USA > Minnesota > Houston County > History of Houston County, Minnesota > Part 17
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Georgia Lommen, in 1910, made this report: "Although the results in rural schools developed during the past two years are not all that the best friends would have them, the interest throughout the county has been splendid and some progress has been made. Teachers are more apprecia- tive of the necessity of better training for the work. Many of the rural school teachers attend the normal summer school and in this way raise the standard of their qualifications. In many districts the interest in indus- trial education is marked, especially along agricultural lines. The industrial contest work during the past two years has been a means of interesting teachers and pupils in the increasing demand for better rural schools and better social conditions surrounding home and school. The working material of the school room has been gradually improved, the libraries well selected and the reading material has never been better. The interiors of the school rooms are noticeably clean and well kept, every doubtful system of heating and ventilation having been condemned. The furnace is giving way to the patented one-room heater and ventilator. About one-half of the schoolrooms are supplied with a musical instrument. There is much interest in high school examinations. The first rural school examination was held during the past year. These examinations have been an incentive to better work on the part of both teachers and pupils. Reading circle work has been well and conscientiously done. While the compulsory law has not worked all the good hoped for, it has improved the attendance on the whole. A minimum of seven months of school during the year, and an increase of 40 to 100 days attendance as a requirement of apportionment would lead to better attendance."
The statistics embodied in the report of Superintendent Marie Otter- ness for the year ending July 31, 1918, are as follows:
High and graded school districts. Children of school age: Males, 306; females, 386; total, 692. Number of pupils entitled to apportionment, 705. Number not entitled to apportionment, 50. Total enrollment, 755. Number between 5 and 8 years of age, 126. Number between 8 and 16 years of age, 477. Number between 16 and 21 years of age, 152. Total between 5 and 21 years of age, 755. Number between 8 and 16 who have attended the entire year, 407. Total attendance in days by all pupils, 114,154. Total days of school, 720. Average days for each school, 180.
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Average daily attendance for each school, 158. Average number of days each pupil has attended, 151. Number of books taken from libraries, 5,339. Number of teachers: Males, 8; females, 33; total, 41. Average monthly wages: For males, $128; for females, $64.90; total, $777. Teachers who attended High school but did not graduate, 2. Teachers who attended Normal school but did not graduate, 1. Teachers who attended college but did not graduate, 2. Teachers who graduated from High school, 35. Teachers who graduated from a High school training department, 0. Teachers who graduated from a Normal school, 17. Teachers who gradu- ated from a college or university, 15. Teachers who have attended an institute or training school, 28. Teachers who have taught in their present school three years, 15. Teachers who have taught in their present school two years, 16. Teachers who have taught in their present school one year, 10. Number of districts loaning text books free, 4 (in the grades). Number of districts selling text books at cost, 3 (in High schools). Aver- age cost per pupil in districts loaning, $0.70. Average cost per pupil in districts selling, $2.50. Number of trees planted on Arbor day, 0. Number of seats for pupils, 928.
Rural and semi-graded. Children of school age: Males, 1,029; females, 941; total, 1,970. Number of pupils entitled to apportionment, 1,841. Num- ber not entitled to apportionment, 194. Total enrollment, 2,035. Number between 5 and 8 years of age, 493. Number between 8 and 16 years of age, 1,506. Number between 16 and 21 years of age, 36. Total between 5 and 21 years of age, 2,035. Number between 8 and 16 who have attended the entire year, 1,230. Total attendance in days by all pupils, 203,4571/2. Total days of school, 14,240. Average days for each school, 147. Average daily attendance for each school, 14. Average number of days each pupil has attended, 100. Number of books taken from libraries, 8,143. Number of teachers: Males, 2; females, 101; total, 103. Average monthly wages: For males, $51; for females, $50.65; total, $50.66. Teachers who attended High school but did not graduate, 9. Teachers who attended Normal school but did not graduate, 75. Teachers who attended college but did not gradu- ate, 5. Teachers who graduated from a High school, 62. Teachers who graduated from a High school training department, 20. Teachers who graduated from a Normal school, 4. Teachers who graduated from a col- lege or university, 0. Teachers who have attended an institute or training school, 100. Teachers who have taught in their present school three years, 16. Teachers who have taught in their present school two years, 27. Teach- ers who have taught in their present school one year, 60. Number of dis- tricts loaning text books free, 94. Number of districts selling text books at cost, 3. Average cost per pupil in districts loaning, $0.67. Average cost per pupil in districts selling, $0.86. Number of trees planted on Arbor day, 15. Number of seats for pupils, 1,988. Number of districts where less than ten pupils were enrolled, 13. Number of districts where more than ten but less than twenty were enrolled, 46.
Total. Children of school age: Males, 1,335; females, 1,327; total, 2,662. Number of pupils entitled to apportionment, 2,546. Number not entitled to apportionment, 244. Total enrollment, 2,790. Number between
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5 and 8 years of age, 619. Number between 8 and 16 years of age, 1,986. Number between 16 and 21 years of age, 188. Total between 5 and 21 years of age, 2,790. Number between 8 and 16 who have attended the entire year, 1,637. Total attendance in days by all pupils, 317,6113/4. Total days of school, 14,960. Average days for each school, 148. Average daily attendance for each school, 21. Average number of days each pupil has attended, 114. Number of books taken from libraries, 13,482. Number of teachers : Males, 10; females, 134; total, 144. Average monthly wages: For males, $112.60; for females, $54.13; total, $58.19. Teachers who have attended High school but did not graduate, 11. Teachers who attended Normal school but did not graduate, 76. Teachers who attended college but did not graduate, 7. Teachers who graduated from a High school, 97. Teachers who graduated from a High school training department, 20. Teachers who graduated from a Normal school, 21. Teachers who gradu- ated from a college or university, 15. Teachers who have attended an institute or training school, 128. Teachers who have taught in their present school three years, 31. Teachers who have taught in their present school two years, 43. Teachers who have taught in their present school one year, 70. Number of districts loaning text books free, 98. Number of districts selling text books at cost, 6. Average cost per pupil in districts loaning, $0.68. Average cost per pupil in districts selling, $1.68. Number of trees planted on Arbor Day, 15. Number of seats for pupils, 2,916.
The number of children in the county given in this report of 1918 is based on the census of August, 1917. After that date several children moved into the county so the enrollment showed a larger number than the census.
The districts in Houston county, with location, are: 1-Village of La Crescent; 2-Sec. 8, La Crescent; 3-Sec. 8, Black Hammer; 4-Sec. 6, La Crescent ; 5-Sec. 11, Houston; 6-Sec. 8, Money Creek (consolidated with 7) ; 7-Village of Money Creek; 8 Sec. 26, Money Creek; 9-Sec. 19, Money Creek; 10-Sec. 23, Houston; 11-Sec. 21, Mound Prairie; 12- Village of Hokah; 13-Sec. 10, Hokah; 14-Sec. 4, Mound Prairie; 15- Village of Houston; 16-Houston (consolidated with 15); 17- Sec. 29, Yucatan; 18-Sec. 8, Yucatan; 19-Sec. 33, Yucatan ; 20-Sec. 27, Yucatan; 21-Sec. 13, Yucatan; 22-Sec. 18, Sheldon; 23-Sec. 16, Sheldon; 24- Sec. 1, Houston ; 25-Sec. 25, Sheldon; 26-Village of Sheldon; 27-Union (not in session) ; 28-Sec. 26, Union; 29-Sec. 12, Union; 30-Village of Brownsville; 31-Sec. 28, Brownsville; 32-Sec. 3, Brownsville; 33, Sec. 6, Brownsville (not in session) ; 34-Sec. 11, Mayville; 35-Sec. 11, Caledonia ; 36 Sec. 9, Caledonia; 37-Sec. 22, Blackhammer; 38-Sec. 30, Caledonia; 39-Sec. 27, Caledonia; 40-Sec. 35, Caledonia; 41-Sec. 22, Caledonia; 42-Village of Caledonia; 43-Sec. 21, Mayville; 44-Sec. 33, Mayville; 45 Freeburg, Crooked Creek; 46-Sec. 27, Crooked Creek; 47-Sec. 28, Jefferson ; 48-Sec. 30, Jefferson ; 49 Sec. 7, Winnebago; 50-Sec. 23, Win- nebago; 50 Sec. 23, Winnebago; 51-Sec. 20, Yucatan; 52-Fitzen, Win- nebago; 53-Sec. 5, Wilmington; 54-Village of Spring Grove; 55- Sec. 8, Spring Grove; 56-Sec. 29, Spring Grove; 57-Sec. 26, Spring Grove; 58 Sec. 27, Wilmington; 59-Sec. 25, Wilmington; 60-Riveford, Spring
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Grove; 61-Sec. 21, Brownsville; 62-Sec. 26, Mound Prairie; 63-Sec. 13, Sheldon ; 64-Sec. 8, Brownsville; 65-Sec. 19, Black Hammer; 66-Sec. 24, Wilmington; 67-Sec. 11, Wilmington; 68-Sec. 30, Brownsville (not in session) ; 69-Sec. 28, Black Hammer; 70-Sec. 31, Wilmington; 71-Sec. 20, Caledonia; 72-Sec. 6, Crooked Creek; 73-Sec. 7, Hokah (children transported to district 12) ; 74-Sec. 35, Black Hammer; 75-Sec. 13, La Crescent; 76-Sec. 28, Spring Grove; 77-Sec. 18, Wilmington; 78-Sec. 10, Jefferson; 79-Sec. 23, Yucatan; 80-Sec. 11, Black Hammer; 81- Sec. 11, Winnebago; 82-Sec. 35, Jefferson; 83-Houston (consolidated with 100) ; 84-Sec. 6, La Crescent; 85-Sec. 21, Wilmington; 86-Sec. 29, Wilmington; 87-Sec. 6, Money Creek; 88-Sec. 24, Spring Grove; 89- Sec. 10, Money Creek; 90-Sec. 4, Mayville; 91-Sec. 29, Hokah; 92- Sec. 14, Crooked Creek; 93-Sec. 19, Mound Prairie; 94-Sec. 8, Mound Prairie; 95-Sec. 8, Jefferson; 96-Sec. 17, Money Creek; 97-Village of Reno; 98-Sec. 34, Sheldon; 99-Sec. 16, Spring Grove; 100-Sec. 10, Sheldon; 101-Sec. 20, Crooked Creek; 102-Sec. 31, Yucatan; 103-Sec. 1, Yucatan; 104-Sec. 26, Winnebago; 105-Sec. 16, Union; 106-Sec. 31, Jefferson; 107-Sec. 6, Mayville; 108-Sec. 33, Union.
The history of these various districts does not materially differ. In each community in the early days, the first schools were usually taught in private homes, afterward a log cabin was built, and still later a frame structure, or in some instances buildings of stone or brick. At the present time, a few each year, modern brick buildings are being built along the latest approved lines, with side lighting, good ventilation, excellent heating facilities, and other sanitary equipment.
A History of Houston County, published in 1882, gives much infor- mation concerning the starting of many of the districts, that is now not available elsewhere, and which is worthy of preservation and is therefore here presented. It is probably a fairly accurate account of the leading dis- tricts up to the time of the early eighties, and in future years will prove of interest as a story of worthy beginnings.
District No. 1, La Crescent Village. The first school in this district was held in the spring of 1856. The building was a small frame structure, erected by John A. Anderson as a territorial schoolhouse. The first term was one of three months, with Miss Nancy Ambler as the teacher. There were but six or eight scholars, and when towards the end of the term they were practically all seized with fever and ague, educational activities were temporarily suspended. In 1857 a one-story brick schoolhouse was erected, measuring 20 by 30 feet, and was in use until 1868, when a two-story stone building was constructed, at a cost of $2,800. It was divided into two departments and was kept well up to contemporaneous standards in equip- ment and scholarship requirements.
District 2, La Crescent Township. The earliest school in La Crescent Township, of which there is any record, was one established in section 6, in 1855. The first teacher was Jane Burton. The building was constructed of logs, and served its purpose until 1864, when a frame schoolhouse was erected, 16 by 24 feet, at a cost of $300, on the land of J. Tuininga in the same section. This latter building was in use until 1870 or 1871, when
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District 84 was set off from District 2, at which time it was sold at auction for $15. A new house was built early in the seventies, in section 8.
District No. 3, Black Hammer Township. The early records of this district have not been preserved. The district was organized in an early day, and a schoolhouse built in 1865. The next year school was taught in the new house by the daughter of J. W. Comstock, a pioneer of Yucatan. District No. 4, La Crescent Township. In 1860 a school was taught in Groff & Co.'s mill, for a single term, by Abby Taft. In the following year a school was started in a small frame house just east of the mill, on section 3. It was afterwards held for some time in a log house, and later a new building was erected at a cost of about $400.
District No. 5, Houston Township. The logs to construct the school- house were hauled in the winter of 1857, and the following spring the building was erected on section 14, by Peter Brandt and Kelsey Curtis. The school was opened in the summer of 1858 by Mrs. J. Coon. In 1881 a building was erected in section 11.
District No. 6, Money Creek Township, was provided with a log school- house in 1863. C. S. Fitch taught the first school. In the fall of 1876, a new house was built at a cost of $500.
School District No. 7, Money Creek Village. Up to the year 1862 or 1863 there was but one school in the whole township, and this was kept in a log building erected in 1856, opposite Sinclair's blacksmith shop. The first teacher here was Charles Tiffany. This schoolhouse was a general utilitarian affair, serving also as a meeting-house and town hall until the Methodist church was constructed. A schoolhouse was put up just north- east of the village, a few years after the one above mentioned, which served until the fall of 1881, when a new schoolhouse with modern improvements was erected. It was 22 by 48 feet, with two vestibules, 10 by 16 feet, one on either side. In it was taught a graded school of two departments. In 1862 or 1863 this mother of districts propagated two others by subdivision, retaining the old No. 7 for herself.
District No. 8, Money Creek Township. A schoolhouse was partially completed in the early part of the Civil War, but some of the people felt that with so many men at the war, and so many children needed for farm work, there would be little use for schoolhouses, so the building remained incomplete, and no school was kept there until one or two years after the war was over. The first teacher was Miss Mary Pierce, who resided on the south side of the river in Houston Township. After the war the house was completed.
District No. 9, Money Creek Township. In this district the first school was opened by Ellen Robinson, in a log building on the Todd farm, oppo- site the residence of her father, S. Robinson. The house had been erected as a residence by Thomas Shimmings, and was one of the early dwellings. It later became a part of Mr. Robinson's dwelling. In the summer of 1866 or 1867, a frame schoolhouse was put on section 19, near S. Robinson's residence.
District No. 10, Houston Township. The first schoolhouse in this district was erected in 1854 or 1855. It was of the crudest description,
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being put up in a single day, the logs and labor being furnished by the people of the neighborhood, who gathered, held a picnic and completed the schoolhouse, 14 by 20 feet. The only furniture was a crude seat for the teacher and four long, backless benches. The first teacher was Angelina Sperry. Later a brick schoolhouse was erected in section 23.
District No. 11, Mound Prairie Township. The first school was in a log structure put together by Mr. Van Sickle, on section 21. It was pre- sided over by E. S. Lore, which must have been in 1856. In 1861 a school- house was built of logs by subscription, the size being 16 by 20 feet. James Connor was the first teacher in the new building.
District No. 12, Hokah Village. In the winter of 1855-1856 a school was started in Masonic Hall, with Emily Pond as the first teacher. She was succeeded the next winter by Mrs. D. L. Clements. In 1857 a house and lot were purchased, the building being converted into a schoolhouse. It served the purpose up to 1867, when a new building was erected, which was subsequently enlarged.
District No. 13, Hokah Township. In 1857 or 1858 a small log school- house was put up on what is called "The Ridge," in section 10, by the German Catholics who had settled in that vicinity. It was on the farm of V. Bierden and was a subscription school and was taught one season by a Catholic priest. Afterwards a log house was put up near by, as a public school building, the school being opened by Jacob Schonhard. This was on the land of John Ahrens, and was used up to the year 1876, when a frame building was erected on the same section, at a cost of about $400.
District No. 14, Mound Prairie Township. Andrew Orr taught the first term here, in 1858, in a building put up by Mr. Fairbanks. That same fall a frame building was erected opposite Dr. Sheldon's house. In 1872 the house was removed to the south side of the prairie, on section 9, where it now accommodates a larger number of pupils. Still later it was moved to section 4.
District No. 15, Houston Village. The first school was in an old shanty formerly used by Joel Marsh in the lower town near the bank of the river near the end of the present bridge, about 1855. Probably the first school was taught by George Tyler. When the village was moved to its present location, the school likewise was moved. Later a good schoolhouse was erected on the southern borders of the village, and a graded school established.
District No. 16, Houston Township. The original building in this dis- trict was erected in section 31. It was used as the community center, public and religious meetings of various kinds being held there. The rail- road right of way passed over the very spot on which the building stood, and in 1878 a new schoolhouse was erected a short distance from the old site.
District No. 17, Yucatan Township. The schoolhouse was erected in 1861, in section 29.
District No. 18, Yucatan Township. In 1867, a tax was levied for a new district, and a log schoolhouse, 18 by 24 feet, erected. Mrs. Gale was the first teacher.
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District No. 19, Yucatan Township. A school was taught in a log structure near the Dedham mill, in 1857, by Mary McGowen. Eunice Comstock also taught there at an early day. The school was in the Mackin- tire house for some time, and at the residence of Charles Wilsey until the erection of the schoolhouse some time during the war.
District No. 20, Yucatan Township. The first school in Yucatan was managed by Emeline Howe, in a rough timber building situated near the residence of E. Bidwell. This was in 1856 or 1857. About 1860 the dis- tricts were divided, and this building was moved down the road and an- other constructed on section 27, 20 by 24 feet, of stone. A. L. Thompson was the earliest teacher.
District No. 21, Yucatan Township. In 1866 school was held in a log house on section 22. Margaret Murphy was the teacher. In 1868 school was kept in John Burns' house on section 23.
District No. 23, Sheldon Township. The first English school taught in the Badger Valley was by William H. Murphy in 1856 or 1857, and was held in private houses about the neighborhood. A Norwegian school had been previously taught for a few months by Gunder Jermondson. The history of the schools in Sheldon differs in no essential respects from that of the schools throughout the county.
District No. 27, Union Township, was organized July 28, 1858, there being 44 pupils awaiting instruction. John Hurley, Henry Snure, Sr., and John H. Hyke were the first trustees, and Edmund Null, clerk. In the same fall the schoolhouse was built at the corner of section 29. The first sessions of the district, however, were held in an old log shanty built by Marcus Sammons, the teacher being Sarah A. Lyon. In the autumn of 1859 a log schoolhouse was laid up with a hip roof, in section 29, and was the seat of learning for that part of the town for many years. The district was a large one, and some of the scholars were put to great incon- venience in reaching it, which made the attendance irregular.
District No. 28, Union Township. In 1860 a neat little schoolhouse was built on section 26, in Thompson's Valley.
District No. 29, Union Township. The first school taught in the valley was on section 12, in a house built by Hiram Griffin. Frances Pound was the first teacher. Afterwards a log building was erected, the materials for which were contributed by the neighboring settlers, among them David House, Edwin Butterfield and Levi West. In after years a good stone schoolhouse was built.
District No. 30, Brownsville Village. The first school was taught in the village of Brownsville in 1854 by James McCan. The next was held in the winter of 1854-55 by M. G. Thompson, who was followed by William Beeby. Both these were private schools. In July, 1856, the county com- missioners established a district, containing the village, and a school meet- ing was held Aug. 9, the same, when Job Brown, Alex. McLaren and J. H. Smith became trustees. The first public school was held in the winter of 1857-58; and in 1858 a one-story frame schoolhouse was built, 24 by 40 feet, costing $400. On Jan. 1, 1859, there were 67 scholars in the district. Pre- vious to the completion of the large building in 1874 there were for several
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years three separate schoolhouses in use, with one male and two female teachers. School was first opened in the new building at the time of its completion, in January, 1874, with one male and three female teachers, P. O. Phillips being principal.
District No. 31, Brownsville Township. The first school in this dis- trict was held at the home of Arthur Mullen, with Mary Murphy as first teacher.
District No. 32, Brownsville Township, came into existence in 1857, and the schoolhouse was built the next year. The first trustees were John Palmer, Isaac Maul and Jonathan Cox. The first teacher was Augustus McPherson.
District No. 33, Brownsville Township. In January, 1856, a district was organized at the home of Timothy Hackett. The first officers were Harvey Fassett, Emory Hackett and Silas Torrence. In the fall the men of the neighborhood put up a schoolhouse of logs. In 1880, a half acre was purchased from James Daily, and the next year the Christian Church was bought and moved on the lot.
District No. 34, Mayville, dates from the late fifties, but when District No. 90 was set off, in 1876, it took with it the schoolhouse in section 4, and the people left in District No. 34 erected one on section 11. The first teacher was Edward Crow, of La Crescent.
School Districts No. 35 and No. 36, Caledonia Township, were the out- come of a school started in 1856 or 1857, in a log house on section 11, where it was kept up until the winter of 1873, when two houses were put up, No. 35 on section 11, the other, No. 36, being built soon after on section 9.
District No. 37, Blackhammer Township, when first organized, em- braced nearly all the township, but has gradually been curtailed. The first schoolhouse was built of logs, in 1857, at a public bee, the men of the dis- trict each bringing an axe and a few logs, and giving their services free. The first teacher was Frank Brown.
District No. 39, Caledonia Township. The first school taught was in the log house of Nelson Haight, on section 28, in the fall of 1859. The teacher was Mrs. Mary Wheaton, who later became the wife of L. M. Brig- ham. The next school was in the house of G. N. Thompson, just west of Flynn's stone house, on section 33. In the summer of 1861 the teacher was Laura V. Haight. The next school was in Thompson's stone house. A schoolhouse was erected in 1863, on section 27. The first school within its walls was presided over by William Conniff, in the winter of 1863-64. About 1877 the German Catholics had a schoolhouse in this locality in which several terms were held.
District No. 40, Caledonia Township. The first school in this district was at the house of Reuben Rollins. The second was at the house of J. Pope. The district was established in 1859 and the schoolhouse built in 1863.
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