Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 17

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 17

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

abandoned, the city having paid the state $7.586.70 for water power from July 9, 1842, to November 1, 1875, or on an average of $19.00 per month. Later a larger stand pipe was erected to supply the distant elevated portions of the city.

MAYORS OF ZANESVILLE.

The first election under the revised city charter occurred April 15, 1850, and the city elections were held in April until the new municipal code became operative in 1903, and after the first elec- tion the spring elections were abolished.

1850. Wm. Schultz.

1853. D. J. Culbertson.

1857. E. L. Grigsby.

1859. J. B. Thompson.

1861.

Mark Loudan.

1865. John M. James.

1867. Asa R. Cassaday.

1869. Wm. Ruth.

1873.

Robert F. Brown.

1875.

Calvin C. Gibson.

1877. Wm. H. McOwen.

1879. Wm. C. Blocksom.

1881. Wm. N. McCoy.

1885. James C. Gillespie.

1887. Wm. H. Holden, M. D. Died in Janu- ary, 1888.

1888. Thomas E. Richards, until spring elec- tion, three months.

1888. John W. Conrade.

1891. Wm. S. Bell.

1893. Robert Silvey.

1895. Wm. S. Bell.

1897. L. H. Gibson.

1899. L. E. Brelsford.

I901. James L. Holden, M. D.

The municipal code of 1903 provided for so many radical changes in the city organization that the ticket of 1903 presented several new officials ; the first election under the code resulted as follows :

Mayor, Wm. B. Deacon ; president of council, F. S. Gates ; city auditor. H. H. Kennedy ; board of public service. H. Eugene Printz, C. A. Barton, J. E. Crotzer : police judge. G. L. Foley : coun- cilmen at large. Albert E. Boone, Charles E. Swingle, Wm. R. Galigher ; ward councilmen, Ist, F. A. Bohn : 2d, Wm. Reich, Jr. ; 3d, Daniel B. Gary ; 4th, C. H. Flesher.

The second election was held in November, 1904, when the following were elected : Council- man at large, Wm. R. Galigher; ward council- men, Ist, F. A. Bohn; 3d, Daniel B. Gary.

A RHYMING MAYORALTY REPORT.

January 1, 1866, Mayor John M. James sub- mitted a report to council of the collections from

fines and licenses during the quarter ended De- cember 31, 1865, aggregating $1,033.25, and with it a special report which the record states, on motion of Mr. Applegate, "was accepted and the thanks of the council tendered the mayor, marshal and policemen." Those who knew Mr. James will be surprised as much by the humor as the versification, as his austere exterior gave no in- dication of so much "goodfellowship."

To the Honorable President and Members of the City Council :

To your Honors all I now appear To welcome in the bran new year, And with his exit here present Old Sixty-five's last quarter's rent.

To patrons all of Sixty-five Our warmest wishes please receive, And on your minds would this affix : We're now on hand for Sixty-six.

The marshal's prompt, his duty's done In style polite to every one ; The watchmen all, we here maintain, Have promptly carried out your plan.

I now will close this brief report And hold the deed for comings short, And slyly hint, that dish of oysters Is sovereign balm for sessions boist'rous.

J. M. J.

CHAPTER IX.

EDUCATION, COMPRISING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. COM- MERCIAL COLLEGE. PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS. THE PARISH SCHOOLS ARE DESCRIBED UNDER THE ST. THOMAS AND ST. NICHOLAS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES AND THE TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.

SCHOOLS.

The first school within the present limits of the city of Zanesville was opened by David Harris, in 1800, in a log cabin on the river bank, between Licking river and Lee street, in West Zanesville, that settlement containing nearly all the children of school age; the attendants from Natchez came in canoes and those from Zanes- ville waded the stream in low water. The first school in the original city was held by Joseph Jennings, in a log cabin on the west side of Sec- ond street, between Main street and Fountain alley, but the attendance was small and the greater number came from Natchez, West Zanesville and the country. The next school was opened by Daniel Dimmick, in 1804, in a cabin on public

PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

ground on Putnam Hill and was plainly seen from the Zanesville side of the river. The alter- nation occurred in 1805, when Zanesville's first school house was erected of logs, with a dirt floor, at northeast corner of Market street and Potter alley, and was conducted by Samuel Herrick. In 1808 the school house on Putnam Hill was again occupied by Charles Roberts and from this time mental training does not appear to have been unattended to; succeeding schools were conducted in a log cabin on the site of the present Kirk House; northeast corner of Sixth and North; in the old frame court house, where the higher branches, including Latin and Greek, were taught; in Frazey's tavern, at Sixth street and Locust alley ; Seventh street and Fountain alley ; and by "Mother Goff" at northeast corner of Main street and Cyprus alley. Books were rare and expensive and soon wore out and she constructed a paddle, with the alphabet on one

A PIONEER SCHOOL HOUSE.

side and spelling lessons on the reverse, which was more durable, and legend asserts that she employed it for other than strictly intellectual purposes. Indeed, the ancient pedagogues acted upon a literal interpretation of a paraphrase of a familiar quotation :

'Tis education molds the human mind;

And with a birch 'tis oft whipped in behind.

A system of bonding, or bailing, prevailed among the carly teachers with respect to girls ; a boy was permitted to become security for the good behavior of a girl, and the punishment for infraction of rules, which otherwise would have been inflicted upon her, was imposed upon the boy hostage ; the rule required that the substitute should be held by another boy while submitting to the chastisement, but legend affirms that the in- stances in which a girl forfeited her bond were exceedingly rarc. 7

ZANESVILLE ACADEMY.

When Zanesville was platted the proprietors devoted the west half of two lots at northeast corner of Market street and Potter alley to edu- cational purposes, and in 1818, after the death of McIntire, the surviving partner. Jonathan Zane, executed a deed for the ground to Daniel Convers and others, for school purposes. Mr. Convers and thirty others organized an associa- tion, limited to fifty-three shares, at $25.00 each, which were all subscribed, and the Market Street Academy was erected. In consideration of the use of the third story for lodge purposes, the lodge of Amity of the Freemasons contributed one-third of the cost of constructing the three- story brick building which still stands in Market street, immediately west of the former Masonic hall. The first school was opened in February. 1822, and each stockholder was privileged to send a pupil for each share of stock ; the building be- came city property in 1858 and was maintained for school purposes until about 1885.

MCINTIRE SCHOOL.

John McIntire provided, in his will, that if his daughter should die without children, his entire estate should be devoted to the "use and support of a poor school," which his executors should "establish in the town of Zanesville, for the use of the poor children of said town." The Mc- Intire Academy, northeast corner of Fifth and North streets, was erected and opened in April. 1836, to carry out the designs of the testator, and was maintained by the McIntire Board until 1856, when the graded schools were so well es- tablished that it was thought the purposes would be most successfully accomplished by placing the school under the control of the City Board of Education. Two influences operated to bring about this action : the public schools were much preferred by parents, because there was no im- plication of "poor children" in attending them, and the McIntire Academy had, in consequence. not been successful: and circumstances made it undesirable to comply with the letter of the will respecting investments, and the transfer of the building to the control of the city was regarded as a satisfactory, temporary measure, the Mc- Intire Board agreeing to sustain the expenses of the school until the tedious process of litigation to procure an interpretation of the will could be followed to a conclusion. Suit was instituted but a decision was not reached until 1868, when the Supreme Court decreed that the administrators "must discontinue the present plan of applying a portion of the proceeds of said trust funds in aid of the common or public schools of Zanesville."

The first principal of the MeIntire Academy

PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

was John M. Howe, who had previously con- ducted a private "Seminary" at North and Seventh streets, and continued as principal for a decade or more. He was assisted by A. E. Howe and George Miller, and later by Thomas H. Pat- rick, and the curriculum included Latin, Greek and other advanced branches. Theodore D. Mar- tindale succeeded Mr. Howe, with Mr. Patrick and two female assistants, and he was super- seded by Joseph Davidson; the last principal, under the McIntire exclusive direction, was I homas H. Patrick.

The McIntire contributions had been exceed- ingly helpful to the city schools and after the decision of the court, in 1868, the Board of Edu- cation inquired of the McIntire Board whether any legal method could be devised whereby the McIntire money could be continued, and was in- formed that if a statute could be enacted author- izing the plan the McIntire Board would be satisfied with the following: The Board of Edu- cation to place in charge of the McIntire Board as many schools as the Melntire fund would sup- port, and the latter would make rules and ap- point and pay teachers for the same, and admit thereto children who were not classed "poor ;" the Board of Education to act as the agent of the estate, conduct the schools and admit "poor chil- dren" to the other schools. The desired statute was passed May 5, 1868, and six schools, known as the John McIntire schools, were opened and conducted under the agreement until 1880.

September 12, 1873, the McIntire Board voted $800.00 per year for books and clothing for poor children, to be distributed by the Board of Edu- cation through teachers appointed by the Mc- Intire Board. January 21, 1877, a special ad- ditional donation of $200.00 was made and May 24. 1878, the aggregate donation was $1,800.00. May 19. 1880, the contribution was reduced to $800.00; increased to $1,200.00 January 4, 1881, and reduced to $1,000.00 in 1882. October 7. 1885. an extra donation of $630.00 was made, and December 8, 1893, another $400.00 was added. January 2, 1894. the annual sum was fixed at $1.300.00, and March 26, 1898, a special appro- priation was made in aid of flood sufferers. April 7. 1902, the last appropriation of $1,300.00 was made and the Board of Education informed that the income of the estate would not permit further donations.

A summary of the amounts contributed by the McIntire estate exhibits the princely liberality of Zanesville's founder. The cost of constructing and maintaining the McIntire Academy to the time it was placed in charge of the City Board of Education was $47,288.44, and the expenses paid and contributions made until the cessation in 1902 was $220,856.06, an aggregate of $268,- I44.50.

GENERAL SCHOOL LAWS.

The first general school law was enacted by the General Assembly in 1824-5 and provided for three directors in each school district, and the Zanesville schools were conducted in accordance therewith, and were of the same ungraded char- acter as rural schools. At the call of the school directors of the Zanesville district, a citizens' meeting was held in the Senate chamber, Decem- ber 29, 1838, and a committee appointed to draft a bill for the better regulation of the city schools, and another committee to "lobby." February 13, 1839, the special bill for the "Support and Better Regulation of the Schools of the Town of Zanes- ville" became a law, and provided that on or before the first day of the succeeding April six school directors should be elected, two for one year, two for two years and two for three years, and annually thereafter two to serve for three years, but only freeholders, householders and heads of families were permitted to vote; the directors were to determine "the number and de- scription of buildings necessary for school pur- poses in said town and report the same in writ- ing to the council," and "that thereupon it shall be the duty of said council, at the expense of said town, to purchase said site or sites and cause to be erected thereon, under the supervision of said board, such school building, or buildings, as may be described in said report." The board was authorized, "when the public money was insuf- ficient, to supply the deficiency by a tax upon the parents and guardians of pupils attending, in pro- portion to the time of their attendance, and to exempt from such tax such parents or guardians as, in the opinion of the board, were unable to pay it, and were not entitled to send to the Mc- Intire school.

April 1, 1839, the election was held and April 6th the board organized and selected locations and opened schools in rented buildings as fol- lows: Market and Fifth streets; Fifth street, be- tween Main and South streets; Sixth street, near Marietta ; old Methodist church, between First and Second streets ; first and second floors in the Market street academy ; basement of the Market Street Baptist church; Harris' school room, in Third street.

February 15, 1840, the erection of the first school house was ordered on the hill at the head of Main street, opposite St. Nicholas' church, and familiarly known as the old high school. The contract for the construction was awarded March 12th, at $3,750.00, and it was completed and oc- cupied November 6, 1840, when several rented rooms were vacated and other changes made in their arrangement. December 9, 1841, the John M. Howe "Seminary" building, at Seventh and North streets, was purchased for $1,500.00 and

PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

occupied April 1, 1842, and with this event the history of the graded schools in Zanesville begins. In September, 1842, the organization, as com- pleted, was the male seminary installed in the new brick hill school building, and the female seminary occupying the Howe seminary building. Each was divided into a senior and junior de- partment, with a principal in each and a sufficient number of assistants. The income from tax- ation was insufficient to maintain the organization and tuition fees of $1.oo per quarter, in the junior, and $1.50 per quarter, in the senior department, were charged against residents, and $3.00 and $4.00; respectively, per quarter against non-resi- dents. A serious historical loss was sustained April 7, 1845, in the destruction by fire of the records of the schools in the burning of the resi- dence of the secretary of the board.

FIRST SUPERINTENDENT.

In February, 1852, Mr. George W. Batchelder was chosen superintendent of all the schools, at a salary of $1,000.00, and twelve teachers con- stituted the corps of instructors. In May, 1852, the female seminary was destroyed by fire and the schools were reopened in the basement of the Seventh Street Methodist Episcopal church and the Market street academy; the loss stimulated the board to provide permanent and more suit- able accommodations for the schools, and a com- mittee was named to select sites for four ward buildings and a high school. The council authorized the issue of bonds to an aggregate of $25,000.00, and in April, 1853, lots for the Center and Harvey street buildings were purchased, and the superintendent sent to Cleveland, Sandusky and Columbus to inspect the school buildings and advise the board upon the most desirable plans. In July, 1853, contracts were awarded for the erection of the Center and Harvey streets build- ings, at $7,645.00 each, exclusive of the stone work, and they were completed in April. 1855: at the same time the building on the hill was or- dered placed in condition for high-school pur- poses. In the spring of 1853 the first school for the education of colored children was established ; the law then in force required a separate board of directors, elected by the colored people, and the cost of the school was met by taxes levied upon the property of the colored people.

In October, 1854, Mr. Batchelder resigned and the records bear witness to his efficiency in adapt- ing the means at his command to the inaugura- tion of

THE GRADED SCHOOL SYSTEM.

Mr. Almon Samson became superintendent in April, 1855, and Mr. Charles W. Chandler, prin- cipal of the first high school ; the city school sys-

tem was then organized into departments-the Primary, with a course of three years; the Sec- ondary, of three years; Senior, of three years, and High-School, with courses of two, four and five years, respectively. Mr. Samson resigned at the close of the school year in July, 1857, when there were thirty-one teachers and one high school, two Senior, five Secondary, ten Primary, one unclassified and one colored school ; the white enumeration in attendance being 1,500.

During 1856 ground was bought for the Rural school, in the northeast portion of the city, and the building was erected and the school opened during the school year of 1857-8.

Mr. M. D. Leggett succeeded Mr. Samson, as superintendent, at a salary of $1,200.00, and in his first report commented upon the simplicity and thoroughness of the work planned by his prede- cessor, and remarked that "there are in the city but very few patrons of our schools who would be willing to have any material alteration made. either in the course of study or classification." Night schools were maintained from November to March and the schools progressed favorably. January 7, 1862, Mr. Leggett resigned to accept the colonelcy of the Seventy-eighth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a regiment which earned honor for itself and the county from which it was recruited.

Mr. Charles W. Chandler, principal of the high school, was chosen superintendent at a salary of $1,000.00, but the exigencies of the times made economy essential and at the close of the school year the superintendency was abolished, and a reduction made in salaries ; reports are very in- complete, and at the close of the year there were thirty-five teachers and an enrollment of 2,110 pupils.

In June, 1865. Mr. Chandler resigned as prin- cipal of the high school, and Mr. A. T. Wiles was elected at a salary of $1,000.00: no official changes occurred until the close of the school year 1869-70, when the office of superintendent was revived and Mr. Wiles placed in charge of the schools at a salary of $1,500.00, and Miss Margaret Stults selected as principal of the high school, at a salary of $1,000.00. During this scholastic year the Stemler building, in Marietta street, had been erected and occupied and the Presbyterian Mission Sunday School building. in Monroe street, had been purchased for public school purposes.

During 1870 Natchez. or South Zanesville, was annexed and with it came the Pear street build- ing, and later in that year West Zanesville was added to the city and placed the Moore build- ing, a four-room brick structure, in charge of the Zanesville Board. During 1872 Putnam was annexed, with the two-room brick building. in Woodlawn avenue. and the four-room brick build-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

ing. at Madison street and Moxahala avenue ; only a nominal control of the Putnam schools was exercised until the close of the year that the schools might not be impaired by a change in the midst of the course. By these additions the teaching corps was increased from forty-five to sixty persons; Rev. R. S. James succeeded Miss Stults, as principal of the high school during 1872.

During 1873, at the request of the Board of Education, the City Council erected the six-room brick building in Monroe street; a four-room brick building in Columbia street, and added two rooms to the Moore building, at Park and Amelia streets, the cost of the improvements being $30.000.00.

The special law for the Zanesville schools, of 1839. made no provision for a levy by the Board of Education, but directed that the City Council should annually appropriate a sufficient sum to meet the expenses of the schools. In 1849 the law was amended which authorized the Board of Education, in certain cities, to determine the levy for the maintenance, but did not vest them with the power to make a levy for the purchase of sites and the erection of buildings. In 1851 this provision was, by special enactment, extended to Zanesville and the Board of Education could levy for contingent expenses. but was dependent upon the council for improvements. The several statutes were conflicting and inconsistent, and at times it was difficult to determine the authority of either body, under complex conditions. The general school law of 1873 removed all doubts by vesting in the Board of Education the title of all property formerly held by the City Council, and authorized the former to provide for all expenses, by a levy of not exceeding seven mills, and when necessary, to borrow money on bonds for sites and buildings.

At the opening of the school vear. 1875-6, Mr. W. D. Lash succeeded Rev. R. S. James, as principal of the high school. and September 27. 1875. a four-room brick building was ordered erected in Jackson street at a cost of $5.525.00.

May 9, 1876, two petitions were presented from citizens, asking economy in the operation of the schools, and the subject was referred to a com- mittee who recommended that district principals be abolished, and the school organization be re- vised, but the proposition was not agreed to, and salaries were revised.

June 12, 1878, a two-room addition was ordered erected to the Rural building, and the contract was awarded, July 17, at $1, 182.00, and a two- room brick building was ordered built on Moxa- hala avenue. Mr. Wiles resigned as superin- tendent, and Mr. W. D. Lash was chosen as his successor and Mr. H. A. Axline as principal of the high school.

The increase in the colored schools and the demand for more advanced courses caused the inauguration, at the beginning of the school year 1878-0, of a colored high school in a building on Ninth street, and Mr. Charles S. Harrison, a colored man of high attainments, was appointed principal, at a salary of $600.00. The demand for more room for both white and colored schools was very great and the solution was beyond the ability of the board with the resources at its com- mand.

December 29, 1879, Mr. H. A. Axline resigned as principal of the high school and Mr. C. R. Long was elected to the vacancy. In May, 1880, lots were purchased in the "old Seventh ward" for $800.00 and a two-room brick building was erected at a cost of $2,800.00, and is now known as the Munson building ; during 1880-1 a re- modelling and enlargement of the Madison street building was effected at a cost of $4,000.00, the crowded condition of the schools in that neigh- borhood rendering the action a positive necessity. June 28, 1881, the district principal was abolished and the entire supervision placed in charge of the superintendent, and some modifications made in the government of the buildings, in consequence of the innovation.

The isolation and elevation of the high school building : the dilapidated condition of the Market street academy ; the unsanitary surroundings and accommodations in the Masonic building. and the inadequate provisions for the colored schools on the east side of the river, made a large central building essential, and that the problem was com- plex the records of the board fully attest. June 20, 1881. the purchase of the lot on east side of Sixth, between North and Center streets was ordered, and January 14, 1882, the plans and specifications for a three-story, twelve-room brick building were approved, and the handsome high school building was constructed and completed for the opening of the schools for the year 1883-4, at a cost of $38,801.83. The old high school was at once put in good repair for the use of the colored schools on the east side of the river, and the colored schools opened there in September. 1883, and the former buildings in Ninth street sold as unsuited for educational purposes. At the close of the year in June, 1884, Mr. C. R. Long resigned the principalship of the high school and Mr. J. M. Seright was chosen, and at the close of the school year, 1885-6, he resigned and was succeeded by Mr. L. L. H. Austen.

During 1886-7 an addition of two rooms was made to the Columbia building, at an expense of $3,000.00 ; during this year the colored schools were closed, by reason of a statute which re- quired the admission of colored pupils to the white schools, a measure which has been un- fortunate in its results, as colored graduates are

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

unable to take advantage of the education they have so diligently acquired, very often at great personal and family expense.

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 17

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 898

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898