USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, from the first settlement to the close of 1892 > Part 20
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
197
EDUCATIONAL.
Hardway, treasurer. The school-house was built in the summer of 1871, and in it, in the fall of that year, John Lawrence commenced teaching the first school in the district.
HIATT DISTRICT, NO. 26.
On April 17, 1869, an order was made for the formation of District 26. No boundaries 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 McRob- erts, clerk, reported 40 children in the district, but that no school had 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. September 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 subscription 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 northwest 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 28 is an annual report dated August 31, 1870, signed by John Shumeker, 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.
STOVER DISTRICT, NO. 29.
This district was formed April 29, 1869, on a petition of J. P. D. Mou- riquand, J. M. Logan, George Pfaff, and others, and embraced a tract in the north part of Fairview township extending west from Labette creek. The first election was held at the house of J. S. McManis, on May 11, 1869. September 8, 1869, M. H. Logan, clerk, reported 34 children in the district, but that no school had been taught. The first school-house was built in the fall of 1869.
HARMONY GROVE (OR CARPENTER, NOW MORTIMER) DISTRICT, NO. 30.
This district is located in the central part of Osage township. A log
198
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
house was used for the first school-house in the district, and in it William Jeans taught the first school, in the summer of 1869. In the summer of 1871 a frame house was built, and in it the following winter the first school was taught, by John Stroud. The first school board consisted of Leroy F. Dick, director ; William H. Carpenter, clerk ; and Henry Reed, treasurer. Another reports the board to have been : W. H. Carpenter, director ; George N. Jeans, clerk ; and J. H. Dienst, treasurer.
PRAIRIE VALLEY DISTRICT, NO. 31.
This district must have been organized in 1869, although the records concerning its organization are not to be found. As originally consti- tuted, it embraced the entire northwestern quarter of North township; subsequently its territory was much reduced, District 104 having been taken therefrom. There is no report or other official record whatever on file with reference to the district prior to 1871, when the board were: S. Hardman, director; James F. Harris, clerk ; A. J. Ingraham, treasurer.
HEACOCK (OR STONE PALACE) DISTRICT, NO. 32.
This district is situated in the northern part of North township. The record of its organization, if one was made, is lost. The first we have is a report made August 31, 1870, by A. Fagan, clerk, showing they have 50 children in the district, 30 attending school, with an average attend- ance of 22. In 1871 the board was composed of George Miner, J. C. Merwin, and C. W. Rictor.
PARSONS DISTRICT, NO. 33.
A petition dated February 23, 1869, made by R. T. Caldwell, Anson Kellogg, A. Midkiff, S. N. Fultz, A. Fultz, Maria Hussey, George Brock, and several others, was presented to the Superintendent, on which he soon thereafter made an order for the organization of District No. 33, embracing, in addition to the territory now composed in that district, several additional sections. The first meeting was held at the house of Aaron Midkiff, at which the following officers were elected : Anson Kel- logg, director; George M. Wilson, clerk; Joseph Simpson, treasurer. September 10, 1869, George M. Wilson, clerk, reported 20 males and 14 females in the district on the 31st of August, 15 of whom -10 males and 5 females, with an average attendance of 10- were in school, in progress at that time, taught by Maria Hussey, at a salary of $16.662g per month. This school was taught in an out-house belonging to A. Midkiff, on the southwest quarter of. section 19, North township. The next school was taught from September to December. 1870, by Miss Sophronia Emery, in a vacant log house belonging to Samuel Eves, on the northeast quarter of section 24, in Walton township. This was the first public school taught in the district. On March 31. 1870, the first annual meeting was held, at
199
EDUCATIONAL.
the house of Aaron Midkiff, and the following officers elected ; Anson Kellogg, director; H. L. Partridge, clerk; George Brock, treasurer. The latter failing to qualify, W. K. Hayes was soon after appointed to fill the vacancy; and this same board was continued in office during two years. In March, 1872, they elected Dr. G. W. Gabriel director, T. C. Cory clerk, and Dr. T. R. Warren treasurer. At the meeting held March 31, 1870, the board were directed to take steps to build a school- house. On September 17th of that year, bonds in the sum of $1,000 were voted, and the board purchased lots 15 and 16 in block 72, and on this, during the winter of 1870 and the spring of 1871, a one-story frame build- ing was erected as the first school-house in the district. It was not com- pleted until June, and was accepted by the board August 1, 1871. On May 8, 1871, Miss Kate Squires and Miss Sophronia Emery began a subscrip- tion school in the new school-building, which was then inclosed but not fully completed. On August 10th the board decided to enlarge the build- ing by adding six feet on the west end, making two school-rooms. This house was afterward bought by the colored people, to be used as a church. The house thus completed was built with the proceeds of the $1,000 in bonds. In the fall of 1871 the school opened in the new school-house, with E. H. Taylor and Miss Sophronia Emery as teachers. On October 3, 1871, on a vote to issue $15,000 in bonds with which to erect a new school- house, there were 108 votes in favor of the proposition, and but 5 against it. The bonds were sold at 8712 cents on the dollar. In January, 1872, the contract for the erection of this building was let to T. B. Douglas. of Clinton, Missouri, for $11,993. On his failure to give bond satisfactory to the board, they attempted to take the contract from him and give it to Martin Mason, also of Clinton, Missouri, at the agreed price of $13,000 : but the district assumed to overrule this action, and allowed Mr. Douglas to go on with the work. He failed to complete his contract, and the dis- trict had the loss to sustain. The building was completed and ready for the opening of school in the fall of 1872. In March, 1873, Parsons was incorporated as a city of the second class, whereupon the board of educa- tion was elected at the city election, in April. Presidents of the board : 1873, George A. Reynolds; 1874, O. L. Hall, George W. Briggs: 1875, G. C. West; 1876-79, A. Wilson ; 1880-81, R. H. Patrick : 1882, William Moir; 1883, S. W. Kniffin ; 1884, J. M. Gregory ; 1885, W. J. Quick ; 1886, I. N. McCreery ; 1887, J. M. Caldwell; 1888, R. D. Talbott: 1889- 90. J. T. Tinder; 1891, A. H. Tyler; 1892, O. H. Stuart, G. H. L. Cope- land. Clerks: 1873, J. H. Metier, W. A. Gillam; 1874, P. M. Griffin ; 1875, M. Noyes; 1876, George Thornton ; 1877-81, James Grimes; 1882- 86, A. H. Tyler; 1887, C. W. Duzan and A. G. Thurman ; 1888, A. H.
200
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
Tyler, A. G. Thurman ; 1889, Mary S. Outland and J. W. Iden ; 1890-92, J. W. Iden. Principals : 1872, J. H. Griffith ; 1873, David Donovan ; 1874, Mrs. E. J. Collins; 1875, Mrs. Jennie Arthur. Up to 1876 the schools were superintended by citizens who were not teachers, and who were expected to do little more than have a general oversight, to know what the schools were doing. J. G. Parkhurst and M. W. Reynolds were two of the parties who filled this position. Commencing with 1876, the superintendents had charge of the school, and did more or less teaching. Superintendents : 1876, B. F. Hickey ; 1877-79, M. Chidester; 1880, O. M. McPherson ; 1881-87, L. Tomlin; 1888-90, C. H. Harris; 1891-92, H. C. Ford. The first graduating class was in 1882, and consisted of but one pupil, Maud G. Keyser. Those who have graduated from the school up to this date number 75. There are now five brick school-buildings in the city, viz. : the first, built in 1872, in the second ward, on the west half of block 3, costing $15,000; the second. erected in 1880, in the third ward, between Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth streets and between Belmont and Corning avenues, costing $10,000; the third, erected in the first ward, in 1881, on block 111, cost $6,000 ; the fourth, erected in 1884, in the fourth ward, situated west of block 160, cost $12,000; the fifth, in the third ward, erected in 1889, on block 210, cost $10,000. A high- school building, to cost $35,000, is now in process of construction.
WHEATLAND (OR HARD-PAN ) DISTRICT, NO. 34.
This district was formed July 8th, 1869, and embraced a tract in Mound Valley township, west of Pumpkin creek and north of the line between townships 32 and 33. The first election was held at the house of C. Lyerly, July 2d, 1869. J. M. Richardson was the principal one inter- ested in the organization of this district. The first school taught in the district was in a house belonging to Mr. Richardson, by his son, J. M. Richardson, jr. The school was taught for several years in this house. Bonds were thereafter issued, and a new school-house erected. In 1870 the officers were: J. M. Richardson, director; William Reeder, clerk ; John B. Campbell, treasurer.
SNOW HILL DISTRICT, NO. 35.
This district was formed July 9th, 1869, and embraced a tract in the southwest part of Osage township, most of it lying in what is now Mont- gomery county. The first election was held at the house of A. W. Cook, July 20th, 1869. When this territory was attached to Montgomery county this district became disorganized. In 1872 a new district was organized, in the extreme southwestern corner of the county, and was given this number. Its first officers were; Wm. Mabrey, director; W. S. Getsyen- dinger, clerk ; W. B. Roberts, treasurer. Mr. Mabrey was director for
201
EDUCATIONAL.
fourteen years. Some time thereafter a storehouse in Parker was pur- chased, and moved out to the district for its first school-house.
MOUNT ZION DISTRICT, NO. 36.
This district was formed July 10th, 1869, and lay in the southwest part of Osage township. The first meeting was held July 20th, 1869. Miss Josie Hockett taught her first school in a log cabin on the southeast quar- ter of section 6, township 32, range 18. The first board now shown by records was that for 1870, and was composed of S. C. Hockett, director ; Charles Beggs, clerk ; and William Johns, treasurer.
TIMBER IIILL DISTRICT, NO. 37.
This district was formed July 10th, 1869, and lay in the southern part of Osage township. The first election was held at the house of F. Laba- die, July 20th, 1869. In fall of 1869, E. D. Graybill induced the settlers to put up a log house on the southwest corner of Timber Hill town-site, in which that winter he taught the first school in the district. The fol- lowing winter W. A. Starr taught in this building. A. W. King was clerk in 1870 ; he is the only officer reported prior to 1871.
DENNIS DISTRICT, NO. 38,
Was formed July 10th, 1869, and lay in the central part of Osage town- ship, and embraced the present town-site of Dennis. A log house was put up in this district in the spring of 1870, in which Mrs. Lapham taught a three-months school. After the location of Dennis in this district a new frame school-house was erected in town, in the summer of 1885. The district board in 1870 consisted of N. P. Lapham, director ; George W. Major, clerk ; Jacob Beaty, treasurer.
BRADFORD DISTRICT, NO. 39.
On July 10, 1869, an order was made for the formation of this district, but probably it was not acted on, for another order was made on April 6, 1870, under which the district was formed, and lay in the northwest cor- ner of Walton township. The first meeting was held at the house of M. S. Mason, on April 16, 1870, at which George T. Walton, M. S. Mason and John Lunciford were elected the board for that year.
MOUND VALLEY DISTRICT, NO. 40,
Is situated in the central-eastern part of Mound Valley township, and includes the town of Mound Valley. This district was formed in the summer of 1869, although there is nothing now on file showing that fact. The first annual report was made August 31st, 1870, by Alexander Hon- rath, clerk; it shows 33 children in the district, 22 in school, with an average attendance of 11. In 1870 the board was composed of Josephus Moore, Alexander Honrath, and L. C. Wilmoth. A new two-story build-
202
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
ing was erected in the summer of 1882, and in 1885 an addition was made thereto.
ENTERPRISE DISTRICT, NO. 41.
While there is no record thereof, an attempt must have been made in the summer of 1869 to form this district, which probably failed. It was formed May 12th, 1871, and lay in the southeastern corner of Mound Valley township. The first meeting was held May 27th, 1871, on petition therefor, signed by Joseph Moore, Alexander Honrath, John Campbell, S. W. Slocum, E. Tanner and others. The first school in the district was taught in 1879, by Della Wilson, in a cabin on section 23, belonging to Rev. F. L. Walker. A school-house was not built until 1880.
SALEM DISTRICT, NO. 42.
On June 7th, 1870, E. P. Emery, Wm. R. Ables, and others, petitioned for a district in the southwestern corner of Walton township. I find no record of its formation, but it seems to have been organized soon after the presentation of the petition. S. B. Shaffer, J. A. Jones and G. B. Hughes are reported as the board in 1870. A school-house was built near the southeast corner of section 20 in the spring of 1871. In 1890 this first building was replaced by a new and much better one. The first school in the district was taught by Miss Sophronia Emery, in a log house on R. P. Clark's claim, in the fall of 1870.
ALTAMONT DISTRICT, NO. 43,
Was formed October 4th, 1869, and embraced the southeast corner of Labette township and the northeastern corner of Mt. Pleasant township, and includes the city of Altamont. In 1870 the board were G. Conner, J. C. Murphy, and John Elston. The first school-house was built in 1872, and was used until the number of scholars became so great that it would no longer accommodate them in any way, when it was sold to J. T. Wal- ler, by whom it was moved across the street, where it still stands, and is used for a dwelling. In 1880 the district employed J. B. Jones to erect a new house upon the same site formerly occupied by the old one. The district again outgrew this house, and in 1884 another room had to be added. The building thus improved accommodated the district until 1891, when $4,000 in bonds were voted, the old school-house was sold to the Christians for the purpose of being reconstructed into a church build- ing, and a new two-story brick school-house was erected under a contract with J. B. Jones, occupying the same site as its predecessors.
SPRING VALLEY (OR CATALPA) DISTRICT, NO. 44.
In 1870 the petition of John Connor, John W. Logan and other citizens was presented for the formation of a district in the southwest corner of Liberty township, which petition was granted, and on January 29, 1870, an order made under which District 44 was organized. William F. Gross
203
EDUCATIONAL.
William J. Iliff and S. W. Collins were the first board, elected at the first meeting of the district, held at the house of W. J. Iliff, February 11, 1870.
ELLIS DISTRICT, NO. 45,
Is situated in the northeastern part of Elm Grove township. I find no record whatever in reference to it prior to 1871, except the names of the board for 1870; they were Daniel McIntire, John Lane, and Madison Sharp. The district must have been formed early in 1870. The first school in the district was taught in the summer of 1870, by Sarah Acker- son, afterwards the wife of Henry G. Pore, in her own claim cabin on the northeast quarter of section 14. The school-house was built in 1872, and Lon Blanchard taught the first school in it.
LANEVILLE (OR HARD SCRABBLE) DISTRICT, NO. 46,
Is in the central part of Neosho township, west of the Neosho river. The record is entirely silent as to the date of its formation, and I find no report prior to 1871, but in 1870 the board are reported to be E. H. Taylor, Samuel Frank, and E. H. Wells.
HIATT DISTRICT, NO. 47,
Was formed March 24, 1870, and embraced a tract of land in the south- west of Liberty township and the southeast of Labette township. This district was formed on the petition of Caleb Haskill, T. M. Gibson, and others, dated December 30, 1869. The first school meeting was held at the house of C. T. Haskill, April 4, 1870. P. M. Gibson, Edward Hiatt and C. F. Haskill are the officers reported for 1871.
PLEASANT VALLEY, MORNING, OR KNOT-HOLE DISTRICT, NO. 48, Is situated in the northeast corner of Liberty and northwest corner of Montana township. In the spring of 1870 the first school was taught, in George Metcalf's old log house on the northeast quarter of section 13, by Miss Sidney Johnson ; this was a subscription school. In the spring of 1871 an old store building was moved from Labette and placed on the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 12, township 32, range 20; this was the first school-house. Two years later it was moved over onto the southeast quarter. The first school board, as now shown on the county records, was in 1870, and consisted of James Morning, director ; S. S. Saytor, clerk; George Morning. treasurer. I judge from all that appears that the district was probably organized early in 1870.
RIPON DISTRICT, NO. 49,
Is situated in the central-southern part of Elm Grove township, border- ing on the State line. I have no means of telling from the public records when this district was formed. The first official paper relative to it which I have been able to find is the report made by Jonas Burris, on
204
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
August 31st, 1870, showing 48 children in the district, with an average attendance of 21 at school. I find among the records a letter signed by Ben M. Smith, dated September 8th, 1870, in which he says that the dis- trict is composed mostly of single men ; that their school has been kept but two weeks, the teacher having been paid off and quit ; and that in re- ality the district has no organization. The officers reported for 1870 were: Colton B. Pratt, director ; B. M. Smith, clerk ; and W. D. Scog- gans, treasurer. It is therefore likely the report made by Mr. Burris should be credited to some other district.
STAR DISTRICT, NO. 50.
This district was probably formed in 1870, lying in the southeastern part of Elm Grove township. The first school was taught by Miss Unthank, in the house of Harvey Jones. The first board were : Ira Peck, director; Dr. D. P. Lucas, clerk; and George W. McGeyor, treasurer. The first public school was taught in the winter of 1871 and 1872, by Miss Frank Hall.
DRESSER ( NOW VALEDA ) DISTRICT, NO. 51.
There is nothing of record showing any successful effort at organizing this district till December 29th, 1875, when an order for its formation was made, and the first election had on March 6th, 1876. The first school-house in this district was an old store building bought and moved from Parker to near the center of section 20, township 34, range 18, in 1879. In 1886 this building was sold, changes were made in the boundary of the district, and the school-house site was changed and placed at Valeda, which had just been started. A new school-house was erected in 1886.
RAYBURN DISTRICT, NO. 52.
This district lies in the central-eastern part of Mount Pleasant town- ship. It was organized under an order made June 8, 1870, and the first election was directed to be held at the house of John R. Eldridge on June 20, 1870. The following officers were elected : ( William Skilling, director, but declined to serve) ; Henry Story, director ; G. A. W. Grant, clerk ; John Eldridge, treasurer. In 1871 the board consisted of Henry Story, director; G. A. W. Grant, clerk; W. Jones, treasurer. In the fall of 1870 Susan Story taught a subscription school in the Morrison claim house, on S.E. quarter of section 14. In the spring of 1871 the school-house was built, in which, commencing that fall, John Hamblin taught the first public school in the district.
O'CONNER DISTRICT, NO. 53,
Was organized June 13, 1870, embracing the central-northern part of Walton township. The first school meeting was held at the residence of James Cahill, June 25, 1870. The first officers were William O'Brien, James Cahill, and Timothy O'Conner.
205
EDUCATIONAL.
MAPLE GROVE DISTRICT, NO. 54.
On June 20, 1876, Ernest Wadsack, John Richardson, and some twenty more residents of that territory, petitioned for the formation of a district in the northeast corner of Fairview township, which on July 6th was granted and District 54 was organized. This district was, however, orig- inally organized much earlier than this, although there is no record of the fact. In 1870 the board consisted of John Richardson, director ; J. L. Williams, clerk ; - , treasurer. These are the first officers now shown by the records. The first school in the district was taught by Mrs. W. S. Park, in a cabin on the Dike farm, in the winter of 1870.
FRANKLIN DISTRICT, NO. 55,
Is located in the northwestern corner of North township. There is no record showing the time of its formation, but I learn it was organized in 1868 through the efforts of Mr. Ballentine; perhaps the organization was not till the next year ; at least, there is no record of any officers reported in 1869. The neighbors built a small board shanty on the northwest quarter of section 36, in which Elvira Bingaman, daughter of A. W. Jones, taught the first school, in the fall of 1868. A year or two after that the district was enlarged, and a new school-house costing $700 was built on section 25, in 1872. In 1870 the district board was composed of George Skelton, director: Samuel Ballentine, clerk; Robert C. Livesay, treasurer. This is the first that appears on the county record respecting this district.
ANGOLA DISTRICT, NO. 56,
Was organized in the central part of Canada township, July 13th, 1878. The first meeting was held August 19th, 1878, officers elected and organ- ization perfected. I find no account of any earlier organization, although it seems probable that one must at least have been attempted.
CAMPBELL DISTRICT, NO. 57,
Is located in the south-central part of Oswego township, and must have been organized early in 1870, although there is no record showing such fact. On August 31, 1870, T. Clark reported 47 children in the district, 41 attending school. The officers reported for 1870 are : John Overdeer, director ; William Steel, clerk. Alice Spaulding was first teacher, her school commencing in the fall of 1871, in the new school-house which had just been built.
ROCK CREEK (OR ARNOLD) DISTRICT, NO. 58,
Was organized in the eastern part of Canada township, July 23, 1878, and the first meeting held August 21, 1878. No record of any earlier organization exists, so far as I have discovered.
PIONEER DISTRICT, NO. 59,
As originally constituted, embraced the northwest quarter of Mt. Pleas-
206
HISTORY OF LABETTE COUNTY.
ant township. I find nothing on record showing anything of the forma- tion of the district, or anything in reference thereto prior to 1870. For that year the district board are reported to be B. F. Jones, S. M. Canady, and O. B. Clark. The school-house was built in the summer of 1871, and the first school was taught by Mrs. H. Pottinger, wife of Samuel Pottinger.
LAKE CREEK DISTRICT, NO. 60,
Is situated in the central-western part of Hackberry township. There is nothing on record showing when it was formed or what it did prior to 1871, when R. M. Roberts, John M. Morse and William Stevenson are recorded as the officers.
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.