USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 15
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
teen districts had nine months of school; fifty schools, eight months; thirty-four schools, seven months; twenty-four schools, six months ; and ten schools, five months. One school is closed for want of enough pupils.
During the year 1910-11, 166 pupils received certificates certi- fying that they had competed eighth grade studies, with credit.
Many of the schools are well equipped with those things which are required for efficient work. Many of the schoolhouses are new and the old ones are in excellent state of repair. In the whole county there are probably not more than six schools that could be called in poor condition. Thirty-two have patented heating plants, and about thirty more are being installed. Nearly all the schools have libraries.
The teachers' training schools, which are conducted in the county every summer, do much to increase the efficiency of the teachers. These schools are paid for by the state and are con- ducted under the direction of the county superintendent and a conductor appointed by the state department of public instruc- tion. Instruction is given in all the branches required for a teacher's certificate. These schools are free and well attended, and 165 teachers were enrolled during the summer of 1910.
There are various literary and debating societies in the schools and the reading circle for the teachers is well patronized. Three or more teachers' meetings are held annually. At the county fair each year the exhibits of the children make an excellent showing. Last year fifty prizes were awarded children between the ages of eight and sixteen, for the excellence of their exhibits.
In the following mention of the various school districts, it is not the intention of the managers of this publication to give a complete history of the districts from the beginning down to the present time. An effort has been made, however, to mention the starting and the building of the earlier schoolhouses in the older districts, and to give the present location of all the schoolhouses.
Alden. District 40 .- This district effected an organization in 1867, and the following year erected a school house in the south- eastern corner of section 10. The first officers were: William Townsend, clerk; George Larman, treasurer; Harrington Austin, director. The first term was taught by Miss Maxson, who re- ceived $15.00 per month for her services and boarded at different homes in the district. There were eleven pupils enrolled this first term. District 80 was organized at a meeting held August 24, 1866, at the home of Ira Russell, and the following officers were elected : Director, Ira Russell; treasurer, William B. Humes ; clerk, James H. Whitehead. A school house was erected in 1869 at a cost of $600, in the northeastern corner of section 2. The first school was taught by E. J. Russell with an attendance of
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
nine pupils. Distriet 70 .- A meeting was held March 24. 1865. at the house of O. T. Hull. at which the organization of this dis- triet was effected by the election of the following officers : Director, N. L. Bassett : treasurer. O. T. Hull: clerk. E. F. Clark. The first school in the neighborhood was taught at the house of Russell Maxson in the fall of 1868. by Ada Bassett, with nine scholars present. The first instruction given in the schoolhouse was by Angelia Langdon, in the spring of 1869, with eighteen scholars present, and for $12 per month. A house was erected in the winter of 1868-69, size 18x26, at a cost of $600. in the northwest corner of section 17. District 81 .- The first meet- ing was held at the house of S. T. Brown, March 26, 1869. at which the district was organized and the following officers elected : A. II. Stevens. director; I. A. Blackman, clerk; F. F. Blackman. treasurer. The sum of $400 was voted for the pur- pose of constructing a schoolhouse, and the following summer it was erected at a cost of $500. size 22×28 feet. in the south- western part of section 27. being equipped with patent seats and all necessary apparatus. The first school was taught in a sod house in section 27, in the summer of 1869. by Olivia Burdick. and after this there were three terms taught in the same primitive structure. Later a schoolhouse was located in the south- east corner of section 29. which. in recent years, has been moved one mile to the west. District 89 effected an organization in the winter of 1869. The following spring a schoolhouse was erected in the southwestern part of section 25. The first term of school was tanght by Dette Stillman, with an attendance of twelve pupils. In 1874 a new schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $250. District 93 .- This district erected a schoolhouse in the village of Alden in the summer of 1875, which was two stories in height, had two rooms and cost $2,300. The first term of school was taught by George Miller, who received for his services $45 a month. Alden now has a fine high school. District 130 was created from districts 81 and 92 and the schoolhouse is located in section 28.
Albert Lea. District 38 .- This district embraces the city schools of Albert Lea, which are treated elsewhere; district 37 has a schoolhouse in the northwest part of section 12; district 14 has a schoolhouse in the northeast part of section 14; district 54 has its schoolhouse in the northwest part of section 35; dis- triet 110 has a schoolhouse in the west part of section 28; district 68 has a schoolhouse in the southwest part of section 20.
Bath. District 5 .- This organization was effected in October. 1863. at a meeting held at the cabin of James M. Drake, in section 25. Several terms of school had been held prior to this. and the whole town had been partially organized as a single
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district, so that when this was organized it embraced the entire eastern half of the town. The first school within the limits of this district was held in the summer of 1860, and was taught by Lucia Thomas. In 1864, an old log house was purchased of Torkel Ludwigson, in the northeastern part of section 26. and in it school was held for five months of the same year, taught by the same teacher as is mentioned above. In 1871 a new school- house was erected in the eastern part of section 26, at a cost of between $1,000 and $1,200. A new schoolhouse was erected some years ago across the street in section 27. District 7 .- This- dis- trict was organized May 14, 1864, at a meeting held at the residence of R. Fitzgerald, and the following were the first officers : Director, James Fitzgerald; treasurer, G. Oleson; clerk. R. Fitzgerald. During the summer a small log schoolhouse was constructed in the eastern part of section 30, at a cost of about $100, which did service until 1875, when a new building was com- pleted on the same site, size 18x28 feet, at a cost of $600. The first teacher in the district was Mrs. Reynolds, who received $20 per month. District 64 .- This district held its first term of school in the summer of 1863, in the residence of H. Green, and Mrs. Mary Johnson was engaged as teacher. For her services she received $1.50 per week and fifteen pupils were enrolled. A schoolhouse was erected near the center of section 14 in 1873, the district having been organized in 1871. The present school- house is located in the northeast part of section 14. District 82 was formerly a part of district 5, but in 1874 it was set apart and organized at a meeting held in the Baptist Church October 16. The first officers were: Nels Larson, director; Nels Jensen, clerk; J. P. Larson, treasurer. The first term of school was held in the log church during the summer of 1874, with Susan Kinnear as teacher. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1875 near the center of section 25. District 90 was organized in 1859 at a meeting held at the home of John Sheehan, and officers elected were: M. S. Sheehan, director; Hans Rasmussen, treas- urer ; John J. Sheehan, clerk. A schoolhouse was erected in 1860. The present building is located in the west part of section 10. District 103 .- The organization of this district was effected many years ago, at a meeting held at the residence of Michael Sheehan in section eight, and their schoolhouse was erected shortly after in the northwestern corner of the same section. District 114 (joint with Steele county) has its schoolhouse in the northwest part of section 1. District 131 has been created from districts 5, 23, 82 and 7, in Bath and Bancroft townships, and its school- house is located in the village of Clarks Grove. District 133, which was created out of districts 103 and 90, in Bath township,
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
and certain districts in Steele county, has a schoolhouse in section 4. Bath township.
Bancroft. District 20 .- This district was originally organized in 1857, as a part of District No. 9, and a log house was soon afterwards erected in which Mary Prescott taught the first school to an attendance of about twenty-five pupils. The first officers were Ole Stuga, Daniel Prescott. and A. Loomis. In 1859, it was made a part of District No. 2. and three years later, in 1862. it was reorganized. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1875. in the southeast corner of section 5, size 24x30, furnished with patent seats, and cost about $1,000. The officers were: Director, Asa Ward; treasurer, G. H. Prescott; clerk. W. H. Long. District 24 .- This district effected an organization in 1862, the first meet- ing being held at the residence of Knute Tolloftson. April 19 of that year, and the following officers were elected: Director, Lars Johnson; treasurer, G. J. Johnson ; clerk, Knute Tolloftson. A log house was at once erected. 16x16 feet, at a cost of $150, which lasted until the year 1881. when a new school structure was built, occupying a place in the eastern part of section 14. This structure cost $600, being supplied with patent seats and improved furniture. The first school was taught in 1863 by Lida Ilewitt. She received the sum of $45 for her services for two months. (District 58 .- This district was organiezd in 1863. and April 10, that year, the first meeting was held, at which officers were elected as follows: Clerk, Andrew Bottelson ; direc- tor, B. Frost: treasurer. John Hermanson. This meeting was held at the residence of Benjamin Frost in section 19. (The first school commenced May 9, 1863, with sixteen scholars present, in the back room of A. Bottelson's house, with Mary Frost teacher. she receiving $1.50 per week. The log schoolhouse was finished in 1864. The schoolhouse is now located in the southwestern part of section 20. District 22 .- The first school in this district was tanght by Mrs. Margaret Fitzgerald for $1.50 per week, in the summer of 1860. The district was organized at a meeting held in the spring of that year and the first officers were: Ole Narveson. JJ. Fitzgerald, and D. N. Ostrander. A log school- house was erected some time later which lasted until 1872. when a new building was put up which cost $700. District 23 .- This district effected an organization in 1861. the first meeting being held at the house of William English, in the fall of 1860. The same gentlemen donated a site. and a schoolhouse was secured and moved upon it in 1862. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1874, on the southeast quarter of section 2, at a cost of about $1.200. size 18x26 feet, equipped with patent seats for sixty pupils. District 107 was organized in 1878. The first meeting was held at the residence of Daniel Peterson and officers were elected as
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
follows: John Slater, director; I. Hammer, clerk; O. O. Styve, treasurer. A schoolhouse was erected soon after this meeting, costing $770, and it was located in the southern part of section 33. The first term of school was taught by Ella Slater. District 53 has a schoolhouse at Itasca city which was erected in the eighties, and at that time was regarded as one of the model schools of the county.
Carlston. District 15 .- This educational subdivision came into existence by organization late in 1859, and the following summer, 1860, the first school was taught in a log house, by Martha Stane, with nine scholars in attendance, the teacher receiving as com- pensation the sum of $18 per month. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1877, at a cost of $640, equipped with patent seats for forty scholars. The schoolhouse is now located in the western part of section 10. District 16 .- This district effected an organi- zation in the year 1860, and during the following year the first school was held at the residence of James Cook, taught by Mary J. Trigg, with ten scholars present; the teacher received for services the sum of $1.50 per week, and "boarded around." The school was held here and in other residences until the fall of 1865, when a log house was erected at a cost of $800, size 22×30 feet, equipped with patent seats and the necessary apparatus. The present schoolhouse is located on the eastern line of the western half of section 13. District 61 .- The first school meeting was held at the residence of William W. Coon, March 27, 1874, at which the organization of the district was effected, and later in the same month these people again met and elected the fol- lowing officers : Director, William W. Coon; clerk, John L. Gar- lack; treasurer, David Horning; and soon after, the schoolhouse was erected in the eastern part of section 22, at a cost of $600. The size of the building was 20x30 feet, supplied with patent seats and all the necessary apparatus. The first school consisted of eighteen scholars, and was instructed by Chandler Sweet, who received $30 per month for his services. District 67 .- This dis- trict effected an organization in 1865. by the election of the fol- lowing officers : Director, David Clark ; treasurer. Charles Sweet ; clerk, D. T. Clinton. A little shanty was thrown together, with no floor and a board roof, in which the first school was taught by Adelia Bassett, to an attendance of nineteen or twenty. She received for her services $18 per month. The following year, 1866, a new building was constructed, a short distance from the board shanty, in the eastern part of section 30, at a cost of $500. size 20x26 feet, equipped with patent seats and the necessary apparatus. Adventists' Academy .- A select school under this caption was instituted in the village of Alden. over the line in Carlston township, in the upper story or hall of Henry Ernst's
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
house, by the gentleman in whose house it was kept. The school commenced December 15. 1875. with from forty to fifty students in attendance; the tuition being from $5.00 to $7.00 per term. in accordance with the studies pursued. The teachers were Henry Ernst and his sister. Minnie Ernst. The school prospered for several years, but was finally discontinued, as this method of education was too advanced to find its entire support in the local neighborhood in which it was founded. District 134 absorbed old 118 (joint) district and took portions from districts 67. 15. 117 and 61. A schoolhouse was erected in section 18. District 117 embraces territory in Carlston and Freeborn townships. and the schoolhouse is located in the southeast corner of the north- west quarter of section 5. Carlston township.
Freeborn. District 11 .- This district effected the first organi- zation in the township in 1857. and school was first held in a honse 12x14. in section 3. taught by Normand Olin, to an attend- ance of about twelve scholars. In 1860 a schoolhouse was con- structed in section 3. size 20x24 feet. at a cost of $350. In 1874 it was removed to the eastern part of section 4. remodeled and partly rebuilt at a cost of $400. District 12 .- It is said that this district did not arrive to the dignity of an organization until 1865. and soon afterward a building was purchased for $50 to be used for school purposes. The first school was taught by Minnie Caswell with an attendance of twelve pupils. In 1870. a school edifice was constructed at a cost of about $400. size 16×20 feet. A schoolhouse was located in the northeastern part of section 23. District 13 .- This is the district embracing the village of Freeborn and immediately surrounding country. The organization was effected in 1858, and the first term of school was held at the private residence of E. S. Dunn. on the site of the present village. shortly afterward being taught by Joel South- wick. with an attendance of ten scholars. The school was held in private houses for abont two years. when a little shanty twelve feet square was erected. costing about $20. and three years later another school building was substituted. size 20x30 feet. at a cost of $700. In 1876. the latter structure was dispensed with and a new. neat and commodious schoolhouse was built at a cost of $1.500. size 30x40 feet. two stories high. then considered the finest schoolhouse in the township. District 98 .- This district effected an organization in 1872. The first school was taught by Mrs. Mattie B. Frisby in the residence of R. D. Burdick in section 1. with an attendance of twelve pupils. In 1873. a schoolhouse was erected in the southwestern part of section 1. size 16x24 feet. at a cost of $350. The schoolhouse is now located in the central part of section 1. District 101. This district effected an organi- zation in the spring of 1876. and the same year erected a school-
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
house in section 28, size 18x22 feet, at a cost of $450. The first teacher was Emily Blighton, with an attendance of ten scholars. The schoolhouse is now located in the southwest corner of section 2. District 113 has its schoolhouse in the southeast corner of section 6. District 63 has its schoolhouse located in the south part of section 18. District 122 (joint) has but eighty acres in this, county, and its schoolhouse is located in Waseca county.
Freeman. District 46 .- This organization was effected in 1862, and the first term of school was taught by Orfa Skinner at the residence of William Eaton, with seventeen scholars present. Shortly afterward a schoolhouse was constructed in the southern part of section 3 at a cost of $600, equipped with common furni- ture and the necessary apparatus. District 47 .- The first school in this district was taught in 1865, at the residence of Swan Anson, by Altha Young, with eighteen pupils enrolled. Shortly after, the district effected an organization. School was held in private houses until 1873, when a building was decided upon and a schoolhouse constructed, at a cost of about $125, in which Mary Buchanan first called school to order, with an average attendance of twenty-two. 'The building was located in the center of section 16. District 48 .- The first school in this educational locality was taught by Mrs. W. H. Moore with an attendance of thirty scholars. In 1873, a substantial school structure was erected, at a cost of $800, being well furnished and well kept. The attendance of the school was about forty pupils. The dis- trict embraced the territory in the southwestern part of the town. with the schoolhouse in the northwestern part of section 32. The present building is located in the western part of section 29. District 65 .- It is claimed that the first school taught in this township was in this district, although at that time the district was not organized. The first school was taught in Charles Grimm's house, in the winter of 1862, by. Charles Grimm, with an attendance of fifteen pupils. This district effected an organiza- tion and continued holding school in private residences until 1870, when a schoolhouse 16x20 was erected in the northeastern part of section 29. The first school in this district was taught by Jemima Blighton, with an attendance of twenty pupils. District 66 was created about 1867, and during that year a schoolhouse was erected in section 6 at a cost of $150. The first term of school was taught by S. Carter, and fifteen pupils were enrolled. District 115 embraces land in the south central part of Freeman township and the schoolhouse is located in the northern half of the south- east quarter of section 28. District 128 was created in Freeman and Shell Rock townships from districts 65 and 50. The school- house is located in section 36, Freeman township.
Geneva. District 3 .- The first school was opened in a private
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
house belonging to John Brown, in section 15, in the summer of 1858. Mrs. Henry King wielded the ferule during this term. The next year the citizens succeeded in building a schoolhouse on section 14. Lucy Thomas called the first school to order in the new house, which was a log affair, 20x24 feet, erected by a regular "bee," each farmer contributing something. This served until 1877, when a frame building was erected on section 23, at a cost of about $400. District 4 .- A school was opened in a claim shanty on the town site in 1878. Mrs. Clark was the constituted authority during this term. Afterwards the school was kept in the store of Loyhed & Matison, and later in a building erected for a saloon. A schoolhouse was built in 1865. This is the Geneva village district and maintains an excellent school. District 97 .- This was organized in 1875. That same year the schoolhouse was built on the northwest corner of section 14. The first teacher was Ella Davis.
Hartland. District 8 .- The organization of this district was effected in the spring of 1863 at a meeting held at the house of Aaron Carr in section 10. The first officers were : Director, W. J. McClelland ; treasurer, William Wrangham; clerk, William Beede. A log schoolhouse was bought for $9, and located in section 11. The first school was taught by Mary Bliss, with eight scholars enrolled. District 9 .- This district embraces the terri- tory in the southwestern part of the township, and was one of the first distriets organized in the county, although the records previous to 1869 have been lost. The present schoolhouse is located in the northeastern part of section 35. District 10 .- It is claimed that this district was organized in the summer of 1858, and the first school was taught in the same year by Mrs. Charles Morehouse at her residence, with six pupils present. The first school meeting was held in the fall of 1858, at the residence of C. Morehouse, six voters present, and the following officers were elected : Clerk, George McColley ; director, J. P. Duncan ; treas- urer, Charles Morehouse. In 1863, a schoolhouse was erected near the center of the district, size 26x30, frame, at a cost of $800. The present schoolhouse is located in the northern part of section 32. District 62 .- The first school held within the boundaries of this district was called in the summer of 1860, with twelve pupils present, and Elizabeth Sibbey was instructor. In the spring of 1862 the district effected an organization. the officers being L. Knudson, O. Sheldon, and Levi Jones, and the first school after organization was taught by C. Reynolds in a private house. In 1868 the school structure was erected in the center of section 14 at a cost of $415. District 109 .- This district is the Hartland village school, and prior to its organization the children attended school in other districts. In the fall of 1878 a frame schoolhouse
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
was erected, which had two stories and cost about $1,800. Dis- trict 85 has its schoolhouse in the east part of section 8.
Hayward. District 34 .- The first school in this district was held in Grange hall, October 2, 1875. The officers elected were E. A. Campbell, Lars Lunde and Peter Lunde. A schoolhouse was erected later which cost about $700 and seated forty .scholars. W. Cooley was the first teacher and received $32 per month for his services. The present schoolhouse is located in the village of Hayward, and the people of this district have voted $1,000 toward the erection of a fine new school building. District 35 .- This was organized in 1866 at the house of Watson Brown. The first officers were O. Andrews, James Andrews and Watson Brown. In the summer of that year they succeeded in getting up a log house, 16x20 feet. In 1880, the old house becoming inadequate to the wants of the district, a new one was built, a frame structure, 18x30 feet, with room for eighty scholars, and which cost $700. The present schoolhouse is in the northeast part of section 32. District 36 .- In 1864 this district assumed form; the meeting for organization being in the house of Peter Lunde, April 12. A log house was later constructed on section 18, 16x18 feet. The first school had fourteen pupils. It was called to order and managed by Esther Lowry, for $20 a month. The first school officers were Peter Lund, Andrew Sanderson, and L. R. Luce. The present schoolhouse is in the western part of section 20. District 60 .- This district was taken from district 35 in 1864, and the first meeting for its organization was held at the home of Daniel Chute, June 2, of that year. The officers elected were Daniel Chute, Luther Phelps and David Ansley. A log house was constructed which had a sod roof and no floor, but which served their needs and was the best which could at that time be constructed. Emma Fenholt was the first teacher employed in this district and thirteen pupils were enrolled that term. For her services she received $2.00 a week and she paid board from this salary. In 1875 a new building was erected which cost $400, and had a seating capacity of thirty-five pupils. District 116 has its schoolhouse in the southwestern corner of section 25. District 132 is located in Hayward and Riceland townships and was created from districts 91, 27 and 34. The schoolhouse is located in section 3, Hayward township.
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