Crawford County, Illinois - Chapter 10: Educational, 1909

EARLY SCHOOLS IN CRAWFORD COUNTY - SOME OF THE OBSTACLES WHICH THE PIONEER: SETTLERS HAD TO MEET - PRIMITIVE SCHOOL HOUSES AND LACK OF ACCOMMODATIONS - SOME EARLY TEACHERS - SCHOOL HISTORY BY TOWNSHIPS.

The progress of education in the early days of Crawford County, as elsewhere in this section of the State, was slow. Many of the pioneers eame from the South, where interest in educational matters was at a low ebb. Moreover, the population was scattered and composed of persons of small means, and there were neither schoolhouses nor funds for building them, while means were lacking for paying the wages of teachers. Text-books were wanting, also, and persons competent to teach but physically robust, were needed to carry on the preliminary work of establishing homes and developing farms. As the population increased, and progress was made in material, the different neighborhoods began to open schools, using vacant cabins and empty Stables or other outbuildings for school purposes. The schoolhouses built, both in villages and country, by the united labor of the residents, in their respective localities were usually cabins of the most primitive character, with clap-board roofs, crude fire-places, slab desks, puncheon floors and glassless windows. The teachers were paid by individual subscription, each parent agreeing to pay from fifty to seventy-five cents monthly per scholar. In these humble places were trained the minds of many a child who afterwards bore a conspicuous part in the affairs of the county, State and Nation.

The first school in Crawford County was established in the town of Palestine and, for a long period, that place was known as the principal point in Southeastern Illinois from which school influences emanated. The county records show that as early as May, 1818, Joseph Kitchell, Harvey Kitchell, Asa Kitchell and William Wilson entered into a contract by bond with Smith Shaw, John Cowan, and Benjamin Eaton, Trustees of the School at Palestine, the condition of which was that Joseph Kitchell, the principal founder of the town of Palestine, should furnish to the said trustees a deed for Lot 1, in said 'town, to be used for school purposes within three years from date. As the vilage grew more populous, another schoolhouse was erected in the town with the aid of the Masonie Fraternity, which reserved for its use the upper story for lodge meetings.

SCHOOLS IN ROBINSON TowNSHIP. - The advance of education in the new county-seat kept pace with its business development. Although records of the early schools are meager, the first one is believed to have been started in the late '40s (about 1848) in a log house, with William Grimes as teacher. For a considerable period space in the court house was appropriated to school purposes, and in later years a two-story frame building was erected for the occupation of the public school. In the early '80s the attendance with Prof. S. G. Murray in charge, assisted by D. G. Murray, W. G. Hale, Mrs. Flora B. Lane and Miss Mary Firman.

PALESTINE EARLY ScHooLs. - Of the early schools of Palestine, but scanty records are available, it being known, however, that a school was taught there by George Calhoun in 1820, and ten years later, a building, previously referred to herein, and jointly owned by the School

Board and the Masonie Order, was occupied for school and lodge purposes, until the dissolution of the lodge, being afterwards devoted in its entirety to educational work until its space failed to accommodate the pupils. The old court house was used in its stead when Robinson became the county seat, continuing in such occupancy until a new schoolhouse was erected in the old public square about 1871. The attendance then amounted to about 250 children. Among the early teachers were Prof. James A. Maxwell, Principal, Prof. Buzzard, Miss Lizzie Alexander, and Miss Mary Goram.

LICKING TOWNSHIP ScHooLs. - It is believed that one of the first schools in Licking Township was taught by "Ricks" Arnold, in 1837. Among the teachers next following him was Sarah Ann Curran, who taught in a log house which stood in the northern part of the township and was formerly the home of James Dixon. The number of scholars was about twelve, and they recited their lessons to her for three months. The teacher in 1841 was named Hampton. He was held to be a very competent instructor, and his subscription term lasted for a like period. Two teachers were employed in 1843, - Sarah Handy, who taught in a room of Jonathan Dixon's house in the northern portion, and Huldah Woods, who used a deserted cabin a few miles southwest of Annapolis. For several years afterwards both of these ladies, who were quite efficient in their work, continued as teachers in different parts of the township. In 1844 John Metheny had charge of the school previously taught by Miss Woods, and in that year Ann Lamb conducted the school near Bellaire, Alice Vance and Louisa Vance teaching, about two years later, near the middle of the township. The Mount Pleasant School House, standing three miles south of Annapolis, was erected in 1846, and used for thirty years, the first teacher there being Elias Wilkins. From 1847 a hewed-log schoolhouse, built in the northeast corner of the township, was also oceupied by the Quaker for "meeting" purposes during a period of ten years. It was sold in 1859, moved to Annapolis, and long used as a dwelling. The free-school system went into effect in 1855, districts being arranged and suitable and convenient frame buildings erected. Within a few years fifteen good schoolhouses were built and the schools were conducted seven months each year. It is próbable that the first schoolhouse in Oblong Township was built in the early '93& on Oblong Prairie near North Fork. The name of one of the first teachers was James Smith, the identity of his contemporaries having been lost in obscurity. The second schoolhouse, a hewed-log structure, was built about 1837, and the first man who taught in it was named Fithian. Succeeding him were Samuel Crumpton, John M. Johnston, Levi James, J. H. Price, and Peter Long. The place lapsed into disuse in 1863. The first frame schoolhouse was built in 1850, and was used twenty-six years, its location being in the northeast corner of the township. In 1851 the school lands were sold and a school fund was formed which resulted in.the erection, during the next thirty years, of nine frame schoolhouses and one of brick, the latter being in Oblong.

FIRST SCHOOLS IN MARTIN TowNSHIP. - The first schoolhouse in Martin Township, a small hewed-log cabin, stood just south of Hardinsville, and the first term was taught in 1842. Soon afterwards the cabin was moved to the village, being long occupied for school and church purposes. The second schoolhouse, also of hewed logs, was built about the year 1846, on the Bethel Martin farm north of Hardinville, the first teacher being William Cunningham. who had twenty scholars. Schools became more numerous after this date and the educational facilities of the township have been greatly increased.

HoNEY CREEK ScHOOL. - Of the first schoolhouse and teacher in Honey Creek Township, no records are available. As elsewhere in the county, any vacant cabin was utilized at the outset for school purposes, and the regular schoolhouses of that time were built of logs and presided over by subscription teachers.