History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1), Part 45

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1912
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 45

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).

York. District 86. In 1861 this district was organized, and during that summer a school was kept by Lucy Canfield in her house on section 21. In 1862 the schoolhouse was got up, 18x24 feet, on section 29. It was afterwards enlarged by the addition of twelve feet to the length. As originally formed the district had eleven and one-half sections. In November, 1881, it was subdivided by a special act of the legislature leaving the east half of the district with the schoolhouse and a new number. The new district thus formed from the western portion held a meeting at the house of Oren Louden on April 29, 1882, and elected officers as follows: Director, L. Conklin; treasurer, Moses Gue; clerk, O. Louden. A tax of $450 was voted to build a schoolhouse on the northeast quarter of section 30. District 87. This was organized about 1860 at the house of E. Armstrong. A

Digitized by Google

419

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

house was built of hewn logs supplied by members of the dis- trict who turned out to lay them up. The school was started that same summer, and it is believed that Mary Burgess was the teacher. The building was located on the northeast quarter of section 34. In May, 1880, a frame building was put up about seventy rods north of where the old one stood. In the new house Arne Grundyson was the first teacher. District 88. An organization was effected in 1860, and the farmers supplied the logs and then helped put up the structure on section 24. Mary Black was the first teacher. District 89. The first schoolhouse here was erected in 1857, on section 10, by the usual method of contribution in material and work, and that winter a school was opened and Mary Black was the first to handle the ferule. In 1870 the old building furnished food for the flames. Then the school was kept in A. S. Adam's granary and in a house where Mr. Adams formerly lived. In 1872 a building was erected. In the new house George J. Sanderson was the first instructor. District 134. The first school taught in this district was in John Boland's house in section one, in 1860, by Nettie Terbest, a sub- scription school for small scholars. In 1865, it was organized and a house put upon section eleven. Maria Flynn was the first teacher in the school-house. A new building was erected in 1876, at a cost of $1,300, and a school was opened by Harris Merrill. District 182 has a schoolhouse in section 18. The district takes in parts of sections 7, 8, 19 and 20 and all of 17 and 18. It was organized by the county commissioners, March 6, 1895. District 175 was organized in the eighties. The schoolhouse is in section 28. District 184 has a schoolhouse in section 5, and takes in families from Forestville and York. The district was organized by the commissioners, March 6, 1895.

Beaver. The first district in the town was organized in 1857, in the southwestern part, and the first school was taught by Mrs. H. E. Edmunds in her house. After several years, as no school- house had been built, the district was merged into No. 103. Dis- triet 31. In 1880, this district was organized, and the first school called to order by Alice Edmunds, in Thomas Bogan's granary. In the fall of 1881, the schoolhouse was built on section thirty, and that winter Myron Rumsey taught the first school. District 106. This was first organized in 1859, and was partly in the State of Iowa. The first school was in a log cabin in that State in the summer of 1859, and Christine Thompson was the teacher. In 1860, a shanty was built for a schoolhouse, near the state line on the Minnesota side, and the first teacher was Lucinda Tibbles. After using that a while they built a schoolhouse on the same spot, the southeast quarter of section thirty-five, and that answered the purpose up to 1872, when a good schoolhouse was constructed on

Digitized by Google

420

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

section twenty-seven which cost $500. Claudia Davis has the honor of being the first here to demand attention of the congre- gated pupils. District 141. This was organized in 1863, and a shanty promptly put up for school purposes on section thirty-one, and here for two years mental training was going on. Then a building on section fifteen was built. Rhoda Cray was the first instructor. This had been a part of No. 105. District 103. The voters of this district gathered in the fall of 1863, and arranged the new district in the house of Henry Hook. A school was kept in Patrick Leddy's milkhouse, Emma Peters presiding that winter; and Kate Graham the next summer, in James Smith's granary. The next winter an extemporized building was put to- gether at a cost of $115. Emma Peters managed the first school here. District 102. In 1859, the outline of this district was defined, and a schoolhouse made of logs was put up on section five. This served the purpose until near the middle of the seven- ties, when another was built on the same section. This school- house was used as a meeting place for the Lutherans and also for the Methodists. District 105. The first school in this vicinity was in 1858, and the district was regularly organized about that time. A building was borrowed of Norman Gates and moved from the northwest to the northeast quarter of section sixteen, and here mental discipline for the rising generation went on until 1861, when a schoolhouse was built on the same spot. In 1863, there was a subdivision of the district and the schoolhouse was moved to section nine. The school was kept there until 1876, when the building was replaced by a new one. District 143. At the house of H. O. Bryant in 1866, a meeting was held, and an organization secured by the election of O. B. Bryant, J. C. Preston, and B. F. Holman as officers. It included one-half of section six in the town of York. The first school was opened in a house belonging to O. A. Boynton, with Augusta Douglass in charge of the exercises. In 1868, a schoolhouse was built up on section one, but in January, 1872, it was moved to section two. Mary Ann Griffin was an early teacher in the district, perhaps the first. District 177 was organ- ized in the eighties. The schoolhouse is in section 15.

Amherst township is divided into several school districts, and all are in flourishing condition. The first school to be attended by Amherst pupils was in Canton township, the district com- prising part of both towns and was known as district No. 11. The log schoolhouse was built by subscription in the spring of 1857, standing just over the line in Canton township. The first teacher was Helie Ann Churchill. The second was Augusta M. Osgood, who married M. H. Onstine. It was afterwards changed to No. 138. District 138 was formerly 11, and the schoolhouse was in Canton, but bordered on both townships. A frame schoolhouse

Digitized by Google

MR. AND MRS. J. C. RICE

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

421

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

was built in 1870 at a cost of $800. District 27. This district was organized in March, 1857, and a little log cabin put up for school purposes at a cost of $50, size 14x16 feet, and stood where the present schoolhouse stands, the first school being taught by Mr. Kennedy, of Preston. In 1870 a house was erected at a cost of $650, size 20x30 feet, and was supplied with apparatus worth $66. It stood in the northwest corner of section eleven. Dis- trict 28 was organized late in the fifties, and a log house put up by contribution of labor. Some years later this was torn down and a neat and substantial schoolhouse erected on section four, in the southwestern part. District 30 was organized in 1857, and in 1858 a frame building was erected, but afterward sold and used for a blacksmith shop. In 1867 a building was put up in section twenty-seven, in the northern part, at a cost of $350. This was at one time the largest district in town. District 43. This dis- trict was formerly blended into other surrounding districts, but in 1868 a petition was made to the county commissioners for a separate district, which was granted, and the district was at once organized. They soon after erected a neat frame structure on the east line of section sixteen, at a cost of about $300, size 18x26 feet. The first teacher was Emerilla Sutherland. District 133. Previous to the organization of this district, three terms of school had been taught in the house of Norman Botton, by Hattie Dauchey. In 1863 the organization of the district was effected under the caption of No. 133, and one year later their schoolhouse was erected in the center of section thirty-five. Mrs. Blackburn first called the school to order. District 29 was one of the first districts organized in the town, being organized in 1857, and a log house, 18x20 feet, erected for school purposes. This served as a schoolhouse until in 1876, when a substantial building was erected in the northern part of section nineteen, at a cost of $1,000, size 24x36 feet. District 8. This district was organized in 1857, and a house put up of hewn logs. In 1869 a neat structure of stone, 24x30 feet, was built a short distance north of where the old one stood, in the northeast corner of section thirteen.

CITY AND VILLAGE SCHOOLS.

It has been the desire of the editors of this publication to pre- sent a complete history of the high schools and graded schools of the county. In some cases the information has been withheld by the superintendents, principals or school clerks, and consequently several schools are omitted, with regret, from the following list.

Spring Valley Schools. The educational system of Spring Valley had its beginning in the summer of 1855, when Juliann Kingsley taught a select school in a building situated east of the

Digitized by Google

422

IIISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

present village, on a tract of land which Thomas C. Watson had platted as the village of Spring Valley, the exact location of this dwelling being the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 27.

In the winter of 1855-56 timber was gotten out to build a frame building. School was taught here three months in the summer of 1856, by W. L. Kellogg, this being the first public school in this vicinity, and Mr. Kellogg being the first in this vicinity to draw public money from the county treasurer as a teacher.

There is considerable conflicting testimony as to the first school on the present village site. A former history has stated that Stephen Ives taught a school in 1855 at the southwest corner of Jefferson street and Broadway. A pamphlet published in 1858 speaks of a frame schoolhouse "on the hill" as already erected. However, W. L. Kellogg, the first public school teacher in Spring Valley is authority for the following statement. "The first school taught on what is now the platted portion of Spring Valley was in the summer of 1857, when Stephen Ives kept school in a slab shanty on the south side of Jefferson street, about midway be- tween Section street and Broadway. In 1858 and 1859 school was taught in a building on the southwest corner of Jefferson street and Broadway. A frame building was erected in 1860, on the present site of the Molstad high school building. This building may still be seen just south of the new Putnam school building, on the next street."

The first school meeting of district 32 was held September 6, 1857. The officers were: Chairman, C. Wilkins; clerk, J. M. Strong; trustees, T. A. Warner, Washington Lloyd and Peter S. De Groodt. The district continued as number 32 up to April 18, 1861. The legislature having passed a new school law, the district was reorganized as number 1, and on April 27, 1861, the following officers were elected: T. M. Chapman, clerk ; Simon Stevens, Cor- della Wilkins and Daniel L'coville, trustees. May 6, 1862, district No. 1 was divided and district 112 was organized, and the follow- ing officers elected: Simon Stevens, directors; Simon Philips, clerk ; T. M. Chapman, treasurer.

On April 29, 1871, district 112 was set aside and organized as an independent district. At this meeting it was decided to have a three and one half months' summer term, and the same length winter term. One hundred dollars was voted for teacher's wages and firewood.

The first teacher employed by district 112 in 1862 was Miss E. J. Crosby, at a salary of $3.50 a week. The second teacher in 1863 was J. C. Stevens, at a salary of $25.00 per month.

On November 14, 1868, it was resolved to build a brick school- house on the site of the frame one, and accordingly a fine building

Digitized by Google

423

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

was constructed on the brow of the hill overlooking the village, at a cost of about $10,000.00.

M. F. Varney laid out the ground work for the grade system, but it devolved upon A. D. Gaines, his successor, to establish that system in the schools.

A. D. Gaines was a young man, just graduated from an eastern college. He did not stay long enough to graduate a class. In 1884 the building was remodelled, and in the fall of that year, E. E. Campbell took charge of the schools. The school building was burned February 14, 1885, less than six months from the time that the extensive improvements had been completed. During the summer of 1885 a new building was erected, and this with additions, still stands as the Morstad high school. In the spring of 1886, the school graduated its first class, consisting of three members: Charles D. Gould, Ernest E. Bentley and Nellie C. Austin. Mr. Campbell remained eight years and raised the school from third grade to a place among the best.

Following is a list of the superintendents: A. D. Gaines, 1881, 3 years; E. E. Campbell, 1884, 8 years; Wm. Moore, 1892, 2 years; E. J. Donaldson, 1894, 1 year; E. E. Campbell, 1895, 2 years; W. W. Kilgore, 1897, 3 years; F. E. Lurton, 1900, 3 years; F. L. Bauer, 1903, 3 years; C. V. Pierce, 1906, 1 year; E. E. Chad- wick, 1907, 3 years; F. E. Maxon, 1910. Until about 1894 the superintendent was both superintendent and principal. Since that date the superintendent has been relieved of the duties of principal.

As the years passed and the population grew, it was found necessary to erect a ward school for a part of the younger children, and accordingly a schoolhouse was completed on lot 3, block 3, in Billings' and Cummings' addition.

The village now has an ideal educational system in every way. The children who desire academic training are carried through the grades and through the usual four years' high school course, thus preparing them for college. Those who so desire are given normal training in addition to the usual work.

In keeping with the progress of modern times a new school was dedicated December 1, 1911, which is known at the Putnam school, and is the finest school building in this part of the state. In it general science, manual training, domestic science and agri- culture are taught along the latest improved lines, and ample provision is made for physical culture and recreation.

Fourteen outlying school districts have voted to join the association system, bringing under the two mill tax system, an assessed valuation of about $1,125,000. In addition to the three buildings with a seating capcity of 700, surrounded by ample grounds, the district owns seventeen acres of land about one half

Digitized by Google

424

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

mile from the Putnam building, which is to be used for agricul- tural purposes, in connection with the school courses.

The class of 1911 brought the total number of graduates up to 342, most of whom are actively at work solving the problems of life in the efficient manner taught in the Spring Valley courses of study.

In 1862 only one teacher was employed. In 1912 twenty-one teachers are employed. In 1862 there were twenty-two pupils enrolled. In 1912 there are 530. In 1886 there were three grad- uates. The class of 1912 contains forty-two members. The total money required to conduct the school for one month in 1862 would not conduct the schools one half a day at the present time.

Spring Valley has just cause to be proud of its alumni, its carefully selected corps of seventeen teachers, its efficient board of education, and the increased popularity in which its schools are widely held.

The Preston Schools. The first school in Preston village was kept in the spring of 1856 in a log schoolhouse known as the "Davis schoolhouse," located on Main street near the river bank, near the west end of the street, and on the south side. From there the school was moved to the brick house still standing on lot 4, block 6, Barbara Kaercher's addition, afterward used as the Methodist church, and now used as a residence. This historic building in which so many Preston people were educated is one of the land marks of the village.

The commencement of the project for the graded schools of Preston was in the spring of 1865. The citizens, after discussing the matter, came to the conclusion that the plan was practical, and determined to carry it through. March 20, 1865, notice was given to all concerned that a meeting would be held to determine the public sentiment in the matter. The polls were opened April 1, 1865, and the count showed that there were seventeen in favor of, and two opposed to the enterprise. A board of directors was appointed and the necessary steps taken to have district No. 45 reorganized as an independent school district.

The schools grew rapidly, and it was soon found necessary to use the basement of the courthouse. In 1866 it was determined to build a new school, and after the usual preliminaries as to the issuing of bonds and the purchase of property, a brick school- house was erected on the present school property. This building, with changes, is still standing. Two sets of bonds were issued, and the total cost was about $10,000.00, the building being com- pleted and ready for use in the fall of 1868. The edifice, which at that time was regarded as a model school building, was two stories high, contained three rooms and an entry hall, and was well equipped for its intended purpose. Thus matters continued with the primary and intermediate departments on the lower

Digitized by Google

Digitized by

Google

--- -

W. B. HUTCHISON AND FAMILY

_ Digitized by

Google-

425

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

floor and the higher department on the upper floor, the common branches being taught. March 30, 1881, the board passed a resolu- tion that a high school be established, and that state aid be sought under the state laws of 1878.

September 4, 1883, at the annual meeting, Attorney A. D. Gray moved that a meeting be called for the purpose of considering the procuring of more suitable quarters for the rapidly growing school. The motion, however, did not bear fruit until January 6, 1885, when, at a special meeting, it was decided to issue bonds for the purpose of building an addition on the south side of the building then standing. The contract was let to Alex. Galbraith and John Wintey for $2,895.00 and the work completed ready for the opening of schools in the fall of 1885. September 1, 1887, appears the first mention of the school library, Professor W. J. Alexander being appointed the librarian.

April 11, 1890, it was voted to issue bonds for another addi- tion to the building, the contract being awarded to Fred Neuman and John Wintey for $3,900. June 29, 1895, a contract was let to Morgan & Neuman to finish the upper floor of the new north wing, the contract price being $645.00. September 30 of the same year it was voted to borrow $1,500 for improvements.

December 18, 1897, the Preston high school became a member of the State Association of High School Boards. October 1, 1898, the treasurer reported that $1,366.73 had been lost by the failure of the Fillmore County Bank, and the next few years were occupied with litigation over this matter. The treasurer and his bondsmen were sued and judgment was had in the District court in favor of the school district for the full amount. An appeal was taken to the Supreme court and the judgment affirmed.

By 1900 the school had again become crowded, and an over- flow school was held in the Masonic hall.

March 16, 1901, a contract was awarded for the building of a new high school, and later a contract was let for the installing of a new heating and ventilating system in both the old and the new buildings. The new building was completed and ready for occu- pancy October 29, 1901. April 25, 1903, it was decided to make application to the state for the establishment of a Normal depart- ment. August 19, 1905, an inventory of school property showed that the district was in debt $11,500, that its new building was worth $13,500, its old building $20,000 and its furnishings and supplies $4,441. May 29, 1909, the Board of Education took action requesting the village council to take steps toward secur- ing a Carnegie Library. October 11, 1909, the School Board joined the State Society of School Boards. April 4, 1911, it was voted to establish a normal department, with Alice M. Ide as

Digitized by Google

426

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

teacher, the district to receive $750.00 annually from the state. April 20, 1911, application was made to the State High School Board to maintain at Preston an agricultural department in con- nection with the high school.

The graduates of the Preston High School during the first five years that classes were graduated were as follows :

1890-Nellie Foote, Albert Baker and Alfred Thompson.

1891-Louise Baker, Stella Gray, Lucy Gray and Jennie Taylor.

1892-Emma Schwartz, Celius Thompson, Nettie Gray, Agnes Cathcart and Josephine Finckh.

1893-Laura Renner, Grace Farrington, Nellie Wheeler, Minnie Hamre and Henrietta Rose.

1894-Albert Hart, Reuben Engle and Robert Kemple.

The present officers of the Preston School Board are: Presi- dent, A. D. Gray ; clerk, E. A. Highum; treasurer, C. M. Ander- son; superintendent, L. N. Towle; trustees, Charles Snyder, Carl Kuethe and B. O. Kyseth.

Following are the principal officers since the beginning :

Trustees and directors-Thomas Quinn, April 14, 1865, to March 31, 1866, September 3, 1881, to September 6, 1884; Samuel Shuck, April 14, 1865, to September 1, 1881; S. B. Murrel, April 14, 1865, to March 30, 1867, March 26, 1870, to October 4, 1873; D. B. Coleman, April 14, 1865, to March 30, 1867, October 7, 1871, to October 9, 1871 (resigned) ; N. P. Colburn, April 14, 1865, to March 31, 1866, October 3, 1874, to September 7, 1878; W. T. Wilkins, April 14, 1865, to January 27, 1868 (resigned) ; Alex- ander Galbraith, March 31, 1866, to March 27, 1869; B. S. Loomis, March 30, 1867, to March 26, 1870; W. A. Hotchkiss, March 30, 1867, to March 26, 1870; V. M. Baker, January 27, 1868, to October 7, 1871; E. McMurtrie, November 27, 1869, to October 7, 1871; W. W. Fife, November 26, 1870, to July 16, 1897; A. Howell, October 7, 1871, to May 10, 1878; C. H. Conkey, October 9, 1871, to July 16, 1898; J. O'Brien, October 4, 1873, to July 21, 1888; H. A. Billings, October 3, 1874, to November 28, 1877; W. W. Braden, September 7, 1878, to September 9, 1882; Lars O. Hamre, September 9, 1882, to July 17, 1886; A. Weiser, September 4, 1883, to September 6, 1884, re-elected July 16, 1892, refused to serve; A. D. Gray, September 6, 1884, to the present time; Henry S. Bassett, September 6, 1884, to July 15, 1893; H. C. Gullickson, July 17, 1886, to July 20, 1889, re-elected on the last named date but refused to serve; George W. Hard, July 21, 1888, to July 18, 1891; O. II. Jacobson, July 20, 1889, to December 30, 1892; I. J. Parker, July 18, 1891, to July 16, 1897; Walter Engle, July 15, 1893, to July 18, 1896; J. H. Phillips, July 15, 1893, to July 16,

Digitized by Google

427

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY

1910; G. W. Robinson, July 18, 1896, to July 15, 1899; Carl Kuethe, July 16, 1897, to the present time; Samuel A. Langum, July 16, 1897, to July 17, 1909; M. R. Todd, July 16, 1898, to September 23, 1898 (resigned) ; H. R. Wells, September 23, 1898, to July 16, 1910; A. W. Thompson, July 15, 1899, to July 19, 1902; F. C. Bailey, July 19, 1902, to July 9, 1906; C. M. Anderson, July 21, 1906, to the present time; Charles Snyder, July 17, 1909, to the present time; E. A. Highum, July 16, 1910, to the present time; B. O. Kyseth, July 16, 1910, to the present time.

Presidents-D. B. Coleman, March 31, 1866, to March 30, 1867; N. P. Colburn, April 25, 1867, to October 3, 1874, September 21, 1878, to September 4, 1883; H. A. Billings, October 9, 1874, to September 7, 1878; J. O'Brien, September 4, 1883, to July 21, 1888; A. D. Gray, August 4, 1888, to August 10, 1895, August 7, 1897, to the present time; C. H. Conkey, August 10, 1895, to August 7, 1897.

Clerks-W. T. Wilkins, March 31, 1866, to January 27, 1868; B. S. Loomis, January 27, 1868, to March 31, 1869; E. McMurtrie, March 31, 1869, to October 7, 1871; C. H. Conkey, October 9, 1871, to August 3, 1889, clerk pro tem., December 30, 1892, to July 15, 1893; O. H. Jacobson, August 3, 1889, to December 30, 1892; J. H. Phillips, July 15, 1893, to August 7, 1897; August 1, 1908, to July 16, 1910; Samuel A. Langum, August 7, 1897, to August 1, 1908; E. A. Highum to the present time.

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.

History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1), Part 45

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Number of Pages: 726

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1912
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 726