USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, from the first settlement to the close of 1892 > Part 19
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
188
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
Graham at various times have acted as city superintendent. In recent years the principals of the high school have also been superintendents. The principals, term commencing in the fall of the year named, have been : 1871, Edward M. Mason ; 1872, L. J. VanLandingham ; 1873, J. W. Horner; 1874, P. Fales; 1875, J. A. R. Smith ; 1876, Buel T. Davis ; 1877-78, Robert Hay; 1879, L. J. VanLandingham; 1880, O. V. Hays ; 1881-84, J. W. Weltner; 1885, J. W. Weltner and W. W. Lindsey ; 1886, Buel T. Davis; 1887-88, S. D. Crane; 1889-91, E. A. Herod ; 1892, Clay D. Herod. Presidents : 1871, Jonas Clark ; 1872, Dr. John Burch ; 1873, J. M. Bannan ; 1874, L. J. VanLandingham ; 1875, F. A. Hunter; 1876, William Alexander; 1877, L. J. VanLandingham; 1878, C. H. Guntler ; 1879-82, Lewis Williams; 1883-85, J. C. Witt; 1886-87, G. D. Boon ; 1888, G. W. McEwen; 1889, G. D. Boon; 1890, B. F. Danforth ; 1891, J. C. Witt; 1892, Mrs. C. N. Bush. Clerks: 1871, C. H. McCreery; 1872, J. M. Bannan; 1873, C. H. Ludlow; 1874, C. Humble ; 1875, L. J. Van Landingham; 1876-77, C. Humble; 1878, C. M. Williams ; 1879-80, N. S. Van Ausdale; 1881, A. G. Drake and L. M. Bedell; 1882-89, A. G. Drake; 1890-92, G. W. McEwen.
WATSON DISTRICT, NO. 5.
As I said in describing District No. 4, I must assume that the superin- tendent in preparing the records which have come down to us made a mistake in numbering these districts, as the description of what he has numbered 5 applies to the district which was thereafter designated 4, and the district he has numbered 6 applies to that which was thereafter acted upon as 5. The original order for the formation of District 5, as num- bered on said order, made it to embrace the east part of Richland town- ship, including the town of Chetopa; but all subsequent proceedings make it evident that that order was intended to be for District 4, or at least that it was thereafter acted upon as No. 4. As I have before as- sumed that the order by the superintendent numbered 5 was intended for 4, so I must assume that the order for the formation of District 6 was intended to be, as it was thereafter regularly recognized, District 5. It commenced at the northwest corner of section 1, in Hackberry township, and extended south to the State line; thence east three miles; thence north to the Labette river; thence up said stream to the place of begin- ning. This seems to leave the middle tier of sections running north and south in Richland township out of either school district. Perhaps the Superintendent's intention was to put District 6 in Hackberry township, and after running south to the State line, instead of running east, he should have made his order read, "thence running west." Or it may be that at that time, in some way, Districts 4, 5 and 6 were understood to embrace all of Richland township south of Labette creek, notwithstand-
189
EDUCATIONAL.
ing the imperfect description in the orders forming them. But that the west part of Richland township was organized District 5, rather than District 6, is made clear by a petition which was presented sometime during Mr. Newlon's administration, although the date is not given, where- in Moses Powers, John Kenney, William Shay, John N. Watson, S. R. Southwick and a number of others represented themselves as being resi- dents of District 5, and asked that the district might be made to com- mence at the southwest corner of said township, which would be, as then constituted, the southwest corner of section 31, and to extend 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 dis- trict. The first report 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 11 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 dis- trict.
BLACKFORD DISTRICT, NO. 6.
What I have said in speaking of Districts 4 and 5 may be referred to at this place for a fuller statement in reference to this district. Aside from the order granting District 6, which I have heretofore assumed to be in- tended for a description of District 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 15th, 1867, signed by J. B. Huntly, clerk, which he represents to be a report for District 4. but at the bottom, evidently in the handwriting of the Superintendent, it is marked District 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 Watson clerk, and Wm. H. Payne treasurer of District 6. On May 28th, 1872, Superintendent Horner gave notice that he pro- posed to take the northeast quarter of section 27 and the southeast quar- ter of section 22, township 34, range 20, from District 6. If there was originally a district of this number organized it seems to have lost its
190
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
organization very soon, and its territory must have been embraced in other districts. The policy of the Superintendent seems to have been, when a district 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 district was formed by an order made March 17th, 1872, on a petition dated March 9th, 1872, signed by H. C. Long, William Blackford and others. The first school meeting in this new dis- trict was held at the house of E. R. Lee, on March 30th, 1872, and the following officers elected : R. M. Roberts, director; John Morse, clerk ; Wm. 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 Richland town- ship lying north of Labette creek. A report dated September 14, 1867, signed by Francis M. Brockus, shows thirty-one children of school age in the district. This was the only item in the report, and this was the only report 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, Alexander Bishop, D. S. Bishop, Henry Newcomb and Henry G. Pore petitioned for the formation of a district to embrace sec- tions 10, 11, 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 be- longing 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. Cornish, clerk ; Joseph Brown, treasurer. The first report of this district is dated Sep- tember 1, 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.
191
EDUCATIONAL.
BED ROCK (OR RED BUD) DISTRICT, NO. 9.
This district is located in Montana township, east of the Neosho river. It must have been formed in 1867, although there is no record of its or- ganization ; 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 destroyed 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, em- bracing two miles in width on the north side of Fairview township 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 11th, 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 1st, 1865, (evi- dently intended for 1868,) at a salary of $33.33} per month. The school was taught in a claim cabin on the southeast quarter of section 27, be- longing to the estate of A. W. Richardson. The attendance at this school was 10 males and 3 females, with an average attendance of 31. 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 attendance of 142. 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's 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
192
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
by a tornado. Dr. Conner, seeing that his barometer indicated a storm, went to the school-house and directed school to be dismissed. The schol- ars were scarcely home till the house was in fragments. A new house was at once erected, and ready for occupancy that fall.
JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT, NO. 11.
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 Neosho county. On September 12th, 1867, David Evans, clerk, reported that Jennie McDonald had taught a three- months school at a salary of $23.33} per month, with an enrollment of 15 scholars, and an average attendance of 9. The following year O. Herra- man 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 Fairview township. There is no doubt but that a district was formed having this number by Superin- tendent Newlon, although there is nothing on file showing its original organization, nor anything in respect to the district, until after 1869. On February 11, 1870, an order was made for the formation of the dis- trict, and the first election directed to be held at the house of William Wood, on February 23, 1870. Whether the district of this number formed in 1867 embraced entirely different territory, the organization 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 12 as formed by Superintendent Newlon was never fully or- ganized, 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 Wil- liams, director ; I. W. Patrick, clerk ; A. S. Spaulding, treasurer.
MONTANA DISTRICT, NO. 13.
The first report on file is not dated, but it is supposed to be the report for 1867. It is signed by B. W. Bennett, clerk, and represents the dis- trict as being in Big Hill township. It is otherwise blank, excepting the statement that there are 8 males and 10 females in the district. The next report is signed by Henry M. Minor, clerk, and is dated August 31, 1868, showing 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 quali- fied 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 sum- mer of 1867 by Alice Biggs, in the old log store building belonging to B.
193
EDUCATIONAL.
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 district, 46 of whom were attending school. A three-months school had been taught by John Hudson, at $26.332g per month. This first public school was taught in an old log house on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 8, township 32, range 21, in the spring of 1869. In 1870 the board consisted of J. J. Woods, director; H. M. Minor, clerk; and A. Geb- hart, treasurer. 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 dedicated Novem- ber 19, 1870, Colonel Horner delivering the address. Soon thereafter the first school in the new house was taught, by E. D. Graybill.
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 twenty 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 children 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. Almeda 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 Molesworth 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, covered with walnut siding.
NEW HOPE DISTRICT, NO. 15.
This district is located near the north part of Neosho township, east of the Neosho river. The first report is dated September 1, 1868, signed by Edward Spicer, clerk, and shows only that there were 34 children in the district. The next report is signed by O. Sweet, clerk, and shows 50 children in the district, with 42 attending school, the average attendance 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 29th, 1868, L. A. Rogers and James W. Galyen presented a petition for the formation of this district. It was made to embrace the northwestern part of Neosho township and the northeastern part of North township. Prior to this, Superintendent Newlon seems to have formed, or to have contemplated the formation of, this district, but no order for
-13
194
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
such formation is to be found. The first report, dated August 1, 1868, signed by L. A. Rogers, clerk, shows 33 children in the district, with 37 attending school, and an average 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 children in the district, 20 of whom had been attending school, and one in October, showing 78 chil- dren in the district, 57 of whom had been attending school. E. H. Taylor had taught a three-months school, at a salary of $33.333 per month. The first school-house in the district 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 Supt. Reed, on the petition of L. N. Shelledy, Samuel Lewis, W. H. Scott, Ed. Mercer, and other resi- dents of the district, made an order for the subdivision of said district ; the boundary of this district 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 September 14, 1868, and simply shows 21 children in the district. In a report dated September 14, 1869, signed by Charles Denend, 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 salary of $12 per month ; but there is also a report on file dated September 15, 1869, signed by Eli Sayers, clerk, showing 66 chil- dren 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 pur- port to be for District 17.
WOODS DISTRICT, NO. 18.
This district was formed during Superintendent Newlon's administra- tion, but the record thereof is not now to be found. On April 4th, 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 report, dated September 8th, 1868, signed by Aaron Midkiff, clerk, shows 24 children in the district, but no school. F. W. Latham, clerk, in a report dated August 31st, 1869, reports 45 children in the district, but no school taught. In the spring of 1873 a school-house was erected and well furnished, from the proceeds of $1,000 in bonds which had been voted.
195
EDUCATIONAL.
M'CORMICK ( AFTERWARDS CUNNINGHAM) DISTRICT, NO. 19.
According to the records now on file, this district was formed October 7th, 1868, and embraced the northwest part of what is now Mound Val- ley 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 October 15th, 1868, signed by William Jones, clerk, shows 18 children in the district, but no school. On August 14th, 1869, the first meeting was held, at which it was decided to locate the school- house on the northwest corner of Mrs. McMichael's claim, and to circulate a subscription 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, commencing in September, 1869. This was a subscription 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 handwrit- ing of Supt. 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 organization, 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 district, which seems to have been made; also reorganization thereof had in the early part of 1874. The first report on file is dated September 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 Supt. Newlon's administra- tion, or very soon after Supt. Reed came into office. The first report, dated September 10, 1868, is signed by Newberry Cooper, 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 has 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 19th, 1869, this district was formed, embracing the southwestern corner of North
196
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
township. The first election was held at the house of Harvey I. Cox, on February 13th, 1869. Harvey I. Cox was the first clerk. In 1870 a frame school-house was built, which was replaced with a fine brick house some five years ago.
CLOVER DISTRICT, NO. 23.
Under date of March 28th, 1869, Superintendent Elliott made an order for the formation 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 7th, 1869. On August 31st, 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 chil- dren in the district, 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 11th, 1869, the petition of W. S. Newlon, R. W. Bagby, S. Holbrook, C. Montagne, F. Swanwick and others was presented for the formation of a new district. Upon this petition the order of the Super- intendent was made, forming District 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. Swan- wick, treasurer, chosen at the first meeting, which was held at the house of W. Lane, April 10th, 1869. The first report is dated September 14th, 1869, signed by Henry Lively, showing 42 children in the district, 38 in attendance upon school, with an average attendance of 131, and a sub- scription 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 pub- lic 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, commencing 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 several other residents of the territory, petitioned for the for- mation of a district in the northwest corner of Richland township, lying east of Labette creek. The petition was granted, and District 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.
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.