USA > Missouri > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Missouri > Part 8
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Reading : chiefly from "Readers," with much grammar.
Arithmetic: chiefly for the boys.
United States History.
Penmanship; sometimes taught by special "writing schools."
There was little or no geography, physiology or government. Music was also taught. largely by "singing schools." The writing and singing schools were separate schools, conducted by men and women who were specialists in these branches.
The above curriculum was extended almost indefinitely when there would be students in a community who wanted more education and they could find a teacher who could give it to them. The first uni- form course of study suggested for the public elementary schools of
I32
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
the state was that made by State Superintendent of Schools Edwin C. Davis. In a circular dated September 20, 1855, he provided for five classes, and the "Fifth or High Class" should, he said, be ready to "continue orthography, reading, writing, mental and written arithme- tic. English composition, declamation, English grammar, history and algebra. This class is now prepared to study, in addition to the above branches, chemistry, geology, mineralogy, geometry, surveying, rhetoric, intellectual philosophy, logic and astronomy."
While such a course of study could not have been generally extended to the elementary schools, no doubt there were some schools that did study, to some degree, all these subjects.
Early Methods .- The methods of instruction involved chiefly memo- rizing. Spelling, geography, and all other subjects were, as far as possible, learned by rote. Names of things to be learned were often grouped so that when recited aloud, they would have a swing to them, sometimes rhyme, and would be given in a sing-song.
The school hours were "from sun to sun." The term was short, four months being the longest up to the Civil War, except that some- times the subscription schools would be three months' fall school and then an additional two months in the spring.
Present Studies and Methods .- The development and changes in our public elementary schools have been:
1. In the course of study: (a) In the elementary schools ; a greatly increased amount of reading, both in and out of school, and both of general literature and also of collateral reading in connection with other studies. Every first-class country school is now required to have a library containing more volumes than could have been found in the early days in all the elementary schools of the state put together. (b) In the high schools; a great increase in vocational subjects and training.
2. In the methods of instruction: (a) In the elementary schools : the development of and appeal to the interest of the student in the work. instead of the rote system. (b) In the high schools: the adapta- tion of the school work to the student's individual character and talents.
Results of Early and Present Education .- Our forefathers in this county had meager school facilities of all kinds. But their appreciation of them, together with the struggles they necessarily encountered in
I33
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
their daily lives under pioneer conditions, resulted in an actual training of a high value. Further, on account of the very fact that the things they learned were so few, compared with today, and that fewer things made up their whole lives, their judgment about these things and their "common sense" was probably better than ours today.
Today any good high school graduate has more information than the college graduate of early days. By this knowledge he avoids much of the waste of all kinds, mental and material, due in the old days to ignorance, and can, and usually does, achieve far more material results.
The writer believes that the next great step will be one that is already going on, and that is to train our children in actually doing things, instead of merely learning about things.
How to convert the knowledge he acquires in the class room into actual results in his life, however, the student learns after he leaves school, and often very poorly, slowly and sometimes practically never at all. Our schools do not train the students in the actual getting of results, but only gives them the preliminary knowledge.
Special High Schools .- The Jackson township high school at Elm is a private high school, and the Fayetteville high school was started by private subscription. The history of these schools follow:
Rural High Schools .- (By Paul W. Osborne.)
[Editor's Note: This history is obtained through Mr. J. N. Hutchin- son, one of the school's active organizers, and Mr. Paul W. Osborne, its present principal, and is written by Mr. Osborne. ]
The rural high school will be one of the main educational institutions of the future.
It is not possible for everyone to secure a college education but it is possible for everyone to secure a good high school education.
We have quite a few consolidated high schools in Missouri and they are doing a great work. However, it is not always possible to vote consolidation, and where this condition prevails something must be done. It is not always possible to do what the people of Elm have done, but it goes to show what a few enthusiastic school workers can do if they try. We believe that what Elm has done, any community can do if the people will just put their shoulders to the wheel.
The Elm High School .- The Elm high school was organized in April, 1913. Two thousand dollars worth of stock was subscribed at
I34
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
twenty-five dollars per share, and a building committee appointed. This committee constructed the present two-room building and began school work the following September.
The plan was to begin with the ninth grade and add an additional year's work each year until the school was doing four (+) years' high school work.
The stockholders elected the following first board of directors: I. W. Phillips, J. N. Hutchinson, T. J. Haile, J. E. Snow, Urias Carlyle, and William Kephart. At a meeting of the directors. A. L. Burks was elected as teacher. A tuition fee of thirty dollars per year was agreed upon.
The school opened with twenty-four students, twelve girls and twelve boys.
The second year forty-two students were enrolled, with A. L. Burks as teacher. In the fall of this year a barn was built for the students' horses.
C. O. Williams and his sister, Miss Pearl Williams, were the teach- ers the third year, and forty-eight students enrolled.
The fourth year started with fifty-six (56) enrolled, with Paul W. Osborne as principal and Miss Pearl Williams as assistant. During this year, the full four (4) years' work was done.
The first graduation was April 18, 1917, of nine girls and nine boys.
The fifth year, 1917-18, Paul W. Osborne was re-elected principal and Miss Lee Druna Hiatt made assistant. The enrollment for this year was thirty-three (33). The entire enrollment for the five (5) years, is eighty-two (82) students.
The university and normal allows the school fourteen units credit on work done.
Farmers' (Fayetteville) High School .- (By W. L. Robbins.)
[Editor's Note: Mr. Robbins is one of the active workers of Hazel Ilill township and for Hazel Hill township, and has done and is doing much for his community. He was one of the organizers of this school. ]
Consolidated District No. 3 is composed of four districts in Hazel Hill township,-Salem, Coleman, Fayetteville, and Neff districts. A meeting was held of the districts and there was cast an almost unanimous vote for consolidation, but later the two-thirds vote for bonds for build- ing failed. Money to run the school, however, was voted. So a building was put up, for temporary use, by a popular subscription of four hun-
I35
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
dred dollars. School opened September, 1916. Another bond election was held December 24. 1916, and $6,000 bond issue was then voted, by two votes over two-thirds.
The contract was let in the fall of 1917, and the building is now almost completed, costing about $8,000, $2,000 being from state aid. Pupils were enrolled the first year: forty-one are enrolled now. There are two teachers, an eight months' term, and a three years' course approved by the state.
First Board .- George Young, president; W. E. Allworth, vice- president ; WV. O. Redford, clerk: A. J. Dyer, treasurer; Joseph Roach and W. I. Robbins, all directors. First teacher, R. G. Bigelow ; present teachers, Miss Bessie Day, principal: and - Williams.
The chief workers for the consolidation at first were Mrs. B. D. Schooling and Mrs. Charles Cobb, joined by present board and Mr. Robert J. Martin. The temporary building was from contributions by everybody, large and small, the first contribution of fifty dollars being from Mr. Martin. The merchants of Odessa and Warrensburg also assisted.
The building is 30 by 64, divisible into three rooms, or can be used as a single assembly room with stage on one side. A basement is underneath the whole building. There are six acres of land.
This is the first public, strictly rural, consolidation with a high school in the county.
The Johnson County Public Schools of Today.
(By R. H. Boston, County Superintendent of Schools.)
(Editor's Note: Mr. Boston was born in Johnson county, of pio- neer parents; first taught school here twenty-two years ago, was elected county superintendent in 1911, and has been re-elected ever since. )
The public school system of Johnson county consists of 115 dis- tricts, each with one elementary school; two districts, each with one ele- mentary school and one two-year high school; six districts, each with one four-year high school, and from four to six elementary schools.
The above elementary schools include for negroes, one in Warrens- burg. one in Holden, one in Centerview, one in Montserrat, one in Dis- trict 42 (Lynn in Simpson township ), and one in District 77 ( Murray in Columbus township).
The school term is seven to eight months in the country, except one
I36
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
school has only six months. All town schools have nine months. The school hours are from 9 to 12 and 1 to 4, with two 15 minute recess periods.
The qualifications of the teachers range from third grade county cer- tificates to "90-hour" diplomas from the Normal School. About one- third of the teachers have county certificates and two-thirds have normal or university certificates. The salaries of teachers are from $35 to $70, in the country, with an average of $53. In the town grades they are from $40 to $50; in the high schools, from $60 to $100. The town superin- tendents receive from $900 to $1,800 a year.
The course of study is the regular state course. It consists of read- ing and arithmetic from first to eighth grades; geography, history and language work from third to eighth grades; nature study from third to sixth grade, and agriculture in seventh and eighth grades; civil govern- ment in seventh and eighth grades.
A complete list of the school houses of the county, their location in the township, enrollment of pupils, 1916-17, volumes in library, and name and address of clerk, is as follows:
(Abbreviations: SW, southwest ; SC, south central; SE, southeast ; NW, northwest; NC, north central; NE, northeast; EC, east central; NC, north central; WC, west central; SC, south central.)
Centerview Township.
Loca-
No. of
tion.
Dist.
Name.
Pupils.
Vols. in Library.
Clerk.
Address.
NC. 82
Fulkerson
18
50
Wilbur Hunter
Centerview
C. Con. 1
Centerview
90
200
E. P. Hering
Centerview
NC.
Houx
30
100
E. P. Hering. Centerview
EC.
Scroggs
13
75
E. P. Hering Centerview
SC.
Glenwood
14
85 E. P. Hering
Centerview
SW.
Stony Point
14
100 E. P. Hering
Centerview
IVC.
Gowan
27
75
E. P. Hering
Centerview
SW.
72 Briscoe
20
40
Thomas Dunn
Centerview
Chilhowee Township.
C. Con. 2 Chilhowee
120
300 J. H. Russell, Jr Chilhowee
EC. " 2 Rocky Point
21
70 J. H. Russell, Jr. Chilhowee
WC. " 2 Carpenter
14
120 J. H. Russell, Jr. Chilhowee
I37
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Loca- tion.
No. of Dist. Name.
Pupils.
Vols. in Library.
Clerk.
Address.
NC. 2 Old Chilhowee_ 13 50
J. H. Russell, Jr Chilhowee
NC. 68 Science Hill. 6
25
Harry Kilmer Chilhowee
NE. 51 Hazel Mound __ 30 10 Chas. Hamilton Chilhowee NE. 56 Locust Grove __ 21
50 O. Bird Warrensburg
NC. 54 Masonic Hall 17
75
F. P. Cleland Centerview
NW. 75
Barthick
18
100
R. L. Raker
Holden
NW. 143 Magnolia
14
200
Geo. B. Graham Magnolia
WC. 67
Denton
27
100
Frank Evans Denton
SW. C4
Carrington
Blairstown
Columbus Township.
C.
85
Columbus
31
75 Asa Hyatt
Columbus
NE.
83
McCoy
14
80
R. W. Greenwell Columbus
WC. 87 Cross Roads
22
115 J. H. Fitzgerald. Pittsville
EC. 88
Shilo
13
40 E. W. Henry. Centerview
SE. 84
Waldon 11
25 Thompkins Rice_Warrensburg
NE. 83
McCoy
14
100 Mrs. Faust Wilson_Centerview
NW. 89
Highland
13
50 H. C. Vance
Odessa
SW. 77
Murray
20
20 Henry Hilke Holden
SW. 141
Preuss
20
30
R. J. Cheatham Columbus
Grover.
C.
18 Lowland
18
25
F. Lebbencamp __ Knob Noster
NWV.
22
Oak Ridge
14
100
D. A. Borgstadt
250 Wm. Wolfrum Concordia NE. 19
75 C. E. Maddox Knob Noster SC. 20 Cana
16
20
J. E. Foster Knob Noster
EC. 15 Brush Hill
21
50
O. C. Forsythe Knob Noster
WC. 16 Sunny Side
20
25 R. N. Cox Knob Noster
SW. 17 Hepsidam
35
75 Chas. D. Hulse __ Knob Noster
WVC. 129
Maple Grove
12
40
Otto Baldwin. Knob Noster
Hazel Hill.
NW. Con. 3
Farmers H. S.
25
50 WV. O. Redford.
Fayetteville WC. Con. 3 Salem
30 100 W. O. Redford. Fayetteville NE. Con. 3 Neff
28 50 WV. O. Redford. Fayetteville EC. Con. 3
Fayetteville 32 150 W. O. Redford. Fayetteville
41 300 W. O. Redford. Fayetteville NW. Con. 3 Coleman
Concordia NE. 23
County Line
30
Woodland
18
138
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Loca- No. of Dist.
Name.
Pupils. Library.
Clerk.
Address.
SE. 62
Liberty
14
100
W. L. Newton __ Warrensburg
SE. 63
Walker
22
250
D. R. Camron ___ Warrensburg
SW. 64 Green Door
9 20 Joe Simmerman_Warrensburg
SC.
136 Pleasant View. 28
52
J. L. Hedges. Warrensburg
SWV. 59
Mt. Moriah
14
100
D. E. Hizer Warrensburg
Jackson Township.
NWV. 119
Liberty
21
100
J. C. Wilkerson
Bates City
WVC. 121
Basin Knob
24
75
R. H. Carter
Kingsville
WC. 120
Fairview
22
100 J. W. Phillips Kingsville
C. 106
Elm
31 200 S. W. Beall Kingsville
NC. 105
Pleasant Grove. 29
25
A. R. Wolfenberger_Pittsville
NE.
104
Rocky Ford
39
200
Lloyd Helm
Pittsville
EC. 107
Pittsville
30
150
J. L. Patterson Pittsville
SE. 103 Douglas
24
50 C. M. Geltner Holden
SC.
100
Lincoln
37
200
D. J. Connell Kingsville
SW. 117
Lone Walnut
15
150
Calvin Hale Pleasant Hill
Jefferson Township.
IVC.
1 Valley Grove_
25
50
Eugene Herndon
Leeton
EC.
2 Pleasant Greene
26
75 Perrin Gibson
Windsor
SE 3 Hillside
20
100
L. B. Sutherland Windsor
SW.
4 Sunny Side 60
50
G. M. Herndon Windsor
NW.
5 Flardonia
16
0 J. L. Johnson Knob Noster
NC. 6 Brushy
13
20 J. R. Stevens Knob Noster
NE. 9 Eldorado
20
50 F. D. Wolfe Green Ridge
NW. 135
Crab Orchard 40
10 H. Sterling Leeton
Kingsville Township.
FC.
95 Sankey
9
125
Alex Long
Kingsville
NE. 101
Everett
20
150
J. K. Denny
Kingsville
SW. 111
Duncan
11
75
J. H. Fitzgerald Kingsville
WC. 115 Ralston
17
150 M. M. Connell
Kingsville
NW. 116
Howard
17
20 Raymond Ilill Kingsville
C. 127 Kingsville 120
300
Elmer Angel Kingsville
Vols. in
tion.
139
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Madison Township.
Loca-
No. of Dist.
Name.
Pupils.
Library.
Clerk.
Address.
SE.
74
King
24
150
R. L. King
Holden
WC. 95 Sankey
7
114
Alex Long
Kingsville
EC.
98 Flynn
16
50 C. H. Skerlock
Holden
NC.
99 Grant
41
150 B. H. Vaughn
Holden
NC. 102
Roberts
23
250 Chas. Christenson
Holden
C.
126
Holden
A. E. Mayhew
Holden
NE. 79
Round Grove
16
150
Allen Roberts
Holden
Montserrat Township.
SC.
12 Diamond Point
11
0 Mrs. Edw. Rieber Knob Noster
SE.
30 Pleasant Point .
20
150 Geo. W. Adams_Warrensburg
SW. 31 Adams
16
75 W. J. Kinsey __ Warrensburg
SW. 37 Dawson
18
100 Frank Haller _Warrensburg
NC. 38 Valley View 19
75 D. M. Hedges Montserrat
C.
40 Montserrat
9
50 C. M. Scroggs
Montserrat
C.
40 Montserrat Col ._ 20
0 C. M. Scroggs Montserrat
NC. 137
Oak Grove
30
150 C. M. Pfeffer Montserrat
Rose Hill Township.
C.
90
Scaly Bark
24
120
M. A. Reed
Holden
EC.
91
Doak
29
150
J. C. Raber
Holden
SE. 4 Star
9
Blairstown
NC. 93
Stout
20
100
A. Rehder
Holden
NE.
96 Cass
20
150
C. G. Yoder
Holden
EC. 97 Pleasant Shade_
16
50
J. H. McDougal Holden
SW. 108
Mt. Xenia
31
200
Robt. Wert Latour
WC. 109
Rose Hill
25
115 Chas. Sheller
Latour
WC. 110
Latour
34
75 W. A. Smith
Latour
NIV. 114
Orr
16
10
B. D. Mckay Kingsville
SC. 120
Quick City
17
150
C. F. Lawson
Blairstown
Simpson Township.
EC.
21 Valley City
21
50 P. M. Estes
Knob Noster
SW.
41 Mason
18
75 R. H. Wood, Jr. _ Warrensburg
C.
42 Lynn
22
50 W. R. Reynolds Warrensburg
SE.
43 Victor
20
40 D. L. Jones Warrensburg
tion.
Vols. in
1.40
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Loca- No. of
tion. Dist. Name.
Pupils.
Vols. in Library.
Clerk.
Address.
NC. 44 Bowman
18
50
Gustav Ferking
Aullville
NE. 45 Eureka
27
100 Alven Zumbehl
Aullville
SW. 133
Foster
21
75
Will Benton
Warrensburg
Warrensburg Township.
SE.
32
Valley
14
100
J. W. Bowman _Warrensburg
EC.
36 Union Prairie
17
150
H. J. Shumate _Warrensburg
SE. 39 Grove
10
75 Miles Murphy __ Warrensburg
SC.
55 Oakland
33
150 J. C. Leary Warrensburg
C. 125 Warrensburg
L. C. Gore Warrensburg
NE. 140
Prairie View
10
25
Frank Pick
Warrensburg
Washington Township.
SW.
7 Lemley
30
50
Geo. Lyle
Knob Noster
SE.
8 Prairie Home
17
100
F. S. Jarvis
Knob Noster
NE. 10 Oak Grove
14
150 W. F. Redd
Knob Noster
NC.
11 Brushville
24
50 G. W. Knaus
Knob Noster
EC. 13 Pleasant Prairie_
12
100 H. A. Werner Knob Noster
SC.
14 Woolery
20
200
E. W. Brim Knob Noster
C. 124 Knob Noster
J. C. Metts
Knob Noster
School Attendance and Illiteracy.
The following official statistics are from the United States census for 1870 and 1910:
1870.
Attended School.
Foreign 91
Total
4,759
White, 10 to 15 -
Native
4,727
Male 63
Foreign
32
Female 51
White-
White, 15 to 21-
Male 2,357
Male 90
Female
2.231
Female 67
Colored-
White, 21 and over-
Male 82
Male 297
Female 89
Female 361
Cannot read, 10 and over 1,326
Colored, 10 to 15-
Male 52
Cannot write, total 1,668
Native 1,577
Female 41
I11
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Colored, 15 to 21 --
Colored, 21 and over-
Male
Female 110
69
Male
197
Female 270
1910.
Illiteracy, 1910.
Illiterate Males of Voting Age.
Total number illiterate
363
Per cent. illiterate
4.7
Per cent. in 1900
6.0
Native white, number illiterate_206
Per cent. illiterate
.6.3
Foreign-born white number il-
literate
18
Per cent. illiterate
2.9
Negro, number illiterate
139
Per cent. illiterate
35.4
Persons 10 Years Old and Over.
Total number
20,976
Number illiterate
662
Per cent. illiterate
3.2
Native white, number
19,447
Number illiterate
354
Per cent. illiterate
1.8
Foreign-born white, number
500
Number illiterate
35
Per cent. illiterate
7.0
Negro, number
1,029
Number illiterate
273
Per cent. illiterate
26.5
Persons 10 to 20 Years, Inclusive.
Total number
5,885
Number illiterate
36
Per cent. illiterate
0.6
School Age and Attendance. Total number, 6 to 20 years,
inclusive
7,963
Number attending school _5,930
Per cent. attending school
_ 74.5
Number 6 to 9 years
2,078
Number attending school _1,738 Number 10 to 14 years 2,721
Number attending school 2,612
Number 15 to 17 years
1,556
Number attending school _1,119 Number 18 to 20 years 1,608 Number attending school _ 461 Persons 6 to 14 Years, Inclusive. Total number 4,799
Number attending school _4,350
Per cent. attending school _ 90.6 Native white, native parent- age, number 4,356
Number attending school _3,98C
Per cent. attending school _ 91.4 Native white, foreign or
mixed parentage 223
Number attending school _ 201
Per cent. attending school _ 90.1 Foreign-born white, number_ . 5 Number attending school - 1 Negro, number 215
Number attending school _
168
Per cent. attending school _ 78.1
CHAPTER X .- STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. District No. 2.
EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH NORMAL SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI-ORIGIN OF THE WAR- RENSBURG STATE NORMAL SCHOOL-HOW THE NORMAL SCHOOL OPENED- THE NORMAL SCHOOL SINCE THE FIRE-OUTLINE OF COURSE IN DIDACTICS BY PRESIDENT BEARD: CULTURE, INSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT-TRAINING SCHOOL - SUMMER SCHOOL - ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT - TECHNICAL DE- PARTMENT.
It is said that the first normal school in the country was opened July 3, 1839, at Lexington, Massachusetts, upon a joint under- taking of the state and Timothy Dwight, a "merchant prince"; that by 1854, four normal schools were endowed by Massachusetts and that she was followed by New York, Maine, Vermont, and by 1869 by a dozen other states.
In Missouri, the official record of the efforts to establish normal schools, is briefly as follows:
In 1842, State Superintendent of Schools James L. Minor called atten- tion to normal schools abroad, especially Holland and Prussia, and urged their establishment here as the best single agency towards efficiency in the common schools.
November 16, 1846, Superintendent Faulkland M. Martin called attention to "the prevalent opinion that a school for the education of young men to be employed hereafter as teachers would be of almost incalculable benefit to our common school system."
December 30. 1850. Superintendent Ephraim B. Ewing (grand- father of the writer) called attention to a provision made in 1849, to establish a professorship of "Theory and Practice of Teaching" at the State University, and expressed the opinion that the plan would fail because prospective teachers would not go so far, nor put in as much time as was required and urged that normals be established nearer the people.
The above superintendents were all secretaries of state, and as such ex-officio superintendents. In 1854, a separate school superintendent was again established, and from that time on all the superintendents urged the establishment of the normals.
143
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Origin of the Warrensburg State Normal School .- (By Capt. George S. Grover.)
[Editor's Note: Captain Grover is a son of Col. Benj. W. Grover, who settled in Warrensburg in 1844 and who was one of the county's leaders till his death in 1861 at the Battle of Lexington. Captain Grover is one of the few now living of the leaders in the fight to estab- lish the normal school in Warrensburg, and what he writes is of his own knowledge.]
The public school system of Warrensburg was reorganized imme- diately after the Civil War. In 1869, a school board was elected, pledged to introduce modern methods of instruction. The new members were: Dr. A. W. Reese, president ; Col. A. W. Rogers, Gen. Warren Shedd, and Capt. George S. Grover, secretary and treasurer. All these men were college graduates and Civil War veterans. Messrs. Rogers and Shedd were enthusiastic advocates of normal school training for teachers in the public schools.
The new school board elected Madison Babcock superintendent of the public schools of Warrensburg. Mr. Babcock was a graduate of the Oswego, New York, Normal School. He secured as far as then possible normal school graduates for teachers in the Warrensburg pub- lic schools, and very soon introduced modern methods of teaching in them.
At that time Capt. M. U. Foster and Col. Wells H. Blodgett were living in Warrensburg. Captain Foster was then circuit clerk of John- son county and was a leading member of the Republican party, then in control of the state. Colonel Blodgett was also a prominent Repub- lican and was then a state senator from Johnson and Henry counties.
At the earnest request of Messrs. Reese, Rogers, Shedd and Bab- cock, Messrs. Foster and Blodgett, after a careful study of the subject, prepared, and secured, the passage through the Legislature of Mis- souri of an act, approved March 20, 1870, authorizing the location and operation of normal schools in Missouri as state institutions.
This excellent statute is the law in Missouri, at this time, practically unchanged. At that time (1870) a great and controlling sentiment was created in Johnson county in favor of state normal schools by active missionary work by Messrs. Reese. Rogers, Shedd. Babcock, Foster, and Blodgett. The question soon became non-partisan, and Capt. H. C. Fike, Major R. Baldwin, then editor and part proprietor of the "War-
144
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
rensburg Standard," and John W. Brown, Republican, and Gen. F. M. Cockrell, Col. T. T. Crittenden, A. W. Ridings, and I. M. Cruce, all leading Democrats in Warrensburg, were active supporters of such schools.
Maj. E. A. Nickerson, a leading Democrat in Warrensburg, became, after his arrival there, the personal legal adviser of Capt. M. U. Foster.
A state board of normal school regents was then appointed by the governor to locate a normal school in central Missouri. Sedalia and Warrensburg became active competitors. Both offered substantial bond issues for the new school. The regents first decided in favor of Sedalia. Then Captain Foster made a thorough examination of the Sedalia offer and convinced the state board that there was a fatal defect in such offer. The board, therefore, rescinded its action, and located the school at Warrensburg. Capt. M. U. Foster executed a deed to the new school of the land, twenty acres in extent, his chief possession, for a nominal sum, and on it the present normal school in Warrensburg now stands.
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