The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 58

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

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550

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

SCHOOLS OF LONDON.

The first school in town, of which we have any account, was taught by Joseph Gillingham. This was about 1815, and the building occupied as the schoolroom was located in the northwestern part of the town, now the site of the residence of Chris Straus. A. A. Hume attended this school, and from him we learn that one means of punishment resorted to by the master, Mr. Gilling- ham, was the dunce block, which he required the disobedient to mount and hold in his or her mouth a raccoon's tail. Another of the very early teachers was a Mr. Young, a New Englander. A school was taught in the old log court house by Samuel Huston, Samuel Harvey and Chester Alden. Mr. Hluston was teaching school in the village as late as 1824, at which period school was held in a log schoolhouse that stood on the corner of Second and Union streets, now the site of A. Dunkin's residence. The building was subsequently replaced by a schoolhouse constructed of brick. A Mr. Williams taught in the log school- house about the year 1825. This was the only schoolhouse in the village at the time, and it is said that the attendance was large. Mr. Williams was suc- ceeded by John Warner and he by a Mr. Chestnut. Mr. Chestnut was followed by Abraham Simpson. In 1835, Peter Smith was teaching in this house. He is said to have been an earnest teacher and to have devoted much time to the cause of education. Later teachers were William Webb and Elias Lewis, the former having taught a number of years. Subsequently, a frame schoolhouse was built on the corner of Oak and Fourth streets. In 1848. James Jones taught in this house, and in 1849 and 1850 Peter Peetrey. The schools at this period were partly kept up by public money and partly by subscription. High street was the dividing line between the two schools, those residing south of this street generally attended the Union Street School and those living north of the street attended the Oak Street School. After the adoption of the Union school system by the citizens of London in 1852, the academy building, erected a few years previous to this date, was used in connection with the Union street building for the Union schools. We should have stated above that one of the early schools was held in the old Methodist Episcopal Church building.

London was organized as a single school district April 3, 1852, under what was known as the Akron school law. At a meeting of the qualified electors of the district, a vote was taken upon the adoption or rejection of the law in the district, which resulted in the vote standing fifty-nine for, to tifty-five against such law. On the 19th of the same month, the first election for Directors was held and resulted as follows: Dr. D. E. McMillen and A. F. Reed for one year each; John Jones and A. F. Freeman, two years cach, and J. H. Merrill and A. A. Hume, for three years. A. A. Hume was elected President, and T. F. Freeman, Secretary. The first Board of School Examiners was appointed by the Board of Education May 3, 1852. and was as follows: R. A. Harrison, H. W. Smith and A. T. Reed. The records of that year show that William D. Hinkle, of Lebanon, Ohio, afterward one of the most noted educators of Ohio, agreed to act as Principal for $500 per year, but on the 21st of August, W. E. Pearce, of Oberlin, was employed for $450. The first annual session of the union schools commenced Monday. September 20, 1852, in the East Ward Schoolhouse and the academy. The following rate of tuition for non-resident pupils was decided upon for the year; in primary department, $2 for twelve weeks; in secondary department, $2.50 for twelve weeks; in high school, for English branches, $4 for twelve weeks, and $5 for the Latin and Greek languages. The school year was divided into three terms, the first beginning September 20 and ending December 24; the second term beginning January 3, 1853, to continue twelve weeks, and the third term commencing April 4 and closing June 24. September 20, the Board adopted Ray's arithmetic and algebra. James Sampson was the assistant male teacher for the first two terms of the year,

551

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

when he resigned; salary, $30 per month. Miss J. E. Turner, of Urbana, was the assistant female teacher, at a salary of $165 per year. Among the teach- ers for the first few years of the London Public Schools, were Mrs. E. W. Coz- zins, $200 per year; Miss E. C. Pease, $25 per month; Miss C. Chandler, $25 per month.

Mr. Pearce remained Principal of the schools until January, 1854, when he was succeeded by David Donaldson, whose salary was fis. d at $35 per month. He only taught during the one term, when he was succeeded by William P. Gibson, whom the board employed, together with his wife, for one year of forty- four weeks for $900. In September, 1856, J. H. Drew and wife were likewise employed at the same rate for the ensuing year. They were again employed for the school year of: 1857-58, at a salary of $900. but Mrs. Drew being unable to fill the engagement, the board employed Miss C. Clark, who assisted Mr. Drew, receiving $275 for the year, and Mr. Drew $625. In April, 1858, Mr. Drew resigned the position of Principal, and the unexpired term of the year was taught by C. W. Finley, at the same salary. Mr. Finley's successor, com- mencing in September, 1858, was John McGaffey, at $60 per month. His suc- cessor was John B. Lotspeich, who resigned the position in the spring of 1859. J. D. Stine was then elected Principal to serve for two months, at $65 per month, and $70 per month for the remainder of the year. Mr. Stine resigned November 4, 1863, and was succeeded by J. M. Thomas, at $600 per year. The Principal for the year 1864-65 was H. T. Wheeler, assisted by his wife, the salary paid the two being $1,200. They taught the following year, and were paid $1,500. The following items concerning the schools up to this time we give from the records of the Board of Education, thinking they may be of in- terest to some: In 1852, the schools were supplied with Holbrook's apparatus; the tax levied that year on the taxable property for the district for the carry- ing on of the schools, was three and three-quarter mills on the dollar. In Sep- tember, 1853, the board decided to adopt Pineos grammar. In 1858. Cornell's geography was introduced to take the place of Colton and Fitch's, then in use; also McGuffey's reader, in place of the Normal reader. The tax levied for schoo! purposes in 1853, was two and three-quarter mills on the dollar; in 1854, two and one-half mills; in 1855, two and three-quarter mills; in 1856. two and three-quarter mills ; in 1857. two and one-half mills; in 1858, two and one-half mills; in 1859. two and one-half mills ; in 1860, two and one-half mills ; in 1861, two and one-quarter mills; in 1862, two and one-quarter mills ; in 1864, fourteen mills.

During the year 1852, under the new system, numerous changes took place in the Board of Directors. Other than those named above, as elected August 19, 1852, the following-named gentlemen were on the board during that year : R. A. Harrison, James Smith. William Gould, J. Q. Lotspeich and John Rouse. In 1863, Dr. Coblentz and W. S. Shepherd, as members of the board, first agitated the subject of a new schoolhouse, and on the 4th of January, 1864, at a called public meeting, committees to procure a site and plan for building were appointed. After considerable marching and counter-marching on the part of the board, a contract for a building from a plan made by An- derson & Hanaford, of Cincinnati, was let to Edwin Bird on the last day of March. 1866, at $36,500. Of the members of the School Board who stuck by the people in their demand for the new schoolhouse, Dr. Coblentz and Jacob Peetrey are entitled to special mention for their services. As Secretary of the board, Mr. Peetrey was of invaluable service, and as Treasurer, Dr. Coblentz performed his duties faithfully and honestly. Their labors were free of charge. The site selected for the new school building was on Back street, where four acres of ground was purchased of Toland Jones for $1.500 in the spring of

552

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

1865, and during the following spring the present substantial and elegant schoolhouse was in process of construction.

The building is of the Norman style of architecture, built of brick with stone basement, of four rooms, two of which are supplied with slow combustion monitor furnaces, the heat from which warms up the entire building ; the other two rooms are for the children to play in during stormy weather. In the first and second stories are eight school-rooms capable of accommodating seventy- five scholars each. Every one of these rooms is 25x37 feet, with sixteen feet ceiling, and each is supplied with a cloak room with seventy-five hooks, speak- ing-trumpet, cold and hot-air registers, and upward and downward ventilators to purify rooms ; while for light, each has four large windows, 12x4 feet. The Superintendent's room is in the second story, and here speaking-tubes from the different rooms concentrate, with an indicator on each. The third-story is de- voted exclusively to the large hall for exhibitions, etc. This hall is 54x77 feet, with twenty-two foot ceiling ; four hot and four cold registers, with proper facilities for carrying off foul air. The ceiling is beautifully frescoed, while plenty of light is furnished by the cluster of five windows on the east and west sides, and double windows at short intervals. The stage is 20x54 feet, and the hall will comfortably seat 800 people. There are two towers to the building, nineteen feet square and one hundred feet in height to the top of railing. These towers furnish the only entrance to the different stories, and from them a grand view of the surrounding country is obtained. The entire cost of the building was $50,000. The taxable property in the district was $100,000, and the population 2,000 persons. The dedication of the building took place on the evening of June 21, 1867, with an exhibition given by the school consist- ing of the opening by prayer, followed by singing, declamations, essays, etc., winding up with the fairy play of " Cinderella."

On the completion of the new building, the people decided to have a graded school. Although the schools had gradually assumed that form before, there was a lack of system and proper classification. At this time, a high school was established, and a course of study adopted, requiring three years for its completion, which, but with little change, was as follows :

Freshman Year-First Term-Latin, Grammar and Reader ; Algebra ; Arithmetic ; Physical Geography ; General History, elective.

Second Term-Latin, Grammar and Cæsar; Algebra; Botany, twice each week ; Physical Geography, three times each week; General History, elective.

Third Term-Latin, Grammar and Cæsar ;. Algebra ; Botany (pupils are expected to analyze one hundred plants) ; Natural Philosophy ; General His- tory, elective ; Exercises in Composition and Declamation, weekly throughout the year ; Biography ; Course of Reading selected by the Superintendent.

Junior Year-First Term-Latin, Cæsar and Grammar ; Algebra ; Nat- ural Philosophy ; General History, elective.

Second Term -- Latin, Cicero's Orations and Grammar ; Geometry ; English Literature; General History, elective ; Book-keeping, elective.

Third Term-Latin, Virgil's ÆEneid ; Geometry ; Chemistry ; Natural History, elective ; Literary Exercises, semi-monthly ; Spelling and Reading once a week throughout the year ; Course of Reading, selected by the Super- intendent.

Senior Year-First Term-Latin, Virgil's ÆEneid ; Geometry ; Chemistry ; Moral Science, elective.

Second Term-Astronomy ; Trigonometry and Mensuration ; Arithmetic ; Reading ; Spelling.

Third Term-Astronomy ; Geology ; Grammar, English ; Geography ;

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

Writing ; Literary Exercises, semi-monthly ; Course of Reading, selected by the Superintendent.

The above course, with some modifications, is pursued by the High School of 1882.

The Grammar Schools are divided into four grades, designated respect- ively, A, B, C and D Grammar Schools.

The Primary Department is divided into four grades, designated respect- ively, A, B, C and D Primary Schools, and each grade is subdivided into two divisions.

Pupils entering the public schools at six years of age can, therefore, with proper diligence. graduate from the High School at seventeen years of age.

The following named text-books are used in the schools : Appleton's Readers, McGuffey's Spellers, Harvey's Grammar, Harkness' Latin Grammar, Harkness' Introductory Latin Book, Harkness' Latin Reader, Harkness' Cæsar and Cicero, Eclectic Geographies, Cornell's Physical Geography, Alden's Citizen's Manual, Quackenboss' History, Lockyer's Astronomy, Steele's Physi- ology, Cooley's Chemistry, Wood's Botany and Plant Record, Steele's Geology, Hill's Rhetoric, Ray's Algebras, White's Arithmetics, Carter's History, Rolfe and Gillett's Philosophy, Davie's Legendre, Wayland's Moral Science, English Literature, Hooker's Natural History, Mayhew's Book Keeping, Payson Dun- ton & Scribner's Copy-books.

The first-class graduated at the London High School was in 1873. It was composed of Annie Burnley, Sallie Riddle, Alice Richmond, Jonas Bagnall and Peyton H. Acton. The last named gentleman completed the course of study in 1871, but was given a diploma with the class of 1873. Since that year, the number of graduates each year have been as follows: 1874, 6; 1875, 11; 1876, 10; 1877, 7; 1878, 9; 1879, 11; 1880. 12; 1881, 20 ; 1882, 19.

At a meeting of the graduates, held May 14, 1875, the Alumni Association of the London Public Schools was organized with a membership of eleven, the first officers being Peyton Acton. President; Miss Sallie Riddle, Vice President; Miss Jennie Burnley, Secretary, and George Lilly . Treasurer.

A school for the colored children was organized in 1865, and has been maintained since that time. The school was opened in the building still stand- ing near the Colored Baptist Church, on Fourth street, then occupied by that denomination as a place of worship. The school was conducted for three years by lady teachers. During the school years of 1869-70 and 1870-71, Squire J. A. Hume taught this school, at $60 per month. Mr. Hume was succeeded by the present incumbent, S. B. Norris, who took charge in the fall of 1871, and has since successfully conducted the school. His salary has ranged from $45 to $60 per month. In 1872, two lots were purchased by the Board of Educa- tion, located on Center street, of John Dungan, James Watson and others, for $530, and thereon was built a neat one-story briek schoolhouse for the use of the colored school, which has been carried on in the same since the completion of the building, in 1873.

The commodious High School building, heretofore described, in the course of a few years was not of sufficient size to accommodate the rapidly increasing numbers that daily flocked to its doors, and in 1874 a second building was erected on the same grounds for the use of the schools. The new building contains four rooms, each 28x30 feet, and is occupied by the primary depart- ment. The grounds around these buildings were set out with the beautiful shade trees now decorating them in the spring of 1868, by S. P. Davidson. The varieties were larch, Lombardy poplar, charter oak, savin, Norway spruce, Scotch pine, cedar. linden, sycamore, cypress, linn, mulberry, ash, wahoo, white walnut, dogwood, hackberry, red-bud, elm, sugar-tree, maple, willow, water beech, iron- wood-whole number of trees. 215.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

It was our purpose to show in a tabular statement the development and progress made in the schools of London from the year of its organization into a separate school district to the present time, but not being able to go back of 1864, we give from that date only the following table:

1864.

1870.

1882.

Number of pupils enumerated

742

1198

Number of pupils enrolled.

436

510

680

Average daily attendance.

227

333

493

Number of teachers.

Number of school-rooms

Number of grades .

Number of weeks in session

Amount paid teachers.

$2700

$46531|$7400

We append a list of the Superintendents since 1867. Mr. McClintock re- signed February 1, 1872, on account of poor health, and Mr. Ilarford resigned November 1, 1875, for the same reason: .

SUPERINTENDENTS.

TERMS.

SALARY.

Warren Mcclintock.

1867-68

$1500

Warren Mcclintock.

1868-69

1700

Warren Mcclintock

1869-70

1700

Warren Mcclintock ..

1870-71

1700

Warren Mcclintock,

1871-72

1700

D. T. Clover

D. T. Clover.

1872-73

1200

W. M. Harford

1873-74

1200

W. M. Harford.

1874-75

1400

W. M. Harford, }

1875-76

1400

E. J. Godfrey ..

E. J. Godfrey.

1876-77

1200

John W. Mackinnon

1878-79

1200

John W. Mackinnon

1879-80

1200

John W. MacKinnon.

1880-81

1200

Jolin W. Mackinnon.

1881-82

1200

John W. Mackinnon

1882-83

1350

Jolın W. Mackinnon

1877-78

1100

The present Board of Education is H. Toland, President; E. R. Watts, Secretary; Philip Speasmaker, Treasurer; S. W. Durflinger, R. B. Cowling and R. H. McCloud. The Board of Examiners is, Jonathan Arnett. S. W. Dur- flinger and George E. Ross.

The London Academy was established by a stock company, incorporated by an act of the Legislature passed March 12, 1845. The academy building was erected the same year upon grounds deeded to the Trustees of the institu- tion by Richard Cowling. The first Principal of the school was a Mr. Ross, assisted by Miss Sarah A. Norton. Among others who taught in this school, when it was known as an academy, as Principals or Assistants, were a Mr. Cooper, Dr. J. M. Christian and A. H. Guy. The tuition per quarter was, for the primary branches, two dollars and a half; common branches, three dollars ; higher branches, four dollars; mathematics and languages, five dollars. The insti- tution did not pay, and when the union school system was adopted the board took possession of it. The building was transferred to Richard Cowling, who in 1868 sold it to Chris Soulke for $400. Mr. Soulke tore it down and erected with the timbers and frames several small dwellings.

THOMAS TIMMONS, [DECEASED]

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

ST. JOSEPH'S CONVENT AND SCHOOLS.

Application having been made by the congregation of St. Patrick's Cath olic Church of London for its establishment of Parochial Schools to the author- ities of Ursuline Convent in Brown County, Ohio, on the fourth of September. 1874, an association of teachers, through Father Conway, then in charge of St. Patrick's Church. purchased the High street residence of J. K. Smith, Esq., the property comprising five full lots, two fronting on Walnut and two on High street, for which they paid $7,000. A substantial two-story brick schoolhouse containing four rooms was at once erected under the supervision of the church here, and on the 14th of November following. the building was completed and dedicated with the usual rights of the church on such occasions. The cere- monies were more than usually impressive, and the attendance from London and abroad unusually large. The Catholic Benevolent and Total Abstinence Societies participated in the procession. There were present three bands of music and six societies, with the following clergymen : Rev. Father Conway, Rev. Father Cusae, of Cincinnati, Father Miller, of Jefferson, and Father Grennon, of South Charleston-Father Cusac. officiating. The school was at once opened under the direct control and management of the Cloister Sisters from St. Martin's Ursuline Convent. The names of the four Sisters who opened the schools were Sister Pauline, director, assisted by Sisters Ga- briel and Alphonse, the household department being in charge of Sister An- thony. The parochial schools, as they are termed, have continued under the management of Sisters from the Ursuline Convent since their organization. The usual common branches, including history, are taught. All who apply for tuition are admitted. boys being restricted to the age of twelve years. The enrollment on the opening of the school was about one hundred and thirty, and at present there are in attendance nearly two hundred scholars. Four teachers are employed.

THE NEWSPAPER PRESS.

Prior to 1835. at least two newspapers were started in London. vet both were so short lived that even their names cannot be recalled by the life-long citizens of the town, and no traces of a file of either can be found. P. Lapham published the first paper, and Joseph Anthony, a brother to the late Gen Charles Anthony, of Springfield, the next.

The first permanent newspaper established in London bore the name of London Sentinel. It was a double page six column paper, eighteen by twenty- four inches; Whig in politics, and flying the motto. " Whatever measures have u tendency to dissolve the Union, or contribute to violate or lessen the sovereign authority. ought to be considered as hostile to the liberty and independence of America." The Sentinel under the proprietorship and publication of George W. Sprung made its appearance in September. 1843. It was so continued until March 1, 1851. when the name was changed to the Madison Reveille, the following prospectus of which appeared in the Sentinel of February 22, 1851:

"Events are daily transpiring around us which will leave an indelible mark upon the history of the coming future. Old things are passing away, and all things are becoming new. A sanguinary struggle between Might and Right-between Truth and Error-is heaving the Old World with the convul- sive throes of Domestic Revolution, and time-honored abuses are trembling at the gradual approaches of modern progress. In our own country, the voice of faction and discord is calling out for the overthrow of our institutions, and the Hydra of Disunion has reared its gorgon head to clamor for the disruption of our confederacy. Of this excited and exciting age, the year that is before us forms a most important part. It will behold the final decision of questions intimately blended with the interests of every man, and every man is called

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

upon to watch with prudent care the doubtful current of public events. But above all, this is an important year for the State of Ohio. Here we have the last General Assembly which will convene under the present Constitution of the State, together with our Constitutional Convention and their respective action. While a long and important session of Congress engrosses our atten- tion, we must engage in a controversy which is to decide the great and funda- mental features of our organic law. Following that comes the first election under it. when all our public functionaries will receive their honors, and their emoluments, directly from the dictum of the people.

" While these things are enacting, who should be without their county newspaper? Not one. On the 1st day of March next, the Sentinel will be brought to a close. The undersigned has made arrangements to issue, on that day, the first number of a new paper under the above title. These arrange- ments have been made not without great labor and expense, and we now look for remuneration to the generous support of the people of Madison County. The Reveille will contain a full detail of the proceedings of Congress, the Constitutional Convention. and the Legislature-with the latest telegraphic dispatches and advices from Europe and California. Its department of gen- eral news shall not be exceeded by any county newspaper in the State. Its editorial management will be assigned entirely to Mr. E. E. Hutcheson, while its mechanical execution will devolve upon the present publisher and proprie- tor. Pains and expense will not be spared to make the Reveille a first-class family journal, and in all respects worthy of the liberal patronage, which an intelligent community will ever bestow upon their home paper. In politics, it is unnecessary to say the Reveille will be Whig, and devoted to all the re- formatory measures which distinguish that party. Conservative, while we are progressive, we will contribute our mite in advocating the perpetuity of the Union, the supremacy of the law, and the compromises of the constitution.

"The Reveille will be published at the following low rates: Weekly per year. in advance. $1.50; weekly per year, not in advance, $2.00."

The above prospectus bore the signature of Mr. G. W. Sprung. The first issue of the Reveille came forth March 8, 1851, bearing the motto, " The memory of Washington and the union of the States .- Sunto Perpetua;" while over the editorial column was the following motto: "The perpetuity of the Union, the supremacy of the Law and the compromises of the Constitution." This paper, like its predecessor, was issued every Saturday, and was of the same size. January 29, 1853, the motto was dropped from the head of the editorial column, and the Latin phrase sunto perpetit was discontinued the same month. On the 2d of February, 1854, the office was destroyed by the great fire which occurred on that date. and the numbers eleven, eighteen and twenty- five were single sheet extras published in Columbus, the latter issue closing the third volume. and ending the career of the Madison Reveille.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 58

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180