USA > Minnesota > Mower County > The history of Mower County, Minnesota : illustrated > Part 15
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
Lansing. District 43. The first school in Lansing township was a summer school held in 1858, by Ann Mathieson, in a small honse built for a residence by John Pettibone, in section 11. The first schoolhouse was a frame building erected in the fall of 1858, on the northeast corner of section 11. The first term was taught that winter by George Wood. The material for this was native lumber sawed at the steam mill at Lansing. The district failed to pay for the lumber and the house reverted to the parties who furnished it. It was sold to Mrs. C. S. Rolph. In 1866 a brick building was erected, in the southwest corner of section 2. The first school in this house was a winter term taught by John E. Robinson. In the fall of 1871 a frame addi- tion was built. District 43 embraces the village of Lansing. Dis- trict 44, Ramsey village. The first school in this district was a small log house situated in the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 27. The first school was kept by Charles Oaks, in the winter of 1857-58. The old log house was used for school purposes until the summer of 1866, when a brick building was erected. This house was located near the section line on the east side of seetion 22. The first school in this house was kept by Romanda S. Carpenter. In 1909 a modern brick building was erected. This is one of the best rural schools in the state, equipped with all the latest improvements. Alice MeCarthy was the first teacher. In 1910, Mrs. Addie Cook, who owns one of the largest farms in the district, presented the school with a piano. District 45. This district was organized in 1858, and a log house was built, gratutiously, by the neighbors. The first school was taught by a Miss Richardson in the summer of 1858. This house was used as a school until 1868, when a frame house was built. Ella J. Cook was the first teacher in this building. District 101. A frame schoolhouse was erected in section 13 in the fall of 1876, with Patrick Gilroy as teacher. District 122 was organized in 1893, and a schoolhouse built the same year in section 20. Paula Brown was the first teacher. District 72, joint. This school is located in Corning village, section 6.
Austin. District 27. This district embraces the city of Aus- tin. The first school in Austin township outside the limits of the city was taught in the winter of 1857, in the building of Robert Autis. District 26. The first school in this district was taught in the house of M. J. Woodson by his son Henry in the summer of 1858, the young man receiving $10 a month for his services. James Johnson taught the second term of school in the same house. In 1859 a log house was erected on the north- east quarter of section 10. George and Oliver Beemis gave the logs which were ent and drawn to the spot by M. J. and W. A. Woodson and I1. Van Winkle. Abbie Litchfield, now Mrs. En-
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
gene Crane, of Minneapolis, was the first teacher in this house. George Emery was the first teacher in the frame house built on the southwest corner of section 11. District 28. This district was originated at a meeting held at the house of D. L. Chandler in the winter of 1856-57. Welcome Osborne, D. L. Chandler and George Phelps were the first officers in this district. In the summer of 1857 a log schoolhouse was built on the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 32. Delang Richard- son was the first teacher in this house, which was in use five years. Then a house was built in the southwest corner of sec- tion 28. Mary Hoag was the first teacher. District 29, Varco Station. The first schoolhouse in this district was erected in 1857, at a "bee" of the neighbors, being built from logs. Money was raised by subscription to complete the building. Delang Richardson was the first to teach in this house. The building was located in the southeast corner of section 23. In 1864 the building was burned and a stone house was erected on the south- west corner of the northwest quarter of section 25. Forest Marsh was the first teacher. In 1879 this building was torn down and a frame building was erected. Mary Hood was the first teacher in this house. District 55. The first school in this district was taught by Elizabeth Stone, in a claim shanty located on the southwest corner of section 8. This was in 1865. In 1869 a frame building was erected on the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 17, Mary Scullen being the first teacher. District 128 has a schoolhouse in the eastern half of section 21. The house was built in 1900 and Pearl Bowers was the first teacher.
Lyle. District 13. The first school in this district, as well as the first taught in the town, was in session during the sum- mer of 1856. taught by Maria Vaughan, in a log house built by one Pinkerton on the northeast quarter of section 32. Zillah Beach afterward taught in Lorenzo Moshier's house, on the north- west quarter of section 29. Thomas Parker was an early teacher here. Rev. Samuel Loomis taught in Samuel Surface's house. In 1860 the district purchased a frame building in Otranto and moved it to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 23. T. J. Locke, C. R. Houston, Erwin Lyle and Dora Clappsaddle were early teachers in that house, which was in use until 1874. In this year was built a house in the northeast quarter of section 32. S. Anna MeCune was the first to teach in this house. In the spring of 1908 this building was burned- and was replaced by a modern frame building on the same site. The first teacher in this building was Dora Drewes. District 12. About the year 1859 the first school was taught in this district by Rev. Samuel Loomis in a log house standing in section 3. Not
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
long after this a schoolhouse was built through the united efforts of the people. James Foster furnished poplar logs for the body of the house. C. H. Huntington furnished the burr oak logs for the foundation. The men of the district ent down trees and erected the building. A new house was erected on the same site about 1879. Al. Hicock was the first teacher in this house. Dis- triet 14. A log house situated on the southeast quarter of see- tion 5 and formerly owned by John Tiftt, housed the first school in the district. School was kept here four terms, beginning in 1856, with Nellie Hawkins as first instructor. In 1870 a frame building was erected for the school on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 5. The first who taught in this house was Amelia Houghton, afterward Mrs. M. B. Slocum. The building was later removed to the southeast quarter of section 5. District 15. The first school in this distriet was taught by Thomas Parker in a log house on the property of Joseph Thompson in the southeast corner of section 27. This was re- placed in 1867 by a frame building in the northeast quarter of section 34. The first teacher in this was a Miss Carpenter from Michigan. Five years later in 1872 a larger house was erected on the same site. J. W. Weiser was the first teacher in this building. This building was destroyed by cyclone and replaced with a frame edifice. A beautiful surrounding grove was also destroyed by the storm. District 70. This district was organ- ized in 1867 and the first school taught by Emma Smith, in a small frame house on the northeast quarter of section 19. In 1874 a larger building was erected on the old site. District 54. This district was organized in 1867 and the first house was built of logs on the southwest quarter of section 12, the first teacher being Cynthia Addington. In 1881 a good frame house was erected on the southwest quarter of section 13. Nina Bisbit was the first teacher in this house. District 57. This school is located in the southeast quarter of section 15. District 57, according to W. G. Pace, was organized August 17, 1892, and a schoolhouse built the same fall on the west side of the south- east quarter of section 15. Araminta W. Heseman was the first teacher. District 90. This district has a fine school in the vil- lage of Lyle. Excellent work has been done in manual train- ing and agrienlture in addition to the usual school duties. The schoolhouse is a well-equipped building of brick and nine teach- ers are employed. A history of this district is given in connec- tion with the history of the village of Lyle.
Waltham. Distriet 58. Waltham village. This district was organized in 1866 and a frame house ereeted on the northwest corner of seetion 15. The first school was a winter term in 1868. Dorothy Johnson Walker was the first teacher. The school is
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
now housed in a two-roomed frame building, one of the best equipped in the county. The pupils have a reputation for win- ning more prizes in industrial and educational contests than any other school in this part of the state. District 61. This district was organized in 1866. The first school was a summer term in 1867, taught by Emma Hoy, in a schoolhouse completed that year, located on the northwest corner of section 27. Dis- triet 89. This district was organized in the fall of 1874. A frame house was erected during the summer of the following year on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 35. The first school was the winter term of 1875-76 and was taught by J. L. Dole, substituting for his daughter Addie, who after being engaged to teach was taken ill. The schoolhouse is now located in the southwest quarter of section 26. Distriet 93. This was organized in the fall of 1875 and the following spring a frame schoolhouse was built on the northeast corner of section 30. The first school was taught by Belle Leighton. Dis- triet 110 was organized in 1881 and the first school kept by Flossie Brown, a frame house having been erected, in the south- east corner of section 6. District 124 has a school in the south- east quarter of section 1. According to John P. Johnson, the district was organized in 1893 and a schoolhouse built the same year on the present site. Nora O. Chandler was the first teacher. In 1910 the foundation was raised and laid with cement blocks, a new floor was put in and a Smith heating and ventilation sys- tem installed. District 126 has a schoolhouse in the north half of section 23. This district was organized in 1897. The school- house was brought from distriet 107 and moved west to its pres- ent location.
Red Rock. Distriet 38, Brownsdale village. This district was organized in 1856 and .a schoolhouse built that year. The first teacher was Sarah Tieknor. This house was burned in 1858, but immediately rebuilt. This house in turn was burned in 1871 and at onee replaced by a fine building. The village now has a four-room schoolhouse set in a beautiful grove. It became a graded school last year and is well equipped for excellent work. Distriet 37. The first school taught in this district was a select one under the management of Mrs. Angeline A. Tanner, in thie summer of 1859 at the house of Elder Milo Farril in section 13. The first district school was in the winter of 1860-61, held in the log granary of E. E. Tanner in section 12. In 1862 a frame house was erected in section 11. The first school in this house was taught by S. P. Stewart. District 39 was organized in the summer of 1858 and a two months' term of school taught by Tina Perry in the Redbush house in section 5, sessions being held in the homes of the district until 1864, when a frame house was
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
built. The school was erected in section 5. The first school in this house was under the management of Eliza A. Simes. Dis- triet 41. The first school in this district was in the summer of 1863, kept by Emma Hoy in a small house in seetion 33. The following summer the neighbors erected a temporary building of poles set in the ground and board up in seetion 34. The first school in this building was kept by Mary Lynch. This distriet was organized in 1865 and a frame house erected in section 34 the following summer. The first school in this house was also kept by Emma Hoy. District 42. The first school in this dis- trict was the summer term of 1865 in a board shanty erected for the purpose by the district and located in section 23. Susan Bacon was the first teacher. In the fall of 1866. the distriet erected a schoolhouse on the site of the shanty and Mrs. Sarah E. Brown was the first teacher. In the fall of 1876 the build- ing was removed to section 24. District 68. In 1869 an effort was made to organize this district, but owing to some irregu- larities nothing further was done until 1876, when the district was fully organized and a frame house erected in time for the summer term, which was taught by Lyle Lynch. The school is located in section 29. District 115. This district was organized in 1878 and a frame schoolhouse erected the following spring on the southwest corner of section 35. The first school in this house was taught by Mary Hathaway, who later became Mrs. Edward Slocum. District 116 was organized by the legislature of 1881. and the first sehool was taught that spring by Mary Rugg. The school is in the northwest corner of section 23.
Windom. District 40. This district was originally a part of distriet 23. The first school was taught in the spring of 1857 by Jane Reeves in a board shanty in section 6, owned by Henry Fero. In the fall of that year a log schoolhouse was erected in the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 6. This was the first building erected for educational purposes in the town- ship. Maria Slocum was the first teacher in this building. In 1867 the district was divided, and district 40 assumed its present number. Lumber was purchased for a schoolhouse, but for a time school was taught in a temporary shanty erected on the northeast corner of section 6. Maggie Smith, now Mrs. Man- chester, of Minneapolis, taught the first term there. Soon after a frame building was erected on the same site, and Amelia Hough- ton was the first teacher. District 23 originally included the pres- ent district 40. After the separation, in 1867, a temporary build- ing was erected in the southwestern part of the northwest quarter of section 7. Amanda Streavor taught the first term in this building. In 1868 a frame house was built. Rebecca Otis taught the first school in this building. District 24 was organized in
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
1857. The first school was taught by Mrs. Horatio Marsh in her home. Mary Slaven completed the term. The following year a schoolhouse was erected on the north half of the southeast quarter of section 20, by subscription. Kate Bailey was the first teacher in the house. In 1868 a frame house was erected on the north- east quarter of the northwest quarter of section 29, with Agnes Hull as the first teacher. District 88 originally included dis- triet 25, which now embraees Rose Creek village. The district was organized as No. 25, in 1859, and the first school was taught in Patrick O'Maley's house, with Sarah Slaven as first teacher. School was afterward taught in Michael Slaven's house. In 1864 a log house was erected on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 23, in which Rosetta Fuller taught the first term of school. In 1874 the district was divided, and the south half, now Rose Creek village, retained the old number. In 1876 a frame house was erected in the south part of section 13. District 25. After Rose Creek was designated as district 25, in 1874, and the remainder of the district set off as No. 88, a frame house was erected in the village and Mary J. Gregory taught the first term. In the summer of 1908 a four-room brick building was erected in Rose Creek, modern in every respect. District 22. This district was organized in 1865 and a frame house erected on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 10, in which Melinda Brown tanght the first school. Roswell Slocum donated half an aere for the schoolhouse site. The himber was drawn from Winona, Obadiah Smith erecting the building. Dis- trict 46 was organized in 1869. During the following year a board shanty was erected on the southwest corner of section 32. The first term of school was taught in that building by Maggie Smith. In 1874 a frame house was erected on the same site. James Woodard was the first teacher in this house. District 73 was organized in 1869. The first building was a cheap strue- ture erected on the southwest corner of section 14. Alice French was the first teacher. In 1876 a good building was ereeted on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 22, in which Newell Slocum was the first teacher. District 82. The first school in this district was taught in 1867 by Maggie Smith in a house erected by Thomas Smith in the northeast quarter of section 12. After three weeks a frame house was erected on the southeast corner of section 1, in which Addie Fairbanks was the first teacher. District 123. This distriet was organized and a sehoolhouse erected in 1893. Olive Savage was the first teacher.
Nevada. District 9. In 1857 the scholars living within the present limits attended a school taught by Osroe Peterson in the home of Hans Swenson. School was taught in other private houses until the winter of 1865-66, when a log schoolhouse was
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
built on the northeast corner of section 31, the money being raised by subscription. Afterward a tax was levied and the money refunded. Christiana Ooby was the first teacher in this house. In 1882 a frame house was erected a few rods west of the old site. District 11. The first school in this district was held in a board shanty owned by James Gerard, located in section 21. The next term was taught by Belinda Robinson in a claim shanty in section 22. The first schoolhouse in the town and district was built in 1858, on the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 28, Martin Hanson having given one acre for school pur- poses. In 1872 a new house was erected on the old site. The first teacher in this honse was Nels Kalkon. Distriet 10. The first school in this district was taught by Sarah Austin in 1858, in a claim shanty belonging to Gregg & Austin. In 1860 a log house was erected for school purposes in the southeast corner of section 7. Delang Richardson was the first teacher. Later a frame house was ereeted, and S. Clow was the first teacher. District 87. This district was organized in 1870 and a school- house erected the following year in the southeast quarter of section 23. Mary Gregg was the first teacher. District 104 was organized in 1878 and a frame house erected that same year, in the southwest corner of section 3. The first teacher was Minda HI. Ruland. District 56. A' frame schoolhouse was erected in this district in 1865 and the first school was taught the follow- ing year. The house is located in the southwest corner of section 1.
Sargeant. District 91. The first schoolhouse built in the town was in this district, in 1875, in the northeast corner of section 15. In the summer of that year Eliza W. Sargent taught the first school. A Norwegian school was started in the same house, with Knud Arhns as the first teacher. The sehoolhouse is located in the southern half of section 2. District 111 was organized in 1879. A schoolhouse was built that year on the northeast quarter of section 26. Ella King was the first teacher. Distriet 113 was organized in 1880, and a schoolhouse built on the southwest quarter of section 9. The first school was taught by T. H. Rounds. District 107. The schoolhouse in this district was completed in 1880, and was located just over the line in see- tion 13, Waltham township. This is the village school of Sargeant. District 114. The schoolhouse in this district is lo- rated in the northeast quarter of section 32.
Dexter. District 78. The first school in this district was the first in the town of Dexter, and was taught by Mrs. G. W. Bowles, at her home in a log house at the northeast quarter of seetion 33. in 1868. A schoolhouse was built the following year on the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 27. Dis-
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
triet 108 was organized in 1877. The schoolhouse was built the same year on the northwest quarter of section 36. The first teacher was Jennie L. Sehryver. District 106 was organized in 1877, and a schoolhouse erected in 1878 in the southwest quarter of section 29, Jennie Fairbanks being the first teacher. District 98 was organized in 1873 and the first school taught that year in the home of Nelson Huntington, by his danghter Mary, with a single pupil, her sister Rose. Later the territory of this district was attached to Dexter village. In 1877 the district was set apart and a schoolhouse built on the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 2. Andrew Quinn and Cora Chadbourne were two of the earliest teachers in this building. District 86. Dexter village. This district was organized in 1874. The first school was a temporary building, put up that year. School was taught in the winter of 1874-75 by Jesse King. In 1877 a new building was erected. At present there is a modern four-room school, well equipped in every . respect. District 121. The schoolhouse is located in the southwest quarter of section 16. This district, according to William Newbauer, was organized February 4, 1889, and a schoolhouse built the same year on the present site. The first teacher was Mary Siegel. District 125. The pupils of this district attend school in a schoolhouse on the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 11. According to G. B. Harvey the district, was organized about 1895, and the school- house erected the same year. Ethel H. Wilsie was the first teacher. District 129. This district has a school in the south- west. quarter of section 5. It is the youngest of all the Mower county school districts, and was organized July 12, 1905, under the good offices of W. L. Lewis, D. L. Tanner, F. E. Hambrecht, J. Johnson and William Christie. A schoolhouse was built the same year, and Anna Hanson was the first teacher. W. M. Phillips was the first elerk.
Marshall. Distriet 65 was organized in 1867. The first term of school was taught in Helga Erriekson's house, by Rosella Bourgard. The school was built in the southeast quarter of section 35. In 1879 it was moved to the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 25. Ida Waite was the first teacher after the removal. District 81 was organized about the year 1876, when a frame house was erected in section 2. School was first taught in 1878 by Ida Waite. This is the village school of Elkton. District 105 was organized in 1879 and a school- house erected in the northwest corner of section 34, the first school being tanght by Annie Christopherson. District 103. This district was organized September 20, 1879. A house was erected that fall in the southeast corner of section 17, and the first term was taught by George Emery in the winter of 1879-80.
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HISTORY OF MOWER COUNTY
District 120. The school in this district is located on the north- east corner of section 9. According to C. E. Thompson the dis- triet was organized in 1888 and the schoolhouse built that fall. Adams. District 6. This district was organized in 1858 and a small schoolhouse was erected of logs and covered with hay. The building was located in section 29. The term of school in this house was taught in the winter of 1858-59 by R. M. Rooney. The house was burned by a prairie fire the following summer. Another log house was erected on the site of the old one, and in this Mr. Rooney was also the first teacher. This building was likewise burned and a good substantial frame was erected one- half mile south of the old one in section 32. The first teacher in this house was Nils Nason. District 7 was organized in 1858. A schoolhouse was located in section 8. The house is now located in section 9. District 8 is the village school of Adams. It was organized in 1858, and a schoolhouse was erected in section 11 in 1873. At present there is a four-room graded school. District 71. This district was organized in 1871, and the first school was held the same year at the house of John Fagans, Robert Carter being the teacher. In 1872 a frame schoolhouse was erected on section 25. The first teacher in this house was Lizzie Boding. The pres- ent building is in section 26. District 72 was organized in 1871 and the first schoolhouse was built in section 22. Catherine Mad- den taught the first school. The school is now located in section 27.
Pleasant Valley. The first school in this township was taught by Carolina Hoag in the summer of 1858. The sessions were held in a small cabin, twelve by twelve, and eight feet high. This house stood on runners and during winters was used as a preemption shanty, remaining on one claim long enough for the occupant to "prove up," and then being hauled by an ox team to another claim. In summers it was generally stationed on sec- tions 11 or 12 and devoted to school purposes. Later it was converted into a wood shed. District 47. In the winter of 1860, before the organization of this district, a school was taught within its limits in the house of John Rowley. The first teacher was Alden Douglas. The district was organized in 1862. A schoolhouse was built the following season on the northern part of section 29. The first teacher here was C. D. Douglas. Dis- triet 48 was organized in 1863. Two early terms were taught in the house of E. B. Blakelee by Alden Douglas. The school- house was built in 1864 in the southwest part of section 15. Mary Hoag taught the first school. The present house is about half a mile north of the old site. District 51. The first school in this district was taught in 1861, by Mary Iloag, in Robert Reed's milkhouse. The organization was in 1865, and a building
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