History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 62

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

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Ile continued to reside in Canton until his death. Mr. James Cowles, a graduate of Yale. opened a school in the old Academy building.

but only remained a year or two. A. MeGregor

taught one of the public schools in the winter of 1812-13, Messrs. E. L. Carney and John Sheridan teaching with him during the same winter. Mr. MeGregor afterward had a

select school until 1848, having associated with him his father. John McGregor, during the last part of the time, when both became connected with the publication of the Stark County Demo- erat. John McGregor died the same year ; A. McGregor still edits, as vigorously as ever, the Democrat. Ira M. Allen took the McGregor select school and continued it until 1849, when he became the first Superintendent of the Union School. A few years later, he took charge of the Charity School at Kendal, now a part of Massil- lon. Mr. Allen, after a lapse of some years, is again at this time in charge of that school. Be- fore proceeding to consider the present school system of the city, this is the place to state that, in 1838, Rev. Mr. Goshoru and his wife opened a Female Seminary in the city, under the auspices of the Methodist Church, as will be seen under the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church, given further along in this chapter. They taught in the seminary quite successfully for a number of years, or until about the year 1845, when they left. An interregnum of a year or so occurred. when the Trustees, finding no one in the Methodist Church desirous or willing to

take the seminary, authorized Louis Schaefer, Est., to correspond with Rev. Mr. Mealy, and if possible, to secure him as Principal of the seminary. Some correspondence had already passed between Mr. Schaefer and Mr. Mealy with reference to another position, which. how-

over, he had deelined. The Trustees of the

seminary offered the use of their building for one year free of rent, showing a very liberal spirit, when it is remembered that the institu- tion was under Methodist auspices, and Mr. Mealy was a Lutheran Minister. Ile accepted the proffer made him, and at once removed to Canton with his wife and only daughter, who afterward became the wife of Louis Schaefer.

Witting drug store, the stand now occupied by year. A few years later. he purchased the Mr. Mealy continued in the seminary only one

Dr. P. Il. Barr. so long and so favorably known, over most of the county, as the old Geiger drug store, on cast Tuscarawas street. Mr.

and Mrs. Mealy spent the remainder of their

days in Canton ; they are gone from among us,

as is their daughter and only child, Mrs. Schaefer ; but the remembrance of their Chris- tian kindness and sociability remain fresh and fixed in the hearts and memories of many of the present residents of the city. After Mr. Mealy's

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

retirement from the seminary, it remained un- occupied until it was sold and diverted into other uses ; it did a good work, though its life was short, and its memory is blessed.

A convention composed of delegates repre- senting German citizens from all parts of the United States, was held at Phillipsburg, Penn., August 13, 1841, to promote the study of Ger- man and English classical literature, and they resolved to erect a seminary for that purpose. Louis Schaefer, of Canton, was a member of that convention, and although then a young man, he was appointed general collecting agent for the United States, to raise funds to establish such an institution. For some reason or other, the project failed of realization. But Mr. Schaefer has to-day, in his hands, a sub- scription list, with original and copied signa- tures, among the names upon which appear John Tyler, President of the United States; T. Ewing, Secretary of the Treasury ; Daniel Webster, Secretary of State ; Fr. Granger, Post- master General ; Henry Clay, United States , Senator ; Daniel Sturgeon, United States Sena- tor; John Bell, Secretary of War ; John C. Calhoun, United States Senator, and E. Whit- tlesey, Auditor of the Treasury.

In 1840 or 1841, parties in Canton, interested in the cause of education, made arrangements to take possession of the school property do- nated by Mr. Wells, and erect thereon a male academy ; the newly organized English Luther- an congregation paid a part of the money nec- essary to erect the building, with the privilege of using the first floor as a place of worship until it should be required for school purposes. The building was erected, but the school did not prosper to any great extent. In the spring of 1846, a company consisting of Isaac Harter, William Hawk, Martin Wikidal, Christian Pal- mer. Abraham Lind, Jacob Flobr, George De- walt and Louis Schaefer, bought the rights of the original Trustees on easy terms. organized under a written constitution still in the hands of Mr. Schaefer, and authorized the latter to secure the services of Rev. Dr. A. B. Bierde- mann as Principal, which he did. The arrange- ment seems not to have been entirely satisfac- tory ; Dr. Bierdemann, whom the writer of this, in after years, knew personally and somewhat intimately, was a fine scholar, and, in most re- spects, a genial man : but he was also a man of very firm convictions and even prejudices,

and of an unyielding character under opposition. At any rate, the Board of Trustees and he did not harmonize, and, at a meeting held Novem- ber 16, 1846, he was requested formally to sur- render his lease of the academy building, or rather that part of it used for school purposes. This he did, other teachers followed but with indifferent results, and a few years later the academy building became the nucleus of the present school system of Canton, and was trans- ferred to the control of the Board of Education. In the year 1849, a general act was passed by the General Assembly of Ohio, entitled " an act for the better regulating of public schools," but a year before this, by a public vote of the people, a public school was organized. Pre- viously, all the schools of the village were un- der private management, and no special arrange- ments had been made for the education of the poorer classes of children. The teachers of the former period were generally devoted and ear- nest educators, whose souls were in the work, and they laid deep and strong the foundation, upon which the present condition of general intelli- gence and educational progress in Canton has been attained. Among them, A. McGregor and Ira M. Allen were with the first advocates of the public school system. Upon the re-or- ganization of the public schools of Canton un- der the law of 1849, Mr. Allen, who had already taught one year in them, was elected the first Superintendent of the Canton Union School. Among those who did good, successful work, against all opposition, for the establishment of the public schools by a vote of the people, the name of Mr. G. W. Iluntington stands pre- eminent. He lived, too, long enough to witness the good results, which the people and their children secured for themselves by the vote of that election day so many years ago. The op- position came principally from the wealthier classes, and was somewhat formidable, though a few prominent property-holders gave the project their favor from the beginning, and nearly all have ever since given the public school work their cordial support. Canton was at this time a village of less than four thousand inhabitants. Mr. Allen was succeeded by Hon. 11. S. Martin in 1854. The original records of the Board of Education have been either lost or destroyed, and there are no trustworthy statistics of the schools prior to the year 1855. In July of that year, Mr. Martin was re-elected

Jacob Stane

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CANTON TOWNSHIP.

Superintendent, and teacher in the high school, with eight assistant lady teachers in the lower departments, as follows : Two in the Grammar School ; one in the Secondary (C. and D. Gram- mar School) ; four in the primary schools ; and one in a mixed school. Among these was Miss Betsey S. Cowles, who is yet well-known all over the State as of one of the best teachers that have graced the profession in Ohio. From the nearest calculation that can be made upon the meager data of this period at hand, the number of pupils in all the schools did not, in the year 1855, amount to five hundred. The Superintendent's salary was $800, and that of the lady teachers ranging from $150 to $400. Mr. Martin continued in the schools until January 1, 1864, a term of over eight years. llis former pupils invariably speak well of him. and some of them are at this time still teach- ing in the Canton Public Schools. Ile left the superintendency to take his seat in the Senate of Ohio, to which distinguished position he had been elected at the preceding October election. In the Senate, he was a warm friend and sup- porter of all measures looking to the greater efficiency of the school work ; and, if we are not mistaken, he served as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Schools through- out his entire term of two years' service. lle is still a resident of Canton, and a warm friend and patron of the schools. His successor was Mr. HI. S. Leland, who continued as Superin- tendent during the remainder of that school- year. and the greater part of the following one. On account of misunderstanding and difficul- ties, which. for a time, seriously threatened the success of the school work in Canton, he resigned his position in the latter part of May, 1865. llis successor, Daniel Worley, who had before served a period of ten years or more as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Capital University at Columbus, Ohio, but who at the time was residing in Western Pennsyl- vania, was unanimously elected by the Board of Education, on the 13th of June following, but he did not take the position until the be- ginning of the next school year, in September, 1865. Mr. Worley was annually re-elected un- til June. 1874, when. under the new school law, he was the first School Superintendent in Ohio, to be elected for a period of three years. Ow. ing to the failure of his health mainly, he however, only served two years of this ap-

pointment, and, after a period of eleven years' continuous service in the schools, resigned his position in June, 1876. In accepting his resig- nation the Board of Education passed a series of very complimentary resolutions, and showed their further confidence in his administration of the school work by appointing Mr. John II. Lehman, long associated with Mr. Worley in the school work in Canton, as his successor, that the work might be continued in the same general spirit as before.

Mr. Lehman is still in charge of the schools. Though Mr. Worley's salary was, during the lat- ter years of his superintendency, $1,800. Mr. Lch- man's was made $1,500 ; but it is gratifying to the writer to be able to say. that the latter's sery- ice has been so satisfactory. that in re-electing Mr. Lehman Superintendent a month or so ago, the Board of Education made his salary $2,000 per annum for the new term, this being the high- est salary ever paid any Superintendent in Can- ton. Since their organization, the schools have, therefore, been under the charge of the five following-named Superintendents :

Ira M. Allen, from 1849 to 1854.

11. S. Martin, from 1854 to 1864.

11. S. Leland, from 1864 to 1865. Daniel Worley, from 1865 to 1876.

John H. Lehman, from 1876 to the present time.

During Mr. Martin's administration, additions were made to the old U'nion School building, and a small new schoolhouse, with two rooms, was built in the eastern part of the city. now for the first time beginning to be numbered among the cities of the State. During Mr. Leland's time, preparations were made for a new school buikling in the south part of the city, but it was not erected until after his successor had taken charge. During Mr. Worley's time, the Board of Education erected. in addition to the one last named. a buikling of four rooms in the northeastern part of the city ; one of six rooms in the eastern part, and one of two rooms for primary pupils in the southeastern part, and one of six rooms in the southwestern part of the city. With all this increase of buildings and rooms, the rapid growth at this time always showed a great lack in adequate school facili- ties. The need of a new and better Central High Schol building became every day more apparent. and the Board of Education were at last constrained to take the sense of the people

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

upon the question of borrowing money upon bonds for a series of years, and a tax to meet the principal and interest as they became due, so that they might be able to erect several new buildings for primary and grammar schools the next season. Fierce opposition was made against the proposition ; but, after a warm contest. the majority of the people decided favorably. The Board of Education commenced the good work bravely at first, in accordance with the instruc- tions of the people ; but the clamor of the lead- ing capitalists soon scared them, and the work was left to progress more leisurely as before. Nevertheless, in 1877, during Mr. Lehman's time. four rooms were added; in 1878 four rooms ; in 1879-80, six rooms, together with two additional rooms to the south building in 1876-77. Steps have also been taken for the erection of a building of six rooms in the northwestern part of the city, and an addition of two rooms to the building on East Eighth street during the present summer, making eight additional departments for next year. The present growth and importance of Canton among the cities of the State imperatively demand a better and more commodious Central and High School building than the old schoolhouse on West Tuscarawas street. The growth of the schools and of the city may be seen from the

following exhibit prepared and published five a pupil of average ability, requires eleven years ago .

Total enrollment for year ending August 31. 1855, about . 500

Total enrollment for year ending August 31, 1865 965

Total enrollment for year ending August 31, 1875 .. 1,674

No. teachers in 1854-55, male, 1; female, 8; total, 9 No. teachers in 1864-65, male, 3; female, 11; total, 14 No. teachers in 1874-75, male. 7; female. 26; total, 33 Average salaries paid in 1854-55. 800 $250 Average salaries paid in 1864-65. 900 314

Average salaries paid in 1874-75. 1,037 423

The status of the schools last year is kindly furnished us by Superintendent Lehman, as fol- lows :

School year 1879-80, -- Total enrollment, day schools, 2,453 ; night schools, 174 ; total, 2,627. Number of teachers, including Superintendent, male, 11 ; female, 39 ; total, 50.

For the year 1880-81. just closed, the in- crease in enrollment will be not less than 300, with four additional teachers, and a prospect of even a greater increase during the next school

year. About 30 per cent of the pupils enrolled in the primaries find their way into the gram- mar schools, and about 20 per cent of those in the grammar schools take a partial or complete course in the high school ; but it is gratifying to all the true friends of popular education to know the fact that within the past decade the number of pupils continuing longer in the schools, and of those completing the entire course is at least 25 per cent greater than before.

The course of study below the high school provides for a thorough drill in the common English branches, including vocal music, draw- ing and object lessons in elementary science. In the high school. pupils are taken through a tolerably thorough academic course in language (Latin and German), mathematics and natural seience. With frequent reviews, the pupils in the departments, from the A Primary upward, are subjected to the test of a written examina- tion several times a year. Candidates for grad- uation in the high school are examined at the end of their course, and are given a diploma only after passing satisfactory examinations in all the studies of the course, with the exception that in language only the full course in one of the languages stated is required.

Pupils enter the school at six years of age. To complete the entire course ordinarily, with years. Of these, four years are given to the Primaries- D, C, B and A , four years to the Grammar Schools -- D, C. B and A ; and three years to the High School. Promotions are made at stated times by the Superintendent, but provision is also made for promoting pu- pils at other times, whose natural capacity or diligent application enables them to advance more rapidly than the average of the class in which they may chance to be at any time. On the other hand, pupils not properly sustaining themselves are equally liable to demotion. Be- sides these regular grades of schools, the Board of Education, under the requirements of the general school law of the State, have provided for German-English schools, with three teach- ers, in which the gradation of the other schools is observed as nearly as may be, as far as the B Grammar Grade, or through six years of the school course. Many of the high school pu. pils and graduates of former years now fill re- sponsible positions at home and abroad, whose whole preliminary training was derived from

CANTON TOWNSHIP.

our public schools. Through their influence in and upon society, they are paying back into the treasury of the public security and good, mueh, yea, infinitely more than was expended upon their education from the public purse.

Besides the excellent public schools of Can- ton, there are parochial schools (English and German) of the Roman Catholic Churches, with seven teachers, enrolling during the year not less than six or seven hundred pupils ; a parochial school of the German Lutheran Church, with one teacher and from sixty to seventy pupils during the year; a select school for boys and girls, started and sustained by Prof. Worley, May 1. 1877, who is still at the head of it, with a yearly enrollment of about fifty ; and an academy upon the ground of the Collegiate In- stitute of a few years ago, with two teachers -- Mr. Spencer and Miss Danner-and about the same yearly enrollment. All these schools in their particular spheres, are doing good work in the field of education. In conclusion, it may be remarked that at no previous time in their history have the schools of Canton been dearer to the hearts of the people than they are now, and as increased facilities are afforded from year to year, they will, under wise and discreet management, assuredly increase also in efli- ciency. in thoroughly preparing the mass of our growing youth for the responsibilities of the fut- ure, and in beneficent results upon society in general, which are only to be secured through the intelligence and virtue of the people.

Canton was originally settled by a class of men from the East and from " Vaterland," who revered Deity and loved religion of the primi- tive type. For the first few years, the early set- tlers of course found it a hand-to- hand struggle to meet the wants of life ; but the first ditticul- ties in this direction having been surmounted in a short time, they began soon to desire the spiritual provender they had enjoyed in the old homes left behind them. At first this was spar- ingly furnished. and the more relished. At that early day. an occasional visit from a mission- ary was hailed with delight : to-day, with so many churches and regular services every Lord's Day. how very many, even of the de- scendants of those old pioneers, neglect en- tirely to enter a church or to show any other reverential recognition of the Divine Being. As a rule, however, Canton people are a God- fearing people, and her churches are well main-

tained. A list of them here given will show no lack for persons of all descriptions :

The German Lutheran Church, East Tusea- rawas street ; First M. E. Church, corner Pop- lar and Tuscarawas streets; Second M. E. Church, South Market street, near William street ; First Presbyterian Church, Plum and Tusearawas streets ; English Lutheran Church, West Tuscarawas street ; First Baptist Church, Ninth and Market streets ; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Tenth and Poplar streets ; Disciples' Church of Christ, Seventh and Poplar streets . St. John's English Catholic Church, Plum and North streets; St. Peter's German Catholic Church, Poplar street, above North ; Evangel ical Church. Fourth and Herbruck streets ; First German Reform Church, East Tuscarawas street, near lerbruck ; Trinity Church, Second Reform, 90 East Tuscarawas street; United Brethren Church. Charles street, South Can ton : Mission Chapel M. E. Church, Cherry street and Washington avenue ; Winebrennarian Church. East Tuscarawas street, near creek.

Most of the old pioneers were of Lutheran and Reformed stock, and hence these denomina- tions deserve first consideration. The first preaching in this neighborhood was held in the barn of Michael Reed, who lived on the quarter- section just north of the present fair grounds lle had a double log barn, and the threshing floor was the auditorium. The seats were slabs from Slusser's saw-mill. The preacher was Father John Stauch, a Lutheran, whose home was in Beaver County. Penn., and he came at stated periods during the summer months as early as the year 1806. Alternating with him was Father Mahnenschmidt, of the Reformed Church, preaching at the same place. The meetings were always well attended, as people of all classes came from every quarter, with a desire to hear the latest news, as well as to dis- charge their religious duties. In the winter, private houses and the taverns were used less frequently as places of meeting, especially the dining-room of Dewalt's tavern. There are some reminiscences of this early period worthy of mention, of which we single out one only. The boys and girls of the carly day usually went " barefooted ;" they would carry their shoes and stockings along, and would put them on before appearing in the presence of the great congregation : but after the services they would invariably dott the said incumbrances

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

and return home, as far as feet were concerned, in a primitive state. In 1810, the German Lutheran and Reformed congregations took possession of the lot on West Tuscarawas street (now occupied by the Presbyterian Church), donated by Bezaleel Wells for a house of worship, and erceted on it a small frame structure for a meeting-house. The building was never plastered. but served its purpose for a short time, and several sermons were preached in it. In the meanwhile, about 1808, Rev. Anthony Weier. a Lutheran minister, took charge of the congregation, and he was the first resident minister in Canton, and through bis influence the two congregations purchased from Mr. Wells the grounds upon East Tusca- rawas street, upon which are at this time a Lutheran Church and parsonage, and a Re- formed Church and schoolhouse. Many were not well satisfied with this arrangement, and it was several years before they became recon- ciled, Steps were taken at once to erect a brick church. As an insufficient amount was subscribed, the progress of the building was slow. For several years it stood under roof unfinished, and in the meantime was stru k by lightning and considerably shattered. I'p to this time the Reformed congregation did not have the services of a regular pastor. Occasional supplies were given by Revs. Mah- nenschmidt and Sounendecker.

The first regular preacher was Benjamin Foust, who began his ministration in 1818. The frame church was occupied by the two congre- gations about four years, and then they bought the lots on East Tuscarawas street, where they now are, and built the briek church in 1822, both societies occupying the same building un- til 1863. Benjamin Foust died in 1832, and was succeeded by Rev. Peter Ilerbruck, who was then only a little over nineteen years old. At the first communion there were only twenty- six communicants present, and the pastor's salary at the time was $40 per annum, and kept rising until 1858, when it reached $100. This was his local station, but he preached at various points in four counties, ranging from eight to thirteen places. The gentleman is the oldest active minister ; that is, oldest in one place in the county, and is still hale and hearty, bidding fair to be among us yet for many years. He resides in an old-fashioned house east of the church, almost concealed from view by a

mass of trees and flowering shrubbery. A cozy study is his usual location and where he receives his visitors.

Rev. Herbruck is still in charge of this old congregation, and will, within a few months, be able to celebrate, with his people, the jubilee of his connection with them. Up to this time be has attended two thousand and sixty-six funer- als, has baptized four thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven persons. has confirmed two thousand four hundred and forty-six, and has married one thousand nine hundred and sixty- one couples ; a record which, it is believed, cannot be equaled by that of any one pastor in one place in Ohio or elsewhere in this country. The church was finished in 1822, and occupied jointly by the two congregations until 1852.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 62

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060