Fifty years and over of Akron and Summit County : embellished by nearly six hundred engravings--portraits of pioneer settlers, prominent citizens, business, official and professional--ancient and modern views, etc.; nine-tenth's of a century of solid local history--pioneer incidents, interesting events--industrial, commercial, financial and educational progress, biographies, etc., Part 19

Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Ohio > Summit County > Akron > Fifty years and over of Akron and Summit County : embellished by nearly six hundred engravings--portraits of pioneer settlers, prominent citizens, business, official and professional--ancient and modern views, etc.; nine-tenth's of a century of solid local history--pioneer incidents, interesting events--industrial, commercial, financial and educational progress, biographies, etc. > Part 19

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Akron's First High School Building_1847 To 1883, [on site of present Jennings School.]

The entire town, de- nominated the "Akron School District," was divided into eight sub- districts; additional pri- mary school houses were built, and the property abutting on Summit, Mill and Prospect streets, then embracing about two and. a half acres of land, was purchased for $2,137.21, and the castellated one- story, frame building, al- ready upon the ground, was fitted up for a gram- mar school, at a cost of $613.44.

Mr. Mortimer D. Leggett, Ithaca, N. Y., a ripe scholar, and a thorough disciplinarian, was employed as Principal of the Gram- mar School, at the "munificent" salary of $500 per year, with Miss Lucretia Wolcott and Miss Helen Pomeroy as assistants, at $200 and $150 per year, respectively.

The board was opposed in all of its movements by certain · penurious property owners, and, as above stated, an amendment to the law was secured, limiting the rate of taxation for school purposes, in any one year, to four mills on the dollar, which compelled so great a degree of economy, in providing houses and apparatus, and the employment of competent teachers, as to very seriously threaten the success of the experiment, Mr. Leggett being impelled to withdraw from the schools the second year for lack of adequate compensation for his exceedingly efficient services.

The graded system was found to work well, however, there being a much greater proportionate attendance, and at a con- siderable less expense per capita, and greater proficiency, than under the old plan. In 1849, an additional sub-district was formed, the primaries were graded into primary and secondary, and the grammar school was suspended during the Summer.

September 3, 1849, Mr. Charles W. Palmer, assisted by Mrs. Palmer, and Mr. Josiah Gilbert Graham, took charge of the grammar school, Mr. Palmer's engagement being for two years, at a joint salary, for himself and wife, of $600 per year, though owing to Mr. Palmer's illness, the school was again suspended early in 1851, not to be again resumed until the completion of the new

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HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING DEDICATED.

grammar school building, a contract for the erection of which was entered into by the board with the late Charles W. Brown for the foundation, and the late Andrews May, for the superstructure, in the Winter of 1850-51, at a cost of $9,200.

Meantime, Mr. Edwin Bigelow Olmstead, and his wife, were employed to teach a higher grade primary, or rather secondary, school, in lieu of the grammar school, at a joint salary of $50 per month, the fifth annual report showing the cost of tuition for the previous year (1851), to have been $2.00 per scholar upon the average number enrolled; $2.80 per scholar upon the average attendance, and $1.12 per capita on the enumeration.

This arrangement continued until the dedication and occupa- tion of the new High School building, October 13, 1853. This building was erected immediately south of the original frame struct- ure, being a two-story brick, 50x70 feet, of fair exterior and interior finish with a large school room and recitation rooms, on either floor. In 1868, the two wings were added, giving four additional rooms, at a cost of $15,000, and is now known as the Central or Jen- ings School building.

Jennings School-old High School Build- ing-Summit, Mill and Prospect, First Ward. The dedication exercises were held in the upper room of the new building, which was crowded by parents and the friends of education. Sidney Edgerton, Esq., then a member of the Board of Education, made a formal presen- tation of the structure, on behalf of the contractor and the board, with congratulatory remarks upon the advanced position which Akron occupied in the educational world, and the bright future in store for her both from a business as well as an educational stand- point. Rev. D. C. Maybin, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, read a portion of the scriptures; Rev. A. Joy, of the Baptist Church, following with an appropriate prayer. Brief addresses were made by Abel B. Berry, Esq., Rev. John Tribbey, of the M. E. Church, and others. Rev. Nathaniel P. Bailey, of the Congregational Church, offered a resolution of thanks to the Board for their efficiency in the promotion of the work which had been done, and a hearty commendation of the systeni of education, so auspiciously inaugurated, to the unstinted support of the people of Akron, and the friends of education everywhere. The exercises were interspersed with music by the Akron Band, and closed with a benediction by Rev. N. Gher, of the Grace Reformed Church.

Mr. Samuel F. Cooper was employed as Superintendent of Schools, assisted in the High Department by Mrs. Cooper and Miss Annette Voris, sister of Gen. Alvin C. Voris; the Grammar depart- ment being placed in charge of Miss Elsie A. Codding, assisted by Miss Mary Gilbert and Miss Rosetta Pryne. Mr. Cooper's engage- ment closing after two and a half years of faithful work, in April, 1856, Horace B. Foster, Esq., of Hudson, graduate of Western Reserve College, filled the position with great acceptance, to both

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

board and pupils, from October, 1856, until the Spring of 1857. Mr. E. B. Olmsted was then appointed Superintendent, with Mr. J. Park Alexander in charge of the Grammar school, Mr. George H. Root, of Tallmadge, having had charge of that department during the years 1855-56, assisted by Miss Harriet N. Angel and Miss Jerusha McArthur; Mr. Root also giving especial attention to penmanship, in both the grammar and high schools.

GEN. MORTIMER D. LEGGETT, born, of Quaker parentage, in Ithaca, N. Y., April 19, 1821; at 16 emigrated to Geauga County, Ohio; school advantages limited, but by study at night acquired an education which secured the voluntary be- stował of degrees from several west- ern colleges ; though admitted to the bar at 22, his time was for several years devoted to the cause of popu- lar education, being the organizer of Akron Union School System, now general throughout the State; as Principal of the Grammar School, which position he ably filled for two years, as elsewhere stated, our fine new Leggett School Building, East Thornton, Sumner and Allyn streets, being so named in his honor. On retiring Mr. Leggett engaged in the practice of law at Warren, in 1857 removing to Zanesville, where in addition to his law practice, he offi- ciated as superintendent of public schools, until the Fall of 1861, when he was commissioned by Gov. Dennison to recruit a regiment for the Union Army. Appointed Lieu- tenant Colonel, 78th O. V. I., Decem- ber 1861; promoted to Colonel, January 11, 1862; fought at Fort Donelson, February 11, 1862; on sur- render of fort appointed provost- marshal ; was in continious service

GEN. MORTIMER D. LEGGETT.

during the war, being several times wounded, with constant advances for meritorious conduct, and appoint- ed full Major-General from January 15, 1865; after the siege of Vicksburg, receiving as the award of a Board of Honor, gold medal, inscribed, "Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Siege of Cor- inth, Bolivar, Iuka, Champion Hills, Vicksburg." Gen. Leggett was ap- pointed Commissioner of Patents, by Pres. Grant, in 1871, and is now with his son, L. L. Leggett, Esq., practicing law in Cleveland.

The teachers' pay-roll for 1856, was $2,777.42, the average price paid in the primaries and secondaries being about $4.75 per week; in the grammar school and assistants in the high school $35 per month; superintendent $65 per month.

The board, deploring the evils resulting from frequent changes of superintendents and teachers, in their 11th annual report expressed the conviction that the lowest wages principle was not the most economical, and that such liberal compensation should be paid for both superintendent and instructors, as would secure the best ability and skill in all the departments.

Acting upon this principle, Mr. Charles T. Pooler, a teacher of large experience in the state of New York, was employed as Super- intendent, assisted in the High School by Miss Harriet N. Angel the first five months, and on her resignation, by Miss Lavena Church, now Mrs. Jacob Oberholser, of New York City, who con- tinued the second year, with Miss Harriet Amanda Bernard as second assistant; Mr. Hezekiah Melchisedec Ford having charge of the grammar school, with Miss Rebecca Coffman as assistant.

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EARLIER SUPERINTENDENTS.

EDWIN BIGELOW OLMSTED,- born in Sidney, N. Y., August 20, 1826; academical and collegiate education ; taught school in Sidney, N. Y., in Virginia., in Butternuts, N. Y., in Mt. Sterling, Ky., in Geneva, O., Madison, O. Academy, as principal, in Akron, as principal of grammar school, and Fredonia, N. Y., as prin- cipal of public schools, in 1857 returning to Akron, as superinten- dent, as elsewhere stated, and then for several years as superintendent of schools at Marion, O. In April, 1861, went into service as Captain of Co. H., 4th O. V. I., participating in battles of Rich Mountain and Rom- ney. After a great variety of regular and detached service, was wounded while constructing a bridge over the Shenandoah, near Front Royal, and. discharged for disability ; in 1864, at request of Gov. Brough, was sent to take the vote of Ohio soldiers in front of Charlestown and Hilton Head, S. C .; in Washington, served on editorial 'staff of Daily Intelli- gencer; completed north wing of P. O. Dept. building; designed and constructed Dead Letter room in said building; was original inventor of making envelopes for the govern- ernment, without hand labor, but through red-tape-ism, or favoritism, failed to reap the benefit of his invention and the large amount of labor and money expended thereon. Mr. O. then spent several years in educational work in the South, where

EDWIN BIGELOW OLMSTED.

he was ordained as a Baptist min- ister, and is now the pastor of a church in Port Byron, New York. Mrs. Olmsted, who assisted him in the schools here, died in the South, leaving four sons, two of whom Victor H. and Edwin B., Jr., are in government employ in Washington ; Ledru Rollin in the West; and William Dennison preparing for the legal profession. Mr. O. was again married, to Miss M. E. Strong, of Yorkshire, N. Y. in 1881.

Mr. Pooler entered upon his duties in the Fall of 1857, at a salary of $1,000 per year, and after a fairly acceptable service of three years, declining a reappointment, retired from the Superin- tendency at the close of the Spring terni, 1860.

In September, 1860, Mr. Israel P. Hole, entered upon the duties of Superintendent at a salary of $900 per year, which was increased from time to time, the last year of his term of service, 1867-68, his salary being $1,500. This increase of compensation, while made necessary by the advance in the cost of living, and the enhance- ment of all values by the war, was a significant acknowledgment of the high estimation placed upon the services of Mr. Hole by successive boards, and by the majority of the people.

In January, 1868, owing to a real or supposed unfriendliness on the part of a portion of the patrons of the schools, Mr. Hole and several of his assistants tendered their resignations to the board, which body, on February 1, 1868, unanimously adopted the following resolution:

" Resolved, That the Board of Education take pleasure in attesting to the fidelity and zealous labors of the superintendent and teachers. We further assure the superintendent and teachers that they have and will con- tinue to have, the most cordial support of the Board so long as they continue to merit their confidence in the future as they have in the past. We also earnestly invoke the confidence and support of the community. as being

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

eminently due to those having charge of our public schools as superintend- ent and teachers. As at present advised we decline to accept the resigna- tions as tendered."

HON. SAMUEL F. COOPER, ---- born in Stockbridge, Mass., December 19, 1826; in 1836 removed with parents to Tallmadge, Ohio, working on farm; from 18 taught school Winters, and attended Ober- lin College Summers, graduating in the class of 1851; in August, 1851, was married to Miss Margaret J. Loughridge, of Mansfield; Superin- intendent of Youngstown Union schools two years, and of Akron schools two years and a half-from October, 1853 to April, 1856-with Mrs. Cooper as one of his most efficient assistants ; in Spring of 1856, removed to Grinnell, Iowa, being admitted to the bar, and engaging in practice the same year. In August, 1861, entered the army as Adjutant of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, serving in Mis- souri and Arkansas till September, 1862, when he was appointed Lieu- tenant Colonel of 40th Iowa V. I., serving under Gen. Grant in the Vicksburg campaign, and afterwards till close of the war, west of the Mississippi, being mustered out in August, 1865. Since the war Mr. Cooper has filled many honorable civil positions-Clerk of the United States District Court, Collector of Internal Revenue, and, from 1876 to 1880, United States Consul to Glas- gow, Scotland. For the past ten years Mr. Cooper has been connected

HON. SAMUEL F. COOPER.

with the Merchants National Bank, of Grinnell, of which he is now Pres- ident, but in a recent letter to the writer, says: "For nearly a half a century my best thought and effort has been given to the cause of pop- ular education, having in all that period, scarcely ceased to have offi- cial connection with that grand work, in some of its departments."

Feeling, at length, that a change was desirable, both for him- self and the schools, Mr. Hole again tendered his resignation, at the close of the school year, in 1868, after eight full years of effi- cient and meritorious service; among his most efficient aids, without disparagement to others, being Miss Harriet Amanda Ber- nard, now Mrs. Dr. Edward S. Coburn, of Troy, N. Y.

In the meantime, the magnitude and importance of Akron's public schools had immensely increased, her enumeration of school children and youth, being fully 3,000 against less than 700 in 1846; the town itself having been advanced from an incorporated village to a city of the second class, both its business and its pop- ulation and wealth being rapidly on the increase.

At this juncture, most fortunately, the services of Mr. Samuel Findley, as Superintendent, were secured, the new incumbent entering upon his duties in September, 1868, holding and most ably and efficiently filling the position for the period of 15 years, until feeling the absolute necessity of a rest from the arduous labors of the position, he voluntarily tendered his resignation at the close of the Spring term. in 1883.

Meantime, in addition to the rapid growth of original Akron, various annexations of territory were made, the Spicer school dis- trict being added in 1865, and the township of Middlebury in 1872;

127

WONDERFULLY SUCCESSFUL.

Superintendent Findley's last report showing a total enumeration . of school youth between six and twenty-one years, for 1883, within the city limits to have been 5,858, as against 690 in the Akron of 1846, and probably not to exceed 1,000 in the entire territory now included in said city. The total enrollment of scholars in 1882, was 3,582 and the average daily attendance for that year, 2,840.

PROF. ISRAEL P. HOLE,-born near Salem, Columbiana Co., O., April 2, 1827; educated in common schools and at select high school of G. K. Jenkins, Mt. Pleasant, O .; from 1849 to 1856 taught part of each year in country and village schools; in 1856 was student in State Normal School at Hopedale, Harrison Co., afterward merged in Hopedale Nor- mal College, from which he holds the degree of B. S .; taught a select school in Springfield, O., seven months ; superintended Minerva, O., schools one year, Hanover, O., two years, New Lisbon, O., four years, Akron, O., eight years and was

principal of Damascus, O., Acad- emy ten years, making about a third of a century in the work of instruction, many of his students now adorning the bench, the bar, the pulpit, the medical, the teachers' and other professions of Science, Literature and Art, or successfully engaged in the various other honor- able pursuits of public and private life. Mr. H., since 1884, has resided on a small farm, near Damascus, O., partly engaged in agriculture and partly promoting the public welfare, as opportunity offers. He is presi- dent of an insurance company, pres- ident of Board of Trustees of Damascus Academy, and president of a gold mining company. In the Autumn of 1852, Mr. Hole was mar-

PROF. ISRAEL P. HOLE.

ried to Miss Mary Miller, of Column- biana Co. February 3, 1861, two sons -twins-were born to them-Mahlon W., (deceased) and Morris J., the latter-married to Eliza Spear, of Garfield, Mahoning Co.,-holding the degree of M. S. from Damascus Academy, and of A. B., from Adel- bert College; is now principal of Green Spring Academy, Seneca Co., Ohio.

In speaking of Superintendent Findley's retirement, President F. W. Rockwell, in his annual report for 1883, said: "With the close of the year the board lost the services of Superintendent Samuel Findley, who has been at the head of our schools for the past fifteen years. His administration has been marked by ability and firmness of purpose, and having conducted our schools from a small beginning until they have reached their present status, he may well look back upon his work with pride."

Capt. Elias Fraunfelter, for several years Professor of Mathe- matics in Buchtel College, was elected by the Board of Education as Dr. Findley's successor, entering upon his responsible duties in September, 1883, his administration thus far being equally satis- factory with that of his predecessor.

With the passing years many and important changes have come to the schools of Akron, not only in the matter of greatly improved school buildings, but also in a large increase of the courses of instruction, including scientific penmanship, vocal

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

music, drawing, etc., and, in the High School, the higher mathe- matics, chemistry, Latin, Greek, etc., with semi-annual examina- tions and graduations-graduates from the. High School being thoroughly qualified to engage in teaching, enter college without further preparation or examination, or to engage in business or professional life, an arrangement having been made between the board and Buchtel College by which, beginning at tenth year of course, or second year in High School, pupils in Greek recite to tutors of College.

SAMUEL FINDLEY,-born in New Concord, Ohio, December 1, 1831; educated in common schools and preparatory department of Mus- kingum College; at 17, moved with parents to Green County, working on farm two years, then teaching coun- try schools four years and one year in Xenia Public Schools. In 1855, became publisher and manager of Presbyterian Witness and book con- cern at Cincinnati, continuing two years. In Spring of 1857, engaged in book-selling in Monmouth, Ill., for a short time, then teaching near Mon- mouth two years ; in Fall and Winter of 1859, operated as agent for Mon- mouth College, in Ohio; in 1860, returned to Ohio and resumed teach- ing in Green County, in the Fall of 1861, in Xenia Union Schools, a few months later accepting the princi- palship of a ward school in Colum- bus; in January, 1864, became princi- pal of the old Brownell Street School in Cleveland, organized the new Brownell Street School, in 1865, with 18 teachers; in the Fall of 1868 assumed superintendency of Akron Schools, which position he ably filled for 15 years, as elsewhere detailed. For 20 years Mr. F. has been County and City Examiner and member of State Teachers' Association, Presi- dent of Superintendents' Section in 1873 and President of Association in 1877; was given degree of A. M. by

SAMUEL FINDLEY.

Buchtel College in 1876, and. of Ph. D. by Wooster University in 1880, and is now editor and publisher of the Ohio Educational Monthly, with a large circulation among the teachers of Ohio. March 31, 1853, was married to Miss Mary A. Hardie, of Xenia, who has borne him four sons and two daughters-William Clarence, Alvin Irwin, Lorena Belle, Laura May, Edwin Leigh, and Samuel Emerson, all living in Akron.

By the growth of the city and a change in the law, the Board of Education has been enlarged from six to twelve members-two. elected by the voters in each ward-instead of being elected by the. city at large, as under the old arrangement.

From a half dozen or less diminutive rooms, the school accom- modations now consist of one splendid four-story brick twelve room High School building, on South Forge street, Wilbur V. Rood, principal, with fifteen lady teachers in High and Grammar depart- ments. Jennings School, six rooms, corner Mill and Summit streets, former High School, (named in honor of Rev. Isaac Jen- nings, chairman of the committee which reported the plan of the Akron school law, as hereinbefore stated), fourteen teachers, Miss Josephine Newberry, principal; Perkins School, six rooms and annex, corner Bowery and Exchange streets, (named in honor of Gen. Simon Perkins, who founded the village of Akron in 1825),.

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PRESENT SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION.

E LIAS FRAUNFELTER,-born of German parentage, near Easton, Pa., April 3, 1840; came with family to Ohio April, 1846, settling near Ash- land, working on farm and in hotel ; educated in country school and Ver- million Institute, Hayesville ; at 17 began teaching ; at 20 chosen tutor of Mathematics in Vermillion Insti- tute; August 22, 1862, enlisted in Co. C, 120th O. V. I., but soon transferred to Co. F; promoted to sergeant, orderly sergeant, first lieutenant and captain "for meritorious conduct in campand in field," serving, also, for a time,as aide-de-camp on staff of Gen. Peter Osterhaus, 9th Div. 13th Army Corps, and later as adjutant of his regiment ; participated in the various battles, skirmishes and assaults resulting in the siege and surrender of Vicksburg and capture of Jack- son, Miss. ; transferred with regiment to the Department of the Gulf, was in the Techie campaign and the dis- astrous Red River expedition; cap- tured with steamer " City Belle" near Alexandria, La., May 4, 1864 ; confined in rebel prison at Camp Ford, Texas, 13 months ; exchanged at New Orleans May 30, 1865; by consolidation, becom- ing captain of Co. D, 114th O. V. I., reporting for duty at Mobile, Ala., May 31, 1865, and mustered out with regiment at Columbus, Ohio, June 27, 1865; August, 1865, resumed posi- tion in Vermillion Institute ; April, 1866, elected Professor of Mathematics in Savannahı (Ohio) Academy, and in June, 1866, Associate Principal and Professor of Mathematics and Natural Science, reorganizing insti- tution and enlarging buildings, in 1870 cataloguing 385 students ; Sep- tember, 1873, chosen Professor of Engineering and Normal studies in Buchtel College, at Akron, and Pro- fessor of Mathematics in June, 1874 ; in August, 1883, accepted the position of Superintendent of Instruction in Akron Public Schools, which respon- sible position he is still ably filling. Capt. Fraunfelter holds a life State teacher's certificate ; served nine years as president of board of school examiners for Ashland County ; has been a. member and president of the

E. FRAUNFELTER.

board of school examiners for the city of Akron since 1877, and a mnem- ber of the board of managers of the Akron Public Library since May 10, 1886 ; received degree of A. M. from Betliany (W. Va.) College June, 1873, and of Ph. D. from Lombard (I11.) University June, 1879. The Captain became a member of Buckley Post, G. A. R., May 4, 1883; was vice com- mander 1884-1885 ; commander 1886-87, representing Post in Department Encampment at Cleveland in 1886, at Springfield in 1887, and at Cincinnati in 1890, and the Department in the National Encampment at San Fran- cisco, Cal., August, 1886, and at Boston, Mass., August, 1890; has also been a member of Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the United States since April 2, 1884. April 2, 1867, Dr. Fraunfelter was married to Miss Laura K. Caldwell, daughter of Rev. John P. Caldwell, a Presbyterian minister of Barnesville, Ohio, who has borne him two children-Charles Davies, stock clerk in Superintend- ent's office of Aultman, Miller & Co., and Clara May, book-keeper and cashier for Kubler & Beck, Akron Varnish Works.

. seven teachers, Miss Sarah I. Carothers, principal; Crosby School, eight rooms, corner Smith and West streets, (named in honor of Doctor Eliakim Crosby, projector of the Cascade mill race, which gave to Akron its start as a manufacturing center), nine teachers, Mrs. Sarah P. Bennett, principal ; Spicer School, eight rooms, Car- roll street, (named in honor of Major Miner Spicer, who in 1811 settled upon the land on which said school is located), nine teachers, Miss Margaret L. McCready, principal ; Allen School, . eight rooms, corner of South Main and Thornton streets, (named

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Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905 Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department
Number of Pages: 1228