Putnam County, Ohio - Chapter 14: Public Schools of Putnam County, 1915

Chapter 14: Public Schools of Putnam County

The public schools of Putnam county have gone through a marked change from the beginning to the present time. The first definite organization which the schools had was "two mile districts." The townships were surveyed and laid out in two-mile-square districts. These districts were selfgoverning, independent bodies. The citizens of these districts met at the school house and elected the school board, which consisted of three directors. The directors made their own tax levy, employed their own teachers and were the head of the school systems in the several districts. The directors made their report to the county auditor and were responsible to him alone. They were their own treasurer and dispensed the school funds themselves.

The next change came a short time later. The citizens still elected their three directors as before, but one of these directors was chosen as the president of the two-mile-square district, while the other two were merely subdirectors. The former became a member of the township board of education, which elected the teachers and made the tax levy. The duty invested in the sub-directors was merely to suggest and recommend teachers and other matters, but having no immediate voice in the business; but the township board was the official school body and transacted all of the important business. They made their report to the county auditor as before.

The next change came in 1900, when the township board was elected at large by the voters, regardless of districts, and this board consisted of only five members. This board was the official organ of the school system of the county, electing the teachers, levying the taxes and buying fuel, etc. There was still one sub-director. He was elected by the local people from each district and could recommend and make suggestions, and also had the care of the building.

Under the old law for twenty years back, township supervision was optional. In this system the township board hired their supervisor, but this was entirely optional. Riley township was the only one in the county having township supervision. Another plan was where a union of townships could be effected if desired. An example of this system in the county was the

The next change came in 1913, which dispensed with the sub-director,, taking the school government more and more out of the hands of the people, ihe effort all through this change of system has been to make the county the strong unit, the desire being to make the county count for more than the township. The powers which were formerly delegated to the township are now delegated to the county. This strong basic influence, by way of explanation, came from the systems in vogue in Virginia and were copied by the lawmakers of Ohio from that state.

This latter change, which went into effect May 22, 1913, provides that the county board of education, which is the chief body, must be elected by the presidents of the existing school boards of the township. In case there are special districts in a township, the presidents of these several school boards meet and decide who shall cast the vote for the township in the county board election. Each township is entitled to only one vote. The county board of education is made up of five members.

The first meeting, which was a special session as provided by this law was held on the third Saturday of July, 1913. The regular meetings are to be held the third Saturday in March, at which meeting the regular business IS disposed of. Other regular meetings are to be held every two months although a special meeting can be called between regular meetings.

The members of the county board of education are elected regularly for a term of five years, one retiring each year and a new member is elected These members must be from different districts. At the first election, which was held on June 2, 1914, the following were elected to serve on the board of education for Putnam county. In order that the rotating system, whereby one new member was elected each year, could be brought into effect, at the first election the members were elected for a term of from one to five years as follows: B. H. Herringhaus, one year term, district No. 12- Harry Reese two year term, district No. 6; Dr. C. F. Douglas, three vear term, district -\o. 8; Frank Giesken, four year term, district No. 3 ; W. P. Frantz, five year term, district No. i.

This board met in regular session on June 13, 1914, at which time George J. Kemath was elected as the first county superintendent, for a term of two years. The duties of the superintendent, besides the regular oversio-ht of the schools, are to act as secretary of the county board of education and also act as executive ofificer of the board, with the privilege of discussion and

The county board of education divides the county into supervision districts. Each district contains one or more villages or rural districts and no district shall have more than sixty teachers or less than twenty. If there are three or more boards in a district, the presidents of the boards elect the district superintendent. If only two boards in a district, they all have a vote.

The county board of education met on August 4, 1914, and divided Putnam county into twelve supervision districts. Following is a table showing the supervision districts, name of the district superintendent, number of teachers in each supervision district and number of teachers in each local district :

District, name of superintendent; local districts and number of teachers in each, and -total number of teachers in each supervision district follow :

No. I - Northeast supervision district, W. W. Dibble, superintendent. Liberty township, 9 teachers; Van Buren township, 7; Blanchard township, 12; Gilboa village, 2; Belmore village, 4; total, 34.

No. 2 - Northwest supervision district, J. E. Hathorn, superintendent. Palmer township, 8 teachers ; Monroe township, 7 ; Perry township, 8 ; Miller- City village, 3; Hartsburg Special, 2; Dupont village, 3; Cloverdale, vil-' lage, 3 ; total, 34.

No. 3 - Center supervision district, H. J. Benning, superintendent. Ottawa township, 5 teachers; Greensburg township, 7; Glandorf village, 6; Ottawa and Pleasant special, i ; Hoffman special, i ; "Plum Creek" Center, I ; B. Fortman special, i ; Theodore Fortman special, i ; Liberty special, i ; New England special, i ; total, 25.

No. 5 - Southwest supervision district, F J. Uhrich, superintendent. Monterey township, 2 teachers; Jackson township, 5; Ottoville village, 7; Monterey second special, 2; Jackson special, i; total, 17.

No. 7 - Jennings supervision district, Frank A. Derek, superintendent. Jennings township, 5 teachers ; Ft. Jennings village, 3 ; Rushmore special, 2 ; total, 10.

Columbus Grove Schools

In 1842 two school districts were created in Pleasant township. The Westerley district, with small portions of other townships became special district No. 2. Rev. William McGookin was the first teacher. From time to time various sub-districts were formed from territory detached from this leaving what is now known as Columbus Grove special district. The first school house, a log structure, was located on the north side of High street, near the site of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad. The second, a frame building, was erected on the same location and when the railroad was built it was purchased by the company, moved to their station grounds and used for a depot. The third building, a two-story frame, erected near the present school grounds, is still standing, being used for a barn. The next school building was first erected as a six-room structure and later was enlarged to twelve rooms.

The present building was erected in the year 1909 and is considered as one of the best equipped for fire protection in the state. It has seventeen rooms, a library, teachers' rest room, and superintendent's office, making it most convenient and commodious for both teachers and pupils and, with the modern equipment, makes it one of the most up-to-date school buildings in the county.

The teachers following Reverend McGookin in the first building were, Joseph Lippincot, Dr. H. E. White, Ehzabeth Stewart (Mrs. N. H. Bagley), Dr. J. A. Newell, John Cottner, David McCurdy, Phillip Anderson and J. B. Jones. Elizabeth Begg (Mrs. George Morris), J. B. Sprague and C. A. McDowell taught in the second building. J. W. Powell, David Wisterman,

James Anderson, Mary Begg (Mrs. F. M. Cheadle) and E. R. Hogle taught in the third building. J. H. Bowman and W. O. Brown taught in the third building, completing the list to 1875.

In 1875 the classes were graded and a course of study was adopted, the iirst class graduating in 1878. There have been over two hundred and fifty graduates from the high school, and there are fourteen in the present graduating class. At present there are three hundred and fifteen enrolled in the grades and one hundred and seven in the high school. Nine teachers are employed in the grades and four in the high school. Superintendent W. E. Stevens, who is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, has served the school since 1910 and has been employed for two years longer. The prin- F. W. Sexton,' is a graduate of VVooster University.

Vaughnsvii.Le High School

Thirty-five years ago there were nine school districts in Sugar Creek township, with three school directors to each district. This is the first history of the schools which can be gathered. This township supervision, which began in 1902, lasted thirteen years.

Vaughnsville became a first-grade high school in 191 1. Although this was not the beginning of the school system there, as they had held school for several years in different buildings in the town, still they had no high school building and were not classed as first grade. The first high school was held in the township house in 1901.

The present beautiful and modern building was erected in 1908 and marked the real entry of Vaughnsville into the limelight as an educational center. The building was finished at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars, and the following school board deserves some praise for its success : ]. M. Gardner, president; M. M. Auchmutey, clerk; I. N. Parker, C. R. Smith and Harry Reese, directors.

have been sent out into the world with a finished high school education since it became a first-grade high school, four years ago. The present enrollment numbers sixty-eight. There are fifteen in the 191 5 graduating class.

The present school board consists of the following : Harry Reese, president; O. T. McBride, J. I. Thomas, John Stevens and John Clevenger, directors. The district schools were consolidated this year. The high school students are brought to Vaughnsville and the grade pupils are sent to Rimer. This necessitated the erection of a new school building at Rimer, at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars. An addition is also being built to the Vaughnsville school building, at a cost of eleven thousand dollars, which doublesthe capacity of the school.

Crawfis College

Through the will of John Crawfis, a wealthy and distinguished citizen of Blanchard township, the citizens of Putnam county were afforded a means of instituting a high school with the object of affording an avenue to a higher education by the way of our district schools. Mr. Crawfis died in the year 1880 and bequeathed to Blanchard township the splendid sum of twentyfive thousand dollars to be used in the erection of a college. This proved to be the greatest gift which the citizens of Putnam county could hope for, and was the real start of the splendid school systems in this county.

The work on this handsome structure was begun in the year 1888. The site was in the southeastern portion of section 20, Blanchard township, located on the Findlay, Fort Wayne & Western railroad. The building was a two-story brick structure, erected at a cost of eleven thousand dollars and christened Crawfis College in honor of the donor of this noble gift, who made its erection possible. The campus is planted in shade trees and presents a very pretty appearance. During the year following, 1889, two dormitories were built, at a cost of two thousand and eighty-seven dollars, making one of the most complete public schools in the state and furnishing accommodations for higher education to the students of this community.

The building committee was composed of A. C. Hall, N. Conine and B. O. Robinson. The architect, E. Zoll, of Findlay, drew up the plans for the building, and A. Faeth, of Delphos, Ohio, had the contract. Prof. I. L. Harmon served as the first superintendent, from 1888 to 1891 - Prof Job Hill, from 1891-92; Prof. J. T. Fairchild, Prof. L. S. Lafferty, from 1892- 94; Prof. B. J. Beach, from 1894-97; Prof. W. S. Wallen; Prof. Tohn

Ckawfis Collkge

The following teachers have assisted : George W. Risser, O. C. Wright, commercial department; Florence B. McClure, language; Mrs. O. C. Wright, elocution, with Charles Harbaugh, assistant; B. F. Finkle, mathematics; JVLary Baniield, shorthand and typewriting ; J. Krider, penmanship ; Charlotte Rice, common branches ; A. V. Mueller, German ; C. C. Miller, assistant in the normal institute ; Etta Compton, pianist ; Blanche Adams, O. V. Todd and Emma Everett, assistants in the common branches ; L. D. Hook, penmanship ; G. R. Miller and J. C. Light, common branches; Bessie Ashbaugh, elocution; Flora McCray, pianist; Professor Wisley, telegraphy; N. O. Harmon, violin; Mrs. Lafferty, Katherine Oren, Captolia Oren, Ida Barto, Phoebe Oren, -common branches, and Mr. Black, penmanship.

The school has had a flourishing career under the able management ot the above superintendents and competent assistants. The school was changed to a first-grade high school on December 8, 1908, and at present is under -district supervision. W. W. Dibble, the present superintendent, deserves much of the praise for the excellent status of the school and the achievements which have been the reward of his efforts.

The school is on a firm basis, with well-equipped laboratories, a splendid library, including encyclopedias, dictionaries and many works of standard authors. The present corps of teachers are George R. Miller, principal; Janet Rower, teacher of languages; T. I. Curtis, teacher of science. The enrollment at present embraces thirty-two pupils. .This year's graduating class included four members.

Leipsic High Scpiool

The Leipsic public school was organized in 1867, with Dr. J. C. McClung as principal, and had an enrollment of thirty-four pupils. In 1878 a commodious school building was erected, which accommodated the children of this village.

In 1880 it had reached the grade entitling it to a position of a high school. The growth of the school was so rapid, along with the increase in the population of the town, and reached such proportions that the building was inadequate to accommodate all of the students. The former structure enlarged with an addition, and this furnished ample room for the mem- bers of the school until the present structure was built, in 1908, at a cost of thirty-seven thousand dollars. This school building is modern and up-todate in every respect, and, in addition to class rooms, superintendent's office, library, etc., it has an auditorium with a seating capacity of ^ix hundred and twenty, large stage, and a very great asset, not only for the school to be proud of, but also the townspeople.

In 1883 the high school, under Supt. A. B. Spach, sent forth its first graduate, William H. Burkholder. Up to the present time two hundred and thirty-four have received certificates of graduation, and the present class numbers twenty-seven. The steady increase in the number of graduates is in marked contrast to the growth of the school. In the thirty-two years of its existence it has grown from a third-grade to a first-grade high school,, from a few students to an enrollment of approximately four hundred at present. A chemistry course was added in 1914; also a phonograph has been installed for marching music. The school is active in athletics, and especially active along lines of literary societies. The Emersonian and Websterian societies are rival organizations and each year hold a contest in reading, debating and oratory, for a silver cup.

Pandora High School

The beginning ef the school system in Riley township dates back to 1836-37, when the first school building in the township was erected on the old Grismore farm. Mr. Wilson bears the distinction of being the first teacher to lead the young pupils in the paths of knowledge. The next school was located on the old Light farm, in the western part of the township, but the teachers of this school can not be ascertained.

The early history of the schools of this township cannot be carried out in full, but the present status and rank of the Pandora high school far offsets this discrepancy. The early growth of the schools was rather slow, but this was to spring forth in ample time and strengthen the school sys- tems of the present time. Pandora high school has the distinction of being the only township high school in Ohio which is on the accredited list of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The honor of producing the first rural high school in this state to be so highly ranked belongs to Supt. J. A. Smith, of Pandora.

The first high school buiding was erected in 1895, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. This was a very modern structure at that time and served the students of this section for fifteen years, but, owing to the increased size of the enrollment, it was not deemed commodious enough to accommodate the increase in the school.

The present beautiful edifice was- erected in 1910, at a cost of twentyfive thousand dollars. This building is complete in every detail and affords an excellent avenue for education to the students of this locality. Superintendent Smith has not been satisfied to rest on the laurels which this buildinghas made possible, but has been active in installing new and modern devices of learning from time to time. It has every teaching device known to the profession, from the Babcock milk tester and metronome to compound microscopes and stereopticon, high school and alumni record systems, teacherparent report-card system, and, in 191 5, manual training and domestic science were added to the curriculum of the school. On the social side, it has the Adelphian, Browning, Philomathean and Schiller literary .societies, the Tohn Alden Agricultural Society for the boys, and the Priscilla Domestic Arts Society for the girls. It has a representative in the Northwestern oratorical contest, is a member of the Northwestern Athletic Association, and exhibited at both the Putnam county and Ohio state fairs.

The first graduate from the Pandora high school was Mary Davy, in 1898. Since that time it has graduated more than two hundred and seventyfive, and the present graduating class includes thirty-six members. The corps of teachers in the grades at present numbers thirteen, with an enrollment of four hundred pupils. There are seven teachers in the high school, with an attendance of one hundred and twenty-five.

Prof. J. A. Smith, as was previously mentioned, is the present superintendent, with J. R. Schutz as the principal Of the high school. Both of these men have had extensive training and many years of successful experience to qualify them for this high position. At-present Superintendent Smith is one of the instructors of the Wooster University Summer School, teaching agriculture. With such men at the helm, it is certain that the schools will continue to make advances in the lines of education.

Ottawa High School

The history of the schools and school system of Ottawa dates back to about 1834. The schools passed through the usual vicissitudes which mark the beginning of all early institutions of learning, having for several years only one school. About the year 1862 two teachers were employed, as the enrollment had become too large for one to manage. In 1868 the West Union school building was erected at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars and this marked the real beginning of the advanced education in this village. Part of the credit for the organization and firm basis upon which it was established is due Prof. A. M. Brown. Prof. J. Lee Gamble succeeded Professor Brown as superintendent and served in that capacity for one year. In the fall of 1871 S. F. DeFord was employed as superintendent and four teachers were employed. The course of study was revised and enlarged. The following subjects were added to the curriculum : Chemistry, trigonometry, surveying, geology, zoology, mental philosophy and logic. The first graduating class consisted of six members and was graduated in 1873. There was a graduating class each succeeding year except 1875 and 1877. S. F. DeFord served as superintendent from 1871 to 1886.

In 1878 the school board appointed Hon. C. J. Swan and Dr. C. E. Tupper to assist the superintendent in revising the course of study. The report of the committee was unanimously adopted and consisted of the following requirements : A grade of eighty per cent must be made in every branch. The full English branches must be completed ; Latin was made elective and, in addition, honors were conferred. The first honors were given for the highest average per cent upon the branches studied and consisted of the valedictory address. The second consisted of the salutatory address. Following are the years and students upon whom the honors were conferred from 1873 to 1891, no honors being given after the latter date: 1873 - Julia Ahen, first; Ralph Pugh, second. 1874 - Gertie A. Paul, first; Mary E Holtz, second. 1876 - Laura E. Holtz, first; C. J. Tupper, second. 1878 - Nelha F. Tupper, first; Nettie Monroe, second. 1879 - Delia Shoup, first - W. W. Sutton, second. 1880 - Frank Light, first; Jennie Pugh, second' 1881 - F. Bruce McGreevy, first; Cal. P. Godfrey, second. 1882 - Lettie Tupper, first; Maurice Goetschius, second. 1883 - Julia Knowles, first- Charles Schierloh, second. 1884 - Leroy A. Ellis, first; Anna Hayes, second'

Prof. S. F. DeFord was instrumental in the collection of different material and equipment for the use of the school. He collected, classified and labeled over one thousand five hundred mineral specimens, thus making an invaluable aid to the study of mineralogy, and likewise geology. He also, by the direction of the school board, purchased about one thousand dollars worth of philosophical, physiological, chemical, mathematical and geographical apparatus and charts, thus equipping the school thoroughly for all the ordinary demands of experiment and demonstration.

The magnificent East school building, which serves as the high school at the present time, was erected at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars and at the time of its completion was one of the best structures for its size in the 5tate. It was a marked example of the deep and abiding interest which the people of this ^'iIlage have in the cause of education. During the winter of 1894-95 Albert M. Austin, the high school teacher, inaugurated and put into active practical operation a gymnasium, using the entire fourth story of the new building for that purpose. Since that time Ottawa high school athletes have ranked among the best of the state and the athletic teams have always been ranked with the best in this part of the state.

Superintendents who have served since 1886 are: C. C. Miller, to 1890; J. M. Hall, 1890-91; D. W. Taussig, 1891-93; George E. Nelson, 1893-95. J. H. Secrest, J. W. Smith, G. J. Keinath, and C. F. Holzhauer, the present superintendent, who has had charge of the schools for three years. Professor Holzhauer is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, class of 1907, and under his able leadership the advancement of the school has been even more marked than in the past. Professor Holzhauer is assisted by G. D. Swartzel, who is a graduate of Otterbein University.

The schools at present have an able corps of eleven teachers, with an enrollment of three hundred and thirty pupils. The graduating class numbered fifteen.

Ottawa High School Alumni

The first class graduated from the Ottawa high school in 1873, and since that time there have been graduates every year except two, 1875 and 1877. The complete Hst of graduates from 1873 to 1915 is as follows:

County Spelling Contest

There has been a great revival of interest in spelling in the state of Ohio within the last few years and now there is a state-wide contest which IS conducted every spring. Each county has an elimination contest and the best spellers from each county meet at Columbus to decide the finals. There are fifteen townships in Putnam county and each was allowed to enter twenty contestants. The other contestants were divided as follows: Each special school district entered two; each high school, six; each normal school, three; each parochial school, six; each village graded school, six. This made a total of nearly four hundred contestants for the final county contest, which was held in 1915 at the county seat on May 15. A list of over eleven hundred words was prepared in advance and all contestants had a chance to study them before the final. Judge John P. Bailey pronounced the words and after a contest, which showed that the boys and girls had prepared themselves for the ordeal, the winner was finally chosen. It proved to be Nellie Green, of Monroe township, who represented the county in the grand final contest at Columbus on June 4, 1915.