USA > Missouri > DeKalb County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 40
USA > Missouri > Andrew County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 40
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Elizabeth Piper and B. F. Dixon were early teachers, and schools were taught in the village of Rochester soon after the town was laid off. The first schoolhouse in the town was a small frame structure, which was replaced in 1872 by the present two- story edifice, in which schools were taught the greater part of the year.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
The schools of this part of the county have always sustained the reputation of successful management, and, in point of efficiency, will compare favorably with the country schools of any part of Northwest Missouri. There are twelve good buildings in the township, all of which are well finished and furnished.
It is difficult to determine where, or in what year, the first school in what is now Benton Township was taught. As early as 1844, however, a man by the name of Maxwell taught a small subscription school in an outbuilding on the O. C. Rob- erts' place, near the central part of the township. This build- ing had been used for a kitchen by a former settler, but at the suggestion of the neighbors it was remodeled, and supplied with the furniture necessary for school purposes. Mr. Maxwell began his school under very favorable auspices, but it soon appeared that he was unfit for the position, on account of his habits of dissipation. Accordingly, after a short time, he was summarily dismissed, and another teacher employed. His successor was William Allen, now of Savannah, who completed the term to the entire satisfaction of pupils and patrons. The following year, 1845, a schoolhouse was built on the Rea farm, and an early teacher in the same was Judson Dyer. The first frame school building in the township was erected in the lower Neely Grove, a short distance northeast of Rosendale, and stood for a number of years. The Rosendale school building was erected in 1875, and as originally constructed consisted of a single room, to which a second story was added in 1884. The house is well finished and furnished, contains two commodious rooms, and is admirably calculated for a graded school. The average attendance of the Rosendale schools is about seventy-five; cost of running the same per year, $700. The teachers at this time are Prof. James Wil- kerson, principal, and Miss Allie Watts, assistant.
BOLCKOW SCHOOLS.
In 1872 a schoolhouse with a single room was erected in the town of Bolckow, but a few years sufficed to show that a build- ing of more commodious dimensions would be necessary to ac- commodate the rapidly increasing school population. Accord- ingly, in 1879, the district inaugurated measures for the erec-
246
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
tion of a building more in keeping with the dignity of the grow- ing town, which resulted in the erection of the present substan- tial brick structure the following year. This building is two stories high, and so constructed that when necessary an addition can be easily built to it. It represents a capital of $3,500, and is an ornament to the town and district. The first school board of Bolckow was composed of the following gentlemen: John H. Townsend, B. P. Williamson and W. H. Woodward. The pres- ent board is composed of C. W. Floyd, J. O. Dougan and Chris- tian Young; N. C. Noland, clerk; teachers for 1887 were Prof. R. E. Smith, principal, and Miss Angie A. Clark, assistant; tui- tion per year, $900; total cost of running the schools per year, $1,200. The school work of Benton Township at large is emi- nently satisfactory and gratifying, alike to teachers, pupils and patrons. The number of school buildings in the township, includ- ing those of Bolckow and Rosendale, is twelve, in which schools are taught for six months of the year.
It is not now definitely known who taught the first school within the present boundaries of Platte Township, but among the first teachers was Hon. Ephraim Myers, who began peda- goging early in the forties. The house in which he taught his first term stood on the McPeters' place, near the western boundary of the township, and had formerly been used as a dwelling. Mr. Myers was a strict disciplinarian, as many of the young men of the neighborhood learned to their sorrow, and the ability displayed in his effort to keep up an interest and develop the mental faculties of his pupils earned for him the reputation of a very successful teacher. Among those in attendance at his first school were Hon. David Rea, Judge Joseph Rea, Peter Stewart, Willis Summers, Benjamin Summers and a number of others, who became prominent citizens of the county in a later day.
A log schoolhouse was built on the Jonathan Rea farm about the year 1848, and among the early teachers therein were Judge William Herren, James Herren, Mrs. Chance, and a man by the name of Dyer. The Parker schoolhouse on the McPeters' land, erected early in the fifties, was probably the first frame school building in the township. Prior to its erection, however, several
247
STATE OF MISSOURI.
log buildings were put up in various parts of the township, among the first of which were the ones built on the farms of Joshua Yates and Allen Holt, A school was started at Whites- ville in an early day, and as the years went by the country was well supplied with comfortable and commodious schoolhouses. Of late years the schools have occupied a high grade, and to-day they compare favorably with the other schools of the county. The number of schoolhouses in use at this time is nine-all frame.
The early pioneers of Clay Township took an active interest in educational matters, and established schools within a short time after the country became settled. Near the central part of the township was built in an early day what was known as the Barker schoolhouse, and among the teachers in the same from time to time are remembered the following: David Tate, Mr. Starkey, Mr. Weaver, W. D. Hatton, Martha Higley and John Tucker. Other buildings of the primitive pattern were erected in different parts of the township, but the names of early teach- ers, aside from those enumerated, were not learned. Clay has kept pace with her sister township in scholastic matters, and at this time has seven frame schoolhouses, all of which are supplied with the modern educational appliances.
EMPIRE TOWNSHIP.
The first schoolhouse within the present limits of Empire Township was built near Flag Springs as early as 1844 or 1845, and stood a short distance west of the Baptist Church, on the Meek farm. It was a comfortable hewed-log building, and was first used by Christopher Miller. A building for school purposes was erected a little later, about one mile south of Flag Springs, on the George Boyles farm, in which Green McCafferty, B. F. Dixon, Henry Eppler and Thomas Cook were early teachers. A part of this building is now occupied as a dwelling by Oliver Boyles. The Shaw schoolhouse was built northwest of the springs, early in the fifties, as was also a log house a short dis- tance west of the Platte River. Among the early teachers at the village were Mr. and Mrs. McIntire, Elbert Shepherd and James Shepherd.
248
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
There were at this time eight school buildings in the town- ship-all frame and in good condition.
SAVANNAH SCHOOLS.
The initiatory step toward the development of the excellent school system of Savannah was not taken until a number of years had elapsed from the date of the city's first settlement. Indeed, educational matters seem to have occupied but a small share of the people's attention up to the year 1850. As already stated, the first school in the town was taught in the old courthouse by Rev. E. A. Carson. This building, after the erection of the present courthouse, was fitted up for school purposes, and as such was used for a number of years or until additional facilities were demanded to meet the wants of our educational system.
In the meantime the schools were slowly but surely devel- oped to a standard warranting the introduction of more advanced methods of instruction, to meet which want a stock company was formed, about the year 1853, for the purpose of founding a seminary in the city of Savannah. The leading spirit in the enterprise was Prince L. Hudgens, who donated to the institu- tion five acres of ground, and work upon a building was at once commenced, and prosecuted as rapidly as the nature of the case would allow. This building was a brick structure, two stories high, contained four commodious rooms, and cost several thou- sand dollars. Owing to certain misunderstandings among the stockholders of the company, the proposed seminary was not established, and the building, being left in an incomplete condi- tion, was subsequently purchased by the school district, of which Savannah formed a part, and opened for the use of the public schools. With the purchase of the building a new era in the educational economy of the city dawned upon the public, as additional interest was manifested.
Teachers better qualified for the work were secured, a more systematic plan of instruction and discipline was adopted, and men of energy and enterprise having been selected as members of the school board made it their duty to exercise a personal supervision over the educational interests of the city.
As the population increased, additional facilities for educa-
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
tional purposes were demanded. Accordingly in the year 1872 the school building was completely remodeled, and a large addition built, the cost of the same being considerably in excess of $11,000. As completed the building is one of the finest specimens of school architecture in Northwest Missouri, being two stories and a half high, and containing nine commodious rooms, all of which are well finished and supplied with the latest educational appli- ances.
The schools are properly graded, and in point of efficiency will compare favorably with the schools of any other city in the State. The following is the course of study adopted for the high school.
FIRST YEAR.
Fall Term-Physiology, higher arithmetic, mental arith- metic, analysis. Winter Term-History, higher arithmetic, mental arithmetic, analysis. Spring Term-History, higher arithmetic, analysis, reading.
SECOND YEAR.
Fall Term-Algebra, rhetoric, Latin or German, zoology. Winter Term-Algebra, natural philosophy, Latin or German, botany. Spring Term-Algebra, natural philosophy, Latin or German, botany.
THIRD YEAR.
Fall Term-Geometry, chemistry, Latin or German, algebra. Winter Term-Geometry, Latin or German, chemistry, algebra, Spring Term-Trigonometry, civil government, Latin or Ger- man, general history.
FOURTH YEAR.
Fall Term-Astronomy, English literature, general history, algebra. Winter Term-Astronomy and geology, American literature, mental philosophy, German or Latin. Spring Term -Geology, elocution, moral philosophy, German or Latin.
As a brief expose of the present condition of the city schools, the following figures from the last general report of the superin- tendent, Prof. L. M. Johnson, for the year ending June 30, 1887, will furnish the necessary information on these points of interest:
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
Number of white persons in the district, over six and under twenty years of age 378
Number of colored persons in the district, over six and under twenty years of age. 73
Total enumeration during school year.
451
Total enrollment of white pupils. 364
62
Total enrollment of colored pupils. Total enrollment. 426
Average number of days attendance by each pupil enrolled. . 121
Number of days school was taught during the year ..
178
Total number of days attendance by all pupils during the year.
47,006
Average number of pupils attending each day ..
263.61
Number of teachers employed. 9
Number of rooms occupied. 8
Number of pupils that may be conveniently seated in school rooms of the district. 400
Average salary of teachers. $
42 19
*Salary of superintendent per year. . 900 00
Average cost per day for tuition and enrollment. 061
Average cost per day on daily attendance.
10}
Value of school property in district building, grounds, apparatus, etc .. 12,000 00
Assessed value of property in district. 819,220 00
Number of cents levied on $100 for school purposes in the district. 55
Amount paid for teachers' wages during the year. . 3,847 56
Amount paid for district officers during the year .. 45 00
Amount paid janitor .. 360 00
Amount paid for other incidentals. 615 85
Amount paid for repairs. 786 86
Balance in treasury at end of year. 640 86
The statistics and the results show that the schools have made commendable progress. The teachers employed for the year 1887-88, are as follows: Superintendent, Prof. G. W. Newton; assistants, Maggie Vance, Mrs. Allah Woodbury, Ida Ford, Mary E. Cox and Nellie Wood. Teacher of the colored school is C. J. Lawton.
PRESENT STATUS OF ANDREW COUNTY SCHOOLS.
Number of school districts 85
Number of schoolhouses. 85
Number of frame houses. 81
Number of brick houses.
4
Number of white pupils 5,504
Number of colored pupils. 105
* The superintendent's salary has been increased to $1,000 per year.
251
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Total number of pupils.
5,609
Number of white pupils enrolled
4,608
Number of colored pupils enrolled.
48
Total number of days attendance.
388,277
Average days attendance .
84
Number of days taught (1885-86).
10,750
Average number attending each day
3,480
Number of rooms occupied.
98
Seating capacity of all rooms
5,100
Number of white schools.
85
Number of colored schools.
1
Number of teachers.
122
Number of teachers' licenses.
139
Average salary of teachers
$37 90
Cost per day per pupil.
.056
Value of school property
$7,200 00
Average levy.
.515
Total receipts (1885-86).
$38,055 33
Paid teachers.
24,726 00
Paid for fuel.
1,735 00
Paid for new buildings.
1,227 00
Paid for apparatus
390 15
Paid for rent and repairs.
416 90
Total expenditures. . .
29,893 20
Cash on hand, July, 1886.
8,162 13
Common school fund.
$54,000 00
Township school fund.
20,000 00
RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF SAVANNAH.
One of the first religious societies in Andrew County was a New School Presbyterian Church, organized on the 7th day of August, 1841, at a schoolhouse three miles west of Savannah, on a farm owned by Robert Elliott, Esq., but now known as the An- drew Barr place. The leading spirit in bringing about the organization was Rev. E. A. Carson, whose intention was to locate the church at the county seat as soon as that place was desig- nated. The first meeting was held in what was known as the Elliott schoolhouse, and, after preliminary business had been transacted, the following plan for the organization was adopted: "We, the subscribers and citizens of Andrew and adjoining counties, who have emigrated from other portions of the country and were members of the Presbyterian and other churches in Christ, since there are no churches in this newly settled country with which we feel disposed to unite, having" credentials from churches to which we belonged, believing that we are the chil-
252
HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
dren of God, and having a good hope of life through faith in Christ, and in all humility desiring to avail ourselves of the privi- leges of Christ's visible church from which we are now deprived, by serving Him according to the doctrines of God's word and ordinances of His house, and governed by the discipline of the Presbyterian Church, do, by subscribing our names, evince that it is our earnest solicitude to be organized into a Presbyterian Church, which shall be called by whatever name a majority of us shall wish and vote for at the time of organization. Further, we agree to be governed by the following regulations: I. That we covenant and resolve that we will place ourselves as a church under the New School Presbytery, when, in the providence of God, such a Presbytery may exist in this country, under whose spiritual supervision we can place ourselves. II. That we will remain without any ecclesiastical conviction until such Presby- tery may be in existence. III. That if any person among us be unwilling to perpetuate his connection with this branch of the church longer than the time in which they shall be deprived of their own, they may withdraw at any time." Then follows a number of rules and regulations by which the congregation was to be governed, all of which met the approbation of those desir- ing membership in the newly organized society. The list of names of the organizers is as follows: Rev. E. A. Carson, Mary J. Carson, Mary A. Rodgers, Gilbert Ray, Elizabeth Ray, Abra- ham Brubaker, Elizabeth Brubaker, George Brubaker, Julia A. Brubaker, Jane E. Hardy, W. H. Rogers, Robert Modrel, Jane Modrel, Harriet Castle, James Davis, Harriet Davis, Sarah A. Davis, John E. Davis, Thomas Rodgers, Keziah Beattie, David C. Montgomery, Jane Montgomery, Aury Ballard and Sarah Ballard.
James Davis, George Brubaker, Aury Ballard and W. H. Rodgers were elected elders, and the church, thus fully organized, started out upon its career of prosperity. Meetings were held at regular intervals on " Hackberry " until in December, 1842, at which time the organization began operations in Savannah, using for worship the old courthouse, which stood south of Capt. Mer- cer's present residence. Soon after moving to Savannah, the wants of the church began to foreshadow the necessity of build-
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
ing a house of worship of enlarged proportions for the accom- modation of its increased membership. Accordingly the requisite preliminary action was had in the matter, and in 1848 the new building was put under contract. In this movement, as in the organization, Rev. Carson took the leading part, and in order to procure the necessary funds for the building he sold a tract of forty-one acres of land lying just west of Savannah.
A lot was procured, and a neat brick structure, erected in 1848, which cost over $3,100, nearly all of which sum was gen- erously donated by Mr. Carson, who, besides, contributed a great deal of time and labor to the building.
Up to the date of the union of the New and Old School Churches, Rev. Carson exercised pastoral control over the con- gregation, during which period the church increased very materially in members and influence. A Sunday-school, the first in Savannah, was organized in the meantime, which, under the efficient management of Rev. Carson and his wife, proved a valuable auxiliary to the church. The church in 1870 had an active membership of sixty-three.
In 1849 an Old School Presbyterian Church was formed in Savannah by the consolidation of what were known as the Round Prairie and Flag Springs congregations. After a series of meetings conducted by Revs. R. H. Allen and Robert Syming- ton. The number of members was about forty-five, including those who identified themselves with the society during those meetings. Robert Elliott, William Nichols, Dr. H. Smith and Martin Boyles were chosen elders; and Rev. Charles Stewart came from Kentucky, and took charge as the first pastor and stated supply the same fall. He died in 1852 and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Symington, brother of the one above named, who min- istered to the church until 1861. After an interval, Rev. W. H. Stryker took charge, and continued until 1869, when J. E. Fisher became pastor, and supplied the church for one year. For some time efforts had been made to effect a union of the Old and New School Churches in Savannah, the majority of both congregations favoring the project, while others were strongly averse to the affiliation.
After repeated efforts, however, the union was finally consum-
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
mated on July 11, 1870, at which time the following elders were chosen by the combined congregations: Upton Rohrer, H. H. Dobbins and J. H. Tyner. Rev. Robert Cruikshank was chosen pastor, after whom, in 1873, came Rev. G. A. Pollock, who preached for a period of about one year, when Mr. Cruikshank was again called and remained until his resignation a little later, to accept a chair in the Highland ( Kansas) University. In 1875 Rev. W. G. Keady was called to the pastorate, and since the expi- ration of his term of service the following ministers have had charge: Revs. D. T. Roberts, W. T. Voss and James Reed. Present membership is thirty-two.
The building occupied by the Old School congregation was a brick structure, north of where the present house of worship now stands, erected about the year 1850. It was not very sub- stantially constructed, and becoming unsafe was torn down, and the present frame building erected in 1866, at a cost of $2,365. The building used by the New School branch was sold a short time after the union of the two congregations, to Mr. A. Schuster, who fitted it up for the use of the Catholic Church, of which he is a leading member.
A portion of the Round Prairie Church above named went to Fillmore and organized a society, and a little later Hackberry Presbyterian Church was formed by members of the Savannah congregation. The meeting place of the latter society is a beautiful frame house of worship on the Barr farm, a few miles west of Savannah.
Until within the past four or five years the Savannah Church grew and prospered, but recently, owing to removals, the mem- bership has greatly declined, there being at this time only about thirty-two belonging. The present officers are J. R. Caldwell, J. F. Waters and H. R. Stuart, elders. The Sunday-school is large, well conducted and prosperous. C. C. Somerville is super- intendent; Ida Schuster, secretary, and Mamie Stuart, organist. The teachers are Mrs. J. R. Caldwell, Miss Alice Mann, Mrs. Woodbury, Mrs. L. B. Reed, Miss Ella Morris, Miss Willis, J. R. Caldwell and H. F. Waters. Average attendance is about eighty- five.
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STATE OF MISSOURI.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
As the Methodist was one of the churches of pioneer work in Missouri generally, the denomination was early represented in the Platte country and Andrew County, especially. Soon after the first settlements had been made itinerants of the Methodist persuasion began to visit the locality, delivering their messages of peace and good will to audiences composed of a few of the scattered settlers, who not unfrequently were brought together through the instrumentality and patient seeking out and earnest solicitations of the messengers themselves. Of the early history of Methodism in Savannah but little is now known, the old rec- ords having long since disappeared, while the members who assisted in bringing about the original organization many years ago passed from the " Church Militant " to the " Church Triumph- ant." As early as 1841, however, meetings were held in differ- ent parts of the county, but no society appears to have been or- ganized until some time after that date. Among the early res- idents of Savannah were a number of earnest and God-fearing Methodist families, who, in order to maintain their religious standing, and keep alive their zeal in the cause of the Master, assembled from time to time in the old courthouse, where public worship was occasionally conducted by itinerant ministers who made missionary tours through the then sparsely settled counties of the Platte Purchase. Early in the forties a small class was formed in Savannah which numbered among its members several of the earliest settlers of the town and surrounding country. The names of the pioneer preachers are not now remembered, but about the year 1845 Rev. Benjamin Baxter visited the town at intervals, and ministered to the little congregation. About that time the following persons identified themselves with the class: Johnson Woods and wife, A. G. Clark, Dr. Charles Baker and wife, Dr. William Burnett and wife, Charles Blankenship and wife, Mr. Whitman and wife, and others whose names were not given the writer.
Among the early preachers are remembered Rev. Jesse Bird, Rev. Devlin and W. G. Miller, the last named having preached some time in the fifties.
Meetings were held usually in the courthouse, but often at
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HISTORY OF ANDREW COUNTY.
private residences, by the nucleus of a church, until about the year 1855, when a lot was procured on the corner of First and Main Streets, in the eastern part of the city, and a brick building erected thereon, which has since served the congregation as a place of worship. Until the breaking out of the Civil War this was the only Methodist Church building in Savannah, and was used jointly by both northern and southern branches of the de- nomination in this part of Andrew County. The first sermon in the building was preached by Rev. Benjamin Baxter, the occasion being the funeral of Mrs. Dr. Wakefield. The troublous times of 1860, and during the progress of the war, had a depressing effect upon the congregation, many members of which withdrew from the church, while others left the country or identified themselves with other societies. For a period during the war the church building was not used by the congregation, but after the close of the struggle a reorganization was effected, and meetings have been held at stated intervals ever since. The building has been remodeled at different times, and is still a comfortable house of worship.
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