History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 68

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I > Part 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Columbus Literary and Scientific Institute, a school for advanced scholars, was opened November 2, 1840, in a private residence on Town Street, under the supervision of Rev. John Covert, formerly of Black River Institute at Watertown, New York, and Rev. Leicester A. Sawyer, from New Haven, Connecticut. A Female

517

THE SCHOOLS. I.

Seminary under Mrs. S. S. Covert was attached to this institution, of which the general management was entrusted to a board of trustees the members of which were H. N. Hubbell, President, Joseph Ridgway, Junior, Vice President, J. R. Swan, D. W. Deshler, Ermine Case, Peleg Sisson, John Covert, Warren Jenkins, Ichabod G. Jones, William Chapin, M. J. Gilbert and L. A. Sawyer. In the follow - ing year the name of the institution was changed to that of Columbus Academical and Collegiate Institute. On June 1, 1841, the corner-stone of a building for this Institute was laid. A twostory brick house of four rooms, pleasantly situated on

GARFIELD SCHOOL.

Town Street, in a " retired part of the city " was erected. It is now the residence of Mrs. J. J. Ferson. The Institute was designed to partake of the nature of both an academy and a college, and consequently offered instruction in a great variety of studies. It was provided with chemical and philosophical apparatus and a library of some hundreds of volumes. Rev. Leicester A. Sawyer was President ; Rev. John Covert Vice President ; R. S. Bosworth Professor of Chemistry ; and Mrs. S. S. Covert Principal of the Female Department. The following year Rev. J. Covert became Principal, and Robert Thompson, C. Runyan and W. B. Hubbard were added to the

518

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

board of trustees. Miss Mary A. Shaw was afterwards employed as an assistant in the Female Department. T. C. Hunter was the teacher of vocal music, and R. S. Bosworth of mathematics, surveying and astronomy. Mr. Bosworth had a telescope of considerable power mounted upon a pile of rocks in the Statehouse yard for the use of his classes. The Institute was closed in 1846 or 1847.

A Female Seminary, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. E. Schenck, the former a graduate of the United States Military Academy and the latter from Mrs. Wil- lard's Female Seminary of Troy, New York, was established in a new brick build- ing at the corner of Broad and High. It began on Monday, April 3, 1843, and continued until Mr. Schenck's death in 1848. In 1846, the trustees of this school were J. R. Swan, Adams Stewart, O. Follett, Joel Buttles, N. H. Swayne, P. Sis- son, John Noble and John W. Andrews.

The Esther Institute was opened October 4, 1852, in a private residence on Rich Street, under the name of the Columbus Female Seminary, with Professor Charles Jucksch, Professor T. G. Wormley, Miss Hermine A. P. Tetu, Samnia Schnedly, Mary W. Atcheson and G. Machold as the corps of teachers, and Christian Heyl as business manager. In 1853, the present Irving House, near the northwest corner of Fourth and Broad streets, was erected for this school, which was opened therein September 28, 1853, under the name of Esther Institute. Miss Agnes W. Beecher was principal and Miss Margaret A. Bailey was teacher of mathematics. The Institute was closed in 1862, and its building was converted into a military hospital. Financially, it was not successful.

Throughout the earlier history of the city many of its prominent families sent their children to the seminaries and colleges of other towns or cities; at the same time the schools of Columbus were also much patronized from abroad. Some of the disadvantages of the private schools were: 1. The unsuitable character of their apartments, which were usually adapted for other purposes and were insuffi- ciently heated and ventilated. Of the seven private schools in operation in 1847, four were taught in basements and the remainder in a room space affording less than one hundred cubic feet of air per scholar. 2. The incompetency of many teachers and their transient character, which precluded the adoption of necessary means for testing their efficiency. 3. The want of uniformity in courses of study. In perhaps the majority of cases, in order to make up a school of sufficient num- bers, scholars were received without any reference to previous attainments, and were allowed to pursue such studies as their own caprice or that of their parents dictated. Hence it was not uncommon to find scholars studying natural philoso- phy or astronomy who did not know the multiplication table ; or studying botany, geology, or rhetoric without being able to spell the most common words or to read intelligibly a single paragraph in the English language. 4. Irregularity of attendance, which was not infrequently encouraged by the practice of exacting pay only for the time of actual presence in the school. 5. The cost of tuition, in the better class of seminaries and high schools, was so high as to prevent the great majority of those who attended them from continuing long enough to secure anything like a thorough education. But the day of private schools was by this

Not one a file. of rocks" hat on a good foundation

519

THE SCHOOLS. I.

time past. They had served a good purpose, but a new and better system had become established in the hearts of the people.

Various societies have at different times been formed in the city for mutual education. Among these was the Columbus Lyceum, organized in October, 1831, under the personal direction of Josiah Holbrook, founder of the Boston Lyceum. Rev. James Hoge was its President; Hon. J. W. Campbell, Vice President ; William Preston and Henry Espy its Secretaries; P. B. Wilcox its Treasurer ; James Labareo and Messrs. Parker and Smith its Curators. The design of the Lyceum was " to procure for youths an economical and practical education, and to diffuse useful information throughout the community generally by means of essays, discussions and lectures."

An English and Classical School was begun by Misses L. M. Phelps and B. Il. Hall in 1884 in the Arnold House on East Broad Street with seventeen pupils. During its second year it occupied more convenient apartments in the Rogers House, a few doors from its former location, and at the end of that year was removed to the Gwyune House, which is its present location, on East Broad Street. The school prospered from its inception, and in 1890 the trustees of the estate erected the present handsome and commodions building which it now occupies on Fourth Street and which is admirably adapted to its needs. The rooms are large, well lighted and well ventilated, and accommo- dations are provided for both boarding and day pupils. The purpose of the school is to furnish the girls a liberal education while giving special attention to conduct and health. The school embraces four departments: The Kindergarten, Primary, Intermediate and Classical, the latter including the studies of the usual curriculum in higher institutions of learning. A well-selected library and suitable apparatus are among its equipments. The present teachers are: Miss L. M. Phelps, Mental and Moral Philosophy and Logie; Miss B. H. Hall, Mathematics, ILstory and Rhetoric ; Miss Ellen Dewey, Drawing, Painting and Art Criticism ; Miss Charlotte R. Parmele, Primary Department; Miss Elizabeth Kindergarten ; J. D. II. McKinley, Latin, Greek and Mathematics ; Miss Catharine Preston, Latin and English Literature; F. W. Blake, M. D., Physical Science ; Miss Anna Petersen, French Language and Literature; Miss Zaide Von Briesen, German Language and Literature; Miss Mary Shattuck, Elocution and Physical Culture ; Mrs. Emma Lathrop-Lewis, Vocal Music ; Professor Hermann Ebeling, Instrumental and Class Music; Professor Hermann Schmidt, Instrumental Music.

The Columbus Latin School was opened under the name of a Preparatory School for Boys in the fall of 1888 in a building on the corner of Fourth and State streets, by Charles A. Moore, a graduate of Yale College. During the first year twentythree pupils were received. Mr. Moore having accepted a tutorship at Yale, Mr. Frank T. Cole, a graduate of Williams College, took charge of the school in the fall of 1889 and removed it to East Town Street, where it has since been con- ducted under the name above given. Professor Amasa Pratt, also a graduate of Williams College, became associated with Mr. Cole in the management of the school, the object of which is to prepare boys for college. The ancient and modern languages are embraced in the course of instruction. During the last two years

520

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

the school has had an average attendance of forty ; its graduates thus far number eighteen. It has a boarding department, but depends chiefly on the city for its patronage.

The city being an important commercial and manufacturing center, it has given rise to numerous business colleges, many of them of high standing. The Columbus Business College, established in 1864, prospered for twentyfive years. The Capital City Commercial College, established in 1878, continued in operation eleven years. These two schools were consolidated in 1889 under the name of the Columbus Commercial College, which was discontinued in 1891. The National Business College, established in April, 1889, by H. B. Parsons, is located in the Sessions Block, and instructs classes both day and evening. The Columbus Business College, now managed by W. H. Hudson, on North High Street, was established about seven years ago. Yarnell's Business College, also on High Street, gives special attention to bookkeeping. A school of penmanship was established in 1888 by C. P. Zaner. A school in stenography and typewriting is now conducted in the Wesley Block by Professor W. H. Hartsough.

Several kindergartens are sustained as individual enterprises; others which are free are maintained in different parts of the city by the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union, of which, at present, Mrs. J. N. Dunham is President and Mrs. F. C. Maxwell, Secretary. These free kindergartens are intended for children under school age, and especially those whose parents are unable to send them to the subscription schools. The Union also maintains at its central build- ing on the corner of Oak and Fourth streets, a training school for preparing teachers in kindergarten work.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE SCHOOLS. II.

BY JAMES U. BARNHILL, M. D.

Public Schools. District School Management, 1826 to 1838. - In keeping with the enlightened sentiment of the famous educational compact the pioneer settlers of Franklinton and Columbus provided fair school privileges for their children. Before revenues from the land grants were realized or general school laws enacted, private schools and means of education had been very generously encouraged. In the very infancy of the town of Columbus its founders had constructed a school- house for the benefit of the community. In 1820 a school company formed by leading citizens for the extension of school facilities erected an academy, organized a school and otherwise aronsed public interest in education. An academy on the west side and a classical school and the academy on the cast side of the river had been liberally patronized. A great many subscription schools had been main- tained. Some of the teachers were college graduates and the leading spirits of the community were men of learning. The general sentiment seems to have been in favor of popular education, but there were very naturally differences of opinion as to the best modes of securing it. Lucas Sullivant and Orris Parish were among the incorporators of the Worthington College. They with other prominent citizens had taken an active interest in seenring efficient legislation for the maintenance of schools. Not only had schools been encouraged but the claims of moral instruc- tion had not been disregarded. The church and school were planted side by side and fostered as cardinal interests. The schools were frequently conducted in church buildings and the New Testament was used as a textbook in reading. Rev. Dr. James Hoge, the founder of the first church and first Sunday school of the settlement, was a zealous friend of popular education, was identified with the efforts to promote its interests and greatly aided in molding the educational sentiment of the community.

In January, 1822, Governor Allen Trimble appointed a board of commissioners in which Caleb Atwater, Rev. James Hoge, and Rev. John Collins were the active men, to report a system of common schools for Ohio, and although the system agreed upon by these commissioners was not adopted " they are entitled to grate- ful remembrance for what they did in awakening an interest upon which more was accomplished than they deemed advisable to recommend." They prepared the way

[521]

522

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

for the enactment of the Guilford law of 1825, which was the first general law for the support of schools in the State.

On April 25, 1826, the Court of Common Pleas of this county appointed Rev. James Hoge, Rev. Henry Mathews and Doctor Charles H. Wetmore as the school examiners for the county. The examiners appointed by the court in 1828 were Rev. James Hoge, Doctor Peleg Sisson and Bela Latham ; in 1829 Samuel Parsons, Mease Smith, P. B. Wilcox ; in 1830 S. W. Ladd, R. Tute, R. W. Cawley and Doc- tor C. H. Wetmore; in 1832 Isaac N. Whiting, Rev. W. Preston and Isaac Hoge, Cyrus Parker being at the same time appointed examiner of female teachers; in 1834, John W. Ladd, Erastus Burr, Rev. James Hoge, Rev. William Preston, Rev. George Jeffries, William S. Sullivant, Jacob Grubb, Doctor A. Chapman, W. H. Richardson, Jacob Gander, Rev. Ebenezer Washburn and Timothy Lee; in 1835 J. C. Brodrick, W. T. Martin, Joseph Sullivant, Jacob Grubb and M. J. Gilbert; in 1836 David Swickard, James Williams, Joseph Moore, Henry Alden, J. R. Rodgers, Cyrus S. Hyde, David Smith, and Arnold Clapp. .

Among the first teachers to receive certificates were Joseph P. Smith, W. P. Meacham, C. W. Lewis, Eli Wall, H. N. Hubbell, Nancy Squires, John Starr, Robert Ware, J. Waldo, George Black, Kate Reese, Margaret Livingston, Cyrus Parker, Lucas Ball and Ira Wilcox of Montgomery Township; Ezekiel Curtis, Caleb Davis, Phæbe Randall and William T. Denson of Franklin Township; Lucy Wilson, Wil- liam Dunlevy, Priscilla Weaver, Isabella Green and F. J. Starr of Sharon ; Grace Pinny, John Sterrett and Benjamin Bell of Mifflin; Flora Andrews, Emily Maynard and W. G. Harper of Clinton; Rachel Jameson, W. H. J. Miller, Pymela White, Hannah Calkins and S. Lucius of Blendon ; John Scott and Daniel Wright of Plain; W. G. Graham, Mary Ross, Samuel Gould and David Graham of Truro; Orange Davis and Jacob Keller of Norwich; Peter Sharp, J. M. Cherry and T. J. Howard of Madison; Frederick Cole, Jinks Wail, O. Risby and Isaac Lewis of Pleasant ; C. S. Sharp, Henrietta Christie, J. W. Maynard and D. Benton of Hamilton ; John Juds of Jackson; J. K. Lewis, Jacob Feltner, T. Kilpatrick, Joseph Ferris and Jacob Kilbourne of Perry ; Peter Mills and Willis Spencer of Jefferson. All of these taught in their respective townships prior to December 31, 1829, and for such service were paid by the County Treasurer.

Franklin Township was divided on May 10, 1826, by its trustees into five full dis- tricts, of which the second and third ineluded the town of Franklinton, which con- tained at that time about sixtyfive houses and three hundred and fiftyseven inhabitants. The boundary of Distriet Number Two was thus described : "Com- mencing at the Scioto River where the road leading from Newark to Springfield (West Broad Street) crosses it, then along said road to the west line of the town- ship, thence northerly with the township line to the northwest corner of the township, thence down said river to the place of beginning." The householders of this district were Joseph Grate, Reuben Golleday, Nancy Park, Sarah Jameson, Lewis Risley, Joseph Davidson, Polly Perrin, Homer L. Thrall, William Barger, Nathan Cole, Samuel Flemming, Jacob Eby, Henry Saunders, Jacob Grubb, Mrs. Sterling, Elisha Grada, Horace Walcott, Earl Frazel, Joseph K. Young, Edward Green, William Ross, William Flemming, John Swisgood, J. B. Meneley, John

523

THE SCHOOLS. II.

Fowler, Mrs. Hannah Meneley, Mrs. Broderick, Jacob Keller, Esther Waldo, John Scott, Joseph Badger, Samnel Johnson, S. Wickson, William Scott, George Read, George Skidmore, Mrs. Marshall, A. Hopper, J. R. Godown and Jennie Robinson ; forty in all.

District Number Three was thus bounded : " Beginning with District Number Two, thence down the Scioto River to the line dividing I. Miner's and Thomas Morehead's land, westwardly with said line until it intersects the Hillsborough Road, thenee northeastwardly with said road nutil it intersects the road leading from Newark to Springfield, thence along with said road to the place of begin- ning." The householders in this district were Joseph Brackenrage, William Per- rin, Samnel Deardorf, Jacob Armitage, William Lask, A. Brotherlin, John Robin- son, Ezekiel Pegg, Mr. Monroe, Samuel Scott, Jacob Runels, Mrs. Park, E. Curtis, William Domigan, Temperance Baceus, Mrs. Lord, Robert W. Riley, Mrs. Barr, Epkin Johnson, David Deardurff, Katharine Deardurff, Urias Perrin, Elias Pegg, Elizabeth Swan, William Wigdin, Lewis Williams, Thomas Reynolds, Arthur O'Harra, Isaac Miner, J. Ransburg, Andrew Jameson, John Mannering, Mrs. Rabourn, Cornelius Manning, Mrs. Bennett, Lewis Slaughter, Widow Fanny ; total thirtyseven. This list is certified in behalf of the trustees by Ezekiel Curtis, Town- ship Clerk. In the entire township there were one hundred and fortysix house- holders. The school directors were elected in the fall or winter of 1826. In the following year Caleb Davis and Ezekiel Curtis were employed as teachers in the second and fifth districts respectively. Winchester Risley, William Badger, Samuel Deardurff and Horace Wolcutt were among the earliest directors in the Franklinton districts. The amount of school funds appropriated to the second and third districts respectively for the year 1826 was 89.845 and $9.107; for 1827 $9.52 and 88.29; for 1828 810.48 and $11.53. From the levy of five mills for school purposes in 1826 Franklin Township received $35.86, Montgomery Township $162.31, Hamilton 861.04, Truro $17.75, Jefferson 810.63, Plain 89.68, Mifflin 816.27, Clinton 827.73, Perry 822.80, Sharon 842.62, Norwich $15.18, Blendon 822.96, Washington 810.02, Prairie $12.58, Pleasant $17.43, Jackson, $10.60.

On July 26, 1828, that part of District Number Two lying west of the " Cattail Prairie and a line extending northerly to the river near the stone quarry " was set apart as District Number Seven. The householders of the Second District still numbered forty. Many had moved out of the district, while the following new names appeared : Fredom Bennett, Ambrose Canfield, John Robinson, Nathan Cole, Ignatius Wheeler, Peter Lisk, Wesley Srieves, Samuel Scott, William S. Sullivant, William Mitchell, John Hickman, William St. Clair and Israel Galc. The following new names appeared in the third district in 1828; Michael L. Sullivant, Griffin Miner, Levi Taylor, Abram Mettles, William Riley. Henry Saunders, Winchester Risley, Enos Henry, Benson Sprague, Riley Thacker, and Jane Brown. The total number of householders in the district was fortythree.

Montgomery Township was divided by its trustees into school districts in the spring of 1826. According to William T. Martin the first school meeting for the district embracing the town plat of Columbus was held pursuant to the act of 1825 at the old Presbyterian Church on Front Street November 21, 1826. Orris Parish

524

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

was chosen chairman and William T. Martin secretary ; and Doctor Peleg Sisson, Rev. Charles Hinkle and William T. Martin were elected school directors. Soon afterwards a Mr. Smith was employed as teacher and a public school which continued about three months was organized. This teacher was probably Joseph P. Smith, who a short time before had been engaged in teaching a private school in the Academy on Fourth Street, and who, as the records show, taught during the fol- lowing year a public school in the fifth district. However, before the school funds for 1826 were distributed, the township had been divided into seven districts con- taining respectively 29, 59, 27, 36, 34, 59 and 24 householders. The total number

FRANKLINTON SCHOOL.

of householders in the township in 1826 was 268, about two hundred of whom resided in the town. The distribution of the school funds to the districts for 1826, as entered on the County Auditor's books, was as follows: First District $17.416, second 835.365, third $18.170, fourth $21.644, fifth $20.505, sixth $35.150, seventh $14.063; total $162.313. The following additional entries appear : " March 31, 1827. The Trustees of Montgomery Township met and new-districted the township for school purposes as follows, to wit:

First District to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus and township of Montgomery lying north of Long Street in said town and as far eastward as the eastern extremity of the outlots of said town [line of East Public Lane]; householders, John Van-

525

THE SCHOOLS. 11.

voorst, John Brickell, Stephen Robinson, Jolin Doherty, David Jones, Margaret Johnston, Benjamin Platt, H. Rochester, Abraham Jaycox, Samuel Cady, Jonathan Fuller, Thomas Dawson, John Hamm, John Jackson, John Jones, John Loutharos, James Dean, Joseph Gamble, Bela Latham, Thomas Tipton, Solomon Miller, Elizabeth Sparks, Thomas Robins, Gustavus Swan, G. Leightenaker, William Gimpson, Martin Baringer, Sarah Philips, Thomas Locket, Samuel Ayres, James Wood, Jane Lusk, John Thomas, Elizabeth Zinn. Total thirty- four. [The Clerk says this should be fiftyfour. The estimated number of children in the district from five to fifteen years of age was sixtyone.]

Second District, to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus lying between Long and State streets ; householders, R. Pollock, D. Rathbone, Henry Brown, Charles Knoderer, G. B. Harvey, Cyntha Vance, Jarvis Pike, D. W. Deshler, Orris Parish, R. Osborn, R. Armstrong, Mary Kerr, Mary Justice, Jacob Elmore, E. Browning, Thomas Johnston, Thomas Martin, Edward Davis, John Young, Jolin Marcy, R. M. McCoy, J. McLene, John Loughry, James Hoge, William Doherty, Mrs. Miller, William Latham, Joseph Ridgway, Samuel Crosby, John Jones, (tailor), Elizabeth Culbertson, David Lawson, James Coudson, Benjamin Henly, William Montgomery, Mary Peoples, Mrs. Adams, James Robinson (teacher), Robert Dawson, William Waite, Henry Hawkin, Hiram Plate, A. J. McDowell, John Cunning, M. Smith, E. Herrington, P. B. Wilcox, Theodore Nealy, Samuel Leonard, Ebenezer Butler ; fiftyone. Estimated to contain sixtynine children from five to fifteen.

Third District to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus lying between State aud Town streets, including the white house at the end of Town Street ; householders, R. Rupill, P. M. Olmsted, James Robinson, R. Brotherton, F. Stewart, L. Reynolds, William Long, David Smith, Joseph Jameson, Henry Farnum, Joseph Leiby, C. Fay, L. Goodale, William Armstrong, J. Neereamer, J. M. Walcutt, Otis Crosby, R. Lalaker, George MeCor- mick, Abraham Raney, Mrs. Lanford, Elijah Cooper, M. Northrup, Joel Buttles, Mrs. Tumey, Ed. Phenix, George Riardon, M. Gooden, Joseph P. Smith, John Wilson ; thirty. Estimated to contain fiftyfour children from five to fifteen.

Fourth District, to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus lying between Town and Rich streets ; householders, Alex. Patton, William K. Lawson, J. C. Brodrick, John Greenwood, Peter Putnam, John Kilbourn, Jeremiah Armstrong, William Madison, John Whitsel, Nathan Soals, David Brooks, A. Benfield, J. Vorys, A. Backus, Benjamin Sells, John M. Edmiston, Gibbs Greenham, Samuel Barr, C. Lofland, Margaret Wherry, William Altman, M. Matthews, Jacob Overdear, John Stearns, Thomas Wood, Henry Butler, James Bryden, Amos Jenkins, Samuel Parsons, James Harris, John Wise, Conrad Notestone, Mrs. Powers, Jennet Vanderburgh, James Uncles, John Boiland, Hamilton Robb ; thirty- seven. Estimated to contain sixtyseven children from five to fifteen.

Fifth District, to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus lying between Rich and Friend streets; householders, John McElvain, James Cherry, Peleg Sisson, John Kelly, Ira B. Henderson, Mary Nichols, William John, J. W. Flinniken, John Emmick, C. Heyl, John Warner, Conrad Heyl, Peter Sells, George Nashee, Dennis Faris, Amos Menely, Jacob Hare, Aaron Mathes, William St. Clair, John D. Hodgkins, John Robinson, Samuel Gelin, William T. Martin, Mrs. Wynkorp, John B. Compston, Moses Jewett, Thomas Piper, John John, William McElvain, Elizabeth Strain, H. S High, Sarah Stahl, Moses R. Spingien, William Thrall, Mrs. Wright; thirtyfive. Estimated to contain sixtyfive children from five to fifteen.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 68

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202