Richardson. The attend- ance at this school was 10 males and 3 fe- males, with an average attendance of 3 1-6. John Richardson succeeded W. J. Conner as clerk, and in the winter of 1868 James F. Molesworth taught a three-months' school at a salary of $35 per month, with an average at- tendance of 14 1-2. This school was taught in the new hewed-log school-house which had just been erected on the southwest quarter of section 35. This house was built by subscrip- tion with the understanding that the parties should be repaid when the district could raise funds, which was done. The town of Labette was started in June, 1870, and thereafter the school was taught in town. The first school in town was opened in a rented room on the east side of the railroad track, October 6, 1870, by J. L. Williams. In December the board bought a two-story frame building on the west side of the railroad track, known as Bates' Hall. The lower part was occupied by the pub- lishers of the Sentinel as a printing-office. The school was moved to the second story of this building, where Mr. Williams and his wife, Rachel Williams, both taught in one room. This building served as the school-house until June 6, 1878, when it was blown down and entirely destroyed by a tornado. Dr. Conner, seeing that his barometer indicated a storm, went to the school-house and directed school to be dismissed. The scholars were scarcely home till the house was in fragments. A new house was at once erected, and ready for occu- pancy that fall. Since 1881 the following named persons have taught in the more advanced of the two rooms of the school in this district: W. F. Thorne, H. G. Jenkins, J. J. Stone, W. V. McDowell, John Owen, E. L. Christy, Ar- thur Cranston, R. P. Arnold, Leslie Scott and 11

Allen Piatt. Messrs. McDowell, Christy, Ar- nold, Scott and Piatt each taught more than one year, and one or two of them officiated several years.

JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT, NO. II,

This was a union district, embracing the northeastern part of Neosho township, lying west of the river, and a part of Neosho county, with the school site at Jacksonville, in Neo- sho county. On September 12, 1867, David Evans, clerk, reported that Jennie McDonald had taught a three-months' school at a salary of $23.33 1-3 per month, with an enrollment of 15 scholars, and an average attendance of 9. The following year O. Herraman and A. J. Kennedy, the former at a salary of $60 and the latter $25 per month, taught a four-months' school, with a total enrollment of 55.

BOWMAN DISTRICT, NO. 12.

This district lies in the western part of Fair- view township. There is no doubt but that a district was formed having this number by Su- perintendent Newlon, although there is nothing on file showing its original organization, nor anything in respect to the district, until after 1869. On February II, 1870, an order was made for the formation of the district, and the first election directed to be held at the house of William Wood, on February 23, 1870. Wheth- er the district of this number formed in 1867 embraced entirely different territory, the or-

ganization of which never became perfected, or whether it originally embraced the same territory as is now comprised in the district, I am unable, with the information I now have, to decide; I am however, disposed to think that District No. 12 as formed by Superintend-

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ent Newlon was never fully organized, but was laid off when there was little settlement, and contained within its bounds the territory forming that district as we now know it. The first officers as now shown by the records were, in 1870, Frank Williams, director; I. W. Pat- rick, clerk; A. S. Spaulding, treasurer.

MONTANA DISTRICT, NO. 13.

The first report on file is not dated, but is supposed to be the report for 1867. It is signed by B. W. Bennett, clerk, and represents this district as being in Big Hill township. It is otherwise blank, excepting the statement that there are 8 males and 10 females in the dis- trict. The next report is signed by Henry M. Minor, clerk, and is dated August 31, 1868, s1.owing 22 males and 20 females in the district, and that there has been a three-months' school taught in the district, but not by a qualified teacher; of course this was a private school. While the report does not show it, the fact is this was a subscription school, taught in the summer of 1867 by Alice Biggs, in the old log store building belonging to B. F. Simons- the first house built on . the town-site. Mr. Minor remained clerk the following year, and reported 82 children of school age in the dis- trict, 46 of whom were attending school. A three-months' school had been taught by John Hudson, at $26.33 2-3 per month. This first public school was taught in an old log house on the southwest quarter of section 8, town- ship 32, range 21, in the spring of 1869. In 1870 the board consisted of J. J. Woods, direc- tor ; H. M. Minor, clerk ; and A. Gebhart, treas- nrer. Capt. A. Gebhart and J. J. Woods were the building committee for the erection of a new school-house. Bonds in the sum of $3,000 were voted, and the house cost $2,200. It was dedi- cated November 19, 1870, Colonel Horner de-

livering the address. Soon thereafter the first school in the new house was taught, by E. D. Graybill. The old building having become badly out of repair, bonds were voted early in 1897, and a new school building was erected that summer, and in which school was opened at the commencement of 1898. Two teachers have been employed since 1888, and part of the time during some prior years. The teachers in the more advanced room since 1888 have been: W. A. McKee, Lena Bates, Homer Metier, Flora Beale, R. P. Arnold, Leslie Scott, Tully DeArmond, Lula Peak, Sherd Barcus, Lillie Willi and Angeline Phillips.

CENTRAL DISTRICT, NO. 14.

The original order for the formation of this district is not to be found ; but a petition dated March 6, 1868, signed by J. H. Hart and some 20 more residents of the district, asking for a change in the boundaries of the district, seems to have been granted March 9, 1868. The first report is signed by James F. Molesworth, clerk, and dated September 1, 1868. It shows 18 chil- dren in the district, and that a public school was then in progress. This was the first school in the district. It was taught by Mrs. Alme- da Molesworth, in a cabin standing on the southeast quarter of section 17, belonging to S. T. Cherry. The following year Mr. Moles- worth reported 46 children in the district, 38 of whom were attending school, the average attendance being 17, and that Almeda Moles- worth had taught a three-months' school at a salary of $22 per month. The school-house was built in 1869; it was a frame building, cov- ered with walnut siding.

NEW HOPE DISTRICT, NO. 15.

This district is located near the north part of Neosho township, east of the Neosho River.

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The first report is dated September 1, 1868, signed by Edward Spicer, clerk, and shows only that there were 34 children in the dis- trict. The next report is signed by O. Sweet, clerk, and shows 50 children in the district, with 42 attending school, the average attend- ance being 24, and that Miss Jennie M. Beck had taught a three-months' school at a salary of $15 per month.

CONCORD DISTRICT, NO. 16.

On January 29, 1868, L. A. Rogers and James WV. Galyen presented a petition for the formation of this district. It was made to em- brace the northwestern part of Neosho town- ship and the northeastern part of North town- ship. Prior to this, Superintendent Newlon seems to have formed, or to have contemplated the formation of this district, but no order for such formation is to be found. The first re- port, dated August 1, 1868, signed by L. A. Rogers, clerk, shows 33 children in the dis- trict, with 37 attending school, and an aver- age attendance of 16. Mrs. Pauline A. Ames had taught a three-months' school, at a salary of $20 per month. A. P. Gore succeeded Mr. Rogers as clerk, and the following year makes two reports-one in August, showing 39 chil- dren in the district, 20 of whom had been at- tending school, and one in October, showing 78 children in the district, 57 of whom had been attending school. E. H. Taylor had taught a three-months' school at a salary of $33.33 1-3 per month. The first school-house in the dis- trict was built of logs, the settlers turning out and doing the work; it was located on section 7, in Neosho township, and was put up in the fall of 1868. Subsequently the site was changed to North township, and a good frame building was erected.

LIBERTY DISTRICT, NO. 17.

The original order for the formation of this district is not among the public records. But probably in 1868 Superintendent Reed, on the petition of L. N. Shelledy, Samuel Lewis, W. H. Scott, Ed. Mercer, and other residents of the district, made an order for the subdivis- ion of said district; the boundary of this dis- trict thereafter to commence at the northeast corner of Liberty township, thence extending south three and one-half miles, to Labette Creek. The first report of this district is signed by W. B. Jones, clerk, dated Septem- ber 14, 1868, and simply shows 21 children in the district. In a report dated September 14, 1869, signed by Charles Demend, clerk, it is shown that there are 53 children in the district, with 10 attending a three-months' school, taught by Miss Mary Bowlu, at a sal- ary of $12 per month; but there is also a re- port on file dated September 15, 1869, signed by Eli Sayers, clerk, showing 66 children in the district, 44 in school, but not giving the name of the teacher. Evidently one of these is intended for some other district, but both purport to be for District No. 17.

WOODS DISTRICT, NO. 18.

This district was formed during Superin- tendent Newlon's administration, but the rec- ord thereof is not now to be found. On April 4. 1868, on the petition of F. W. Latham, it was reorganized and made to embrace a tract three miles square in the southwestern part of what is now North township. The first re- port, dated September 8, 1868, signed by Aaron Midkiff, clerk, shows 24 children in the dis- trict, but no school. F. W. Latham, clerk, in a report dated August 31, 1869, reports 45

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children in the district, but no school taught. In the spring of 1873 a school-house was erect- ed and well furnished, from the proceeds of $1 .- 000 in bonds which had been voted. This house was used until some time in the "nineties" when it was replaced by a new building.

M'CORMICK (AFTERWARDS CUNNINGHAM) DISTRICT, NO. 19.

According to the records now on file, this district was formed October 7, 1868, and em- braced the northwest part of what is now Mound Valley township. The district seems to have been contemplated in 1867, but the record of its organization, if one was had at that time, is lost. The first report, dated Oc- tober 15, 1868, signed by William Jones, clerk, shows 18 children in the district, but no school. On August 14, 1869, the first meeting was held, at which it was decided to locate the school- house on the northwest corner of Mrs. Mc- Michael's claim, and to circulate a subscrip- tion paper for material for building a school- house. J. Bishop, clerk, reported 13 children in the district at that date. The first school in the district was taught in a "shake" claim- house, with dirt floor, on section 26, township 32, range 17, by Mrs. Mollie Courtney, com- mencing in September, 1869. This was a sub- scription school, and continued for three months. In 1870 the board consisted of J. H. Beggs, director; H. B. Griffith, clerk; and J. M. Courtney, treasurer.

WILD CAT DISTRICT, NO. 20.

The original order for the formation of this district is in the handwriting of Super- intendent Newlon, and seems to have been the last district formed under his administration.

It is located in Montana township, east of the Neosho. Aside from the order for its organ- ization, there is nothing on file showing that anything had been done therein prior to April 20, 1870, when the petition of Daniel Hoy and others was presented for a change in this dis- trict, which seems to have been made ; also re- organization thereof had in the early part of 1874. The first report on file is dated Septem- ber 12, 1870, signed by James White, clerk.

RED ELM DISTRICT, NO. 21.

This district is located in the southwest corner of Neosho township. There is nothing of record, either original or copies, showing when it was organized. It must have been during Superintendent Newlon's administra- tion, or very soon after Superintendent Reed came into office. The first report, dated Sep- tember 10, 1868, is signed by Newberry Coop- er, clerk, in which he says that they have had no school, but will have the following winter if they can get their house completed in time. The report shows 54 children in the district. September 15, 1869, Mr. Cooper again reports, showing 68 children in the district, 47 of whom have attended a three-months' school taught by Miss Mary Slane, who had received $2 per scholar, there being no public money in the district.

SPRING HILL DISTRICT, NO. 22.

On a petition of Harvey I. Cox and others, dated January 19, 1869, this district was formed, embracing the southwestern corner of North township. The first election was held at the house of Harvey I. Cox, on February 13, 1869. Harvey I. Cox was the first clerk. In 1870 a frame school-house was built, which

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was replaced with a fine brick house about four- teen or fifteen years ago.

CLOVER DISTRICT, NO. 23.

Under date of March 28, 1869, Superin- tendent Elliott made an order for the forma- tion of District No. 23. in the northeast part of Oswego township, north and east of the Neosho river, and appointed the first school meeting to be held at the house of D. M. Clover, April 7. 1869. On August 31, 1870, what is marked as the second annual report was made by L. W. Crain, which is the first now on file. It shows 33 children in the dis- trict, 24 of whom were attending school, with an average attendance of 20. The school- house was not plastered until 1871.

OAK GROVE DISTRICT, NO. 24.

On March II, 1869, the petition of W. S. Newlon, R. W. Bagby, S. Holbrook, C. Mon- tague, F. Swanwick and others was presented for the formation of a new district. Upon this petition the order of the superintendent was made, forming District No. 24, embracing the north part of Oswego township and the south part of Montana township. The first officers were: C. Montague, director ; Henry Lively, clerk; F. Swanwick, treasurer, chosen at the first meeting, which was held at the house of W. Lane, April 10, 1869. The first report is dated September 14, 1869, signed by Henry Lively, showing 42 children in the district, 38 in attendance upon school, with an average at- tendance of 13 1-3, and a subscription school having been taught by Miss Amanda Powers. This was the first school in the district, and was taught in a cabin on the southeast quarter of section 5, Oswego township. In January,

1870. a log house was built at the southwest corner of section 33. in Montana township; it was built by subscription for church and school purposes. The first public school in the district was taught by Henry Lively, commencing in this house as soon as it was completed. The next school was taught by John P. Jones. com- mencing November. 1870. On September 27, 1873. at a public meeting of the district, a new school-house. site was selected, on section 5, and it was voted to erect a stone school-house thereon.

BREESE DISTRICT, NO. 25.

February 15. 1869, C. M. Fentriss, M. Huntley, G. W. Yandle, L. W. Leak, and sev- eral other residents of the territory, petitioned for the formation of a district in the north- west corner of Richland township, lying east of Labette Creek. The petition was granted, and District No. 25 was organized. There are no officers reported until 1870, when the board consisted of Lewis W. Leak, director; L. F. Summers, clerk; and H. C. Hardway, treasur- er. The school-house was built in the sum- mer of 1871, and in it, in the fall of that year, John Lawrence commenced teaching the first school in the district. In 1899, a new school- house was erected to take the place of the old one, which had become much out of repair.

HIATT DISTRICT, NO. 26.

On April 17, 1869, an order was made for the formation of District No. 26. No boun- daries are given in the order, but it seems to have been situated in Hackberry township. The first meeting was held at the house of G. W. Franklin. April 30, 1869. On September 14, 1869, James McRoberts, clerk, reported 40 children in the district, but that no school had

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HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY

been taught. In 1870 the board consisted of J. M. McCoon, director; G. W. Franklin, clerk; George S. Downing, treasurer.

DICKERMAN DISTRICT, NO. 27.

On April 18, 1869, this district was formed, and embraced the central portion of Fairview township, extending east as far as Labette Creek. The first meeting was held at the house of Joseph Barker, on April 6, 1869. Septem- ber 7, 1869, A. S. Potter, clerk, reported 56 children in the district, no school having yet been taught therein. In the fall of 1869 a sub- scription school was taught by Esther Biggs, in a log house on the northwest quarter of section 23. Thomas Bulwer was director, A. S. Potter, clerk, and E. Wiggins, treasurer, in 1870. In the fall of 1870 the first public school in the district was taught by Mary E. Dickerman, in a frame house on the north- west quarter of section 27. A school-house was built in the spring of 1871, which, on May 21, 1885, was burned to the ground.

LOCKARD DISTRICT, NO. 28.

This district is situated in the central part of Hackberry township, south of Hackberry Creek. The first official document which I now find among the public records relative to District No. 28 is an annual report dated Au- gust 31, 1870, signed by John Shumchci, clerk. The only item of information contained in this report is that they have 24 children in the district; no school is yet reported. I can find nothing further among the public records indicating when it was organized.

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History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 21

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 846

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 846