St. Joseph County, Indiana - Chapter 21: Pcblio Schools. - County Seminary. State and National Kepee, 1880

Public Schools

Tlie first scliool-houses in this county were but rude affairs, and the schools taught therein were but little better than the houses. " Subscription schools " were the custom, the teacher receiving a small sura per month and boarding around among the schola'rs, or receiving a certain amount per scholar, collecting the same from the parent or guardian of the child - if he could. The first school taught in the county was in South Bend in 1S31, Elisha Egbert, a young attorney who had just settled in the place, being the teacher. The school-house, which had just been erected, was of logs, about eighteen feet square and seven feet high. Slab seats were provided for the scholars, with a board nailed against the wall for a writing desk. In this house, for some time, the various religious bodies met for public worship.

The cause of education in this county made but limited progress for some years, the common schools of the day, in which only tiie rudiments of an English education were taught, were thought by many to be all-sutficient. Still there were a few who aspired to something higher, and when the county seminary fund was thought to be sufiicient for the erection of a building, there was quite a strife between the towns of South Bend and Mishawaka for its location. In order to secure its location private subscriptions were made for a large amount, and South Bend was selected by the authorities. This building was erected in 1S45 on the site of the present high-school building on Washington street, its location then being described by t\\e Megister as "west of town." The spot is now the heart of the city. The building was torn down in 1872. A. B. Miller, editor of the Tribune, who received his education in that old building, thus speaks of it in the issue of his paper bearing date April 20, 1872:

" Nothing remains of the ' old seminary ' building on Washington street but a pile of debris, and in a few days it will have no trace left. The South-Bender now absent will miss on his return the familiar structure which, homely though it was, has been identified with the history of our place from its earlier years. The building was erected in 1845, and the first term of school was taught by Prof. Wright, who we hear numbered among his pupils, A. S. Dunbar, Daniel Witter, Mark McClelland, D. E. Sample, E. (656)

B. Miller, and others of their age we do not now call to mind. Prof. Wright was succeeded bj"- Mr. Coggswell. Tlien followed Professors Smith, Sperbeck, McLafterty, Miss Barrett, Miss Bacon and Professor AVilcox, in chronological order. When tirst built, the seminary was surmounted by a tin-domed and pillared cupola, in which the boys used to take delight in lodging balls while playing ' ante-over,' that they might have some excuse for shinning up the lightning rod and playing havoc with the nests of pigeons that made their homes there. But the lightning knocked all the beauty and utility out of the cupola one afternoon in 1817, and in course of time it was taken down entirely, and since then the structure was familiar in outline to all our citizens as it is seen in the excellent photograph Mr. Bonney took just previous to its destruction. Although to be replaced b}' one of the handsomest school buildings in this part of the State there are many, particularly absent South- Benders who received their education in it, who will not hear of the destruction of that 'old seminary' without a pang of regret."

The present system of common schools, with some modifications, was adopted in 1S52. The constitutional convention of that year had incorporated in the constitution the following provisions relative to common schools:

Section 1. Knowledge and learning generally diffused throughout a community being essential to the preservation of a free government, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to encourage, by all suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific, and agricultural improvement, and to provide by law, for a general and uniform system of common schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge and equally open to all.

Sec. 2. the common-school fund shall consist of the Congressional township fund, and the lands belonging thereto; the surplus revenue fund; the Saline fund, and the lands belonging thereto; the bank tax funk, and the fund arising from the llltli section of the charter of the State Bank of Indiana, the fund to be derived from the sale of county seminaries, and the moneys and property heretofore held for such seminaries; from the fines assessed for the breaches of the penal laws of the State, and from all forfeitures which may accrue; all lands and other estates which shall escheat to the State for want of heirs or kindred entitled to the inheritance; all lands which have been or may hereafter be granted to the State of Indiana by the act of Congress, of the 28th of Sept, 1850, after deducting the expenses of selecting and draining the same ; taxes on the property of corporations that may be assessed by the General Assembly for common school purposes.

Sec. 3. The principal of the common-school fund shall remain a perpetual fund, which may be increased, but shall never be diminished; and the income thereof shall be inviolably appropriated to the support of common scliools, and to no other purpose whatever.

have not heretofore been entrusted to the several counties, and shall make provision by law, lor the distribution among the several counties ofthe interest tliereof.

Sec. 5. If any county shall fail to demand its proportion of such interest for common -school purposes, the same shall be reinvested for the benetit of such county.

Sec. G. The several counties shall be held liable for the preservation of so much of said funds as may bo entrusted to them, and for the payment of tlie annual interest thereon. ?yiSEC. 7. All trust funds held by the State shall remain inviolate and be faithfully and exclusively applied to the purposes for which the trust was created.

The Legislatures of the State have, from time to time, passed such laws as was tliought necessary to carry out the provisions of the Constitution. The school fund in the State has accumulated nntil it now amounts to about $5,000,000.

St. Joseph county has kept pace with the balance of the State with respect to her public schools. In 1853 there were 19 school houses in the entire county, the value of which could not have been more than $0,000. In 1878 there were 115, valued at $250,827. In 1880 the number was further increased to 120, the estimated value of which was $252,560. In 1878 there were 6,921 pupils admitted into the public school*, necessitating the employment of 216 teachers, tlie average compensation of which was, for males, $1,681, females $r.-lS per day. In 1880 there \»-ere 7,088 pupils in the public schools; teachers employed, 209; average compensation, per d-a.y, for males, $2.91f ; for females, $1.81^.

Since 1872 there has been a remarkable increase in the number of persons applying for license, and a more remarkable increase in the numl)er of persons rejected by the County Superintendent. The large number of rejections is probably due to two facts: first, the standard of requirements has been raised; and second, under the free examination system, it is likely a larger number of young and inexperienced persons take the examinations as a matter ot experiment, without much expectation of securing a license. The Lard times of the past six or seven years may also have something to do with the number of applicants, and in consequence, the rejections.

County Examiners And Supeeintendents

"William T. Van Doren was appointed June 7, 1861, and served but a few months. Mr. Yan Doren was a practical teacher, and is at present clerk in the Treasury Department, Washington.

Alvin S. Dunbar, appointed Nov. 2, 1861. Mr. Dunbar was, previous to his appointment, and is now, one of the Jeading attorneys of South Bend.

Histoet Of St. Joseph County

Jacob Merrifield received his appointment as County Examiner Jan. 30, 1866. He was previous to his appointment, and is now, a minister of the gospel and engaged in active work In that field of labor.

Elisha Sumption was appointed June 2, 1868, and was re-appointed June 6, 1871, and again June 7, 1873. Mr. Sumption is an old citizen of St. Joseph county, and was for some time Superintendent of Public Schools at Mishawaka, Indiana, and is at present a bookkeeper for the South Bend Iron Company. During the last month of Mr. Sumption's term he was the County Superintendent - the first to receive that appointment.

Andrew J. Foster was the successor of Mr. Sumption and was appointed July 1, 1873, and served about two years. Previous to his appointment he was the local agent at South Bend of the Mc- Cormick Reaper Compan}', and after his retirement he accepted the position of agent of the same company, and is at present located at St. Joseph, Missouri.

David A. Ewing received his appointment June 9, 1875, and served about thirteen months. He was subsequently principal of the high school at Virginia City, Montana, and died Feb. 11, 1880.

Frank A. Norton was appointed Aug. 12, 1876, and served eleven months. Mr. Norton is a teacher by profession, and has been Superintendent of Public Schools at Newton, Kansas, and is at present the president of a business college in that city.

Calvin Moon was appointed to succeed Mr. Norton, June -i, 1877, and was re-appointed June 2, 1879, and is the present occupant of the ofiice. Mr. Moon has made a most efficient Superintendent, and has reduced the work of his office to a regular system. The present efficiency of the public schools of St. Joseph county is in a great measure due to him.

The Sf. Joseph Valley Register, under date of Sept. 26, 1845, in speaking of this institution says: " This building, on the north side of Washington street, west of town, is rapidly approaching completion. It is of brick, two stories high, thirty feet wide by forty feet long, and is to be surmounted with a cupola. The expense of its erection is defrayed by the seminary fund (formed by the collection of fines for the breach of penal laws, thus making the penalties ot vice contribute to the advancement of virtue and intelligence), aided by the subscriptions of private individuals. No ?ortion of its cost is paid out of the county treasury. A. M. La *ierre, C. Caldwell and James M. Matthews are the builders; Gilman Towle, the superintendent. The seminary stands near the center of the acre-and-a-half lot which belongs to it, and which is to be enclosed and improved. There will be two rooms in the building, one below and the other above. The one in the second story is to be the full size of the, building, undivided at present by any partition; and the two rooms at present M'ill comfortably contain all the pupils of the institution for many years to come. The location of the building spoken of as being west of town is now in the heart of the city.

The school was first opened Monday, Dec. 7, 1846, under the management of II. Wheeler, a graduate of the Indiana University, as ])rincipal, and Miss L. C. Merritt as instructress in the female department. Prof AVriglit came next and was succeeded b}' Mr. Cogswell. Then followed Professors Smith, Sperbeck, McLafferty, Miss Barrett, Miss Bacon, and Prof. Wilcox, in clironological order. The old seminary building, so eloquently referred to on a preceding page, became associate! in the minds of the neighbors with many ])leasant experiences, so that after its removal in 1872, distance of time began to lend enchantment to the view. In April, 1872, the building itself was taken down and replaced by the present handsome structure known as the high-scliool building.

The first election for Representative in Congress after the organization of St. Joseph county occurred in August, 1831, when Edward A. Ilannegan, Democrat, was elected. Mr. Hannegan was re-elected in 1883 and 1835. In 1837 Albert S. White, Whig, was elected and served two years. He was succeeded in 1839 by Tillman A. Howard, Democrat. In 1841 Henry S. Lane, Whig, was the successful candidate.

The Legislature in 1842 re-districtcd the State, and St. Joseph county was made to form part of the Ninth Congressional district, composed of the following named counties: St. Joseph, Jasper, White, Cass, Miami, Fulton, Pulaski, Kosciusko, Marshall, Starke, Elkhart, La Porte, Porter, Lake, Wabash and Benton. Samuel C. Sam))le, Whig, of St. Joseph, was tlie 'first Representative of this district. In 1845 Charles W. Cathcart, Democrat, was elected and re-elected in 1847. Mr. Cathcait was succeeded in 1849 by Graham N. Fitch, Democrat, who was reelected in 1861.

In 1851 the Legislature again re-districted the State, this county still forming a ])art of the Ninth District, which was now composed of the counties of St. Josejjh, Miami, Cass, Fulton, Marshall, La Porte, Starke, Pulaski, Jas])er, Porter, Lake, Benton and AVhite. Noruian Eddy, Whig, was the first Representative of this district. He was succeeded by Scbuvler Colfax, Republican, who was elected in 1854, and re-elected i'n 1856, 1858, 1860, 1862, 1864 and 1866.

county then formed apart of the Eleventh district, composed of the counties of St. Joseph, White, Newton, Jasper, Pulaski, Fulton, Marshall, Starke, La Porte, Porter, and Lake. Jasper Packard, Republican, was elected in 1S68, and re-elected in 1870 and 1872.

In 1872, by the Legislature of the State, a new district was formed composed of the counties of St. Joseph, La Porte, Porter, Lake, Newton, Jasper, Starke, Pulaski, White and Carroll, and named the Tenth district. William H. Calkins, Republican, was the iirst Representative, and was elected in 1874. He was re-elected in 1876 and 1878.

Senatorial

On its organization St. Joseph county, together with Allen, Huntington, Elkhart, La Grange aud La Porte, were made a Senatorial district. The district was represented from 1830 to 1836 by Samuel Hanna and David H. Colerick.

In 1836 Wabash county was attached to the district, and Jonathan A. Liston was elected Senator, and served one year, being succeeded by Thomas D.Baird. The Legislature this year changed the Senatorial districts, St. Joseph, Marshall, Kosciusko, and Starke forming one. In 1837 Thomas D. Baird was re-elected in 1839 and 18il. Before the expiration of his last term he was removed by death, and John D. Defrees was elected to fill the vacancy. Mr. Defrees was elected again in 1843 for the full term. He has been succeeded in order by William C. Pomeroy, Lot Day, Norman Eddy, A. P. Richardson, Hugh Miller, John Reynolds, John F. Miller, Horace Corbin, Lucius Hubbard, Joseph Henderson, David R. Leeper.

Representative

St. Joseph county was first placed in a Representative District composed of the counties of Allen, La Porte, Elkhart, LaGrange and Huntington, and was represented in 1833 by David H. Colerick, who was re-elected in 1834.

In 1834 the counties of St. Joseph and La Porte were made a joint Representative District which was continued for two years, being represented by Jonathan A. Liston and Thomas D. Baird.

In 1836 the county was alone made a Representative District which has continued to the present time. It has been represented from that time to the present by John A. Henricks, Elisha Egbert,

County Commissioners

More than two centuries have passed since the first white man trod the soil of St. Joseph county. After Father Marquette and La Salle, what other -' pale faces" were within its borders until Pierre Navarre came in 1820, history is silent. It is possible, and quite probable, that the county was visited by many French traders and Catholic priests, but of this nothing is known. When Navarre came, and even for some years after Ale.xis Coquillard and Lathrop M. Taylor established their trading posts on the banks of the beautiful St. Joseph river, there was nothing to break the solemn stillness of nature save the growl of the wild beast, the whoop of the savage, or the rush and roar of winds as they passed over the prairie and woodland. The soil was unvexed by the plow, and the woodman's ax had never been heard previous to this time. Nature had done her best to make the county a beautiful one, fit indeed for those who were destined to possess it. The various prairies were in the summer decked in beautiful green, while the prairie flowers exhibited colors that only the hand of the Creator could

The forests, too, were grand. The giant oak, the stately elm, and the useful hickory seemingly pierced the very heavens, and stood as faithful sentinels over the entire surroundings. No fallen timber or undergrowth of any kind obstructed the passage, the annual prairie fire making a clean path for all. A prairie fire! The sight is a magnificent one indeed. An early writer who was looking at the country and enjoying the unfamiliar sight, was startled by a flash of light, and thus sketched a prairie on fire:

"Whilst enjoying the sublimity of the scene, night threw her mantle o'er the earth, and the sentinel stars set their watch in the skies, when suddenly the scene was lighted by a blaze of light illuminating every object around. It was the prairie on fire. Language cannot convey, words cannot exjiress to you the faintest idea of the grandeur and splendor of that mighty conflagration. Me thought that the pale Queen of night, disdaining to take her accustomed place in the heavens, had dispatched ten thousand messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun, and that now they were speeding on tlie wings of the wind to their appointed stations. As I gazed on that mighty conflagration, my thoughts recurred to those immured in the walls of a city, and I exclaimed in the fullness of my heart:

Oh, fly to the prairie in wonder, and gaze. As o'er the grass sweeps the maguiflcent blaze ! The world cannot boast so romantic a sight, A continent flaming, 'mid oceans of light."

How changed the scene now! The timber in many places has been cleared away, and beautiful farms ap])ear in its stead. The broad prairies have been shorn of their native beaut}', and the hand of man has endeavored to excel in their decoration. The iron horse now courses over the prairie and through tlie timber where once only the trail of the red man was known. Villages, towns and cities appear where the wigwam was once seen. AH this change has takun place in one-half century. What will the next fifty years bring forth? Who can tell?

Every old settler now living - those that were here prior to 1832 - can realize fully the picture drawn; and as they sit by their firesides in old age, their minds wander back to the scenes of the long ago. They see that grand old man, with a heart tender and sympathizing as a child, one always ready and willing to relieve the cry of distress - Alexis Coquillard; they see the quiet, unobtrusive Lathrop M. Taylor as he was when not bowed down by the weight of years; they again take by the hand that bluff old Samuel Cottrell; quickly pass in imagination Elislia Egbert, Dr. lleuricke, Horatio Cliapin, and a host of others, who have passed on to the other shore. All this seems to them a reality; and when they gaze out upon the living, active throng that is continually moving to and fro, they rub their eyes and imagine it all a dream. But the old days have passed away, never to be recalled.

Sast, even so will he fail to properly present the St. Joseph of to-day. To county in Northern Indiana or Southern Michigan has made greater progress in the same length of time. In its churches, its schools, its manufacturing interests, its public and private buildings, in fact every tiling that goes to show a progressive people, it has taken a leading position. It has today an incorporated city, two incorporated towns, and several villages numbering from one hundred and fifty to eiirht hundred inhabitants. It has a total population of upward of 33,000, and increasing rapidly. The great power of the St. Joseph river has been developed and utilized, and scores of manufacturing institutions profit by what lias been done.

In the early day citizens of St. Josepli county met for worship in school-houses, barns or private dwelling-houses, - anywhere they could find a place, and glad were they of the opportunity; to-day churches are upon every hand, from the plain, unpretending frame, where a few zealous men and women gather together " in the name of Jesus," to the imposing brick or stone, with bells pealing forth a joyful welcome to one and all to come "drink of the waters of 'life."

The old log school-house has long since been displaced, and today are found, especially in the larger towns and cities, school buildings of handsome architectural appearance, costing many thousands of dollars each, and equipped with every appliance that can promote the cause of education. The comfort of pupils has been secured by the introduction of suitable seats and desks, maps, globes, philosophical apparatus, music, libraries, commodious play grounds, well ventilated apartments, beautiful plants and flowers, are all used as accessories, and the result is a humanizing influence. A large revenue derived from taxation is annually raised sufiicient to maintain a scholarly corps of teachers. In addition to the public schools there are in the county two institutions of learning that have a world-wide fame, Notre Dame University and St. Mary's Academy, the one for males, the other for females. Under the most patient, persistent efforts they have been made what they are, a credit to the county and State, no less than to the religious body whose zeal has taken such practical shape.

St. Joseph county of to-day boasts of another civilizing influence in her newspapers, twelve weekly and two daily; all of which are well and ably edited.

In manufactures St. Joseph county of to-day leads every other county in the north part of the State. Three thousand men are at present engaged in the various manufactories.

In agriculture nowhere in the Union are more sure crops than here annually raised, and little vacant land is to be found in any part of the county; many acres which a few years ago were thought to be valueless on account of swamps, are to-day the most productive farms in the State.

The St. Joseph river, though not to-day used for purposes of navigation, is doing better in aflbrding power for the manufactories already mentioned.

Kailroads traverse almost every part of the county to-day, carrying away the productions of the soil and of the skillful mechanics variously employed. The telegraphic wire takes a message and carries it hundreds, nay thousands, of miles, in a moment's time; while the telephone wire is placed in the private houses of many, enabling them to converse with ease with those who are miles away.

Peace and plenty are enjoyed by every inhabitant of St. Joseph county to-day. Labor is in demand at remunerative wages; every manufactory is run to its full capacity, many of them finding difficulty in filling their orders.

The assessed value of real and personal property to-day is about $15,000,000, about one-third the real value. The county owes neither bonded, floating, nor any other kind of debt whatever. Gentlemanly and accommodating men fill the public offices. In fact, everything goes to prove that St. Joseph of to-day is a model county in every respect.

As we look over this beautiful part of St. Joseph county, we can hardly realize that so few years have elapsed since it was a howling wilderness, inhabited only by the wild beasts of the forests, and a race of people almost efjually wild.

Centre township is bonnded on the north by Portage, on the east by Penn and iladison, on the south by Union, and on the west by Greene. It is four miles from east to west, and five from north to south, and contains 20 square miles. It was laid out Sept. 7, 1S31, at which time there were only two or three settlers in what is now Centre township. Tl;e following spring a few more adventurers settled in different parts of the township, and of the six men then living here but one remains, Col. Smith. Nathan Eose was the first to contract for land. He first came here in the summer of 1829, and purchased his land of the Pottawatomie Indians. He then returned and worked in a saw-mill on the Tippecanoe river near Rochester, Ind., to pay for the land. It was located in section 36, and is now owned by I. Roseberry, J. K. Dice, and Jon. Forneman. Mr. Rose moved his family in the fall of 1830 on the place now owned by J. K. Dice. Here he lived, enduring all the privations of pioneer life, until 18.52, when he removed his family to St. Joseph, Missouri. He lived but a few years after this; he and his wife both died on the same day, and were buried in the same grave. Their children are now scattered over different parts of the West. James and Ashur Palmer came in the summer of 1830 and settled on Palmer's Prairie, thus giving it the name. They and their families have all left the township, removing to Lake county, where they died a few years ago. Andrew Milling came about the same time and located on section 35, where Mr. Hilderbrand now lives. He seems to have been a man of energy and intelligence, but has long since passed away. The family have all gone, and the name once so familiar in this community, will perhaps in another generation be almost forgotten.

In September, 1830, Henry Stull bought this land in the north part of the township. The land ofBce at this time was at Fort Wayne. He came here by the way of Elkhart and Goshen. It must be remembered that at this time the city of Elkhart had not made its appearance, and G.oshen contained but one house. There were no wagon roads north of Logansport. Mr. Stull was a native of Virginia, but becoming dissatisfied with his native State, and being of a daring, yet careful disposition he loaded a boat with what he called skillets and pots, and started down the Ohio river, landing in the southern part of this State. This was while Indiana was yet a Territory. For a number of years afterward Mr. Stull was engaged in buying stock in'Kentucky, and driving them to Eastern Pennsylvania for'market. After he came to this county he engaged in farming. He was a man of good business talent, very careful and accurate in all his transactions, and respected and lionored by all that knew him. It is said tliat he never had his name on any man's books, his motto being "Pay as you go." Being a man of temperate habits he lived to be a very old man, and died but a few years ago, in this township.

John Pose settled the same year, on section 3G. His son "William is still living in this township. It was about this time that the Enpels came to the county. They came from Pennsylvania, and stopped at Elkhart in 1S30. While there, Peter Rupel secured his patent for his land in section 26. His son, E. H. Rupel, still has the original deeds made at the land office in Fort Wayne, and signed by Andrew Jackson. He lives on the old home farm. They removed from Elkhart to this township in 1831. They had a family of 7 children, most of whom are still living near the old farm.

After the year 1831 settlers began to come to the township very fast. In the year lS32-'3 the Smiths came; Isaac Lamb, Abie! Hungerford, Tyra N. Bray in 1833; James and Richard Inwood came in 1835 and settled in the southwestern part of the township. William Phillips came about the same time; Wm. H. Roerston settled on section 2, in October, 1836. It was about this time that the Odells, Ulerys and Rushes came; and it was not long after this time till the giant forests began to disappear very fast from the hills and vales of Centre tp., and in theii- place came well cultivated fields, bringing forth their bounteous harvests to reward the hardy woodman for his long and patient toiling. The narrow, winding wood road gradually disappeared; and in its place came the beautiful broad highway which now traverses the township in every direction.

The first child that was born in the township was Elizabeth Rose, daughter of Nathan Rose, and was born where J. K. Dice now lives, on section 36.

The first election was held in Smith's school-house on section 2. The elections are still held at the same place. The first Justice of the Peace was Mathias Stover.

The people of this township are very quiet and social, - so ranch so that they have not needed a Justice of the Peace or Constable for the past 20 years, although they comply with the requirements of the law and elect them. They do not qualify them : so they do not serve.

Tlie people at an early day saw the need of education, for we see the little band of pioneers as early as 1835 joining together and erecting a school-honse on section 3(5, between the section line and the Michigan road, on Natlian Rose's farm. This building, although it may have been rude in appearance, showed the progressive character of the minds that these few liardy pioneers possessed. The building was built of round logs, with cabin roof; was small, and had a puncheon floor. The seats were rough benches made of slabs. For desks they had ])ins around the walls with boards on them. Blackboards, now considered so indispensable to a school-room, were not dreamed of Stove it had none, but in its stead at the end of the room was a large fire-place; and on the outside could be seen the chimney towering above the roof, built of sticks and mortar. No doubt that many of these pioneer children who have grown to manhood often think of the merry faces and the laughing jokes that passed around the merry i>arty as they stood about that fireplace on a frosty winter morning warming their fingers and toes. This building was used for six or seven years, when the country, becoming more densely settled, demanded something better and larger; and a frame was erected on J. Smith's land in section 2. This stood till the brick liouse was built some years ago. The first teacher in the log scliool-house was Mary Mellings. After her came Benjamin Gibbons and Daniel Robertson, now living in Greene township.

The second district was organized in about ISiO or 1842, and the house was built on section 36, on the farm now owned by I. Roseberry. It was of logs but soon gave way to a frame, and this to a beautiful brick structure which now occupies the old site.

At present the township contains but one church organization, - the Oervian Baptist. They built their church house in the summer of 1859, on section 2. It is known as the Palmer Prairie church, in the South Bend district. The elders at the time the church was built were David Miller and Christian Winger. At that time they had about 70 members: now they have 120.