USA > Michigan > Lenawee County > Illustrated history and biographical record of Lenawee County, Mich. > Part 4
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Michigan was one of the states which first adopted the union or graded school system. By provisions of the law which at that time regulated this system, the several district schools of a village or city might unite under one organization whose aggregate resources would permit that classification of pupils and supervision of work which constitute a graded school. Previous to 1849 there were four school districts in the village of Adrian. In the early part of that year the school inspectors of the townships of Adrian and Madison, in which these districts were located, by virtue of the law which empowered them to act in such cases, united these four districts under a single organization, known as "Adrian Union School District Number One." In accordance with this arrangement, Alonzo F. Bixby, clerk of the Board of School Inspectors of Adrian, issued a call, dated March 27th, 1849, to the taxable inhabitants of the new district, to meet on the 12th day of April " for the election of officers and the transaction of such other business as may be necessary." At this meeting Dr. P. J. Spaulding was elected chairman, and Samuel Jordan secretary. The meeting then proceeded to elect the first Board of Trustees of what we know as the Public Schools of Adrian. Following are the names of the Board : Richard H. Whitney, Moderator; Warner M. Comstock, Director; Abel Whitney, Assessor. At this meeting it was also "Resolved, That a committee consisting of eight persons, two from each former district, be chosen to examine and report at an adjourned meeting the different locations within this school district for the site of a school house, also the price and terms of each loca- tion. Following is the committee appointed : John Barber, J. V. Watson. George Kennedy, Stephen Whitehorne, E. Vandegrift, James Field, Wm. L. Greenly, James J. Newell, Titus . H. Treat.
At the opening of the new Central building, in 1868, the Hon. Charles M. Croswell made an address which covered all the informa- tion obtainable, and from which we copy :
"At the adjourned meeting the committee of nine reported that several propositions had been placed in their hands, but that they were unable to agree on a site 'which would be for the best interests of said school district.'
"It was a fact that some influential citizens, through motives which they believed to be right, vehemently opposed the organiza-
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
tion of the new system from the very start; and it was with extreme difficulty and after considerable delay that the organization was finally put on a working basis."
The man to whose efforts the reconstruction of the four district schools upon the union plan is really due was Dr. John Cadman. He had learned the practical workings of this system from his observa- tions in New York, and devoted himself to the inauguration of the improved graded school in Adrian. At this meeting, immediately after the report of the failure of the committee to report a site for a building, Dr. Cadman offered a resolution "That a school house be erected, 66 feet by 70, three stories high."
Central Building and Four Branches, Adrian.
This motion was adopted, and a committee of twelve appointed to report a plan for the building. The committee consisted of Dr. John Cadman, L. Dodge, E. H. Winans, F. C. Beaman, Wm. L. Greenly, R. H. Whitney. John Barber, Daniel A. Loomis, A. Barnard, Marshall Huntington, Wm. L. Sheldon, Thos. P. Thompson.
At a special meeting of the district, held June 4th, 1849, after a stormy debate, the following points were gained : The plan for the new building, the site as reported by the committee of nine, and a resolution offered by Dr. Cadman authorizing the raising of $2,000 as the first installment of the amount necessary to be raised by tax.
At the annual school meeting, held September 24th, 1849, the
46
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
following officers were elected to constitute the new Board of Trustees: Elihu L. Clark, Moderator; Henry Hart, Director; Ira Ingals, Assessor ; James Kingsland, R. H. Whitney, M. N. Halsey, A. G. Eastman, Trustees.
The minutes of this meeting relate that "It was on motion re- solved that the vote passed at the last special meeting to raise $2,000 the coming year for building a school house be reconsidered. The mover withdrew the motion, and the vote was not taken."
The state of feeling which existed at this time, on the part of those who opposed the new organization, may be seen from a call for a special meeting within two months after the annual meeting, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of dissolving said union school district, and also for the purpose of directing the * * * two thousand dollars in money raised and collected * to be paid back to the taxpayers from whom the same had been collected."
This special meeting was held February 9th, 1850, and the fol- lowing resolution was offered :
"Resolved, as the sense of this meeting, That in view of the differences of opinion known to exist in the minds of the citizens composing this district as to the practicability of maintaining the present organization upon an equitable basis, that we respectfully request the inspectors of common schools of the towns of Adrian and Madison to dissolve the district as at present organized."
The minutes inform us that after some discussion on the resolu- tion, Joseph H. Cleveland and A. S. Berry were appointed tellers, and a vote resulted as follows: For the resolution, 51, and against it, 139.
This was the final effort of the opposition, and was no material obstruction in the way of the Board, which at the next annual meet- ing, in September, 1850, was instructed, by resolution offered by F. C. Beaman, "to proceed with all convenient dispatch to the erection of a building.
The Board for the year 1850-51 was as follows: E. L. Clark, Moderator ; Henry Hart, Director ; Daniel Larzelere, Assessor ; F. C. Beaman, R. H. Whitney, A. G. Eastman, Wm. L. Greenly, Trustees.
At the annual meeting September 30th, 1851, a tax of $2,000 was ordered as the third installment of the building fund, and the Board was authorized "to contract for the erection of a suitable cupola upon the school building, and to obtain a bell for the same, pro- vided the cost of the same shall not exceed $500. The Board for this year was: E. L. Clark, Moderator : Henry Hart, Director ; Daniel Larzelere, Assessor ; F. C. Beaman, R. H. Whitney, W. L. Greenly, John Barber, Trustees.
The new building was completed and occupied September 13th, 1852. It was situated between Church and Maumee streets, the site extending from one street to the other, and nearly opposite the present Central building.
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
It is thus described by Prof. Hubbard in a report to the Super- intendent of Public Instruction :
"The Central building, or, according to the present plan, the Academy, is 60 by 80, three stories high, with a well finished base- ment under the entire building. The exterior is plain, but the interior is very commodious and pleasant. The building often con- tains 500 scholars or more. It will accommodate 312 scholars and give a large public lecture hall, a class lecture room, and a library room. The original cost of the building, with grounds, was $11,375.13." This building was burned August 10th, 1866.
Between the years 1857 and 1861 it was found necessary to pro- vide increased accommodations for the school population, and new houses were built as follows: In 1857 the East Branch, costing $5,000; in 1859 the South Branch, costing $3,500; 1860 the West Branch (enlarged in 1867), costing $13,000; 1861 the North Branch, costing $13,000.
At the annual meeting held September 26th, 1859, it was "Re- solved, That the district establish a free school, the expenses to be paid by taxation on the property of the district."
On the very day of the burning of the Central building, in August, 1866, leading citizens requested the School Board to call a special school meeting "for the purpose of taking measures to imme- diately rebuild the Central schoolhouse." The meeting took place on the following 22d day of August. The Board was instructed to procure plans for a school building to cost at least $50,000. At this time F. R. Stebbins was President of the Board, and Chas. M. Cros- well was Secretary.
The plan of the new building was made by Architect A. Bar- rows. The size of the building, over all, is 117 by 95 feet-about 60 feet to the cornice and 110 feet to top of tower. The building con- tained twenty school rooms, made to accommodate about 1,000 scholars. The cost, including heating and fixtures, outhouses, grounds and fences, was $68, 000.
Since the foundation of the schools in 1849 the following gentle- men have served as Superintendents :
1849-50-M. W. Southworth.
1850-51-Nathan Britton.
1852-54-M. S. Hawley.
1855-65-Franklin Hubbard .*
1866-67-Wm. W. Washburn.
1867-69-Newton W. Winchell.
1869-79-William H. Payne.
1879-85-William J. Cocker.
1885-96-George W. Walker.
1896-1901-A. E. Curtis.
1901- -P. J. Willson.
*The above records show that Mr. Hubbard only served ten years, when the truth is he served from January, 1855, to December, 1865, making eleven years.
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Adrian High School 63 Years Ago.
As a relic of the early days in Adrian, and as a matter of interest to the present and future generations, we give place to the following now unique school catalogue. Among all the names contained in the list of students, but three are known to be alive-James W. Helme, Sr., and J. C. Linnell, of Adrian, and Stephen Eaton, of Hudson. In reading the list many well known and prominent names will be found. Among the girl students, Miss Mary E. Horton became the wife of the Hon. Thomas M. Cooley ; Miss Harriet Stone, sister of Mrs. Major Cole, married Edward Shephard, a merchant of Detroit, where she died ; Miss Emily Wadsworth became the wife of the Hon. John R. Clark:
CATALOGUE OF THE STUDENTS OF THE ADRIAN HIGH SCHOOL.
WINTER QUARTER.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE. . Adrian
NAMES.
RESIDENCE. Adrian
Mr. Wiley Aldrich
Harla Aldrich
ت David Morton
Charles H. Allen
Harlow Mulliken
: Anson Backus
James Pennock.
Edwin Ball
George Raymond
Thomas Barber
Madison Adrian
Solomon G. Rice.
Norman Bartlett.
Horatio W. Shaw
Dover
Charles Bigelow
Alonzo D. Sheldon
Madison
66 George L. Buck
Marvin A. Buck
Wm. Henry Stone.
66 James Bump
John R. Clark
" Heman Treadwell.
Horace Comstock
" Charles Winans. Adrian
De Witt Cooper
= George Woodbury
66
Deloss Crittenden
James Wooster
Adrian
Oscar Crittenden
Alonzo Dickinson
Charles Linnell.
Albert Edmunds
Madison Adrian
Miss Ann Maria Allen
John Fay
Jane Eliza Allen
66 Franklin S. Freeman
Lovinia Allen
.. William H. Freeman
66 Lydia Barber.
Alexander M. Foster
Maria Combs.
66
66 Peter Haughwout
66 Caroline Hawkins
Rockport, O. Adrian
66 John C. Horton
66
.4 Mary E. Horton. Martha A. Linnell.
Joseph Jones
66
Rebecca M. Salisbury
Fairfield
66
Isaac Keeler.
44
Ruth Thompson
Madison
James C. Linnell.
Byron Merrick
Madison
Emily Wadsworth Adrian
The fourth term of this institution will commence on the 18th March.
TERMS OF TUITION .- For common English branches, per quarter, $3.50. For other English branches, $6.00. For painting, drawing, etc .. $6.00. For chem- istry illustrated by apparatus, per quarter, $8.00. For Latin, Greek and French, $8.00. For music upon the piano, $10.00. For use of piano, $2.00.
As far as practicable the colloquial and explanatory system of instruction which prevails so extensively and successfully in many of the high schools at the East will be adopted, and the sciences simplified and illustrated as much as pos- sible by the use of the blackboard and other appropriate means. It is particularly desired that those who intend to become members of the institution the coming quarter should enter as near the commencement of the term as possible.
Adrian, March 12, 1840. GEORGE BREWSTER, Principal.
..
Albert A. Graham
Madison Adrian
Lucy E. French.
James W. Helme.
Charlotte O, Hopkins
Philo Hunt.
Alonzo Jocelyn
6. Harriet Stone.
Adrian
Uriah L. Linnell
Ann E. Wright.
66
.. Robert Morse.
.6
Madison Adrian
Joseph Strimbeck Adrian
Seymour Treadwell. Madison
Wm. Henry Crane
Samuel A. Woodbury
Columbus, O.
Stephen Eaton Pittsford, Hillsdale Co. Madison
Mr. William Morris
RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
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ADRIAN COLLEGE.
4
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
ADRIAN COLLEGE.
Adrian College was organized March 22d, 1859, in accordance with the provisions of an act passed by the Legislature of the State of Michigan, entitled "An Act to Provide for the Incorporation of Institutions of Learning."
This institution comprises several schools, each having its dis- tinct course of study leading to its appropriate degree. At present four schools are included under the management : The College of Literature and Arts, the School of Music, the School of Theology, and the Preparatory School.
The associated schools are under the control of a board of thirty trustees, twenty-four of whom are elected by the general conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, and six by the Alumni Associa- tion of the College.
The College Campus embraces twenty acres of land, handsomely laid out, with grove and athletic field in the background. There are five large buildings for college purposes, and the departments of instruction are open to both sexes. There is a library of 7,000 vol- umes, with an adequate laboratory and fine museum.
The Faculty consists of twelve persons of the highest character and qualifications, and students may enter without intending to graduate.
The business officers are : T. H. Lewis, D. D., President ; Miss Miriam Lewis, Registrar ; Matron, Miss M. O. Smith.
The officers of the Board of Directors are: David Metcalf, President ; G. B. McElroy, Secretary ; F. E. Priddy, Treasurer.
BROWN'S BUSINESS COLLEGE.
One of the prominent and very important institutions of Adrian is Brown's Business College. It was established by the present principal, Mr. L. S. Brown, in 1884, and has been a growing success from that time. It is very gratifying to all who are interested in the education of the young to note this fact, and all heartily congratu- late Mr. Brown, not only as a teacher and instructor of the youth of the county, but upon his financial success, in being able to erect and equip such a fine and adequate building. His efforts must surely be appreciated when he is thus enabled to add to the importance of Adrian such an institution of learning and improvement. The new building, which is located upon the corner of College avenue and Mckenzie streets, as will be seen by the accompanying engraving, is large and imposing, and will accommodate over four hundred
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
students, with all the comforts and conveniences desirable in such an institution. Instruction in this school is most thorough and com- plete, and graduates have found no trouble in securing good posi- tions. We advise all young men and women who desire to equip themselves for an active, independent life, to look up the facts and investigate the methods, cost and results of a full course at this insti- tution. The work of the school is divided into two courses, the Business course and the Shorthand course. The Business course includes Double and Single Entry Bookkeeping, Business Arith- metic, Rapid Business Writing, Spelling and Business Correspond- ence, English Grammar, Commercial Law, Banking, Commission, Corporation and Manufacturing Bookkeeping.
The branches embraced in the Shorthand course are Graham Shorthand, Typewriting (by Touch Method), Rapid Dictation and Legal Reporting, Manifolding, Spelling and Business Correspond- ence, Business Writing and English Grammar.
The price of scholarships and the cost of living is always of im- portance to those contemplating a business course. Write to Brown's Business College, 43-45 College avenue, Adrian, Mich., for all desired information.
FT
Brown's Business College, Adrian.
Bird's-eye View of State Industrial Home for Girls, at Adrian.
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
STATE INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR GIRLS.
One of the best and most important of all the public institutions of Michigan is the Industrial Home for Girls, located at Adrian. It was mainly founded by the efforts of that grand old Quakeress, "Aunt" Laura Haviland, whose home was for so many years in Raisin township, this county, and who for nearly thirty years was so potent a factor in the great anti-slavery controversy that ended in the war of the rebellion of 1861-5. After the blight of chattel slavery had been driven out of the nation forever, she took up the battle for the mothers of the land, and became an active worker for the founding of an educational and industrial home for the unfortu- nate and incorrigible girls of Michigan. Aunt Laura was a "tower of strength," and her work lives after her. She was the embodi- ment of true womanhood, and as a moral teacher was broad and noble in her thought and deeds. She saw the weak places in our civilization and believed in higher education, moral suasion and ex- ample, rather than in prisons, corporal punishment and brute force for the wayward of her sex. She realized that if we are to have a perfect civilization, and high standards, we must have good mothers -mothers who can fully realize the difference between semi-savagery and a high type of manhood and womanhood. She believed that a girl brought up in an environment of neglect, and crime, and cor- ruption, was not a fit being to become a mother, and should not per- petuate and increase the race of low-born and brutalized humanity. She believed that to send a child or young person to prison only intensified human savagery and stultified human instincts. If, as a people and a nation, we are to grow in grace, intelligence and use- fulness, we must first make pure and wholesome and morally strong our mothers, the most potent element in the human family. Hence, she said, to improve the race we must not send the unfortunate and wayward girl to the common prison house, but we must set apart a home for her, where she can be restrained, taught and shown the beauties and happiness of an exemplary life; where pure example and high standards rule, and where industry, education and accom- plishments bring a noble reward. This was her thought and belief, and to her it meant work and ultimate success. She labored to that end, the sentiment grew, the idea prevailed, and to-day we have a grand institution in working order, and as immaculate as our civili- zation and ideals can make it.
The State Industrial Home was created by act of the Legisla- ture of 1879, under the administration of our own Governor, Charles M. Croswell.
The first Board of Control, under the act, to choose location and provide buildings, appoint officers, etc., was as follows: Chas. T.
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
Gorham, of Marshall; Wm. H. Waldby, of Adrian; Mrs. S. L. Fuller, of Grand Rapids; Mrs. C. B. Stebbins, of Lansing; Miss Emma Hall, of Ypsilanti ; with Gov. Croswell as ex-officio member. The beautiful site was donated by the citizens of Adrian, and con- sisted of forty acres of land, with the buildings thereon, together with $3,000, but since that time adjacent ground has been purchased until there is now one hundred and thirteen acres of the most pro- ductive soil, with two farmhouses and adequate barns.
The first building constructed was Clark cottage, which, although not entirely finished, was occupied August 3d, 1881. Miss Viola Wood, now Mrs. John I. Knapp, of Adrian, was the first cot- tage manager appointed, with Miss Seaver, of Adrian, as teacher, and Miss Myrick as housekeeper. The first girl received came from Lansing, and the second, a few hours later, from Saginaw. They arrived August 3d.
The Home was founded on the cottage, or family system. There are now twelve buildings, the cottages being named and known as follows: The Administration Bulding, Clark Cottage, Croswell Cottage, Gillespie Cottage, Haviland Cottage, Central Cottage, Palmer Cottage, Alger Cottage, and Bliss Cottage. There is a school building with a corps of eight teachers, and a graded school ; a fine chapel, with a Sunday school each Sabbath morning and services in the afternoon, supplied by pastors of the city. Catholic services are held twice each month, a priest coming for mass and confession, and the Sisters each month for catechism. A fine hos- pital has been erected, with all modern appointments, and supplied with an appointed lady physician.
There is also a complete and thorough cooking school, where a class of thirty-two in number is daily under actual instruction by a competent teacher. Each girl takes a course of four months, and when she graduates is presented with an excellent and practical cook book. Some capable and competent cooks are turned out at the end of every term.
Each girl is detailed for a certain period to look after all the domestic duties in the cottages, all becoming proficient in this im- portant branch of household lore. Washing, ironing, mending, cleaning and decoration are all looked after, and good housekeepers are the rule.
A sewing school is also in operation, and every girl is taught to sew, put garments together and make calico dresses. During this tuition, where any girl shows an aptitude for sewing, cutting and fitting, she is advanced to the dressmaking department where custom work is done, and many of them become expert dressmakers, capable of constructing the finest gowns. It is not the policy of the Home to try to make a natural dressmaker into a cook, or vice versa.
There is a horticultural department, and all learn the cultiva- tion and propagation of plants, shrubs and flowers.
Music is taught in many branches, and all the ordinary accom-
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RECORD OF LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
plishments so acceptable and necessary in a happy home, are sought to be developed as much as possible. There is a fine orchestra of eighteen members.
Mrs. Sickels expects to establish a monthly publication, the work of editing and printing to be done at the Home. The idea is to cultivate a literary taste, develop thought and keep in touch with as many as possible of those who have been saved by the institution, and now occupy homes and responsible positions.
When the Board and the Superintendent are satisfied that girls are qualified, morally and otherwise, and it is to their welfare to leave the home, places are found for them in the families of the farmers of the state. Great care is exercised in regard to these allot- ments, and girls can be called in at any time. Each girl receives a salary of from $1.50 to $2.50 per week, and a stipulated portion is returned quarterly to the Home and given the proper credit. Several girls upon receiving their final discharge have found a bank account of from $75 to $175.
Since the opening of the Home, August 3d, 1881, to May 1st, 1902, one thousand seven hundred and forty-one girls have been received, and there are at this date four hundred and thirty-one on the rolls. During this time only fourteen have died while under the control of the Home.
Since the foundation there have been but three Superintendents. Miss Emma Hall was the first, taking charge June 27th, 1881. She did excellent work in organizing, originating and formulating plans and rules for governing a new and untried institution. After three years of hard service, she was succeeded by Miss Margaret Scott, who remained in charge until 1891, when in August of that year, the present Superintendent, Mrs. Lucy M. Sickels, was installed. Since Mrs. Sickels has been in charge, 1,166 girls have been received, and many of the buildings have been erected. The Home is now in fine condition, and people who thoroughly understand its workings appreciate the wisdom of its founding, and the resultant good to the people of the state. The records show that seventy-five per cent. of the girls discharged have proven to be good women and useful mem- bers of the communities in which they reside.
The Board of Control consists of three members, one of whom must be a resident of Adrian. The present Board comprises the fol- lowing persons : Hon. Gilbert Hart, Detroit, President; Mrs. May Stocking-Knaggs, of Bay City, Secretary; Fred C. Bowerfind, of Adrian, Treasurer.
The resident members of the Board since the foundation were as follows: Wm. H. Waldby, C. R. Miller, John G. Mason, Mrs. Edwin Crane, Willard Stearns, Wm. Corbin, David Metcalf.
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ILLUSTRATED HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL
RAILROAD HISTORY.
The Erie & Kalamazoo was the first railroad built in the United States, west of Schenectady, N. Y., and was incorporated by the Ter- ritorial Legislature of Michigan, in April, 1833, to construct a rail- road from Lake Erie (Port Lawrence, now Toledo), to the head waters of the Kalamazoo river, hence the name "Erie & Kalamazoo." At that time the entire road was supposed to be in Michigan, but on final adjustment of the boundary question, after the celebrated "Toledo war," about one-third of the road-eleven miles-was found to be in the State of Ohio. This road was laid with a thin iron ribbon, on oak stringers, and was opened in 1836. Until August the motive power consisted of horses.
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