Vanderburgh County, Indiana - Chapter 14: A Vast School System, 1897

Chapter 14: A Vast School System

School System - Wisdom of the Ordinance organizing the Northwest Territory - Indiana's Large School Fund - First School-house - Pioneer Teachers - Township Trustees - List of Vanderburgh' s Teachers - History of the City's Schools - A Roster of Superintendants. Professors and Teachers.

In passing the memorable ordiuance of 1787, our forefathers of th§ Continental Congress wrote wiser than they knew. It appears to an impartial observer that they must have been inspired. As it is essential to the preservation of free government that knowledge and learning be generally diffused throughout a community, the great Continental Congress had a desire to formulate and pass laws that would be legally binding upon the people to secure and maintain a uniform system of common schools for all time to come, for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the United States, either native or foreign-born, of all colors, to whom tuition should be without charge and equal to all.

The ordinance of 1787, therefore, provides ior a general and uniform system of common schools. Indiana's statesmen and legislators have so carefiilly governed their educational finances that this fund has reached the enormous sum of ten millions of dollars, a greater fund than is possessed than by any other state in the union. A part of this is loaned to the state, and the remainder is apportioned to the several counties, and placed in charge of the county auditors to be loaned to the people at the rate of six per cent, interest in advance, secured by first mortgage on real estate, not to exceed $2,000 being loaned to any one person. The state spends annually five million dollars for the education of its youth.

First School

Thomas Trueman, in 1819, built the first school-house, on the present site of the county orphan asylum, below the city. The house was built of unhewn logs, and had a dirt floor. The cracks in the walls were not chinked. Trueman was a 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 boys 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 subsistence by hunting, trapping and trading. He taught in different parts of the county for fifteen years. He died in German township and especially requested his friends to cremate his body on a log heap after death. His conduct seemed so strange to his simple-minded frontier friends that they took it for granted that it was the result of a freak of insanity, and he was not cremated. He was perhaps the first cremationist in the state of Indiana, ' Among other teachei's who taught in Perry township in ^arly 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 this township may be mentioned : J. B. (^ox, James S. Wills, David Stephens, Simon Waterman, Philip Koch, Henry Lauer, L. Schmadel, Fred W. Buente, Herman Klamer, and Theodore Hartig. The enumeration of sch6ol children in the township for 1888 was 840; the length of the 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 Leroy Calvert. It was built of round logs with puncheon floor and clapboard roof. One log was cut out and greased paper put in to admit light. In each end was a large stick-and-mud fireplace: one for the girls and one for the boys. Among the pioneer teachers of the township were James C!urry, Mr. Elliott, Daniel B. Craddock, Cadwallader and others. Those early schools were, of course, private, and the products of the farm were legal tender for tuition. At the expiration of the 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. Very little tuition was paid in cash. Among the trustees who did efficient service for the township are Leroy Calvert, John F. Pruitt, Caswell Calvert, Henry

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, Anna Yerkes, Charlotte Yerkes, Harriet Yerkes, Abiah Foster, Joel Mulby, Harrison Jones, Jas. Perry, John Arbin, Mr. Taylor and Alexander McCutchan. Later came William Heunesse, William Atchinsou, Arad McCutchan, Jas. Vickery, Miss Kate Headen, James Henry, 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 and William Schomberg. The enumeration of school children for 1888 was 544, and the term of school was 6 mouths.

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 log 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 punishmen, was to use the rod across the knees, as tiie pupil sat on the puncheon bench, 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 the puncheon benches with a bench-leg, which he would slip out of the bench and then replace 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, Levy Erskine, William T. Igleheart, Joel Mulby, Charles G. Olmstead, William Atchinson, Hester M.Wood, Ann Headen, R. P. Hooker and Louis F. Guise. In 1859 there was a select graded .school organized at McCutchanville under charge of S. R. Hornbrook, afterward captain of the sixty-fifth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry. This school exerted a salutary influence on the whole section of Vanderburgh county, known as the "Blue Grass" region. In this school Capt. Hornbrook sowed good seed which has borne abundant fruit.

Center township has the honor of having had the fir.-it free .-school in the county. On the 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 seliool oiien three ov four months in the year; until the public school system was established. Father Kilblock was a pious, philanthropic individual and made his living chiefly as an itinerant clock-tinker. The old gentleman always had the respect and esteem of all his acquaintances. The trustees have been: Andrew Erskine, D. Lingsley, Charles Broughton, Levi Erskine, Samuel Gibson, George W. Hornby, William Wood, John W. Laubscher and Christ. Kratz. The school enumeration for 1888 was 787 and the term was seven months. All the school houses are of brick and of modern design. There is 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 by 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 M'ere: Grimes, Elliott, Adrian Young, James Patten, Samuel Grant, Amanda Foster, and Joseph Shaw. The teachers of later years are: John F. Pruitt, Henry B. Wood, Don Emerson, Samuel Broadus, S. S. Lovejoy, A. J. Angermeier, John F. Boyle, Louis F. Guise, Fannie Goldsmith, Amelia Christ, and Daniel W. Farquher. The trustees were: Adam Wolf, William Umbach, George Naab, Chai-les Gantner, Simon Hartig, Fred Werkman, and A. J. Angermeier. The school enumeration in 1888 was 704, and the term was eight months. The buildings are nearly all built of brick and are of the latest designs.

In Knight township the first school, as well as can now be determined, was opened in 1833, near the site of what is known as the Terry school. The teacher's name was J. Combs. In 1836, James Craddock taught in the same old-fashioned log-house; in 1838 Rufus Dresser.

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 black-board, 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, accompanied by some pupils, opened the clap-board door of the schoolhouse, there was found written on the board, in a bold hand the following structure:

The teachers of hater years were: John Hall, Alex Lewis, America Stanfield, Elizabeth Kuight, Lee Ewing, and George Warren. The more recent teachers were: Edna Street, Lillian Brooks, Fannie Kelsey, Eobert L. Cowan; Louis F. Guise, and Barney Blackburn. Trustees in earlier years were: William Knight, Orville Kelsay, Wilson Collins, and in later years: Ira Grainger, A. Knight, Samuel Grainger, Henry B. Smith, Henry Barnett, and J. J. Byrnes. The township has eight good brick school-houses aqd two frame school-houses. The school enumeration for 1888 was 581, and the school term wasten months.

In Union township the first school was taught in 1830 by William Hazelwood. Later came Campbell Willard, Eliza Hardin, Jas. Dennison, Henry Summons, A. T. Everett, S. C. Rogers, Adrian Young, Geo. W. Moore, Paul Slaughter, Hannah Fisher, Don Emerson, Winnie Hooker. Early trustees were: Simon Long and Wm. McDowell. Later trustees were: William Martin, Joseph Parrett, Samuel Barker, James King, James F. Saunders, Albert Kamp, John Neal and R. W. King. The school enumeration for 1888 was 277. The south part of Union township is the fortunate possessor of 300 acres of unsold school land, which rents for an annual rental of from $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 in 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 George S. Pritchett; the enumeration, outside of the city, at the beginning of 1897, was 848. Philip Spiegel, whose death occurred while he held the office of trustee of Pigeon township, was succeeded by Fred G. Decker, and he by W. Edgar Males, who is the present incumbent.

Evansville Schools

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 school-house. The old building is still standing and doing service as a stable. It is now the property of William Deau, 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 old court-house square nea» the corner of Third and Main streets. This school-house had a largo firejilace in each end, so large in fact that more light came in at the fireplace than through the two small windows in the front. For twenty 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 the opening exercises he prayed standing, with his eyes open, and a long fishing cane in his hand, and when he caught a boy in mischief during the prayer he would stop short and call out, "Woe be to you, John," and strike him over the shoulder with his long cane, after which he would 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 as a teacher in this community began in 1832, and who subsequently became the wife of Mr. John Shanklin, and the 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, who taught in 1836 ; Miss Sheldon and Miss Burgess, assisted by Miss Mary F.Wilson, who became the venerable mother of Mr. J. S. Reilly, of this city, and Miss Edith Eeilly, now one of the members of the high-school corps of teachers.

As well as can now be ascertained Miss Julia Barnes came to Evansville and opened a school in 1838. Then came the Misses Morton, sisters of Ex- Vice-President Morton. The Draper sisters taught in the old Maghee homestead, corner of Third and Chestnut streets. Then came Mr. Safford and wife, followed by Mr. Greene, Miss Dean, Miss Abbott, Mr. Thompson and Miss Conington. These schools were of course all private. After the inauguration of the public schools, the private schools gradually disappeared. Miss Laura Jacobs and Mrs. Mary Jacobs Maghee were employed in the first public schools of Evansville. Mrs. Maghee is still living in the city and is well-known as the wife of J. B. Maghee, Esq., and the mother of Dr. W. H.

Maghee, a well-known physician of the city. Next 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 hoys 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 experiences, were excellent to develop memory, reason and will power, and there- are many people who believe he has never been equalled in Evansville as a teacher of boys.

The .statement given below was made in 1886, but dates back of that time fifteen years or more. The following is a roll of teachers who have taught in the public schools of the city, for a period of fifteen years or more prior to 1886: 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. Froelich, Miss Maria Bisbee, Miss Edith Reilly, Miss Mary E. White, Miss Hulda Rahm, Miss L. M. Ashley, Miss Julia Bierbower, Miss Hattie Bierbower, Miss Mollie Stembridge, Miss Anna S. Farrell, Miss Lou. C. 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. Mc- Cutchan. The first board of school trustees was composed of: H. Q. Wheeler, Christian Decker and William Hughes. Mr. Wheeler served also as superintendent. The succeeding superintendents were as follows : William Baker, E. J. Rice, C. H. Butterfield, A. M. Gow, John M. Bloss, John Cooper, J. W. Layne and Wm. A. Hester, the present incumbent. The school enumeration of the city, for the year 1886, was 16,448, with a school enrollment of over 6,000. Length of term, ten months. The enumeration for the year 1896 was 16,276 ; the whole number that entered the schools was 7,483.

The city has twelve commodious buildings of modern design and fini,sh, valued with the real estate at more than $600,000. The corps of teachers at the beginning of 1897 numbered 202. 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 : C. E. Scoville, F. Lauenstein and A. M. Weil.

School Superintendents H. Q. Wheeler

Mr. Wheeler is properly- called the father of our free schools. He was born in Chesterville, Maine, in 1819. He was graduated from Bowdoin college in 1844. His legal studies associated hini with John S. Abbott and John S. Teuny, then chief justice of Maine, and he was admitted to practice in the supreme court in 1846. This same year he came to Evansville, and not long afterward formed a law partnership with John Ingle, Jr. In 1853, when the first free-school law went into effect he became a trustee with two others, and so efficient were his services that he was retained in that position for twelve years. During a large portion of that time he filled the position of superintendent with energy and classical skill, and he beat down the opposition to the free school system, then on its trial. In 1866 he returned to his native state, and took up his residence at Portland.

J. W. Knight

Professor J. W. Knight was connected with the city .schools in one capacity or another perhaps longer than any other person. For a time he taught the refractory boys of the city, and they have reason to know that he was a man who never failed to fulfill a promise. His severe discipline straightened up many a wayward lad. His old-time methods of enforcing obedience developed in many a boy a wholesome lesson of respect and regard for authority. In 1858 he was appointed superintendent, a position which he filled one year. He had been the clerk of the school board lor several years before, and from 1855 had been a teacher in the schools. He had also been principal of the grammar school, and was folly conversant with the needs of the schools. His superintendency was therefore a success. He died a few years ago at his home in this city, at an advanced age.

William Baker

On February 11, 1813, William Baker was born in Hamilton, Franklin county, Penn.sylvauia. His instruction in the public schools w.ns very limited. He clerked in a village store, studied surveying and civil engineering, taught school in 1 834-5, then began merchandising, conducted a woolen mill, and managed an iron furnace and forge. While actively engaged in business, he employed his leisure hours in the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. In the years 1847-8-9 he M-as sent to the Pennsylvania legislature. In 1853 he located in Evansville. For three consecutive terms of three years each he filled the office of mayor of the city. In 1861 he was appointed superintendent of the public schools ex-officio, a position he filled till 1865. He died while serving the city in the office of mayor on May 23, 1872.

E. J. Rice

Professor E. J. Rice was invited here in 1865, to fill the position of superintendent. As the schools grew in size and became more popular, the superintendency could not be effectively filled by ex-ofScio officers. The corps of teachers had increased to thirty-six, and 2,616 pupils were enrolled. The supervision of Professor Rice was short, lasting but one year.

Charles H. Butterfield

A sketch of Mr. Butterfield's life will be found in the history of the mayors of the city. He filled most successfully the position of superintendent for one year, 1866-7, when he resigned to enter upon the practice of law. Col. Butterfield had been called here in 1859 to conduct the high-school, a position which he resigned at the end of three years to enter the army.

The sixth superintendent in line was A. M. Gow, his services covering a period from 1867 to 1875. He was a ripe scholar and a man of great energy and executive ability. He introduced many amended methods into the school work, and brought about a more thorough organization and grading; neatness and cleanliness about the school rooms and premises were secured. His administration saw the introduction of a thorough system of written examinations Boys and girls, hitherto taught apart in different rooms, were brought together in the same line of work, and many complex matters were simplified. Indeed, he developed many reforms that advanced the efficiency of the schools.

Teachers Of Evansville Public Schools Colored Teachers

Mrs. M. A. Tiester, E. H. Turner, Adam Troutman, William Troutman. Georgia P. Williams, P. H. Watson, R. L. Wilson, Louis Whitlige, Miss L. A. Wilson, Robert Wilson, Mrs. Lulu Whitlige, Solomon Watkins, Mrs. Solomon Watkins, E. A. M. Watson, George A. Williams, Mrs. Arvilla Williams.