McLean County, Illinois - Schools, 1924

Schools

The first school teacher in McLean County was Delilah Mullin, afterward Mrs. William Evans. The first school was held in the home of John Dawson at Blooming Grove. It was a subscription school. Miss Mullin herself drew up a paper and went around among the families living near Blooming Grove in 1825 and those who signed could send their children to her school at $2.50 each. The school began May 1, 1825. John Dawson gave the free use of his house for the purpose, it being a new log house which he had just built, and he continued to use his old one for a home. Four of the teacher's own brothers and sisters were among her pupils at the start. She had taught the school for a short time when she was married to William Evans, but the day following the wedding she went back and resumed her school. The school numbered about 17 scholars in all! Text books were scarce and an almanac served the purpose. William Evans, the husband of the pioneer teacher, afterward built the first cabin in the tract of land which became the original town of Bloomington. James Allin, the "father of Bloomington," afterward bought out the claim of the Evanses and they moved to the Mackinaw timber near Lexington. The Evans family later moved to Missouri, then to Texas, where Mr. Evans died. Mrs. Evans died in Texas in 1888.

Dr. Tribue, a Frenchman, taught the second school in the winter of 1825-26, and the next teacher was William Hodge. In these latter schools,

The earliest report of public money being used for school purposes was in 1836-7, when Bloomington and Danvers townships were credited with payments for tuition to teachers. James Lincoln is on record as having taught a school in 1839 near Leroy, and Vickers Fell a school in Randolph in 1840.

Mrs. Virginia Graves taught a school southwest of Bloomington in 1845. The tuition was one dollar a scholar, and the trustees were Dr. Johnson, Isaac Mitchell and a Mr. Kitchel. Mrs. Graves said she got $10 and ague for the first four months. In 1847, she taught at Selma, in this county. In the years following, the teacher was paid part of the salary from public funds, according to schedule of days taught and number of pupils attending. The free school act of 1855 authorized the raising of school funds by taxation.

Along in the late '30s, Lemuel Foster built a school house of his own in Bloomington, to which students were admitted on payment of tuition. This building stood many years after Foster's death. He was succeeded by George W. Minier and he by Dr. Finley. In 1856 Rev. Robert Conover established a female seminary in Bloomington, which he successfully conducted for many years. Another attempt to maintain a private girls' school was made by Elder William T. Major, who erected a building in the north part of town, which became known as Major's College. It continued until many other institutions arose and it could not keep pace. The property finally fell to the Wesleyan University and was sold for residence purposes.

Among the other teachers of private schools in Bloomington in the early days may be mentioned Amasa C. Washburn, Prof. Daniel Wilkin, Mrs. J. N. Ward, nee Martha Tompkins, Rev. E. S. McCaughey and Mrs. Gildersleeve.

For two years following the passage of the free school law of 1855, several different public schools were maintained in Bloomington, and in 1857 these were consolidated under the management of a board of education. This was the real starting of the public school system of the city. The first members of the board of education were C. P. Merriman, R. 0. Warriner, O. T. Reeves, E. R. Roe, Eliel Barber, Samuel Gallagher and Henry Richardson. The board submitted to the city council an estimate of $12,000 to build four school houses, which the council declined to levy, on the plea that it would be burdensome. The board employed Abraham Lincoln to bring action for mandamus to compel the council to make the levy, but a compromise was effected before the action was taken. The first permanent school structure was erected for $6,000 in what was known as the fourth ward, afterward the Emerson school district. This structure housed the first high school, started about 1858. The first class was graduated from the high school in 1864 and consisted of two pupils. A few years later the high school was moved to a building at Monroe and Oak streets, and then in 1895 to the then stupendous structure at Monroe and Prairie street. This remained the high school until 1916, when the last move was made to the half million dollar structure on East Washington, between McLean and Evans. This was a period of steady growth for the city schools, the enrollment in the schools having reached 3,395 by the year 1878. The school buildings at that time represented expenditures of $228,000. The superintendents during the first twenty years were D. Wilkins, Gilbert Thayer, Ira J. Bloomfield, C. P. Merriman, J. H. Burnham, John Monroe, John F. Gowdy, A. H. Thompson, S. M. Etter, S. D. Gaylord, and Miss Sarah E. Raymond. Miss Raymond, who served as superintendent of schools for twenty years, was one of the first women in Illinois to occupy such a position.

In the less thickly populated parts of McLean County, outside of Bloomington, the schools had comparatively slower growth. The county superintendent in 1878 recorded a total of 361 pupils enrolled in the schools of the county outside of Bloomington. The census showed 761 children of school age outside Bloomington. The expenditures in the rural districts were $4,406 per year. There were nine school districts, which had buildings valued at $10,000. Some of the early teachers outside of Bloomington mentioned in the histories were Hosea Stout at Stout's Grove and A. C. Washburn of Buckles Grove, near Leroy. The rural schools of those days were "loud schools," that is, the pupils studied their lessons out loud, and oftener the louder the better.

One of the earliest federal laws was that providing for the division of the public lands into townships and sections, and providing that section 16 of every township should be held for the maintenance of public schools. This law set aside 985,066 acres in McLean County for school purposes. But owing to the pressing need of money in the early days, every town- ship in the county except West sold its school lands, the sums realized from such sales ranging from $798 in Cheney's Grove township to $12,620 in Anchor township. The price per acre at which sales were made ranged from $1.30 in Danvers to $25 in Yates.

The outbreak of the Civil war checked the progress of the schools, both in Bloomington and throughout the county. Many teachers resigned either to enter the army or to take up some work connected with war. After the war, renewed interest in school matters was apparent, and in 1868, the building erected in the northeast part of Bloomington became known as No. 1. It was the direct predecessor of the present Franklin school. It would hold 600 pupils in its various rooms. In the same year a new and what was considered a very large and modern high school building was erected at the corner of Monroe and Oak streets, costing $30,354. This structure continued to house the high school until 1895. Afterward it was torn down and the lot where it stood is vacant, although still owned by the board of education.

One of the most remarkable personages connected with the public school system in its formative period was Miss Sarah E. Raymond, afterward Mrs. F. J. Fitzwilliam. She entered the school system in 1868 in charge of "Old Barn" school. The next year she was made principal of the district. In 1873, B. P. Marsh, who had filled the principalship of the high school, resigned to enter the medical profession, and Miss Raymond was chosen to succeed him at a salary of $1,200 per year. The following year, on the resignation of Mr. Gaylord as superintendent of the city schools, Miss Raymond was chosen to the place. This was the first time a woman had been selected to a place of this importance. Although hampered by prejudice on account of her sex, Miss Raymond began a progressive policy, and her superintendency marked a period of progress in all school work. The schools of Bloomington made a very creditable exhibition of their work at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. In 1880 the Bloomington high school was placed on the accredited list of the University of Illinois. Miss Raymond finally retired from the city superintendency in 1892, having served eighteen years. She was elected for the nineteenth time to the position in July, 1892, but she declined and announced her retirement from active school work. Later she was married to Capt. Fitzwilliam, lived in Chicago for many years, and died there.

Up to December, 1895, the schools of Bloomington had been known by numbers, according to the wards in which they were located, as No. 1 school, No. 2 school, and so on. In that month the board of education decided to name each school for some distinguished person. Accordingly, No. 1 was called Franklin, No. 2 Edwards, the Jefferson street school was called Jefferson, No. 3 was named Irving, No. 4 was called Emerson, the new building erected at Washington and State streets was named Washington, and No. 5 school was named Sheridan. The No. 2 school was named in honor of a Bloomington citizen, Dr. Richard Edwards, who had been president of the Normal University and superintendent of schools for the state of Illinois. Later the school in Stevensonville was named Raymond in honor of Miss Raymond, and the Fifth ward school was named Hawthorne. The name of Hawthorne school was changed in 1923 to that of the Horatio G. Bent school, in honor of Mr. Bent, who had spent many years in the service of the board of education.

The high school building, at Prairie and Monroe streets was dedicated Jan. 1, 1897. Rev. W. S. Marquis, a graduate of the Bloomington high school, was the orator of the occasion. At this time appeared the first issue of the high school Aegus, which was projected as a monthly publication, but later became the Year Book.

E. M. Van Petten was elected superintendent of city schools in 1892 to succeed Miss Raymond. He was educated at the Peoria County normal school and at the Illinois Wesleyan. He came from Joliet, where he had taught six years. One of the first improvements under his regime was the building of the new Lincoln school in the south part of the city. In May, 1895, action was begun toward purchasing a site for a new high school, and the lots on the north side of Monroe between Prairie and Gridley were chosen. The building was completed in 1896 and dedicated on Jan. 1, 1897. The present Franklin school building was erected in 1899 at a cost of $25,000.

In September, 1899, Francis M. Funk, who had been a member of the board of education for 21 years, and president for six years, died, with a remarkable record of service. Horatio G. Bent, who had been elected on the board in 1893, was chosen to succeed Mr. Funk as president. The schools of Bloomington took a prominent part in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of Bloomington, which took place on May 3, 1900.

Mr. Van Petten resigned as superintendent of schools in 1901, and John K. Stableton was chosen to succeed him. Mr. Stableton was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan, took a course in Harvard, taught in Nebraska, and was superintendent at Charleston, 111., when he was brought to Bloomington. He began a career as superintendent here in 1901, and served continuously until 1920. The term of Prof. Stableton saw many changes in the public schools. It witnessed the building of the present handsome high school on Washington, between Evans and McLean, and also several of the modern grade school buildings. It witnessed the enlargement of the high school faculty and the introduction of many new courses. It saw the employment of supervisors for many departments in the grade schools, such as music, domestic science, art, manual training. Printing as one of the branches of instruction was introduced and placed in charge of Miss Etta Walker, afterward Mrs. Charles Brokaw. Many other innovations and improvements came about during his superintendency. He left the city after his resignation in 1920, and now lives on a farm in Ohio.

S. K. McDowell succeeded to the superintendency of the Bloomington schools, coming here from Aurora. He had taught in this county in his earlier years. Many additional changes and improvements have been introduced under his regime.

The complete list of city superintendents from the first is as follows: Daniel Wilkins, Gilbert Thayer, Gen. Ira J. Bloomfield, C. P. Merriman, J. H. Burnham, John Monroe, John Goudy, A. H. Thompson, S. M. Etter, S. D. Gaylord, Sarah E. Raymond, Edwin M. VanPetten, John K. Stableton, S. K. McDowell.

The following have been president of the board of education from the earliest times until now: C. P. Merriman, E. R. Roe, Eliel Barber, M. W. Packard, John A. Jackman, Jacob Jacoby, Dr. F. C. Vandervort, Francis M. Funk, Horatio G. Bent, Jesse E. Hoffman.

The school affairs of the town of Normal date back beyond the incorporation of the town itself, for the school district was first formed. The first school was opened in September, 1856, with Mary Shannon as teacher. Later W. O. Davis, afterward proprietor of the Pantagraph newspaper for many years, was employed as teacher. The movement was early started to send the children of Normal citizens to the practice department of the Normal University. The first graduating class of the model school was in 1865. The model school and the public school were one and the same for many years. In the year 1868 the two were divorced and the public school occupied a building just erected at Ash and School streets. Henry McCormick was first principal. After a long period of separation, the two systems were united by vote in 1901. The high school of Normal had been placed upon the accredited list of the University of Illinois in 1897. The old building which had been remodeled many times, was finally torn down and a modern structure erected in 1914. The following is the list of men who have served as principal of the schools from the first: Henry McCormick, 1868; Aaron Gove, 1869; Joseph Carter, 1874; A. C. Butler, 1878; A. M. Scott, 1880; J. V. McHugh, 1882; John W. Gibson, 1883 ; David A. Reed, 1884 ; Mrs. J. A. Miller, 1885 ; John Glatf elter, 1886; C. W. Harriman, 1887; Mrs. Hattie Hoffman, 1888; E. B. Smith, 1891; E. A. Fritter, 1896 to 1907; Herbert Bassett, 1907-08; E. W. Davis, 1908-13 ; C. F. Miller, 1913-22 ; L. W. Ragland, 1922-24.

In Bloomington, in addition to the public school system is an extensive system of parochial or church schools, including the schools of Holy Trinity parish, the schools of St. Patrick's parish, those of St. Mary's German Catholic church, and the Lutheran or Trinity Lutheran school. St. Joseph's academy is also attached to Holy Trinity Catholic parish. The academy was erected in 1863 by Father Kennedy, who placed it in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who continued in charge until 1876, when Father Kennedy invited the Dominican Sisters to take charge, and they are still in control. On the same block with the academy was erected in 1884 under the Very Rev. M. Weldon the St. Mary's high school building, which cost $26,000. The primary and grammar grades and a high school course are taught here. In St. Joseph's academy the musical course is emphasized, and there is a large attendance of girls. Some ten years ago or more, the sisters purchased the whole block of ground to the west of Holy Trinity church between Locust and Chestnut streets. It had been the long-time homestead of J. W. Milner, one of the city's pioneers. The large house and grounds were converted to the use of the girls attending the academy and convent, and it was christened St. Joseph's Hall.

St. Patrick's parish was created out of the west end of Holy Trinity parish in 1901, and soon after the parish was organized there was erected a school building adjoining the church, at 1205 West Locust street. This is ample for the work of the school. The sisters also erected a convent and home, and the total expenditures represented about $15,000.

High School Building At Le Roy, Illinois

St. Mary's German Catholic parish was organized in 1867, and property in the southwest part of city was secured. A frame church was built and the school was opened in 1873 by Rev. W. J. Revis. Under the pastorate of Rev. F. Schreiber in 1877, the Ursuline Sisters were induced to take charge of the school, and they remained until 1883. At the request of Bishop John L. Spalding the Franciscan Fathers of Cincinnati took charge of the parish, and Andrew Rothmann conducted the school from 1883 to 1888, and after that the Franciscan Sisters took it over. In 1887 a fine brick church was erected, and the old church used for a school until 1902, when a big brick school house on Taylor street was built. The school is sustained by fees and the general funds of the church.

Trinity Lutheran school was organized in 1858 soon after this congregation was formed. Rev. J. Ruff was first teacher and pastor. In 1865 the church called its first teacher, J. Bockhaus, and later came John Brase and Mr. Maar. The school building on South Madison street was erected in 1893 at a cost of $10,000. The school has four teachers at present and teaches in both the English and the German language.

The schools of the village of Heyworth had a crude beginning, for the first schoolhouse was a single room log cabin, with puncheon floor and hewed logs for benches. Thomas Dunham was the first teacher, and he was followed by Mary Elder, William Leeper, J. W. Burrows and others. The ancestors of some of the present well known families of Heyworth were pupils in this first school. The school next moved to a double log cabin which had been the home of Campbell Wakefield, and here a Mr. Conklin taught, followed by William Reeves. A large barn on the J. E. Wakefield place seemed to have been the next makeshift for a schoolhouse, and Isaac Hougham taught here. A frame building erected by Jesse Funk near the edge of the timber was next used, after which the schoolhouse in use was a building on the Dr. Noble land. Several changes were made before the present district was incorporated n 1866. The new school attracted the attendance of young men just out of the army, and many of the boys of those days became men of prominence afterward. The promoters of the incorporated district were C. Wakefield, Dr. H. Noble, Samuel Hill, John Kelley, I, Vanordstrand, D. Laughlin, M. Millins and E. Philbrook. In 1898 a large brick building was erected, costing $14,000. The schools kept pace with the times, and now there is a good community high school.

The Williams school at the head of the Mackinaw in the early days became the school for the town of Colfax. After the Illinois Central branch was built down from Kankakee, the village of Colfax was laid out and the Williams schoolhouse was moved into town. In 1883 the village voted bonds for a new schoolhouse and the old one went out of use. The district was reorganized in 1894 and a board of education was elected. Two rooms were added to the building in 1899, but on Oct. 18, 1900, the whole structure was burned down. Schools were held in the various churches until a new building was erected. This building answered the school purposes of Colfax for many years. It was considered one of the best buildings of its kind in the county when it was built.

The first schoolhouse in Salt Creek precinct, now the territory of Empire township, was erected in 1832 on section 29 and was called the Dickerson schoolhouse: When the town of Leroy was laid out in 1836, the name of the precinct was changed, and the first schoolhouse was built south of town, known as Clearwater school. William Johnson was the first teacher at this school. In Leroy village James Lincoln taught the first school, but it continued only until cold weather set in, when it had to be closed. James Newell was another early teacher in Leroy. In the winter of 1838-9 another schoolhouse was built of more modern type. Dr. Henry Conkling was first teacher here. David P. Bunn was the second teacher, and he finally became a Universalist preacher. Among the other teachers in Leroy in the formative period of the schools may be mentioned Cheney Thomas, afterward sheriff; Charles Richason, John Waltemire, Mr. and Mrs. Adams, Miss Emeline Gibbs, Archibel Johnson, William Downton, Lewis Vandeventer and Prof. Swingle. In 1854 the Cumberland Presbyterians tried to establish a female seminary, but it died after a few years. Rev. Robert Patten was in charge. A large school building was erected in 1864 and answered many years. The community high school which was erected in 1922 is one of the finest in the county. The men who have been in charge of Leroy schools through the years up to recent dates included John Long, Miss Maltby, C. B. Conkling, Mr. Harris, W. A. Monroe, M. Huffman, Noah Wantling, D. C. Clark, J. W. Barley, John Z. X. Wilson, Mr. Shirk, C. A. V. Barley, M. Jess, W. H. Chamberlain, L. S. Kilborn, J. W. Tavenner, F. G. Blair, B. F. Templeton, B. C. Moore, C. J. Posey, S. K. McDowell.

A. J. Flesher was the first teacher on record as having received public funds for teaching at Lexington. The first building was near the present site of the park at Lexington. Among the early teachers was Bird S. Coler, now comptroller of the city of New York. Among the other early teachers were Miss Bird, Miss Salie, John Barnard, A. J. Anderson, J. E. Wallace and Pauline Mahan. The first substantial schoolhouse was erected in 1865. Among the men who taught in this structure was John A. Sterling, afterward for many years member of congress. The first class graduated from the high school was in 1880. The names of teachers during these years included David Poor, J. W. Paisley, David Fulwiler, George Blount, L. S. Rowell, J. W. Adams, M. Jess, Prof. Beard, F. L. Horn, Ira M. Ong, J. W. Nicols, Jesse L. Smith, P. W. Dorsey, R. G. Smith. The present high school was erected in 1896 and cost $20,750. The building is good for its uses. L. P. Scrogin and W. H. Claggett personally supervised the building.

A building of logs furnished the first schoolhouse for Funk's Grove and vicinity. The simplest course of study was pursued in the winter months. The list of teachers in the early days included Reuben Baker, William Johnson, Andrew Biggs, Andrew McMillan, 0. W. Wiggins, William Boltonhouse, Jonathan Dow, Catharine Caton, Patrick O'Brien, and a Mr. Fisher. The second schoolhouse was built about 1846-7 and this contained the modern improvements such as glass windows and stove for heating. Still other changes and improvements grew apace, and some few years ago the house known as the Ben F. Funk school was built, it being the model one-room school in the county for many years. It stands just across the road from the farm of Frank Funk, east of Funk's Grove.

A distinct and well marked era of development of the schools of the county began about twenty years ago when the movement gained headway for the formation of what were known as community school districts* This consisted of the consolidation in some cases of parts of several districts into one larger district, thus providing a larger taxing unit and furnishing more ample funds for modern school building and equipment. Such a proposition developed opposition in many cases, and several long drawn law suits were carried on by taxpayers of certain locations who objected to being included in the formation of a proposed district. The movement was fostered by a law passed by the Illinois legis- lature which had for its object this very purpose of school consolidation. The law itself was tested by suits carried to the Supreme Court and passed upon there.

Benjamin C. Moore was county superintendent of schools during this era of reorganization and modernizing of the schools, and he gave it his assistance wherever it could be done with justice to all and without inflicting unjust taxation in any particular instances. The term of Mr. Moore in the county superintendent's office, covering twelve years, was in many respects one of the most important era of McLean County school development.

Stanford Community High School

Mrs. Nettie Dement, the present county superintendent of schools, who took her office in 1923, is the first woman ever elected to the position.

Improved and modern buildings provided in most of the schools of the county a gymnasium with its opportunity for indoor athletic exercises, or otherwise known as indoor sport. Hence within the past 15 years the growth of school athletics has been an outstanding feature of school life. Nearly every school of McLean County has a basket ball team, or several of them, and many of the larger schools have football teams.

Basket ball tournaments for all the teams of the county are held every winter, and some of the smaller teams of the county have at times captured championship honors.