USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 32
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At the annual meeting in 1840 it was voted unanimously to raise $300 to build a school house the following year. This vote was never acted upon. Again, at the annual meeting of 1842 it was voted to raise $300 for a school building and its appendages. It was subsequently proposed to locate the school house on the west side, but the proposition was withdrawn. The old red school house was then built on the hill, where Mrs. Hattie Williams' house now stands.
Lodiwiski Baker taught the first summer school for $2 per week, and Charles C. Fullington the winter school at $18 per month. There were 52 children of school age in the district, but 70 pupils attended the school.
RONALD.
The first school district known to have included any portion of Ronald township was fractional district No. 4. of lonia. It was formed on April 22. 1841, and embraced within its limits the whole of sections 30 and 31 and
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the west halves of sections 29 and 32 in Ronakl. In this school district Sarah Haight, of Ionia, taught probably the first school in 1841, in a school house that stood upon the town line in section 31 in Ronald. On November 1. 1841. Lyons and lonia formed fractional district No. 1, which included the whole of sections 33. 34 and 35, and portions of sections 26. 27, 28, 29 and 32, in Ronald. Districts were all formed previous to the organization of Ronald township.
In the Van Vleck settlement, where Nancy Palmer taught the first school-a subscription school in one of the rooms of George D. Tasker's house-there appears to have been no district school until after the town was organized. At the first meeting of the school inspectors of Ronald, held at the house of William J. Clark, May 3, 1845. school district No. HI of Lyons, was changed to district No. i of Ronald, and bounded as follows: Com- mencing at the northeast corner of section 13; thence running due south on the section line to the southeast corner of section 25: thence due west on the section line to the south quarter post of section 27; thence due north on the quarter line through the center of sections 27, 22 and 15, to the north quar- ter post of section 15: thence due east on the section line to the place of beginning.
On April 24. 1847, district No. I was changed to district No. 2, and a new district No. I was formed, on the petition of Matthew Van Vleck and John Van Vleck. The new district commenced at the northeast corner of section 1 : extended thence west to the northwest corner of section 3: thence south to the southwest corner of section to: thence east to the southeast corner of section 12: thence north to the place of beginning.
District No. 3. formed likewise on April 24. 1847. commenced at the quarter post on the north line of section 14: extended thence south on the quarter line to the center of section 26; thence west on the quarter line to the center of section 28; thence north on the quarter line to the north quarter post of section 16: thence east to the place of beginning.
District No. 4. formed on April 17. 1848, embraced sections 17 and 20. the north half of section 20. the northwest quarter of section 28. the west half of section 21 and the west half of section 16.
District No. 5. formed on May 15. 1848, embraced sections 4. 5. 8 and o.
SEBEWA.
The first matter recorded in the town books of Sebewa touching schools refers to the formation under date of January 12. 1846, of fractional school
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district No. 3. of Sebewa and Sunfield. The portion of the district lying in Sebewa included sections 20. 30. 31 and 32, and the west halves of sections 28 and 33.
District No. 2 commenced at the center of section 21 and extended thence on the quarter line to the west quarter post of section 19: thence south on the township line to the southwest corner of section 31: thence east on the county line to the southeast corner of section 33; thence north on the section line to the east quarter post of section 28; thence north on the quarter line to the place of beginning.
District No. I was organized on February 11, 1846, commencing eighty rods east of the northwest corner of section 13: thence west to the north quarter stake of section 16: thence south to the south quarter stake of section 16: thence south to the south quarter stake of section 28; thence east to the south quarter stake of section 20: thence north to the south quarter stake of section 14; thence cast three-fourths of a mile: thence north to the place of beginning. The first meeting of said district was ordered to be held at the house of Jacob Showerman.
District No. 4 was formed on September 18. 1847. The limits are described as the same as old district No. I.
District No. 6 was formed on April 13. 1852. and commenced eighty rods south of the northeast corner of section 25; passing thence south to the southeast corner of section 36: thence west three miles; thence north one mile ; thence east one and a half miles to the south quarter post of section 26; thence north one mile: thence east one mile to the north quarter post of section 26; thence south eighty rods; thence a half mile east to the place of beginning.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF IONI.A.
lonia was founded at a time when the idea of free public schools was struggling for general acceptance. Up to a time even later than 1833 the conceptions which determined the prevalent facilities for education was that education was a luxury, not a necessity. However, as democracy came into her own with the successive decades of the nineteenth century. education was recognized. first as a legitimate function of government, and later as a necessity for the mere maintenance of free institutions. At first the province of free schools was limited to the teaching of the rudiments only. but as years went by this function was broadened to take in, first a complete ele- mentary education, then in addition a college preparatory education « the high school absorbing the work of carlier private academies ), until today
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the function of public education has been widened to a range undreamed of a century ago. Jonia's schools have passed through all stages of this develop- ment.
Within two years after the first colony settled at Ionia, arrangements were made to provide a measure of education for the children of the com- munity. In the winter of 1834-1835 Doctor Lincoln maintained a school in his office. "After Doctor Lincoln's effort the cause of education was encour- aged and fostered by Mason Hearser, who, in the autumn of 1835, taught the first public school. Amanda Yeomans, aftreward the wife of Rev. Alfred Cornell. taught in 1836, the first summer school in lonia."-( History of Ionia and Montcalm Counties.) From facts which are stated below it would appear that these early educational efforts were not supported by general taxation as legally organized schools. It is quite probable that the expense was borne by those who were directly benefited. Indeed this idea that education should be paid for by the recipient persisted long and tenac- iously. In partial deference to it, provision was made on October 4, 1841. some three years after the origination of school district No. 1. that each pupil attending the district school should furnish one-quarter of a cord of wood by the first of December ensning.
"The oldest record of the proceedings in school district No. 1 (after- ward lonia ) certifies that anterior to 1843 the school records were kept on loose papers, and that. in 1813, Ira Porter transcribed to a book such records as could be found. From this transcript it is learned that at a regular meet- ing of the inhabitants of district No. , at the district school house Con Main street. west of Dexter ) November 16, 1837. Asa Spencer was appointed moderator and Erastus Yeomans, clerk of the meeting. The election of officers for the current year resulted in the choice of Thomas Cornell as moderator: Cyrus Lovell, director. and Robert S. Parks, assessor. It was voted at that meeting that each of the district officers should receive five dollars for his services for the ensuing year. that the summer school should last four months, and that a tax of ninety dollars should be levied and raised
in the district for the year to pay teachers' wages. December 27. 1838, pur- suant of the provisions of the Revised Statutes that no school district should contain more than nine sections, district No. 1. was re-organized and set off as follow . To commence on the north bank of the Grand river at a point where the section line between sections 26 and 27, in town , north, range 7 west. intersects Grand river : running thence easterly along the north bank ci the Grand river to the point where the north-and-south line running
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IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
through the center of sections 16 and 21. in town 7 north, range 6 west. intersects the Grand river ; thence north to the quarter post on the north line of section 16; thence on the section line to the northwest corner of section 14: thence south to the Grand river and place of beginning.' "-( History of Ionia and Montcalm Counties. )
"The first public school building in lonia was located on Main street, some distance west of Dexter street, between the homes of Ethan S. John- son and Erastus Yeomans. It was a log structure. perhaps twenty-four by thirty feet. and in an early day served also as a meeting house for religious services."-( Ionia Daily Sentinel, February 17, 1880.)
A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.
In 1843 a sentiment prevailed that the community needed a new building for school purposes. Accordingly, an October 2, of that year, it was voted to build a new school house at an expense of three hundred dollars, and that it should be completed by May 1, 1844. Later it was agreed to expend five hundred dollars for the purpose. But difficulties encountered in securing a suitable site led to the rescinding of the proposition. The old school house was repaired and continued in service until 1849. At a meeting on Septem- ber 26, 1848, the erection of a new building was authorized at a cost of three hundred dollars. The site chosen was the present location of the city hall. "The contractor was AAlanson Cornell, who was to put up a one-story structure. On January 6, 1849, Louis S. Lovell, Hampton Rich, Osmond Tower and C. M. Moseman, on behalf of themselves and others, proposed to add a second story to the building for the use of the lonia Division of the Sons of Temperance. for religions meetings, and for the renting thereof to the county of lonia for a court room, in case terms could be made. The proposition was accepted, but there was some public opposition to the mat- ter, and on January 20, 1849, there was a meeting to reconsider the resolu- tion, the request for the meeting being signed by John Tompkins, Hampton Rich, William Lyon, J. C. Ball, Abel Avery, Jesse Holcomb, Henry Hatch, Frederick Hall and Peter Hackett. The plan was confirmed and the building was completed according to the original design. The house was, however, no more than finished, when it was destroyed by fire ; but no time was lost in erecting a similar house on the same spot, the district this time doing the entire work." ;- ( History of fonia and Montcalm Counties. ) While this building was in process of construction, school was held in a buikling located where Dean & Eyster's store now stands.
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It is not possible to present a complete list of teachers during these carly years. From 1844 to 1852 the records mention only the names of Simon Ilunt. E. W. Cornell, Betsy Webster and H. C. Finch. There has been furnished from another source the name of a Mr. Wheaton who taught in the first building erected on the present site of the city hall : and also the names of a Mr. Hodges and Mary Lovell who taught while the new building was being erected.
The records for 1853 give the following list of teachers as employed during the year : J. B. Powell, B. H. Preston, Catherine Stevenson and J. B. Wells. The teachers in 1854 were Miss L. 11. Tower, Catherine Stevenson, Ann Avery, Miss Wells, and Miss Clapsaddle: in 1855 Miss Elwood, Miss Mason, C. O. Thompson, L. H. Town, Miss Nash and Miss Stevenson. There should also be added to the list of teachers for this period the names of W. W. Mitchell and Edgar M. Marble.
The small amount of money required to run the schools during these early days is worthy of note. In 1837-38 the amount raised for teachers was ninety dollars. In 1841-2 the expense of the school was partially met by re- quiring each pupil to furnish one-fourth of a cord of wood. During the year preceding the annual meeting of January 26, 1853, the following ex- penses were incurred: For contingent purposes, $40.36; for payment of teachers, $311.67. For 1855 the tax voted was ninety-nine cents per child on two hundred and eleven children. Buildings too, were less expensive than now. An expenditure of five hundred dollars was considered adequate for housing the school in the fifties. But it should be kept in mind that these were days when "select schools," supported by private fees, performed a large part of the service of education. Then, too. the range of private expenditure was much narrower than at present.
In 1860 the standard works in use by the school consisted of Davis' "Practical Arithmetic," Stoddard's "Mental Series." Emerson's "Numbers." Welch's and Sill's grammars, Willard's history, Sanders' readers and spellers, Monteith's geography, and Davis' algebra.
The year 1863 marks a milestone in the development of Ionia's school system. On the 26th of July in that year it was resolved to organize the school under section 23 of the school law, according to the "union-school" system. September 11. 1863, the district voted to raise ten thousand dollars for a building, the number of scholars in the district that year being four hundred and twenty-two. . \ site having been purchased for one thousand dollars, the annual meeting in September. 1864, voted to increase the appro-
(23)
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priation for the building to fifteen thousand dollars. Before the project was brought to satisfactory completion nine thousand five hundred and ten dollars additional was voted on two different occasions. According to the annual report, dated September 3, 1866, the total estimated cost of the school-house, furniture, grounds, janitor's house, etc., aggregated thirty thousand dollars.
Since the completion of the Central school, Ionia school district has been employed in several other building projects. In 1873 a lot for the State street school was purchased and four thousand five hundred dollars appro- priated for the building. The Jefferson street school was provided for two years later, the contractor's price being three thousand two hundred dollars. The high school followed in 1885. In 1907 the various buildings were found to be in need of general repair and a large amount of money was spent to put them in thoroughly up-to-date condition. The central heating plant was pro- vided at that time; it represents a substantial addition to the safety pro- visions of the Central and high schools. No increase in the amount of school room has been made during the past thirty years except the addition of two small recitation rooms. At this time ( 1916) a movement is being launched looking to the erection of a new high school building to relieve the crowded conditions which are found all along the line.
COURSES OF STUDY.
September, 1866, when the Central building was occupied for school purposes, marks the organization of the lonia high school. At that time there were about twenty union high schools in the state. The lonia high school at once assumed high rank among these institutions and it has always been recognized as a splendid school. The superintendent for the first four years, 1866-1870, was Charles Hutchins. The "General Course" of studies for that time is found in a circular of information, published in 1870. This course required three years for completion, as did the "English Course" and also the "Classical Course." It was as follows :
First Year. First Term-Algebra : English grammar : history; Latin or German. Second Term-Algebra: analysis and parsing; botany; Latin or German. Third Term-Arithmetic; botany; Latin or German.
Second Year. First Term -- Natural philosophy; Latin, French or Ger- man. Second Term-Rhetoric ; geometry; Latin. French or German. Third Term- Rhetoric; geometry: Latin, French or German.
Third Year. First Term-Mental philosophy: geology; Latin or
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French. Second Term- Mental philosophy; astronomy: Latin or French. Third Term-Moral philosophy : social science, Latin or French.
The work below the high school was not then graded as it is now: it was divided into first, second and third primary, intermediate, and grammar departments. Information is not at hand as to the year when the present ar- rangement of grades was introduced.
The first class was graduated from the high school in June, 1871. Oral and written examinations to which the public was invited were the regular order of the day. The following is from the Standard of June 29. 1871 :
"The school year of the Ionia public school closes tomorrow. The last week of school has been devoted to the examination of classes and rhetorical exercises. The examination of the primary department occupied the first of the week and the examination of the high school the latter part. For the first time since the establishment of the school a class will graduate at the end of the year. The examinations that have not taken place will come off today or tomorrow forenoon. The rhetorical exercises of the graduating class will take place in the evening at the school building in connection with a vocal concert. All that have an interest in the school should attend the concert if they are not able to attend during the examination."
The number of graduates from lonia high school by years follows : 1871. 5: 1873. 2: 1874. 3: 1875. 7: 1876. 18: 1877. 12: 1878, 13: 1879, 14; 1880. 14: 1881. 10: 1882. 13: 1883. 8: 1884. 10; 1885, 15: 1886. 20: 1887, 17: 1888, 20: 1889. 19: 1890. 14: 1891. 11: 1892, 25: 1803. 21: 1894. 11; 1895, 21 : 1896. 21 : 1897. 18. 1898. 22: 1899, 21 : 1900, 21 : 1901, 10: 1902, 26; 1903. 20: 1904. 21 : 1905. 21 : 1906, 19: 1907, 21: 1908, 24: 1909, HI; 1910; 18, 1911, 14: 1912. 18: 1913. 33: 1914. 23: 1915. 33: 1916, (prob- able ) 35.
It is seen from the above table that the total number of graduates for the past four years, including the present. equals the total for the seven years previous. This indicates clearly the recent growth of the high school. An- other significant evidence of this growth for the lower grades as well as the high school is found in the table below. The figures represent the "average number belonging" at intervals of about ten years. As the records for 1866, 1876. and 1886 are not available the figures for 1871. 1878 and 1887 have been given. The figures for 1916 represent the actual number on the rolls on the date of compilation.
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JONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
TABLE OF NUMBER BELONGING.
Year.
High School.
Grammar Dept.
Primary Dept.
Total.
1871
550
1878
103
238
399
740
1887
130
201
455
786
1896
137
207
494
928
1906
121
172
437
730
1916
190
356
496
1042
Following is a list of the superintendents of the lonia schools since the organization of the "union district" in 1866, with the period of service of each : Charles Hutchins, 1866-70; R. N. Fearon, 1870-71; J. W. Ewing. 1871-76; A. L. Todd, 1876-78; J. W. Ewing, 1878-1887; W. D. Clizbe, 1887- 1891 ; C. L. Bemis, 1891-1907: H. C. Daley, 1907-1908; W. S. Lister, 1908- 1912: L. L. Forsythe, 1912, to the present.
At the time this history is written ( 1916) lonia has a system of schools which is justly recognized as among the best in the state. It consists of a kindergarten (located in the city hall) : four primary grades in each of the Second ward, Fourth ward and Central schools : four grammar grades, located in the Central school: and a high school in a separate building. There is also connected with the system the Ionia County Normal, which occupies a room in the Central school. Grades five to eight are organized on the departmental plan, which has been a feature of the system for many years. The course of study for grades and high school is up-to-date in all respects, including drawing, music, manual training and household arts.
The equipment of the schools is excellent so far as space will permit. but great embarassment is felt on account of lack of room. The depart- ments of manual training and household arts are in very close quarters, while no play-room or gymnasium facilities whatever are afforded. However, pro- vision has been made for play grounds-especially in connection with the high school and central buildings. As a result of recent purchases about three acres are available immediately adjoining the school grounds. It is in the process of being graded for use in playing all kinds of school games.
INSTRUCTORS.
Thirty-seven teachers besides the superintendent are required for the work of the schools. The list for the current year is as follows :
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High School-L. L. Forsythe, superintendent ; Clara Martiny, principal, German; Lela A. Duff, assistant principal, English; John P. Wiegman, sci- ence : John P. Jones, English, mathematics; Mary H. Curtiss, Latin, mathe- matics ; Margaret E. Steere, English, biology; Dwight B. Harwood, history, Esther V. Arverson, commercial branches.
Central School-Margery C. Streeter, principal, English ; succeeded by Mrs. E. W. Briggs, the second semester ; Ella Hutchins, reading; Edna M. Waterbury, arithmetic; Hassie Preston Thornton, history; Martha Knight, geography, seventh grade; Isa M. Nesbitt, assistant in reading ; Margaret Sey- mour. assistant in English, sixth grade; Louise Call, assistant in sixth and seventh grades; Flora Reynolds, assistant arithmetic, A-Fifth grade; Stella Bloomer, assistant in geography, B-Fifth grade; Murryne McCrossen, fifth grade assistant ; Mrs. E. W. Briggs, training room, fourth grade ; succeeded by Anna Manderfield, the second semester ;; Rose M. Sweeney, third grade; Melba E. Brewster. second grade; Lucy AA. Cull, first grade.
Jefferson Street School-Grace D. Billings, principal, second grade; Ella V. Funk, first grade ; Sadie E. Taylor, third grade ; Marguerite Evans, fourth grade.
State Street School-Minnie L. Coon, principal, first grade: Mary M. Steele, second grade; Margaret Schmolz, third grade; Sarah Peck, fourth grade.
Special Teachers-Edith Williamson, principal of County Normal; succeeded by Mabel Conklin the second semester : Emma A. Rice, music, draw- ing : Katherine Wardle, domestic science and art ; Lionel H. Dunlap, manual training and mechanical drawing.
SCHOOLS OF SARANAC.
By L. P. Ettinger.
It is a lamentable fact that the early history of the schools of Saranac has not been preserved. Saranac became a part of school district No. 3 with the organization of the several districts in this township which was officially organized in 1838 or 1839. The one-room log school house served as the first house of knowledge for the children of this section. A steady advance was made in the educational systems of this village and soon was reached what might be called the era of the school systems of the twentieth century.
The present brick school house was built in 1871 or 1872. It is a three- story building with grades 2. 3. 4, and 5 on the lower floor ; grades 6. 7, and
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8 on the second floor : the high school including grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 on the third floor. The kindergarten and the first grade are a block west of the main building in Shaw's hall, which formerly was used as a school house. The high school also uses as a class room a room at the north end of the second floor of the main building.
The school was made a graded school in 1886, when it was made a ten- grade school. The eleventh grade was added in 1896, and the twelfth grade in 1904. It was placed on the accredited list of the state normal schools and the denominational colleges of Michigan and the Michigan Agricultural Col- lege in 1904. On the University of Michigan list in 1913.
The number of graduates from the highest grade by years so far back as the records are available are as follows: 1887. 8: 1888, 5 : 1889. 3: 1890, 2: 1891. 2: 1892, 9: 1893, 23 : 1894, 6: 1895. 9: 1896, no graduates, eleventh grade added : 1897. 5: 1898. 7: 1899, 6; 1900, 17: 1901, 14: 1902, 5: 1903. 10: 1904, II ; 1905, 4 ( first class after twelfth grade was added ) : 1906, 7; 1907, 3: 1908, 8: 1909, 8: 1910, 8: 1911. 10: 1912, 8: 1913. 15: 1914, 15; 1915, 13.
The superintendents by years are as follow: F. E. Converse, 1888-00: E. L. Griffith, 1800-92: F. W. Braley, 1892-94; Reuben S. Campbell. 1895-96; Clay Tallman, 1896-98: J. B. Travis, 1898-1900; G. E. Garbutt, 1900-01 ; M. F. Scott. 1901-03: T. S. Greene, 1903-04: L. P. Ettinger, 1904-08: G. I. Levengood, 1908-10: L. P. Ettinger, 1910-16.
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