USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 16
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London. District 51 .- This district effected an organization in 1862, and the following year the first term of school was held at the residence of H. B. Riggs, in section 11, by Orpha Skinner, with an attendance of about twelve scholars. Then, in 1867, a schoolhouse was erected in the western part of section 12. The present schoolhouse is located in northern part of section 14. District 59 had its first schoolhouse located in the north part of
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section 32. The present school building is located across the street in the southern part of section 29. District 71 .- This dis- triet was organized in 1865, and the first school was held in Morgan Eckert's granary, in section 18. The first teacher in this school was Dora Sabin, and the enrollment numbered about six pupils. After this, school was held in private houses and gran- artes until the summer of 1869, when a schoolhouse was completed at a cost of $220. This schoolhouse was located in section 8, and Carrie Harrison taught the first school in it. The building was later remodeled and improved at an expense of $500. Later another schoolhouse was erected in section 16. This is the only rural district in the county in which school is kept in two different schoolhouses. District 94 .- This district was organized in 1874, and a schoolhouse erected during the year, which was located in the southern part of section 23. The building cost $1.025. and John Bewick was the first teacher, having fifteen pupils enrolled. The people of this district have a new building, in the village of London. This is a two-roomed semi-graded school. modern in every respect, and was erected at a cost of $3.500. District 125 was created from districts 59 and 94 and its schoolhouse is located in section 28.
Mansfield. District 41 was organized about 1872. during which year the schoolhouse was erected in the north part of section 32 at a cost of $100. Hattie Coblett was the first teacher with an attendance of nine scholars. District 74 .- This district (ffected an organization about 1870, and held school in the private residence of John Kraus Haar in section 2. with Rhoda Gripman as teacher and twelve pupils to answer the roll call. In 1872 a new schoolhouse was erected in the southwestern corner of section 2 at a cost of $400. District 84 .- This district com- menced its existence by erecting a school edifice in section 26, the size of which was 16x24 and cost $300. The first teacher was C. Il. Emmons, with an attendance of about twenty-five. District 86, organized in 1872. the first school being taught in Hellek Knudson's house in section 36. the teacher being Jennie L. Roman- son, with twenty-five students present. In the year 1874, two years after organization. a new school building was erected in the southeastern corner of section 35. at a cost of about $200, the size being 18x24. Distriet 87 is claimed by some to have been organized in 1867 ; fourteen pupils were in attendance and Ivey Thomas was the teacher. The following year a schoolhouse was created in the northwest corner of section & at a cost of $400. The lumber in this building was hauled from Austin. Some years ago the location of the schoolhouse was changed to the southwest quarter of section 6. District 92 was organized some time during the year 1875. and a schoolhouse erected in the southwest part of
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section 10. This building cost $400; the first term of school was taught by Aubrus Morey, and the enrollment of pupils amounted to twenty-one. A few years ago the site of this schoolhouse was changed to a few rods further west. District 121 has a school- house in section 20.
Manchester. District 17 is one of the oldest districts and has its schoolhouse in the southwest corner of section 29. District 18 was organized in 1861. The previous year a schoolhouse had been erected in section 15, in which thirty scholars were taught by Emergene Walker. The first officers of this district were: Thorson Knuteson, John Ellingson and O. F. Fossum. In 1867 the school building was moved to the site now occupied by the present schoolhouse, in the northeast corner of section 22. District 19 .- A meeting was held May 8, 1862, at the residence of Christian Jacobson, at which the organization of this district was effected and made permanent by the election of officers, as follows: Director, Tosten Knutson ; clerk, Charles Olson ; treasurer, Charles Johnson. In the same summer Mr. Henderson taught the first school, a term of three months, in Charles Oleson's house in section 13, with seven or eight pupils present. In 1864 Christian Jacobson donated a site, and the schoolhouse was erected in the center of section 12. District 21 .- This district effected an organization in 1864, the first meeting being held at the house of Erick Olson, in section 9, at which the following officers were elected : Director, Carl Gustaveson ; treasurer, Halver Peterson ; clerk, August Peterson. The first school was taught by Emma King in Erick Olson's house, in section 9, with twenty pupils present. In 1867 a frame house was erected in the western part of section 9, size 16x22, at a cost of $300. District 55 .- This dis- trict was organized in the fall of 1864 in E. D. Hopkins' house. on section 34, and the following officers were elected: Director, O. Kenfield; treasurer. J. Welcor; clerk, E. D. Hopkins. . The first school was taught by Maggie Colby in 1864, in a log house belonging to A. M. Johnson, on the bank of Lake Albert Lea. The following year a log house, 18x16 feet. was procured. which was later moved to the southeast corner of section 34.
Moscow. Nine districts are located all or partially in this township: 78, 72 (joint), 120, 30 (joint), 28, 95, 96. 31, 127. District 78 has its schoolhouse in the southeast corner of section 4 ; district 72 has its schoolhouse over the line in Mower county : district 120, in the southeast corner of section 8; district 30, in the northeast corner of section 13; district 29, in the village of Moscow ; district 28, in the northeast corner of section 31 ; district 95, in the central part of section 28; district 96, in the northwest corner of section 25; district 127, in the middle of section 19: district 31, in the village of Oakland. This latter district is
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planning to build a fine new schoolhouse at a cost of $2,000. Most of this district is located in Moscow township, but it also takes in some land from Oakland.
Newry. There are nine districts wholly or partly in this town- ship-126. 106. 123. 111. 119. 1, 2, 73. and 79. District 2 has a new schoolhouse erected at a cost of $2.000 at the northwest corner of section 20; district 123 is joint with Steele county and no school is kept: district 126 is a new district lying in Geneva and Newry townships and Steele county. the schoolhouse being in the latter county : district 106 has its schoolhouse in the south- ern part of section 5; district 111 is located in the eastern part of section 12: district 1. in the eastern part of section 14: district 119 (joint), in the eastern part of section 24; district 73. in the northwest part of section 28; district 79 (joint) has its school- house over the line in Mower county.
Nunda. District 42 .- The first school in this district was held at the residence of Samuel Clark and taught by Mary Ann White, with an attendance of 12 pupils. in the winter of 1858. In 1870 a frame building was erected at a cost of $550. and this school- house was located in section 4. District 43 .- The first school held in this district met in the residence of John Hoffman. in the spring of 1858. and was taught by Joseph White. The district effected an organization by the election of the following officers : P. Fitzsimmons, clerk: John V. Wohlhuter, director; Michael Donahue, treasurer. In 1868 a new building was erected in the west part of section 16, which cost $400. District 44 .- It is stated that this district was organized in 1858 with HI. G. Emmons as its clerk. The first school was held in an empty house and taught by Sarah Emery. In 1870 a frame schoolhouse was erected in the northeastern part of section 32. at a cost of $650. This school is now located in the present four-roomed building in the village of Emmons. Distriet 45 effected an organization in the fall of 1861. and its first officers were: Messrs. Rupson. Danahue and Berry. In 1862 a log schoolhouse was erected in the north- east part of section 14. A new frame building was constructed in the west part of section 24 in 1871 which was destroyed by fire June 9. 1881. In the fall of that year a frame building was erected on the old site. District 76 was formerly a part of dis- triet 45, but was set apart from the latter in 1863 and organized by the election of B. H. Carter, clerk ; Elof Knudson. director; J. M. Tanner, treasurer. In 1865 a schoolhouse was erected in the village of Twin Lakes and this cost $500. In March, 1881; this building was destroyed by fire, caused by a passing engine. Upon being sued by the district the company was forced to pay $560 and costs. with which a new building was erected that spring at a cost of $1.000. District 99 effected an organization
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in 1875, and the officers elected were: W. J. Morey, clerk ; Fer- nando Fessenden, director; E. T. Weadon, treasurer. A school- house was erected in the spring of 1876, in the southwest part of section 6, at a cost of $475. The present school is located in the north central part of section 6. District 105 .- This district ef- fected an organization in 1864, and the first school was taught in the house of Peter Knutson in the spring of that year. In the spring of 1866 a small building was erected in section 35 at a cost of about $100, the labor being donated by the residents. This building was used until 1879, when a new house was erected upon the same site at a cost of $300, in which the first school was taught by Priscilla V. Hemon, with an attendance of thirty scholars. The first officers were: Clerk, Silas White; treasurer, Peter Knutson; director, Helga Larson. District 108 .- This dis- trict is really a division of, or it might be called a reorganiza- tion of No. 84, coming into existence as a separate organization in 1879 by electing John Larson, clerk; Knute Hovland, director, and Hogen Rasmusson, treasurer. In 1881 a neat school building was erected in the southern part of section 19, at a cost of $350. The first school in this house was taught by Eslen Nerverson.
Oakland. District 6 .- This district was organized in 1867, at a meeting held at the home of Mitchell Clark. Officers were elected as follows: Clerk, John Lightly Jr .; treasurer, James Hand. A schoolhouse was erected soon after which was located in the western part of section 12, and the first teacher was Libbie Phelps. Eight pupils made up the total attendance at this time. District 32 .- In 1866 this district was organized and a school- house erected at a cost of $600. This building was located in the eastern part of section 22. The first officers of the board ยท were John Murane, Adam Chista and Peter Young. A. J. Chista taught the first term of school, which was held in a private house. There were thirty-five pupils in attendance. District 33 was set apart from District 32 soon after the organization of that district. It is supposed that the first school meeting was held at the home of Ira Fuller in 1861. The first term of school was taught by Thomas Parker in the home of George Carpenter, and thirteen pupils were in attendance. Early in the summer of 1865 a log schoolhouse was erected in the northeastern part of section 2, with dimensions of 16x24 feet. District 75 .- This district was organized in 1865 at a school meeting held at the home of Daniel Kennevan, March 27, and officers were elected as follows: E. R. Earle, director; A. D. Wait, clerk; A. D. Wait Sr., treasurer. W. E. Wait taught the first term of school in the same home in which the meeting had been held and six pupils attended. In 1868 a frame building was erected which cost $500, and was located in the southwest part of section 29. In 1910 a modern
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schoolhouse was erected on the same site. District 83 was organ- ized in 1870, and during this same year a log schoolhouse was constructed in the eastern part of section 7. The first officers of the district were S. Bullock. C. Skinner and S. Dishart. Katie Dishart taught the first school in H. Wyant's house and she ro- ceived for her services $15.00 per month. Distriet 112. lving partly in Oakland and partly in London, has its schoolhouse in the eastern part of section 34.
Pickerel Lake. District 39 .- This was the first district to come into official existence in the township, effecting an organiza- tion in 1862. with the following as its officers: Director. John Murphy : clerk. Charles Norton : treasurer. John Ruble. The first school was taught in JJohn Ruble's log house. by Miss Bas- sett. with ten scholars present. Various provisions were made until 1865. when a frame house was erected on land owned by George S. Ruble, in section 11. at a cost of $700. Distriet 56 .- This dis- triet was organized in 1864 by the election of: Director, Fred- erick Rickard: clerk. L. L. Lovell. and treasurer. N. H. Spoon. The next year a school building was constructed. 14x16 feet. at a cost of $150. which occupied a site in section 8 until 1868. when it was moved into the southeastern part of section 7. In 1879 a new structure was erected on the same location. size. 16x22 feet. at a cost of $300. The first school in this district was taught in the fall of 1864. in Mr. Lovell's house. in section S. by Kate Nichols, with seven scholars present. District 57 was created in April. 1869. with Fred Fink. Henry Weisser and Henry Eberhardt as officers. A schoolhouse was erected that year in the southeast part of section 22. on land donated by Henry Weisser. This building cost $300. Nancy Ruble was the first teacher, with twelve pupils enrolled. District 69 .- A special meeting was held at August Yost's house in section 19. April 16. 1881. at which bonds were voted to the amount of $300 to build a schoolhouse, and organization was effected by the election of the following officers: Director. Fred Fink : clerk. August Yost : treasurer. Il. Schulenburg: there were ten votes cast. In the same year the house was erected on land belonging to C. M. McKee, size 16x24. at a cost of $316. The first school was taught by Katie Eberhardt, to an attendance of twelve. The present schoolhouse is located in the northeast part of section 30. Dis- triet 102 .- School in this district was first taught in the summer of 1876. in a carpenter shop on Mr. Widman's land, by Katie Eberhardt, with eighteen or twenty scholars. The following year. 1877. a neat frame house was erected in the southwestern corner of section 24, at a cost of $300. The district was organized by the election of the following officers: Clerk. George Widman :
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treasurer, Mr. Jeklin; director, F. Schneider. District 124 has a schoolhouse located in the northeast part of section 16.
Riceland. District 25 .- The first board of school officers in this district was as follows: Clerk, K. Ingebrigtson; treasurer, O. Henry ; director, John Johnson. In 1872 the first schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $700, size, 18x20 feet, which answered the purpose for about ten years, when it was dispensed with, and a neat frame building was erected, size 26x36 feet, at cost of $800, the location being in the southeastern part of section 7. District 26 .- The first school held in this district was taught by Miss Will- iams, with twenty-five pupils present. In the summer of 1861 the citizens of the district erected a log schoolhouse in section 29. A new frame building was later erected in the western part of section 29. District 27 was organized in 1878 and a frame school- house erected in the northeast part of section 27. District 88 .- In 1867 the first schoolhouse in this district was erected in section 9, at a cost of $250. The logs with which this building was erected were given by residents of the district. In 1881 a new schoolhouse was completed at a cost of 800, and this building was located in section 9. District 91 .- This district comprised the territory in the southeastern part of section 35, and the first schoolhouse was built in 1872. The present building is located on the site of the former. The people of districts 25 and 26 are contemplating uniting with district 24 of Bancroft township, and then erecting a fine new schoolhouse near the Lerdahl Creamery. Norwegian School .- Knud Ingebrigtson started a Norwegian school in this township in 1869.
Shell Rock. District 50 .-- The first school held in this district met in the home of Peter Beighley, on his farm in section 32, in the fall of 1858. Mrs. Catherine Hawk was the first teacher and the attendance was small. Later a frame building was erected in the northeastern corner of section 32, which cost $600. Jane Buchanan was the first teacher in this institution, and there were about twenty-five pupils in attendance. The district embraces the village of Gordonsville and has an excellent school. District 52 .- The first school in this district was taught in a granary owned by J. S. Corning. Emily Streeter was the first teacher employed, and the attendance numbered eight. In 1866 a school- house was erected in the northeast corner of section 8, at a cost of $765. District 49 .- This district effected an organization in 1857, and the first school meeting was held at the home of A. H. Bartlett. The erection of a schoolhouse was soon begun, which was completed August 18, 1857, and cost $500. One week after this building was completed, Emily Streeter assumed charge as teacher. This was the first schoolhouse built in the county. In 1878 a new building was erected, which cost $2,200. This district
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embraces the village of Shell Rock and includes land in Shell Rock, Freeman and Albert Lea townships. District 77 .- The first school taught in this district was in 1866, at a granary owned by Mr. Bailey, the teacher being Lena Doris, with an attendance of eight scholars. The schoolhouse is a neat structure, and cost about $400, and it is located in the southern part of section 14. District 100 .- A school edifice was erected in 1876, size 18x20 feet, at a cost of about $500, being furnished with folding desks and the most improved furniture. The first school was taught by Hannah Buchanan, to an attendance of eight scholars. The schoolhouse is located in the southeastern corner of section 2. District 104 .- A schoolhouse was erected in 1878, being a neat frame building 24x30 feet, which cost about $850, equipped with all necessary apparatus. The first school was taught by Elizabeth Beighley to an attendance of about twenty scholars. The schoolhouse is located in the sontheastern corner of section 27. District 129 .- This district was created from 49, 50 and 52 in Shell Rock and Freeman townships, and the schoolhouse is located in section 17, Shell Rock township.
Up to July. 1865, no well-defined management of schools existed. In speculating upon the best system, the legislature created first a town superintendency. then an examiner for each commissioner district. and lastly the present plan for one general superintendent for each county. Under this, S. Batchelder was appointed in July. 1865, and served until 1869; E. C. Stacy, from 1869 until 1870; Henry Thurston, from 1870 until the election of Charles W. Levens. O. K. Haugen took office January 1, 1889, and was followed in 1891 by John W. Olsen, who served until January 1, 1901. George P. Lattin was in office for eight years, and on January 1, 1909, Harold Dahlen took charge of the county schools and is still serving.
ALBERT LEA SCHOOLS.
The schools of Albert Lea had their beginning in 1857. on the block in which the postoffice is now located. Martin V. Kellar, a pupil in this first school, has written the following account of the early schools of the city: "On the southeast corner of the post- office block, corner of William and Elizabeth streets, there had . been erected late in 1856 a small log building to be used as a store, but was never occupied as such. Here, on Monday, Decem- ber 5. 1857, began our first school. Austin D. Clark, brother of Mrs. Mary F. Armstrong, was employed as teacher. Bat few today could hardly appreciate the disadvantages met with in this first school. But three small windows furnished the light, for seats three long slabs from Ruble's mill were made into benches without backs; a wide slab resting on substantial wooden pegs
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in the north wall was the only desk; an old fashioned box stove, always smoking with green wood, furnished by the patrons, was all of our furniture. No bell sent forth its pleasant notes an- nouncing that Albert Lea had a school, for the only bell yet heard in this county was on the old brindle cow. School was called by vigorous pounding on the window with a book or slate. About twenty pupils were enrolled, a few coming from distant parts of the county to attend. Our most serious problem was the scarcity and want of uniformity in books. Only such as had been used by the pupils at their eastern homes were at hand, and scarcely four in the whole school of the same series. One family of three attended and all brought only two books, all they had. We shall never forget our embarrassment by being compelled to sit by a little girl of this family during the whole term, that she might study with me from my books. The teacher of this school, I understand, is still living in Wisconsin. Of the pupils, those known to be living, are: M. V. Kellar, C. B. Kellar, Heman Blackmer, C. D. Marlett and Nathan Babcock.
"Our second school was taught in this building during the summer of 1858 by Lucy Parker, who remained here but a short time. The winter term of 1858-9 was held in Clark's log store, the second building to be erected on the townsite.
"It stood on the north side of Clark street, directly opposite Hotel Freeborn. Mrs. A. C. Wedge was our teacher. She also taught at the same place our summer school of 1859.
"Our winter term of 1859-60 was held in the ladies' parlor of the old Webber house, on the corner of Broadway and Main streets, with Adrain K. Norton, of Alden, as teacher. Our sum- mer term of 1860 was held in a small shoe shop, erected by the late William Thompson, brother of Walter. It stood away out on the prairie, where the Presbyterian Church now stands. Mrs. William Lowe, now of Greeley, Colo., handled the rule. Now there has always been a contention between Judge Blackmer and myself as to the kind of wood used in the construction of that rule-he claiming it was sawed out of the knotty end of a buroak slab-I, that it was choice second-growth hickory. We are agreed, however, that it was a home-made affair, very serviceable and scientifically used.
"We now come to the most memorable school ever taught in Albert Lea-the winter term of 1860-61. A Miss Rice was teacher and though a most estimable young lady, she had no more control over a number of the very large boys than us farmers have over a pen of hungry pigs. No room could stand the knocks of that crowd more than a few weeks, which resulted in our school being held in four different places, and at last to be suddenly closed, and all books left at the old Webber house, where the owners
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could get them. This school began in a small office, where Barlow & Spicer's store now stands, from thence to a two story store building on West Clark street. now torn down. The first and second floors, respectively, were used. When the owner became dissatisfied over the destruction, which did not take long. our school was moved to another two-story vacant store, standing on Broadway and Main streets. Both first and second floors, respec- tively, were used, when one Monday morning we found the build- ing closed. This school, however, bore good fruit. for a building fever struck the whole community. "A school house" was the slogan on every tongue.
"At a special school meeting $400 was voted, and October 1 found a small building completed on the site of our beautiful main building, and John L. Gibbs installed as teacher. Let me say here that our first school building yet stands, though having been twice moved. It is now on the corner of Main and Newton streets, occupied by C. P. Johnson as a blacksmith shop.
"This school house, from its erection until 1869. was much used for church and Sabbath school work. Those who taught in it during our school days were Lucy Watkins. B. W. Pritchard, Nelson Larnard. F. M. McReynolds, S. S. Sutton and Henry Thurston. For the winter term of 1868-9 this old school house. now being too small. our school board rented an old building standing on the site of our postoffice. that was erected by John Brownsill in 1858 for a wagon shop, and our school was divided. Henry Thurston teaching in the old building the older pupils, and his most excellent wife teaching the young in the newly prepared rooms. This was the beginning of graded schools in Albert Lea."
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