Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 29

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 29

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164

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY

Apr. 19, 1862. McCreary, Wm., service in the 11th Mo. V. I. Co. E, from 1861 to 1865. 152d Pa. H. A., Co. K; from 1864 to 1865. Saer. S. B., service in Ist W. Va. V. C. Co. A, McDonald, James, service, 3 yrs., 15th Pa. V. from 1861 to 1864. School, Joseph service, C., Co. C. McEwen, John P., service in 4th 52d N. Y. V. I. Co. G, from 1863 to 1865; cap. Iowa, V. I., Co. C; from 1861 to 1864; pro. and in prison. Scott, Chas., service 3d Mo., through the grades to capt .; wnd. at Pea Co. E, from 1861 to 1864. Sheen, Patrick, ser- Ridge and Chickasaw Bayou. McGill, Wm. vice in 31st Ill. V. I. Co. I, from 1861 to 1864; Il., service in 4th Ky. V. I. one year; in 9th O. wnd. at Kenesaw Mt. Shockly, John, service V. C., Co. A, from 1862 to 1865; pro. sergt .; in Ist W. Va. L. A. Bat. C, 4 years. Slack, John wnd. and cap. McGrath, Geo., service from A., service 134th Ill V. I. Co. F; died in Ky., July, Sept. 1861, 2d W. Va., V. C., Co. E; m. o. with 1864. Smith, John A., served as sergt. in 2d Minn. regt. McGraw, Isaac, e. Aug. 4, 1862, Co. A; V. I., Co. G. Swift, Wm. H. H., service 112th Ill. 134th N. Y. V. I; pro. sergt .; cap. at Gettys- V. I. Co. C; from Aug., 1862, to June, 1865. burg; escaped; cap. before Atlanta; in Anderson- Squires, Saml. D., service, 6th W. Va. V. C. ville and Millen prisons; ex. in 1865; m. o. June Co. C; cap., died in Andersonville. Stevens, 1865. Mapes, Marcellus, service in 125th Ills., H. H., service in 24th Ia. V. I., Co. H; killed Co. C, from 1862 to 1865. Marple, Geo., sergt., at Champion's Hill. Thomas, David, service service in 12th W. V., Co. B; from 1862 to 1865. in 34th N. J. V. I., Co. G, from 1863 to 1866. Marzetti, Henry, service in 54th Ill., Co. K, Tudor, Chas. H., service 10th Md. V. I., Co. D, from 1864 to 1865; cap. and paroled. Miller, from 1863 to 1865. Van Buren, John, service Jacob H., service in 4th W. Va. C., Co B; from in 30th N. Y. V. I., Co. A, from 1861 to 1862. 1863 to 1864. Miller, Nelson T., service in Vandenbark, John W., service in 20th Ind. V. 39th Ind., Co. E, from 1861 to 1863, pro. to I. Co. I, pro. to rank of capt. Voorhis, Eli, sergt., then Ist. lieut. Moyer, Jacob, service in service in 89th Ind. V. I., Co. A, from 1862 to 14th Pa. V. A. from 1864 to 1865. Nor- 1865. Voorhis, Levi, service in 89th Ind. V. I., man, John, e. in 28th Ill., Co. D; Aug. 3, 1861, Co. A, from 1862 to 1865. Walters, Isaac S., wnd. at Shiloh; in hos .; m. o. Apr. 6, 1866; vet. service Ist W. Va. V. C. Co. F, one year, 1861-2; Paff, Edward, sergt., service, 12th Kan., Co. A, wnd. at Bull Run; in hos .; dis. Oct. 14, 1864, from 1862, to 1865. Porter, Joseph, service in Warren, Wm., service 46th Ill. V. I. from 1863 the 22d Pa. V. C., Co. C, from 1862 to 1865. to 1865; corp. Watterman, Wm. C., asst. surg. Ramsey, W. K., service . in 55th Pa., Co. C. 4th W. Va. V. I. and 2d W. Va. V. I, from 1862 Ratliff, Saml. E., service in 15th Ky., Co. K, to 1865. Watkins, W. K., service in 150th N. from 1861 to 1864. Ray, Alpheus, service in Y. V. I., Co. C, from 1862 to 1865; wnd., in hos. the 77th Pa., Co. E; cap. at Chickamauga; died pro. corp. Watts, Arthur H., service 130th N. in the Danville prison, June 17, 1864. Renni- Y. V. I., Co. D, from 1862 to 1865; pro. Ist son, Francis, service in 59th Pa., Co. C. Rich- lieut. West, Martin, service Ist Ill. V. C. Co. ter, Saml. F., corp., service in 6th W. Va. V. I., A, from 1861 to 1862; cap. at Lexington, Mo .; from Nov. 1861, to Dec. 1864. Ripple, Geo., ex .; 3 years in the 14th Ill. V. C. Williams, service, 125th Pa., Co. I, and in the 22d Pa. Lemson, service in 147th Ind. V. I., Co. E, V. C .; dis. Oct. 1865. Robb, John C. e. ser- from Feb., 1865 to Aug., 1865. Wilson, John, vice, 78th, Co. C., 4 months. Rogers, H. H., service in 36th Ill. V. I., Co. C, wnd. at Kene service in the 7th Minn. Co. B. and the 2d saw Mt.

Ark., Co. B one year. Ryan, A. Z. service in

ICH SCHOO

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, ZANESVILLE.

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Chapter X.

SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY.

N O doubt the first schools in the county and not a quarter of the land entered, the were what is termed "pay" schools, and school land was sold for ten cents an acre and the schoolhouses were built by public sub- upward. Extensive speculations were made in scription. It was not until after the passage of this way. The land was sometimes worth, in a the common school law that any thing like the few years, several times what it was bought for. public schools of a later day were known. A price should have been fixed, below which There were in the state several districts, all of the land should not have been sold, nor should them entitled to a thirty-sixth part of their it have been sold until all the government land superficial contents for the support of common in the township had been taken up.

schools. In 1836-37, the subject of school

A still greater fraud was committed in sur- lands and common schools was taken up in the rendering the leases. Some of the most valua- general assembly, and the members agreed ble school lands were first leased on "improve- that something should be done, but took no ment leases," under which the tenant took a definite action in the matter during that ses- quarter section of land for ten or fifteen years. sion. Complaints had come from all parts of He was bound to build a cabin and clear some the state, some based on one alleged grievance, fifteen or twenty acres of land, and might clear some on another, and there was so much diver- more at his own option. After these leases sity in the remedies proposed that there seemed expired, the land was leased for ninety-nine no sufficient definite data to act upon.

years, renewable forever. Thus the tenant paid

A superintendent was appointed for one for rent the interest on the estimated value of ycar, to collect information on all subjects con- the land, and it was to be revalued every fifteen nected with the question and make report to or twenty years, as the lease might stipulate, the legislature, with a suggestion of such reme- the value of improvements to be excluded. In dies as might appear necessary to establish a the rapid settlement of the country, land thus practical free school system. One thing that leased for from five to fifty cents an acre, esti- seemed to require the immediate attention of mating the land to be worth from $1 to $8, sub- the department was the school lands. The ject to such revaluation every fifteen years, was state was divided into many different grants, often, before the first fifteen years had passed, each having distinct school lands, and the leg- worth ten times the first estimate. The law islation had been plentiful and complicated, directing the sale of school land allowed these adopted frequently to promote the interests of tenants to surrender their leases, and, on pay- individuals, who, pretending advantage to the ing the amount of the last valuation, to receive schools, sought an appropriation for personal deeds in fee simple, so they thus obtained at advantage. It was made the duty of no indi- $3 or $4 an acre, or less, land worth often $50 vidual or department to superintend this in- or $100 per acre. In that way, at least, $1,000,000 terest, and great iniquity was practiced while was lost to the school fund of Ohio, and by the the legislature sought honestly to do right. sacrifice of premature sales, another large sum

When the law passed, allowing the sale of was lost. Both these practices were prohibited the school lands, it was intended for immediate in 1838, and the land that remained was more effect, and the frauds afterward practiced were carefully managed.

not foreseen. No limit as to valuc was fixed for

The different school funds provided for the sale of the lands, and the result was that, under the law were the following: The Con- in the new counties, where there was but little necticut Western Reserve fund, the proceeds demand for lands, and only a few residents

of 56,000 acres of land, or the sum of $1 58,656. sometimes not five frecholders in a township- It belonged to the several counties of the 10

166

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

Western Reserve. The United States Military trict, to be styled a city district of the second District fund, or the proceeds of school lands class. Each village, including the territory in that part of the state. The Virginia Military attached to it for school purposes, and exclud- school fund, composed of the proceeds of 105,- ing the territory within its corporate limits 155 acres of land given for the use of schools detached for school purposes, shall constitute in the tract of country reserved by Virginia to a school district, to be styled a village district. satisfy her military claimants. The three tracts Municipal corporations hereafter created, or ad- of country named composed about one-third vanced to higher grade, except villages created of the area of the state, and had no school by advancement or otherwise, shall, from and sections reserved, and the lands thus given after their creation or advancement, be school were in lieu of such sections. The residue of districts corresponding to their grade as herein the state, with some small exceptions, had every provided .. Each organized township, exclusive Section 16, or one thirty-sixth of its area, re- of any of its territory included in a city, village, served for school purposes. There is also a or special district, shall constitute a school dis- direct tax for educational maintenance. The trict to be styled a township district. Any sources from which the school moneys ex- school district now existing, other than those pended in Muskingum county is derived are mentioned, which has been established by a the following: A-The state common school vote of the people in accordance with any act fund; B-Local school levies; C-United of the general assembly, or which has been States Military School fund; D-Interest on established by a general or local act of the sales of Section 16.

general assembly constitutes a school district,

Under the laws of Ohio, the state is divided to be styled a special district; and such districts into school districts, to be styled, respectively, may be established as provided for.

city district of the first grade of the first class, In city districts of the first grade of the city districts of the second grade of the first first class, the board of education consists of class, city districts of the first class, city dis- one member from each ward, each member of tricts of the second class, village districts, the board to be an elector of the ward, or of special districts, and township districts. Each the township, or part of the township, which, city having a population of 250,000 or more by for school purposes, has been or may be the last preceding census of the United States, attached to such ward, for which he is elected including the territory annexed to it for school or appointed. In city districts of the second purposes, and excluding the territory detached class, and in village districts, the board of edu- from it for school purposes, constitutes a city cation consists of six members, except in dis- district of the first grade of the first class; tricts organized under a law providing for only cach city having a population of 150,000 or three members, who shall have the qualifica- more, and less than 250,000, by the last pre- tions of an elector therein, and in such districts ceding census of the United States, including the membership may be increased to six; but the territory annexed to it for school purposes, the board of a city district of the second class, constitutes a city district of the second grade may provide, by a vote of the majority of its of the first class; and each city having a members, that the board shall consist of as population of 10,000 and less than 150,000 many members as the city has wards. In city by the last preceding official census of the districts of the second class, members of the United States, including the territory annexed board of education are elected annually, to to it for school purposes, and excluding terri- serve for the term of three years from the third tory detached from it for school purposes, con- Monday of April succeeding their election, stitutes a city district of the first class. Each and until the election and qualification of their city having a population of 10,000 or more, successors; if the board consists of six mem- including the territory attached to it for bers, two judicious and competent persons are school purposes, and excluding the territory elected each year; and if the board consists of within its corporate limits detached for school three members, one such person is elected purposes, constitutes a school district, to be each year. styled a city district of the first class.

The board of education of each township

Each city of the second class, having a district divided into sub-districts consists of population of less than 10,000 by the census the township clerk, and the directors who have of 1870, including the territory attached been appointed clerks of the sub-districts; the' to it for school purposes, and excluding the board of a township district which is not territory within its corporate limits detached divided into sub-districts consists of the town- for school purposes, constitutes a school dis- ship clerk, and the directors of the district; the

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

board of a township district which is composed board of education in the township in which of not more than two sub-districts consists of the school-house is situate, of which board the the township clerk, and the directors of the two director who is clerk of the joint sub-district is sub-districts; and the clerk of the township is a member; but such school is supported from clerk of the board, but is not entitled to a the school funds of the townships having ter- ritory in the joint sub-district, in proportion to vote.

There is elected by ballot, on the second the enumeration of youth.

Monday of April, annually, in each sub-district

For the purpose of affording advantages of and in each township not divided into sub- a free education to all the youth of the state, districts, by the qualified electors thereof, one there is levied, annually, a tax upon the grand competent person, having the qualifications of list of taxable property of the state, which is an elector therein, to be styled director, who collected in the same manner as other state holds his office for three years from the day taxes are collected, and the proceeds of which of his election, and until his successor is elected constitute the "state common school fund;" and qualified.

the rate of such levy is designated by the gen-

The board of education of each special dis- eral assembly at least once in two years; and trict consists of three members, who must be if the general assembly fail to designate the residents of the district, and have the qualifi- rate for any year, the same shall be one mill cations of an elector therein; and when the upon each dollar of valuation of such taxable electors of any special district, the board of property. The state pays interest annually, at education of which consists of three members, the rate of six per cent. per annum, upon all desire that the board shall consist of six mem- money which has been paid into the state bers, they may make such change in the same treasury on account of sales of lands commonly manner as provided for city districts of the called "salt lands," and upon all money hereto- second class and village districts.

fore paid, or which may hereafter be paid into There is elected annually, by ballot, on the the state treasury on account of sales of swamp second Monday of April, in each special dis- lands granted to the state of Ohio by act of trict, by the qualified electors thereof, at the congress; the money received from such sales usual time and place of holding school elections constitutes an irreducible debt of the state; in such district, one judicious and competent and the interest shall be apportioned annually person to serve as member of the board for on the same basis as the state common school three years from the first Monday succeeding fund is apportioned, and distributed to the his election, and until the election and qualifi- several counties.

cation of his successor.

The money which has been and may here-

When the better accommodation of scholars after be paid into the state treasury on account makes it desirable to form a sub-district, com- of sales of lands granted by congress for the posed of parts of two or more townships, the support of public schools in any original sur- boards of education of the townships interested veyed township, or other district of county, may, by mutual agreement, at a joint meeting constitutes the "common school fund," of held for the purpose, establish the same, and which the auditor of state is superintendent, fix the boundaries thereof; if there is no suit- and the income of which is applied exclus- able school-house within such boundaries, or if ively to the support of common schools. there is one, but it is not suitably located, the "Teaching school is a very different perform . board may designate a site whereon to erect ance from what it was when I went to school," such building; but if there is a suitable school- says an old resident. "The first school house house within such boundaries, properly located, was built by popular effort, and was a log cabin the school must be held therein. A chairman with a stick chimney wide enough for a big and secretary are chosen at such meeting, and backlog. Puncheon floors, and seats without the secretary makes a memorandum of the pro- backs, rough boys and girls, hardy, rugged and cecdings had thereat; a copy of such memor- frolicsome, were the order of the day. A andum, signed by the chairman and secretary, quarter's schooling was about all we had in to be transmitted to the clerk of each of the those days, and the smaller children, unless they boards, who records the same in his record of lived close by, did not attend. It generally proceedings of the board; and the secretary to began when the fall work was all done, so the transmit a like copy of the proceedings to the big boys could attend, and they were big boys, auditor of each county having territory em- too. In these days we think schools should braced in the sub-district. The school in a be profoundly still. Not so then. Our schools joint sub-district is under the control of the were all loud schools. The teachers governed

168

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

by main strength, and the boys with the of God." Then as the reading progressed strongest lungs seemed to learn the fastest. came the story in Webster's Spelling Book of These noisy schools were not so very notable the silly and unfortunate dairy maid, who, with until the time for studying the spelling lesson her milk pail on herhead, calculated how many came. Then every pupil had to commence eggs she could sell it for and what a fine dress at once and study out loud-high-and low- she would buy, until, tossing her head with keyed voices, the coarse, the gentle and the these proud anticipations, she brought down broad mouthed going pell mell into the work. the pail and the milk was dashed to the ground The plodder sat by the blazing fire and delib- and she saw all her dear plans washed away in it. erately spelled at the top of his voice while the Then there was the moral story about the boys sweat rolled down his cheeks. The glib- stealing apples. . The farmer first tried to stop tongued, sharp-voiced chap put his utmost them by throwing tufts of grass, but, finding vigor into his lungs and made the welkin ring. they carried no terrors with them, he threw It was a veritable bedlam-as Bill Nye puts it, stones, which were more effectual. The "Amer- 'a sort of information of the bowels.' Occa- ican Preceptor" succeeded that book. The sionally one would stop, for want of breath, children were given a recess, though the re- perhaps, or to play some prank, when down creative period was not known by that name. came the ferrule upon his unlucky shoulders. It The boys went first, by themselves, and after- was unmanly to cry, but occasionally there was wards the girls. If there were any scholars a sniffle or two, and then the book was brought inside who found the " rule of three" difficult, into play and another rivulet of noise was joined the teacher explained it during this time. to the cataract until the class was called. Shortly came a rap on the window to call in all The teachers we had for a long time were of the children. After geography followed a lesson the loud school kind, but at last an innovation in grammar, forty minutes long, which none of was made. The ice was broken. A quiet and the children understood and most of them unpretentious man was engaged to teach the hated. Ruled paper was not known. The winter term, and nothing was said about the parents furnished a few sheets of paper which kind of school he was to teach. When school were sewn together at home. It was of all commenced the community received a severe qualities but good. The teacher was kept shock. The fellow insisted on a quiet school. busy during odd spells ruling the paper and The noisy spelling study was muzzled and a pointing the quill pens. The ink was home- quietus put on other boisterousness. The strain made. Later on, came the "Columbian Ora- was too great. The big boys rebelled, but to no tor " and "English Reader," filled with matter purpose. The loud-mouthed chap, who form- too old for children and possessing no interest crly made the roof-boards rattle with his gentle for them whatever. Children of sixteen or voice when the time for studying the spelling thereabouts got to read very well, the book lesson came, had to content himself with passing from class to class. The girls were out yelling; all the others playing 'town ball' generally the best readers. Duvall's and and 'bull pen' at the noon hour. The big boys Pike's arithmetic were used, but for a time found sympathy at home, and the quiet school there were no regular classes in mathematics. 'crank' was bounced. The loud school was re- No lessons were "given out," and the pupil was instated, but it was doomed. Slowly but surely left to get on as well as he could. The teacher, the quiet school gained friends and the 'loud if he could, would work out a "sum." He had school' became an institution of the past." In a book containing all the answers. Sometimes those days the first exercise was reading verses enterprising pupils would steal the use of the from the testament by the older pupils who had teacher's "key," as this was called. Friday back seats, while the small children were nearest afternoon was given over to "speaking pieces," the fire. After the reading, if the teacher was reciting the commandments and catechism and a man of prayer, he prayed. This was done, repeating verses from the Bible.

too, while the little ones were getting warm. After teaching school for a time on "the Then began the exercises in Webster's Spelling Ledge," a neighborhood in his native town of Book, the teacher pointing to the letters with Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, James A. Gar-

penknife or scissors. Thumps on the head field went with his mother to visit a brother of from the teacher's thimbled finger were not hers in the south part of the state. Save on uncommon when the teacher was a woman. the canal, this was his longest journey and The thumps were sometimes harder if the made on the railroad, his first ride on the cars. teacher was a man. Then reading was begun They stopped at Columbus, where Mr. Kent, with the maxim: "Let no man put off the law the representative of Geauga, showed them

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

much attention, and young Garfield saw the SCHOOL HOUSES AND VALUE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY. wonders of that capital. At Blue Rock, an un- Number, townships, elementary, 164; num- ber, separate districts, elementary, 24; high, I; total, 25; grand total, 189. Value Townships, elementary, $103,150; value separate districts, elementary, $257,300; high, $50,000; total, $307,- 300; grand total, $410,450. fortunate schoolmaster had just been dis- ciplined by the scholars of one of the districts and dismissed; and he was induced to take them in hand for two months, and did. During the time he rode on horseback seventy miles to Athens to see a real college, the first he had ever seen. This must have been in the summer SCHOOL ROOMS AND TEACHERS. of 1850. The following statistics show the number, location and status of the public schools of the county:

SCHOOL MONEYS RECEIVED DURING THE YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 1890.

Balance on hand September 1, 1889, $74,- 385.05; state tax, $25,450.47; irreducible school fund, $3,977.42; rents on Section 16, $29.59; lo- cal tax for school and schoolhouse purposes, $108,799.08; amount received on sale of bonds, $2,200; fines, licenses, tuition of non-resident pupils and other sources, $2,448.61; totals, $217,290.22.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 29

Author: Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642