The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 89

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin > Part 89

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the 2d of February, 1848, the Board of Trustees and Superintendents of the Franklin School, consisting of Edward Pier, J. M. Gillet, J. A. Eastman, Isaac Brown, M. C. Darling and M. S. Gibson, reported a set of by-laws for the government of the school, and recom- mended the erection of an addition to the schoolhouse for the small children, and " the purchase of a suitable apparatus for illustrating the higher branches of education, such as a set of

592

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

globes, geographical maps and charts and a planetarium." They also ordered that Thursday afternoon of each week be set apart for the reception of visitors and school officers.

The plan of maintaining the Franklin School free to all residents of the district does not seem to have been satisfactory, for, in March, 1848, the bill chartering the school was amended so that the expenses should be paid by the scholars, at a rate not exceeding $1.50 each for a term of three months, and the debt against any parent or guardian for "schooling" could be collected in the same manner as any tax.

Matters must have got on indifferently, for, in October, 1848, a correspondent noted that " The Franklin School District can boast of a ball-alley, a billiard-room and a number of dog- geries, all well patronized, while 100 scholars are amusing themselves in the streets, for want of a school,"

From bad the Franklin School affairs went to worse, and, December 4, 1848, the citizens met in the schoolhouse, and defeated, by an overwhelming majority, not only a resolution to raise a tax to pay arrearages, but a resolution to raise a tax for the ensuing year, as the follow- lowing proceedings, copied from the Fond du Lac Republican of December 8, 1848, amply testify :

" Pursuant to notice given ten days previously, the citizens of the Franklin School Dis- trict met at the schoolhouse (on Fifth street) in said district, on Monday evening, December 4, 1848, and organized by calling George McWilliams to the chair, and appointing E. W. Davis Secretary, when, on motion of Sam Ryan, Jr., voted, That no tax whatever be raised in the Franklin District for past arrearages, or for the support of schools the coming winter.

" On motion by Sam Ryan, Jr., voted, That our Representative be requested to use his influence to procure the repeal of the law organizing the Franklin School District.

" When, after considerable discussion and an expose of the financial condition of the Frank- lin District, it was, on motion of E. W. Davis, voted to reconsider the vote previously passed, to raise no tax whatever.

" A motion was made by M. L. Noble that we raise no tax this year ; to which an amend- ment was offered by John Bannister, That we raise tax enough to pay up all arrearages, which was lost by 5 to 1. The original motion (to raise no tax whatever) was then put, and carried by an overwhelming majority.

"On motion by G. Henning. voted, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and published in the newspapers of the village."

To pay for this summary manner of depriving the village of the proper and necessary educa- tional facilities, the schoolhouse was burned by some unknown person eight days later, Decem- ber 12, 1848. The crime of arson was by no means justifiable on account of the acts of the School Board-or such a meeting of citizens as was called a School Board-but the very free expressions of opinion by those who had children whom they wished to educate without leaving the place where they had cast their lot in an endeavor to found homes and build up a credita- ble village, seem to have been fully justified by these acts.

This much has been devoted to the Franklin School to show the trials and tribulations through which all educational enterprises must pass before they become as strong and beneficial as those of Fond du Lac at the present time.

During the succeeding winter, that of 1848-49, the village had no school. In July, 1849. a meeting was held at the court house to elect school officers and levy a tax for school purposes. Permission of the Town Superintendent had been obtained to raise $2,000 for the erection of a schoolhouse, but when the resolution to levy that amount came to a vote, the matter was laid on the table and the meeting adjourned. There was something of a contest over this matter, a large number of the inhabitants regarding the sum of $2,000 for a school building as altogether too extravagant.

On the 19th of November, 1849, F. R. Kinsman was engaged "as a proper person to teach youth," to conduct a school " on the normal plan," in a building rented for the purpose of Carmin Wright. The next year, 1850, the building now known as the Marr Street Schoolhouse

593

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

was erected, and the only schoolhouse in the village. School was continued regularly thereafter, and, although there had been some growling because the Marr street building had been made so large, in a short time it was found to be too small, and the city, as it was after 1852. was divided into four common-school districts.

North and South Union Schools .- On the 5th of August, 1854, by the order of E. Hodges. who had been elected Superintendent of Schools for the city of Fond du Lac ; E. II. Galloway and George W. Sexmith, of Distriet No. 1 of the city; J. Q. Griffith, Hiram and Robert A. Baker, of District No. 2, and H. R. Colman and Edmund Delany, of Distriet No. 3 of the eity of Fond du Lac, these three districts were consolidated into one, called the Union District No. 1, or North Union, and bids called for to build a schoolhouse. Edmund Delany was elected Director ; John L. Henry, Treasurer, and Robert A. Baker, Clerk of Union District No. 1, August 12, 1854.

At the same time, District No. 4 was, by the order of the Superintendent and Isaac Brown and W. H. Walker, officers of the district, changed to Distriet No. 2, or South Union, now known as Marr Street School. The building which is in use at the present time, had been built previously to that time, and used by District No. 4.

A site was purchased of E. H. Galloway, for $500, on Lots 52 and 53, Block 11 (the Cotton Street Schoolhouse site), and a building costing $2,000 ordered to be built for the use of District No. 1. The structure thus ordered is now known as the Cotton Street Schoolhouse.

In September, before the consolidation took place, the Clerk of District No. 1 made a report showing that 83 children had attended school during the year at a cost for 3 teachers, fuel and other expenses, of $250. For 10 months of school only $184 was paid for teachers' wages. The report for District No. 2 showed 32 scholars and an expenditure for teachers' wages, fuel and incidentals of $202. The report for Distriet No. 3 showed 88 scholars and an expenditure of $296 for teachers' wages and fuel. Carlos A. Ryder finished the school build- ing for District No. 1 in 1855, at a cost of $2,088, less $190 damages awarded to the District by referees for neglecting to follow the plans and specifications ordered by the district. This did not include painting, sidewalks and miscellaneous items. In 1858, a fountain was dug in the school-grounds and a reservoir sunk at a cost of $260, and $100 was expended for a library.

A deep interest was taken in school matters, and both the North and South Union Schools were well patronized and efficiently taught. When the High School was formed. it in nowise interfered with the other public schools, which have increased in numbers and attendance.

In 1862-63, O. C. Steinberg, Principal of the High School, was impowered to grade all the schools of the city, making a course of instruction extending over a period of thirteen years and embracing every possible degree of advancement in scholarship. In the published report of the School Board in 1867, Mr. Steenberg, then Superintendent of Schools, recommended compulsory attendance of all healthy children of school age, using the following language :

" Those who attend school irregularly, and those who do not attend school, number 3.046. From the best data that can be secured, I find that at least 500 of that number are habitual tru- ants or idlers, or have parents who are, to a greater or less extent, indifferent to their best interests. * * Can a community ignore the moral welfare of 500 of its children ? If they were diseased, either physically or mentally, hospitals and asylums would be provided for them ; were they criminals, prisons would be built for them. * Argument seems unnecessary. In the ininds of those who have the future good of our city at heart, there can be but one conclusion. It is the duty of the city not only to provide means by which our youth may become good citizens, but by its authority, to constrain those who are too young or too ignorant to appreciate and employ those advantages."

This was the first recommendation in a published educational doenment, of a compulsory school law. In 1878-79, the Legislature passed such a law for the benefit of cities, which took effect September 1, 1879. It is certainly beneficial in a city like Fond du Lac, where a large number of children are engaged in mills and factories.

594

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

In 1852, nine teachers were employed, at a cost of $1,087.41, to teach 498 scholars. In 1858, the Superintendent reported 1,020 scholars, taught by ten teachers, at a cost of $3,525.08. In 1863, there were 1,177 seats, and an average of 1,253 scholars, while during the winter term, 1,378 students were accommodated in those 1,177 seats.

The city now contains, in addition to the High School building, eighteen public schools, which, with the sites, are owned by the corporation. These are located on First street, Cotton street, Ruggles street, 2; Grant street, Walnut street, Marr street, Cherry street, Amory street, Fifth street, Hickory street, Rees street, Doty street, Sibley street, 2; Prospect street, Clinton street and Second street. These contain forty main rooms, will accommodate 2,800 students, and have a cash valuation of $93,700. The sites are valued at $22.000, making the city's school property worth, in cash, $120,700. Nearly every schoolhouse is provided with a fountain.

The appended is a table showing the number of pupils and teachers, with cost of schools for a number of years:

YEAR.

Number of Children of

Lawful Age.

Number of Pupils En- .

Number of Teachers.

Wages paid Teachers.

Other Expenses, Includ-

ing Buildings, etc.

Whole Cost of Schools.

Total Cost of Instruction

per Pupil, based upon

the number enrolled

and the entire cost of

Pupil, based upon the

number enrolled and

the amount of teach-

ers' salaries.

Average Salary paid Teachers, per year.

1852

639

498

1087 41

212 94

1300 35

2 61

2 18

120 82

1853.

844

570

1242 60

331 34

1578 94

2 76

2 17

124 26

1854

994

635

1298 69

301 22

1599 91

2 52

2 04

216 44

1555.

1338

827

1954 86

255 00

2209 86

2.67

2 36

217 20

1856

1567

972

2294 60

613 31

3007 91

3 09

2 36

286 82

1857

2040

1014

3443 12

917 54

4160 66

4 00

3 35

344 31

1858

1839

1020

3525 08

828 88 |

4353 96

4 25

3 45

352 50

1859

1916

1351

4501 07

1279 08

5780 15

4 24

3 33

375 01

1860

2119

1507

5408 75

1091 77

6410 62

4 25

3 52

318 16

1861.

2562

1611

5109 44

1216 35

6325 79

3 73

3 17

255 47

1.862

2358

1684

5795 66

4866 88

10662 54

6 27

3 44

263 44

1863

2695

2048

6090 00

3264 00

10254 00

5 00

2 97

264 78

1864

3043

2414

7350 00

7786 72

15136 72

6 23

3 22

262 50

1865

4101

3038

8325 00

22710 78

81035 78

10 21

2 41

273 26

1866

5109

2815

9713 50

18895 47

28608 97

10 16

3 45

294 35

1867

3239

10961 13

12942 31

23903 44

7 80

3 38

342 59

1873.

5469

3475*

18898 50

40979 27

59877 77

17 23

5 72

402 12

1879.

5000

2484

18136 25

12079 39

30215 64

12 16

7 30

385 87

The High School .- About the 1st of October, 1858, the citizens of the two districts into which the city was divided, sent to the School Boards of the respective districts a petition praying that a Union High School be established. The petitions were heeded at once, and George B. Eastman, the School Superintendent, authorized to take the necessary steps to accomplish the desired result. In accordance therewith, Mr. Eastman, on the 8th of October, 1858, made the following report :

" I have this day formed a Union High School District in accordance with the expressed desire of the districts comprising the same, which determination has been properly certified to by me as required by Section 2 of Chapter 138, of the General Laws of 1858, to be called the Union High School District of the city of Fond du Lac, of which the following is a description : The entire corporate limits of said city of Fond du Lac as designated in ' An Act to amend an act entitled an act to incorporate the city of Fond du Lac,' approved March 19, 1852, and as exhibited in the map of said city, published by George R. Harrison, in the year 1857. Such formation to take effect immediately."

* Estimated.

per

Tuition

schools.

Cost of

rolled.

A Twinyou

FOND DU LAC.

597

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

In the city districts was included a portion of the town of Fond du Lac, and when Mr. Eastman formed the High School he cut this portion off, much to the disgust of its citizens, who wanted the benefit of the school without paying any of the city taxes by which the school was sup- ported. The act above quoted gave the Superintendent authority to appoint the necessary officers, and he therefore appointed Robert A. Baker, Clerk : W. H. Hiner and B. F. Moore, Directors. A meeting of these officers was held October 21, 1858, in Amory Hall, and $1,961.40 author- ized to be raised by tax for room-rent, teachers' wages and fuel. The tuition was fixed at $7 per term of thirteen weeks, for non-residents. It was, of course, free to all residents of the city, whether of school age or not.

The first High School in the city of Fond du Lac was organized and opened in January. 1859, by Edwin C. Johnson and Miss M. S. Merrille, in what was known as the Sewell store on Main street, between Johnson and Merrill streets. The students perpetrated many a gibe over the fact that the nearest streets and the teachers had the same names. The school opened with with nearly one hundred students, being free to all residents of the city who could pass a prescribed examination in geography, arithmetic and grammar. In 1860, Prof. Johnson resigned, and Selim H. Peabody was engaged as Principal, who opened the school in the Marshall Block, on Second street. The next year the location was changed to the Warner Block, on the corner of Main and Second streets. There was no other change of location until a High School building had been erected. In July, 1859, the first steps were taken to secure the erection of such a building, as the High School had grown into popular favor, and was considered an important and indispensable department in the rapidly advancing system of education. This resulted in opening negotiations for a site, which was an important matter.

In July, 1859, the Board adopted a resolution authorizing the establishment of a Normal Institute in connection with the High School, and the provisions of the resolution were carried into effect and during several years thereafter, Normal students were taught in the school and received annually the proper apportionment of the State Normal School fund.

In January, 1860. the School Board appointed a committee to secure the west half of the McGinty traet, situated on the north side of Merrill street and east of Amory street, at a cost of $1,400, which they did in April of that year. In October, 1863, the Finance Commit- tee of the School Board, presented for the approval of the Board a form of bond to be executed for the purpose of raising money to build a High School building, also a mortgage executed to S. B. Amory, of all the school property in the city as collateral security. Both were adopted, and authority given to the President of the Board and the Clerk to execute the bond and mort- gage. There appeared at this time no inconsiderable amount of dissatisfaction over this location of the Iligh School in what was called an "out-of-the-way place," and J. M. Taylor offered to donate, free of cost forever, twelve and one-half acres of land on Forest street, for a lligh School building, but the offer was declined on account of the advanced state of matters in another direction. In February. 1864, a plan for the proposed building by Isaac Brown was accepted, and the contract was let to W. M. Phelan and William Heathcote in March, Mr. Brown, now of Harrington, Delaware, being the Superintendent. The structure was pushed rapidly to completion, but Mr. Brown was unable to supervise everything, owing to the severe illness of his nephew, George L. Arnold. A public dedication was had, and the building taken possession of by the High School, with O. C. Steenberg as Principal, in 1865.

At the dedication, William D. Conklin of Fond du Lac, delivered an address :

"Some twenty-odd years ago," said the speaker. "a school was organized by and with the children of three families, and two half-breed boys, belonging to no family in particular. It was held in a little log cabin over yonder, on Elihu Phillips' farm that now is, and was taught, ostensibly, by James Duane Ruggles. When, however, ' Duane,' as we called our teacher, lured by the more fascinating pursuits of hunting or the gentle craft, failed to make his appear- ance at the conventional hour of 9 A. M., we did not, like the degenerate school-boys of to-day,. take advantage of the opportunity and scamper off home; but some two or three of us larger boys, taking turn and turn about as it happened, would carry the institution along for the day

598

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

in the acenstomed routine. Now, some of my young friends among the school-boys here may deem this statement a little strong, and the school-boy comparison slightly invidious. Well, I will relieve them with a little further explanation. The site and surroundings of that old school- house were to us the most captivating imaginable. It was on the brink of that deep dell you all know so well. In that dell were the greatest woods for chipmunks that ever grew, and through their deep shade murmured the nicest streamlet for wading and catching crawfish, with here and there an eddy or deep hole full of ehubs, possessed of a most remarkable natural affinity for pin-hooks. We were the only youngsters in the country, and absolutely had no other place to go, unless to our respective homes and the never-failing boys' work there- unto appertaining. Furthermore, our course of study bore close resemblance to that of the ancient Persian schools, where the youth were carefully instructed from their fifth to their twentieth year in three things alone-to ride, to draw the bow and to speak the truth. You may judge of the amount of magnanimity and self-denial involved in keeping that school with- out the master.

" In the mean time," continued the speaker, " the Legislature of the Territory of Wiscon- sin, acting, I presume, on the hint contained in Article 3 of the celebrated Ordinance of 1787. which provides that, ' Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encour- aged -acting on this hint, and in the plenitude of its wisdom, had enacted that 'every town in this Territory, containing not less than ten families, shall be a school district, and shall be provided with a competent school master or mistress to instruet children.' In due time, the country hereabout achieved a population of not less than ten families, with that ancient burgh, Taycheedah, as the center and nucleus. (Be it here known that Taycheedah was immensely larger than Fond du Lac.) The town of Fond du Lac was, territorially speaking, alnost indefi- nite in extent. My ancient geography is a little rusty, but I think it was bounded on the north by the then State of Green Bay, on the south by the commonwealth of Milwaukee, on the east by the Sheboygan woods, while in the matter of the west line, the taste of the most fastidious could be gratified by locating it where he might choose, without fear of contradiction or interfer- ence.

"I presume this town was duly organized under the statute as a school district, and provided with a competent school master or mistress, to instruct children. I know that the Messrs. Moore and Doty, the proprietors of Taycheedah, furnished the funds and built the framed schoolhouse with the little cupola, still standing in that classic town. There was hung in that cupola a pretty, clear-toned steamboat bell, brought by Henry Conklin all the way from the dismantled wreck of the steamer Advocate, on the Hudson River, which in that day was the never-ceasing won- der of the wandering aborigines, as well as admiration of the white pioneer. And, by the way, that same old bell (appropriated without title, leave or license), even now, from the belfry of the public school, awakes the echoes and disturbs the solitudes (and, I hope, the consciences) of that quiet, peaceful haunt of somnolent humanity. The first schoolmaster here was, I think, one of the Conklin family, on whose pedagogic career the constitutional modesty of the family will for- bid extended comment; but the genius and glory of that pioneer school, unquestionably, is associ- ated with a worthy pedagogue, by name Mr. Maxon. He was a good, worthy man, a veritable. old-fashioned Yankee schoolmaster, such as the land of steady habits has ever sent forth with her legions of frontier woodmen, supplying the Union with pioneers for the mind, as well as for the wilderness. He was withal an enterprising, active little man, and, as Irving says of Ichabod Crane, ' Truth to say, he was a conscientious man, and ever bore in mind the golden maxim, " Spare the rod and spoil the child !'"

" The pupils of that school were of rather a miscellaneous make-up. There were the Rug- gles, the Elliots and the Conklins from 'up under the Ledge;' the Moores, Carltons and Perrys at Taycheedah. Keyes A. Darling, his brother Lewis, and sister Helen (now Mrs. John A. Eastman),-the whole juvenile population of Fond du Lac-made their daily advent in a primitive vehicle drawn by a small pony, and followed by a large dog, while through this group was interlarded an occasional young Frenchman or half-breed.

599

HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

" This school was also a kind of paradise for wild youngsters. The adjacent creek and lake shore, abounding in water-fowl and Indian canoes, tended further to stimulate and advance the aquatic and venary tastes and habits of the old log schoolhouse by the dell ; and, if the course of instruction at the old place on the 'Ledge' was upon the ancient Persian system, that of Taychee- dah resembled, perhaps, the ancient Athenian plan, where every citizen, under a severe penalty. was required to teach his son to read and to swim.

" The first schoolhouse was built in the village of Fond du Lac in 1843, and was situated on Main street, where now stands Valentine & Olmsted's store, and it was removed, in 1848, to Fifth street, where Mr. Benson now lives, and, during the winter following (December 12, 1848), was burned down. This school was first taught. I think, by Theodore Conkey, and probably on much the same principles as hereinbefore adverted to.

" But the course of empire westward brought with it that remorseless wave of immigration, surging along, and overwhelming in its course every vestige of the romance and charm of the wilderness ; and before the pioneers could well realize the change, a strange, eager and motley crowd of Celt, Gaul. Teuton and Saxon, of Yankee, York State man, Pennite and Buckeye --- aye ! even you whom I now address-had gained a foothold, forced back the wild man and beast, and built up the village and city of Fond du Lac.

" As if to compensate and console us for our little Utopia you had so ruthlessly invaded and blotted out, you brought to us the fruition of the ideas of Martin Luther, Pestalozzi and Fellen- berg ; of John Knox and Joseph Lancaster ; of Henry Barnard, Barnes Sears and Horace Mann-that glorious system of public schools, evolved and perfected by the wisdom and experience of your native States.

" Those gerius and cions from that 'tree of centuries ' you have carefully planted in this new soil ! You have jealously guarded and cultivated them with a most noble spirit of public liberality. In times of early struggle and hardship, of high taxation and large expenditure- consequent on the erection of a new and vast social and political edifice, you have faithfully kept and applied the proceeds of munificent national land grants; heroically devoted a large share of local taxation ; and generously contributed by private subscription to the encouragement and support of the common school. An illustration of the perfect adaptability of this admir- able system to the end sought on the one hand, and on the other hand the magical growth of our young city, is furnished in the remarkable number and capacity of the school edifices erected here already.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 89

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082