USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 4
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Length of institute, 1880.
1 week
Length of institute, 1881.
weeks
Number of days employed by county superintendent for 1881
266
Compensation per day .. $3.00
Total compensation for year.
$798.00
It is not improper to remark in this connection that the last named amount includes all expenses connected with the office, they being paid by the superinten- dent.
Number of visits by superintendent for last year were eighty-one.
In this respect, it will be seen he has fallen somewhat short of his duty, as the law requires him to visit each school at least onee during the year. But, owing to the great amount of other work, the severe winter, and several weeks lost by sickness, he has been unable to meet this requirement.
Series of Tert-Books
The committee on text-books met Saturday and after carefully examining several standard series selected the following which they recommend for adoption through-
Vol. II-4
652
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
out the county. The first column shows the price when an old book is given in exchange; the second shows the regular price.
Webster Franklin First Reader $0.10
$0.18
Webster Franklin Second Reader .15 .30
Webster Franklin Third Reader 20
Webster Franklin Fourth Reader .25
.54
Webster Franklin Fifth Reader. .35 .90
Harper's Introductory Geography .25
.50
Harper's School Geography. .60
1.10
Me Vicar's Elementary Arithmetic. .20
.35
McViear's Complete Arithmetic, Part I. .30
.57
McVicar's Complete Arithmetic, Part II
.30
.57
Swinton's Language Primer .15
.28
Swinton's Language Lessons.
.20
.38
Swinton's Language English Grammar
.30
.56
Warren's Class Word Speller
.10
.18
Barnes' Brief History
.. .
.75
Dalton's Physiology
.52
.84
Dult's Bookkeeping
.26
.44
It will be observed that these books are extremely cheap, much cheaper than those now in use, and by examination they will be found to be decidedly better. Of course the action of this committee is simply advisory. Districts are at liberty to adopt or not as they think best. Iam not in favor of a frequent change of books but the great variety which we now have in our schools render them very ineffectual and calls for a united effort to remedy the evil. The publishers through their agents agree to keep these books on sale in the county for the prices as given in the right- hand column. It will be understood that each district is expected to make its own arrangements with agents about the introduction of the books. Where the districts buy their books in quantities to sell to the scholars or for use free, better prices than either the "exchange" or "retail" prices as given above can usually be made. A full and authoritative report from the committee will appear in the next issue.
E. E. ARMOR.
Typical of the progress made throughout the county by the various towns, may be taken the following description of the progress of school work in Gresham in 1920.
A fine report of the activities of the Gresham schools during the first week and much interesting information about the schools was given in the Gresham Gazette. Since many friends of education' in other parts of the county may be interested in knowing what their ideals and plans are in Gresham the items are here reprinted.
Gresham schools opened Monday morning with a record attendance in all departments. In the high school every seat is occupied, with more students still coming.
Vocational agriculture, the new course added this year, starts with a class of
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
twenty boys. This work is given under the auspices of the National Government, the State of Nebraska and the Gresham School District. Three-fourths of the salary of the instructor is paid by the state. Mr. W. A. Dunbar of De Kalb, Mo., a graduate of our State University, and for the past three years in charge of voca- tional agriculture in Scottsbluff, is the teacher in charge of the new course in Gresham.
The high school course has further been enriched by initiating a teachers' train- ing last year and this year this course is being carried out in strict conformity with the state requirements. Fifteen pupils from the junior and senior grades are registered for the normal training work. The State of Nebraska provides a fund of one thousand dollars for the biennium which is paid to schools offering this course as prescribed by law.
Gresham is fully accredited to the State University and all students who finish the course of study and graduate are prepared and are given a certificate of entrance to any college or university without examination.
The work in the grades below the high school is carefully graded and is in charge of able, well trained and experienced teachers so that the education of the children through the common branches is thorough and well done. The teachers are : Miss Ellen Doan, primary; Miss Ruth Gudgel, intermediate; Miss Cordia Brittell, second intermediate; Miss Elma McGinley, grammar; Mrs. Bertha M. Lindstrom, music; Miss Alma Ash, English and history : Mrs. Beryl Walford, Latin ; Miss Annie G. Davidson, mathematics and normal training ; Mr. W. A. Dun- bar, vocational agriculture; A. F. Becker, superintendent of school and instructor in science.
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS
In 1920 considerable effort has been directed by school authorities to launching the new consolidation law. A very large amount of work has been accomplished in the state during the year along the lines of consolidating rural schools under the act passed by the 1919 Legislature. Thirty-two districts have been formed, and others are in progress. This makes a total of nearly 100 consolidated distriets in the state, the others having been made under the act that has been in force for a numbers of years. The fact that half as many have been made in two years under the new act as under the old one, which has been in force for a number of years, is pointed to as proof of its superior value as a method, and of its popularity.
Under the old act, whenever a group of rural districts desired to consolidate, all they had to do was to get together and lay out the territorial lines. Then if each district, at an election, approved of it, it came into being. As this work developed it was seen that between these districts there would be many. strips of territory that it would be neither desirable or possible to consolidate or annex at some time in the future.
The new law aims to prevent this. The first step is the organization, made mandatory under the law, of a redistricting committee. This lays out the limits of various consolidated districts. Its action is binding on no school district except as to territorial limits. The initiative must be taken by those who want the district. In the open territory-that is, outside of the high school districts-if twenty-five per cent of the people file a petition an election is called and the district created or the proposition defeated. This latter has happened in a few cases only.
651
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
HOW NEW LAW WORKS
Where a high school district exists, a consolidated district can be created if fifty-one per cent of those living outside the high school district file a petition and the high school district board consents.
The objections to the consolidated system are based largely on the fact that the taxes are higher under it than under the old small district plan, and also to the methods of transportation. Children are picked up by the motor bus or horse- drawn vehicle at the junction of the road with the farmhouse lane or grounds, and it sometimes happens that they must walk through a lot of snow or mnd and then wait in the cold. Routes are arranged, however, and a time table adhered to that reduce their discomfort to a minimum.
The consolidated school does cost more to each individual taxpayer. but he gets more for his money. It gives him a four-year high school course in addition to the eight grades, and enables the boys and girls to stay at home while taking high school. The parents are spared the expense of board and tuition where. as in the past, they went to the nearest high school.
Purpose of Consolidation.
The great purpose of the consolidation of rural schools is to give the country child educational advantages. This system will provide :
First-A well organized, well equipped and properly conducted rural school.
Second-Enough children in the classes to make the work interesting and vital. Third-Enough territory to make the district efficient, financially.
Fourth-Well-trained, efficient teachers, with an effective and agreeable division of labor.
Fifth-Proper system of gradation and classification of pupils.
Sixth-Longer recitation periods.
Seventh-An enriched course of study.
Eighth-High school advantages for every country boy and girl.
Nebraska and other states have found it impossible to secure these advantages in the one-room rural school.
The first election to approve or reject the work of the county school re-districting committee was held on Saturday last in Benedict and the decision was decidedly in favor of approving the work of the committee. This newspaper has heretofore and many times called attention to the amount and perplexities of the work which has been done by Messrs. Geo. Westwood. t. B. Bottum, and Supt. T. C. Lord. mem- bers of the re-districting committee. They spent many long hours in digesting information and facts which would enable them to comprehensively establish dis- trict boundary lines. It required much travel, many conferences with patrons and the exercise of good judgment to arrive at a general conclusion. Even then changes were forced by the pressure of public opinion. But when at last the job of the committee was completed. the members surveyed their work, concluded they had done the best they could and have since stuck unanimously and unswervingly to their findings. It brings the members of the committee a decided sense of satisfae- tion that the first verdict upon their work is favorable.
655
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
The election, held in Benedict, effects a readjustment of boundary lines of a number of districts. Districts 84, 68, 100, 59, 91, and 16 are entirely or almost so absorbed in the newly created district. Districts 57, 53, 85, 78, and 79 are partially included. The vote stood 191 for and 98 against. There are about 325 voters in the proposed district and the number who voted is large considering the condition of the roads which made going to the polls a difficult matter.
The territory affected by the new district contains about two hundred school pupils. There are possibly fifty more children in the territory eligible to attend the school. The district will include a fraction over thirty-three sections. The assessed valuation of the property in the district is $722,000.
It will become the duty of the county superintendent to call a school meeting for the new district shortly. The patrons will eleet a school board of six members and from this board the officers of the district will be selected.
It is very probable that this election will be followed soon by another in the Bradshaw neighborhood. Petitions are being circulated there and it is reported that a sufficient number of signatures have been obtained to issue the call.
The success of the first election gives courage to the friends of consolidated schools to believe that other elections in prospect will have a favorable verdict at the hands of the voters.
Residents in the boundaries of a proposed new school district No. 6 voted on the consolidation of the distriets now in the territory on Wednesday, January 5th. The election was held in the Bradshaw Town Hall. If District No. 6 had been established the Town of Bradshaw would have been the center of the territory and adequate buildings to accommodate the larger schools would have been called for, but it was voted down, 148 for to 186 against consolidation. District No. 3, which was established at Benedict recently, will probably arrange to begin school work under the new plan in the fall of 1921, and the facilities afforded by the Benedict schoolhouse will be supplemented by moving one or more of the school- houses from the country districts to town.
CHAPTER XIV
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF YORK COUNTY
METIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF YORK-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-A. C. MONT- GOMERY'S PAPER-DOCTOR MC CONAUGHY'S PAPER-CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH- CHRISTIAN CHURCH-UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH-HOLY TRINITY CHURCHI- BAPTIST CHURCHI-ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC-UNIVERSALIST-GERMAN REFORMED CONGREGATION-FIRST LUTHERAN-UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCHI-GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN-HOSPITALS-OTHER CHURCHES-FEDERATED CHURCII.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF YORK
The York Methodist Episcopal Church traces its history back to June, 1871, when a little class of sixteen Methodists was enrolled at the home of David Baker, who lived on Beaver Creek about two miles from the present city. Brother Baker was a pioneer Methodist class leader, and it seems that his zeal and leadership brought about the organization of the class. The details of the proceedings are not obtainable, for the organization of a Methodist class is not a stately affair in worldly terms and in those pioneer times it was far away from being formal and ostentatious.
The records show that on May 14. 1871. the Rev. W. E. Morgan of the Roek River Conference preached in Brother Baker's house. Mr. Morgan was looking up a homestead and intended to remove to Nebraska in the fall. The knowledge of this fact seems to have caused Mr. Baker to colleet the names of Methodists in the vicinity of York and informally to constitute a class. This was undoubtedly in June. On July 2. 1871, the presiding elder of the Beatrice district, the Rev. J. B. Maxfield, held the first quarterly meeting in a grove near Mr. Baker's house. The little class at that time, or perhaps a few weeks before, was placed in charge of W. H. B. Wilson, a local preacher. The first relation this minister held to the York class is not clear, but it is plain that on the 2d of July he was in charge and the following persons had been enrolled : David and Elvira Baker, J. H. Bell, Thomas Bassett and wife. L. D. Brakeman, Mary Brakeman, Ella Brakeman. Thomas Myers and wife, John and Mary Murphy, S. W. Pettis and Amanda Pettis, Mrs. M. Shackelford, and Mrs. Sarah N. Moore.
During the summer occasional services were held at Mr. Baker's house. On October 16, 1821, Mr. Morgan was transferred to the Nebraska conference and appointed to York circuit. then consisting of the entire county. On the 29th of October the first services by a Methodist preacher in York were held by Mr. Mor- gan, in an unfinished building on the west side of the square, known as Brahmstadt's and Kleinschmidt's store. There were no doors or windows in the building. Carpen- ters' benches. nail kegs and boards served as seats.
656
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
During the winter services were held at Mr. Baker's. On February 9, 1872, the first trustees were appointed, as follows: David Baker, J. H. Bell, T. C. Tagg, and A. Deems, the latter serving also as recording steward.
The first quarterly meeting in the town was held by Rev. H. T. Davis, presid- ing elder of the Lincoln district, in April, 1872. The meeting was held in the old B. & M. land office.
At this meeting steps were taken for the building of the first M. E. Church of York. Its dimensions were to be 24x36 feet. The lumber to build the church was hauled from Lincoln on wagons, L. D. Brakeman being one of those who thus assisted in the construction. The church was located on Seventh Street and Platte Avenne, where the old parsonage now stands. It was enclosed during the summer and while the church walls were being built the people did not neglect the assem- bling of themselves together, and services were conducted in a store building, in the schoolhouse, and afterwards in the church home of the Presbyterians, who had completed their house of worship.
In 1873 the sum of $100 was secured from the Church Extension Society. The house was completed and dedicated on September 14th by Dr. Miner Raymond of Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston, Ill. All who remember that day unite in pronouncing it one of the great days in the history of York, and especially of the York M. E. Church. Eleven hundred dollars were subscribed and the building presented to the church with several hundred dollars more than the indebtedness provided for.
Edwin Buck was the next pastor. He held a very encouraging revival meeting in the winter of 1875 and 1876. The interest spread all over the county and people came ten and twelve miles to attend the services. As one result of this revival the first Methodist Sunday school was organized February 27. 1876.
The first parsonage was built in 1877 and consisted of two rooms, which after- ward formed the west part of the remodeled parsonage, so long occupied and so fondly remembered by the later pastors.
Following Edwin Buck as pastors were E. J. Willis, 1877-78, and W. S. Black- burn, 1879-80. The increase in congregation and membership was so great that the need for a larger room in which to worship became imperative.
In 1880 the church building was sold to the Swedish Lutherans and removed to its present site, southwest corner of Eighth Street and Platte Avenue. Then for five years services were held first in the old City Hall, the building long occupied by Marshall's carriage factory, and then in Bell's Hall. God continued with his people in these places, and during the three years' pastorate of Rev. G. A. Smith, 1881-83. the work was carried on with faith and courage, with corresponding rewards for faithful work.
In 1883 Rev. H. T. Davis was appointed to the York station. There were 271 members. The history of the church during the three years of Brother Davis' pas- torate is full of interest and is fittingly told in his book, "Solitary Places Made Glad."
In the winters of 1883 and 1884 Bell's Hall was the scene of revival meetings that will never be forgotten. After these meetings all seemed to think that the time had come to build a church, as the results of the meetings had added largely to the membership. After some discussion as to place, the board decided upon the corner of Seventh Street and Nebraska Avenue as the most desirable location. It
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
was decided that the church should not cost more than twelve thousand dollars, and the work was not to begin until ten thousand dollars was subscribed.
On the 20th of April, 1885, the subscription for the new church was taken, amounting to $10,360. Work was immediately begun. and at conference time the church was well under way. Brother Davis was returned to York to complete his work. This occupied the most of the time during the first part of the year. The work was pushed, the basement was finished and informally dedicated December 6, 1885. The press account of this occasion stated that :
"The new M. E. Church was dedicated last Sunday by Bishop Warren. The day was all that could be asked, a beautiful sunshine invited hundreds of our people to attend the impressive service. The church has a seating capacity of about nine hundred and fifty but over thirteen hundred were crowded into the building and a number turned away. The dedication services were conducted by the bishop, who announced that $8,000 was needed to clear the church from debt. In an incredibly short space of time over $8,600 was pledged for this purpose. The other churches in the city were closed on Sunday morning to allow all their members to attend. The church is beautifully finished and furnished throughout and is a eredit to the painstaking congregation who have accomplished its erection and the pride of the liberal people, of the city."
February 22. 1886, the church was completed and dedicated by Bishop H. W. Warren. The seating capacity was larger than the present auditorium, with base- ment and classrooms.
Rev. Duke Slavens followed Brother Davis with a pastorate of two years of good and efficient work. Rev. W. K. Beans was the pastor one year, and held a revival meeting which will always be held dear in the memory of those attending. It was wonderful, indeed. Brother T. B. Hilton was the pastor one year and con- tinued the work, and Rev. A. C. Crosthwaite gave three years of his most earnest effort with the best of results. In fact, when Rev. J. W. Stewart eame as the pastor the members had begun to feel as old people do who have gone through many hardships and have at last builded a home in which to spend their old age, and welcome their children and grandchildren, and feel that their troubles were about over. But alas! misfortune will come. One cahn, beautiful night on October 16, 1895, while prayer meeting was in session, in the lecture room, fire was steadily mak- ing its way through the roof of the building, and by the time it was discovered it was too late to save the building : and while members and friends stood by and watched with tears running down their cheeks, and exclamations of sorrow and regret coming from their lips, the beautiful church home was burned to the ground. It was the second year of the drouth, and it was deemed ahost an impossibility to rebuild.
Sister congregations offered to share their church homes, but the membership was large and it was thought best to secure a room, though it might be small and inconvenient, where regular services could be held without interfering with the rights of others. As in the early days there was no room suitable for a place of worship. But the Sunday after the fire found the congregation assembled in an empty store room on the south side of the square, fitted up with a pulpit, a few pews, and the organ, which had been saved from the fire, and chairs sufficient for the seating capacity. After a stirring sermon from the pastor, Brother Stewart, made an appeal for money to rebuild the church, and in an incredibly short time
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IHISTORY OF YORK COUNTY
$6,000 had been subscribed, and it was settled that the M. E. Church of York would not be homeless for a very long time.
The task was an arduous one, and many who had been very helpful in building both of the other churches were unable, because of the financial stress, to subscribe even one dollar and be sure of paying it.
The work of collecting went on, and the people assembled in their uncom- fortable quarters through the frosts of one winter and the heat of the next summer, holding regular services, Sunday school and prayer meetings, the pastor talking and preaching at such a disadvantage that he was advised by his physicians to stop, or his throat might be permanently injured. But he persevered, trusting in his Heavenly Father for strength to carry on his work. The building went on, and Wednesday night, October 17th, the anniversary of the burning of the brick church, the new stone church was dedicated to the Lord amid the rejoicings of members, friends and neighbors. The church had cost $12,000, and was dedicated entirely free from debt. Bishop MeCabe officiated, aided by the untiring and faithful pastor, Brother Stewart.
Since the building of the stone church, the growth of the church has been steady. The membership enrolled in January, 1903, was ?43, of whom ninety-eight were probationers.
The thirtieth anniversary of the church was observed June 30 and July 1, 1901, with appropriate services.
The old parsonage property was sold in August, 1902, and a new and modern parsonage was built north of the church.
In 1904 Rev. F. A. Colony became pastor and served for some five years, when Rev. Alexander G. Bennett came and served this congregation for another five years; then Rev. W. C. Wasser, who came in 1914, was his successor. In 1918 Rev. F. M. Sisson was sent to this congregation, and in 1920 he was succeeded by Reverend De Wolfe.
The following two short announcements concerning Reverends Bennett and Sisson are appropriately placed here :
"This announcement from the Twin Falls ( Idaho) Daily Times will interest many York people :
"'Dr. A. G. Bennett delivers his last sermon in the M. E. Church on next Sunday morning. For some weeks the bishop of the area has been considering the transfer of Dr. Bennett to Great Falls, Mont., in exchange with the Rev. Edgar L. White, who has been in charge there for the past seven years. At Great Falls a great edifice is planned to be built soon, and as Doctor Bennett has had considerable experience in this line, there was a request made for him in that important pas- torate. Though he has been in Twin Falls only one year, there is now a building activity of no mean proportion going on in the Methodist church, including a fine new $11,000 Austin pipe organ, and an interior dome to anditorium with beautiful decorations and general enrichment and remodeling. Also a commodious parsonage has been purchased facing the city park on Second Street East. Doctor Bennett has had a creditable year here, and popular regret is expressed over his departure, yet with general good wishes for his success in his new field. The pastor and family will leave Twin Falls on the 16th, in the meantime the pastor attending annual conference at Canyon City, Oregon, to make his report.'"
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