McHenry County, Illinois - Chapter 7: Education, 1922

Chapter 7: Education

ORIGIN OF SCHOOLS PIONEER SCHOOLHOUSE - FIRST SCHOOLS - EARLY INSTITUTES - COUNTS INSTITUTES - INCREASE IN SCHOOLS - EARLY SCHOOLS BY TOWNSHIPS - OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS - TEACHERS INSTITUTES - SCHOOL STATISTICS - GROWTH OF COMMON AND HIGH SCHOOLS

Origin Of Schools

As the people of the world began to emerge from the chaos of the Bavage state, they commenced to think and plan, not entirely for themselves, but for their children. Originally tillers of the soil, they recognized the fact that if they were to hope for better conditions for those to come after them, they must have a good soil to grow crops. That. after they had provided for stronger and more perfect bodies, they must train the minds of their offspring. Gradually they recognized the fact that if they handed together to hire some one to teach all of the children together, a much wiser person could be secured, than if each family tried to provide instruction. As the value of schools became recognized, the state took up the matter so as to provide the instruction for those children who were orphans, or whose parents were QOl possessed of sufficient means to pay their quota into the common edu cational fund. Gradually, with annual improvements, the present public school system has come to obtain in this country. It commenced about 1s:;;>-4(). Now, parents the world over in civilized parts, feel that there is no purpose, no real good in their lives, unless the miracle shall come to their children, that they enjoy advantages denied to the fathers and mothers.

No matter how many times one reads of the little old lo;; schoolhouse buill in the forest, or on the wild prairie's sod. where first the tiny tots attended schools in which their A. B, <"s were mastered, another description of the same old rude schoolhouse written by one seeing tlie hard benches and dirt floors, gives a different angle, hut the story is ever of deep interest to both old and young.

Picture a small building, so small that it might easily be set down in the ordinary living room of today, fashioned of rough logs, fastened together, with mud plastered in the chinks between the logs. At one end was an opening, sometimes protected by a slab door, but oftentimes left without any cover. At the other end was a crude fireplace, which was liable to throw into the room as much smoke as was carried away by the mud and stick chimney. The floor sometimes was merely hard dirt ; again, it was constructed of split logs, with the bark side laid down. The furniture was all homemade, consisting of puncheon seats for the pupils, and a slab with longer pegs in it as a desk for the teacher. There were no blackboards, no globes, no scientific apparatus, no marble statues, pictures or maps. Indeed, ofttimes there were mighty few books for either the pupils or teacher, and yet how those children did absorb information, and lay in these primitive temples of learning, a lasting foundation for magnificent superstructures. Some of the best men this country ever produced, attended just such a school as the one above described.

As the community increased in importance, so did the schools, frame structures gradually replacing the log buildings, and then came handsome brick and stone schoolhouses of today. The early history of the schools of this county is similar to that of most other sections, but after the close of the Civil War, a radical change set in for the uplift of the common schools, and today every citizen worthy the name, boasts of. and duly appreciates, the excellent schools we are enjoying at this time.

First Schools

It appears thai the Oral schools in the county were taught in the year 183Q, in Burton and Dorr townships, which answered the above description of the log school. In 1837 another small school was opened in Cm-al Township; another in Algonquin, in 1838; Marengo bad one in 1839; Seneca, MeHenry and Chemung in 1840 ami Richmond in L841; A Men's first school started in either 1840 or 184]

The firsl schoolhouse of which there appears to be any official record is the fine buill in section 1. township 4.">, range 9, Dunham Township, which was completed in June, 1839. The first official mention of the public schools in this county appears upon the county records under the date of June. 1841. Carlisle Hastings was then appointed School Land wherever the population was sufficiently dense to bear the expenses. Ajb the county grew more thickly Bettled, new districts were formed bo thai in ;i very few years every settler was within a shorl distance of a M-lioolhouse. It is related thai the greatest obstacle to the development of the fairly well qualified, and labored earnestly, bul others who were employed in the absence of better material were Badly deficienl both in education and aptitude. The teachers, too, worked againsl hardship of not having suitable and uniform text-hooks, so thai real classification was impossible.

"4th. That there have been considerable sums of money expended for tin' purpose of maintaining and supporting teachers' institutes, the object of said institutes being to remedy the difficulty above named.

"To improve the then existing state of the public schools, .Mr. Jewetl proposed the establishment, at the county seat, of an institute to be called the McIIenry County Normal School; but alas, his suggestion was never acted upon by the board of supervisors."

Early Institutes

The pioneers as a class were favorable to education ami supported the district schools manfully, as well as fostered and encouraged in all ways private educational institutions, the chief institutes being located at Lawrence. Marengo and Crystal Lake, though several others were started in other parts of the county.

Lawrence Academy, ill the northwestern part of the county, was one of the earliest and most successful schools of its kind. It had able instructors, and many afterward prominent men were students

The County Institute organized in 1856, perhaps aided more than any other single factor in bringing about an improved condition of the public school system in the county. For, it is seen by reference to public records, as well as to an interesting article in a former history of the

"Constant and well directed efforts have wrought their results. and now the people of McHenry may justly be proud of their public schools. It is doubtful if there can be found anywhere in the country are not perfect, yet in excellence of school buildings, convenience of arrangement, competent supervision and thorough instruction, the county will compare favorably with any of like age and population. The County superintendents, the teachers, the taxpayers and the pupils are all interested in their work, and the results are apparent. The county institutes are well attended and play an important part in keeping alive the interests of education in our county."

In 1860 the number of schools in the county was 142; number of schoolhouses, 139; number of teachers, 218; number of male scholars. 4,030; female scholars. :!,778. In 1870 the number of pupils was 11,890, of whom 7,000 were enrolled. In 1875 the number of schoolhouses in this county was loll, but the work did not advance with other elements of growth in the county in the next years following those just named, for it is found that in 1ns4 there were only 138 schoolhouses. though it was saiil that 175 were badly needed. In 188:!-84 only 270 teachers were employed, and school property was only valued at $186,- 285.

schoolhouse built in the township. Ii was a log structure Located aear the present site of 1 1 1 * - railroad station. This building was erected in the spring of 1841, its dimensions being I'-'xl 1 feet, luit small as it was. it was plenty large enough to accommodate the little hand of nine pupils. A report of the schools of the township in isst ^ave tl nmllment of pupils as :!l."i of scl 1 age, and there were then nine schooltlOUSeS within the township. The school property was valued in 1SS2 at $3,340. For present day school statistics the reader is referred to the table in this chapter, the same being extracted from the county

In the early eighties Algonquin Township was in the lead in the number of schoolhouses, the number being ten. valued at $12,000. The number of persons of school age in the township was 630. The circulating library then contained 200 volumes. The first schoolhouse in the township was a log building at Crystal Lake in which .Miss Hannah I'.cardsley taught in 18H8.

In Burton Township a school was taught in 1846 by Miss <'ase. in the "red schoolhouse" in Section 8. Tt was buill by the patrons of the school and the teacher was paid on the subscription plan and usually "hoarded 'round." The first school, however, was taught in ISiili in a log building on Nippersink Creek, by Win. Stearns.

In Chemung Township the first school was taught in the village of Chemung about INK). In 1880 the number of persons of school age in the township was UTS, or ninety more than any township within the county. It paid at that date next to the highesl wages for teachers of any of the townships. The school property of seven schoolhouses was then valued at $16,500. The first school in Harvard was taught in 1859; -I. E. Young was the first principal, assisted by .Miss Mary Ballon. In the eighties the attendance was large and more building room had to hi' provided. The old reports show the village had C>7 pupils in school in 1884.

In Coral Township the first schoolhouse was erected in 1838, on Section 8. William Jackson taught the first term of school and he took his pay in 4,000 rails for his four months' work. His patrons split 1,000 rails a month, so that when the school ended they had paid in full, all in good rails. At the end of the term in a frolic, the "big boys" tore down thi' schoolhouse. In 1 S.s 1 this township had eleven Schoolhouses in use and that was more than any other township then had. There were on an average 409 pupils in attendance. School property was valued at $10,000.

In Don- Township the first school was taught by Alvira Cornish in the bouse of Uriah Cattle in 1836. The school consisted of seven pupils. In 1883 the value of Bchool property of this township was $55,200;

In Dunham Township the first school was taught in the schoolhouse buill in 1838, on the farm of Mr. Jerome. It was a small Log structure which was also used for religious and political purposes. Miss Edna Jewetl was the first to teach there. A. M. Disbrow was the new teacher. In 1881 the township bad seven substantial school buildings, and paid annually about $1,800 for teachers.

In Grafton Township a third of a century ago there were eighl fairly good school buildings and persons of school age upwards of 500. The first school here was taught in a log cabin erected in 1842 in District No. 7 (old number i. and the first teacher was Cynthia Thompson.

In McHenry Township the first school was taught in 1840 by a .Miss McOmber, in a small log house erected on the banks of the Fox River. This was also the first school building in the township. In the early eighties reports show seven fairly well-built frame schoolhouses in the township which property was valued at $9,000 and there was a school population of 658. The township also had a small, but most excellent library. In the village of McHenry the first school was taught in a frame building on the present public square. It cost $2,000. Another schoolhouse was built in 1859, in the east side of town and its cost was $6,000. The West side building was burned in 1862.

In Marengo Township the first school was taught by Caroline Cobb in 1839, but prior to this ( ). 1'. Rogers taught in a small log schoolhouse, marly opposite the Calvin Spencer residence in the village of Marengo.

In Seneca Township the first school was taught by Mrs. Roxy Stevens in 1840. at her home which was one mile south of Franklinville. In Franklinville the first schoolhouse of the township, a frame building, was erected in 1S45.

In Woodstock the first school was taught in I84C, by David Richardson, who paid $2.00 a month for the privilege of holding school in the old courthouse. The next year, 1846, the first school building in Woodstock was erected on the same site still used for school purposes. In 18(i() this house was deemed too small, and it was sold and a new building provided in 1867. A new building was erected in 1906 at a cost of

$25,999, and ;i four-room Bchool building was erected that same year on Clay street. The large building burned to the ground December 2, 1919. In January, 1921, the Clay streel school was enlarged and improved, making it a modern, eight-room grade building. In the Bame year an eight-room grade huilding was erected mi the corner of Dean streel and Forrest avenue.

In Richmond Township the first sc1k.h1 was taught by the daughter nt' Elder Pease, of Crystal Lake, in the Montelona schoolhouse. This was iniilt in 1841, on ii ner of William A. McConnell's farm, west

Here in this county there have been several attempts at founding and maintaining religious training schools among which was the Presbyterian Academy at Marengo. It had quarters in the basemenl of the then new church of that denomination. E. B. Conklin was its first principal and he was. after two years, succeeded by Professor Scudder. The enrollment was from eighty to 120 pupils. This academy was in existence some five or more years, when in the financial collapse of 1857, an "Educational Institute" was formed. A large five-story brick building was erected for the purpose of carrying on the institution. It had scarcely been in operation for one year, when, for want of Sufficient endowment, it fell into the hands of other parties and soon was discontinued.

Teachers' institutes and normal schools have been in existence a long time in this county. It is not the purpose of this article to go far into detail concerning these helpful adjuncts to the public schools, but simply to give a brief account of the establishing of such factors. That

.\ccllent educator and grand old I'rcsliyterian clergyman, Rev. R. K. Todd, organized a teachers' institute in the autumn of 1849, during the first year of his first term as school commissioner. It was held iii the old courthouse, continued for one week, had an average attendance of 150. During each succeeding fall for his term of office, a similar institute or teacher's meeting was held, but during his successor's term, the movemenl dwindled down until A. W. Smith, on assuming the office in 1855, had some trouble in re-awakening the teacher's dormant interest in this means of improvement. His institutes were held for two week-, ami at his third meeting, in the fall of 1856, a constitution was adopted and the institute began to assume a more perfect form. Mr. Smith was the first to go out of the county to secure instructors, he having at his second meeting, the state superintendent as one of them.

fifty days in a year, with a compensation of $2.00 per day. There were at that time somewhat over 200 schools in the county. Notwithstanding it was '-'big work and small pay," I resolved to undertake the task, which was performed by visiting two schools daily, and lecturing at night in the most convenient places for the patrons of the two schools just visited that day.

"In 1S.">7. we had the most successful and interesting institute of my time as active member thereof. It was quite generally attended by the best teachers of the county, among whom were Rev. R. K. Todd, John A. Parrish, S. F. Bennett. Thee .Mead. M. F. Ellsworth, the two .Misses Thomas, Miss Jcwett, .Miss Aehsee Smith, .Miss Thompson, Miss II. s. Corey, Mrs. C. M. Smith, and many others."

Ill 1S77 the records show that after 1857, the institute did not meet regularly. Its meetings were then generally held at Woodstock, bu1 occasionally at McHenry, Richmond and Nunda.

A- the years passed by and state school laws made it obligatory upon the pari of teachers to attend these institutes, they were, of course, more regular in their meetings. Later the state normal schools sprang into existence, and many teachers were greatly benefited by such educational institutions.

School Statistics

the name of districts and their numbers in the several townships of 1h<' comity, the report for the same items in the incorporated villages and cities of the county, and enrollment of districts:

The total expenditure for school purposes in the county il'.ioiii was $356,562.17, and of this amount $247,403.6] was spenl for paymenl Of teachers.

The average length of the school year is eight and six-tenths months. The number of pupils enrolled in the county averages 6,245, which includes 963 high-school pupils; and the number of children of Bchool Bge in the county is 8,932.

Iii the organization of the forces for rural education in this county, the succession of county school superintendents lias been a notable one. The high standard of educational ideals existing generally throughout the county was first manifested in the selection by the popular vote of the enmity "s chief educational officer, and sustained especially in the election of Prof. Lester Barber of Marengo; W. E. Wire, George \V. Conn. Jr., and Prof. Addison M. Shelton.

During the terms of these four educators the rural schools progressed with general uniformity, and the high standards existing; at the present are due in a greal measure to their leadership.

In the city school system of the county, modern methods of organization and administration have been constantly introduced and in the selection of studies and methods of teaching, those in authority have constantly improved and kept abreast of the times. Buildings and grounds have been provided in each city as its growth warranted. Among the city superintendents of note who have served in this county may be mentioned li. G. Jones, of Harvard, now superintendent of the Cleveland.

Aurora. 111., schools, and C. E. Douglas, of Woodstock, who is now superintendent of the Erie. Penu., schools. The influence of these and other successful superintendents, is apparent in the present city school system of McHenry County.

The development of the high schools of the county has been during the past twenty-five years, a wonderful growth. The enrollment has been doubled many times over, and in the present year, several of the city high schools, notably Woodstock, Harvard, and Marengo, find themselves confronted with the necessity of erecting new high school buildings to meet the needs of their districts. In Crystal Lake, the high school building ami equipment are of the tinest in the county. These improvements were secured though the aid of a large amount of back taxes received in the settlement of a local estate. Crystal Lake and Woodstock both have excellent courses in nnrmal school training and domestic science. Wood- Mock, Harvard, Crystal Lake, Marengo, and McHenry high schools all give up-to-date commercial training. McHenry and Crystal Lake have fine hifrh-school gymnasiums for the physical training of their students.

The only available records at hand for securing the names of the superintendents of schools in the various cities and villages of the county, are those for Woodstock, which show that the first high school was taught in 1878 and the superintendents since the organization of the high school have been: Professors Warren Wilkie, 1878; A. E. Bourne, 1880; S. B. Hursh, 1888; .1. A. Kelly, 1890; John R. 1891; L. B. Eas ton, IS'M: (I. W. Conn, 1896; C. W. Hart, 1897; C. E. Douglas, 1907; B. C. Thomas, 1911; and R. W. Bardwell who took charge of the schools in 1!H4.

The three public school buildings in Woodstock were built as follows: the first one, the old brick school, was built in 1867; the new brick one, attached to or adjacent to the old building, is a handsome structure built in 1906 at a cost of $25,000; the third one is the Clay Street building, built in the northern portion of the city, in 1907, at a cost of $20,000, exclusive of the grounds.

During the past fifty years one of the most potent influences in the progress of education in the county has been an organization of the principals of the city or village schools of the county, known as the McHenry County School Principals Association. This group of earnest educators has fostered in many ways the welfare of the county's public schools. They have met regularly at the county seat during the school term, sometimes to i- ive inspiring messages from the eminent men from outside the county ; at other times to discuss the problems which confronted them in their schools. The membership in 1921 is: Oswell G. Treadway, Mc- Henry. president; A. M. Shelton, county superintendent, secretary; II.

Todd Seminary

Todd Seminary is a private school at Woodstock for boys only. Its early history was well written tip for a former history of McHenry County by its founder's son. Henry Alfred Todd, who brought out the following historic points, in a lengthy biography of the Todd family: Rev. R. K. Todd, founder of this school, was a graduate of Princeton College. X. J., and was educated for the Presbyterian ministry, married a .Miss Clover of Xew York. and. being impressed with the missionary spirit, started on a long trip with his young bride. This was in 1847 and they headed for the "far West." Railroads, generally speaking, had not yet come into common use and so they traveled by the Erie Canal, and by steamer over the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, Wis. Because of a few young friends who had located in McHenry County, 111., he was led to conn' here. A Presbyterian Church had just been organized at Woodstock with thirteen members, and he was induced to become its pastor. He was soon selected as superintendent of the McHenry County public schools and held that position a number ..f years. Subsequently, he established a school of his own at Woodstock

Finding it necessary at the end of a long term of years, on account of an affection of his throat to relinquish in a large part his public speaking, he threw his whole energies into the building up of an institution of advanced education to stimulate, as well as satisfy the needs of the then rapidly growing West. He had already been one of the prime movers in the permanent foundation of the Marengo Collegiate Institute, but that institution was entirely destroyed by fire, from which loss it never recovered. Again a similar calamity confronted Mr. Todd in the burning of the well-equipped building erected by him at Woodstock. Yet despite these losses, he gathered about him, as president, a large and efficienl corps ol instructors, obtained from the Illinois Legislature a generous charter, and inaugurated a long and highly prosperous period of collegiate work, the annual enrollment ranging from 151 to 200 students, from whom the ranks of teachers the seventies, feeling the need for rest, .Mr. Todd concluded to limit his efforts to the care of a classical home school for boys. The spacious grounds and buildings, situated at the edge of the city, afforded a beautiful country retreat for a family of about twenty hoys in their teens, nearly all of whom came from city homes. Some even came in from distant states. Such was the foundation of the present excellent institution now known as "The Todd Seminary for Hoys." Rev. Todd, the founder, feeling that he could no longer undertake the genera] management of the Bchool, called to his assistance a young, vigorous man from New England, the present proprietor of the institution, Noble Hill. l'h. IS., who came in the autumn of 1888, and in 1890 took complete charge. .Mrs. Todd, wife of the founder, died, and Rev. Todd went to California to reside with his only son. In 1892 Prof. Hill purchased the property and has ever since owned and conducted a hoys' school of a most remarkable and unique character.

The former buildings, in fact the entire institution, has been allowed to run down until it was almost a hopeless task to place it hack in the class to which its founder had aspired, but Prof. Hill knew no such word as fail and went to work with a right good will and did what few other men could have accomplished in so short a time, if indeed ever. The old buildings were remodeled, rebuilt and converted to other uses from those of former days and in time new buildings were erected on the beautiful campus which now comprises about eleven acres. During the last school year there were enrolled 110 pupils, coming in from seventeen states and territories, and one was booked from Cuba. The average age of these boys is about twelve years, with several no older than seven. It is estimated that fully three-quarters of these boys come from homes in the City of Chicago. Ten grades are taught, and this course of instruction qualifies the youth to go out into active life a finished scholar in his class, or to enter higher institutions of learning. The West and Middle West furnish the greater number of students. Teli instructors are usually employed, at this date half of them being men and half women. The school year of nine months is between September and June. The motto of this school is "Acid l<i Virtue Knowledge."

This is .1 strictly non-sectarian school; moral character is nil that is insisted upon in taking in students. Again it is strictly a Christian institution, for no instructor is ever employed unless lie is a professed Christian, bul no Christian denomination is barred, Catholic not excepted.

Thi> ideal of the faenlty is "for every Todd boy a good citizen." And this means what it says, a living active principle in the daily life of the Todd hoys. The crowning glory of this sehool is the fact that it is a place where prohibition positively prohibits, a place of respect for authority and obedience to the law, where locks and keys are unknown and individual and property rights are respected.

altitude is 1,000 feet above sea level, the highest point in all Illinois. During the seventy years of its existence not one death lias occurred among the hundreds and thousands of pupils who have been in attendance. Climate, pure air, pure water, proper exercise and observance of sanitary rules have all combined to briny: about this unequalled result.

The buildings found on the superb campus are: Wallingford Hall. Clover Hall, Rogers Hall, Grace Hall, the Gymnasium, Headmasters Cottage, West Cottage, Cozy Cottage, and North Cottage, used for hospital purposes.

The following practices are strictly prohibited: Use of cards or any form of gambling; use of tobacco; use of profane or vulgar language; us,' or possession of fire-arms; reading of trashy books or papers; contracting debts; going off the grounds without permission ; going down town unless accompanied by a teacher; and leaving the buildings after evening prayers.

When Prof. Hill first came to Woodstock he was a single man, lint two years later he brought bis bride to the institution and to them were born a son and a daughter, both of whom have been educated primarily in this institution. The daughter, Miss Carol Hill, now Mrs. Ross Taylor, is the only girl who has ever attended the school. Both are now connected with their father's institution.