Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 28

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

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Many peculiar characters found their way into the teaching profession in those early days on the frontiers of civilization. In Berkshire Township, one of the early teachers was a man named Nathan Dustin. He was possessed of a very fine sense of "propriety." and was much given to lecturing his pupils on the rules of behavior. He wanted his girls and boys to grow up to be ladies and gentlemen. Another interesting character who taught in Berkshire Township was an Irishman named Lexton. He was fond of his whiskey, which he often car- ried to school. The use of this stimulant did not tend to soften his naturally high temper. Partially intoxicated, he frequently fell asleep. and, on waking, punished at random the first one his eyes fell upon. Such were the teach- ers of those early days. Some set before their pupils the example of an upright and worthy life, while they tried to impart their own limited store of knowledge: others, indifferent to the influence of their example, or to the progress of their pupils, were time-servers

only. However, such instruction as they could give, or did give, was better than no instruc- tion at all. Probably none of those early teachers could measure up to the standards re- quired of the teachers now in our schools; but, fortunately, the conditions of life in those pioneer days did not call for the educational qualifications that the boys and girls of the rising generation must have to hold their own in the battle of life.

Institutions which, for many decades, filled an important place in the life of the community were the spelling-schools, or spelling-matches, and singing-schools. Both of these branches of study have for many years been incorpor- ated in the curriculum of the public schools. and so these early institutions have passed away: though, if the spelling of the present generation be a criterion, it may be doubted if the modern method of teaching spelling is any improvement on that of a generation ago. But these early schools were not only a means of education, they filled a place in the social life of the people well suited to the times, and this combination of pleasure and study doubt- less had much to do with the lively interest manifested in these functions. A story used to be told by one of the old residents of Berlin Township, which shows the rough and ready, if good-natured manners of those days. As is often the case nowadays, two boys had their hearts and attentions set upon one girl, and both proposed to himself to escort her home. While one of the contestants was lighting his hickory torch at the old block-house fire-place, his rival, who had been quicker than he. just placed his torch in close proximity with the other's coat-tail. Of course, there was a sudden hurrying about to extinguish the blaze, but. in the meantime, the shrewd incendiary had gone off with the girl. leaving his rival to grieve over the lacerated state of his feelings. as well as the damaged condition of his coat- tail.

We find that it is impossible to secure a connected story of the schools in each township from the earliest times down to the present day, and we shall have to content ourselves with a brief glance at so much of the early

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school history as we have been able to obtain and a statement of the conditions of the schools at the present time. To aid in compar- ing these two periods, we have prepared a statement (see elsewhere in this chapter) showing the tax rate for schools, the total expenditure for schools, the number of school- houses, total value of school property, num- ber of teachers and number of elementary and high school pupils in each of the eighteen town- ships and thirteen school districts in the county. These figures are for 1907, except in a few cases, which are indicated, where we were able to secure the 1908 figures, or where the 1906 figures are the latest that can be obtained. It is gratifying to note that, throughout the county, progress in school matters and in- provement in the facility for educating our youth have kept pace with the demands of the times.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE CITY OF DELAWARE.

In 1880 the late Prof. William G. Williams prepared an article on the public schools of the city of Delaware, which appears in the History of Delaware County that was published at that time. Prof. Williams was at that time a men- ber of the School Board; he was a writer of recognized ability ; his historical researches were thorough, and as he then had sources of information upon which we cannot draw at this late day, we will quote the article referred to, making only such changes as may be necessary to indicate that persons then referred to as living are no longer with us, and to avoid con- fusing the period in which he wrote with the present time.

"The early settlers in Delaware were mostly from the New England States, and were generally educated and intelligent. They ap- preciated the value of education for their chil- dren; but they were poor, and the school- master had not yet followed them to the wilderness. Accordingly, what book-learning the children of the first generation got, was imparted to them by the parents in the long winter evenings. Sometimes, when families were close neighbors, the children, and even

the older folks, would unite in these exercises, under the instruction of the best scholar of the neighborhood. Such for a number of years, from 1808, was the educational status of the community.

"After the village became large enough to have day schools, and until the school law of 1825, the schools were subscription schools, and were held in private houses. During this time there were still but few professional teachers. The office was mostly held by some middle-aged person who had the physical, as well as the intellectual ability thought to be necessary for this work. The first teacher whose name has been retained, and perhaps the first actually employed, was Pelatiah Mor- gan. He is represented as a man of sufficient scholarship, but of intemperate habits, and of harsh discipline. His school dated from 1815, and continued at intervals for several years ; but, being a private school, 'the record of its alumni is lost.'

"About the year 1817, Mr. Russell E. Post had a private school in a building on Winter Street, a short distance west of Sandusky. Nothing further is related of this school.

In 1821 Mr. James B. Weaver was the only teacher in Delaware. He was a man of middle age and married, and had probably taught before coming to Delaware. His first schoolroom was in the upper story of a house belonging to the Rev. Jacob Drake, where now stands the Reid and Powell Block, but he soon removed to the upper story of a building on the site of the City Hall. Mr. Weaver was a man of violent impulses, and in one of his pas- sionate moments he fatally injured a little pupil in his school. No prosecution followed, but the act broke up the school and drove the teacher from his profession and from the town.

"In 1823 he was succeeded at the same place by Captain Elias Murray, the son-in-law of Colonel Moses Byxbe. original proprietor of the town. Captain Murray was also a mid- dle-aged man, but of kind feelings, and as in- dulgent in his discipline as his predecessor had been morose and rigid.

"About the same date there was an in-

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stance of private tutorship that deserves men- tion. The tutor was John A. Quitman, then a young clerk in the United States Land Office at Delaware. His pupils were the children of Platt Brush, Esq., an eccentric old gentlemen. his superior in office. Mr. Quitman subse- quently went South, studied law, and became noted as a politician; and was afterwards a distinguished general in the Mexican war, and then governor of Mississippi.

"In 1821 Miss Sophia Moore, sister of the late General Sidney Moore and of Emery Moore, built the house occupied in 1880 by the Misses Welch, on Franklin, near William Street, for an orphans' home and school. This was not a charity school. though undertaken with charitable intent. Miss Moore taught this school, including day scholars, very accept- ably for some years, until her marriage to Mrs Gorton.

"In 1825 Richard Murray, Esq., nephew of Captain Murray, became associated with Miss Moore in the conduct of her school. After her marriage he carried it on alone for two or three years, and then with his wife, formerly Miss Joan Hills. Mrs. Murray was a born teacher. When quite a young girl. in 1824-25. she taught in Berkshire, and after her mar- riage, in 1826-27, in Delaware, with her hus- band. In 1833, after the death of her husband. she resumed teaching, and taught continuously. with short respites only, until 1868, a period of forty-four years. A few years of this was in the public schools of the town, but most of the time was in her own private house on Franklin Street. In this unpretending, but ad- mirable school. were educated many of the most cultivated ladies of the city.

"A little later. somewhere from 1827 to 1830, Mr. Asa Messenger, another relative of Colonel Byxbe, taught, for two or three years. in the house built by Miss Moore on Franklin Street. Mr. Messenger subsequently went South, and afterward became an editor. in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Nearly at the same time. his sister, Miss Messenger, attempted to establish a girls' seminary, and taught a few terms, but the effort eventually failed.

"Up to this time, in the history of the State, there had been no organic legislation on the subject of schools. Special charters were granted to the cities, but no adequate provision had been made for the non-corporate parts of the State. All the schools in Delaware, thus far. as in the rural districts and smaller towns elsewhere, were private and independent. The population of the town was small. not yet reaching 500, and most of the time. a single school met all the educational wants of the place. The tuition fees were very small; at first scarcely reaching $1.50 per quarter of thirteen weeks, and, at the last, in the case of the best teachers, not exceeding $3.00 per quar- ter. Nor was the pay always certain, or gener- ally made in money. "Store pay," or "trade." was a very common method of balancing ac- counts, and largely prevailed to a much later date than this.

"Yet, even after the enactment of school laws providing for a public system of educa- tion, the private schools were long continued. until the new system was in complete working order. Of these later teachers of private schools, the following may be mentioned as most successful: Albert Pickett, Jr .. had a reputable school from 1834 to 1836. He was a son of Albert Pickett, a famous teacher in Cincinnati, and inherited much of his father's genius for literary work. He afterward held office in the county, and died about 1850.

"Horatio Sherman was a professional teacher, from the State of New York. He was in the prime of life when he brought his family to Delaware. Here he taught many years, at first in the public schools, but, in 1840 and afterward, a private school in his own house, on William Street. His advertisement says : 'Young gentlemen preparing to teach, will be particularly attended to; tuition, $2.50 or $3.00 per quarter.' At last he was laid aside by a failing of sight. and died, in Upper San- dusky, about 1879.

"About 1832 two highly accomplished ladies from Ireland. Mrs. Howison and her sister, Miss Johnson, opened a girls' seminary in the house of Colonel Byxbe. An extensive

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course of study was marked out. Miss Meeker, afterwards Mrs. Sprague, whose son was pro- bate judge in 1880, assisted them in the lower classes. But the school was not successful. and, in a few years, was discontinued. After the close of this school, Miss Meeker had, for two years, 1834-36, a very popular infant school in the town.

"The school law of 1825 established a gen- eral system of public schools of low grade, which were destined largely to supersede the private schools of the same grade. But this result could not be effected at once. The tax which the Legislature of 1825 ventured to au- thorize was but one-half a mill on the dollar, one-fourteenth as much as school boards were empowered to levy in 1880. For many years this tax was insufficient to maintain the district schools for the requisite time-rarely for more than two quarters of the year.

"The schools had an average enrollment of about sixty pupils, of both sexes, and were 1111- graded as to age or attainments. The teacher's work was hard, and his pay light, being about $20 per month. This was drawn from the public funds as long as the money held out. When this was exhausted. voluntary subscrip- tions enabled the directors to continue the pub- lic school another term: or the building was granted, free of rent, to the teacher for a pri- vate school, for the remainder of the school vear.

"Under this law, the first public school buildings in Delaware were erected. One was a stone building at the corner of Franklin and Winter Streets, on the lot occupied in 1908 by the Jane M. Case Memorial Hospital. An- other was a small frame house, also on Frank- lin Street, at the northwest corner of the Court- house lot.

"Miss Eliza T. Thompson, afterward Mrs. William Carson, was the first lady that taught a district school in Delaware. The school was in the stone school house for the winter. The next summer she had a select school in the same house. Among her pupils were Ruther- ford B. Hayes and his sister Fannie.

"Some of the teachers already mentioned taught in the newly organized district schools :

but it is impossible to name all who from this time forward helped to train the youth of Dela- ware in the paths of learning and of virtue.

"As only primary or ungraded schools could be organized under the law, the wants of the community were not yet all met. Indi- vidual attempts to establish a seminary of a higher grade having failed, a number of pub- lic-spirited citizens, among whom were M. D. Pettibone, Sherman Finch and others, at length combined in 1834, to build up such a school for the beter education of their children. The attempt resulted in the erection of the Dele- ware Academy. It was a large frame build- ing two stories high, beautifully located on Hill Street, in South Delaware, at that time 'out of town.' In this building there was a succession of teachers, among whom were Giles M. Porter ( 1838-40), Rev. James McElroy, George S. Lee, Miss L. A. Emerson, after- ward Mrs. Porter ( 1840), R. E. Rice, B. A. (1840), and Flavel A. Dickinson, a recent graduate of Yale College ( 1841). The tuition fee was $5 per term for languages: $4.50 for higher English, and $4 for elementary studies. But, laudable as was the attempt, excellent and expensive as was the instruction, the time for these things was not yet, and the Academy was a failure. It not only paid no interest to the stockholders ; it could not support the teach- ers. The building long stood empty, then passed into other hands for a ladies' school, and finally was sold to the City School Board, and was occupied for some years as one of the ward schools. It was torn down in 1879.

"In the year 1847, the Legislature felt strong enough to take an advanced step in school matters: and the law was so improved as to permit the establishment of Union schools with graded classes. This is what is popularly known as the "Akron Law." The town of Delaware was for this purpose made into one district. and the old Methodist Church at the corner of William and Franklin Streets, was bought by the School Board, and reconstructed into suitable schoolrooms; those below for the boys, and those above for the girls. Whether this separation of the sexes was an advanced step, we need not pause to discuss, as it was

----

RESIDENCE OF DR. HERBERT WELCH, PRES. OF THE OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

DELAWARE HIGH SCHOOL

GRAY CHAPEL AND

UNIVERSITY HALL, O. W. U.

---

PERKINS OBSERVATORY, O. W. U.

THE WEST SCHOOL BUILDING, DELAWARE

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soon abandoned, and both sexes again united in the same rooms and recitations.

"The first members of the Board of Di- rectors under the new law were Sherman Finch, Israel Breyfogle and Stephen W. Little. and the first superintendent was Lucius P. Marsh, a young man from the State of New York, then twenty-four years of age. His salary was fixed at $40 per month. The girls were placed under the special care of Mrs. Murray at $25 per month. Their assistants were Mr. A. R. Gould. Mrs. Dr. Rowland and Misses Renette Brown, Charlotte Washı- burn and Jennette Sherman. The salaries of the young ladies were $13 per month. After two years of service, Mr. Marsh. upon being refused an increase of salary, resigned his place and began the practice of law. * In like manner, Mrs. Murray was retired from service in these schools, after a tenure of five years. Her salary was reduced to $20 per month, whereupon shie immediately opened a private school, from which she realized over $50 per month for many years. These meager salaries were adjusted by the amount at the command of the Board. The funds were suffi- cient to sustain the schools for only seven months : and a private subscription was raised to continue the schools for the normal period of nine months. When the income of the Board had grown larger, the usage of having a long vacation in the summer had become fixed. and the schools are held even yet ( 1880) for but about thirty-six weeks.

"Before the adoption of the school law. any person, however incompetent, might take up the office and the ferule of teacher; and often, no doubt, the office was thus filled by persons wholly unworthy. Such persons might. indeed, even now, intrude themselves into the calling of teacher. if they could find private patronage. But the State common schools are so excellent, so satisfactory to the people at large, that private tuition has almost ceased, except in denominational or expensive select schools. This is owing to the legal exclusion of unfit teachers. No one is permitted to teach in the public schools, or draw pay therefor, who has not been examined both for scholarship and moral character. The first

Board of Examiners in Delaware County, under the State law, was composed of Solo- mon Smith, Esq., Dr. Eleazar Copeland and Dr. Silas C. McClary. These were appointed by the Court of Common Pleas. The county owes much to these worthy gentlemen and their successors for their faithfulness in keep- ing out of the schools the dissipated and the ignorant. Among those subsequently appointed were Drs. N. Spalding and Ralph Hills : Rich- ard Murray, Sherman Finch, David T. Fuller. Cooper K. Watson and Homer M. Carper. Esqs: Revs. William L. Harris, James McElroy. Prof. William G. Williams, Rev. James S. Campbell and John Ufford.

All the teachers in the city of Delaware as well as in the county at large, passed this Board: but in 1878. a City Board of Examin- ers was appointed, before whom the city teach- ers are examined with more care and on more subjects than are required on the County Board.

"In the Central Building, though ill suited to academic uses, the schools of the town were held for a period of about ten years from 1847. The records of the Board during the first part of this time have been lost, and the names and dates of service of the teachers can- not all now be recalled. Of those who taught during the later years, we give the names of Mr. John W. Hyatt, who was appointed prin- cipal, in 1856, at a salary of $60 per month. He served one year, and then went into busi- ness in Toledo. After him, Wil- liam F. Whitlock served one year, while car- rying on his studies at the University. He is Latin professor in the University.

* * As the town grew, and the enroll- ment of pupils gradually increased, one or two other houses were occupied as schools. At length, the limited accommodations at the Cen- tral Building compelled the Board to seek new quarters. In 1859 they bought a large lot of the Little estate, at the west end of William Street, on which they erected a building of six rooms. larger and better adapted to school uses.

"A better organization, and a uniform course of study. was now deemed desirable. To this end, uniform and efficient supervision

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seemed essential ; and William Carter, in 1862, was appointed superintendent, at a salary of $700, which was soon raised to $1,000. He brought the schools into a very good degree of efficiency. To provide for the increased at- tendance, the Board bought for $2,000, the old academy building in South Delaware, and opened there two new rooms, which soon grew into four. After three years' service, Mr. Car- ter resigned for a more lucrative calling. His successor was Rev. James S. Campbell, who entered upon the duty in 1865 [and held the position until his death. February 28, 1891]. Flis salary was fixed at $1,000 per annum, but the next year it was raised to $1,200." Later it was raised to $1,600. "Ten other teachers were appointed at the same time, all ladies, with pay from $35 to $45 per month. The assessment for the support of the schools was four mills on the dollar.

"The growth of the town during the pros- perons years after the war, was such that the Board of Education was compelled, in rapid succession, to double the accommodations of the schools. In 1869. a new school house of four rooms was built in North Delaware; in 1870. a house with the same number of rooms, but larger. was built in East Delaware; in 1875, a yet larger building of six rooms was erected in South Delaware, and a year or two later, two rooms were added to the Central school house, and two more to the school in East Delaware. By a judicious economy, these improvements were all effected without the creation of a debt, and with but small increase in the rate of taxation. In the last ten years ( 1870-80) the annual levy has but once reached the limit of seven mills on the dollar. author- ized by law; two years it was six mills, four years it was five mills, and, for the last three years (to 1880) it has ranged from three to four mills. The enumeration of youth of a legal school age is now (1880) 2.300; the number of teachers appointed in 1879-80 was twenty-five : and the aggregate salaries paid to them are $10,500; and the incidental expenses of the schools are about $3.000 more.

"The course of study is so arranged that pupils leaving the school at the age of twelve,

are able to read and write well, have an under- standing of the fundamental principles of arith- metic, and a general knowledge of geography, esentially that of their own country. Those who stay to complete the entire course, ex- tending through eight years, get a very good general preparation for business, or for en- trance upon college studies. Graduates of the High School are prepared for the freshman class in colleges, with the exception of Greek.

"Among a free people, the thirst for knowl- edge and culture is unquenchable ; if not satis- fied in one direction. it will seek to be slaked in another. In the earlier years of this town the educational and literary craving's of the community were just as marked as they have shown themselves since, but the opportunities for indulging them were not the same as now. In the absence of public reading-rooms, schools, libraries, and newspapers, a tribune for public discussion was a pleasant and profitable form of entertainment and means of cultivation. Such was found in the 'Delaware Lyceum,' an organization formed by the young men, but largely attended by all classes of citizens. Of the date of its organization, and the length of its career, the writer has no information, but, as showing the character of its meetings, the grave and practical matters discussed. the. following illustrations may be given. The notices are from the Olentangy Gasette; and the meetings were held in the Thespian Hall, an upper chamber in the range of public build- ings on the Court-house plaza. This name indicates that the hall was originally designed for entertainments of a musical and dramatic character.

" 'Monday evening, February 1, 1841, a public discussion is appointed on the following resolution : 'Resolved, That the right of suffrage should be extended to females.' Advocates, S. Dunham, P. Bunker, J. A. Barnes: Respondents, R. Hills, T. C. Jones. R. E. Rice.

"'I. Ranney, Secretary.' "

"From the names here and following. it seems, as might be expected. that the legal

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profession was most largely represented. All these gentlemen were lawyers or law-students, except Bunker, Sheriff; Hills, physician ; and Rice, teacher.

"Feb. 15 .- Resolved, That the youth of the country should be educated at pub- lic expense.' Advocates, T. W. Powell, F. Horr, R. Hills; Respondents, D. T. Fuller, I. Ranney, P. Bunker."

"Feb. 22 .- Resolved, That capital punishment ought to be abolished.' Ad- vocates, T. C. Jones, J. A. Barnes; Re- spondents, R. E. Rice, P. Bunker."

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 28

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926