Rush County, Indiana - Chapter 9: By John L. Sh.vuck, 1888 (part 1 of 3)

Chapter 9: By John L. Sh.vuck

Schools - Development of Education from the Earliest Times - Indiana School System - Pioneer School Houses - Local Details in Washington Township - Center - RipLey - Posey - Jackson - Union - Noble - Walker - Orange - Anderson - Richland - Rushville - County School Officers, etc.

^^ERE I called upon to-day to point to that in m}- own State ^j^of which I am most proud, I would not point to any of the laming lines of her militar}' record, to the heroic men |l and the brilliant officers she gave to the great contest; .1 would not point to any of her leading men of the past ^ ' or the present ; but I would point to her common schools ; ^^Wji I would point to the honorable fact, that in the great struggle through which we have just passed, she has expended $12,000,000 for the support of her public schools. I would point to the fact, that fifty-two per cent, of the taxation of Ohio, for the last five years, aside from the war tax and the tax for the payment of her public debt, has been for the support of her public schools. I would point to the 13,000 school houses, and the 700,000 pupils in the schools. I would point to the $3,000,000 she has paid for schools during the last j-ear alone. This, in my judgment, is the proper guage by which to measure the progress and glory of States.*

The growth and development of the idea of general and universal education of the 3'outh, has been remarkable in its results, and only in free America has the effects been natural. Neither caste nor nobilitv has been able to dictate the career upon which a boy may enter, and onl^- the limits of his own powers are his boundaries. We are enabled, in tracing the career of some of our greatest statesmen, to reveal a condition of things that the old world knows nothing of. In the earliest ages the entire education and culture of the people, was in the hands of priests, who were the first founders of institutions, the first statesmen, judges, physicians, astronomers and architects; and science has been separated from religion and teaching has been a distinct profession only in the most highlj' civihzed communities. Historians usually account the inhabitants of India the most highly educated of the ancient nations of the east. The early culture of the Eg-vptians was such that the Greeks derived from them their first lessons in science and philosophj-. In Egypt the Israelites obtained the knowledge which enabled them to measure and " divide the land. " The most celebrated of the early rabbinical schools was that under the direction of Gamalie 1, at whose feet sat St. Paul. For girls there were neither schools nor teachers.

It was in obedience to the code of Solon that Athens became the center and mother of culture. Every citizen under a severe penalty, was required to teach his son to read and to swim. Intellectual and Eesthetic culture was always prominent in Athenian education. The ancient title of the schoolmaster was master of the games. Athens had an academ}^ with ten professors and was much freijuented by the young Romans. The seventh century, says Hallam, was the nadir of the human mind in Europe. In the eighth century King Alfred revived letters and schools in England which had been almost extinguished by the Danish invasion. In the tenth century the Arabs had flourishing schools of learning from Bagdad to Cordova, and this was the darkest period of Christian literature. The university at Cordova had a library of 600,000 volumes. From the twelfth and thirteenth centuries date twenty universities including Paris, Oxford and Cambridge. The next few hundred years marked a wonderful revival in learning and the principles of education have received a vast deal of the public attention. The Swiss Pestalozzi is now recognized as having wielded a most potent influence on the science of education. According to the principles developed by him in various writings and teachings, education must begin earl}', under the discipline of home and the direction of parental wisdom and power. It must proceed according to the laws of nature slowly and uninterruptedly. Individualit}' must be encouraged. Form, number and language are the elements of knowledge, the principles by which the mind must be developed. The s\'stem of Pestalozzi has been adopted in the Prussian Schools and has exerted a greater influence than any other on teachers in England, America and the North of Europe. Frobel, the founder of the Kindergarden, deserves high honor for his reform in the principles of education. Thus when Europe was yet in ignorance of the New World, education was popular with the ruler and subject. Columbus attended the university of Pavia, where he studied astronom}' and navigation. Learned discussions between Italy, Germany and France were engajied in when the revelation of another continent was heralded throughout civihzed Europe. It took several hundred j-ears for America to gain a position among the nations, as she must draw for her population from all the countries of Europe. The English Puritan, the adventurer, the soldier, the Dutch navigator, for innumerable reasons flocked to the New World, and with them came their prejudices and peculiarities. Fortunate indeed for us the Mayflower landed its occupants as far north as Plymouth Rock, and whence the influences and the tide of fearless patriots was felt all over the continent. To the Puritan settlers of New England, belongs the honor of estabhshing the first genuine public free schools of America. Free grammar schools had been established in England as earl_y as the reign of Edward VI., these were endowed partially by the liberality of wealthy public spirited gentlemen and partly by the revenue derived from the lately confiscated monasteries and church estates. No sooner had the Puritans provided places of shelter for themselves in the New World than thej' began to consider the means and methods by which their children might all be educated.

Twentj'-two years after the Pilgrims had landed on the " bleak and rock-bound coast " of Massachusetts, the general court of the colony passed an ordinance for the better education of the children, and while they made education in a manner compulsory, they ordered still further that every township " after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within the town to teach all such children as shall resort to him, to read and write." Further than this, every township containing a hundred families, was required to set up a grammar school, " whose master shall be able to instruct youth so far as they may be fitted for the universit}'." Thus, in that early day was foreshadowed the comprehensive school system of instruction in America, a system including within its scope, grades of education from the primary department up through the grammar school and high school, finishing with the universit\\ And this was done as the Puritans said, " that learning may not be buried in the graves of our fathers," and that they might baffle " that old deluder, Satan," whose favorite project was " to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures, by persuading them from the use of tori^gues." The Dutch sent to Holland for a Latin schoolmaster in 1659. In Virginia, in answer to queries sent out by commissioners in regard to the condition of the schools, the Governor of Virginia responded: " I thank God there are no free schools nor printing, and I hope we shall not have them these hundred years; for learning has brought disobedience and heresies and sects in the world, and printing has divulged them and libels against the best govern- ment. God keep us from both ! " In Virginia, illiteracy increased until it infected even the highest classes of citizens. "Indeed, so late as 1715, the Governor of Virginia dissolved the Colonial Assembly with this taunt upon the educational defects of a body composed of their principal gentry: ' I observe that the grand ruling part}- in your house, has not furnished chairmen of two of your standing committees who can spell English or write common sense, as the grievances under their ov/n handwriting will manifest.' " Not so was it in New England; there, no man was considered a gentleman or even a Christian if he lacked a knowledge of letters. Studiousness and the love of books was esteemed a merit second only to that of godliness. " My child," said a hopeful mother to her boy, " if God make thee a good Christian and a good scholar, thou hast all th}- mother ever asked for thee." In 17S7, the last Continental Congress, sitting in New York, in reference to the Northwest Territory, received a report from a select committee, of which Nathan Dane, of Massachusetts, was Chairman. That committee reported, July II, "An ordinance for the government of the Territories northwest of the Ohio."

This ordinance contains six unalterable articles of perpetual compact between the embrvo States and the Union. The third article begins as follows: "General moralitv and knowledge, being necessar}' to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, and the means of education, shall be forever encouraged." This territory was a gift from Virginia to the general government. The surveyor laid it off into squares of six miles each, called congressional townships, and these were laid off into square sections of one mile each, making thirty-six sections in each township. Section number sixteen is near the middle. Among the new States made from this territory is

Indiana. - On the 19th of April, 1S16, Congress invited Indiana to meet in convention, adopt a constitution, and tendered the following proposition : " That the section numbered sixteen in every township, and when such section has been sold, granted or disposed of, other lands, equivalent thereto and most contiguous to the same, shall be granted to the inhabitants of such township for the use of schools." This was the source from which came our congressional township school fund, and is the corner stone of our system of free pubHc schools. The first attempt to create a general s\-stem of schools in the State was " An act incorporating congressional townships, and providing for public schools therein," approved Februarjr 6, 1837. This was extremely complicated, and was weakened by an excessive division of functions among numerous officers. It was without county or State direction, and as nearly every step in matters of taxation and administration was dependent upon the votes of the inhabitants of school districts, these defects were not removed b}' the " act to increase and extend the benefits of common schools," approved Januarv 19, 1849. The inetficacy of these statutes soon became apparent, and the present constitution, adopted in 185 1, not onlv renewed the requirement that the system should be general and uniform, but also forbade the enactment of local or special laws for supporting common schools. In pursuance of these provisions a general school law was enacted in 1852, and received the approval of the Governor on February 14th of that year. This law contains the germs of the present system, and after passing through several revisions by the General Assembly, guided by a series of luminous decisions of the Supreme Court, it was embodied in the act of March 6, 1S65, the last comprehensive statute on the subject of common schools.

The earlv settlers in Rush Countv had the same hardships to endure that characterized the experiences of pioneers in other portions of the northwest territory. The children must have an education, and teachers and houses must be provided. He, who could read and write a good hand, could secure employment as teacher. If he could make a good pen of a goose quill he possessed an additional qualification. If he could "cipher" as far as "the single Rule of Three" he was in great demand. He must "board 'round" among the families in the neighborhood, and quite frequentl)-- was found on Sunday preaching in the log meeting house to the people. The school house and the meeting house were quite often one and the same. The sale of the land known as the school section furnished a meager amount of public money. The wages paid to teachers were made up from this fund supplemented b\' an amount per scholar paid by the parent; frecpiently the school was taught in a "squatter's" cabin. These cabins had been erected by a class of people who were the forerunners of actual settlers. As the country gradually filled up and the land entered bv people seeking homes, these squatters (generally hunters and trappers) "moved on."

Pioneer School House. - There are many young people m our county who have no clear idea as to the kind of houses in which our parents and grandparents attended school. It seems proper that a description of the " old log school house " should be given here. The building was usually about sixteen by eighteen feet, built of round logs from eight to ten inches in diameter, laid one on top of another after the manner of a rail pen, notches cut in each end called the " saddle," which was made to fit the upper side of the log previouslv placed. In this manner the building went up in a tolerably expeditious and permanent manner. The overlapping ends of logs at the corners of the building were seldom sawed off. The man in the neighborhood who was known as a good " corner man," was much sought after by those having buildings to erect. After the house reached the height of about seven feet (the usual height of a one stor}' house), the corner man began to shape the gable of the house by trimming the ends of these logs to correspond to the desired pitch of the roof, smaller logs were placed across the building on which the roof was to rest, the ends resting on the logs forming the gable and holding them in position. The last log was called the ridge pole. The roof was made of clapboards and held in position bv poles, laid on top. The opening for the door was cut into the room at such a point as the convenience of the school seemed to suggest, the windows were made by cutting out one log on each side, or as was sometimes the case, by chopping away half of two logs. Instead of glass, was used greased paper pasted over these long windows, through which the light entered. The fire place was made at one end of the room. If the room was large two fire places were built, one at each end. The chimneys were built outside of the house and on the ground, the side next the school room left open, several logs in the end of the building and of proper width, having been removed. The chimne\' built of sticks laid in mud and thoroughly plastered with mud, to secure against danger from hre. These fire places were sometimes long enough to allow a " back-log " ten feet long, and frequently a horse was emploj'ed to drag the log into the house. The hearth was of baked mud. The floors were made of puncheons (thick plank split from the bodies of trees.) The seats were made of the bodies of trees split through the center, and holes bored into the bark side into which were driven large wooden legs. These were generally so high from the floor that the little fellow's feet could swing clear, while he tried to be comfortable, as he sat there imbibing enthusiasm from his " Webster's spellingbook " and his surroundings. The writing desk was a puncheon resting on pins driven into the wall and extending" along the window. A high seat of the kind described above, was occupied by those who did writing. The door was made of clapboards, pinned to a couple of cross pieces and swung on wooden hinges. No ceiling except the roof, so that when the chimney failed to " draw " the smoke might go out through the cracks in the roof. This is not an overdrawn picture. In Rush County were school houses with no floor except earth, and no fire place at all, but instead, a fire kept going out doors, and live coals carried in and piled in the center of the room on the ground. Man}' of the first school houses were built without the use of saw, and not a nail used in the construction. In locating these first school houses and in naming some of the pioneer teachers, it is hardly among the probabilities that there are no errors. The old citizens of the county from all parts have furnished the information, neither is it pfobable that nearly all the first schools have been mentioned. Enough has been chronicled to give the young people a clearer conception of their privileges and duties in the schools of to-day. Very much of what now for the first time goes on record, must certainh' have been lost in a very few years. When one of the early settlers of Rush County, who has lived to see the county develop from a wilderness mto one of the foremost in all that pertains to the happiness and culture of the people, when one of these pioneers is gone, many facts important and interesting' to the people are beyond our reach and gone forever.

Was/iiiigion Tozvuship. - Robert Smith taught a school in 1833 in a house which stood where Jot Caldwell's house now stands. Jol9n Nelson Pennwell also taught several schools here. J. W. Pennwell was the first teacher at the Allen school in 1840. Mr. Bolander taught in the Allen school house about 1S44. This house stood on the eightj- acres of land formerly belonging to David Kirkpatrick, now to James Wikoff, opposite the present residence of Mrs. McCrory. A tan-yard was just east of this house, belonging to John i\llen. This afforded a fine play ground. This man Allen was the father of Aunt Cynthia Gray, well known to many people of Union and Washington townships. Other teachers of this school were John L. Legg, Esq., for many ^-ears a respected citizen of Washington Township; Edwin Elder, from New York, an excellent man and a good teacher. He taught his pupils to address the teacher when they came into the room, first, to remove the hat; second, take one step to the right; third, say "good morning, Mr. Elder." He was strict, impartial and kind. He afterward read medicine with Dr. Ephraim Clifford, of Fairview. Calvin Jackson, son of S(|uire Joseph Jackson, taught at the x'Vllen school house several terms, and participated the neighborhood debates.

' The Jackson school house stood in Rush County, one mile east of the present residence of B. F. Jackson. Gideon M. Colvin taught at the Jackson school house in 1S44. He was afterward School Commissioner in Kentucky, removed to Missouri, and died there in 1S83. Emily Napp taught here also. Samuel Westerfield taught here in 1S35; he is now residing in Henry County, hid. This was one of the first houses in the county that had a plank floor and glass windows. John Whiteman (now in Iowa), taught here in 1855. Other teachers: George Tredway taught here several years; Mary (Carver) Tyner, William Freeman, John Hillis,

Amos Drummond taught in Washington Township in an early day. His father, David, lived in Falmouth, and sold goods in the store now occupied b\' Jacob Oglesb}-, who preached in the Baptist meeting house, and cried sales for his neighbors. The son died comparatively voung, and the father removed to Clarksburgh, and built a store room. Wilford U. Lightfoot taught school in this township when quite a 3'oung man, over fort}' years ago;j was very well educated. Joseph Nixon, a very strict teacher, taught in a school house just north of Mrs. Savannah Lodeis, on the bank of the creek. This was called the Hatfield school. Nixon was from North Carolina. Levi Hatfield, Esq., owned the Loder farm, lived near the apple tree which now stands in the field where the Loder race-track now is. He was Clerk of the township, one of Trustees and Justice of the Peace. He taught school in the house near his home. He was the father of the late Mrs. William S. Hall. This was more than fort}- years age. John Davis taught in the Hatfield house.

Plummer's school house stood on the county line two miles north of Jackson school house, on the farm of Hiram Plummer, now belonging to Horton Ferguson. Among the early teachers here were : Uriah Garris, Martha McClure, Ira Carver, Miss Kate Clark, Miss Delia Babbitt, now of Raysville, Martindale, 1S40, Jabez Miner, John Edgar Rumsey, at the present time in Tipton, George Puntenney, cousin of George H., of Rushville, and James McClure. The Martin Vickery school house stood three-quarters of a mile west of the present new school building at Maple's Corner, and one mile and three-quarters west of the old Plummer school. L3mch taught here in 1841-42. He taught one summer and shut the windows down tight to punish the children. Other teachers were: Holland Hickman, George Corn, from Kentucky; the latter would defer punishment until the following da}', but never forgot it on this account; James Varner, Thomas Cook, and Pumel Peters. There was once a school taught in a cablin which stood east of Andrew Fletcher's, on the north county line. Where Ebenezer Church now stands, in the northeast corner of the township, were two schools, taught by John Edgar Rumse}', and John B. Scott, afterward killed by Hickman. These were back in the forties.

Among the first frame houses built for school purposes in Washington, stood the building now in Raleigh, the residence of Jesse P. Bales; this house stood a quarter of a mile west of the Martin Vickery's log house. Among the teachers were: Uriah Garris, Joseph Bowls, Washington Bayless. Joseph Bowls says that Mar- tin Vickery sent fifteen pupils to school to him. The late Wesle}' Williams taught school here. The Zion school house was built in 1S36, near the corner of the present graveyard at Raleigh, opposite the new Christian Church building. Alfred Reeves taught very acceptably here for three or four vears. Among other teachers school here when she was five years old, these were in the thirties and before 1843. Samuel Legg built the Zion school house. He was the father of W. S. Hall's first wife. The Weaver school house stood on the northeast corner of William Jeffries' farm now belonging to the estate of Edward Dyer. Among the teachers were: John Eaton, Wesley Williams and John M. Hudelson, Thomas Smith, a Baptist preacher, subscribed for one scholar for the whole term and sent four for one-fourth of the term, this was early in the forties. The Melser school house stood in the woods on Leroy Pugh's land, and J. M. Hudelson taught here in 1836. A. B. English of Center Township, was a pupil.

The Maze school house, or Parker house, on the land of William Maze, in Washington Township, near the Center Township line, and just opposite to the log school house which stood in Center, there stood a frame school house. In the winter of 1844, John Griffith taught the first school in it, and several other terms. John Cannutt taught here and had quite an interesting experience which is about as follows : On Christmas he was told that he must treat, and, in order that he might the more easih' be brought to time, a voung man named Horton was on hand to assist the pupils, but ostensibly a visitor. Cannutt, the teacher, asked Horton to recite, whereupon Horton cried out to the pupils to seize him! They did "seize him," but Horton was floored by a billet of wood in the hands of the teacher. Cannutt was arrested and fined $25 by a Justice of the Peace. His friends insisted that the case should be appealed to the Circuit Court, which was done. The matter was tried in Rushville. The teacher was acquitted by the jury who rendered their verdict without leaving their seats, and every one of the boys who had "seized him" were fined. This frame school house is now a part of the residence of Mrs. James Mcllvaine. Among other teachers at this place were: Alfred Plew, William Maze, Andrew Alexander, John Smile}'.

A log school house stood north of Nipp's mill at the cross roads. The first teachers were Judson Wisner and William Newkirk, and Samuel Gra}^ brother of John T. Gray's father. Hannah Silvers taught in 1855. John Williamson, an Irishman, taught in the

Washington Township schools as early as 1830. He was a fine mathematician and was so absorbed with his arithmetic work that he paid no attention to an}' other branch. So thoroughh- was his time taken up in his favorite work that one of his pupils, a mischievous boy, took advantage of him so far as to read the same lesson every day in class, during the entire term. The teacher never discovered the continuous repetition. John Wood, from Massachusetts, taught at the Allen school house in about 1S36. He was a cultured and educated gentleman, and verj- popular. He was noted for his politeness and gentleness. In 184S Mi^s. Leah Baj'less organized a school for the benefit of her own and her neighbors' children, and taught in a cabin of her own. This cabin stood on the west side of Flat Rock, about where the barn of William Maze now stands. One mile west of Lail's school house, on the corner of James Wikoff's farm, Robert Raj', in 1850, Charles Kenning, Walter Benson and Mr. Sheffield were teachers.

There are recollection no doubt, of other schools in Washington Township, that have not been brought to the writer's notice. The more modern schools have been under the care and management of careful and prudent Trustees. Among these we mention W. S. Hall, who served as Trustee for many years, who built the first set of public school frame buildings, and who, in 1S76, consolidated the schools in such a manner that five houses answer the purpose for which there had previously been nine. The establishment of the Raleigh graded school gave an impetus to educational matters in this township, which has placed the schools in the verv front rank. Washington Township can have more months of school on a given rate of taxation than any township in Rush Count}". To-dav, the school buildings are all new except one, and another year will doubtless see this one replaced by a new house in keeping with the times and enlightened public opinion.

The Raleigh graded school was opened in the fall of 1S77, under the management of J. T. Kitchen, a teacher of experience and good judgment. It proved a success and many of the teachers of the present day, date their success from the excellent instruction received from Mr. and Mrs. Kitchen. Mr. Hall was succeeded by B. F. Jackson, who served four years, and who kept up the reputation of Washington Township schools. He, in time was succeeded b\' Smith Fr}', who acted as Trustee for the allotted space of four years, after whom the people again called Mr. Jackson from retirement; he is now Trustee. Among the men and women who have taught in the public schools of Washington Township, we mention Hon. Frank J. Hall, of Rushville; Calvin Smith, of Union Township; Lafe G. Hall, Mrs. Lafe G. Hall, John H. Jackson,

Miss Lizzie Ging, W. A. Hall, William Hood, Mrs. Delbert Miles, Mattie Mclntee, G. C. Brothers, the late Hiram Paxton, and many others. Those who have served as Principals of the Raleigh school, following Mr. Kitchen are: John L. Shauck, W. S. Meredith, J. A. Buck, J. W. Ball, John Peck, Israel Gregg and Harry Williamson. John T. Washam is now Principal.

Center TozL'iis/iip. - There were several schools taught in this township before 1840. The oldest was probably taught bv a man named Esham, in a house on the farm of David Price, now belonging to Keturah Miles of Carthage. This was in 1830. The house stood about sixty rods southeast of the present residence of Hon, Samuel S. McBride. Pr^'or Rigdon taught in the old Baptist meeting house, which stood on the south end of the Blue River grave yard, in 1831. On the north line of Samuel McBride's farm was a log school house in 1840. Keturah Pickering, Samuel McBride and John W. Kirkpatrick taught here. Jonah Price taught in Robert Knox's cabin, about forty rods east of John Gilson's present residence in 1S32 or '33. Roland Haywood's father and William Jones, both taught at the Blue River grave yard, about ,1834 or '35. Benjamin Zion in 1844, taught just opposite the Baptist Church, commonly called Hickory Church, on the east side of the road; this was a frame house, the first frame school house in Center Township. James Young taught two terms here. Other teachers were Margaret Sutton, Edward Langston and Washington Bavless.

In 1839, Elijah Alfred taught the first school in what was afterward called the Reeve school house. This log house stood on John Brown's land, now the Gilson land, near the cross roads east of William Reeve's present residence, and one mile east of Shiveley's corner. Among other teachers here, were Mills S. Reeves, John Arnold, Samuel S. McBride, A. J. Young, Washington Bavless, Enoch Kent, William Reeves, and Thomas Goddard two terms. On the west side of the pike, north of Dr. Dillon's, at the corner of Jefferson Dalrimple's farm, a log school house was built in 1S32 or 1833. Levi James, Ben. Zion, John Knox and William Kirkpatrick, were among the early teachers. Samuel S. McBride taught in a pioneer school house half a mile east of Elder Harvev Wrights, on the L. F. Hinchman land; other teachers were: Lewis Kitchen,

Bell taught in a log school house one mile east of what is now No. 3, or Campbell's school house, about 1845. William McBride taught here also. About a quarter of a mile northwest of Matthew Oldham's present residence, Elizabeth Peck taught in a house of Thomas Sargent's m 1847. Beaty Kirkpatrick now owns the land on which this house stood - Young and Amaziah Sargent taught here. Just west of the farm, known as the Washington Hood farm, and in Center Township, stood a school house of the pioneer type. Here, about 1840, was a teacher named Banker. He was a pecuhar man, and proud of his money possessions. He usually carried a considerable amount with him, and took much apparent satisfaction in showing the same. While teaching at this place, he boarded at the late Daniel Hall's. His dinner was prepared for him as usual, and, on this fatal morning, the schoolmaster walked awav toward the school house. He was never seen hv the people or the children again. It is generally supposed that Banker was murdered and robbed, and his bod\' secreted in the swamps. No one was ever arrested or tried for murder in this case, but one man who had been suspected of the crime, left his family and the neighborhood in a short time and committed suicide. "There is no refuge from confession but suicide, and suicide is confession."

There were man}' other teachers in this school, among whom we mention: Hugh Washington Bell (1843), Pryor Rigdon (now in Independence, Ind.), James Hamilton (son of Robert), John Griffith; Alfred Plew, who was known as a great disciplinarian, Gabriel Sutton; also John W. Clark, in 1850-51, a well-known teacher of Posey Township. The house in which Mr. Clark taught was the second log house on this spot, the first liaving burned down a year or two before. The Duncan school house stood on the north side of the road, about three-quarters of a mile west of the town of May's Station. John M. Bell was one of the early teachers in this pioneer school house. Samuel S. McBride, well known in Rush County, had eighty pupils at one time here. There were four families in this district who sent an aggregate number of twenty-four, six each. These famihes were: William Hudelson, Jonathan Kirkham, William Jones and William Sloan. James H. English taught in the Duncan school house in 1842-43, also Gabriel Sutton. Allen Briskev taught in the log school house at Shiloh in the forties.

An Englishman attempted to teach in the second Shiloh school house, but he gave it up and declared he could do nothing with these little "American devils." John Methvin taught in a log school house which stood about three-quarters of a mile west of the present Shiloh school house, in 1839-40. He subsequent!}* taught in Rush\ille. Another teacher was James Buck, a discreet and conscientious man. He was the father of Mrs. Jacob Fisher, of Richland Township. Other teachers here were : John Cochrane, from South Carolina; A. P. Tyler, from Knightstown; Merrill Kent, from Connecticut; Rebecca Jeffries taught in the first frame house ; Gabriel Sutton taught the first school in the new, or second Shi- loh school house; Keturah (Pickering) Miles taught in the first frame house here, and also in the Martin district, two miles east; John W. Kirkpatrick and J. L. Parsons taught at Shiloh; James Paxton, from Preble Countj% Ohio, was an excellent teacher, and taught at the old Shiloh school house.

In the reorganization of township matters and final preparations for a general S3'Stem of public instruction, Center Township had elected John M. Hudelson, Jabez Reeves and G. F. Sutton, Trustees, and Samuel S. McBride, Clerk. On Ma}' 28, 1853, the voters of the township were called upon to decide on the question of tax for new school houses. On the question " will we be taxed," sevent3--one voted for tax and 115 against tax. Sixteen voted in favor of seven houses and sixty-one for nine houses. On September 12, 1S53, the Board decided that they "could not conveniently establish schools at present." On October i, 1S53, Center had 536 pupils of school age, and no public schools, at least she had no school houses; the old cabins were in poor condition. On February 6, 1S54, Nelson Sisson and fort}-- five others, asked the Board to establish schools. March 16, 1854, Nelson Sisson, at a township meeting, moved that -' we are both able and willing to build school houses." The motion was lost. It was decided at the same meeting to use the old houses a while longer. April 24, 1S54, the Board decided to contract for eight new frame houses, and did so contract with the builders, at an average cost of $370 each. In about two j-ears the houses were completed. In 1856, the teachers of Center Township were: Walter Benson, H. S. Barrett, Miss Watson, William Cann, G. F. Sutton, Alexander Britton and Stephen Broadbent. In 1859, under the amended school and township law, Jesse Reeves was the first Trustee. Center is about the size of Washington, and has ten one-room schoolhouses - all frame. The present year a new house has been erected at Mav"s. Thomas Wright is Township Trustee, and is now serving his second term. His predecessor is George W. Rhodes, wlio also served four years. John M. Gilson preceded Rhodes.

Riplcv Tozuiis/iip. - Manv of the first settlers in Ripley Township came from North Carolina. Thev were Friends, their fathers had settled in that State before the Constitution of the United States had been adopted, recognizing or permitting the enslavement of the African Race. To the institution of slaver}^ they were not friendly, and this is probably the prime cause of their migration. Into Ripley Township they came in goodly numbers and when they had prepared their cabins for their homes thev immediately set to work to building meeting houses and school houses. About the first school in Ripley Township was taught in the Wal- nut Ridge log meeting house in 1826, by Joshua Pool. Micajah C. Binford, who is among the earliest settlers in this township ( though not the earliest) says "that Pool taught awhile and Nathan Hill,"' finished the school in the early spring of 1827. Other teachers here were: Isaac White, 1828; Robert Harrison, 1S31 ; Elisha Hobbs, Nathan Warrington, Thomas Moore, Anna Macy.

The first school house at Walnut Ridge was built north of where the pike now is, and the first teacher in this house was Isaac White. A pioneer school house stood on Benjamin Snyder's farm near where the roads cross just north of the present residence of John Walker; the land now belongs to John Clark's heirs. Here is a sulphur spring, and here the pioneer lads and lasses saw "their little faces reflected from its pebbled bottom." John Walker says

Beckner, now residing in Arlington, boarded at " Uncle Johnnie Walker's " and went to school here. Andrew Thorp was a teacher here also in 182S or 1829. A hewn log house stood where Franklin's Chapel now stands; it was used for school purposes, and Levi Hill (son of Jesse) taught here in 1833. John Wesley Whiteside, a lame man and a pump-maker, and Caleb Scott, from Kentucky, taught here. A log school house was built in 1832 on Ulrich Siler's land, now Charles Henlev's farm. This was northeast of not long after the schools at Walnut Ridge and Walker's, probably in 1827. Another teacher here was Charles ^IcComis, a Justice of the Peace.

In 1827 a man named Davis taught a school on the farm now belonging to Micajah Henley. A school house stood south of the Walnut Ridge road on the east side of Blue River in a verv earl}' day. Judith M. Henley- was one of the teachers. She was a lady of superior culture and education; was educated in Philadelphia; had been in charge of important schools in North Carolina. Her brother, George Mendenhall, was the preceptor of Hon. George C. Clark, of Rushville. "Aunt Juda," as she was familiarlv known, exerted a most excellent influence on the lives of the voung people under her care. She was the wife of Elias Henlev, and the step mother of Thomas W. Henley. In 1834 ^'''^ conducted a Sunda}' School here - one of the first Sunday Schools in Rush County - probablv the year before (1S33) Elisha Hobbs had organized one at Walnut Ridge. Andrew Thorp taught a school in a small cabin about 200 yards southwest of the home of the late Jesse Henley, in 1827. On Sunday afternoons it was not uncommon to have spelling schools in the school houses, in those days. A school was taught on the farm of Samuel Brown in Section 10, Township

15 north, Range 8 east. Eli Henbj^ taught the first school, sometime in the thirties. Jeremiah Griffin taught the second and third schools. Alfred Hunt taught a school on his father's farm for $10 a month. He was obliged to go to Greenfield to be examined, as the congressional school fund was the only public money to be had, and the sixteenth section of this township was in Hancock County. He received a certificate to teach as far as "the Single Rule of Three." This was in 1844. The patrons of this school were very zealous in the cause of education, and were fre- (juentlv at the school to encourage both teacher and pupil. The patrons furnished the wood ready for the huge fire-place. Among the pupils of this school were William Bundy, of Carthage; William S. Hill, Allen Taylor, now in Illinois: Jesse Keen, of Fort Wayne; Joseph R. Hunt; Asa, Isaac and Jesse Allison and many others.

Sarah Cox taught a school in a house on the land of Ezra Hunt in 1840. Amos Hill now owns the land. Jeremiah Griffin and Miss Margaret Hubbard taught in the Hunt school house. A log school house stood near the line between Rush and Hancock counties, built in 1837. Penelope Newby was the first teacher, she taught in 1838-39. Daniel C. Hastings taught in 1839-40, Dizy Thornburg, Sarah Hixon, Ellen Hatfield, Allen and Jefferson Hatfield, Samuel Schooley, Joseph Hill and Daniel iVdkinson, were among the early teachers here. In 1851, this house was abandoned and the "Pleasant View," school was organized. In 1855, the school at Beech Valley was established and Luzena Thornburg (now residing in Carthage) taught the first school. She is a graduate of the Friends' College at Earlham, and a member of the first class, 1862. Joseph Overman taught school in what was known as the Barrett school house in 1838-39. This house stood on a farm, a part of which is now the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. He received $20 per month, and taught sixty-five days. He also taught a school in 1839-40. The Acres' school house stood on the township line between Ripley and Center, and John Hart taught here in 1838, and John Bussel in 1839. Other teachers were: James Foxworthj', Joseph Young, Claiburn Acres, and Alfred R. Peters, now a wealth}' farmer of Union Township. At the Stinger's school house Harvey and William Barrett taught in 1850-51. John Lindley taught in Ripley Township and at Stinger's in 1854-55. Robinson Shelton taught in a house on the Addison farm, in a very earl}- day, and afterward taught in the hewn log house on the Stmger farm.

ville. In this house were several schools taught, all colored. Among the teachers we find: Irving Jeffries, son of Walker Jeffries, Clark Vaughn and Wright Jeffries. One mile east of the above location stood another Baptist church house, on a farm now belonging to Betle Hill, of Carthage, which was used for school purposes. The teachers (colored) were Joshua and Pleasant Keen. This was in the thirties. Jordan Hays, colored, taught in the old log meeting house (Baptist), which stood on the farm then belonging to James D. Roberts, now to Henrj- Morris, in 1836-37. The first school house in this neighborhood was built on the west line of Anthony Roberts' original eight}' acres, and Anthony taught the school in 1S3S-39. The land now belongs to Micajali Jessup. Henry Bird also taught here. This was a school for colored children. After Bishop Paul Quinn had organized the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the meeting house provided, Alfred and Rebecca Gordon, brother and sister, and members of the Society of Friends, conducted a school here. The house stood on the ground now occupied by the frame church, called the Mount Pleasant African Methodist Episcopal Church. Afterward a log school house was built on the same lot, and Wright Jeffries taught the first school in it. Among other teachers were William and Francis Roberts. Another teacher, who taught in the church house mentioned above after the Gordons, was Pleasant McCowan, from Union Township, this county. His father owned the land now belonging to J. T. and T. M. McMillin and Jesse Kirkpatrick, east of Ging Station. Among the efficient teachers in this township the name of Daniel Clark occupies an enviable position. He taught in Ripley Township eight years, from 1847, probabl}- a year or two earlier, and was a very thorough teacher and popular with the people. Robert Sanford taught a school on the farm now belonging to Mrs. Festus Hall, in 1830.

Poscv Tozcniship. - A primitive school building stood on the Samuel Gordon land, immediately south of the residence of Trustee John M. Conawa)'. John Sohn now owns the land. One of the early teachers was Elder Gabriel McDuffy, well known throughout the county, as a pioneer preacher of the Christian Church. He taught here about 1S33. Another teacher was John ^^'esley Whiteside (1835), who had taught also in Ripley. Wliiteside was very strict in discipline. A similar house stood on the Brookville road, west of Arlington, on the Gordon land, now belonging to Harlan Lee. William Mears was the first teacher, about 1835; George Ewing, in 183S; Reuben Jones, 1840-41, Miss Ehza Gallaher and several others. These were the first, however. Aquilla Collins taught a school just west of William Collins, on the farm of Jacob Beckner, father of Jacob, of Arlington; this was in the thirties. Another teacher of this school was Newton, son of Gabriel McDuffy (the pioneer preacher). William Brunt taught in 1835, near where Eli Collins now resides. The house stood on the farm of William Collins. John Brunt taught here as early as 1827. This is one of the first schools in Posev Township. Jesse Kellum taught at this place, and there are some mature men in and about Arlington, who have a very distinct recollection of this man. An old teacher familiarly called Jimmv Morgan, was a teacher of this neighborhood. In the northwestern part of the township, near Riverside Meeting house, on the land of Josiah Small, was a log school house; the land now belongs to John B. Bentlev. Among the teachers here, we find Madison Elah, of Palestine, Ambrose Cain, and Caleb Scott. John Brunt taught at what was known as the Center Church (Methodist Episcopal). Here was a campmeeting ground, and the house was used as a school house. It stood on what is now the Stanley land. North of x\rlington the old burving ground is all that is left to mark the spot, this school was more than fifty years ago, and was the scene of some mighty contests in spelling.

Near Beaver Meadow south of the road and just east John Campbell taught in 1837-38. Drury Holt, another pioneer preacher in the Christian Church, taught in a small school house on his farm in Ripley Township, now Posey, in 1838. He taught several other schools in this neighborhood. Miss Elsie Swain taught in a cabin on the Johathan Ball farm, now belonging to Mrs. Carrie Ball. She began in 1835, and taught several schools here. She afterward married Henry Leisure. Augustus Porter taught just west of Hannegan Church, in a round log house in 1840. Samuel Buchanan and Mrs. Elsie Leisure, ncc Swain, also taught here, and Isaac Osborn. William Fitzpatrick came to this school house one with blood in his eye, and because his (Fitzpatrick's) brother had been punished at school, proceeded to chastise the teacher most unmercifully. He used a rod of the regulation order. It is said that the pupils were so badly frightened that they disappeared through the paper windows. Cyrus Ball was one of the pupils. Richard M. Clark, brother of John W. and George C. Clark, began a school in 1836, in a cabin on the land of John Guard, and died before the term expired. Jesse Shelton now owns the land. John Wood taught in a cabin which stood close to where John W. Clark resides, in 1S37. Afterward the log house was built south about forty rods, and among the earl}^ teachers were : Jethro Folger, Eliza W. "Clark, Lot Wright, Reuben Macy and John W. Clark, two terms. The three frame school houses in Posey, known as

No's one, two and three, originally belonged to Riplev Township, the south line of Ripley being formerl}' two miles further south than now; these three houses were built b}' Henry Henley, Trustee of Ripley. Drury Holt taught in a very early time in a cabin in the center of Section 8, Range 9, near the southeast corner of Cyrus Ball's farm, this was in the twenties. Henry Glendenning was one of his pupils, also the Moore brothers.

Levi Burt taught school in Arlington in 1835, in a house which stood on the north side of the street, west of the branch. Willis Storms now owns the lot, and part of his residence is this old school house. This was the first school in Arlington. William Westlich, a . Methodist preacher, taught a school in 1836, in the log meeting house, which stood on the corner of the grave- 3'ard, opposite Mazur's store. This old building has long since been demolished. James Kenned}' taught in a cabin which stood on the northwest corner of what is now the public school yard, as earl}' as 1837-38. The Noble Junkin school house stood at the graveyard near where Gus Williams now resides. James Morgan, John Walker and Alfred Plew taught here m the forties. Eliza W. Clark taught in this house and boarded at Jesse Morgan's. She was a sister of George C. Clark, of Rushville. A fine fourroom brick school building is now one of Arlington's attractive buildings. It was built in 1884, by Trustee John F. Price. Eli Collins is now serving the second year as Principal. He is assisted by Misses Minnie Lowden and Delia Johnston. Other teachers in the township in the last few years are : W. A. Hall, Frank English, Samuel L. Innis, James and Thomas Alender, Anderson Gardner,

Downey, Kate Glass, Hattie Downey, John Glass, Mattie Eaton, Rhoda Gary, Gussie lies, Morton Clark, Laura Clark, now Mrs. Morris, M. D. Michael, Lot Hufford and wife, J. P. Kuntz, Lulu Robinson and others. Trustee J. M. Conaway has this year erected a fine brick school house, and consolidated two districts, two and five. This house stands about two miles north of Arlington.

yacksou Tozviisfiip. - A frame house was built just across the line from Hannegan meeting house, and James Van Camp taught the first school. Other teachers were Dr. Bulard and James Hunt, about 1845. Pryor Rigdon, in 1845, taught half a mile south of

Roland Haywood, Isaac Osborn. A log house stood at the cross roads east of William Powels', Judge Andrews taught here. E. C. Powell taught in this house in 1838. Other teachers were: John Wood, James Downey in 1830, Wallace, 1836; Lawyer William Cassadv, now of Rushville, taught here with eminent success in 1842. Among Mr. Cassady's pupils at this school were Lewis J. Newhouse and Thomas Meredith. James M. Caldwell, well known in Rushville and Jackson townships, taught in this house in an early day, probably about 1840. Probably the first school house in Jackson Township stood on the bank of Mud Creek, west side of the road near the old graveyard. E. C. Powell was one of the early teachers. A log school house once stood where Boon Gilson's house now stands, and among the early teachers there, were: Alex Brown who taught in 1S34. ^"^'^ ^'^ "^^ 'i" excellent teacher and loved by all, he was compelled to give up his school and died soon after. Dr. Robert Moffett, a brother of Dr. John Moffett's father, taught the next school here. William Moffett, an earlv settler in Jackson Township, taught school in several neighborhoods. He was the father of Dr. Moffett, nov/ in Rushville. Other teachers at the

William Moffett taught in a cabin on his own land in 1S25; the cabin was about 100 feet north of the old homestead. He conducted a Sunday School here in the same year. On the land of William Moffett, there was subse(juently erected a log house, especially for school purposes; the land on which this house stood, now belongs to Mrs. Foutz and Mrs. Harris, daughters of Mr. Moffett, of whom we are writing. James K. Check, from Paris, Kentucky, taught here in 1830. He taught one school here a continuous term of eighteen months. John Lewark was another of the pioneer teachers here; another teacher's name was Rhodes. East of D. C. Norris', near Flat Rock, was a school taught by Mr. Goble along in the thirties. William Moffett taught several terms of school, for which he never received a cent of money. He was not very robust, and he would teach school for his neighbors, and the neighbors would clear his land. Thus it was the pioneers assisted one another. A school house stood at the cross roads west of Benjamin Kendal's in an earl}- day. Larkin Kendal taught the school for eight and a third dollars a month, and boarded himself; this was about 1S39-40. Ezekiel Hinton taught here two winters, and James Adams was one of the early teachers. James Martin taught school in a cabin southeast of where Hamilton Station now is, or about thirt}^ rods, in 1837; Dennis Fitzgerald now lives in the house. James Martin also taught in a house which stood east of William David's residence. Another teacher here was Horatio Alley. John Gorman now lives where a school house once stood. Stephen Wilson taught here in 1839. -l^on H. Carr taught in Jackson Township in the winter of 1857-58, and was Town Clerk of Rushville when the new school buildino- was erected.

Union Tozi'iisJiip. - North of Hon. A. M. Kennedy's present residence on or near Ben Davis' Creek, in Union Township, was a school as early as 1822 or '23. The authority for this was the late John Nipp, who settled, March, 1821, on the farm now belonging to Dr. Smith. Cornelius Howard was the teacher. John Lewark, grandfather of Mart Lewark, taught here also. Clark Kitchen taught in a pioneer school house which stood on the east part of the late Joseph Hinchman's farm, taught here before 1833. James Matthews taught here. He was a professional teacher and taught many years with eminent success. He taught a school not quite half a mile east of Dr. John Arnold's farm home, in 1S33. The school was in a log cabin, and this is probably the onh' school taught here. He treated his pupils in a rather odd way. He purchased a large amount of calico, gave each girl enough for an apron, and each boy enough for a vest, and himself covered from head to foot with a gown of the same material and marching at the head of the school no doubt presented a rather unique appearance. He furnished the music b}- blowing on a paw-paw leaf. He also treated to sweetened vinegar and ginger cake.

In 1829-30, James Matthews taught in a school house which he helped to build on the land of Wills Buzan, now belonging to William C. Austin. This was the first house in the neighborhood, and the district comprised a large territor\-. James Hinchman, Thomas Duncan and Wills Buzan were the District Trustees. The congressional school fund, when it was distributed, yielded this district the enormous sum of $14. Other teachers here we name: Judson

Ellis, Edwin Elder (taught in Washington Township), Daniel Gary, a Universalist preacher, and very fond of scriptural controversies, and E. H. M. Berry. Of course there were man}' later teachers, but it is not the object of this chapter to name everj^ person who has taught in the schools of Rush County. The log school house gave way to the frame house, and several of the last named teachers taught in the frame. The first house had no floor except the ground for two or three years. Along in the forties, Nathan Thomas, Vincent Hinchman and Jacob Blackledge taught here. While the latter was teaching, a short time before his school was out, the house was burned down.

The present Hinchman school house was built about 185 1 on the old site, and afterward removed to the spot which it now occupies. The Lewark school house stood east of the Kennedy bridge about half a mile, and near the corner just south of Emmett Kennedy's county seat. John Lewark taught here; later were, Washington Duncan, Richard Rowland, John Davis (before 1845), John Grif- fith, William and John Street, and Alfred Joloff. This school house was called the Rowland house, also. A school was taught in the log meeting house (Baptist), which stood near where the Hinchman bmying ground now is; this was as early as 1826 or 1S27. James Matthews taught here. Here was neither fire place nor chimney, but a hole in the floor plastered with mud, into which charcoal was piled, and this burning, made a bed of coals which furnished suthcient heat; this house was the place of some well contested spelling matches between the schools of this and adjoining neighborhoods. James Minor, in 1S26-27, taught in the school house which stood on the bank of Mark Creek, on the land of Thomas Bracken, now belonging to John Looney, Sr. James Fairley (father of John Fairley, of Rushville), taught here. On Christmas he treated his pupils to whisky and maple sugar. This was after a conflict of authorit}' between the pupils and teacher. It is probable that John Lewark taught here also, but this is hardly so well established as the other facts connected with the school. A school house stood on the northeast corner of the Van D^'ke land. It was agreed that when this house shall have remained idle for two years it should revert to the Van Dyke estate. Dr. Helm now owns the land; the house stood almost due east from the present residence of Alfred Wilson. James Fairlej' taught here in 1828; after this was George Myers (son of Henry Myers), and Miss Kinett; this old school house is a part of the tenant house by the present Blackledge school house, on the farm now belonging to John Flinchman. A log church and school house stood at the Alger graveyard, and schools were taught here as earh' as 1825. Reuben Logan, the weH known jurist, taught here in 1830-32. A school house stood on the northwest corner of William Fox's farm tifty-seven years ago. There is no information at hand regarding the teachers here.' At the west end of the bridge which crosses Flat Rock, just a short distance northwest of Plum Creek Church, was a school house on the Newkirk land. Joel Carson now owns the land. Pryor Rigdon taught here in 1834-35. The Mock school was well known in an early da)', and large schools were taught here. Among the teachers were: Robert Gordon, 1840, Huse

Clark Kitchen, brother of the late Lewis Kitchen, of Rushville. He was locked out on Christmas as was the custom almost universally; instead of a conflict with the pupils he went home, shelled some corn and went to mill. Other teachers here were : Levi Bussell, 1839, Josiah Thrasher, 1S40, and David Lane. Garrett Cruzan taught in a double cabin on the land now belonging to Lawrence Ging, just west of the house about 200 yards; this was in 1831.

The measles broke up the school. This was the first school in this neighborhood. James Bussell went to school here. Sarah Gifford taught in a cabin which stood on the west part of the farm now belonging to James Bussel. Robert Dunn, now of Rushville, went to school here ; this was fifty-two years ago. A school house stood northeast of Griffin Station, and William Mauzy, now of Rushyille, taught the school. Peter Newhouse taught in a cabin south of A. M. Kenned3''s, about one-quarter mile, in 1830. The Furry school house, or Stringtown, as it was sometimes called, stood north of where Solomon Furry now resides, on the line between Michael Furry and John TV'Iuller. It was in a thick underbrush of spice and paw-paw bushes, and was built in 1833-34. James Matthews taught the first school in 1834-35. Other teachers were: Peter Newhouse, John Smiley, John Gra}' (brother of George and James), John Cantlej', William Street, William Curry, Reuben and John Riley, Joseph King (afterward a Representatiye in the Legislature from Johnson County), Harvey Nutting, Levi Bussel and our county, and father of seven boys who taught in the schools of our county with credit, taught at the Stringtown school house in "those other days." What was known as the Abernathy school house stood just south of the present No. i, in this township, on the south side of the road. iVmong the first teachers here were : Judson Wisner, 1847, Cynthia Ann Sangston, 1848, Wood Clemmons, Mary Jane Rush, Hiram Hall, Gerry Longfellow, from Delaware. John T. McMillin now has the old Abernathy school house in which he and his w'lie went to school. It is his shop. David Priest taught in a cabin which stood on the south end of the Waller farm, called the Hittle cabin. George T. Moffett now lives on the farm. Harvey Nutting taught in the old Ben Davis' Creek frame church in 1848-49.

A few rods due north from Theodore Schonert's blacksmith shop at Ging Station, stood a cabin in which the colored children of this neighborhood were taught. They had been accustomed to going to the white schools, but tor reasons which were satisfactory to them they withdrew and formed this school. They also used this house as a place of worship. They were the children and grandchildren of Archibald McCowan, who entered and bought a large tract of land here, and who in his da}' was very wealth}'. This school was about 1840-45. David Noble taught in 1825, in a cabin which stood where the Fairview graveyard now is, a few feet west of the new church house. He taught here several years. The next teacher was Traverse Silvey. Others were: Edward Cohen, Edwin Elder and Sarah Gifford. David Drummond taught here. He is referred to in the notes on Washington Township schools. Thomas B. Hehn, now of Logansport, Cass County, known as the "Historian of Northern Indiana,"' and a most excellent gentleman, in 1843, taught a school of a high order at Farmington, in a house in which George Loone}^ now resides. In 1845 Elder George Campbell took charge of this school and taught here several j-ears. When the Fairview Academy wds instituted this school closed permanently. West of the toll-gate south of Griffin's Station on the Mauzy land, Sarah Merrick taught a school in about 1S47. Harvey Nutting taught in a log house south of the present Farmington school house about where the tenant house of Thomas Smith stands, in 1851-52. Horatio Wiley taught here. In 1853 a frame house was built at Farmington just north of where the present brick house stands, and Jacob Vail taught the first school in it. He was both preacher and teacher. Other teachers here were William M. Brooks and Allen Wilej', son of James Wiley. James Martin, in 1S36, taught just north of where James Hinchman now lives on the Dunreith pike.

The first schools in Glenwood were taught in the old cabin which stood on the lot on which Dr. Orr now resides. The house was built by the neighbors, and schools conducted in accordance with the pioneer methods. In a few years a frame house was built on the same lot. This having served its purpose was removed, and in 1850, Thomas Ochiltree built a frame house, which is now a part of Dr. Orr's residence. In 1876, Mr. Ochiltree built the addition to this house, and then for the first time did the public school of Glenwood consist of more than one department. These houses all occupied the same lot. In 1882, at the April election, John E. Smith was elected Township Trustee. He had been a teacher and knew the needs of Glenwood. While he was Trustee he built the elegant school building of which all the citizens are proud. This is a modern building of four rooms, standing in the center of beautiful grounds. During the same term of office Mr. Smith built the Ging Station school house. Among the first teachers here were:

Ward M-^illiams, Daniel Gary - from Butler. County, Ohio, Hved in the old brick house on the farm of John Daubenspeck, Joseph Justus, Ruth and Ann Dillon - sisters of the late Dr. Dillon of Center Township, Mary Connor, afterward Mrs. Chris. Wiles, Peter Rush, Daniel Waggoner, Robert John and James Gamble, Robert Gray, a Presbyterian minister, died in Kansas in 1885. John Lowden, George H. Puntenney, 1859-60, now of Rushville, Samuel Ochiltree, Harvey Nutting, who boarded part of the time at Connersville, nine miles from school, Miss Irving, Edward

Wolf and John Reed. It is impossible at this date to give the order and date of each one who taught the young people here. The present school is under the skillful management of Harrj- Williamson, assisted b}' Misses Carrie McKee and Nama C. Meredith.

The school at Ging Station was formed b}' consolidating the IMcMillin school and the Waller school. It affords the pupils of the adjoining districts an opportunity to pursue their studies a little further than could profitably be done in the district schools. As before stated, John E. Smith built this house. Walter E. Ging is the efficient Principal, and Miss Gussie lies is assistant. Among the teachers who have taught in this township since the pioneer times are: John E. Calvin, William Oliver, George, Frank and Alfred Smith (sons of Ebenezer), John T. and Robert N. Hinchman, J. F. Bigger, John W. Glass, J. T. Vest, Ralph George, John C. Ochiltree, John L. Shauck, John A. Axline, M. C. Kitchen, Lizzie Ging, Fannie Meredith, Aris Jones, J. W. Ball, John H. Cole and others. Among those who have held the office of Township Trustee were Greenberry Rush, John Abernathy, John T. Hinchman, Newton Irvin, Lawrence Ging, William Gray, A. R. Peters, S. C. Wikoff, John E. Smith, Marshall Hinchman, George C. Mauzy, John W. Loone}' and Robert B. Cook, the present incumbent.

The Fairvicii' Acadenix was organized to fill a "long felt want." Henry R. Prichard and W. W. Thrasher first canvassed the matter and enlisted the support of the substantial citizens in the neighborhood of Fairview. At a meeting to talk the matter over, there was $1,200 subscribed at once. When the location of the new house was discussed the matter became ver}- interesting, so much so that it was decided to burn the original subscription paper and locate the house first. This was done by William Shawhan donating three or four acres to the Trustees, who had been previously chosen, and then the money was raised and the house contracted for. Stamper White and his brother Alfred built the school building and finished it in the fall of 1S49. The building committee were: W. W. Thrasher, William Shawhan and Greenberry Rush. Fortunately for this institution there was a young graduate of Bethany College visiting in the neighborhood. It was A. R. Benton. Elder Henry R. Prichard met him at E. S. Frazee's. He recognized in the young man those qualities of mind and heart which are indispensable prerequisites in the carrying forward of anj' enterprise like this. The young man was engaged. He began the school before the building was completed, in the office of Dr. Ephraim Clifford. The school prospered, and when it had reached the zenith of its prosperity, there was no school in the west, any where, that gave such opportunities to the young people as Fairview. The course of study was like that of a classical college. Pupils were here from several States, and the fame of this school " went abroad throughout the land." This condition of prosperity was reached during the regime of A. R. Benton, now President of Butler University. After Benton, came Amaziah Hull and then his brother, Jasper. Later, came D. R. Vanbuskirk and W. M. Thrasher, now a pcofessor in Butler University. After the public schools were established, the great need of such institutions as this was not so apparent. Colleges in Indiana are now the next step above our public schools. During the existence of Fairview Academy, in addition to the names mentioned above were: John Shawhan, John Thrasher (father of W. W.),and George Campbell, who came from Cincinnati in 1S49. The business management was continuously in the hands of W. W. Thrasher, and he is now the only surviving Trustee. It is his expressed wish that the property ma}' be sold and the proceeds turned into the Rush County school fund. This, in brief, is the history of this notable institution, as gathered from those who have had every facility for knowing.

Arabic Toiiniship. - The early schools of this township were exceptionally good, for the reason that there were many excellent teachers among the pioneers who settled this part of Rush County. Among the earl\- teachers here, were men, who in an especial degree left an impress for good on the minds and hearts of the young. As long as the hearts of men are grateful and true worth recognized, the names of Benjamin F. Reeve and Elijah Hackleman will be spoken reverentl}-, and their disinterested de\otion to the cause of education extolled. But there were others also, who left the influence of their lives on the right side of moral and religious questions in this early day. Elijah Hackleman in a private letter to the writer of this chapter says: "I need not attempt to tell you of Mr. Reeve's career in Rush County, for a history of him would be a history of the county during the period of his residence as one of its citizens." Hon. E. H. M. Berry savs: "Benjamin F. Reeve and Elijah Hackleman tower above all others -who were their cotemporaries, in their efforts to enlighten the minds of the young, both as to scholastic and moral attainments."

As soon as the news of the treaty which opened this countr}' to settlement, reached the settlements the hunters and trappers along the border crossed over to the new purchase and squatted on Congress lands. This was the St. Mary's treat}-, October 6, 1818. By this treaty the title to the lands passed from the Indians to the general government.

First School in the County. - In the winter of 1820-1S21, Isaac Phipps taught a school for the squatters on Congress land in a cabin near the Capt. Benjamin Norris' farm. The venerable John Russell, now of Largo, Wabash Count}-, was a pupil in this school. Mr. Phipps was afterward a Justice of the Peace in the new county and taught occasionally for the next four or five years. It is safe to say that he was the first school teacher in Rush Count}-. The Hon. Elijah Hackleman, of Wabash, is the authority for this and a great deal more contained in this chapter. Francis Clark, who came from Tennessee, a teacher by profession, taught for years along the border settlements, began teaching in Noble Township, Rush County, about 1823, and continued for the next five years. He taught at Pleasant Runn, in the Edward Pattison neigborhood, at the old Baptist Church on Little Flat Rock, and several other places. It is said that in his late schools, Mr. Clark spent almost half his time in sleep. A school day like a working day, was from sun-up to sun-down, and yet Mr. Clark could have put in a tolerably fair day's work measuring by our present standard of six hours. Joshua Cooper, son of a widow living in the neighborhood of Isaac Williams, taught two or three terms, beginning about 1824. He was a cripple, quit teaching, studied law and left the country. He was a brother of J. J. Cooper, of the North Eastern Methodist Episcopal Conference.

John B. Tolbert (or Talbott) was a native of Ireland, and received his education in the city of Dublin. He came to Rush in 1824, and immediately engaged in school teaching. He was well educated and one of the most refined, polite and pleasant men that one would wish to meet. His health failed, and after teaching a few schools, he died. He was the father of Roderick and Thomas Talbert. In a cabin on the land now belonging to Abijah Hunt, near his present residence, Francis Clark taught a school in 1S27. Jane Smith and Joshua Cooper subsequently taught here. The building was afterward used as a blacksmith shop. In 1826 or 1827, James Minor taught in a house, which stood near Mark Creek on the land of Lewis Smith, now belonging to his son Thomas. Thomas Lewark, Been Brown (Mrs. John H. Bebout's grandfather), James Fairley, Lynch and Hough, were some

Benjamin F. Reeve, a professional school teacher from Kentucky, came to Indiana when the work which he was able to do for the young people could be most lasting and beneficial. Peculiarly endowed by nature, it seems now that no man better fitted for his task, was ever sent among a people in a new country. He began teaching in the fall of 1S33 in the old Baptist Church on" the land o! Conrad Sailors. This building stood about a quarter of a mile west of where Mrs. Anna Murphy now lives, on the north side of the pike, then the old Sand Creek road, on the east side of the range line. This primitive structure had neither chimney nor fire-place. There was a sort of platform built from the ground, of rock and mud, and on this the coals were piled. The Gregg school house stood on the land of Judge Gregg, not far from Fayetteville, Benjamin F. Reeve taught here in the fall and winter of 1834-35. His predecessor in this school was Isaac Fowler who left the county about 1833, and removed to Wabash County, and was elected the first County Survej'or. He died in 1837. Mr, Reeve had from sixty to pupils here regularly.

It was at the Gregg school house that the boys decided (as was the custom) to "lock the school teacher out" on Christmas, and compel a treat - generally apples. So the boj'S concluded to occupy the house about davlight, and, on the schoolmaster's approach, to demand a surrender to their terms. Alfred Thompson, afterward well known in the township, was the first boy to wend his way to the school house just at "peep o'da)^" He went whistling along full of the joyousness of a Christmas morn. He went into the school house, and who should he see sitting there intentl3-atwork with paper and pen but the teacher, " (Jncle Benny," as he was familiarly known. The teacher who had suspected this, looked up as Alfred entered, and spoke about as follows: "Well Alfred, a little late this morning ! You must get up a little earlier if you hope to do an}' good at school! Come now, get j-our book and settle down to business." Other boys dropped in, and were immediately put to work, so that bj^ the time it was light enough to see well, the big bovs were nearly all in school and hard at their lessons, the most chagrined set of boys ever collected in one room in Noble Township. Mr. Reeve taught in what was known as the Aunt Nancy Lewis house, on the bank of Little Flat Rock; among his pupils here were, E. H. M. Berry, the Norris brothers, G. W. Reeve and others.

The Reeve school house was built almost expressly for this man. This house was a frame, and stood close to the road, just a few rods south of the brick church, called Little Flat Rock. This was something of a high school in its day. Among the pupils here were Elijah Hackleman, afterward a well known teacher, the Norris brothers, the Hildreth brothers, Lewises, David Loonev and George W. Reeve. Here he taught several years. In 1838-39 he taught a night grammar school with eminent success. He also taught a night grammar school at Gen. W. C. Robinson's mill, in

1S37-3S. While he was a member of the Indiana Legislature he usually taught a school in the early fall. Among the teachers at the Reeve school house were John Schlonaker, 1840; Jolin H. Taylor, William Thompson, Zerrelda Smith, Maggie Guffin, F. M. Reeve, James Feree and John C. Milliner. William Maple, uncle of the Churchill brothers, William, Jeff, and Milt., taught at the Billington school house in 1827 or '28. This house stood on the farm now belonging to Robert Wellman, about where his slaughter house now stands. Other teachers were: William Williams, William Andrews, C. AV. Morrow and Mr. Hough. Guy Morris taught at the Gregg school house before 1840. John P. Wallace was a successful teacher of Noble Township and taught at Bethany about 1853-54. He was one of the county examiners. Jerem}- Anderson taught at the Reeve school house in 1842-43. He afterward endowed a professorship in Butler University. He resided in Missouri several years and died in Florida while health-seeking. He taught several other schools in Noble Township. Conrad Sailors gave Benjamin F. Reeve his first license to teach.

Elijah Hackleman, one of B. F. Reeve's pupils, was a most excellent teacher in Noble. In 1S39-40, he taught on the Brookville road, in a round log house which stood on the J. J. Lj'ons' land now belonging to J. J. Amos, Sr. He also taught in the house which stood on the Holman land near Burns', northeast of where Dick Wilson now lives. A school house stood half a mile east of Friendship, on the north side of the road near where Nine Amos now resides. Thomas Points and Abner Lj'ons taught here. William Rigdon was one of the first teachers at " Frog-pond." David McKee taught school in his own cabin in 1835-36. Charles Morrow, a Methodist preacher, taught on the Stewart land. He removed to Iowa, and died there several j-ears ago. B. F. Norris was one of his pupils. Bradford Norris taught here. David McKee was the father of John H., the well-known teacher and Justice of the Peace in Jackson Township. E. H. M. Berry taught in the old log meeting house which stood about half a mile west of the present Bethany school house, on the land then belonging to Asa Giltner, now to B. ^. Norris. His father lived near here, and the young school teacher held the school exhibition in his father's barn. This was in the forties.

Pleasant Riinn. - Newton Perkins being a cripple, made school teaching a profession from 1823 to 1S27. He had a fair 'education for those early times, but when the demands of the country- began to call for some higher requirements, " Uncle Ute," as he was universally called, retired from the list of pedagogues and engaged again in his old business of basket making, in which he was one of the most proficient in the county. Among otlier teachers at this early center of pioneer activity were: J. W. Randall, a son-in-law of Jehu Perkins, and a Justice of the Peace taught sevesjl terms of school here from 1830 to 1833. Pitman Clow taught here in the winter of 1827-28. Thomas R. Points, who was a brother of the lamented John Points, who was killed by Young in Richland Township (see important trials). He taught school at several places in Rush Count}- and commenced teaching in Noble Township in 1837- One term in an old store room at the cross roads near the J. J. Amos farm on Little Flat Rock. He taught at the Reeve's house, at New Salem, and at Pleasant Runn. He moved v^'est at an early day. He was a bright young man and an excellent teacher. Other teachers at Pleasant Runn were : George Wimbi"o> Jehu and Marv L^'ons, Stephen Jones, William Mcllwaine, Cornelius Morrison, a Shaker from Ohio, and John J. Lyons. Artemus Moore, of Rushville, taught the first school in the present Pleasant Runn school house. Isaac Fowler, mentioned above, was a Virginian by birth. He was the son-in-law of Daniel Cox, an early sectler of eastern Rush Count}-. He taught in this vicinity. Mr. Fowler was a good practical engineer and surveyor. Abner Hackleman, a native of Scott Count}-, Ky., came to Rush County with his father, Abraham Hackleman, in 1821, and taught school from 1S2S to 1831, in the Hawkin's school house, or as it is called in this chapter, the Holman house. He left this county in 1835, ^"<^ went to Des Moines County, Iowa. He represented that county in th.e Territorial Legislature from 1837 to 1841. In 1854, he conducted sixty families from Iowa to Lynn Countv, Oregon. He died in the fall of 1S46. " -

Rev. James H. Ross came from Ohio and bought a farm half a mile south of the late residence of Peter Looney. He taught two or three schools on his own land known as the Ross school, commencing January 21, 1833. He moved a few years after tO' Northfield, Boon County, Ind., where he died in 1878; Elijah Hackleman says of him, "he was one among the most excellent men I ever knew." William Feely taught two terms at the crossing of Mark Creek, one mile north of Peter Looney's, in 1833 and 1834. Turner A. Knox taught several terms of school in Noble Township beginning about 1833, one term near New Salem, and two terms in the Holman house. During his teaching he was elected Judge of the Probate Court of Rush Countv. Pryor Rigdon, a native of Kentucky, taught at the Gregg school house in the winter of 1835. He continued in the business of teaching for the next ten years, a greater part of this time on Little Blue River and Mud Creek north of Rushville. He afterward studied medicine and removed to Grant County, Ind., and subsequenth* became quite a prominent preacher in the Christian Church. Marcus Marsh spent his early hfe in the vicinity of New Salem, and from 1845 to 1850 he bcame quite proficient as a school teacher, studied law, moved to Marion, Grant Count}-, served as Clerk of the Court two terms, and is now practicing law. Elijah Hackleman taught first in the Peter Loone}' school house, commencing August 15, 1S36, afterward in the Gregg's, the Reeve's and the J. J. Lyons' schools, continuing through a series of thirteen years.

Flat Rock Seminary w^as established in 1856. The citizens built the upper story for a high school and it prospered for several yeai"s. The first Principal was John Guffin, who held the position two years. He was followed by Josiah Gamble, for many j-ears the efficient County Superintendent of Fayette County. Mr. Gamble was here several years; among other teachers here were: Elder Walter S. Tingley, John A. Roberts, John R. Hunt, George Guffin, Thomas B. Robinson, Selina Culver, Samuel Vandervort, Amanda Hunt, F. M. Hunt, Jesse Robinson, Charles Poston, James Wilson, and others. It is now a district school of one department. Ellen Holden is the teacher. At the Holman house were other teachers not mentioned above: John P. Thompson, a veteran in the cause of education: T. T. N. Patterson, Charles S. Daily, John S. Myers, William Brink, Loy. O'Neal, Blackstone Wiles, John Cobb, Isaiah Little, Bennett Burns and his sister Cordelia. This house was used until the frame house at Frog Pond was built and the interest thereto transferred. Among the pupils at the Holman school were: W. M. Brooks, Kay Armstrong, George W. Gufl^n, Melvin Burns, Peter and Emma White, Mrs. Aaron Frazee nee Brooks, and many others. Josiah Gamble taught at the Applegate school house; Thomas Little, Clerk of Fayette County, taught several schools here with much success.

Elijah Plackleman in 1845-4S, was Justice of the Peace and built himself an office of round logs near his residence, this was south of where John Davidson now lives. Here he taught a school for the advanced pupils of the neighborhood; among other branches he taught geometry, trigonometry and surveying. Andrew Guffin was one of his pupils here. No other teacher in Noble Township had up to this time taught those branches, and by wa}^ of parenthesis, not many since that time. In 1849, Mr. Hackleman removed to Wabash County, where he still resides. He has been County Surveyor, Clerk of the Court and State Senator, from Wabash. Ross Smiley, an old man who now lives on the county line between Fairview and Glenwood, taught school in a house which stood on the land of John Hornaday, now belonging to Philip Heeb half a mile west of the county line. James B. Cook, Sr., and wife, both attended this school in the thirties. Elijah A. Burns, a blind school teacher who had been a pupil of B. F. Reeve's in Kentuck\-, taught a grammar school at Flat Rock Seminary in 1871. A. B. Shaw taught a singing geography school in the old brick house on the farm of Abijah Hunt, in i843-_|._|.. Robert, John, James and Alex, brothers of Josiah Gamble, all taught in Noble Township. David S. Morgan, Esq., taught successfully at New Salem and Friendship.

The tirst school house in New Salem stood on the lot on which John R. Mercer now resides. Lewis Salla, a Justice of the Peace, was the first teacher, in 1S27. John B. Talbert taught here several years. Among his pupils were A. G. and W. C. Mauzy, and James Patterson of Rushville. This teacher was the grandfather of James T. Holden, well known in this township. A log house was put up on the land of Nelson Patterson, now belonging to Samuel Patterson of Laurel. Among the early teachers here were: John B. Talbert, John Keithler, Marcus Marsh, Norvill Cox, Harvey Marsh, Miss Wilhoit, afterward Mrs. Barton Caldwell of Rushville, Jacob P. Andrews, Harriet Kibby and Wilson Morrow. When the present school house at New Salem was finished early in the fifties, Josiah Gamble taught the school. Jasper Hull was one of the teachers. Rebecca Jane Guffin taught in this township in 1853. She is now Mrs. Robert Wellman. The first Trustees were: Daniel Churchill, David McKee, Ira S. Perkins. Rev. Milton Wright taught at New Salem in the forties. He is now a Bishop in the United Brethren Church in California, and is a brother of Elder Harvey Wright, of Center Township. Among the more modern teachers in this township we mention: John H. Cole, John W. Ball, Harry Williamson, Israel B. Long (whose experience covers a period of nearly thirty years). Mrs. May Wellman, for many years the ethcient primary teacher in New Salem. S. C. Newlin, M. D., John Morris, Thomas Boylen, Ralph George, William Long, Anna and Emma Bever, Ella Holden, Alva Kirkpatrick, W. T. Smith, Georgia Morris, Jennettie Wellman, James R. Hargitt, Minnie Chandler, E. L. Culbertson, B. F. Lefter, Delia McKee, Samuel Van Horn, Comnie Meredith, Addie Murray, J. T. Creek - more, George Smith, John C. Robinson and John C. Robinson. Quincy A. Poston is Township Trustee, his predecessor is William M. Brooks, 1882-86; John C. Humes, 1878-82; Robert Cowing, Andrew Guffin, William Williams.

Walker Tozviiship. - Probably the oldest school in this township was taught by Reuben HefiFlin in a cabin which stood at the Hurst graveyard. Mr. Emmons, a very old man, and long a citi- zen of Walker, says that this school was taught as early as 1825. Here, subsequently, was a Baptist meeting house. Several of the citizens have known of this house, but ver}^ few remember the school house. Ross Davis taught in 1842-43 in a school house which stood on Ben Goddard's land, but now belongs to John Cores. Thomas Bramble, John Solomon, Benjamin Little and Nelson Stallard. The late Judge Blair, of Shelbyville, in 1841-42, taught a school in a house which stood on the John M. Brown land. Henry Weingarth now owns the land. Here, the Rev. Joseph Colton taught in 1842. EHas Baker taught two terms in this place. Eleanor J. Mull nee Kerrick, taught in a log school house which stoood on Fielding Gardner's farm, now in the northwest part of Manilla. Among the pupils here were, Cyrus and Ethan Trees. The first teacher in this house was Thomas Bramble, from Kentucky. James Remington taught here. He was a fine scholar and an excellent teacher.

The first school in Manilla, Dr. Trees says, was taught in the Methodist Episcopal log meeting house in 1841, by John W. Macy, who was a Quaker and, by trade, a carpenter. After that the log school house mentioned above was built, and the second school in Manilla was taught in a house which stood where the drug store now stands. About 1848 or '49 Miss Folger taught in the Gardner house. She afterward married Mr. George Clark of Union County. The first Trustees of Walker Township were: John Sells, Paul W. Folger and T. B. Macy. The last named is the only one living. A school house stood on the southeast corner of Adam Warfield's farm, now W. J . Ellison's. Among the teachers were: George W. Danner, Reuben Hefllin, first teacher, Edgar Eaton and Walker Thomas, brother of G. W. A log school house stood on the southeast corner of the Ambrose Fouch place, now owned by W. T. Abernath)-. The old Homer school house stood on the west side of Uriah Thomas' land. Charles Catlin taught taught at the Mersmore school house in 1857-58. Delphina Clark taught in the Gardner house in Manilla. Roland Haywood, of Rushville, taught in Manilla, beginning in 1861, three terms with eminent success. Thomas Noble, in 1854-55, taught the first school under the present school s^-stem. Malinda Harris taught in Mrs. Lewis' property, in Manilla, in 1850. Margaret Conrad, in 1854, taught in the Gardner house. Frank Clark taught two terms, 1857-59. J'^mes Hill was Trustee in 1873, '^n^ built the present school building in Manilla. George S. Jones, now United States Pension Examiner, was the first Principal. The Vernon school house stood nearly due south of Marion Gardner's present residence on the land of Landen Gardner. James Remington taught here in 1844. John R. Eden, afterward a member of Congress from Illinois; David N. Dearinger, in 1840; Timothy Hunt, a Methodist preacher; Edgar Eden and Pat Earskins were some of the early teachers. John Dearinger taught in 1847 in a cabin on James Alexander's land, now John Dearinger's southwest corner. Other teachers were: James H. Rutter, James Maddux, Samuel Watson, Margaret Conrad, afterward married a Mr. Thornberry. James Alexander taught the first school in this house in 1832.

As a matter of curiosity to our teachers of to-daj-, and to the people of this generation, we may see the contract between James Alexander (Uncle Reuben's father) and the patrons of this school district: "Article of agreement made and entered into this 9th da}' of November, 1832, between James Alexander of the first part, and the inhabitants of the Washington School District in Rush County, Ind., of the second part, witnesseth that the said Alexander proposes to teach an English school for the term of three months, viz. : he engages to teach spelling, reading and writing to the best of his ability, Saturdays and Sundays excepted, for which services, we, whose names are hereto annexed do engage to pay to the said Alexander the sum of one dollar and fifty cents per scholar, as subscribed to our respective names, to be paid at the expiration of the school, and we further bind ourselves to furnish a sufficient quantity of firewood, cut and laid near the door of the said school house, to serve when the weather is cold; also to furnish books, ink and paper necessary for the tuition of our children, etc. School to commence the 13th of November, provided there is twenty scholars or more subscribed to this article; the s'd Alexander engages to observe good morals in his school, and to make up all lost time, in testimony of which we subscribe our names the day and date above written. Subscriber's names : Samuel Williams, $3 ; Mary Worthington, $1.50: James Fouch, $1 ; Samuel Watson, $1.50; Jacob Hendrix, $1; Catharine Fouch, $1.50; Benjamin Elder, $2;

A school house stood at the corner of Walker Township, just north of Melvin Hungerford's, where the four townships corner. Here in a log house were some excellent schools. Among the teachers here were Milton B. Hopkins, subsequently State Superintendent of Public Instruction, James Remington, A. G. Mauz}^, Ephraim Wright and Harvey Stewart taught here in the forties. Jacob Webster was Trustee, elected in April, 1882, and served two terms. He built the Graded School building at Homer. It is a brick structure, and in keeping with the needs of the township. Frank English was the first Principal here. Other teachers are: Smith Solomon, Samuel Innis, Gussie lies, and Laura Alexander. William T. Robertson is Township Trustee, and has placed Walker Township first in the county in the matter of school buildings.

Orange Tozunshif. - A school house stood between Moscow and Owens' Mill, on the Owens' land, and Benjamin Owens taught the school in 1825. This was in all probability the first school taught in this township. Some of these pupils walked through the woods four and a half miles to and from school. Near where Mt. Gherzim Methodist Episcopal Church building now stands, a little west, on the Garrison land, once stood a primitive temple of learning. John Allison taught the first school. It was in 1836-37. Other teachers were: Ah-in Cass, James McDuffey, Hiram Kellev, Lloyd Bishop (now living in Kansas), Lewis Richey, and William Wheeler. Milton Wagner taught eight winters in a cabin west of Leslie Worlins' residence in the late thirties and early forties. Among other teachers here were: James McDuffey, William Richey, from Kentucky, William Hand, Thomas Bramble, Elsbur}' McDuffey, James McDonald and Nathan Thomas. In the southwest corner of Philip Reddenbaugh's farm, near the old graveyard, there was a school house of the pioneer type. Several schools were taught here. Milton Wagner was the principal teacher, 1827-2S. The windows were made of paper greased with coon oil. There were very few schools before this one. A school house stood near the road leading from Moscow to Waldron, and Thrasher Garrison taught here in 1832. Harriet Keeler was a teacher here.

Joshua Kelley taught one of the first schools in Moscow. It was in a cabin in the northwest part of the town. This was about 1830. James McDonald taught here in 1843-44. Hiram Wiley was one of the first teachers in Moscow. William Wheeler in 1852-53. A school house stood opposite the present residence of William Machlan. Among the teachers were: Joseph Selby, Charles Bishop, Milton Wagner (seven winters), Ephraim Wright, Sanford McGinnis, Jack Campbell (1835), Joshua Kelle}' and on a farm belonging to William Seright, now to James G. Matthews, east of Moscow. Catherine Kelley (now Mrs. James McDonald) and William Webb, taught here. Barker Brown in 1852-53 taught in a house on Charles Selby's farm before the new school houses were erected. Ephraim Wright taught on the farm of Lewis Hefflin, now Charles Willey, and Nelson Stallard taught in 1845. Sanford McGinnis in 1850 taught in a hewn log house one mile east of Blue Ridge at the cross roads on the land of William Marshall, now belonging to Caroline Wendling. Other teachers were: Oliver Morris, Samuel Kennedy, now a physician m Shelbyville, and Ehzabeth Rader. This house was a Methodist Church building.