USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people > Part 14
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Summit school house; H. C. Parrich, teacher, wages $35; five months term; good house, large and comfortable, seated with pine desks ; sixty-two pupils. This Is sub-district No. 2, township 30; range 30. A very good class of pupils and pretty well drilled; school a success, all seem interested in the support of a good school and as far as I could see labor to that end. I think tardiness a bad feature of this school ; also non attendance but on the whole the school is doing very well.
Range Line school house. This is the smallest school and the smallest house in the county I guess. There is strong talk of disorganizing the district as it appears impossible to sustain a school; but by disorganizing some must suffer, as they will then be too far from either Summit or Hackney. Miss Eva White is the teacher here at $25; fourteen pupils on register.
During November and December of 1873, Mr. Webster had a severe sick spell and during his illness John Bryant acted as superintendent.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
JASPER COUNTY TEACHERS' INSTITUTE (1873)
The meeting of the Jasper County Teachers' Institute at Joplin, October 1, 2 and 3, 1873, was a most successful gathering and drew out a large attendance, nearly every teacher in the county being present, The people of Joplin did the host splendidly and threw open their homes for the entertainment of the teachers. The meetings were held in the Methodist church.
The following were the officers of the assembly : S. A. Underwood, president; W. H. Lister, W. J. Seiber, G. L. Jackson, vice presidents; Mrs. M. A. McCallum, secretary; executive committee-J. M. Wims, S. P. Ormsby and J. M. Stephenson.
In the above list of officers appear the names of S. A. Underwood and J. M. Stephenson, both still in the teaching profession and prom- inent educators of Kansas City.
ORGANIZATION OF SIXTH DISTRICT TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
On September 3, 1873, the teachers of the Sixth Congressional dis- trict, comprising practically all of the counties of southwest Missouri, met in Carthage and organized the Sixth District Teachers' Associa- tion and the following teachers were elected as officers: President, Hon. John Monteith; vice presidents, A. H. Parker (Newton county), A. J. Wray (Barton county), and U. B. Webster (Jasper county) ; secretary, George H. Smeltzer.
This convention made the following recommendations: I. To teach Civil Government and Good Citizenship in the public schools. II. A compulsory educational law. III. A Southwestern Missouri Teachers' Normal.
S. D. McPherson succeeded Mr. Webster as county superintendent and during his administration nothing out of the ordinary occurred, save that a few new school districts were organized.
COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONER (1875)
The constitution of 1875 contained in it a number of wise provisions relative to public schools and after its adoption many new school laws were passed. The time of electing the superintendent was changed from the fall election to the annual meeting in April and thus the election was in a way, taken out of politics. The name was also changed from Superintendent to County School Commissioner.
S. A. UNDERWOOD (1877-83)
S. A. Underwood of the East Joplin schools (now principal of the Westport, Kansas City High School) was elected first county commis- sioner and reelected in 1879 and 1881, being the first county superin- tendent to be reelected. During Mr. Underwood's term of office, the county was honored by a meeting of the State Teachers' Association, in June, 1878, and was also noted for the several enthusiastic meetings of the Jasper County Teachers' Association.
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Mr. Underwood urged a uniform set of text books in the county, en- deavored to establish a course of study to be pursued in the several county schools and in many ways raised the standing of popular edu- cation in the rural districts. He also pursued the policy of publishing a report of his visits. We present here a score of his printed reports, with the view of showing the progress and changed conditions which has been brought about since the early 'seventies. The reports pre- sented here are extracted from the 1878 reports and show a marked contrast from the published reports of 1872.
S. A. UNDERWOOD (1875)
JASPER TOWNSHIP
Galesburg District-Ed Mitchell, Frank Sponable and Ed McFerron, directors; John H. Booton, teacher. Term began September 23d, and continues six months. Building and furniture second class. Seating capacity 46. District enumeration 45, enrollment over fifteen years of age 7, total 40, present 32. Here we find order, the movements of the pupils to and from recitation regulated, and pupils who recite do not depend upon the teacher to perform that duty for them. Too many teachers hold their pupils up and lead them through the recitation. Re- member that what the pupil does not recite independently is not recited. Mr. Booton is bringing the Galesburg school up to a level with other leading schools of the county. It pays to employ a good teacher even if to do so requires the payment of a reasonable sum for his services. Mr. Mitchell, one of the directors visited with me.
Silver Creek District-Three miles north of Medoc ; John Luster, M. K. Jones and Wm. Row, directors; J. C. Grason, teacher. Term of six months began Oc- tober 21st. District enumeration 31. enrollment 14, present 13. Building and furniture second-class. Seating capacity 18. This is Mr. Grason's fourth term. in Jasper county and he is teaching a good school. On the day of the recent election a prairie fire broke out in the neighborhood which destroyed a large, amount of fencing and would have burned the school house but for the hard work of Mr. Grason and the entire force of his school.
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Medoc District-R. G. Sloan, J. S. Enos and Ira Grayson, directors; Wm. J. Sailor, teacher. Term began October 7th, and continues five months. District enumeration 97, enrollment over fifteen years of age 6, total 71, present 58. Building and furniture second-class. Seating capacity 56. This is Mr. Sailor's sixth term in Jasper county schools and the Medoc school is doing thorough work under his management. Not a single case of whispering was noticed during any visit. General deportment good. The examination passed by the different classes did credit both to pupils and teacher. Dr. McPheters, and Mr. Welty, an ex-teacher, visited with me.
Amity District-One and one-half miles east of Joplin; Henry Moore, L. B. Osborn and S. A. Hopkins, directors; L. B. Osborn, teacher. Term of six months began September 20th. District enumeration 50, enrollment over fifteen years of age 3, total 41, present 31. Building and furniture first-class. Seating ca- pacity 28. In addition to school house and site the district property inclules a good set of outline maps, a Webster's Unabridged, a nine-inch globe, a teacher's desk and nineteen Victor folding desks.
GALENA TOWNSHIP
Dixon District-Three miles north of Joplin; A. Dixon, Henry Martin and Hiram Snapp, directors ; James R. Thomas, teacher. Term of seven months be- gan September 2d. District enumeration 99, enrollment over fifteen years of age 12, total 65, present 42. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 54. Value of district property $600. This is Mr. Thomas' first term and he is doing good work for a beginner. This is one of the leading districts of the western portion of the county and always has "number one" schools.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
High Hill District-Four miles southwest of Carthage; H. Robinson, F. J. Hazelwood and John Hornback, directors; G. B. Lowery, teacher. Term began October 7th, and continues three months. District enumeration 103, enrollment over fifteen years of age 5, total 39, present 32. Building and furniture first- class. Seating capacity 40. Mr. Lowery is teaching his first term and as far as I am informed is giving his patrons satisfaction. High Hill is one of the largest and oldest districts in the county, and although it has a school house much larger than the average, yet it can only seat less than half the pupils enumerated in the district.
Lynnland District-John Crandall, George Hille and John M. Peterson, di- rectors ; Harrison Hunt, teacher. Term of five months began October 21st. Dis- trict enumeration 67, enrollment over fifteen years of age 8. total 49, present 28. Building second-class, furniture third-class. Seating capacity 42. Mr. Hunt has taught in the county at intervals for several years. Lynnland School has a number of non-resident pupils and is making reasonable advancement under the charge of Mr. Hunt.
MINERAL TOWNSHIP
Alba School-Henry Hubbard, James M. Haworth and Wm. John, directors ; J. S. Rees, teacher. Term of five months began October 7th. District enumera- tion 70, enrollment over fifteen years of age 9, total 45, present 30. Building and furniture second-class. Seating capacity 30. The Alba school has been hard to govern and the pupils have been allowed to cut and otherwise injure the furniture. Under the management of Mr. Rees, who is now teaching his seventh term in the county, the deportment is rapidly improving and the recitations are becoming more thorough. The directors have placed in some new furniture, improved the interior of the school house and propose to do their part toward having a good school.
Blood District-O. H. Carpenter, M. A. Estey and E. Kerr, directors; O. W. Rose, teacher. Term began November 4th and continues four months. District enumeration 69, enrollment over fifteen years of age 5, total 32, present 29.
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Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 38. The school house is lo- cated near Salem Church nine miles north of Carthage and is one of the best in Preston township. A good pine fence with cedar posts and a neat coal house are the improvements made during the summer. Deportment and recitations are good and show that Mr. Rose is master of the situation. Mr. Estey visited with me.
King District-Isaac N. Johnson, James Pitts and Orville Frost, directors; Miss Alice Peterson, teacher. Term began November 4th and continues four months. District enumeration 72, enrollment over fifteen years of age 8, total 31, present 23. School house third-class, furniture first-class. Seating capacity 24. This is Miss Peterson's third term and her school compares favorably in deportment and recitations with any in the township. The reading recitation witnessed was excellent. Mr. Pitts, member of school board, visited with me.
Preston District-E. Pinney and I. Landerbaugh, directors; Miss Della M. Greene, teacher. District enumeration 55, enrollment over fifteen years of age 3, total 39, present 32. Building and furniture have been first-class but are now greatly in need of repairs. Seating capacity 58. The school is without a daily register. The vacancy in the board should be filled without delay as the law requires. This is Miss Greene's fourth consecutive term in this district. The good understanding between teacher and pupils and the thoroughness of the recitations show the advantages arising from retaining a good teacher.
North Fork District-J. W. Underwood, Joseph Cather and Isaac Herring, directors; J. W. Spaid, teacher. Term began September 16th and continues five months. District enumeration 50, enrollment over fifteen years of age 15, total 43, present 28. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 48. This is Mr. Spaid's second term in Jasper county; he has thus far secured employ- ment in our best districts and receives the highest wages paid in Preston town- ship. North Fork directors have "a number one" school.
Spring Hill District-J. J. Hall, D. N. Wood and Rees Williams, directors; W. H. Lester, teacher. Term began October 28th, and continues four months. District enumeration 83, enrollment 83, enrollment over fifteen years of age 15, total 64, present 58. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 64. This is the most spacious and best furnished school house owned by any rural district of the county and the Spring Hill people are justly proud of it. Mr. Lester has the school thoroughly systemized. Directors Hall and Wood visited with me and expressed their intention to strike the Eclectic primer, fifth reader and number three geography from the list of studies pursued in the school. This I consider a wise action and think other districts would do well to follow the example.
Hazen District-Alfred Kellum, Dr. Hazen and Virgil Irwin, directors; Mrs. S. A. Phelps, teacher. Term of four months began November 18th. District enumeration 33, enrollment over fifteen years of age 14, total 42, present 41. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 31. This is the only dis- trict in the township that owns an Unabridged Dictionary. The school is also supplied with charts and outline maps, and is making good progress under the charge of Mrs. Phelps, who is now teaching her fifth term in the county. George I .. Leaming one of Jasper county's leading teachers, visited with me.
Magoffin District-W. F. Stemmons, Geo. McCormick and Peter Schell, directors; Hiram Harry, teacher. Term of five months began October 7th. Dis- trict enumeration 45, enrollment over 15 years of age 5, total 39. Building sec- ond-class and furniture third-class. The directors will during the term supply the school with patent desks sufficient to accommodate 40 pupils. Willingness and promptness were noticeable merits in the classes examined and the recita- tions and deportment were good. District Clerk Simmons visited with me.
SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP
Deer Creek District-Jesse Lauderbaugh, Daniel Bishop and James Bro-
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bert. directors : J. T. Wolfe, teacher. Term of four months began November 4th, District enumeration 50, enrollment over fifteen years of age 5, total 31, present 25. Building and furniture third-class. Seating capacity 28. Class in mental arithmetic organized and doing thorough work. Our schools need more mental work. more analysis In arithmetic and less prompting from the teacher. Mr Wolfe has taught twelve terms in Bates county. this State. and we are glad to give him a place in our Jasper county schools.
MADISON TOWNSHIP
Schooler District-John N. Schooler, A. Elting and Paul Girton, directors; G. T Rhodes, teacher. Term began November 4th and continues four months. District enumeration 59. enrollment over fifteen years of age 13, total 50, present 40. Building and furniture third-class. Seating capacity 30. Mr. Rhodes is an Ohio teacher of long standing and is now teaching his second term in Jasper county. Here are found order about the desks, a teacher who conducts a reci- tation but does not recite, and pupils who are required to think and express thought. The teacher may direct but the pupil must do the work. That which the pupil does not recite is not recited. Let us think of this at each recitation.
Twin Grove District-Peter Samson, Allen Bobb and Reuben Kelly, directors; Miss Lizzie Rice, teacher. District enumeration 55, enrollment over fifteen years of age 4. total 43, present 30. Term of four months began October 28th. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 56. Too many geography classes. We have no use for Eclectic No. 3. The Eclectic primary and No. 2, contain much more geography than we will ever succeed in having our pupils remember, and the use of the third book is unnecessary, and only shortens other recitations. Miss Rice has a model class in mental arithmetic. She is teaching her third term in this district, which is the extent of her experience. The school is doing well. The log house of a year ago has given place to an excel- lent and commodious school building of which the citizens of the district are justly proud. The people of Twin Grove belleve in progress and have done the handsome thing in erecting and furnishing the building now occupied by the school.
JASPER TOWNSHIP
Georgia, City District-Jacob Myers. J. M. Woolomes and Thomas Enos, directors ; Miss Sue Gray, teacher. Term of five months began September 29th. District enumeration 103, enrollment over fifteen years of age 8, total 50, present 20. Building second-class and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 50. Miss Gray has taught eleven terms in the county and is now teaching her third term in this district. An exercise in phonetic spelling witnessed showed that the pupils had been patiently and thoroughly drilled in orthoepy which, though essential and interesting, is overlooked in some of our schools. The district is the owner of a large and well bound bible, the only one, I believe, owned by any district of the county. Georgia City pays her teachers liberally and invariably has good schools.
Center District-Ira Gray, Amos Atherton and J. A. Wilson, directors; Miss Josie Culpepper, teacher. Term began October 14th and continues five months. District enumeration 103, enrollment over fifteen years of age 8. total 50, present 25. Building and furniture first-class. Seating capacity 34. School is supplied with out-line maps and charts. Miss Culpepper succeeds unusually well in teaching mental arithmetic. A class of young ladies in civil government ac- quitted itself creditably. Good order and thoroughness in all the work gone over characterizes this school.
I'nion Valley District-W. H. Rhoads, George F. Bowers and Isaac Hend- ricks, directors ; A. R. Haughawout, teacher. Term of four months began Oct. 28th. District enumeration 72. enrollment over fifteen years of age, total 46.
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present 43. Building and furniture second-class. Seating capacity 44. The policy of the directors has been to pay the best wages and employ the best teach- ers, and they have thereby given the district a school that in point of advance- ment and thoroughness, ranks with the first district schools of the county. Mr. Haughawout is teaching his fifth term, and is doing good work, especially with the "little ones" (who are too often neglected) in primary reading and mental arithmetic. Any teacher not in possession of good methods in primary work would do well to witness the exercises of this school.
GALENA TOWNSHIP
Mt. Pleasant District-Six miles northeast of Joplin ; S. B. Holden, T. W. Witten and C. J. Parker, directors; J. C. Weddel, teacher. Term of eight months began May 13th. District enumeration 76, enrollment over fifteen years of age 3, total 50, present 8. Building and furniture third-class. Seating capacity 24. Mr. Weddel is a teacher of experience, having taught eighteen terms. The examination passed by the pupils present was satisfactory and showed that they were thorough in the work gone over. The daily register showed a large and regular attendance until late severe weather.
TWIN GROVE TOWNSHIP
Smithfield District-David Hopkins, W. M. Temple and John R. Walters, directors, T. A. Stockslager, teacher. Term of six months began September 2d. District enumeration 104, enrollment over fifteen years of age 10, total 67, pres- ent 31. Building second-class and furniture second and third-class. Seating capacity 32. This school contains wide awake pupils, earnestly at work and respectful to their teacher who in turn treated them with merited kindness.
These twenty reports the author selected from his one hundred printed reports and they represent the conditions of the county at that date. It will be noted that in a few of the districts the old house and furniture of the ante-bellum days was still in use, also that in most of these, laboring against such adverse circumstances, the schools were a success, showing that, after all, it is the teachers and the pupils that made a good school.
STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION (1878)
The Missouri State Teachers' Association held its seventeenth ses- sion in Jasper county, honoring both Carthage and Joplin with a ses- sion, the visit to Joplin being largely of a sight-seeing tour and for the purpose of seeing the mines and twenty lead furnaces that were in full blast.
The feature of this meeting was the organization of the teachers of the several portions of the state into local associations, the old Sixth District Association changing its name to the Southwestern Missouri Teachers' Association.
The following were the officers of the Southwestern Missouri Teach- ers' Association at this organization meeting: S. A. Underwood, presi- dent; the county commissioner of each of the twenty-five counties em- braced in the association, vice presidents; J. C. Mason, secretary ; Paul Roulet, treasurer.
At the close of the meeting the citizens of Carthage tendered a re- ception to the visiting teachers, using the new opera house for the occasion. The reception was a brilliant affair.
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SINGING SCHOOL
During the early days it was quite common for the music-loving peo- ple of a county or village school to organize singing schools and they were very popular and largely attended. The largest singing school ever organized in a country school in Jasper county was at Preston during the winter of 1878-9. E. P. Searl of Carthage was secured as instructor and here one hundred singers gathered and sang away the cares of the day. This singing school became quite famous and contained some of the best singers of the county.
UNIFORM TEXT BOOK LAW
In 1879 S. D. Carpenter, through the columns of his paper, the Patriot, advocated a uniform state text-book law, and we refer here with great pride to the fact that the agitation which finally resulted in the passing by the state legislature of a uniform text-book law began in Jasper county.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
W. R. McLane, a negro, was granted a teacher's certificate August 23, 1877; was the first colored person in the county to successfully pass the examination, and was therefore the first colored teacher in the county.
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CHAPTER XIII
COUNTY SOCIETIES
OBJECTS OF THE GRANGE-GREAT HARVEST HOME CELEBRATION-POMO- LOGICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY-MCDONALD TOWNSHIP FARM- ERS' CLUB-JASPER COUNTY SHEEP-JASPER COUNTY IMMIGRATION SOCIETY-THE SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL SOCIETY-COUNTY JAIL- JASPER COUNTY OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION-COLONEL YOUNG AND THE COUNTY OF '65.
During the early 'seventies there came into great popularity in Jas- per county a farmers' organization, the Patrons of Husbandry, but pop- ularly known as "the Grangers."
OBJECTS OF THE GRANGE
I. To develope a better and higher manhood among its members. II. To cultivate a love of home.
III. To preserve inviolate the laws and customs of the American nation.
IV. To reduce the cost of living and discourage extravagance in local, state and national governments.
V. To promote harmony and encourage patriotism.
VI. To facilitate better and cheaper transportation.
VII. To encourage cooperation and to bring together, in a stronger bond of union, the farmers of the land.
In 1872 seventeen granges were organized and by 1874 the order had spread into almost every school district.
GREAT HARVEST HOME CELEBRATION
On October 1, 1873, the Grangers had a great demonstration at Carthage, which brought together the farmers from both Jasper and Newton counties. The speakers of the day were Norman J. Coleman, editor of the Rural World, and T. R. Allen, grand master of the Mis- souri State Grange. We clip the following from the Carthage Banner, as it will give a vivid idea of the magnitude of the gathering and the importance of the event in farm circles.
THE FARMERS' FEAST.
A PROCESSION TWO MILES LONG-HUNDREDS OF GRANGERS TURN OUT WITH THEIR FAMILIES-TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THREE WAGONS IN LINE-THEY MARCH THROUGH THE CITY WITH FLAGS AND BANNERS-SPEECHES BY T. R. ALLEN, MASTER STATE GRANGE, AND COL. N. J. COLMAN.
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Yesterday was a gala day for the farmers of Jasper county. Although cloudy in the morning, by eight o'clock the sky was clear and by nine the crowds began to gather in the city from all quarters. Farmers with their wives and chil- dren came to enjoy the feast that had long been preparing for them. Everybody turned out-mechanics, artizans, laborers, merchants, lawyers. printers, bankers and speculators, land sharks, bloated bond-holders, and persons bloated who are not bond-holders, office-holders. office seekers and aspiring politicians, fresh from the barber shops slicked up with hay seed hair dressing, all eager to swell the throng, and anxious to be counted a "friend if not a lover."
On the arrival of the train, a committee consisting of Judge Conard, W. I. Bullis, and J. A. Bodenhammer met the speakers with carriages and the band and escorted them to the City Hotel where ample arrangements had been made for their accommodation. By ten o'clock the city was full of spectators, and the Grangers waiting on the principal roads a short distance out for the signal of march which was soon given. Dashing Cutler, the railroad's greatest enemy, mounted on his fiery steed, led the van ; following was the band wagon carrying the Carthage Silver Cornet band. discoursing excellent music. Grange after Grange followed, some with the flag of our country gallantly streaming. and others with lanners with the name and number of the Grange and mottoes significant and insignificant.
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