Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 30

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 30
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 30
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 30
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 30

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However, it is not as plain as an open book. Prior to 1891 there is nothing of record in the office of the county superintendent of schools

along educational lines. In the early days, if the county superintendents made reports of their official acts, as they doubtless did, the reports were destroyed and no public record of them was kept. Even the names of the gentle- men who occupied the position of super- intendents of school are not to be obtained with any assurance that they are correct. Among those who occupied this position in the days of the county's infancy were George Taylor, F. W. Perkins, David Stuart, Park Winans, Moses Dupuis, John U. Hofstetter and James Mon- aghan. These gentlemen, and possibly others, presided over the destinies of the Stevens county schools from the formation of the county in 1860 to. 1875, but the dates of their incumbency cannot be obtained.

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

To Mr. Francis Wolff, who came to Stevens county in 1856 and who for nearly 50 years has been identified with its growth, many years in an official capacity, we are under obli- gations for data in regard to the schools of the county in the pioneer days. Mr. Wolff informs us that the first institution of learning in Stevens county was established in the year 1856. At that time Augus McDonald, who was head trader for the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Colville (Kettle Falls), established a private school. His primary object was the education of his own children, but several others also took advantage of the school, prin- cipally children of the employes at the fort. A teacher was hired by Mr. McDonald and for several years the school was maintained.

The first public school established in the county was at Pinkney City in 1862. The court room in the county building was used for a school room and the first teacher was Mr. Boody, who conducted the school two terms. Mr. Boody is described as a first-class instructor "of the old school," and conducted the county's first institution of learning in a manner satisfactory to all the patrons. There were 18 or 19 scholars in attendance at the first term. After Mr. Boody retired from the management of the school others took up the work and there never was a suspension after its establishment.

The first person to occupy the office of county supereintendent of schools was George Taylor. His incumbency appears to have been of short duration and unsatisfactory, as we find that at a meeting of the board of county com- missioners held on January 15, 1863, he and F. W. Perkins appeared before the board to contest the office of school superintendent. They both made their plea and the board de- cided that Mr. Perkins was the county school superintendent, "because George Taylor had voluntarily left the county, had never made

any report to the board, and was not in the county to report at their May term in 1862."

Mr. Perkins then presented a report of what he, as school superintendent, had done, accompanied by maps. The report was accepted and the maps approved. The board urged Mr. Perkins to advance the cause of education by establishing schools in all the districts of the valley of the Colville.

The superintendent found that owing to the thinly settled condition of the valley he would not be justified in establishing more schools, and so stated in his report to the com- misssioners at their meeting on November 2, 1863. He further advised that the school fund be appropriated to the building of a jail, as no schools were wished for by the people of the valley. This the commissioners did, and it was not until 1872, during the incumbency of Moses Dupuis as county superintendenet, that this fund reverted to the use of the schools.

For a number of years the school at Pinkney City was the only public school in all the vast territory first known as Spokane county, but later as Stevens county. This was the only educational institution within a radius of hundreds of miles. Pinkney City was the politi- cal and educational center of a territory larger than most of the eastern states. In 1864 or 1865 the county's second school was established. Quite a settlement had sprung up in the vicinity of Chewelah (then written Cha-we-lah) and a school was established there by the county superintendent. Miss Mary Brown being employed as teacher.

The next school established was a private one under the supervision of Father Militry. The father in 1865 petitioned the board of county commissioners for permission to open a private school. He was informed that the school fund could not be used for any other purpose than that of paying masters, or pur- chasing libraries and instruments, but he was

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

advised to open a subscription to build the buildings and that the county would petition the legislature for the right to use the fund for the benefit of the school. Whether or not Father Militry received any county or ter- ritorial aid is not a matter of record. At any rate that same year he established the school and it continued in existence two or three years. The school was held at the Catholic mission near Pinkney City and was taught by the four sisters at the mission, who adopted this occupation as a means of support.

Two years after the beginning of the school at Chewelah a new district was formed and the third public school of the county was established at Marcus. During the next decade the growth of schools in the county was slow, for at the beginning of the year 1876 we find that there were but seven public institutions of learning.

On January 8, 1864, upon the recommenda- tion of School Superintendent F. W. Perkins, before referred to, the commissioners took from the schol fund $600 with which to build a jail. But this was not the only money appro- priated from the school fund by the commis- sioners for other purposes than that of the maintenance of the schools. On December 5, 1865, $444 was taken and used for other purposes. On July 1, 1869, the commissioners appropriated the sum of $332 from the same fund with which to build county roads. In 1872, when Moses Dupuis became school superintendent, he demanded of the commis- sioners that they turn over these different amounts to him for school purposes, together with accrued interest at ten per cent. The total · amount of the principal and interest at the date of his demand, May 8, 1872, was $2254.97. At the August meeting of the board this matter was taken up for consideration, and the amount of the principal, $1376.00, was ordered trans- ferrred to the school fund. The auditor was instructed to draw 54 county orders in the sum

of $25 each and one order in the sum of $26, payable to the superintendent of schools, and to place the orders in the hands of the county treasurer to be credited to the school fund and subject to apportionment by Mr. Dupuis. Thus the moneys, which had been irregularly taken from the school fund in the earlier days when there was very little need for them, were restored, and Mr. Dupuis was enabled to do much good in the establishment of new schools in the county.

Mr. John Rickey tells some pretty good stories to illustrate how the county's educational matters were conducted in the early days when the pupils were few and far between and when the school funds were being used to build jails and county roads and the school superintendents had to fight for these funds. Among the early superintendents was John U. Hofstetter, who has been identified with the history making of Stevens county from its organization to the present time. Mr. Rickey is authority for the statement that one day during the incumbency of Mr. Hofstetter, Father Grassi, a Catholic priest, came to the county seat to take a teacher's examination from the superintendent. The father made his mission known to Mr. Hofstetter.

"Well," said the superintendent, "you know how to teach, don't you."

The priest replied that he thought he did, but that he believed it was customary for the school superintendent to ascertain this fact before the teacher was allowed to enter his duties.

"Well, you must know more about school matters than I do."

"I do not know that I do," replied the father.

"If you hold to that assertion, Father Grassi, I cannot issue you a certificate to teach."

The candidate for a teacher's certificate took the matter under advisement, reconsidered his former statement. and finally admitted that

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

perhaps he was better informed in the matter of instructing the young than the superinten- dent, whereupon Mr. Hofstetter issued the certificate without further examination.

Another of Mr. Rickey's stories is to the ef- fect that one day, during the reign of Mr. James Monaghan as superintendent, that gentleman had occasion to make a trip to Walla Walla. He had progressed but a few miles on his journey from Fort Colville when he met a young man named Spangle who inquired of Mr. Monaghan the way to the county seat. Upon being informed the young man asked if he knew the superintendent of schools, stating that he was on his way to Fort Colville to take a teacher's examination. Mr. Monaghan introduced himself and proceeded to give the young man an examination.

"What per cent of the earth's surface is land and what per cent water?" asked the superin- tendent.

The question was answered correctly.

"What positions on the map do the direc- tions north, south, east and west occupy?" was the next question.

This was also answered to the satisfaction of the superintendent, and he at once pro- ceeded to fill out a blank certificate he had with him authorizing Mr. Spangle to teach in the county. Mr. Monaghan then proceeded on his way to Walla Walla, the newly made teacher accompanying him as far as his home in the southern part of the county.

The report of County Superintendent James Monaghan for the year ending December 31, 1875, is the earliest report in anything like a complete form, and proves interesting from the fact that it gives a clear idea of the condi- tions of the county schools at that early date. From Mr. Monaghan's report we learn that there were 319 scholars in the county and that of this number 105 attended school. There were five school houses in the county, but seven schools were maintained during the year. For

the maintenance of these schools $850.57 was apportioned by the county and $94.49 was raised by subscription. The report further states that $945 was paid to teachers, which left a balance of six cents for the other running expenses of the schools.

Mr. Monaghan further reported as follows concerning the schools :

"The principal books used are Sanders' series and Davis' geography. Branches taught are reading, writing, spelling, grammar, geogra- phy, arithmetic and history. Some of the dis- tricts are so thinly settled and the school fund so small that it is difficult to give all the chil- dren the advantage of the public schools, hence the small attendance of scholars. But the de- sire to promote the cause of education is steadily growing stronger amongst the people of the county, and there appears to be a disposition at present to increase the school fund by private contributions and special taxes, especially in the sparsely settled districts, that will, if per- severed in, give better facilities for all the chil- dren to attend school than at present exist. I have prepared a school map of the county with district boundaries plainly defined in the alter- ing of boundaries and establishing new dis- tricts. I have to the best of my ability arranged the lines for the benefit of all the scholars re- siding in the county. I would respectfully call your attention to section 7, page 424, school law of 1873, requiring county superintendents to visit all the schools in the county once a year, and state that there is no provision requiring clerks or directors to notify the superintendent during the time the schools are going on. In a county like this, having a large territory and very little mail facilities, it is difficult to know when a school in a remote district is in active operation. I have the honor to be, very re- spectfully,

"Your obedient servant, "J. MONAGHAN, Supt."

For the next 16 years no records are

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

obtainable in regard to the school system. From the report of Thomas Nagle for the year ending June 30, 1891, we learn that during these years the schools increased from seven to 35, and the number of scholars attending from 105 to 743. Where there were five school buildings in 1875, we now find 23.

In his report to the superintendent of public instruction of Washington, Mr. Nagle says :

"Owing to the fact that many of the district clerks have made incomplete reports, I find it impossible to make mine complete. No superin- tendent of schools can live on $350 a year. This office requires all of the superintendent's time and attention in this county and the mileage and other fees will not pay traveling expenses. I have formed ten new districts and in doing so was compelled to travel 500 miles."

During the school year 1891 there were in the county 1557 children of school age, and less than half of these, 743, were enrolled in the public schools, the average daily attendance being 444. Ninety-six resident pupils were students at private schools.

There were 28 teachers employed during the year. None of these held state or ter- ritorial certificates or diplomas; three were accorded with having first grade county certifi- cates; sixteen had second grade county certifi- cates and nine third grade. The average monthly salary paid male teachers was $46.76, and female teachers received an average salary of $46.

Mr. Nagle estimated the value of school property at this time to be $10,298, divided as follows : School houses and grounds, $8,620; school furniture, $1,098; apparatus, maps, charts, etc, $571. There were no school libraries in the county and only two of the districts were the possessors of unabridged dictionaries.

At the time of the report there was $5,000 in school bonds outstanding. and the average

amount of interest paid on these was 8 per cent. No insurance was carried on any of the school property.

There were 35 districts in Stevens county in 1891 and school was maintained in all of them. On an average school was held 101 days during the year, and of the 35 districts 28 held school at least three months during the year. There was one graded school. Two private schools, employing three teachers, were in existence.

An interesting item in this report is in regard to the school houses. There were 23 in the county and of these 14 were log struc- tures, eight frame and one brick. Nine school houses had been built during the year-six log, two frame and one brick. With the erection of these nine buildings during the year, there were still 12 districts which were not supplied with buildings. At this time there was only one district in the county having a bonded indebtedness.

Mr. Nagle reports that he organized 14 new districts during the past year and paid 90 visits to the schools of the county in an official capacity, these visits including all but four of the districts. The superintendent stated that none of the districts were well supplied with apparatus and that there were no teachers' associations maintained in the county. The following financial exhibit was included in the report to the state superintendent of schools :

RECEIPTS.

Balance on hand in the county treasury June 30,

1890, to the credit of school districts .. . .$ 2,410 06 Amount apportioned to districts by county superintendent 9.499 76

Amount received from special tax. 3.493 03

Total $15.402 85

EXPENDITURES.

Total amount paid out during the year. $11.632 81

Balance on hand June 3, 1891 3.770 04

Total $15,402 85

A number of institutions of higher learning

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

have been established in Stevens county during the past ten years. Some of these met with flattering success for a time, being well patron- ized by students and in a financial way, but most of them in time were abandoned for lack of funds.

One of the earliest of these institutions was the Rochester academy at Kettle Falls, which was established in the fall of 1893. The Rev. Thomas M. Gunn, of Spokane, synodical mis- sionary of the Presbyterian church, was the founder. A committee of Spokane gentlemen had been appointed to visit the town of Kettle Falls and inquire into the feasibility of estab- lishing an academy at that place, but doubting the advisibility of the move, the committee declined to go. This aroused the reverend gentleman's mettle and he came to Kettle Falls on his own responsibility, formed a stock com- pany of Kettle Falls people and in a very short time had forwarded to the secretary of state the articles of incorporation for the Rochester academy of Kettle Falls. Those who interested themselves in the enterprise with Rev. Gunn as incorporators were L. C. P. Haskins, C. A. Phipps, J. J. Budd, P. M. Hacking and C. H. Nelson, all of Kettle Falls. Any resident of the town who should contribute $100, or its equivalent, and comply with certain other con- ditions, was entitled to membership.

The Hotel Rochester, a 62 room building, was purchased for the use of the academy, and on November 27, 1893, the academy opened with 50 scholars. The school was maintained as a christian school of learning for the educa- tion of the young of both sexes in all the English branches, sciences, bookkeeping, com- mercial law, typewriting, shorthand and the classics.

The officers of the institution were C. A. Phipps, president; L. C. P. Haskins, secre- tary; J. J. Budd, treasurer; The school was conducted under Dr. Gunn's personal care, as financial agent and adviser, and he had associ-

ated with him as instructors William Chalmers Gunn, A. B., professor of classics and sciences ; J. M. Powell, A. M., M. D., professor of English and penmanship; and a competent matron in charge of the girls' dormitory. Pupils were received at any time and board, room and tuition were provided at the remark- ably low figure of $20 per month.

After continuing for a period of one year the Rochester academy, owing to a lack of support, was discontinued.

Considerable improvement was noted in the condition of the public schools of Stevens county during the year 1894, notwithstanding the prevailing hard times. M. B. Grieve was county superintendent during 1893 and 1894 and in his report for the latter year he said that there had been more than the usual interest taken in the schools by parents, pupils and officers, and the average school terni increased from 31/4 months to 41/4 months. The districts were supplied with better school houses, furni- ture and apparatus, and a better grade of teachers were employed than formerly. Mr. Grieve stated that the only thing lacking was money. Five new districts were organized during the year and 17 school houses were erected.

In 1895 there was established in Colville a school known as the Northeastern Wash- ington academy. A stock company composed of Colville people, and of whom Prof. Pickerell and C. M. Durland were the principal stock- holders, was formed. A commercial course was taught, embracing shorthand, bookkeeping and commercial law.

On Monday morning, April 8, the first term was begun, the Colville public school building being the temporary home of the academy. Thirty-five scholars were present on the opening day and the attendance rapidly increased until 70 students were in regular attendance. Beginning the school at this season of the year was a "trial trip," but the prospects

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

seemed bright for the success of the academy. A tuition fee of $2 per month was fixed for all the branches taught. Prof Pickerell, who graduated from the University at Valparaiso, Ind., in 1888, and who for some time was principal of the Colville public schools, became the principal of the new schools, and had associated with him as instructors C. M. Durland and Mrs. Tolton.

Shortly after the opening of the North- eastern Washington academy the third of the Rickey block was secured for school purposes. Notwithstanding the bright prospects of the school at the start, the venture proved a losing investment to its promoters and in 1896, after one year of life, it was discontinued, and the school furniture and apparatus was purchased by the Eells academy, which was organized the following year.

The "hard times" seriously hampered the public schools of Stevens county. County Superintendent O. J. Smith, in his report for 1895. says in part: "The greatest drawback is the large amount of delinquent taxes, occa- sioned by the financial depression, and the consequent shortage of funds. With 72 districts in the county, 68 maintaining school last year, we received but $7,307.98 from the general fund for the year just closed."

Pephaps the most important of the private schools that have been established in Stevens county was Eells academy at Colville, and its history is well worth considering at some length. In 1896 there was no high school in Stevens county, and it was due to the fact that the young people could not receive better than a. common school education in the county that the institution was founded.

The first movement toward the establish- ment of the academy was made on March 25, 1896. Rev. A. J. Bailey of Seattle, Rev. T. W. Walters of Colfax, Rev. William Davies and Rev. E. J. Singer of Spokane, all Congrega- tional ministers, met in Colville with Rev. T.

G. Lewis, pastor of the Congregational church, for the purpose of holding a fellowship meeting. A large congregation was at the meeting, where eloquent addresses were made by the clergymen and animated speeches by the citizens, in which the crying need of a high school for the young people of the county was declared. That evening is was decided to found a christian institution at Colville under the auspices of the Congregational society.

No time was lost in carrying out the decision of the gentlemen who were so enthusi- astic in the matter and the following morning a meeting was held at which the trustees, advisory board and building committee were appointed. It was decided to name the institution Eells academy in honor of Cushman Eells, known so well and respected so highly throughout the valley. One thousand, two hundred and thirty- seven dollars, including work and material, was immediately subscribed for the erection of the school building. John U. Hofstetter and L. J. Wolfard generously gave the building site, over three acres of land beautifully situated on the hillside in the western part of the town of Colville. On the 4th day of October, 1896, Eells Academy opened with about twenty pupils and three teachers. E. S. Woodcock was principal, Miss Boss assistant and Miss Cobleigh musical instructor. For the first two terms the school was held in the two lower floors of the Colville hotel building. They were not at all adapted to school purposes, consequently most uncomfortable and inconvenient. This was a trying period for Eells' Academy and it was often referred to in after years as the "Valley Forge" of that institution. For the beginning of the spring term of the second year the academy building was completed. Miss Boss resigned her position and the vacancy was filled by Mr. Howard. In October, 1897, another change took place in the school. Mr. Davis assumed charge of the academy and was assisted by Mr. Kiernan.

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

With the opening of school October 6, there were enrolled only thirteen pupils, but during the winter term method classes were originated for the benefit of teachers, and several of the best instructors of the county availed themselves of the opportunity, and the enrollment reached forty-six. In the spring the attendance became lighter. Thus the school founded in honor of that venerable preacher and educator, "Father" Eells, struggled on for four years to its first commencement. Tuesday evening, June 12, 1900, marked the close of the first four years of the Eells Academy work. A class of four, the Misses Flora Aimee Dingle and Charlotte Rosaline Wolff in the scientific course, and George Stitzel Backus and David Hughes Lewis in the special course, having completed the studies prescribed, were grad- uated with the highest honors.

The next year was a trying one for Eells Academy. Debts were piling up and the pros- pect was not bright for the academy's contin- uance. Heretofore the citizens of Colville and vicinity had subscribed various amounts to make up deficiencies in the finances of the school. This year the local members of the board individually resolved to close the academy and dispose of the property to the school district unless the academy was accorded some substantial aid from abroad. A meeting was held in July, 1901, by the trustees and it was finally decided to continue the school. In one week funds were subscribed to pay off the indebtedness, and it was decided to open the academy in September. S. B. L. Penrose, president of Whitman College, was made a member of the board of trustees, as was also Jerry Cooney, of Springdale. With the assur- ance of active outside interest in the welfare of Eells Academy the outlook at the beginning of the September term, in 1901, was better than at any time since the institution was established. At the head of the institution during the last

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 30

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992