USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County Wisconsin, including its civil, political, geological, mineralogical archaeological and military history > Part 44
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1900-Supervisors, John M. Gardner, William J. Robinson, Amo C. Stephens; clerk, A. W. Loy ; treasurer, Joseph Meinhardt; assessor, Frank Shambow; justices, S. W. Traber, P. Hatfield, A. F. Chase; constables, John Shilliam, John Stark, F. D. Laughton.
The village of Platteville was incorporated February 19, 1841. Following is a roster of the village officers since that time. It is in- complete owing to the absence of some of the records:
VILLAGE OFFICERS.
1845-President, Samuel Moore.
1846-President, Samuel Moore; trustees, Henry Snowdon, J. H. Watts, William G. Spencer, S. N. Jones, Robert Chapman.
1847-The same board as the previous year.
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1848-President, G. W. Lakin; trustees, Gideon Hawley, P. Stone, Thomas Stephens, Noah Hutchens, Henry C. Lane, Harrison Bell.
1849-President, S. O. Paine; trustees, Noah Hutchens, N. Messer- smith, Thomas Stephens, Gideon Hawley, H. C. Lane, Harrison Bell.
1850-President, S. O. Paine; trustees, J. M. Alford, N. Messer- smith, James Durley, E. J. Madison, P. B. McIntyre, D. W. Clark.
1851-President, A. C. Inman; trustees, Hopkins Hurlbut, P. B. Mcintyre, Noah Hutchens, James Durley, N. Messersmith, D. W. Clark. Leonard Coates president from September 22, vice Inman de- ceased.
1852-President, Leonard Coates; trustees, Isaac Hodges, J. L. Pickard, William Grindell, John Kemler, Henry C. Lane, N. Goodrich.
1853-President, John Bevans; trustees, Joel Potter, William Grin- dell, Hopkins Hurlbut, R. Snowdon, Isaac Hodges, John Kemler.
1854-President, John Bevans; trustees, Henry C. Lane, Engel Vanderbie, Harrison Bell, J. F. Kirkpatrick, J. L. Marsh, G. Hawley.
1855-President, Samuel Moore; trustees, J. M. Alford, J. T. Han- cock, Calvin Russell, Elijah Bayley, Daniel Richards, William Butler.
1856-President, Noah Hutchens; trustees Frederick Hollman, George Hammond, Bennett Atwood, E. H. Stowell, Daniel Richards, Nehemiah Goodrich.
1857-President, Noah H. Virgin; trustees, O. A. Boynton, Wm. Grindell, F. Frederick, Thomas Render, Noah Hutchens, John Kemler. 1858-President, Samuel Mitchell ; trustees, Leonard Coates, Joel Potter, Jacob Cramer, B. F. Chase, W. V. Murphy, James Kelly.
1859-President, O. A. Boynton; trustees, Samuel Block, William Grindell, J. C. Wright, Jacob Cramer, John Smelker, Samuel Nasmith. 1860-President, Nelson Dewey ; trustees, Samuel Block, George S. Hammond, Samuel Nasmith, Henry Spink, Joel Potter, Henry Miller. 1861-President, Nelson Dewey ; trustees, Samuel Nasmith, John H. Rountree, Joel Potter, W. G. Babcock, Jacob Cramer, F. Frederick.
1862-President, John H. Rountree; trustees, Joel Potter, W. G. Babcock, Engel Vanderbie, Samuel Block, N. Stark, Leonard Coates.
1863-President, Noah Hutchens; trustees, J. F. Kirkpatrick, Wil- liam Grindell, Henry C. Miller, Leonard Coates, Engel Vanderbie, L. L. Goodell.
1864-President, John H. Rountree; trustees, Leonard Coates, Joel Potter, Charles G. Marshall, William Grindell, Engel Vanderbie, Nich- olas Stark.
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1865-President, S. O. Paine; trustees, Noah Hutchens, Engel Van- derbie, Richard Straw, Nicholas Stark, W. Parnell, L. M. Devendorf. 1866-President, S. O. Paine; trustees, Noah Hutchens, Engel Van- derbie, Joel Potter, James V. Hollman, Richard Straw, Henry Hoyt. 1867-President, John H. Rountree; trustees, J. W. Hollman, Con- rad Ketler, Jacob B. Penn, J. W. Smelker, Alexander Butler, H. Spink. 1868-President. Engel Vanderbie; trustees, Noah Hutchens, Jos. Meinhardt, John Kemler, Richard Straw, Michael Stephens, S. Block. 1869-President, Engel Vanderbie; trustees, L. M. Devendorf, Joel Potter, F. R. Chase, Richard Straw, Conrad Ketler, Joseph Meinhardt. 1870-President-J. H. Evans; trustees, F. R. Chase, Curtis Barker. John Huntington, Joseph Meinhardt, Conrad Ketler, Jacob B. Penn. 1871-President, Jacob B. Penn; trustees, A. W. Bell, John Hunt- ington, C. Weitenhiller, Thomas Jenkins, Samuel Block, John Kemler. 1872-President, Noah H. Virgin; trustees, Conrad Ketler, John Kemler, L. J. Washburn, Thomas Jenkins, E. Bayley, Richard Straw. 1873-President, Noah H. Virgin; trustees, John Kemler, Conrad Ketler, Thomas Jenkins, L. J. Washburn, Jacob B. Penn, Richard Straw. 1874-President, Noah H. Virgin; trustees, Thomas Jenkins, Noah Hutchens, Conrad Ketler, Carston Hinners, J. B. Penn, Richard Straw. 1875-President, Noah H. Virgin; trustees, Thomas Jenkins, Jacob B. Penn, C. Hinners, Conrad Ketler, Richard Straw, Noah Hutchens. 1876-President, W. H. Beebe; trustees, E. R. Friedrich, Henry Sanford, Wm. F. Goke, O. F. Griswold, A. S. Sampson, T. Shepherd. 1877-President, L. M. Devendorf; trustees, John Kemler, O. F. Griswold, T. Jenkins, H. C. Sanford, Wm. F. Goke, E. R. Friedrich. 1878-President, George Beck ; trustees, L. J. Washburn, Richard Straw, George Dyson, J. P. Sampson, E. F. Nehls, F M. Draper. Treasurers .- Robert Chapman, 1845-47; Isaac Hodges, 1848-51; Samuel Moore, 1852; Leonard Coates, 1853; H. A. Chase, 1856; Wil- liam Butler, 1857; E. W. Covill, 1858; J. F. Kirkpatrick, 1859; Samuel Block, 1860.
Clerks .- J. L. Marsh, 1845-47; J. C. Eastman, 1848; Wm. Zenor, 1849; R. Hodgson, 1850; Thomas Eastman, 1851; J. W. Vanorman, 1852-53; B. F. Wyne, 1854; James Durley, 1855; B. F. Wyne, 1856-62.
Collectors .- A. C. Inman, 1848; R. Hodgson, 1849; A. C. Inman, 1850; T. R. Chesebro. 1853; R. W. Stevenson, 1854; H. Bell, 1855; H. A. Chase. 1856-57: E. W. Covill, 1858; J. F. Kirkpatrick, 1859; Samuel Block, 1860.
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Assessors .- A. M. Holliday, 1848-49; A. C. Inman, 1850; J. C. Campbell, William V. Murphy, Abel Connor, 1851; S. F. Cleveland, John Bayley, Isaac Richards, 1852; I. S. Clark, O. A. Boynton, W. D. Mitchell, 1853; C. T. Overton, 1854; H. Bell, 1855; George W. Henry, 1856-57; W.m. H. Howard, 1858; B. F. Wyne, 1859-60.
Marshals .- A. C. Inman, 1846-47; John Grindell, 1848; no record from 1849 to 1854, inclusive; Manville Comstock, 1855; H. A. Chase, 1856; William Butler, 1857; E. W. Coville, 1858; P. D. Hendershot, 1859; A. K. Young, 1860.
The city of Platteville was incorporated March 4, 1880. Follow- ing is the roster of officers:
CITY OFFICERS.
Mayors .- 1880-81-Henry J. Traber; 1882-Thomas Jenkins; 1883-86-W. H. Beebe; 1887-88-Thomas Jenkins, Jr .; 1889-90-A. Hutton; 1891-Thomas Jenkins, Jr. ; 1892-J. P. Huntington; 1893- 94-Max Sickle; 1895-D. E. Gardner; 1896-E. B. Smith; 1897- Joseph Shepherd ; 1898-W. F. Grindell'; 1899-J. H. Cabanis; 1900- R. S. Heer.
Council .- 1880-81-George R. Laughton, G. W. Eastman, Thomas Jenkins, William Meyers, N. Bevens, Fred Leibert; 1882-83-George R. Laughton, William Meyers, Frank B. Atwood, Fred Leibert, N. Bevans, H. H. Virgin; 1884-George R. Laughton, William Meyer, Frank B. Atwood, Fred Leibert, Charles Scheel, Jacob S. Block; 1885 -J. H. Evans, Henry Scheel, Samuel M. Jones, F. B. Atwood, William Meyer, H. L. Thomas; 1886-William Meyer, Henry Scheel, J. H. Evans, Samuel M. Jones, Eibe Reige, Hudson Thomas; 1887-Samuel M. Jones, John Grindell, Jr., Charles Scheel, Eibe Reige, James Oettiker, A. J. Hutton; 1888-Eibe Reige, Jacob Karrman, J. B. McCoy, A. J. Hutton, C. Kettler, W. H. Beebe; 1889-Eibe Reige, Samuel M. Jones, Jacob Karrman, John Fawcett, Wesley Grindell, H. C. Doscher; 1890- W. F. Grindell, C. Kettler, H. P. Rundell; Eibe Reige, Jacob Karrman, Fred Leibert; 1891-E. Barnes, C. Horstman. S. M. Jones, Augustus Kettler, J. P. Rundell, E. Tantz; 1892-E. B. Barnes, Augustus Ket- tler, C. Horstman, Henry Pitts, John R. Spear, J. R. Burgmann ; 1893 -W. F. Grindell, H. C. Doscher, William Meyer, Sr., Augustus Kettler, Henry Martins, Henry Pitts; 1894-Robert C. Bennett, J. E. Fawcett, W. F. Grindell, C. Horstman, Eibe Reige, Adolph Weise; 1895-Hiram Gilmore, Elliott B. Smith, John Grindell, Sr., August Kettler, William Meyer, Sr., M. T. Camp; 1896-William Meyer, Sr., John Grindell,
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Augustus Kettler, M. T. Camp, Fred Leibert, Hiram Gilmore; 1897- Jacob Karrman, J. V. Gardner, Augutus Kettler, M. T. Camp, Clinton Dewitt, Henry Kleinhammer; 1898-J. V. Gardner, Jacob Karrman, C. B. Barnes, Henry Kleinhammer, Robert Wilkinson, Clinton Dewitt; 1899-J. V. Gardner, Wm. Place, D. E. Gardner, August Kettler, Henry Kleinhammer, R. S. Heer; James Harcleroad, Henry Kleinhammer, F: S. Knapp, John D. Plapp, Charles Weitenhiller, R. W. Wilkinson.
Clerk and Police Justice .- 1880-81-W. R. Laughton; 1882-Den- nis J. Gardner; 1883-84-H. H. Rountree; 1885-86-A. L. Brown; 1887-89-W. H. Peck; 1890-91, A. L. Brown; 1892-1900-A. W. Hastings.
For supervisors of village and city see roster of Board of Super- visors of the County.
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CHAPTER IV.
PLATTEVILLE, SPECIAL HISTORY.
Railroads-Banks-Educational-Newspapers-The Powder Mills- Other Manufactories-Churches-Secret Societies-The Mail -The Fire Department-Platteville Agricultural Society.
RAILROADS.
In 1860 there was strong agitation for a railroad from Platteville to Calamine, and a survey was made in the fall of that year, but the war coming on, the project languished. However, the railroad com- pany was incorporated March 15, 1861, with M. M. Cothren, D. W. Jones, Hanmer Robbins, E. Bayley, Samuel Moore, John H. Rountree, N. H. Virgin, Nelson Dewey, and others as incorporators, and a cap- ital stock of $500,000. In 1863, the charter was amended to allow the construction of the road from Monroe to the Mississippi River, and in that year some of the towns subscribed for some stock.
In January, 1867, Hanmer Robbins introduced a bill into the legis- lature, authorizing the citizens of Platteville, Lima, and Harrison, to vote aid to the Platteville & Calamine Railroad on condition that the cars should be running through to Platteville by September 1, 1868. In August, 1867, the people of Platteville, Elk Grove, and Kendall subscribed for $270,000 stock in the road, and grading was begun. The people of Platteville were so impatient for the railroad that they made a bee to work on the grading, and 113 of the citizens worked No- vember 19 and 20. Four of these men were more than 70 years of age and five others more than 60. Work proceeded slowly, however, and it was not until the latter part of 1867 that the track-laying began. Governor Dewey was of great assistance in building the road. He made two trips to New York at his own expense to procure money for the iron. The road was completed into Platteville July 1, 1870. For the month of November, 1870, the outgoing carloads of freight were: hogs, 20; cattle, 14; zinc ore, 16; powder, 1.
In 1871 the route was surveyed for the Galena & Southern Wis- consin Narrow Gauge Railroad from Galena to Fennimore, via Platte-
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ville. It was projected by Galena capitalists. On November 14, 1872, Platteville voted $32,000 in bonds to aid the railroad, on condition that the cars should run into the city by one year from the date of the election. The time was extended to January 1, 1875. The road was built by the the time stipulated, but in so hasty a manner that much of the track had to be relaid. The Galena Company attempted to build the road northward from Ipswich, leaving Platteville out on a spur, but the Platteville people objected, and the whole matter was tied up. Not until the Chicago & Northwestern Company bought out the Galena Company in 1879 and completed the road from Ipswich to Montfort, making it a standard gauge, did Platteville have direct connection with Milwaukee and northeastern points by that road; and after all, the city was left out on the spur.
BANKS.
In May, 1857, a bank of issue was established in Platteville with a capital of $26,000. E. P. Hinckley was president and L. McCarn cashier.
In 1866 the firm of J. Augustine & Co. (L. McCarn being the Co.), brokers, was reorganized by the substitution of Isaac Hodges for Mr. Augustine, and the new firm I. Hodges & Co., began a general bank- ing business. The firm occupied a building on Main Street since occu- pied as a store by David Wilson. This building was badly damaged by the fire of 1870, and the bank was removed to the building on the corner of Main and Third Streets, since occupied by the post-office. In the fall of that year they erected a commodious brick building on the opposite corner which they afterward occupied. In March, 1873, Mr. McCarn died, and O. S. Griswold entered the firm, but he retired January 1, 1880, leaving Mr. Hodges to continue the business alone. The business was conducted with apparent prosperity until February 8, 1884, when the bank failed. The liabilities were $164,554; the nominal assets were $235,719, but they consisted mostly of over- drafts which were practically worthless. The bank had enjoyed the entire confidence of the community and the failure created no less sur- prise than consternation. It was a decided blow to the prosperity of Platteville, and reputations as well as fortunes were damaged.
The banking firm of W. S. Northrop & Co. (George Eastman being the other partner) was formed April 1, 1880, and soon had a large business. The firm withdrew from business in August, 1884, a few months after the failure of Hodges & Co.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
The present banking business of Platteville is conducted by two companies: The First National Bank of Platteville with a paid-up capital of $50,000, George W. Eastman President, J. H. Evans Vice President, W. M. Hetherington Cashier, Clinton De Witt Assistant Cashier, Geo. W. Eastman, Thomas Jenkins, W. T. Jennings, J. H. Evans, W. M. Hetherington, C. DeWitt, A. W. Kemler, Thomas Shep- herd, Eibe Reige, E. F. Newton, Directors. The other is the Platte- ville State Bank, with a capital of $60,000, J. P. Huntington Presi- dent, Duncan McGregor Vice President, A. J. McCarn Cashier, Frank Burg, M. P. Rindlaub, Duncan McGregor, Charles Roselip, Nadab Eastman, H. C. Doscher, J. P. Huntington, B. F. Huntington, Di- rectors.
EDUCATIONAL.
As before stated, the first school in Platteville, and perhaps in the county, was taught in a log cabin in Section 16, now included in the city limits. The teacher was Samuel Huntington, who remained in the settlement and taught about two years and drifted away out of the knowledge of his Platteville patrons. It is hard to say whether he was a professional teacher and an amateur prospector, or vice versa; at any rate, his prospecting is said to have interfered with his success as a teacher.
The next school was begun in 1836 in a house on the Deffenbacher lot. It was taught by Dr. A R. T. Locey and his sister. They had about forty pupils In May, 1837, Hanmer Robbins opened a school in a log house near the present Congregational church. He had about sixty pupils. The common school branches were taught at the rate of $4.50 for a term of sixteen weeks. He taught successfully until the spring of 1839. In that year the Methodist church was built with a view of having the basement for a school-room, and it was so used. Rev. A. M. Dixon, who came to Platteville, in 1838, opened a school in the basement of the M. E. church as soon as it was completed and taught there till 1840. The attendance in 1839 was 149 pupils.
By an act approved January 21, 1842, the Platteville Academy was incorporated with the following trustees: Joseph Basye, David Kendall, John Bevans, James Durley, Henry Snowdon, William David son, Charles Dunn, William J. Madden, Benjamin Kilbourn.
The summer of that year the building for the Academy was erected. It was a two-story frame, 40X60 feet. John Myers was the
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principal builder. The school in this building was opened some time in 1843 with Prof. D. R. Carrier, A. B., as principal. School was con- tinued there until near the close of 1853, when the stone building was ready for occupancy. In the fall of 1845 Prof. George F. Magoun succeeded Prof. Carrier as principal. Meanwhile a common school was kept in the basement of the Methodist church, the teachers being Rev. Nolan, Miss Annette L. Goodell, A. L. Burke, and probably others. In 1846 the brick school-house. on Pine Street was built .! The same year or the next the brick school-house in the north district was built. Thus it will be seen that Platteville was early at the front in providing educational facilities for its youth.
The academy and the two common schools were not the only means of education in the progressive young community. Through the efforts of Major Rountree and others, kindergartens for the very small children were provided, taught by Miss Julia Bevans, Mrs H. A. Nixon, and perhaps others.
In the academy Prof. Magoun was succeeded by Prof. J. L. Pick- ard whose reputation as an educator soon became broader than the State, and the academy rooms were crowded with pupils, not from Platteville alone, but many from considerable distances. More room was needed and the trustees decided to build a large stone building On the 5th of July, 1852, the corner stone of this building was laid with appropriate ceremonies. Major Rountree was president and the address was delivered by W. R. Biddlecome, of Potosi. A box was inclosed in the stone, containing a copy of the charter of the academy, the subscription book, the names of the trustees and build- ing committee, a history of the academy, a copy of the Independent American, and a map of Wisconsin. Work on the building was prose- cuted that year as long as the weather permitted, but it was not com- pleted till late in the fall of 1853. In this building was housed the Platteville Academy as long as it existed as such.|Under the princi- palship of Profs. Pickard, A. K. Johnson and George M. Guernsey, it obtained a high reputation throughout the State.
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The constitution of the State adopted in 1848 provided for the support by the State of Normal Schools, primarily for the purpose of training teachers for the common schools. The Regents of the State University established a Normal department in 1849, but for lack of funds no Normal Schools were established. In 1857 Hon.
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J. Allen Barber introduced a bill in the State Senate to create and establish a literature fund from the proceeds of the sale of swamp lands. At the same session a bill was introduced into the Assembly to establish a Normal School and Teachers' Institute. A special com- mittee reported a substitute providing that "the income of twenty- five per cent. of the proceeds arising from the sale of swamp and overflowed lands shall be appropriated to Normal Institutes and Academies, under the supervision and direction of a Board of Regents of Normal Schools appointed in pursuance of a provision of that act." The act passed. In 1865 the Normal School Fund was further increased by giving it one-half the proceeds of the swamp land sales. The trustees of the Platteville Academy decided, at a meeting held in July, 1865, to offer the academy building to the State as a Normal School building for $25,000, the State to assume the $4,000 debt of the corporation. On the 19th and 26th of August meeting of the citizens of Platteville were held to determine what inducements the town would offer for the location of the Normal there. At the second meeting the trustees were authorized to offer the academy building for a Normal School at a fixed price, the citizens of Platteville assuming all liabilities except the amount due the State. On the 29th of August a resolution was adopted for the levy of a tax to pay the debt of the academy. In September, 1865, the Board of Normal Regents appointed a committee to visit and examine the various sites pro- posed for the Normal School. This committee came to Platteville November 19, and met the citizens in the hall of the academy. Hon. Hanmer Robbins presided over the meeting. The subject was dis- cussed but nothing decided upon. On February 23, 1866, a public meeting was held in Platteville, presided over by G. K. Shaw, and a resolution was adopted, petitioning the legislature to direct the town clerk to insert on the town tax-roll a sum sufficient to pay the debts of the academy and leave a surplus of $5,000 to be appropriated by the Board of Regents of Normal Schools for building purposes. On the 28th of February the Board of Regents decided to locate one of the two Normal Schools of the State at Platteville. The transfer of the necessary titles was made May 2, and the building committee was instructed to proceed with the necessary improvements.
The first session of the Normal School was opened October 9, 1866, with appropriate exercises. There was a large attendance of the citi- zens of Platteville and the surrounding country. The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. P. E. Mather. Then followed remarks by
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the Principal, Prof. C. H. Allen, and an able address by Prof. J. L. Pickard. At the close of the address an elegant silver service, consist- ing of a coffee urn, caster, and cake basket, was presented to Hon. Hanmer Robbins, as a testimonial by the citizens of Platteville for his untiring and finally successful efforts to have the Normal located there. The presentation address was made by W. E. Carter. The gift was received with appropriate remarks by Mr. Robbins. The exercise con- cluded with a reunion supper to the old students of the academy.
The faculty of the School consisted of Prof. C. H. Allen, Principal; Prof. Jacob Wernli, assistant; Prof. George M. Guernsey, Professor of Mathematics; Fanny F. Joslyn, Instructor in History, Geography and Physiology ; Esther M. Sprague, Principal of the Model Department.
During this term there were 60 pupils in the Normal Department, and 38 in the Model School. The next year there was an attendance of 219 besides the Model School.
In 1867 the building of a new wing was begun to accomodate the large attendance. This wing was finished in 1868, at a cost of $20,000. The dedication took place September 10, 1868, the address heing de- livered by State Superintendent Craig. Speeches were made by Mayor Rountree, Hanmer Robbins, J. C. Cover, Prof. Allen, and Revs. Pond and Parmelee. General Grant was also present and made a few remarks.
The completed buildings consisted of the main building three stories in hight, 70X40 feet, and the wing 40X60 and two stories high, connected with the main building by a corridor 32×40. The building material is blue limestone. In 1863, a two-story addition 20X40, also of limestone, was built to occupy the west front of the corridor. It cost $2,000. In 1881 an addition to the Main Street front was completed at a cost of $20,000.
The course of the Normal is designed to train teachers for the com- mon schools. It consists of a review of the branches taught in com- mon schools; with lectures upon, the best methods of teaching these branches; upon the organization, classification and government of common schools; and upon school law. There is an advanced course to fit teachers for the higher departments of graded schools.
The first class was graduated in June, 1869, and consisted of Mel- vin Grigsby, Andrew J. Hutton, Edward H. Sprague, Louis Funk, Richard H. Jones, James Roit, Ella Marshall, and Alvena E. Schroeder.
In July, 1870, Prof. Edwin A. Charlton succeeded Professor Allen
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as Principal and Mrs. Charlton became assistant. In 1874 the Board provided that the time of the elementary course should be two years, and the advanced course four years.
The Normal gives free tuition to students from all parts of the State. Each assembly district is entitled to eight students, and in case vacancies exist in the representation from any district, the vacancy may be filled by the President of the Board of Regents. The candi- date for admission is nominated by the County or City Superintend- ent, must be of sound health and good moral character, and pass a satisfactory examination in the branches required by law for a third- grade certificate. Upon the completion of the course the student re- ceives a diploma which entitles him or her to teach. The school year is divided into three terms of sixteen weeks each, beginning on the first Tuesday of September, the first Tuesday of January, and the second Tuesday of April. The total enrollment of 1897-98 was 658, of which 403 were in the Normal course. The total number of graduates up to 1898 was 134 in the elementary course and 535 in the advanced class. The number of graduates for the class of 1897-98 was 21 in the elementary course and 56 in the advanced course.
The Platteville Normal School enjoys a high reputation and is ac- knowledged as a most valuable aid in placing Wisconsin in its high educational rank.
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