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 31

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 31

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175

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

utes of the town council and from a brief ab- In July, 1847, Mr. Batchelder resigned his stract of the history of the schools, prepared position as principal of the male seminary, and from memory by Mr. Park, and recorded in Mr. Mendenhall that of first assistant in the same. Orlando L. Castle was elected to suc-

June, 1845, in the records of the board.

In June, 1845, the following corps of teach- ceed Mr. Batchelder, and William D. Urquhart ers was in the employ of the Board, at the sal- to succeed Mr. Mendenhall. In October, 1847, aries named: George W. Batchelder, principal Mr. Urquhart was succeeded by William A. of male seminary, salary $600 per annum; Castle. In April, 1848, Mr. Hatch resigned his Samuel C. Mendenhall, assistant, senior de- position as principal of the female seminary partment, $240 per annum; N. A. Gray, princi- and teacher of writing and singing. As a tem- pal, junior department, $350; James H. Thomp- porary arrangement, Miss Adaline Parker was son, assistant, junior department, $240; William made principal of the female seminary, and O. D. Chase, second assistant, junior department, L. Castle took charge of the writing and sing- $150; Jessie P. Hatch, principal of female sem- ing in the male seminary. In July, 1848, N. A. inary and teacher of writing and music in both

Gray resigned his position in the male semin- schools, $400; Miss Adaline Parker, principal ary and S. C. Mendenhall was elected to fill his senior department, $300; Miss Isabel Cary, as- place. L. P. Marsh was elected teacher of sistant, senior department, $175; Miss J. Wil- writing and singing, and took charge January liams, principal, junior department, $260; Miss 3, 1849. His salary was at the rate of $400 per Amanda Charlott, assistant, junior department, annum. In February, 1849, J. H. Thompson, $96; Miss Martha Hatch, second assistant, jun- then assistant teacher in the male seminary, ior department, $96; N. A. Gray resided in the was made principal of the female seminary, at male seminary building, and J. P. Hatch in the a salary of $500 per annum, with dwelling and female seminary building, rent and fuel free. fuel free. In April, 1849, the length of the The number of pupils enrolled and in attend- school year was fixed at four quarters, of eleven ance in June, 1845, was as follows:

weeks each. March 26, 1850, O. L. Castle,

Male seminary, senior department, enrolled, principal of the male seminary, resigned, and 67; male seminary, senior department, attend- Mr. Marsh was made acting principal till June, ance, 60; male seminary, junior department, 1850, when George W. Batchelder was elceted

enrolled, 154; male seminary, junior depart-

to that position, at a salary of $800 per annum.

ment, attendance, 139; female seminary, senior In September, 1850, the corps of teachers con- department, enrolled, 89; female seminary, sisted of Mr. Batchelder as principal of the senior department, attendance, 65; female sem- male seminary, with four assistant teachers. inary, junior department, enrolled, 157; fe- Mr. Thompson was principal of the female male seminary, junior department, attendance, seminary, with four assistant teachers, and Mr. 120; total in both schools, enrolled, 467; total Marsh as teacher of writing and singing in both in both schools, attendance, 384. The follow- schools. The average enrollment of pupils, at ing was the course of study, with the text this time, was about 500. In October, 1850, books authorized by the board: Spelling, Mr. Marsh resigned, and Capt. Hatch was again Sander's Spelling Book; reading, Pierpont's employed as teacher of writing and singing. Introduction and National Reader, Sander's

No important change was made in the or- Readers and the Scriptures; Geography, ganization of the schools till February, 1852, Smith's; Grammar, Smith's; Arithmetic, Emer- when Mr. Batchelder was made superintendent son's Mental and Parke's Practical; Algebra, of all the schools. His salary was fixed at Bailey's; History, Goodrich's First, Second and $1,000, and he was assisted by twelve subor- Third Books, and Weem's Washington; music, dinate teachers. In May, 1852, the female Mason's Sacred Harp; Philosophy, Comstock's; seminary was burned, and its schools were surveying, Gummere's; geometry, Playfair's transferred to the basement of the Seventh Euclid; Latin, Andrews and Stoddard's Gram- Street Methodist Episcopal church and the mar, Andrew's Reader, and Virgil; Greek, An- Market Street academy. In June, of this year, thon's Grammar, First Lessons and Reader. the board of education took action looking to On the 16th of September, 1845, Gottlieb Nat- the provision of additional and more suitable tinger and Leonard P. Bailey were elected accommodations for the schools. A commit- members of the board of education in place of tee was appointed to select sites for four ward Adam Peters and Mark Lowdan. Subsequent schools and a high school. In April, 1853, the changes in the board of education are given lots on which were built the Third and Fourth in the roll of the board appended to this ward buildings were selected. In June the sketch.

board adopted plans and applied to the council

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

for funds to purchase the lots selected, to erect years of age, leaving 2,568 entitled to attend two ward schools, and to make alterations and the public schools. The whole number of pu- repairs on the Hill-school building, so as to fit pils enrolled in the white schools was 1,500, it for the use of a high school. The council leaving 1,068 entitled to admission who did not promptly responded to this call, authorized the enter school at all. The average enrollment issue of $25,000 of school bonds for the use of and attendance in the several departments were the board, and advertised for bids for the erec- as follows: In high school, enrollment, 78; tion of two ward buildings. In July, 1853, the attendance, 75. Senior school, enrollment, 85; contract for the erection of the Third and attendance, 83. Secondary school, enrollment, Fourth ward buildings was awarded to Jona- 265; attendance, 252. Primary school, enroll- than Swank, at $7,645 for each building, exclu- ment, 612, attendance, 585.

sive of the stone work. In the spring of 1853

At the close of this school ycar (July, 1857), the first school for colored children was estab- Mr. Samson resigned his position as superin- lished. Under the laws in force at that time tendent, having filled that office a little over this school was controlled by a separate board two years, and having, with the co-operation of of directors, elected by the colored people, and the board of education, fully established the sustained by taxes levied upon property of col- graded system of schools, and witnessed its ored citizens. In October, 1854, Mr. Batchel- entrance upon a career of popularity and use- der resigned his office of superintendent.

fulness. M. D. Leggett was elected to succeed

In April, 1855, the new school buildings Mr. Samson, at a salary of $1,200 per annum. were completed and the organization of the Mr. Leggett remained in charge of the schools graded system began to assume tangible shape. till January, 1862, when he resigned his office Almon Samson had been elected superintend- to accept the appointment of colonel of the ent, and Charles W. Chandler, principal of the 78th regiment, O. V. I. The condition of the high school. The following departments were schools at the close of the school year 1859-60, organized and courses of study adopted: The is indicated by the following statistics, taken primary department, embracing the first three from Superintendent Leggett's annual report years of the course. The secondary depart- for that year: Number of schools sustained ment, embracing the second three years. The during the year: High school, I ; senior schools, senior department, embracing the third three 2; secondary schools, 6; primary schools, 12; years. The high school department, embrac- rural school, 1; German school, I; colored ing three courses of study of two years, four school, I; total, 24; in which were enployed: years, and five years, respectively. As yet no Male teachers, 8; female teachers, 30; total, 38. suitable school facilities had been provided for In addition to the above, two night schools the First and Second wards. In September, were sustained from the first of November to 1856, the following agreement was entered into the first of March, in which were employed between the board of education and the trus- four teachers, two male and two female. The tees of the McIntire estate: "The schoolhouse following is the enrollment and attendance was to be put in thorough repair, and furnished in the several departments: Total enrollment, with furniture similar to that in the other 2,126; attendance, 1,505. The following was school buildings of the city. The school to be the schedule of salaries: Superintendent of organized and conducted under the rules and instruction, $1,600; principal of high school, regulations adopted by the board of education, $1,000; principals of districts, $600; senior, sec- and to be under the control of the superintend- ondary and primary teachers, $300; senior, sec- ent of the city schools. The expenses of re- ondary and primary assistants, $240; assistants pairs, furniture, salaries of teachers, together in high school, $450 to $600. Superintendent with all incidentals necessary to the conduct of Leggett's resignation was accepted January 7, the school, to be paid by the McIntirc trustees;

the McIntire trustees reserving to themselves high school, was elected to succeed him at a the right of visitorial supervision."

1862, and C. W. Chandler, principal of the salary of $1,000, and A. Fletcher, president of

During the school year ending July 3, 1857, the board, was employed as financial agent; there were sustained by the board one high salary $300. This arrangement was continued school, two senior schools, five secondary through the next school year, but the cxigen- schools, ten primary schools, one unclassified cies of the times having made it the duty of the school, and one colored school. The whole board of education to exercise the strictest number of teachers was thirty-one. The enu- economy, a reduction of the salaries of superin- meration of white youth of school age, in this tendent, principal and teachers was made, of from year, was 2,857, of whom 289 were under six ten to twenty per cent. As a further measure

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

of economy, at the close of this school year, Miss Margaret Stultz, who had served for five the office of superintendent was suspended. years as assistant in the high school, was From the report of the president of the board, made principal of the same at a salary of made August, 1865, the following facts, relating $1,000 per annum.

The following figures will exhibit the status

to the condition of the schools for that year, are derived: Number of pupils enrolled in all the of the schools for the school year 1868-70: schools, 2,110; average daily attendance, 1,289. Enumeration of youth of school age in the There were seven male and twenty-eight city, 3,477; high school, enrollment, 101; female teachers. The arrangement with the attendance, 77; district schools, enrollment, McIntire trustees, by which they paid all ex- 2,000; attendance, 1,263; total enrollment, 2, 101; penses of the McIntire school, had now contin- attendance, 1,340; number of teachers em- ued for nine years, and a new arrangement was ployed: high school, principal, I; assistants, entered into with them, under a contract au- 3; district schools, principals, 3; district thorized by a special act of the legislature. schools, senior teachers, 3; district schools, This act enabled the McIntire trustees to con- primary and secondary teachers, 35; total, tract with the board of education for the tui- 45. The following was the schedule of salaries: tion of the "poor children" who would be en- Principal of high school, $1,200; first assistant titled to the benefit of the McIntire fund under in high school, $900; second and third assist- the will of Mr. McIntire, and to pay to the ants in high school, $550; principals of dis- board of education such sum from the income tricts, $950; senior school teachers, $500; sec- of that estate as in their judgment might be ondary school teachers, $400; primary school right and proper as an equivalent for such teachers, $400; German school teacher, $8co; tuition. Under this contract the board has an- colored school teachers, 300 and $400; financial nually received from the McIntire trusteees agent, $1, 100.

the sum of $8,000, and, in addition to that,

At the beginning of this school year from $500 to $800 per year to furnish books (1869-70) the "Stemler" building, was com- and clothing to destitute children.

At the close of the school year in June, schools. Later in the year the city council 1865, C. W. Chandler, who had been principal purchased the Presbyterian mission Sunday of the high school since its establishment, in school building on Monroe street, and the 1855, with the exception of the one year that board opened in it a secondary school. The he filled the office of superintendent, resigned schools were all now accommodated in build- his position, and A. T. Wiles, who had been, for ings owned by the city, except the three the three years preceding, principal of the schools in the rooms rented of the Masonic schools of the second district, was elected Hall association. In the summer of 1870 to that position at a salary of $1,000 per School District No. 9, of Springfield township, annum. The principalship of the Third including the unincorporated village known district, made vacant in June, 1865, by the as South Zanesville, was annexed to the city. promotion of Mr. Wiles was filled by the The board of education assumed control of the election of Miss Maria Parsons, who had two schools of that district, and attached been for several years teacher of the sen- them, for the time being, to the Third district ior school in that district. This was the of the city schools. In November of this year first instance in the history of the Zanesville the village of West Zanesville was annexed to schools in which a lady was placed in the re- the city, adding four more schools to the num- sponsible position of principal, and the innova- ber already under control of the Board. The tion was regarded by many earnest friends of teachers formerly in charge of these schools the public schools with serious distrust. At were all re-employed by the city board of the close of this school year, however, the education, and their salaries adjusted to the board of education were so well satisfied with schedule in force in the other city schools. the result of their experiment that they applied The schools of the Seventh and Eighth wards the same policy to the other two districts. No were constituted the Fourth district, and further change was made in the organization or placed under the principalship of David management of the schools until the close of Harris, who had been for many years teacher the school years 1869-70, when the office of and principal of the West Zanesville schools. superintendent of instruction was restored, In May, 1872, the incorporated village of Put- and A. T. Wiles, who had served for five years nam was annexed to the city, constituting the as principal of the high school, was elected to Ninth ward. The Board of Education assumed that office, at a salary of $1,500 per annum, and only a nominal control of the schools of this

pleted and ready for occupation by the

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

ward until the close of the school year, deem- ing was added to the course of study for all ing it best for their interest to make no grades, and Miss Gertrude Stone was appointed attempt at that time to adjust them to the sys- special teacher of this branch, at a salary of tem of the other schools. By this annexation, $800 per annum. The Diamond building on seven schools were added to the city school Underwood street, having been abandoned for system-the numberof teachers prior to these school purposes, was sold September, 1877, by annexations being forty-five, and immediately the board, for $1,800. To render the grounds subsequent thereto, sixty. about the Moore building more ample, the

During the year 1873, the city council-at Board purchased an adjoining lot for the sum the request of the board of education-erected of $700, improved it, and made it a part of the a brick school house, containing six rooms, in school grounds. This purchase was made the Sixth ward, one in the Seventh ward, con- September, 1877. After eight years of service taining four school rooms, and an addition to as superintendent, A. T. Wiles resigned his the Eighth ward school building containing two position in June, 1878, and W. D. Lash, who school rooms. The cost of these three im- had been principal of the high school for provements, with the grounds upon which they three years, was made superintendent, and has were placed, was about $30,000.

It has been filled the office ever since. H. A. Axline, attempted in this sketch to indicate the con- superintendent of the Dresden, Ohio, public dition and growth of our public school system schools was appointed principal of the high by giving such statistics as were attainable, at school.

the close of each period of five years. The For several years the study of music had following is a summary for the school year been discontinued. In June, 1878, by order of 1874-75: Enumeration of youth of school age the board, music again became a regular study in the city, 5,370. Enrollment: High school, in all grades. J. D. Luse was elected special 159; attendance, 126; senior schools, 194; teacher of this branch, at a salary of $800 per attendance 138; secondary schools, 789; at- annum. During the summer of 1878, an addi- tendance 594; primary schools, 1,510; atten- tion of two rooms was made to the Rural dance 1,025; German-English, 209; attendance building, at a cost of $1,182, and a school of 153; colored schools, 202; attendance 124. senior grade opened in the building. At total, enrollment, 3,063; attendance, 2,160. about the same time a two-story brick build- The number of teachers employed was: High ing was erected on Moxahala avenue, at a cost school, principal 1; assistants, 4. District of $1,553, for the accomodation of the colored schools: principals 5, senior teachers 5; sec- schools of the Ninth ward. The old building onday teachers, 18; primary teachers, 24; on Moxahala avenue and the one on the German-English teachers, 4; colored teachers, Cooper Mill road were abandoned when the 4; music teachers, 2; writing teacher,

I. new building was occupied, and both were sub- Total 68. The following was the schedule of sequently sold. At the opening of the school salaries: Superintendent of instruction $2,000; year, 1878, the board of education directed high school, principal, $1,350; commercial that a colored high school be organized in teacher, $1,080; first assistant, $900; second the Ninth Street building. The directions of and third assistants, $700. District schools: the board were carried out, and Chas. S. Har- principals, $850; senior teachers, $550; sec- rison appointed principal at a salary of $600. ondary teachers, $450; primary teachers, $450; Miss Gertrude Stone resigned her position as German-English, $450 and $800; colored teacher of drawing at the close of the schools teachers, $450 and $720; music teachers $450 in June, 1879. Drawing was subsequently and $600; writing teachers, $950.

dropped from the course of study. December

In September, 1875, two new schools were 29th, 1879, the principalship of the high opened in the Jackson street building, Eighth school was made vacant by the resignation of ward-a new building erected by the board of H. A. Axline. Mr. C. R. Long was elected to education, during the previous summer, at a the position. The following is the summary cost of about $6,000, including the lot. At the of the schools for the year ending August, opening of the school year 1875-76, the princi- 1880 :

palship of the high school, made vacant by Enumeration of youth of school age, 5,571. the resignation of Rev. R. S. James, who had Enrollment: High school, 173; attendance been principal three years, was filled by the 132; senior schools, 225; attendance. 190; election of W. D. Lash, who had been an secondary schools, 799; attendance, 617; assistant in the same school three years. At primary schools, 1,500; attendance, 1,046; the opening of the school year 1876-77, draw- German-English schools, 197; attendance, 156;

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

colored schools, 220; attendance, 142. Totals; tion in what is known as the McIntire district enrollment, 3,144; attendance, 2,283. Num- was inadequate. The old building on Market ber of teachers: special teachers, 2; high street was unfit for use. Rooms not suited to school, principal, I; high school, assistants, school purposes were being rented in the Ma- 4; principals of districts, 5; senior teachers, sonic Hall building. The old High School 5, secondary teachers, 18; primary teachers, building, at the head of Main street, was very 26; German-English teachers, 4; colored much out of repair, and almost unfit for school teachers, 5; total, 70. Schedule of salaries : use. The three colored schools on the east Superintendent of instruction, $1,200; princi- side of the river were poorly provided with pal of high school, $1,000; teacher commer- rooms. The demand for a new building was cial department, $800; two assistants, high pressing. Efforts made to have the McIntire school, $600; one assistant, high school, Academy building enlarged had failed. Sev- $500; principal of districts, $650 to $700; eral attempts to purchase suitable lots for a senior teachers, $500: secondary teachers, sehool building had also proven fruitless. $425; primary teachers, $425; colored high January 13th, 1881, a special committee was school, principal, $600; colored school, authorized to purchase the lot on corner of senior teacher, $600; special teachers, $900. Sixth and North streets, at a cost of $10,000.

Additional school accommodations being Plans and specifications for a building of needed in the Seventh ward, the board pur- twelve rooms on this lot were approved and chased lots on Grant street, May, 1880, for the adopted by the board, January 14th, 1882. sum of $800, and had erected thereon a brick This building, known as the High School building of two rooms, at a cost of about building, was completed before the opening of $2,800, in which schools were immediately the school year 1883-84. The cost of the opened after the completion of the building. building and improvements was $38,801.83. During the year 1880-81, the board remodeled At the close of the schools, July, 1883, the and enlarged the Madison Street building, at board directed that the high school be trans- a cost of about $4,000. The crowded condi- ferred to the new building, and that transfers tion of the schools in this ward rendered the of certain other schools be made, whereby the addition necessary June 28th, 1881, the rooms in the Masonic building were vacated, office of supervising district principal was and the old Academy building, on Market abolished, and the entire supervision of street, abandoned. This building was after- the schools placed in the hands of the ward sold. The board repaired the old High Superintendent. The board also directed School building, at the head of Main street, for that a Normal School be opened for the train- the use of the colored schools on the east side ing of teachers to be employed in the public of the river. These improvements were com- schools of the city. This school was opened in pleted at a cost of over $1,000, and the colored September, 1881, the number of students being schools transferred to the building, September, limited to twenty. The course of adopted was substantially as follows :

study 1883. The building on Ninth street, made va- I. cant by the transfer of the colored schools, Training in Methods of Imparting Instruction was subsequently sold, being unfit for school in Primary Grades. II. Mental Philosophy purposes. At the close of the schools, June, and the Science of Education. III. General 1884, C. R. Long resigned the Principalship of Review of all the Common Branches, with the high school, and J. M. Seright was elected Special Attention to Methods. IV. Special principal. Instruction in Music and Penmanship. V. The status of the schools at the close of the Practice in Teaching. Two schools of primary school year 1884-85 is given below: Enumera- grade were placed in charge of the principal tion of youth of school age, 6,129; Enrollment: to be taught by the students of the normal High school 225, attendance 171; senior schools school, under her personal supervision. Each 309, attendance 245; secondary schools 903, at- student was required to be in the practice tendance 747; primary schools 1,460, attendance room not less than four weeks. Miss S. R. 1080; German-English 146, attendance 119; Chandler, for many years supervising principal colored schools 216, attendance 164; total en- of the first district schools, was appointed rolled 3,259, total attendance 2,526. Number of principal of the normal school at a salary of teachers: Special teachers 2, high school prin- $800. December 26th, 1881, J. D. Luse re- cipal 1, high school assistants 5, senior teach- signed his position as special teacher of music, ers 7, secondary teachers 20, primary teachers . and B. C. Davis, was elected to fill the vacancy. 26, Ger-Eng. 3, colored 6, total 70. Schedule For many years, the school accommoda- of salaries: Superintendent of instruction $1, 800,

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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 31

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