USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113
On all questions of morality or Christianity, Mr. Deeker has ever thrown his influence upon the side of right and justice. He was vestryman of St. Paul's church, of Flint, more than thirty years, and has served for many years and to the present time as senior warden of that organization.
145
FLINT CITY.
sophical and chemical apparatus. Adjoining this, on the south, is another room 16 by 26 feet, which, together with the upper room of the dwarf tower, and a small room ad- joining, are used for the cabinet of natural history. The building is lighted with gas, and warmed by steam, with direct and indirect radiation. The steam from the boiler- room being conducted through the coils in the coil-roouis, heats a current of fresh air which, passing through the fines in the walls, is admitted by registers into the several rooms where needed, while the vitiated air passes into the venti- lating shafts. To secure more heat when needed, steam coils are placed in the several apartments where required, thus giving direct radiation.
" The building having been completed, was dedicated July 13, 1875, on which occasion a highly interesting and in- structive address was delivered by Ilon. Duane Doty, of Detroit.
" Ang. 30, 1875, the school was opened in its several de- partments, under charge of Prof. Crissey, assisted by an able corps of' teachers, and is now in full tide of successful operation ; and we trust that the good work so auspiciously begun will go on until the Flint schools shall become potent in aiding to build that foundation of education and morality which alone will form a stable basis for free insti- tutions."
The foregoing sketch, in quotation, was written by Daniel Clarke, M.D., carly in 1876. Since then the act of or- ganization of the school district has been twice amended. The limits of the district now are the same as those of the city, and trustees are elected by ballot at the same time as the mayor and other city officers,-the first Monday in April. The district is divided into three sub-districts, and one trustee is elected in each for a term of three years.
The schools have been, and still are, progressing success- fully. A class of eight graduated from the high school at the close of the school year 1875-76. In 1877 the grad- uates numbered fourteen ; in 1878 there were twenty-one.
The high-school is organized with four courses of study, as follows :
Classical course .-- First year : first half, Latin, Algebra, Physiology, Reading, Spelling, Penmanship; second half, Latin, Algebra, Physical Geography, Reading, Spelling, Penmanship. Second year: first half, Latin, Rhetoric, United States llistory, and Arithmetic ; second half, Latin, General History, Arithmetic. Third year : first half, Latin, Greek, Algebra; second half, Latin, Greek, Geometry. Fourth year : first half, Latin, Greek, Algebra; second half, Latin, Greek, Geometry.
Latin course .- This course differs from the classical only in having French or German in the place of Greek. French is required in this course and in the scientific for admission to the University.
English course .-- First year : first half, English Gram- mar, Algebra, Physiology, Reading, Spelling, Penmanship; second half, Analysis and Composition, Algebra, Physical Geography, Reading, Spelling, Penmanship. Second year : first half, Zoology, United States History, and Science of Government, Bookkeeping, and Arithmetic; second half, Botany, General History, Arithmetic. Third year: first half, General History, Chemistry, Algebra; second half, 19
Natural Philosophy, Geology, Geometry. Fourth year : first half, Rhetoric, Political Economy, Algebra; secom half, English Literature, Astronomy, Geometry.
Scientific course .- First and second years, same as Eng- lish course. Third year : first half, General History, French or German, Algebra ; second half, Natural Philosophy, French or German, Geometry. Fourth year : first half, Rhetoric, French or German, Algebra ; second half, English Literature, French or German, Geometry.
Composition and elocutionary exercises throughout the several courses.
The first of these prepares students for the classical course in the University of Michigan, the second for the Latin and scientific, the third for the scientific and engi- neering course (requiring, however, the addition of one year's work in Latin), and the fourth for the newly-arranged English literary course.
This is one of the high-schools of the State from which students have been for several years admitted to the Uni- versity (Freshman class) upon their diplomas, if recom- mended.
It should not, however, be supposed that the main aim of the school is to prepare students for the University. The number sent to that institution is necessarily small in comparison with the entire number graduated, and it is the purpose so to direct the work of the school that its benefits shall be of practical value to those whose student-life ter- minates here, as well as to those who go to higher insti- tutions of learning.
For the former class, the scientific and English courses are believed to be especially suitable.
The lower departments of the schools are in a flourishing condition, being under the instruction of able and success- ful teachers, and being equally with the high school objects of especial care.
The primary department in the several buildings in- cludes the first four grades or years of school-work, the grammar department the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth years or grades, bringing pupils to the high school.
The high-school, the eighth and seventh grades, and part of the sixth grade are accommodated in the central building, as are also 125 pupils of primary grades. Five other buildings, located in different parts of the city, furnish accommodations for the other grades.
In the grammar department, arithmetic, account-keeping, English grammar, and composition, geography, United States history, reading, spelling, pemanship, and clemen- tary drawing are carefully taught.
The following items show the census and the enrollment and attendance in all the schools of the city for the year endling June 21, 1878 :
Number in distriet between 5 ant 20 years old. 2:41
Number enrolled in the schools. 1837
Average number belonging. 1288.8
Average daily attendance. 1182.1
Per cent. of attendance on average number belonging. 91.7
Perfect attendance is encouraged by the publication quarterly ( at end of every ten school-weeks) of a roll of honor, showing the names of pupils perfect in attendance. Two pupils succeeded in keeping a perfectly clean record, being neither absent uor late, for three years ending June 21,
140
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1878. Five others were similarly perfect for two years end- ing at the same time, and twenty-seven others for one year.
A growing library of about 1400 well-selected volumes, and a valuable museum, constitutes part of the material of the high- and grammar-schools.
The schools have quite a large non-resident attendance, drawn principally from the populous and wealthy county in which Flint is situated, though some pupils come from other counties and even from other States. As many as 106 non-residents have already ( April, 1879) entered the schools during the present school-year. The receipts for tuition of non-residents bid fair to be larger than in any preceding year.
The teachers are as follows : Superintendent, T. W. Crissey, teacher of Political Economy, English Literature, and Elocution, and instructor of teachers' class.
High-School .- Mr. Louis K. Webb, Principal, Higher Mathematics, Chemistry, Zoology, etc .; Miss Angie C. Chapin, Latin and Greek ; Miss Lizzie II. Tindell, Modern Languages, Rhetorie, Ilistory, Botany, etc .; Miss Rosa M. Muir, general work of first year.
Grammar Department, Central. Building .- Room C, Miss Kate E. MeNamara; Room D, Miss Emily E. West ; Room E, Miss Alta L. Brotherton ; Room F, Miss Sarah M. Newton ; Room 4 (recitation), Miss Eva Curtis ; Roour 5 (recitation), Miss Maggie O'Donoughue.
Primary Rooms, Central Building .- Room G, Mrs. C. G. Chaffee ; Room II, Miss Hattie A. Douglas.
First Ward ( Main) Building .- Room A, Miss Addie J. De Lano; Room B, Miss Hattie C. Carey ; Room C, Miss Emma Curtis ; Room D, Miss Ida M. Zimmerman ; Room E, Miss De Ette M. Kline.
First Ward ( Branch) Building .- Room A, Miss Frank II. Foster; Room B, Miss Carrie J. Baker.
Second Ward Building .- Room A, Miss Lydia 1. Davis; Room B, Miss Sara A. Canfield; Room C, Miss Eliza A. Judd ; Room D, Miss Gertrude F. Bchce ; Room E, Miss Emma L. Earle.
Third Ward Building .- Room A, Miss Mary E. Dun- bar ; Room B, Miss Clara E. Hall; Room C, Miss Laura A. Buck ; Room D, Miss Nellie J. Rogers.
Fourth Ward Building .- Room A, Miss Eliza Rey- nolds; Room B, Miss Mary I. Andrews; Room C, Miss Lurana Beecher ; Room D, Miss Jennie M. Phelps.
Mrs. A. F. Burrows, teacher of Penmanship, Drawing, and Account-Keeping; also Librarian. Mr. Henry W. Fairbank, teacher of Vocal Music.
The following gentlemen constitute the present board of school trustees : S. C. Randall, President ; II. R. Lovell, Secretary ; Charles S. Brown, Treasurer. Trustees of First Ward : C. A. Mason, Robert W. Dullam, William Steven- Soll. Trustees of Second Ward : Daniel Clark, M.D., Charles S. Brown, Henry R. Lovell. Trustees of Third and Fourth Wards: Oscar Adams, George L. Walker, Ilenry C. Walker.
STATE INSTITUTION FOR EDUCATING THIE DEAF, DUMB, AND THE BLIND.
The citizens of Flint feel a laudable pride in the fact that one of the chief State institutions is located here, and
has for its object the edneation of the deaf, the dumb, and the blind. To Hon. E. H. Thomson belongs the honor of introducing, in 1848, the act which resulted in the es- tablishment of this publie charity,-the Legislature having voted favorably upon it, and subsequently taken such measures as resulted in the accomplishment of its objects.
The first board of trustees comprised the following gen- themen : Hon. Elon Farnsworth, ex-Chancellor of the State, of Wayne; Gen. Charles C. Hlascall, of Genesee ; Ilon. Charles II. Taylor, of Kent; Hon. Charles E. Stewart, of Kalamazoo; and Hon. John P. Cook, of Hillsdale.
The board, after having received and examined proposals from various quarters for the location of the buildings, finally decided upon Flint as the most eligible.
A warranty-deed of 20 aeres of ground having been donated to the trustees for a site for the erection of build- ings by Col. T. B. W. Stockton, Dec. 10, 1849, and $3000 subscribed by the citizens, Charles HI. Palmer was, in De- cember, 1850, instituted as principal, but his services were to be gratuitous until the institution went into active oper- ation. Meanwhile Mr. Hascall, of the board of trustees, was engaged in improvements upon the grounds selected, and Mr. Farnsworth was deputized to visit other institu- tions of a similar character for plans and arrangement of buildings.
In 1857 the Legislature amended the act of 1848 so that the institution should be entirely independent of the Kalamazoo Insane Asylum,-the two having been up to that time in charge of the same board. Under the amended act each was to be governed by a board of three trustees appointed by the Governor. The first board for the Flint. institution consisted of James B. Walker, of Flint, Benja- min Pierson, and John Le Roy. A vacant building was rented for the purpose in Flint, and the education of the deaf, dumb, and the blind begun.
B. M. Fay was chosen principal, and organized the school work proper in 1857. Mr. Walker was chosen building commissioner, and authorized to visit New York and study the plans upon which the deaf-mute institution of that State was constructed. He was accompanied by Mr. Fay, and the present cluster of five buildings are substantially the same as the plans adopted by the board.
The portion of the building originally constructed has since been diverted from its first use, other structures having been erected which were found better adapted to the wants of the institution. The first story is used for the library, office of steward, music- and recitation-rooms. The second story has six recitation-rooms for the deaf- mutes and two for the blind. The third floor, recently used for shoe-shops, etc., has been converted into dormito- ries. Its basement is now used as a store-room for provis- ions, a basket-shop for the blind, and sleeping-rooms for domesties.
North of the school wing is the chapel building, the two being connected by a covered archway. The basement of this building is used as a kitchen, bakery, and store-rooms, and the first floor as a dining-room for the pupils. On the second floor is the chapel, in which the pupils meet for religious and other exercises, and which is appropriately planned and furnished for that purpose.
147
FLINT CITY.
Separated from the chapel building by open courts and connected with it by covered passage-ways are two build- ings, called respectively the boys and girls' wing. Running across the rear of each wing is a hall ten feet wide in cach story, and opening from the hall of each lower story is a large outside door. The basements of the wings are used for wardrobes, wash-rooms and bath-rooms. Each pupil has a wardrobe of his own, or a wooden case in which to keep his clothing, and the metallic bath-tubs, with which the bath-rooms are plentifully furnished, are each supplied with warm and cold water. The second floors of the wings are used for the sitting-rooms of the boys and girls respect- ively, where they prepare for their recitations, or spend their spare time in reading or amusements. The part of the floor set off for the blind is also used for their recitation- rooms. The second story of the girls' wing is used for the girls' sleeping-apartments, hospital, and sewing-room. The second story of the boys' wing is similarly divided for the boys, and has also a dormitory for the blind. The third story of each wing is used for dormitories and for sleeping- rooms of the attendants who have charge of the pupils when not in school.
An upright building five stories high, with two wings, cach four stories high, including basement, comprise what is known as the main or front building. Connecting this with the boys' and girls' wings of the edifice and with the chapel is a large hall leading from the main corridors. The basement is devoted to the teachers' dining-rooms, bath- rooms, etc.
On the first floor are the principal's office, parlor, recep- tion- and sitting-rooms; the second floor being devoted to the matron and ber assistants, a spacious sewing-room, and several guest chambers. The third and fourth stories are mainly taken up with rooms for the teachers. There are water-closets and sinks on each floor of each building at the ends of the halls. The water for their use and for the use in the bath-rooms is supplied from iron tanks under the roof, one for hot and the other for cold water.
In the rear of the buildings described, and at a short distance from them, is a long, low building, used partly as a boiler-house and partly for a wash-room, in which the washing for the institution is carried on by steam. An- other part of the building contains the boilers, engines, pumps, heating-apparatus, etc. Originally, the buiklings were heated by driving a strong current of air through an immense coil of steam-pipe, and through an underground passage, by means of a powerful fan, but the method was not a success, and they are now heated by direct radiation. Instead of the fan and large underground passage, steam is now conveyed in iron pipes directly from the boilers to the room to be heated, and by this means excellent ventilation is also secured. The subject of sewerage has also received much attention, and the method adopted is as nearly perfect as any yet devised, and for this purpose the location of the buildings is very favorable.
The dimensions of the ground floor of the front and school-buildings are the same, both being 60 feet wide by 100 feet in length. The central buikling is 50 feet wide by 90 feet long, and the wings 50 by 80 feet each. This series of buildings have been occupied several years, though not
yet completed. An elaborate portico, the foundation of which is already laid, will embellish the front building, in accordance with the original design, when it shall be found convenient to expend more funds upon what might be regarded as a mere adornment.
In addition to those already mentioned is a building used as a cabinet-shop and for other purposes, and also a barn.
The approximate cost of the whole structure was about $400,000.
Prof. B. M. Fay was the first principal, who, after a very thorough organization of the school, resigned, in 1864, and was succeeded by Egbert L. Bangs, who brought with hitu new methods of teaching. Prof. G. L. Brockett's system of instruction, by which deaf-mutes are taught to articulate, was adopted with considerable success.
The system known as " Bell's Visible Speech" was intro- duced into the school in the fall of 1876 by Miss Hattie McGann, who is still teaching it with encouraging results. Prof. Bangs was succeeded in the principalship by Prof. J. W. Parker, Sept. 1, 1876.
The whole number now in attendance is 250, which is 22 more than ever were in actual attendance at any one time in previous years. The whole number enrolled during the past year was 256, and the highest attendance at any one time 250. There have been already over 60 applica- tions for admission during the coming year, but as the capacity of the institution is only 250, and only 12 of those now in it will leave at the end of this year, it is evident that many who are entitled to all the benefits it affords will have to be turned away. Thus it happens that before the group of new buildings which were to furnish accommoda- tions to this class of the State's wards for a generation at least are actually completed they are filled to overflowing, and at the present rate of increase it cannot be many years before another group will be necessary. The removal of the blind to a separate institution of their own cannot be much longer delayed, and yet that will afford only tempo- rary relief to the deaf-mutes, who are already numerous enough and ready to take their places.
An effort was made, through an act of Legislature, to make instruction in printing, the manufacture of boots and shoes, cabinet-making, and other trades obligatory. This was finally successful in 1872, and the act was put into practical operation in the institution soon after.
The 250 pupils now in attendance comprise 19 blind girls, 21 blind boys, 92 deaf-mute girls, and 110 deaf-mute boys. Including the 40 girls who are given employment in the sewing department, about two-fifths of the whole number of pupils in the institution are employed at some kind of manual labor or in learning some kind of trade, by which it is hoped they can earn a livelihood after gradua- tion. All the blind boys except four work in the basket- shop, the remaining four being in training for broom-makers. All the blind girls were taught needlework, and all the blind females who show any capacity for it are taught music, as affording them possible employment as teachers in future. It is, moreover, a study for which their finely-cultivated sense of hearing peculiarly fits them,-an advantage of which they are not wholly unconscious when brought in
148
HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
competition with pupils who ean see. Of the deaf-mutes 18 are employed in the shoe-shop, 15 in the cabinet-shop, and 15 in the printing-office, 5 of whom are girls. Some of the pupils show a remarkable aptitude for their respective trades, and turn out manufactured articles which are really models of skilled workmanship. Especially worthy of men- tion are a handsomely-ornamented box of different woods, made by Charles Traver, and a library-table in the Prin- cipal's office, made by James Hull.
As a general rule the pupils spend three hours a day in the shops during the last four years of their course, spend- ing three hours daily in the school-rooms during the same years. In the first four years of the course they spend the whole six in the school-rooms, so that though only about two-fifths of the pupils are learning trades at any one time, yet about four-fifths of the whole number receive that ad- vantage before their term of eight years is completed. In addition a few pupils work in the garden and aid on the farm on Saturday forenoons.
The following list comprises the officers and teachers who are at present filling positions in connection with the insti- tution : Thos. MacIntire, Superintendent ; Dan. II. Church, Steward; Miss Emma A. Hall, Matron ; Miss L. Valeria Abbott, First Assistant Matron ; Mrs. M. E. Clarkson, Second Assistant Matron; Daniel Clarke, A.M., M.D., Attending Physician; Chas. S. MeBride, Boys' Super- visor ; Mrs. Sarah Jones, Girls' Attendant; Thos. L. Brown, John J. Buchanan, Miss Carrie K. Standart, Miss Phebe Wright, Willis Hubbard, Fred. A. Platt, B.A.,
Miss Addie A. Hendershot, Miss Maggie T. Bennet, Miss Kate E. Barry, Teachers of the Deaf and Dumb; Miss HIattie E. McGann, Teacher of Visible Speech ; Mrs. Sarah II. Brown, Miss Emma F. Knight, Miss Jennie Van Wormer (Instructor in Piano, Organ, and Vocal Musie), Teachers of the Blind.
The following are the employees of the Industrial De- partment : Edwin Barton, Foreman of the Cabinet-Shop; Thomas Page, Foreman of the Shoe-Shop; Herman C. Koeppner, Foreman of the Basket-Shop; Geo. 1I. Pond, Foreman of the Printing-Office; Thomas Stilson, Chief Engineer and Machinist ; Charles Selleck, Farmer.
The board of trustees are as follows: Hon. Chas. G. Johnson, President ; Hon. Almon L. Aldrich, Treasurer ; Ilon. Jas. M. Neasmith, Secretary.
The total yearly expenditures of the institution, ending with the 30th of September, 1878, were $43,579.85.
THE FLINT SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE.
The following document formed the nucleus of " The Flint Scientifie Institute :"
"We, the undersigned, desirous of improvement in scientific knowl- edge, and feeling the want of books which we cannot at present com- mand, hereby agree to associate for the purpose of forming a library upon the following basis, viz. : each subscriber shall be entitled to one share for every five dollars which he shall pay into the funds of tho association, and cach share shall entitle the holder to one vote ; pro- vided, that no individual shalt be entitled to more than five votes. All the funds of the association shall be appropriated to procuring scientific works."
This agreement was signed by the following persons, cach agreeing to take one share of the joint stock : D. Clarke,
M. Miles, R. S. Hutton, C. L. Avery, Win. Stevenson, S. E. Wilcox, F. II. Rankin, and A. B. Pratt.
At a meeting called at the office of F. II. Rankin, Feb. 8, 1853, under a warrant issued by R. W. Jenny, J. P., a society was organized, in aeeordamee with chapter 53 of the revised statutes of Michigan, by the adoption of a constitu- tion and evde of by-laws, and the following officers were elected : President, D. Clarke ; Secretary, F. II. Rankin ; Li- brarian, M. Miles ; Treasurer, Wm. Stevenson. The objeet of the society was more fully set forth in the first article of the constitution, which is as follows : " This society shall be known as ' The Flint Scientific Institute.' Its objects shall be to promote the study and investigation of the sev- eral branches of scientific knowledge, the establishment of a library of scientifie works, and a museum of natural his- tory ; and its funds shall be devoted to the procuring of such books, charts, and other matter as shall promote those objeets." The objects were further elucidated in a paper " On the importance of acquiring and extending scientifie knowledge," read by the president at the first quarterly meeting, held April 6, 1853, which paper was by request published in the Genesce Whig. At the same meeting a vote of thanks was tendered to three senators and represen- tatives in Congress from this State who presented the in- stitute with books and other documents. At subsequent meetings, acknowledgments were made to IIon. R. Me- Clelland, Hon. J. S. Conger, Hlon. 4. Chandler, and others from whom favors had been received, and especially to Hon. D. C Leach, who laid the institute under deep obli- gations by presenting the valuable reports of the Pacific Railroad and the Mexican Boundary Surveys, the reports and publications of the Smithsonian Institute, and other publie documents. In consideration of these especial obli- gations, he was made an honorary member. In May, 1853, a circular was issued calling public attention to the objects and needs of the institute, and soliciting aid in membership, and donations of books, and also specimens of natural his- tory to form a cabinet.
In response to this appeal, the following names were added to the list of members : T. Newall, E. Dodge, II. R. Pratt, J. N. Lake, M. Pratt, S. B. Cummings, G. Andrews, D. Glendall, J. Guild, M. B. Beals, C. E. McAlester, J. Kelland, Wm. B. MeCreery, Ch. Rankin, M. D. Seeley, J. N. Burdick, Il. Wilson, R. P. Aitkin, and Wm. Travis.
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.