Vanderburgh County, Indiana - Chapter 9: By J. W. Davidson, A. M, 1889

'N that remarkable production of the pen of Dr. Manassah Cutler, the " Ordinance of 1787/' these words are found; "Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."

" 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."

The state of Indiana has so carefully husbanded her educational finances that the permanent fund has reached the enormous sum of $10,000,000, a greater fund than that of any other state in the Union. A part of this is loaned to the state. The rest is apportioned to the several counties and placed in charge of the county auditors, to be

All loans must be secured by first mortgage on real estate valued b}- appraisers appointed on the part of the state, and onh' one-half of the amount of appraisement can be secured as a loan. Improvements are not considered in the appraisement. No person can borrow more than $2,000. Xo part of the expense of making loans or collecting interest is borne by the school fund. And if on foreclosure of mortgage the sum loaned shall not be realized, then the county becomes responsible for having accepted an insecure loan, and must make up the deficit both in principal and interest. The several counties are also held responsible for interest on principal allowed to remain idle. Thus the reader will observe that the school fund of Indiana is carefully guarded, and is very appropriately called the " Permanent Fund." With the revenue from liquor hcenses, dog fund surplus, local taxation and interest on the permanent fund, the state expends annually $5,000,000 for the education of its youth.

Perry township has the honor of having had the first school in the county. It was taught by Thomas Trueman in 1819, on the present site of the County Orphan Asylutn, below the city. The house was built of unhewn logs, and had a dirt floor. The cracks in the walls were not chinked. Trueman VV43 3 sailor of the revolutionary war, well advanced in years when he opened his first school in Vanderburgh county. At this time there being no school in the town of Evansville, the bo3s from town went to Trueman's school, which was then about two miles in the country. Trueman was a rude, eccentric individual, who lived alone, and gained a sustenance by hunting, trapping and trading. He taught in different parts of the county for about fifteen years. He died in German township, and specially requested his friends to cremate his body in a log heap after death. His request seemed so strange to his simpleminded frontier friends, that they took it for granted that it was the result of a freak "Si insanity, and he was not cremated. He was, perhaps, the first cremationist of Indiana.

Among other teachers who taught in Perry township in early times was George Thompson, in 1824. The school-house was located on what is now the farm of Washington Stinchfield. Later came Grimes, Foster and Campbell. Of the trustees who did good service for the township may be mentioned:}. B. Cox, James S. Wills, David Stephens, Simon Waterman, Philip Koch, Henry Lauer, L. Schmadel, Fred W. Buente, Herman Klamer and Theodore Hartig, present incumbent. Enumeration of school children in township for 1888, 840. Length of school term, nine months.

In Armstrong township the first school was taught by Andrew Erskine, in 1826. The house stood near the present home of Mr. Leroy Calvert. It was built of round logs, with puncheon floor, clapboard roof. One log was cut out and greased paper put in to admit light. In each end was a large "stick and mud " fire place; one for the boys and one for the girls. Among the pioneer teachers of the township were James Cury, Mr. Elliott, Daniel B. Craddock, Cadwallader and others. These early schools were, of course, private, and the products of the farm were legal tender for tuition.

At the expiration of tlie three months' term the teacher would collect the tuition in wheat, corn, pork or furs and take a wagon load of his salary to the nearest market and exchange it for such articles as he needed. Ver}' little tuition was paid in cash. Among the trustees who did efiicient service for the township are Leroy Calvert, John F. Pruitt, Caswell Calvert, Henry Hilderbrandt, James C. Calvert, the present trustee. School enumeration last year, 503; school term, eight months.

The first school in Scott township was taught by Daniel B. Craddock, in 1835, on the " Staser farm." The other early teachers, as far as can be ascertained were : Mrs. Barker, Abiah Foster, Joel Mulby, Harrison Jones, James Perry, John Arbin, Mr. Taylor, Alexander McCutchan. Later came William Hennesse, William Atchison, Arad McCutchan, James Vickery, Miss Kate Headen, James Henr}', Hannah Fisher, Thomas Peck, John Runcie, Dr. John L. Dow, and Cawson Potts. The first trustee was Andrew Erskine, and others who served with credit are : Joseph Berridge, John G. Potts, John W. Peck, Henry Bosse; present incumbent, William Schomberg. Enumeration of school children, 544; term of school, si.x months.

The first school in Center township was taught by William Morgan, in 1830, followed by William Grimes and Thomas Trueman. The school was held in a little cabin on what is now known as the " Hopkins farm." In the schools the boys wore buckskin breeches and the girls wore buckskin aprons. As Trueman's method of punishment was to use the rod across the knees as the pupil sat on the puncheon benches, the buckskin aprons served to mitigate the severity of the "ancient mariner's" blows. Grimes employed his time between recitations by cracking hickory nuts, on one of the puncheon benches, with a bench leg, which he would slip out of the bench, and then replace it when the next class was ready to recite. Among the pioneer teachers of the township may be mentioned: Andrew Erskine, Alex McCutchan, Taylor and Foster. Later teachers are: Thomas Conyngton, Levi Erskine, William T. Iglehart, Joel Mulby, Charles G. Olmstead, William Atchison, Hester M. Wood, Anna Headen, R. P. Hooker, Louis F. Guire. In 1859 there was a select (jraded school organized at McCutchanville, under charge of S. R. Hornbrook, afterward colonel of the"Sixtyfifth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. This school exerted a salutary influence on the whole section of Vanderburgh county, known as "blue grass" region. In this school Col. Hornbrook sowed good seed, which has borne abundant fruit.

Center township has the honor of having had the first free school in the county. On the south slope of Locust cemetery hill, about two miles from the city, there stands a little brick house, almost hidden from view in an apple orchard of a half century's growth. In this little house J. Kilblock opened a free school for the benefit of any children who wished to attend, and kept his school open three or four months in the year, until the public school system was established. Father Kilblock was a pious, philanthrophic individual, and made his living chiefly as an itinerant clock tinker. The old gentleman is still living and lias the respect and esteem of all his acquaintances. The trustees have been : Andrew Erskine, D. Lingsley, Charles Broughton, Levi Erskine, Samuel Gibson, George W. Hornb}-, William Wood and John W. Laubscher. Present incumbent Christ Kratz; school enumeration, 787, term seven months. All the school-houses are brick and of modern design, with one graded high-school at McCutchanville.

The first school in German township was taught on the " Nightingale farm," now owned by William Seibert. The first teacher was William Lacy, in 1832. The next school was built near St. Joseph and was taught b}- Trueman the sailor. The school-house was a mere hut with one log left out to admit light, no paper or glass being used. The pioneer teachers were : Grimes, Efliott, Adrian Young, James Patten, Samuel Grant, Amanda Foster, Joseph Shaw. The teachers of later years are John F. Pruitt, Henry B. Wood, Don Emerson, Samuel Broaddus, S. S. Lovejoy, A. J. Angermeier, John F. Boyle, Louis F. Guire, Fannie Goldsmith, Amelia Christ and Daniel W. Farquher. Trustees, Adam Wolf, William Umbach, George Naab, Charles Gantner, Simon Hartig, Fred Werkman and A. J. Angermeier, the present incumbent. School enumeration, 704; term eiffht months. The buildings are nearlv all built of brick and are of the latest design.

In Knight township the first school, as well as can now be determined, was opened in 1832, near the site of what is now known as the Terry school. The teacher's name was J. Combs. In 1836 James Craddock taught in the same old-fashioned log house; Rufus Dresser, in 1838. In 1837, William Olmstead opened a school on the river road on the old Garrett farm. About the year 1835, a well-educated eastern teacher whose name cannot now be ascertained, introduced into the Terry school a blackboard, which was considered by the patrons as a device to enable the teacher to escape labor, and their indignation was aroused to a degree of bitterness. One morning when the teacher,

At the end of the term the teacher and the blackboard " had to go." Teachers of later years were : John Hall, Alex Lewis, America Stanfield, Elizabeth Knight, Lee Ewing, George Warren. The more recent teachers are: Edna Street, Lillian Brooks, Fannie Kelsey, Robert L. Cowan, Louis F. Guise, and Barney Blackburn. Trustees in earlier years were : William Knight, Orville Kelsey, Wilson Collins; in later years Ira Grainger, A. Knight, Samuel Gramger, Henry B. Smith, Henry Barnett and J. J. Byrnes. The township has eight good brick schoolhouses and two frame houses. School enumeration, 5S1; school term, ten months.

In Union township the first school was taught in 1830 by William Hazelwood. Later came: Campbell Willard, Eliza Hardin, James Dennison, Henry Simmons, A. T. Everett, S. C. Rogers, Adrian Young, George W. Moore, Paul Slaughter, Hannah Fisher, Don Emerson, Winnie Hooker (Enslie). Early trustees were: Simeon Long and William McDowell. Later trustees : William Martin, Joseph Parrett, Samuel Barker,James King, James F. Saunders, Albert Kamp, John Neal and R. W. King. School enumeration, 277. The south part of Union township, better known as Congressional township 8, is the fortunate possessor of 300 acres of unsold school land, which rents for an annual rental of $10 to $12 per acre, and produces enough revenue to keep the schools in session all the year without a tuition levy.

But little can be said concerning the schools of Pigeon township, because of the fact that the city of Evansville includes within its corporate limits nearly the whole of Pigeon township. Nearly all the suburban residents are transferred to Evansville for school purposes. The township proper has but one school, which has been taught for a number of years by Mr. George S. Pritchett; the enumeration is ninety-three; the present township trustee is PhiHp Spiegel. The pioneer teacher of the city of Evansville was George Thompson, who taught in a little log cabin situated near the corner of First and Vine streets, in the year 1821. Soon after this, William Price taught school in the old Baptist church near Mulberry and First streets. It was a log dwelling house at first, but was purchased by the Baptist society and used as a church and schoolhouse. The old building is yet standing and doing service as a stable. It is now the property of William Dean, Esq., and is the oldest landmark of the pioneer times of Evansville. In 1821 the citizens of Evansville raised a sufficient amount of money to build a brick school-house, and they employed Daniel Chute as teacher at a salary of $300 per year. The house was built on the court-house square near the corner of Third and Main streets. This school-house had a large fire-place in each end, so large, in fact, that more light came through the fire-place than through the two small windows in the front. For thirty years did Mr. Chute labor to educate the youth of Evansville. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College and a fine scholar. He was a truly pious man, but believed in " watching " as well as " praying." At opening exercises he prayed standing with his eyes open, and a long fishing cane in one hand, and when he caught a boy- in mischief during prayer he would stop short and call out, " Woe be to you, John," and strike him over the shoulder with the long cane, then resume and finish the prayer. The writer recollects him as a teacher of girls in the old Park school, and would judge from Mr. Chute's genial countenance that there was anything in his nature but "woe" for anybody.

Among the pioneer teachers who deserve to be remembered are Miss Philura French, whose first work in this community as a teacher began in 1832, and who subsequently became the wife of Mr. John Shanklin and mother of J. G. Shanklin, George W. Shanklin and Mrs. John M. Harlan, all well known to the general public; Miss Evans who taught in 1834; Miss Slocum in 1836; Miss Seldon and Miss Burgess assisted by Miss Mary Wilson, now the venerable mother of Mr. J. S. Reilly, of the Evansville Courier company, and Miss Edith Reill}', now one of the members of the High school corps. The writer is indebted to the courtesy and fine memorj' of Mrs. Reilly for many items of this sketch. As well as can now be ascertained Miss Julia Barnes came to Evansville and opened a school in 183S. Then came the Misses Morton, sisters of Vice-President Morton. The Draper sisters taught in the old Maghee homestead, corner Third and Chestnut streets. Then came Mr. Safford and wife, followed by Mr. Green, Miss Dean, Miss Abbott, Mr. Thompson and Miss Conyngton. These schools were, of course, all private. After the inauguration of the public schools, the private schools graduallv disappeared. Miss Lura Jacobs and Mrs. Mary Jacobs Maghee were emplo\'ed in the first public school of Evansville. Mrs. Maghee is still living in the citv and is well known as the wife of J. B. Maghee, Esq., and mother of Dr. W. H. Maghee, a well known physician of the city. Ne.\t to Mr. Chute in length of service as a teacher in Evansville stands J. W. Knight. His work was confined chiefly to the upper part of the city, and to boys only, as in his time the sexes were separated in the schools. His methods, while not very agreeable to the sensibilities, as the writer can testify from personal experience, were excellent in developing memory, reason and will power. And there are many people who believe he has never been equaled in Evansville as a teacher of boys.

Tlie following is a roll of teachers who have taught in the public schools of the city for a period of fifteen years or more: Mr. J. W. Knight, Mrs. V. C. Read, Mrs. L. J. Plummer, Mrs. Lucy McFarland, Mrs. Mary O'B. Miller, Mrs. Sarah C. Anderson, Mrs. Margaret Findley, Miss Eva K. Froelick, Miss Maria Bisbee, Miss Edith Reilly, Miss Mary E. White, Miss Hulda Ratim, Miss L. M. Ashley, Miss JuHa Bierbower, Miss Hattie Bierbower, Miss MoUie Stembridge, Miss Anna S. Farrell, Miss Lou E. Wyttenbach, Miss Laura Brooks, Miss Jennie Brown, Miss Hattie Durham, Miss Anna L. Forsythe, Miss Clara Reynolds, Mr. M. Z. tinker, Mr. Robert P. Hooker, Mr. Z. M. Anderson, Mr. A. J. McCutchan. The first board of school trustees was composed of H. Q. Wheeler, Christian Decker and William Hughes, Mr. Wheeler serving as superintendent. The succeeding superintendents were as follows: William Baker, E.J. Rice, C. H. Butterfield, A. M. Gow, John M. Bloss, John Cooper, and J. W. Layne, the present incumbent. The school enumeration of the city for the last year is 16,448, with a school enrollment of over 6,000. Length of term, ten months. The citv has twelve commodious buildintjs of modern design and finish, valued with the real estate at more than $600,000. The corps of teachers number 165. The public schools are the pride of the city. They have been kept remarkably free from the influence of politics, sectarianism and rings, and it is the determination of the school board and the wish of the people that they shall ever remain so. The members of the present school board are Samuel G. Evans, J. E. Inglehart and J. W. Roelker. The different school examiners of the county were as follows: Daniel Chute, Dr. Negley, Dr. G. B. Walker, Thomas E. Garvin, Dr. Reynolds, n. Q. Wheeler, S. K. Lavitt, J. W. Knight and T. W. Peck. In 1873 the office of school examiner was abolished, and that of county school superintendent created, and Mr. Robert P. Hooker appointed to till the newly created office. His successors were F. P. Conn, Ernst D. McAvoy and J. W. Davidson.