Parish Grove Township

Parish Grove Township

Organization - All a part of Parish Grove township from 1840 to March, 1855, w^hen the north half became a part of Washington until December, 1855, when it was again placed in Parish Grove. Present boundaries completed in 1875. Organized as a civil township in 1844 by electing Samuel Jolly and John Ross trustees. Their successors have been as follows : 1853, Thomas Martin, William Cochran, Joshua Howell ; 1855, Samuel Mcllvain, George Liptrap; 1856, John Stokes; 1858, Parnham Boswell, E. C. Summer, Henry Robertson; 1862, Daniel Garwood; 1863, D. McArthur Williams; 1864, Henry Robertson; 1865, James Kirtley; 1868, William H. Boswell; 1878, William Bennett; 1882, Frank Knapp; 1884, James Dunn ; 1888, John Dunn ; 1890, Thomas McGuire ; 1894, John Grogan ; 1900, John T. Woodlock ; January 1, 1905, Frank W. Gretencord.

Advisory Boards - 1899, James A. Lowman, Charles Menefee, E. M. Warner; 1900 and 1902, Frank W. Gretencord, John Ewalt, Michael Mclntyre; 1905, John T. Woodlock.

It is said that Thomas Bell entered land in Parish Grove as early as 1829. The grove was a favorite camping ground of white men and Indians who traveled from the far East to the West, or from the West to the East. It was named in honor of an intelligent Kickapoo half-blood whose father was a French trader named raiiHii. 'J'lie inollici- waK a Kiekapoo and the son dwelt anioiij^ the tree.s in the j^rove for many years and lost his life by fallinj^ from a tree. He was buried on the hillside just west of the grove, but nil traces of his {^rave have disappeared.

John T. Woodlock

and linden trees came Robert Alexander and his family in 1S39. He built a cabin with three rooms, and in one of these rooms an eccentric Scotchman named Burns taught the fii*st school in Parish Grove. This teacher seems best remembered by The name "Geenoostic." Some one else was pronouncing at a small spelling school when the word gnostic was reached and no one could spell it eoi'i-ettly. lu auger he seized the book, looked at the word, and shouted: "The word is not gnostic (nostick), but is gee-noostick. Now spell it."

The first court held in what is now Benton county was held in Parish Grove, with Judge Naylor of Lafayette in the chair and Henry Robertson as sheriff. The courtroom was a neatlv constructed house about twenty feet square, built of hewn linden logs and covered with clapboards. The door was on the west side, a window in the east, and a large fireplace in the south. In the fireplace two 'hiigger-heads'' side by side at each end served as a rest for the forestick. The chimney was built of sticks well covered with hardened clay. In this cabin was born the history' of Benton county's jurisprudence, and in it was taught the first public school in Parish Grove township. The teacher was John T. Williams and the time was in the spring of 1852. The length of the term was three months, and the teacher received twenty-five dollars a month and "boarded around" with his pupils. Mr. Williams was educated in Springfield, Ohio, and was a kindly, polished gentleman who easily governed his school without coercion. He taught several terms, then became a merchant in Oxford where he died in 1871. The old log temple of justice and learning was taken down late in the sixties and moved to a little grove on Sugar Creek, about two and a half miles southwest of Earl Park, where it or a portion of it may be seen today.

The first public school building erected in Parish Grove stood near a spring, about two hundred yards northwest of the center of the grove, and was built in 1854 on land now owned by Charles Menefee. It was a good frame building, 24 x 24 feet, and was furnished with good seats and desks. It was built by Samuel Mcllvain and winter came on before it was completed. William Mcllvain and Marion McCounell plastered it, and borrowed two sugar-making kettles of Parnham Boswell in which to keep up fires to save the plastering from freezing. D. McArthur Williams kept vigil with Mr. McConnell through the long chill nights. Both of these gentlemen still recall those cool but jolly vigils.

In the fall of 1858 D. McArthur Williams applied to Henry Robertson, Parnham Boswell and E. C. Sumner, then the board of trustees, for the winter term of school. The clerk of the board not being present at the meeting, Islv. Williams was asked to perform tliat officer's duties. Glancing at the ap]ilicant's writing, Mr. Suiiiik r cxclaiinci] : "Why, li« can write as good as a counterfeiter." "Ed," anked Mr. lioHwell of Mi. Sumner, "did you ever go to school?" "Yes, one day," was the reply, "but the teacher wasn'l ;il lioine." "Well," answered Mr. Boswell, "you are ahead of uut one day." Tlu- llirer; trustees of Parish Grove township received eighleen doli;ii-s for- iheir united services during jli;il yaw.

After Mr. Williams had secured the school he visited the home of a most courteous gentleman, the Rev. George Campbell, who was then county school examiner, to secure a teacher's license. He was informed that ^Ir. Campbell was absent on a preaching tour and would not be home for several wc^ks. ^Ir. Williams returned and infoinud the trustees who told him to

^'go ahead with the school," He went at other times, but did not get to see the examiner until after his school was out. "Hello, young man!" was his greeting to Mr. Williams; "haven't you run quite a risk in teaching without license?" The teacher admitted that he had. Just then a knock was heard at the door, it was opened and a farmer entered. He said he had sold a load of corn to Basil Justus ; that he had measured his wagon-bed and Avanted Mr. Campbell to tell him how many bushels were in the load. "Young man, can vou do that?" asked the examiner of Mr. Williams, The latter replied in the affirmative, was given the problem and soon had an answer which proved to be correct. "Bound Texas," was the next command. The boundary given did not suit the examiner and he "locked horns" with the applicant for license until they agreed to disagree. "Now read a paragTaph from this book, and then pick out some parts of speech," said Mr. Campbell. This having been done, the examiner said, jokingly : "The only objection I have to you is that you have beaten me out of a dollar, for the license you get today will be good for this year as well as last." At that time an average of fifty per cent secured a year's license.

The enumeration of 1850 showed but sixteen persons of school age. Soon afterwards the Alexanders moved away and but eight were left. This number increased to sixteen again in 1852, and rose to thirty-two in 1853. The arrival and departure of settlers were so equally balanced that in 18G0 the enumeration was again thirtj^-two, and D. McA. Williams, Lansing Kails, Noble Pritchett, Mrs. Payne, David Garwood. Parnham Boswell and John F. Boswell wei'e the heads of the families to which the eighteen boj^s and fourteen girls belonged. The enumeration droi)ped to fifteen in 1861, and was twenty in 1866, thirty-five in 1869, and fifty-three in 1872.

The school land situated in Parish Grove was sold on October 17, 1853. Three-fourths of section sixteen in range nine sold for 12.30 an acre, and one-fourth for |2.10; 160 acres in section thirteen, range ten, sold for |2.35 an acre, and the other 160 for |1,62, making |2,075.20 for the one and one-half sections.

The school located in 1852 continued to be the only school in the township until about 1870. Lucretia H. Williams, now living in California, taught in the winter of 1865-6, receiving fifty dollars for the term. A second school was established uear the Lowiiiau liuiiie in 187(1. M. H. Walker and Sarah E. Thomas taught in 1872-3, and Austin Hanawalt and H, L. Wainscott taught in 1873-4, The present boundaries of the township were tixed in 1872 and 1875. The Lownian school was moved to its present site in 1884. The Finley school was established in 1871, the Fleming school in 1872, the Center township line joint school in 1878, the McGuire school in 1880, the Knapp school in 1882, and the Bennett and Hawkins schools in 1880. The Grove schoolhouse was rebuilt in 1868 and again in 1884.

The superintendent's suggestion that three-year high school courses be established wherever practicable met with a prompt response from Trustee Grogan of Parish Grove. Knowing that many of their ambitious young people desired to secure a high school education, the patrons approved Mr. Grogan's decision to at once establish a high school with a three j-ear's course. Carl McCaslin was the first high school teacher, and the first term's work was done in the McGuire school in 1897-8. The next year a second story was built on the Knapp school and D. E. Harrington was placed in charge of the high school. At the end of his second year's work, on May 7, 1900, Mr. Harrington had the honor of presenting high school diplomas to Mayme McGuire and Bertha Buckly, the first graduates of the Parish Grove high school. The presentation was made at Prairie Green Church in the presence of a large and enthusiastic audience. Mr. Woodlock re-employed Mr. Harrington for 1900-1, and gave the high school much attention and encouragement. Oscar Xoe was principal in 1901-2-3, Harold Woodburn in 1903-4, and John Barce in 1904-5. The school has a good reference library and about |150 worth of apparatus. Mr. Gretencord has made some valuable additions to the library, and is endeavoring to supply the needs of the high school and all others in the townshij). Though this school has not been largely attended, its students have always done good work, and a large per cent of them have, received diplomas. The high school spirit is improving, and it is believed that the attendance will increase in the near future. There are 445 books in the school libraries of the township. The general school spirit is good, and all educational meetings are well attended. In addition to a commendable interest in their ])ublic schools, the citizens of Parish Grove give liberally toward the sujiport of a wellconducted parochial school at Dunnington,

Organization - Kange seven oij^'aiii/ed as a school township in 1849 with 1'lionias Atliinson, .Jolin FcrguKon and Micliael Coffett trustees. One-sixth in Tine and five sixth in Oal< Orove from 1840 until tlie present boundaries \ver(; fixeii in 1801. Under tlie trustees of Oak Grov(! and I'ine until the Bolivar succession which has been as follows: 1801, Cyrus Porter; 1862, Philip P. Griffin; 1863, Marcus Blessing; 1867, Joseph Kinsey; 1868, James Lloyd; 1869, James Emerson; 1874, John W. Ryan; 1880, A. M. Smith; 1882, E. .W. Timmons; 1884, F. M. Maddox; 1888, B. V. Lee; 1894, George Voliva; 1900, John Glynn; January 1, 1905, Samuel M. Smith.

Early settlers of Bolivar located along the east side of Pine Creek in 1832. Among the first to build their pioneer cabins along this stream were Milton Jennings, Thomas Nolin, Aaron Finch, James Holmes, James Thornton and John Emerson. Jonathan Baugh became the director of the school district organized in 1849. In the spring of 1848 Nancy Gastor taught a private school in a house that stood on the south side of section thirty-four, township twenty-four, range seven west. In the winter of 1848-9 a log schoolhouse was built on the east side of Pine Creek about one-half mile southwest of where Pleasant Grove Church now stands. This house had a puncheon floor and clapboard roof, and was heated with logs burned in a great wide fireplace. Pieces of logs were cut out to leave openings for windows which were made of glass with edges set in the logs. The first teacher in this cabin was Jacob Morehouse. He received thirty-six dollars and his board for a three months' term. "Uncle" George Jennings is the only pupil of that school now living in Benton county. In the winter of 1849-50 Samuel Reeve taught in the cabin. He enrolled twenty-eight pupils, twenty of whom were between ten and twenty-two years of age. There were twen ty boys and eight girls, children of Michael and John Coffett, Vincent Crabb, Jurman Alderson, Jane Nolin, Isaiah and Wil-

The next school seems to have been established in the southeastern part of Bolivar in 1853. In an interesting letter to the writer, Mr. F. M. Maddox of Bolivar says:

John Gi.Ynn

"As I remember, a school was taught by James Killin in the winter of 1853-4. The schoolhouse was situated in the southwest corner of section thirty-three, township twentyfour, range six west. The money used in building the house was donated by the patrons and it was built on the farm of Wilson INloorc. It was called 'Mosquito College' and was

UBcd for a Hcliool building until 1857. Richard Murphy is the only surviving pujiil of that school I know of that now lives in Benton county. James Killin was about thirty-seven years of age. He had a common school education, was a great reader, a deep thinker and Ijad an excellent memory, lie was a stone mason by trade, but studied and practiced medicine after teaching his school." F. M. Maddox taught the next two winters with about twenty-five pu[)ils enrolled. Reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, orthography and geography were taught by him. Each term was three months, and the teacher received thirty-five dollars a month. Among the jmpils of those schools still living are John Moore, John Teterson, Ricliard Murphy, Newton McKinney, Mrs. Phenis Johnson Buck of Otterbein, Mrs. Jennie McKinney Templeton of Indianapolis, Mrs. Sarah Moore Barnes of St. Louis, and William Uodges of Washington, D. C. Mr. Maddox was born and raised in Pond Grove, Indiana, and had only a common school education. Perhaps his strongest characteristic was to be and do right. He possessed more than an ordinary amount of energy and ambition, and his motto for himself and pupils was '*Be sure you are right and then go ahead,"

Mr. Maddox continues: "In the fall of 1857 a schoolhouse Avas built by the trustee of Oak Grove township on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section twentyeight, township twenty-four, range six, on land owned by F. M. Maddox. It was on what was then the main road from Oxford to Lafayette. It stood on the open prairie and was known as the 'Red Window-Shutter Schoolhouse,' and took the place of 'Mosquito College." The tirst two terms in this house were taught by Job Haigh in the winters of 1857-8 and 1858-9. The bouse remained in that place for about ten years and has since been removed from place to place to suit the convenience of the community. It now stands a half mile from its first location and is called the 'Smith school.' "

In 1852 a frame house was built on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section twenty-seven, township twentyfour, range seven west. This house took the place of the cabin school and was partially paid for by the patrons and the young men of the community. "Uncle" Thomas Ladd of Fowler, then a pioneer boy, donated the only dollar he had to aid in the erec- tion of this building. Owing to some one's lack of care in securing a proper title to the land on which the house was built, it became private property four years later. It was succeeded by another house built a half mile farther east in 185G, and abandoned in 1898, Some of the early teachers in this school were Hannah Voorhces, David Sewell, James Longwell and Robert

S. M. Smith

James Emerson, George H. Finch and others settled in the northern i)art of the township in the earl\ liftics and the "Finch" school was i)r()bably established about 1858 or 1859. Commissioner Stacy C. Scott was a pupil in this school in

1851)-<>(), and learned his letters from the New York Tribune. The teacher was Louise Caty (Lank), and the principal patrons were the Cooks, Finches and Scotts. Joseph Cook was a later teacher in this house which now stands on ihc land of George G. Allen and is used as a woodhouse. P. W. Sjiarrow, Lucretia Williams, J. A. Carr, D. W. Fisher, William Staiifield and Robert B. Lank taught in Bolivar in 1803-4; Phoebe Cochran. Samuel H. Payne, D. L. Fisher, Thomas B. .Foster, Josei)h T. Cook, Samuel C. Denton and Maggie Young in 1864-5, and E. A. Hann, Sampson McMillan, M. P. Rowe and J. P, Hickman in 1865-6. George Woodhams taught in 1861-2.

In 1849 the number of persons between the ages of five and twentv-one in range seven in Bolivar was fortv-one. and fortvfive in 1850. Isaac Templeton, Philip W^illiams, Jerry Austil. David F. Sewell, Vincent Crabb, John Lank and James Charlesworth came into Bolivar about this time. The total enumeration in 1855 was fifty-one in range seven and forty-four in

Bolivar contained lands valued at |164,731, improvements $29,636, and personal property $194,367 when its present boundaries were fixed. The enumeration was 191 in 1862, 258 in 1865, 276 in 1868, and 305 in 1870. Five schools were taught in 1864 with an enumeration of 254, enrollment 234, and daily average 101. There were then one log and four frame schoolhouses in the township, valued at |1,200. A new house built that year cost |499. The school term was seventy-eight days. Male teachers averaged |1.80 and females seventy-seven cents per day. The total value of school apparatus was |15. In 1871 six schools were taught with an enumeration of 294, an enrollment of 271, and a daily average of 227. The salary of males was $1.98 and females fl.78 per day. The value of all school property was |4,100, and there were 205 books in the township library.

One quarter of the school section was sold on April 10, 1854, for |8 an acre; one eighty sold twelve days later for f6 an acre; a second quarter was sold September 19, 1854, for |10 an acre; another eighty sold June 21, 1855, for flO an acre; a third eighty sold August 13, 1864, and the last eighty September 7, 1864, for |10 an acre, making a total of |5,760 for the entire section.

1890 and the people of that village have always taken an active interest in school work. The school libraries of Bolivar contain 1,120 books. The graduates of the township schools have many of them attended high school at either Oxford or Otterbein. The school spirit is good throughout the township.