USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 33
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TOWNSHIP TREASURERS.
W. L. Ackley, 1870; Edson Lloyd, 1879-81; John Kennedy, 1881; Z. Space, 1882-83; John Hafner, 1883-85; Thomas Hafner, 1885-87; Charles Nelson, 1888-93; Henry Higgins, 1893-95; Frank Metcalf, 1895-96; James Maloney, 1896-97; Joseph Stengl, 1898-99; James Boyle, 1900-01; James Maloney, 1901- 05; Joseph Schumitsch, 1905-12; M. B. Emmerich, 1912-13; Art Goodman, 1913-14; John Mauer, 1914-23.
TOWNSHIP ASSESSORS.
W. J. Hampton, 1879-80; John S. Nelson, 1880-82; W. L. Ackley, 1882-83; Patrick Durick, 1884-85; W. W. West, 1885-86; John S. Nelson, 1886-87; George Schaefer, 1887-90; Frank Metcalf, 1892-96; George Stengl, 1896-97; Frank Metcalf, 1897-98; H. J. Richey, 1898-99; Michael Kennedy, 1899-1900; Henry Higgins, 1900-01; J. G. Koudelka, 1901-02; H. J. Richey, 1903- 04; Ed Boyle, 1904-05; P. E. Higgins, 1905-07; H. J. Richey, 1907-08; James Boyle, 1908-09; P. F. Higgins, 1909-10; G. M. Brandow, 1910-12; Joseph Stengl, 1912-13; Joseph Schumitsch, Jr., 1913-14; John Fronek, 1914-23.
TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS.
John S. Nelson, Joseph Parfitt, 1879-80; J. S. Hughes, Joseph Parfitt, 1880-81; Joseph Parfitt, August
Wolfgram, 1881-82; Charles Holey, August Ludwig, 1882-83; George Stengl, Peter Beck, 1883-84; Rich- ard Tracey, James Ozetta, 1884-85; S. L. Brown, John Bahr, 1885-86; John Beardsley and John Bahr, 1886- 87; W. L. Ackley, Alfred Brandow, 1888-89; W. L. Ackley, Matt Wachal, Sr., 1889-90; George Hoffman, J. Siota, 1890-91; H. J. Richey, J. Siota, 1892-95; H. J. Richey, Matt Wachal, Sr., 1896-97; Rudolph Yon- kee, M. Wachal, 1897-98; James Pasel, Ira Berdan, 1898-99; Dan O'Brien, James Pasel, 1899-1900; Charles Vorass, John Bahr, 1900-01; Charles Vorass, Joseph Breck, 1901-02; James Pasel, Peter Higgins, 1902-03; John Kubeny, Joseph Schumitsch, 1903-04; John Kubeny, James Boyle, 1904-05; Matt Hermann, John O'Brien, 1905-06; F. G. Kubeny, Rudolph Yon- kee, 1906-07; F. G. Kubeny, John O'Brien, 1907-08; John O'Brien, Joseph Stengl, 1908-09; John O'Brien, Matt Fuchs, 1909-10; Joseph Stengle, John Fronek, 1910-11; John Fronek, Matt Fuchs, 1911-13; Peter Hig- gins, Matt Fuchs, 1913-14; J. A. Barker, Matt Fuchs, 1914-15; John O'Brien, James Aird, 1915-17; John Duchac, H. J. Richey, 1917-18; John Duchac, William Higgins, 1918-22; John Duchac, George Eckart, 1922- 23.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
John Kennedy, John Beardsley, Y. Space, 1879-80; A. S. Wescott, L. O. Shaw, 1880-81; J. R. Balsh, H. C. Shipley, W. L. Ackley, 1881-82; A. S. Wescott, W. Hayes, M. A. Wooledge, 1882-83; H. C. Shipley, Wil- liam Stone, 1883-84; W. W. Stone, E. Koepenick, 1884-85; M. E. Bessy, R. Rice, 1885-87; A. S. Wescott, J. L. Cook, 1885-86; W. L. Ackley, H. C. Shipley, 1886-88; B. F. Loose, E. F. Russell, 1887-88; H. J. Bristol, 1889-90; E. T. Russell, H. J. Bristol, 1890-91; A. Bovee, E. D. Richey, 1890-92; John Bahr, 1890-91; M. M. Ross, 1888-89; William Laehn, Peter Higgins, H. J. Richey, Joseph Siota, 1896-97; J. Bahr, P. Dean, John Galuski, Joseph Figal, 1898-99; Joseph Bretle, F. Gezezepski, 1900-01; Thomas Woodcock, Matt Her- mann, 1901-02; John Galuska, Matt Herman, Matt Fuchs, 1903-04; J. Barnhart, C. W. Bruce, Matt Fuchs, 1904-05; Tom White, Joseph Stengl, Frank Voss, 1905- 06; Herb Richey, Oscar Nelson, 1907-08; John Bahr, John Fronek, Andrew Woodcock, 1908-09; Joseph Garadphe, W. Myer, Joseph Zima, 1909-10; James Boyle, John Wachal, Frank Kubeny, 1910-11; M. B. Emmerich, William Higgins, Theodore Buss, 1911-12; John Steber, Art Goodman, 1912-13; B. C. Goodman, John O'Brien, 1913-14; John Duchac, Ernest Joss, 1914-15; John Bostwick, John Cornelius, 1915-16; D. C. Woodcock, Karel Hulka, 1916-18; Peter Higgins, Jr., James Scheffel, 1918-19; Karel Hulka, J. C. Wood- cock, Anton Herman, 1919-20; Chester Nelson, 1920- 22; Frank Sheriff, 1920-21; John Mettler, 1920-23; Stephen Feigel, Karel Hulka, 1922-23.
TOWNSHIP CONSTABLES.
Peter Day, Jeremiah De Moss, Peter Beck, 1879- 80; Jeremiah De Moss, Elisah Johnson, Thomas Haf- ner, 1880-81; J. McGahn, J. De Moss, G. Bessy, 1881-
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
82; Mose Hawley, H. Harder, H. O. Johnson, 1882- 83; H. O. Johnson, Martin Maloney, J. De Moss, 1883- 84; W. L. Ackley, E. Hagadone, George Schaffer, 1884-85; William Holland, Dan Graham, Charles Bea- dleston, 1885-86; Martin Maloney, John Kennedy, Wil- liam Reader, 1886-87; Frank Metcalf, M. Duda, Ed- ward Richey, 1887-88; H. Richey, Thomas Woolett, George Brandow, 1888-89; John Stengl, Andrew Zolli- ber, J. Mark, 1889-90; Henry Higgins, Joseph Kenne- dy, James Vilt, 1890-91; J. Boyle, J. Stengl, C. Voss, 1896-97; F. P. Kennedy, James Siota, F. Metcalf, F. Marek, 1898-99; J. Pasl, J. Banzyck, M. Siota, 1900- 01; Anton Herman, Louis Boxleitner, 1901-02; G. Stengl, James Aird, Jr., J. Wise, 1903-04; Herbert Steann, L. Crooks, 1904-05; Frank Jeropke, John Fron- ek, Bert Goodman, 1905-06; John and Joseph Stengl, 1907-08; J. Boyle, J. Cornelius, O. Nelson, 1908-09; W. Higgins, L. Adams, 1909-10; L. Crooks, J. Wach- al, James Fronek, 1910-11; L. Crooks, A. Goodman, G. Adams, 1911-12; William Klaves, J. A. Barker, L. Crooks, 1912-13; H. Harm, L. Dunke, 1913-14; Joseph Marsch, James Barker, 1914-15; D. Woodcock, J. Mettler, F. Weipinger, 1915-16; P. Galuska, H. Cor- nelius, Joseph Hell, 1916-17; B. C. Goodman, James Maley, 1917-18; E. Maltby, E. Joss, 1918-19; J. Mett- ler, P. Higgins, 1919-20; J. Bonzyck, J. Mettler, J. Maresch, 1921-23.
DISTRICT NO. 1.
CLOVERVALLEY DISTRICT. This district is one of the oldest settlements in Langlade County. It is also one of the smallest, containing sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, all of Township 31, Range 10 East in East Ackley congressional township.
The district system of school government was adopt- ed in Ackley township by a vote of 64 to 56 on April 6, 1886. Thus district No. 1 was created. It should be understood, however, that schools were opened in this territory six years previous.
District No. 1 originally consisted of all of sec- tions 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 in both townships 31, Ranges 9 and 10 East, and also sections 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30 in Township 31, Range 9 East. Orig- inally a district containing 12,800 acres it has, by de- taching, recreation of districts and organization of joint districts, dwindled down to but 3,840 acres.
In the year 1880, before the railroad pierced into the county, Matt Duda, Frank Wilson, Joseph Stengl, James Sisel, Alfred Brandow, B. Wooledge, Sr., and son, James Witt, Matt Wachal, Sr., John Stengl, James Brick, W. W. Stone, Charles G. Koudelka, and George Brandow settled on cheap land or staked homesteads in this territory.
Upon their little domains rude log cabins were erect- ed. Necessities of life were considered luxuries by the hardy inhabitants. Wausau was the trading post and one settler would follow the Indian trails on the Eau Claire river banks or an old road cut out by river drivers to that city for provisions. He would haul back to the sparsely settled region such provisions as flour, corn meal, meats, clothing, and garden seeds
and grain for the pioneers. The journey, tedious, would take two to three days as oxen were used and they do not compare well with the motor car of today or the fast twentieth century locomotive. Yet in a time like that the settlers were content with what they possessed. The adjacent world was not more fortunate.
In the year 1884 a school was erected. Miss Mary Kiefer and Miss Brandow were very early teachers. The school was a typical pioneer institution of learn- ing. A small stove, a few black boards, and rough floors and benches were used. Text books were not uniform. Teachers' salaries then averaged $25 per month.
The settlers welcomed new families into the dis- trict and before long an addition was made on the little school. The same school is in use by the dis- trict yet. It is located on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 35.
The district has splendid roads and rural free de- livery since 1904 keeps the agriculturist in touch with events of the state, nation and world. He may re- ceive election returns without leaving his plow or may order his supplies from Antigo, county seat, without leaving his comfortable farm home. The Stenglville and Eau Claire river telephone services are at his command.
The residents are progressive. Pure bred cattle are encouraged, scientific farming and modern dairy- ing methods are practiced and fostered.
Lumbering was an important industry in pioneer days. The logs were hauled to the banks of the Eau Claire river and driven to Schofield, village near Wau- sau, Wis.
The first school officers were: Lloyd Breck, Direc- tor; John Stengl, Treasurer; and B. H. Wooledge, Clerk.
DISTRICT NO. 2.
FERNDALE DISTRICT. District No. 2 is located in the southern part of East Ackley township No. 31, Range 10 East. It originally consisted of 20 sections, as follows: Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, Township 31, Range 10 East, and all of sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 in Township 31, Range 9 East.
While the education of the youth was adequately provided for, considering the perplexities confronting the early settlers, the district was not organized until April 28, 1886. Schools were erected before then in many instances.
When the first settlers in Ferndale district arrived they found the country a desolate wilderness. Roam- ing bands of Indians, chiefly of the Chippewa and Menominee tribes, hunted in the forests and fished in the Eau Claire river. Their main Indian trail was along the Eau Claire river banks and went north and eastward toward Oconto County territory, and the old Lake Superior Trail. It was this trail that many set- tlers used to haul or "man pack" supplies to the set- tlement from Wausau. Settlers in other districts had
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
the same experience. Some early settlers were M. Hermann, A. Hermann, J. Stengl, M. Orado, L. Legro, and H. Holley.
It was during the early settlement of the district that the Indians intermingled with the white settlers. The custom among the first white settlers was to take Indian maidens as their brides. They erected a little cabin, usualy under the boughs of a giant pine tree, hunted wild game, se- cured provisions, worked on the river drives, trapped in the winter months, fished in the Eau Claire river and cultivated little garden patches while the dusky maiden reigned over the household affairs. Hospitality to no higher degree was ever ex- hibited than by the "squaw man" and his wife. Many of the pioneer settlers were taught by the Indians how to operate a light canoe down the Eau Claire river to Schofield, Wis.
The first school erected in the district was a rough frame structure in 1886. It was located on section 35. Miss Susan Watson was the first teacher. A Mr. Wes- cott was a member of the first school board.
The old school was moved from its original loca- tion to the northwest Quarter of the southeast quarter of section 26, East Ackley township on land owned by John Bahr, Sr., pioneer settler. The wooden structure served until the settlers decided to construct a new school of brick. The old one was moved off the site by D. C. Woodcock, who purchased it after the erec- tion of a modern school years later.
The 1922-23 school board consists of John Bahr, Jr., Treasurer; G. C. Woodcock, Director; and Steven Fei- gel, Clerk.
There are about twenty farmers residing in the dis- trict. It has a cheese factory, erected in 1917 by J. Grunderman, who since sold to E. Haase. The fac- tory is located on section 26, near the school house. It is now operated by Michael F. Helmbrecht.
The soft drink parlor of Jess Hawkins is located on the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 26.
Highway 64 runs through this district. All other roads are well maintained.
Agriculturing and dairying are the principal occu- pations of the residents. Excellent lighting systems, well kept barns, silos, farm machinery, neat residences, substantial out buildings, farm tractors, rural tele- phones, a rural mail system-all these are splendid features of the district.
The town hall of Ackley township is located in this district on section 23.
EAU CLAIRE GRANGE NO 647.
The Eau Claire Grange No. 647, Patrons of Hus- bandry, was organized April 27, 1917. Meetings are held every second and fourth Friday at the township hall, Section 23. The first Master of the grange was Frank Sheriff. Other original officers were: Over- seer, William Heschke; Secretary, John Mauer; Treasurer, John Somer; Lecturer, Mrs. John Somer; Steward, Charles Hoerman; Chaplain, Mrs. Otto Kles- sig; Gatekeeper, Earl Klessig; Ceres, Mrs. Charles
Motts; Pomona, Mrs. Beno Hoerman; Flora, Ther- esa Raff; Assistant Steward, Ivan Somer; Lady As- sistant Steward, Mary Hoerman; Board of Trustees, John Mettler, Joseph Hell, Charles Motts.
Present officers are: Master, John Bahr; Overseer, Frank Sheriff; Lecturer, Mrs. John Somer; Secretary, John Somer; Treasurer, John Csuy; Steward, Mrs. An- ton Zaverousky; Chaplain, Mrs. D. C. Woodcock; Gatekeeper, Anton Zima; Lady Assistant Steward, Mrs. John Bahr; Assistant Steward, Mrs. Anton Za- verousky. The membership is nearly twenty.
ACKLEY TOWN HALL.
Ackley township, progressive and alert, has a splen- did town hall on section 23 of East Ackley township. The hall was erected at an approximate cost of $1,500. It has one acre of ground neatly fenced in. The hall was erected in 1917.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
LONGFELLOW DISTRICT. In the northeastern part of East Ackley is an area of land containing sev- en and one-half sections or 4,800 acres. This portion of Langlade County, lying northwest of Antigo, is known as District No. 3, since designated as the Longfellow district, in honor of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, distinguished American poet.
The first settlers braved the perils of a desolate wil- derness infested with Indians as early as 1877. Those who were first to settle here were John Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, Frank P. Kennedy, Charles Nelson, G. Hoglander, John Nelson, John McGahn, Emanuel McGahn, Thomas Hafner, John Hafner, Michael Haf- ner, Albert Berdan, the O'Brien family, S. Goodwin, and J. Jilik. Following the first vanguard came Peter Higgins, Sr., his son, Peter Higgins, Jr., Henry Hig- gins, Joseph Singer, Martin Maloney, and others.
Many of the first settlers came from Wausau, Stev- ensville, Outagamie County, and other nearby cities. The first came from Wausau with yokes of oxen. The journey was a long one and many of the early home- steaders and land purchasers spent days on the jour- ney. Their family belongings were carted by the same oxen.
Log shacks were hastily erected. Their scooped roofs furnished a picturesque contrast to those frame buildings first erected in the district by Michael Ken- nedy, who imported the lumber from Wausau. The Martin Maloney and John Nelson homes were second and third frame residences in the district.
Sustenance was provided by the excellent soil and work in the pine timber belt. The Brooks & Ross Company, Wausau, and other pioneer lumber inter- ests, cut pine in the region. Many of the settlers took an active part in this industry during its high tide.
Education of the children was provided for before the expiration of the first year. In 1878 a log school house was erected just a little to the east of the pres- ent school site. This school was not a step in advance of the schools such as Abraham Lincoln or Daniel Webster attended. The first teachers were very con- scientious and industrious, as are most of those of to-
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
day. The first teacher, Michael Hafner, still lives in Langlade County. In 1922 he returned to the dis- trict to visit some of the remaining pioneers. Other early teachers were Carrie and Marian Finucane, Lizzie Young, Mrs. Margaret Hughes, Harry Logan, now a preacher at Appleton, Wis., and Margaret Kav- anaugh. The Kennedy, Nelson, and Hoglander chil- dren were the first pupils.
Two years later, 1880, the first frame school was erected on the present school site. It was used until 1910. Its cost was $500, but additions and better- ments since have entailed $500 expenses. The mo- dern brick structure was erected in 1910 by August Stabe, Antigo contractor, at a cost of $1,800. It is located in the northwest quarter of the southeast quar- ter of section 11.
John Hruska erected the first cheese factory seven- teen years ago. It was operated successfully by Ernest Jaess and Joseph Maresch until the fall of 1921 when it burned. On the same location, section 11 (NW14), the American Produce Company, a corporation in which Ackley farmers are principal stockholders, opened a new cheese factory May 22, 1922. The first factory was called the Kennedyville factory.
Members of the original school board of this dis- trict were Frank P. Kennedy, Clerk; John Kennedy, Director, and John Nelson, Treasurer. Agnes Kennedy was the district teacher in 1921-22, while the school officers for that term were Peter Higgins, Jr., Treasur- er; Fred Swenson, Clerk, and John Fronek, Director.
The Indians, Chippewa, chiefly, had many favorite camping and fishing locations in the district. They were not very industrious, but were kind to the first settlers. Often these red folk entered homes for food or clothing.
District No. 3 originally consisted of fifteen and one- half sections, East Ackley township. The sections were 1, 2, 3, one-half of section 4, all of sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 9,940 acres. This is twice the present area of the district. Organ- ization took place April 6, 1886. The district now comprises 5,440 acres of land in sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and the south half of section 1, Town- ship 31, Range 10 East.
EAST ACKLEY GRANGE NO. 593.
East Ackley Grange, No. 593, is located in this dis- trict. The grange was organized August 22, 1912, at the Longfellow school. The first officers were: Mas- ter, M. B. Emmerich; Overseer, John Fronek; Lectur- er, Clara Emmerich; Steward, Chester Nelson; Assist- ant Steward, James Barker, Jr .; Chaplain, Anna Good- man; Treasurer, R. Krall; Secretary, A. F. Goodman; Gatekeeper, Joseph Maresh, Jr .; Ceres, Florence Haf- ner; Flora, Rose Hafner; Pomona, Mamie Maloney; Lady Assistant Steward, Helen Hayner. Present of- ficers are : Master, A. F. Goodman; Overseer, James Barker; Lecturer, Rudolph Shaser; Steward, Joseph Jilek, Jr .; Assistant Steward, Louis Domke; Lady As- sistant Steward, Anna Jilek; Chaplain, Clara Swenson ; Gatekeeper, Harry Fronek; Treasurer, Fred Swenson;
Secretary, Ralph Krall; Ceres, Emma Singer; Flora, Elma Domke; Pomona, Anna Goodman.
The East Ackley hall was erected in the fall of 1914. The building was not actually completed, how- ever, until the spring of 1915. Its cost was $1,500. Eighty enthusiastic grangers are on the membership roll.
District No. 3, pioneer district, faced the storms of reaction, lumber and agricultural reverses for a quar- ter century with calmness and high hope. Its fu- ture will be an important march of progress in Lang- lade County.
DISTRICT NO. 5
EAU CLAIRE DISTRICT. This district is located in the west central part of Ackley township, and lies almost wholly within Township 31, Range 9 East. In consists of all of sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and the south halves of sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 of Town- ship 31, Range 9 East, all of sections 16, 17, 19, the south one-half of section 18, the north three-quarters of section 21, the west one-half of section 22, the north- east one-fourth of section 22, the northwest one-fourth of the southeast one-fourth of section 22, all in Town- ship 31, Range 10 East.
District No. 5, organized April 6, 1886, originally consisted of all territory beginning at the northeast corner of section 7, Township 32, Range 10 East, thence running south to the southeast corner of sec- tion 12, then west to the southwest corner of section 10, Township 32, Range 9 East, thence north to the northwest corner of section 3, thence east to the place of beginning. It will be observed that this territory is not within the present Ackley township limits, but is in the northeastern part of Peck township.
The territory now known as Eau Claire district was within the original limits of districts 2, 3 and 6.
J. Schaeffer, John Galuski, Anton Smith, Albert Reg- gotki, Albert Preboski, and Charles Ackley were pio- neer settlers. Ted Bera and John Borcyzk were also early settlers, but later than the first.
The district was one of the principal pine belts in western Langlade County and logging and lumbering were the chief industries until the cut over lands were cleared and cultivated. The Brooks & Ross Company, W. L. Ackley, Boyington, and others logged and cut pine in this territory in a very early day.
The farm home of Albert Reggotski was the location of the first school, which was taught by Phillip Aird, who became an Ackley township official later.
Some of the pioneer Ackley township roads were constructed in this district, the old beds of which are still visible. Indian trails abounded and many set- tlers used them to get from cabin to cabin.
The original farm dwellings were nothing but log shacks, just as were those of the other districts.
Early bridges were constructed of logs, sod, and stones. The most historic is the old Galuski bridge, which collapsed under a load in 1887.
The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company built a spur track into this territory to haul lumber
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
products, logs, and to serve the village of Heinemann generally in 1901. The track runs through sections 23 and 24 in this district.
Mention has been made of the first school. The second was soon after erected near the Prasalowicz place, section 21, on the banks of the Eau Claire (East Branch) river. The present school was erected in 1910. It is a brick structure with cost $1,800.
There are approximately thirty-five settlers in the district which is named Eau Claire because of the two branches of that river joining nearby.
A vast portion of this district is not inhabited. High- way No. 64 traverses it on a direct west course to the Lincoln County line.
The present school is located on the northwest one- fourth of the northeast one-fourth of section 21.
DISTRICT NO. 6.
MARSH DISTRICT. District No. 6, situated in the northern part of Ackley, principally range 9 east, is the largest school area in Ackley township. It com- prises 12,000 acres, or all that territory within sec- tions 1 to 12 inclusive in Township 31, Range 9 East, the north one-half of sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 in Range 9 East, the north one-half of section 18, Range 10 East, also sections 6, 7, 8 in Township 31, Range 10 East, and the southwest one-fourth of section 5, Range 10 East.
District No. 6 was organized April 6, 1886, when the school system was changed from the township meth- od to the district method. It then consisted of all of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 in Township 31, Range 9 East, the west one-half of sec- tion 4, and also sections 5 and 6 in Township 31, Range 10 East, also more territory now in Peck town- ship which was sparsely settled.
The first settlers were William Taylor and Thomas Woolets. William Taylor came into this district in 1877. His entire fortune consisted of a team, two calves, a hundred pound sack of flour and a few cop- pers in his pocket. It was necessary for him to drive through much swampy land to reach his small hold- ing. He erected a log cabin, made his own shingles, hewed his logs and cultivated a patch of land to the rear of his cabin located on section 6, Township 31, Range 10 East. Other settlers later, but early, were Thomas Longworth and J. Finney.
Very few settlers moved into this district because of the marshy territory, poor drainage and inaccessi- bility to trading posts. Even water was hard to ob- tain by the first settlers, who carried many buckets from Black Brook, Peck township. Spring water was used also.
The first school was erected on a site three-quarters of a mile southeast of the present school site. Twelve pupils were in attendance at the first session which was in charge of John Kennedy. Elizabeth and Alice Kennedy were the second and third teachers in this district.
The log cabin school soon became inadequate to cope with educational needs of the district and a
frame school was erected which Agnes Singer taught during the first session held. It was used until 1906, when a brick school house was erected on section 6. The second school was used afterward as a woodshed.
The first settler, William Taylor, moved from this district in 1917.
Members of the first school board were John Beards- ley, Jonathan Reader and Peter G. Beck. (The dis- trict then included part of what is today Peck town- ship). The school affairs in the Marsh District have been capably handled by various citizens, elected an- nually as members of the district board.
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