Fillmore County, Minnesota - Chapter 33: Educational Iiistory, 1912 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 33: Educational Iiistory

Beginning of State System - -Summary of Present Schools - School Progress - First Districts Created - The First Schools - Starting of the Various Districts - City and Village Schools - Early Spelling Schools - Prepared with the Assistance of Professor Oscar Carlson - Edited by Mrs. John C. Mills.

In the story of American civilization, the establishment of the school and the church has been coincident with the building of home. However, at the formation of the Union, and later, when the federal government was established, there was no definite line of action as to public edueation, although at the same time that the constitution was adopted the last session of the continental congress was being held in the city of New York, and the ordinance of 1787 was passed, regulating the affairs pertaining to the Northwest territory, including that portion of Minnesota lying east of the Mississippi river. In this ordinance much attention was given to the question of providing a means of public education, by giving one section in each congressional township for edueational purposes. Later, when the purchase of Louisiana was effected, and Minnesota sought admission into the Union, still further provision was made for education by giving two sections in each congressional district for sneh purposes. This gave impetus to the natural tendency toward educational matters, and we find that one of the first efforts in the new settlements was to prepare to educate the children. The chureh and the school building, when not one and the same, were practically always found side by side. The hardy pioneers of the Great Northwest - of which Minnesota was a part - did not wait even for a territorial government, but set to work at once to establish schools. The first one in Miunesota, for the education of white children, was organized by Dr. T, 8. Williamson, at the present site of the city of St. Paul. We are told that investigation demonstrated that there were about thirty-six ehildren in the settlement who might attend a sehool. A log house, 10x12 feet, covered with bark and chinked with mud, previously used as a blacksmith shop, was secured and converted into a schoolhouse, and taught by Harriet E, Bishop. Here, then, while the United

States troops were gaining such signal success in the war with Mexico was begun the system of education which has become one of the best in this great nation. In this same little schoolhouse, in November, 1849, was held a meeting for the purpose of establishing a system of public education, based upon the congressional act of March, 1849, establishing Minnesota territory. Alexander Ramsey, of Pennsylvania, when appointed governor, proceeded at once to assume the duties of his office. In his first message to the territorial legislature, in the fall of 1849, he emphasized the need of wise measures looking to the establishment of a system of public education in these words: ''The subject of education, whieh has ever been esteemed of first importance in all new American communities, deserves, and I doubt not, will receive your earliest and most devoted care. From the pressure of other aud more immediate wants it is not to be expected that your school system should be very ample, yet it is desirable that whatever is done should be of a character that will readily adapt itself to the growth and increase of the country, and not in future years require a violent change of system.''

In response to this appeal for legislation in school matters, we find that a committee on education was appointed, and a very able report was made by the chairman, Hon. Martin McLeod. This report was formulated into an act relating to public schools in Minnesota, which act was passed in the last day of the session, November 1, 1849. Tax levy was provided, and a system of management arranged. The first superintendent of common schools for the territory was Rey. E. D. Neill, who served till 1853. His salary was $100 a year.

The first school instruction in Freeborn county was given in the pioneer homes by mothers, who, though they had come to a new country, did not wish their children to grow up in ignorance.

The early comers never lost sight of the idea upon which the possibility of founding and supporting a popular government rests - the education of the children - and as fast as the children appeared and became of school age, the best possible provision, at the command of the people, was made for their schooling.

An account of the various expedients resorted to, that would meet the requirements of the circumstances, would, while sometimes laughable, reveal the struggling efforts of a determination to bestow knowledge upon the rising generation in spite of ali diffieulties. Schools were often kept in a log dwelling, where the school room would be partitioned off from that occupied by the family by an imaginary Hine. Sometimes an open shed as an annex to the house would serve the purpose in summer. The usual method was for the neighbors to get together and organize a district, and select a lot for a building. Of course each one would want it near, but not too near, and generally there was little trouble in establishing the Jocation, which would be with a view of accommodating the greatest number. And then to build a schoolhouse, a ''bee'' was the easiest way, and so plans and estimates were improvised, and each one would subscribe, one, two, three or more logs so many feet long, so many shingles, so many rafters, a door or a window, and at the appointed time the men would assemble with the material, bringing their dinner pails, and by night, if there had not been too much hilarity during the day, the building would be covered and practically completed. The benches wonld be benches indeed, often without backs, and sitting on one of them was about as comfortable as sitting in the stocks, that now unfashionable mode of punishment.

Schools were thus multiplied all over the conntry, until in the winter of 1859, the legislature passed an act making each organized township a school district, to be subdivided according to local necessities. But this plan was soon repealed and the present method adopted. The districts were numbered consecutively, beginning at a certain point, and new districts, as they have been created, have followed the order of time in numbering.

The last log schoolhouse in the county was in the Goldsmith district, south of Chatfield. That gave place about 1896 to a frame one, and this ended the use of log schoolhouses in the county.

The Present Schools. The schools in the common districts are under the immediate supervision of a board of trustees in cach distriet, consisting of three members, the special and independent districts having a hoard of edueation, consisting of six members,

The county superintendent has general supervision of the schools in the county. It is his duty to visit the schools, advise teachers and officers as to the best method of instruction, the most improved plans for improving and ventilating schoolhouses and ornamenting school grounds; conduct teachers' and officers' meetings and make reports to the state superintendent of public instruction.

The state grants special aid to schools coming up to certain standards of requirements: $1,750 to high schools, $600 to graded schools, $300 to semi-graded schools, and $150 to first-class rural schools. Second-class rural schools open seven months receive $75 and those open eight months receive $100,

Fillmore county, at present, receives special aid for seven high schools, four graded schools, four semi-graded schools, thirty-two first-class and thirty-three second-class rural schools.

best in the cities - when as a result of consolidation and the establishment of local agricultural, high and graded schools, no teacher will be required to teach more grades than she can handle to the best advantage, and the pupils be enabled to secure a good elementary education without leaving home. With the new law granting special aid to seven months schools, ihe nuimnber of schools on the state aid list is rapidly increasing.

There are 185 organized districts in the county. Of these, seven, at Rushford, Lanesboro, Preston, Harmony, Mabel, Chatfield, and Spring Valley, are city schools with first-class high schools. The Spring Valley school has in connection an agricultural department, established under the ''Putnam Act'' and the special state aid for this department is $2,500. The Chatfield school has an agricultural department, established under the "Benson-Lee Act,'' and the state aid is $1,000. At Spring Valley, Preston, and Iarmony are normal departments, for the training of teachers and the special aid is $750.

There are four graded schools; located at Peterson, Fountain, Wycoff, and Canton, each with four departments. There are four semi-graded schools, at Whalan, Prosper, Granger and Ostrander, each with two departments. The others are one-room schools, fourteen of which have an enrollment of less than ten pupils, fifty-three with from ten to twenty pupils.

The largest enrollment is 51 pupils, in district 94, Fillmore township, and the smallest is 2, in district 113, Spring Valley township. The average length of school in months, for 1910-11, was eight and one half months. Eighteen schools had nine months of school. During the year 1911, 88 pupils, of the common school districts, received diplomas certifying that they had completed eight grade studies with credit and the graduating exercises were held in Preston. During the same year, local, township, and county spelling contests were held.

Many of the schools are well equipped with those things which are required for efficient work. Many of the schoolhouses are new and the old ones are in good state of repair. Nearly all the schools have libraries and free textbooks.

The teachers' training schools and institutes which are conducted in the county do much {to increase the efficiency of the teachers. These schools are paid for by the state and are conducted under the direction of the county superintendent and a conductor appointed by the superintendent of public instruction. Instruction is given in methods of teaching and in the subjects required for teachers' certificates.

School Progress. Up to 1875, Fillmore was the most populous county in the state. The next year, Hennepin county forged ahead. From the settlement of the county up to 1877 there was a constant growth in school population. In 1877 the high-water mark was reached with 8,836 pupils in school attendance. The present attendance is 6,492.

In 1881 the state began to encourage education in the common schools with a system of state aid, which has been a wonderful boon to education thronghout the state.

Thirty years ago there were practically no books for the children to read - no books of any kind furnished by the school districts. Now there are many libraries of over 150 books in the schools of the county. In the graded and high schools the average is between twelve and fifteen hundred volumes, and in the rural schools the average is between seventy-five and one hundred volumes. All the graded and high schools furnish free books to all grades of pupils, and the system of free textbooks in the rural districts is almost as complete. Twenty-five years ago only one school in the county had any system of ventilation in it. Now all the high schools, graded schools and semi-graded schools as well as several others have an excellent sysiem of ventilation.

The rural schools are forging to the head. Basement furnaces and other approved methods of heating and ventilation are fast taking the place of the old stove in the center of the room.

Some change may also be noted in the form and style of school architecture. There are three graded or high school buildings and several rural school buildings of recent construction, carrying out. the idea of light on one side of the building, and following other modern ideas of construction.

The log strueture was the earliest type of a rural schoolhouse. Following this primitive strueture came the conventional form of frame buildings. It was always an oblong building with windows on each side, and sometimes on one or both ends. The stove was always in the center of the room, with a raised platform on one end of the room for the teacher and her desk. This is the general form that has prevailed everywhere since the building of rural schoolhouses began.

In 1896, district No. 2, in Newhurg township, voted to build a new schoolhouse, and the schoo] board asked the assistance of K. W. Buell, county superintendent, in the drawing of plans. They had voted but $600.00 and this naturally entailed some limitations. But the board were voung men and they wanted a modern building. Their desire resulted in the first ''side light'' school in the county. The windows are all on the north side, there is no platform to add to the number of steps a teacher must take, and the house is warmed and ventilated hy a suitable furnace in the basement. The honse cost, when finished, about #650.00 and the school hoard which had the courage at that time to break away from the traditional type of a country sehool-

While the officers in district 2 have the eredit of being the first in the county to adopt the more modern ideas and plans, there have been several other rural schools built in the county following the same idea of side lighting, but enlarging and improving on that plan in other particulars.

The recent buildings are at Rushford, Spring Valley and Harmony, and Lanesboro is now building an addition to the main building. In the following rural districts new schoolhouses have been built in recent years: District 11, Preble; 27, Amherst; 58, Pilot Mound; 124, Sumner ; 129, Preston, and 180, Bloomfield.

The best types of the more modernized schoolhouses are found in district 136, Preston; district 131, Bristol; in the two-room building north of Prosper; in districts 124, Sumner; 180, Bloomfield ; 27, Ainherst ; 11, Preble, and 58, Pilot Mound. These buildings are side lighted and warmed and ventilated with a furnace system.

To the village of Mabel belongs the credit of erecting the first modern styled graded school building in the county. The modern, single lighted graded schools in the county are at Peterson, Preston, Prosper, Mabel, Tarmony and Rushford.

A marked evolution in the school work of the county is secu in the efforts now made to give the teachers some special training for their work. At the time of retiring from office, twenty-five years ago, Superintendent John Brady spoke of the teachers' associations and teachers' institutes and how inadequate they were to accomplish the work of the teachers' spectal preparation. Up to the year 1889, the only special training the rural school teachers obtained, with a very few exceptions, came through such associations. The state provided for each county a five days' institute once a year; all other means of improvement must come through the teachers' own unaided efforts. When Emma Allen, now Mrs. John C. Mills, became county superintendent of the schools of Fillmore county she observed, as Superintendent Brady had, the great need in the rural schools of a better preparation of teachers than was then afforded. In July, 1889, Mrs. Mills organized the first training school for teachers ever held in the county. The school was held in Spring Valley and was in session four weeks. J.T. McCleary, later congressman, and Mrs. Almira S. Beede assisted in conducting the school. It was so largely attended and the results were so thoroughly appreciated and beneficial that another school of the same nature was held in Preston the following year.

In the year 1891, the summer school idea had grown so throughout the state that the legislature of that year was prevailed upon to establish as a part of the educational system of the state, the state county summer training schools for teachers. It will be remembered that the first two schools of this kind the eounty ever had were paid for wholly by the teachers attending. Since that time the expenses of the schools are paid by eounty and state.

First Districts Created. The first school district established in Fillmore county was on July 9, 1853, when the Minnesota City School District was created.. This was outside of the present limits of the county.

The first school district established within the present limits of Fillmore county was district 2, as it was then known. This was created on April 7, 1854. Four districts were created on that day in the order named below:

Second District - This district, created at the request of W. E. Picket, embraced sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 16 and 17, m what is now Carimona township (102-11).

Third District - This district was created at the request of James M. Sumner and R. M. Foster, and embraced sections 6, 7 and 18 in what is now Carimona (102-11) and sections 1, 12 and 13 in what is now Forestville (102-12).

Fourth District - This district was created at the request of J. 'W. Elliot and consisted of all the present township of Harmony and the western half of what is now the township of Canton.

First District - This district was created at the request of James MecCielland, Jr., and consisted of what are now Jordan (104-12) and Chatfield (104-11) and the two townships north of this in what is now Olmsted county (105-11 and 105-12).

School lands consisted of sections 16 and 36 in each township. On November 7, 1854, the commissioners passed an act that all persons then living on school lands should give a bond m the penal sum of $500.00 as an evidence of their intention to purchase the land when it came on the market, and the county clerk was instructed to bring suit against anyone cutting wood on school land or in any way impairing the value of such land.

Distriet 1. This district, established at the request of Joseph Bisby and others, contained sections 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18 in Carimona (102-11) and sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 14 in Forestville (102-12). The district was altered later in the day to contain the west halves of sections 5, 8 and 17, and all of 6, 7 and 18 in Carimona and sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 14 in Forestville.

Chatfield district took in the west halves of 5 and 8 aud all of 6 and 7 in Chatfield (104-11) and sections 1 and 12 in Jordan (104-12) as well as a few sections to the north in what is now Olmsted county.

District 8 was ereated April 3, 1855. It embraced the east half of section 32 and the west half of section 38, in 102-8 (now Preble), and sections 5, 8, 17 and 18, and the west halves of sections 4, 9 and 16, in 101-8 (now Newburg).

District 6 was dissolved April 3, 1855, and sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in 104-11 (now Chatfield) were added to the Chatfield village district. However the act was doubtless passed without due thought, for the west halves of sections 5 and 7, and all of sections 6 and 7 were already in Chatfield district.

District 11 was created July 2, 1855, and consisted of sections 5, 4 and the west half of 3 im 101-9 (now Canton), and seetions 32, 33, and the west half of 34 in 102-9 (now Amherst).

January 12, 1856, a tax having been collected in Fillmore county, it was voted by the county board to allow #1.00 for each scholar 11 actual attendance in the regularly organized district schools of the county. 'The report rendered from the different clerks showed the following scholars in the various districts: Chatfield, 79; Distriet 1, 48; District 3, 24; District 4, 51; Distriet 7, 63; District 8, 31; Distriet 9, 50; District 10, 27; District 12, 33. Although various claims are made as to sehools in various parts of the county in the early days, these few were the only ones who presented any elaim for county funds, and it is fairly safe to say, were the only schools in existenee in Fillmore county in the closing months of 1855.

Before January 1, 1857, the numbered districts in the county totalled 51, and in addition there was one unnumbered disirict, Chatfield, making 52 in all.

The First Schoolhouse, William Willford is the author of a pamphlet dealing with the first structure built exclusively for school purposes in Fillmore county, From this pamphlet the following information has been gathered.

'In Fillmore county, fifty years ago, the establishment of schools and places for stated religious meetings were coeval with the formation of every settlement, or at least attended to as soon as the pioneers had seenred proper shelter for themselves in inclement weather, and provided their families with the means of daily subsistence. The schoolhouses, like the primitive cabins, were roughly constructed, but in some of them, men whose mental endowments and ripe scholarship have raised them to eminence in after life, received the first rudiments of education.

Early in the spring of 1854, the early settlers residing in the northeast part of township 101, range 9, (Canton) the south half of township 102, range 9, (Amherst) and the norihwest part of township 101, range 8, (Newburg) made arrangements with Elijah Austin who resided on the west half of section 11, 101, 9, (Canton) to get their mail once a week from Burr Oak postoffiee in Winneshiek county, Iowa, whieh was on the Brink & Walker stage route from Dubuque to St. Paul until a postoitice could be established and a postmaster appointed on Richland Prairie, Minnesota. In April of that year, a number of settlers who had families, happened to mect at the residence of Elijah Austin at the same time to receive mail, when one of the settlers brought up the subject of doing something toward the establishment of a school. After a general discussion of the subject, a day was agreed upon to meet to locate a site for a schoolhouse, and make the necessary arrangements for the erection of a building. On the day set for the meeting at the residence of Elijah Austin, about all the settlers residing near where Lenora now stands were present, their names and place of residence being as follows: Ethan P. Eddy, section one, township 101, range 9, pioneer of 1853; William Bly, section six, 101, 8, pioneer of 1853: Andrew W. Gray, section six, 101, 8, pioneer of 1853, Thomas Gilbert, Sr., section one, 101, 9, pioneer of 1854; Nelson Darling, section eleven, 101, 9, pioneer of 1853; Austin Eastman, section fourteen, 101, 9, pioneer of 1854; Warren J. Howell, section ten, 101, 9, pioneer of 1854; Silas Pennock, section ten, 101, 9, pionecr of 1854; Elijah Austin, section eleven, 101, 9, pioneer of 1853; Church, seetion fifteen, 101, 9, pioneer of 1853; Benham,. section eleven, 101, 9 pioncer of 1853; B. F. Tillotson, section four, 101, 9, pioneer of 1853; Michael Onstine, Sr., section thirty-five, 102, 9, pioncer of

1853; T. J. Eames, seetion nine, 101, 9, pioneer of 1853. The site selected was on the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section eleven, 101, 9, where the village of Lenora now stands, being on land then claimed by Elijah Austin. The size of the house agreed upon was twenty feet wide by twenty-six feet long. An estimate was then made of the number of logs and the material required to build the house. An assessment was made on each person for material to be furnished on the ground, giving the number of logs, size and length that each man had to deliver. Also, a small fee in cash was assessed on each man to buy windows, boards for floor, ceiling and door, nails, and the like. When the material had been delivered on the ground, a day was appointed for the raising. On that day, when the pioneers had collected for the raising, the first thing done was the election of four good axemen for corner men, as they were called, whose business it was to noteh the logs the rest of the company furnished them, with the timbers on the building. In the meantime, the logs that were furnished for the clapboards were sawed the proper lengths, and split with a frow for the roof. The door was made by eutting an opening about three feet wide in the east end, near the northeast corner, and made secure by upright pieces of timber about three inches thick through which holes were bored into the ends of the logs for the purpose of pinning them fast. Openings were cut in the sides of the buildings for windows. Two windows, eight by ten glass, with twelve lights in each window, were placed on each side of the house in a horizontal position, the two windows meeting in the center, making the glass space twenty-four inches in height, and eighty inches in length on each side.

The lumber for the door, floor and ceiling was sawed by Mr. Morse, the owner of a small sawmill on the Iowa river, at Bluffton, in Winneshiek county, Iowa. The work was pushed forward rapidly, with Ethan P. Eddy (who was a earpenter) as the architect. Soon the house was ready for the furniture, such as writing desks, seats, and the like. The writing desks were placed on the sides of the building to obtain the light from the windows. They were made by boring two-inch auger holes in one of the logs on each side of the building, about two feet and nine inches from the floor, at an angle, so that the inner edge of the desk was about three inches lower than the outer. Hardwood sticks was driven tightly in the auger holes and projected out from the wall far enough to support the desk board, which was about fourteen inches wide. On the top of the desk board next to the wall, a four-ineh strip was nailed on a level, on which the pupils eould place their ink bottles. The seats were made of small basswood trees, aut about twelve feet long and split; the flat side dressed smooth with the axe and drawing knife. In these seatpieces were one-and-one-half inch holes bored to receive the legs which were driven in from the round side, and eut off to make the seat the proper height from the floor. The pupils, when engaged in writing, had their faces turned towards the wall, or side of the house, and when not engaged in writing had their faces turned to the center of the school room and making use of the edge of the desk board as a rest to their backs.

No doubt the youth of the twentieth century, who are attending school in magnificent buildings furnished with the best of modern school furniture, may think this description of a sehoolhouse and furniture in Fillmore county fifty years ago of a fictitious nature, but, nevertheless, we know it to be the unvarnished truth, The pupils, fifty years ago, had good backs and plenty of good backbone, which was needed in the early fifties to make good territorial pioneers.

After the desks and seats were made, the craeks between the logs were filled with split sticks and plastered with lime and sand mortar, which completed the building. This schoolhouse stood alone on the high rolling land of Riehland Prairie, which was very pleasant and beautiful in the summer time, but bleak and cold in the winter season, and some what remote from water, so that the scholars had to go more than a half a mile to obtain water to quench their thirst. To guard against the children getting lost on the prairie, when going to and returning from school, some of the settlers plowed a furrow from their place of residence over the prairie to the schoolhouse to guide the children. Immediately after the completion of the schoolhouse, a three-months term of school was commenced, which was the first school conducted in a schoolhouse built in Fillmore county. Tt was taught by Lucinda Miller, now Mrs. L. M. Onstine, of Chatfield, in the summer of 1854. When Miss Miller contracted to teach this school, she agreed to board around with the scholars as was customary in the country schools at that time. There were thirty scholars that attended this term of school. They were: Lucinda A. Church, 12 years; [larriet L. Austin, 9; Ira A. Church, 9; Isaae A. Benham, 10; William A. Church, 7; George N. Benham, 7; Elijah Austin, 13; James A. Austin, 11; Mary C. Benham, 4; Judson Bly, 8; Henry Tillotson, 9; Cyrus Tillotson, 7; Maria Darling, 13; James M. Darling, 7; Emily Darling, 11; Marietta Pennock, 16; Clarissa E. Eddy (Gilmore) 8; Celia E. Eddy (Streator) 6; James Gilbert, 9; John Gilbert, 8; Mary Gray (Cody) 6; Josephine Gray (Ham) 4; Oscar Streator, 10; Hannah Onstine (Willford) 18; Sarah Onstine, (Kellogg) 11; Rebecea Onstine (Rising) 7; Edwin Darling, 15; Albert Darling, 14; Phoebe A. Pennoek (Goudy) 11.

The second term of school in the Richland Prairie schoolhouse was three months in the winter of 1854 and 1855, Warren J. Howell, later a member of the Minnesota territorial legislature being the teacher. The third term was of three months in the summer of 1855, Mary Ann Peacock being the teacher. The fourth term was also of three months, commencing on Deeember 11, 1855, and closing Mareh 9, 1856. The teacher was William Willford, who received eighteen dollars for a month of twenty-one teaching days and boarded himself.

First School in Organized Distriet. What is said to have beeu the first school in an organized district in Fillmore county was then in Forestville village, taught in 1855. The district is now No. 90. January 2, 1855, this district became No. 1. Before this school had been taught in the home of Joseph Bishy, in North Forestville, by his daughter, Minerva Bisbee. This was a select school. In 1855 a log schoolhouse was ereeted in South Forestville, and the teacher's there were Leonard Bonesteele, and Maria Flynn. In 1856 a briek shoolhouse was built in section 13, the foundations of which are still standing. This schoolhouse was erected from brick burned in the first brick yard in Fillmore county, John Gill having been secured from Ohio for the express purpose of making brick for the sehoolhouse and for the Foster & Meighen store and the Felix Meighen home. The first teacher in this brick sehoolhouse was Milford Benham. Mr. Benham later took a claim in Carimona township. He is still living and not long ago visited the old settlers of Fillmore county some of whom were his pupils. This school reached its height in the late sixties under the tuition of Robert B. Brown, at which time it was known as the best sehool in the county. The story of his eoming here is most interesting. Major D. E. Runals, who was a elerk in the Forestville store enlisted in the Union army and was wounded while acting as orderly for Col. Bishop. In the hospital he was placed near a young man of his own age, who was also wounded, and during then confinement in the hospital a warm friendship sprang up between them. They accordingly agreed to attend school together in New York state after the war. In 1866 Mr. Brown came to Forestville to visit Mr. Runals, and was entertained in ihe house of Felix Meighen. Mr. Meighen took a liking to the young man aud persuaded him to stay and teach the Forestville school. IIe was a eollege man of broad attainments, and his three terms' tuition left an impression that has never been forgotten. During his vaeations he engaged in tlie contracting Iusiness with Charles E. Evaus. He was offered the position of superintendent of county schools and principal of the Spring Valley schools, but declined both. Returning to Zanesville, Ohio, near whieh place he was born, he became city active manager. His ability attracted attention, and the soldiers in time honored him by making him commander of the Ohio department of the G. A. R. Later he became commander of the National G. A. R., and since that time has remained a national figure of considerable importance. Mr. Runals has been for many years a prominent and respected resident of Pipestone county, in this state.

Spelling Schools in Pioneer Days. After the great accession of immigrants to Fillmore county in 1856, school districts were formed in neighborhoods where the scitlers were numerous enough to support a school, and log cabins were erected as schoolhouses. During the winter terms of the district schools in the sontheastern part of Fillmore county in the early days of its settlement, evening spelling schools were quite common, and each district held on an average one spelling school each week. The exciteiment grew stronger as time passed, and soon many intensely interesting contests were held between rival schools to win the championship which was at that period of time considered an honor to the winning spellers and their teachers as well as to the districts in which the winning spellers resided. The excitement continned to grow year after year among the scholars of the different sehools until the patrons of the district schools began io manifest a like interest. After the older ones had caught the infection the excitement grew to be intense. The teachers who had shown their indifference during the time the scholars and patrons of the several districts were engaged as disputants in the hotly conested spelling schools could no longer resist ihe temptation and resolutely jomed in the melee and from this time on the battle was waged and continued to a finish. There are tricks in all irades and professions, and the teachers used this axiom in conducting the spelling school in order to win the championship for their respective schools. The spelling book used at this period of time was ''Webster's Elementary Speller,'' which is perhaps unknown to the present generation. When a spelling school was announced to be held in a rival] school district, distance was not considered, provided it did not execed fifteen miles, aud the temperature was not more than thirty-five degrees below zero. The contestants in these rival spelling schools in the early history of Fillmore county have nearly all done their work and crossed the Divide. But yet, there are left, ''Old Pedagogue,"' the Preston Times correspondent from Partridge Creek, A. D. Gray, a prominent attorney of Fillmore county, and William Willford, proprietor of Floral Park Farm, to tell of the early days spelling schools in southeastern Fillmore county.

ment of schools existed. In specvlatmg on the best system, the legislature created first a town superintendency, then an examiner for each commissioner district, and lastly one general superintendent for each county. Under this E. J. Thompson was appointed June 10, 1864, at a salary of $800. September 9, of the saine year, §200 was added. At the time Mr. Thompson was appointed, 137 school districts had been created in the county. Of these, however, it is evident that only sixty-six were conducting schools at that time, for that is the number appearing in the county financial report of that year. My. Thompson's salary was yaised from $1,000 to $1,300, and then to $1,350. He resigned April 3, 1867, and G. J. Sanderson was appointed at a salary of $1,000. In 1869, Rev. D. L. Keihle was appointed. At first the commissioners determined to pay him by the day and allow him a certain stun for each mile traveled. Later his salary was fixed at $1,200 a year. Rev. Keihle served from April 1, 1869, to July 1, 1875. When he resigned D. W. Sprague was appointed. He served until the close of 1877. John Brady was superintendent from January, 1878, to January, 1887. Emma Allen, now Mrs. John ©. Mills, the only woman superintendent of the county, served from January, 1887, to January, 1891. Then K. W. Buell served until January, 1907, followed by Osear Carlson, the present superintendent.

Early Schools. In the following summary of the schools of the various townships, no effort has been made to give a history of the districts up to the present time. Such an effort would require a volume by itself. The object in presenting the following facts is to preserve something of the beginning of each district in the county, and to relate if possible, the erecting of the first building in each district.

Summer. The first school in this township was taught in what-was then distriet 25, in the winter of 1855-56. District 118 - This distriet was organized in 1864, with the following officers elected: director, Chester Hart; clerk, G. B. Hendricks, and treasurer, R. Vandel. School was first held by Polly Layman in Chester Hart's granary, and afterwards in various places until 1866, when a schoolhouse was erected in the southeast corner of section two. Prior to the organization of the district a subscription school was held in a log hut by Mary Brady, which had twelve scholars in attendance. This was in the year 1860. District 119. - This district really received its organization in 1864, but after the organizing steps were taken, matters of the district stood at one point until] 1876, when the organization, in a practical sense, commenced. In the year 1876, a meeting was held at the house of Z. D. Lassell, and the following gentlemen were made officers: direetor, Z. D. Lassell; treasurer, Edwin Todd; clerk, W. H. Kendall. The same spring their schoolhouse was erected in the northwest corner of section ten, and the first school taught by Martha Wooldridge. District 120. - In 1867, a meeting was held at the house of W. }3. Randall, on section six, which organized this district, and the following were the first ollicers: treasurer, Edson Owen; director, David Jolley, and clerk, W. B. Randall. Frances Amelia Owen was the first to eall school to order after the organization of the district. Their schoolhouse was ereeted in the southwest corner of section five, at a cost of $600. Previous to this organization a select school had been held for a number of years on section six, taught by Miss P. Stewart. District 121 - This was the first district in the township to receive organization, whieh was effected November, 1857, at the house of W. W. Parkinson. The officers first elected were: H. M. C. Ballow, Richard Freeman, I. M. Choate and Walter Woodmansee. The following spring $600 was appropriated to build a schoolhouse, and the contractor instead of following instructions, put up one at the cost of 41,200. This made the district considerable trouble, besides involving them in a law suit Which was decided against them, the carpenter succeeded in getting judgment for the amount. The first school was taught by I. M. Choate in his house, in the winter of 1856-57. In the fall of 1858, a school was taught by Nathial Parker, the distriet being then known as No. 30. District 122 - The organization was effected at a meeting held in the house of Martin Ricker in 1862. The first school was taught by Ferdinand Stevens in 1863. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1874, the first floor being constructed as a town hall. District 123. - This was the second district in the town, being organized in the winter of 1857. A log house was built by subscription in 1860, which lasted until it was destroyed by fire in 1876. A brick house was ereeted soon after, in 1876, at a cost of $800, in the southeast corner of section fourteen. The first teacher to preside in this district was Martha Guill. District 124. - The house now in use by the citizens of this district stands in section twenty-five. District 125. - This district is élaimed to have been partially organized in 1855, and a schoolhouse was erected that year, the size of which was 24x36 feet, and cost $600. A frame structure, 26x34 feet, was erected in 1869 at a cost of $800, in the eastern part of section thirty-three. The first schoolhouse built by the district was destroyed by fire. District 126. (Joint.) This flourishing district was also organized about 1857, their house being built about this time by 8. P. Green, on section 30. As the trustees of the district refused to accept the building he attached it on a carpenter's lien and moved it to section 29, where it was used for religious purposes by the Methodists. Later a sehoolhouse was built in the center of section 30. Distriet 127. (Joint.) This is the Hamilton district, and embraces the locality surrounding the hamlet. A schoolhouse creeted in the hamlet at a cost of 41,000 was at one time considered the best in that part of the county.

The Bronson Institute. This institution which was designed to make IIamilton a college center was to have occupied toward Northwestern Methodism and scholarship, the same position now oceupied by the Hamlin University. The institution never outgrew its infancy. A pamphlet published in 1858 says of it: "Hamilton has been fixed upon as the site of the Bronson Institute and the necessary buildings are to be erected this season. A subscription of $5,000 has already been made by private individuals, which with another $5,000 donated by the founder, Rev. Alfred Bronson, of Prairie du Chien, will be sufficient to build and furnish a suitable edifice for the purpose of this institution. It is designed to be an academical school of the first class under ihe control of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The school has been opened in advance of the building in the Methodist Episcopal church by T. J. Lake and L. I. Carhart, associate teachers, and is now entered upon its third quarter, The numher of pupils ranges from seventy to eighty.

Jordan District 97. This came into existence in 1853, at the house of A. Palmer, and that same vear a schoolhouse was got Wp on section 32, whieh served a good purpose until it was sold in 1870, for $20. While it stood it was used for a town hall, and for a general meeting house, as well as for schools. A new house was built the last mentioned year, at a cost of about $1,800, Mrs. Maroline Whittaker was the first to commence a school in the new house. District 98. The earliest school here was in the house of Mrs, Mackey, on section 20; in 1858, although the district is said 10 have been defined in 1856. Jane Green presided over the first school. The first house was put up with logs by the people of the district, and a subscription secured the shingles and windows, the first teacher in the new schoolhouse was Sedate Pebbles. In 1876 a new one was erected of brick, with a stone foundation, the whole costing $1,400. Isaac Bergen was the man {o inaugurate the briek schoolhouse. District 99. In 1855 this district was defined and organized, and a school building erected ihe first year, the farmers furnishing the logs, and all turning out on a given day and putting up the structure on section 5. Susan Rucker was the first to attempt to teach. In 1860 this schoolhouse was burned and the school was suspended until 1864, when a building on section 8 was erected. District 100. In the winter of 1857 a school was opened in this district, the schoolliouse being built that year in the usual way by voluntary contributions, on section 24. Jerusha W. Thatcher seems to have been the first teacher. The first building was used until 1875, and then a substantial brick edifice was completed at a cost of $825. District 101. The first school here was in the summer of 1858. H. T. Wilson conducted the school. The house was built of those logs. Each man in the district subscribed so many logs, so many nails, a window, a board or two, and so the house went up. This was the shortest way to get a school building, and imposed a lighter burden than any other method, and go it was usually adopted. A new building was put up here in 1870 in section 26. District 176 was created in the eightics. The schoolhouse is in the northwest part of section 10. District 179. The commissioners created this district March 7, 1893, out of districts 83, 100 and 176. It consists of sections 1, 2, 11 and 12, and the schoolhouse is in the northwest part of section 12. Chatfield. The Chatfield Academy. This collegiate institute was incorporated February 25, 1856, and organized May 29, 1858. The trustees were II. B. Morse, J. H. MeKenny, C. B. G. Jones, C. M. Lovell, Charles Wilson, Augustus Haven, Wm. B. Gere, E. D. Holt, T. J. Safford, J. R. Jones, R. W. Twitchell, G. W. Willis, F. G. Raymond, Isaae Day and C. G. Hawley. The officers were: President, J. R. Jones; secretary, H. B. Morse; treasurer, G. W. Willis; executive committee, Augustus Haven, J. H. McKenney and R. W. Twitchell. J. W. Bishop was the first priueipal and Miss Knights, assistant. It was opened on the first of September, 1858. As the academy filled up, new educational facilities were offered. Rev. G. W. Fuller was instructor in Latin and Greek. Drs. Isaae Cole and Luke Miller lectured on anatomy, physiology and hygiene. There were within a year sixty-two students. In March, 1869, Professor T. E. Thiekston, of Pennsylvania, was appointed principal. This educational institution went on for some years, but was finally superseded by the public schools of 'the state. The Chatfield Graded School (district 81, joint) was organized about 1865. A schoolhouse was contracted for in 1864, and was of two stories, 24x83 feet, and cost $3,000. Another building was erected in 1879, at a cost of about $400. Primary No. 2 was erected in 1880, at a cost of $300. Thus started the present excellent school system of the city of Chatfield, which is described elsewhere. District 83. This is reported as the first. district in town to be regularly organized, outside of the village, which was in the fall of 1858, with the following named officers; Director, Joseph Caw; elerk, Peter Johnson; treasurer, George W, Sawyer. In the spring of 1859 a log schoolhouse was built on land donated by Sabin Woodward, in section. 17; it was 18x22 feet and cost $200. Miss Hill, later Mrs. Hanson Woodward, was the first teacher, This house was occupied up to 1872, when a brick building was constructed on section 18 at a cost of $1,500. Distriep 82. In 1862 this distriet was intro- duced into existence, with the following officers: Director, Patrick MeGrand; clerk, Michael King; treasurer, Martin Breman. In the summer of 1863 the first school was gathered into the granary of Andrew Galbreaih, on section 2, and Lizzie Galbreath was delegated to teach. The next winter the school was held in the house, where seventeen pupils congregated. The next spring an acre of land was procured by Thomas Parsley for $15, and a schoolhouse 18x24 feet was built on section 14. In 1876 an addition to this, 10x24 feet, was made. Laura Barber was the first to handle the fernle in the schoolhouse, with twenty-five scholars. In 1877 a new district was formed from this and called district No. 128, The headquarters of this district are in section 2, where the schoolhonse is located. The first teacher was Miss Stewart. District 84. The next district to be organized was this one, on September 11, 1859. On October 21 the officers were elected as follows: Director, Daniel 8. Hoit; clerk, M. O. Camp; treasurer, R. H. Findley, A tax of $75 was levied to build a log schoolhouse, which was erected on section 27, and O. Compton was the initial teacher. In May, 1862, the number of the district was changed from a previous number to No. 84. In the spring of 1867 it was divided into two districts, the other being numbered 147. The old district built a new schoolhouse on section 25, a frame building 15x26 feet, at a cost of $600, which was completed in 1868. After the sub-division the first teacher was Mattie Shaw, in a honse owned by John Jaeobs. Mary King called the first school to order in the new sehoolhouse. Distriet 147 was set off as above indicated, in 1867, and the first officers were: Director, Navin Wright; clerk, D. C. Cartlich; treasurer, Thomas Sawyer. The first school was held in the house of the clerk, with D, D. Ferrall in charge. The next year a log house was built, 16x24 feet, on section 21, on land owned by George Goldsmith, and Minnie Sawyer was the teacher. District 85 was organized in 1863 with the following officers: Director, W. Brown; clerk, M. W. Rooney; treasurer, D. W. Breese. Mrs. Luey Brown opened a school in her own house in 1860, and in 1862, the citizens rolled a few logs together, and there they laid until 1863, when a frame building went up in section 32 at a cost of $600. Tere Mrs. Brown also taught. In 1878 another house was built. Harry Armstrong was the first to teach in this building. District 173 was organized February 19, 1878. The officers were: Director, I. Fay; clerk, George M. Farrington; treasurer, I. F. Donehey. A frame house was built, 16x20 feet, in 1877, on land owned by A. W. Fargo, in section 31. Maud MeFaul was the first instructor, with twenty pupils. This distriet includes a part of the town of Jordan. District 161. This district was set off in 1868, and two terms of school were tanght in the house of James A. Scott, Ida Barber presiding. In 1870 the schoolhouse was erected on section 4, Fountain, at an expense of $260. The school is now located in section 34, Chatfield township.

Pilot Mound. District 55. In 1856 a school was taught in the house of Frank Whitney, and his wife was the teacher. This was in section 10, and there were a dozen or more scholars. A log sehoolhouse was built in 1856, on the land of H. Jones, in section 10, Mrs. Whitney, the saine teacher, also was the first to officiate here. In about 1867 this building, having outlasted its usefulness, was replaced by another, which cost $1,200. District 56. The school bearing this number was organized in Mareh, 1857, at the house of H. R. Rouse, when a site was agreed upon for the schoolhouse, which was to be within eighty-five rods of the geographical center of the district. A tax of $106 was raised to build the schoolhouse, and it was to be ready for oceupaney by the first of June that year. Nelson Frost, Henry A. Spicer and Isaae Dickinson were chosen trustees. The house was of logs, in section 8, on land owned by N. Frost. The school was opened by Marietta Sinith. This may have been the first schoolhouse in town. Ti had a dirt roof and it was not uncommon to sce snakes on the top of the house which was green with grass. This educational institution served its purpose until 1869, when a new one was built in section 7. Dilla J. Mann was the first teacher there. District 57. As near as ¢an be learned the first sehool opened in this district was at the residence of Nels Thorson in 1857. Lewis Everson taught in the Norsk tongue. The next year a regular ''bee'' was held, and a log cabin put up and dignified by the name of schoolhouse. Iu 1878 or 1879 an edifice was constructed in section 31. The first teacher io teach in the English language in this distriet was H. H. Hayden. Distriet 58. In the autumn of 1862 a house was bought of Peter Berg, in seetion 26, for a schoolhouse, and sehool was commenced with J. H. Burrell as teacher, with twelve or fourteen scholars. In 1871 a schoolhouse was put up in section 24, on land owned by Peter Berg. The house cost about $400. District 139 was organized in 1866 at the house of Asa Smith. Mary Green first called the school to order, and kept the first term. In the summer of 1867 the first schoolhouse was built at a cost of $900. While the building was going up a school was kept in a Jog cabin formerly used by John Ellsbury. District 159. This district, in 1877, was organized from four other districts. The meeting for organizing was held on Oetober 3 at the house of Charles Egee. Otto Hang was elected director ; Carl Egge, treasurer; Nels 'I. Borgen, clerk. The schoolhonse was built in section 21, at a cost of $350, and

Arendahl. The first school in town was in the Norsk language and was taught by A. E, Boyum, in private houses in the winter of 1857 and 1858. The first school in Euglish was tanght in Distriet No. 36. District 35. The earliest sehool taught in this distriet was in a log chureh by Christina Thompson, later married io A. Anderson. In 1867 a frame building was put up. District 164. In 1872 a stone schoolhouse was built at a cost of #500, 17x23 feet. Robert W. Butler was the first to teaeh in the building. Distriet 166. In this district, teaching began in the Nowwegian language in 1864. The teacher was Andrew O. Olnestad. In 1871 the sehoolhouse was built, L. O. Olnestad being the teacher at that time. District 86. This district was early organized, and in 1862 a log edifice, 18x22, was up and served the purpose until 18738, when a structure was erected 20x34 feet.

Rushford. Rushford Schools. This independent district was created by a charter in 1868, but was not organized until February 20, 1869, and in March the following persons were elected as officers: Niles Carpenter, Joseph Otis, John C. Smith, John Hobart, Joseph E. Atwater and George B. Parker. The first teacher was G. W. Kemp, a medical student, who, during the second term, was taken siek and went home to die in Indiana. In -1879 the large schoolhouse being insufficient, a new one was built for the primary department. This district was made up from the old county district No. 16 and succeeded to the property. Thus began the public school history of Rushford eity, which is given elsewhere. The first school taught here was a private one hy Mrs. IJenry Mead, in her own house on the south side of Rushford avenue, in the winter of 1857-58. The first public school was opened by Miss Waters on Monday, February 1, 1858, in a elaim shanty built by Mrs. Nims, about three-fourths of a mile north of the postoffiee. District 18. The first school held here was in the basement of the house of Joshua Emery, in section 2, in the summer of 1857, and was taught by Martha Emery, who a few months afterward was married to H. Stage. The school was continued here for several years. In 1859 an attempt was made to build a schoolhouse, and those interested got out some timber and hewed it, and actually commenced work on the building, which was located where the Catholic eemetery was later Jaid out, but the poverty of the scitlers compelled them to abandon the work. In 1867, they succeeded in erecting a frame building, in section 2, at a cost of about $500. District 160. The first school in this distriet was a small one of logs in section 6, on the land now owned by G. Olson. In 1878 a large frame building was constructed in section 7, on the farm of R. Torsons, at a cost of between $400 and $500. District 146. 'The first school here was held in a granary belonging to Otis Batrick in section 15, and here the school was taught up to 1866, when a frame house was built. Eva Walker taught the first school. District 154 (joint). The first school was held in the granary of Hans Hanson, in section 25, in 1880, and the same year a frame house was built at a cost of about $300. The first term was taught by Tilda Oldhouse, of Rushford. District 144. The first school in this district was taught in the year 1866 by Nancy Willet, the distriet having heen organized the previous year. The school was in a small shanty. The first board elected was composed of the following gentlemen: George A. Hayse, A. T. Benson and W. I. Gates. In the year 1870 it was decided to build a new house, which was done on lot 7, South Rushford, at a eost of $1,000. lt is known as the South Rushford school. District 17. This is the Peterson district and was established in 1856. It was at first No. 42, and took six sections from this town and six from Arendahl. The earliest history of this district is rather obscure, but a school seems to have been kept in a log building built for that purpose on the jand of Peter Peterson Haslerud, where the village of Peterson now is. Here it was held until a frame house was put up in 1870, on the land of Easton and Barton, in section 29 on the west side of the river. The cost was about $500. The present Peterson school, which ¢overs the work of the usual graded schools, and also does two years of high school work, was erected in 1900 at a eost of $5,000.

Norway. District 15. The first school inaugurated in this district was in the house of Andrew Peterson in section twentyeight, in 1859 or 1860. The instructor was G. A. Highland. The first schoolhouse was a log structure, 16x20 feet, in section 29. District 18. The first building for school purposes was erected in 1859, and was 14x16 feet. The first teacher was Hannah Onstine. The location was in seetion 15. A new house, 20x36, was later erected at a cost of $850. District 12. The first shelter for the school was of logs in the center of section 17. In 1878 a new house was put up at a cost of $500. District 14. The first house was got together by subscription; it was 16x18 feet and was put up in 1861. In 1878 a new house was erected, 18x26 feet. District 157 is joint with Houston county and has its sehoolhouse in section 36. Distriet 183 (joint). This district, which has a schoolhouse in section 12, is joint with Houston county and takes in families in Norway and Rushford. It was created by the county commissioners, March 6, 1895. District 185 takes in families in Norway, Holt, Amherst and Preble. It was created by the connty commissioners, March 24, 1896. The schoolhouse is in section 31, Norway. District 186 was created by the county commissioners January 3, 1899. The schoolhouse is in section 7, and the district is in the extreme northwestern part of the township.

Holt. At first the town was divided into four districts, each representing a quarter of the territory. In 1871 a new district was formed, and according to the county rule it became No. 167, which represented the whole number of schools in the county at that date. This new district was taken in part from No. 32 and partly from No. 33, and was located in the south part of the town. District 32. The location of the school house is on section twentyfive. The district embraces the southeast corner of the town and was the first organized. In the winter of 1857 N. A. Graves carried the petition for the establishment of the district to Preston on snow shoes. The following spring a log house was put up by voluntary subseriptions of material and work. At the first school about forty pupils got together in the 18x20 building, the first to wield authority being Helen Chambers. About ten years afterwards a frame building was constructed. Distriet 34. The school thus designated embraces the northeast corner of the town. Late in the sixties this district was created, and Delia Adams undertook to teach in the house of Holver Kittleson. After a while a log house, 14x18 feet, was built, mostly by subscription. D. Adams was one of the first trustees. District 167. As already stated this district was ushered into existence in 1871. The school house was of logs and was sided over. Anton Cleaver was the architect and builder. The first teacher was John Quinn. District 38. The location of the schoolhouse is on section 29, and it accommodates the pupils in the southwest part of the town. The first building was a subscription one of logs. In 1877, a good frame building with a cupola, modern Seats, and educational appliances was supplied, the dimensions of the building being 20x30 feet, with a front hall 10x10 feet. The cost was $800. District 72. This is the Whalen Village School, and was commenced soon after the mil] was put in operation, in a shanty just east of Dyer's store. Julia O'Brien was the carliest instructor. In 1870 a building was erected; a frame structure, 28x38 feet, with a cupola and bell, patent seats, globes, maps and other modern paraphernalia, to assist in mental development. The cost of the building was $1,200. The first teacher here was Miss P. Reppey. Whalen now has a Semi-graded school with two departments.

Carrolton. District 49. This was first organized in 1858. The first officers were: J. H. Skarie, clerk; K. O. Orton, director; R. Knudtson, treasurer. A school had previously been tanght in the house of K. K. Bell in 1857 by Lars Iverson in the Norwegian language. In 1858 James Oberton taught English in the house of K. C. Orton, and until the schoolhouse was built private houses were used. The schoolhouse cost about $450. Elling Gulings was the first teacher. District 50. The first school here was probably the one opened in the house of M. Mulholland, Ellen Mulholland being the instructor. Afterwards a school was kept in N. Walden's residence. In 1868 a house was built in the southeast corner of section four, at a cost of about 4300. The first to teach in the new schoolhouse was Lizzie Whalen. District 51. It is claimed with great plausibility in each case that the first school was kept at three different places by as many different persons. This district was probably organized about 1858, and a sehoolhouse constracted at the quarter stake between sections 7 and 8, each man bringing logs; before it was finally completed, however, it was torn down and removed to section 8, where it was finished. In 1859 the first school was opened there with Miss Mulholland wielding the rod of authority. The school continued there until a house was completed in 1875, in section 18, at a cost of $480. District 52. In 1860 a school was started in a house owned by Sheldon Eddy in section 21; Eliza Underwood handled the ferule. About the same time the organization was effected. Schools were continued in private houses up to 1869, when a schoolhouse was put up that cost $30. In 1871 a building was constructed at a cost of $300. Sarah Woodward was the first teacher in ihe new schoolhouse. District 58. School was taught in the house of H. Peterson in 1858, while this was a part of district No. 52. Wi. Sawyer was the teacher. The district was set off in 1861, and that winter a school was opened at the residence of Jacob Heintz. In 1862 a log house was built in section 27 on the land of 0. C. Gulbrandson, who furnished the rongh timber. All helped put it together, and when nearly ready for the roof Mr. Fiske was employed to finish it for about $100. In 1871 the house was moved to section 28. In 1880 a fourth of an aere of land was bought of J. C. Easton for $25, on the same section, about +150 yards north of the former site. District 54. This was formed by a subdivision of No. 58, and organized in 1867. The next year a schoolhouse was built in section 26. The first school started mn the new house and the district was under the supervision of Angie MeMullen. Lanesboro Schools - - Laneshoro was organized as an independent graded school and the school building erected at a cost of about $1,200. Further mention is found elsewhere.

Fountain. District 74. This is the district embracing the village of Fonntain and snrrounding territory. The district.was organized about 1857, and a school was taught that year in a private house. Later in the same year a log house was erected in section 15, south of town, which served as a schoolhouse until 1873, having been moved several times. In 1873, a neat house was erected at a cost of about $800 in the village. The first teacher was Carrie Wall. Fountain village now has a graded school with four departments. Distriet 75. An organization of this district was effeeted in 1856, and a schoolhouse put up the second year, on H. H. Winslow's land, in section 8, which served until 1868, when another house was erected. Jane Kinney was the first teacher in the old house, while Thomas Fitch imanugurated the newer one. District 76. In 1861, this district was organized and a building bought of Jerry O'Brien for $100. This was on section 20, but was moved to section 16 in 1866. In 1880, the new schoolhouse was construeted. This building cost +300. Lueretia Bilger was the first teacher in this district. Distriet 77. In 1857, the district was formed, and a house built of logs furnished by the settlers, who arranged a ''bee'' and put them together. John Utley started the first school and at the end of the third week Henry Loekwood took charge and finished the term. This served the district up to 1872, when the house was burned, and then a new house was built on the old site in section 20, and the school started by Lizzie J. Sharpe. District 78. This district was organized in 1857, and a log schoolhouse was put together by subseription without tax, in the summer of that year. The first school was taught immediately after the completion of the schoolhouse by Abraham Sheldon. The house now in use by the district is located in the northeastern corner of section 33. District 79. This district was organized at an early day and a log schoolhouse erected by subscription. The first school was taught by XIrs. Gates in the log house. District 80. This district was organized in 1860 and a log house put up that summer. In the winter, a school was taught by Mrs. J. §. [lanley. This building was 22x26 feet, erected by volunteer work and material, except windows and furniture. A new house was built in 1878, at a cost of about $700, on the old lot in section 7. Blanch Bartlich had the honor of being the first instructor in the new house. Fillmore. It is claimed that the first school in the town was ealled to order by William Sackett. The school was held at Fillmore village in a little log hut in 1857, and had in attendance six or seven scholars. The teacher, Mr. Sackett, had just arrived from New York; he afterward married Catherine Splain, and moved to Lanesboro. District 94. This district comprises what is known as the Fillmore village district. Its organization was effected in 1856, being without doubt the first organized district in the town, and the first place in which sehool was held. <A log house was put together in 1856, by subscription, which lasted until 1873, when a new house was put up in the village at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by William Sackett, and was attended by seven or eight scholars. District 63. This dis- triet was organized late in the fifties, being the district embracing the locality southeast of Wykoff. Shortly after organizing a cheap frame structure was erected, and in 1876 a luilding was put up at a cost of about $600, the size being 20x30 feet. The schoolhouse was located on the southwest quarter of section 23. The house is now located farther south. District 95. The first teacher to call a school to order in this district was Mrs. Elias Mosher. Their present school building is a neat edifice on the northeast quarter of section 33. The district embraces part of the town of Wykoff. District 96. This district received its organization in the year 1860, and the first school was called to order in that year by Joseph Blanchard in the private log dwelling of Thomas Masteller, on section 20, thirty-three scholars being enrolled. In 1861, a log house was built by subseription. This lasted until about 1869, when a house was built at a cost of about $1,000, on section 29. District 153. This was organized about 1870, and shortly after a stone building was erected at a cost of 4900. The first school was taught by Amantha Stevens. This district embraces that portion of the town lying northeast of Fillmore village, the schoolhouse being located on the southeast quarter of section 2. District 172. This distriet was organized in 1875, Thomas Pulford being the first director and Silva Long the first teacher after the district was set off. In 1876, a schoolhouse was built, size 16x28, at a cost of $500. The first school was attended by twenty-seven scholars. District 104. This takes in the territory of Wykoff. It was organized in 1875, from the other contiguous districts. Messrs. Crain, Kilborn, and Bartlett. were the first officers. A schoolhouse was built that year, 26x48 feet, and cost #850. The first school kept while the schoolhouse was building was in the Baptist church, by James Goodsell. The present Wykoff village school is graded with four departments. District 187 is the youngest district in Fillmore couniy. The schoolhouse is in section 18, Fillmore township.

Spring Valley. District 113. At an early day this formed a part of the old Spring Valley district, but in 1871 or 1872, a school was started at the house of Charles Beverly, in seetion 35, and it was also kept in other houses. In 1873, a schoolhouse was provided, of brick. District 114. School was first taught in this locality in a building put up for that purpose on section 23, in 1859. The first school was taught hy Cornelia Hartshorn, from Boston, who soon married I. Freeman. The schools here had a large attendance tii] 1876, when a new house was erected: at a cost of $1,100, near the old one. The school is called the ''Pleasant Hill Schoolhouse.'' District 115. This has the.appellation of ''Hard Serabble'"' school, and the first session was taught here in a slab shanty erected for that purpose in 1858, and presided over by Mrs. Littlefield. After a few years it was kept in a building rented of Wilkins & Fifield, on the bank of the ereek. Finally the schoolhouse was constructed on section 11. Distriet 116. The first sehool within the limits of this district was ealled to order in a little log cabin on section 17 im 1857, and the presiding genius was Mary O. Hill. There the school was in session for five or six terms, until the structure was consumed by fire, and then another log house went up on section 8, where the rising generation was gathered until 1871, when a new house was built. Distriet 117. Susan Sharp, who afterward became Mrs. J. Q. Farmer, taught school in a little claim shanty on section 30, in 1863. Soon after a log schoolhouse was put together on the farm of W. H. Conklin in seetion 32. In 1873, a structure was built on the castern line of section 30. District 148. The first school held here was in a frame building belonging to L. G. Odell, on section 4, in 1868, and Naney Rosebrook was the first teacher. The district was soon organized. and the school was continned in the same place, and then in the blacksmith shop near there. Then a substantial log schoolhouse went up, replaced later by a modern building. District 156. Soon after the war of the rebellion this district was set off, and a wing of a building belonging to 8. Treat bought and moved to the northeast section of 21. Wesley P. Carrol was the first to wield the rod of authority in this district. Distriet 165. It was not until 1874 that this was created as a district, and a frame schoolhouse ereeted on the town line in section 32. The initial teacher was William Farnsworth. Distriet 112 embraces the village of Spring Valley and is elsewhere treated in full. District 175 embraces land in Spring Valley and Fillmore. It was ereated from distriets 124, 97, 115 and 172, by the county commissioners, July 14, 1890. The schoolhouse is in section 12.

Bloomfield. District 108. The first school taught in this distriet was in the summer of 1857, by Mrs. Hunt, in a log eabin, where it continued until the schoolhouse was built, in section 20. No school is now kept in this district. District 107. A log schoolhouse was built in 1856, and a school opened by Daniel Scoville. The school officers were John Bateman, Mr. MeCord and Dwight flathbun. There were at first about a dozen juveniles to be taught. The schoolhouse is located upon ihe eastern line of section 2. A sabbath school was organized here in 1857, with Daniel Scoville as superintendent. District 109 was organized in the fall of 1858, and in 1859 a school was held in Mr. Baker's granery by John B. Freeborn. In 1860, everyone in the district turned out to assist in putting up a schoolhouse now in use, and all were eredited 75 cents per day on their tax. The schoolhouse, 20x25 feet, was erected on the northwest coruer of section 23. The first school in the new house was governed by Helen Lilly, who received $1.50 a month and board. About twelve juveniles gathered on the benches. Messrs. MeNee and Craig were the most influential citizens of the town, or at least of that seetion, in locating the building, starting the school, and securing and paying the teacher. District 110. This comprises the territory known as the Etna school district. It was organized in 1856, and a log schoolhouse erected on section 36. The teacher, Elder Ropes, gave his services for $6 a month and his board, which was obtained by visiting around from house to house, go many days at each. The log cabin filled the requiremenis until 1863, when a house was built on section 26, size 24x30 feet, at a cost of #700. It was afterwards removed to section 25, in the western part of Etna village. The first religions instruction was at Etna, the little hamlet in section twenty-five. Rev. Mr. Bly, of the Baptist faith, was the missionary. District 132. The first in this part of the town was taught by Miss Graham in Mr. Allen's house. In 1864, a building was bought, moved and fixed up, which served until early in the seventies, when a new building was located in the northwestern corner of section 17. District 111. This district was organized in 1859, and a plain slab shanty erected on seciion 33, by subseription. This rude hut lasted until 1876, when a neat building was erected on the same place, size 18x24 feet, at a cost of abont $400. The first school was called to order in the slab shanty by Sarah Beach. District 180 was established hy the county commissioners, May 2, 1893, out of portions of districts 107, 108 and 109. The schoolhouse is located in almost the exact center of the township. Distriet 181. The Ostrander school is a wooden structure of two rooms. Two teachers are employed, and there are about sixty scholars. The district was organized from parts of districts 108 and 111 by the eounty conmnissioners, May 2, 1893.

Forestville. The township of Forestville is divided into seven school districts. They are all in good financial standing and under good management. The schoolhouses in the township, as an average, surpass those of any of the surrounding towns. The first district organized in the town was what is now known as district No. 90. The first schoolhouse in an organized county district was ereeted here. District 90. This district embraces the village of Forestville and surrounding territory. The district was organized as district 3 in 1854 and as district 1 on January 2,1855. Init was undoubtedly constructed the first school erected in au organized district in this county. The story is told elsewhere. In 1856 a brick house was built, which, lasted until another house was erected in 1878. A _ schoolhouse north of the village was erected at a cost of $1,800, size 24x36 feet, two stories, and a stone basement. District 91. This district embraces the territory in the extreme northwestern part of the town, and extends into the adjoming towns. The schoo)- house is located in the western part of section 6. District 92. This district was organized about 1860, and a log house built by subseription, which answered all school purposes until 1870, when a schoolhouse was erected at a cost of about $900, a short distance south of where the original house stood. This house was a neat brick building on the northwest quarter of section 18. -District 93. In a log house owned by Mr. Graling, the first school was ealled to order by Annie Sanderson, and shortly afterward the district was organized. The house now occupied by the district is in the southwest corner of section 29, District 170. This received its organization later than the other districts in the township, in 1874, and a neat brick schoolhouse was erected at a cost of $1,000, in the northern part of section 8. District 155. Miss Crain taught the first school here in 1856 or 1857, in a house in section 13. The next year the school was also taught by the same lady in another dwelling. A house was erected about 1870, and cost hetween $900 and $1,000, being a substantial brick strueture, in the eastern part of section 15. District 142. This distriet was organized at an early day. The district embraces territory in the southeastern part of the town, the stone schoolhouse having been built on the southwestern quarter of section 27. Carimona. District 68. In 1857 a stone schoolhouse in the village was put up, 16x20 feet, which served up to 1868, when a building now standing was erected of brick with a stone foundation, a tower 10x12 feet, of brick, with a bell, the cost being about $1,200. A school had been taught as early as 1855, in a building belonging to Brackett & Pickett, by Rev. T. P. Ropes with fifteen children. It was afterwards taught by Miss M. J. Shaft in the Converse building. District 70 was organized in 1861, with the following officers: Director, Cornelius Carl; clerk, P. Flynn; treasurer, James Kaygen. The location of the school building is on section 32. The first school was taught the first year of its organization in the residence of M. Flynn, by Lucey Okey. The schoolhouse was put up in 1862, and was of logs, 14x16 feet, and cost $300. Another house was constructed in 1873, 18x20 feet, at a eost of $600. The first school taught here was by William Allen with forty pupils. District 71. In 1862, this distriet was set apart and organized. The first director was J. Savage; clerk, S. Stevens; treasurer, William Davis. A sehool was taught in this district in 1860 by Jerusha Thacher, in Seott Steven's house, with eleven scholars. In 1863 a log building was put up, 18x20 feet, in section 27, The next year Alice Lancaster kept the sehool with fifteen pupils. Distriet 73. This is the

Waukokee school. In 1854 a log schoolhouse was built, 16x20 feet. It had twenty scholars. The next year a house was constructed, 20x30 feet, and furnished with a bell weighing seventyfive pounds. The schoolhouse is located in section 25. District 171. This was not organized till 1877. The schoolhouse was built on section 17, is 16x24 feet, and cost $300 or more. The first director was J. Healy; treasurer, C. Sinith; elerk, T. Delaney. The first school was taught by P. Healy in the residence of J. Healy, with fifieen pupils. Distriet 67. An early school was here taught ly Ellen 8. Morgan with twelve children, in Whitmore Ford's house in section 10. The next year, 1858, the distriet was organized. In 1861 a house was built on section 11, 16x22, the land being donated by W. Ford. The honse cost $300. The school is now in section 10.

Preston. District 47. This distriet has heen known as the Duxbury school, the Mills school, the Hutton school and the Partridge school, and has facetiously been called Yale college. The school was started about 1858 or 1859, and the land was given by John Duxbury. The schoolhouse was built of logs, aud stood a few feet east of the present schoolhouse. Otis Priest took charge of the building operations. The first school in the distriet was tanght by Crouch. a shoemaker. He was followed by Chandler, and Chandler was followed by Kennedy. A new schoolhouse was built in 1874, and the first teacher in this building was Helen Nash, of Lanesboro. It was under the tuition of Jesse C. Jolinson, that this school beeame the leading school in the county, and gained its name of ''Yale college.'' Distriet 48. January 27, 18538, a meeting was held to organize the district at the house of Mr. Livingood. <A. J. Tillotson was the clerk, and the schoolhouse was bniJt the same year on the land of Mr. Livingood which was leased for ninety-nine years. Bach family was required to make a bench for the schoolhouse. Hmily Miller presided at the teacher's desk for the first time in the new schoolhouse. The lease of the land was afterwards lost, and Mr. Tivingood took possession of the building and put a family in it. For a year or two there was no school in the district. In 1874 a piece of Iand was procured of Chris. Hahn, in section 4, and a new schoolhouse went up, the first school being tanght by Cara Slater. Distriet 46. Schools were started by the settlers even before their district had been organized. Each one in a neighborhood would haul some logs and help to build the sehoolhouse, and gave a few dollars to the teacher, also looking after her board. The school in district 46 was built at the encouragement of Mrs. Iflenderson, who offered a gallon of whiskey to the first man who should draw a load of logs and deposit it in the place she indicated. The first teacher in this log school was

Katharine Bursell, Jater Mrs. James Rice. She was paid eight dollars a month, and lived with her relatives, the Iendersons. Mrs. Rice taught as soon as the log building was finished. She has often asserted that this was in the summer of 1860, for while a teacher she visited the bride, Ellen Young Ilutton, who was married to William IIutton, December 31, 1859. Hdwin Stork lnsists that he visited the school in the summer of 1859, and that Sarah Kimber, whom he afterwards married, spelled the school down. He is sure of this because it was the summer before he came of age, which was in November, 1859. The log structure was used until 1869 when a frame edifice was erected at a cost of $850. District 169. This was formerly a part of No. 48, but was set off and organized in 1871. <A half acre of land was bought of Andreas Tollefson, on section 15, for $12.50, and ihat same fall a house was built at a cost of 4560. Le. B. Felt was the first teacher; John Livingood was elerk, Michael Anstett, director, and Ole Larson, treasurer. Distriet 137. This was organized in the last half of the sixties, and was taken from No. 47, from the Preston district, and a part in Carimona was added in 1878. When the district was first organized a log house was put up whieh lasted till 1878, when a building was provided on section 18, at a cost of $1,200. In the new house, Hattie Sutton had the honor of calling the first sehool to order. In the carly history of the distriet Ettie Prescott was the first teacher, in E. Long's house. Distriet 129. In 1861 this district was organized, and the same year a schoolhouse was laid up of stone, at a cost of about $500. The house is on section 31. Mary Manning was the first teacher in this district. District 136. This was formerly a part of Nos. 48 and 169. It was set off and organized about 1863, when a small log house was procured from section 11 and moved to section 12. Dunean Murray was the first teacher. In 1875 a house was built at a cost of $700, and J. W. Bennett was the first teacher. District 45 takes in the village schools of Preston.

Preble. The first school building erected in town was coinpleted in 1858 for district No. 11. The size of the strneture was 16x18 feet. The walls were of oak logs with handmade oak shingles for the roof. The settlers were the architects and builders. It served the double purpose of secular and religious teaching until the chureh was put up in 1864. Distriet 9. In 1859, a log house was built, 14x16 feet, near the house of Nels Johnson. The school was opened by Mrs. Cameron, of Hesper, Iowa. In 18785, a new schoolhouse was put on a site farther north than the old one, and on section 21. District 7 was organized in 1863, and the following year a log house was built. Anna Hall was the first teacher. On the subdivision of the district in 1871, the house was moved to a nore central point in the northwest corner of section 10. District 162. This was taken from No. 7 in 1871. In 1877, a new frame building was constructed near the western boundary of section 12. District 69. This is a joint distriet with- Houston county. The union was effected in 1871, through the exertions of Patrick Flannagan and John Kelley, and a schoolhouse was crected, 14x18 feet. The first term of school was presided over by Mary Kelly in the winter of 1872. District 10 was first organized and a schoolhouse built in 1862. The first teacher was William Van Doren. In 1873 a new schoolhouse was erected near the sontheast corner of section 26. District 163. This was organized in 1870, and the following year a small log house was put up. The earliest school was taught by Minnie Clark.

Newburg. District 2. In 1862, this district was organized; jut two terms of school had been held prior to the time the schoolhouse was erected. The first schoolhonse was completed in 1865. A part of this district at one time was set off anc connected with a district in Houston county. District 3. An organization was effected in 1856. The first officers were: trustees, Osten Peterson, Mathew Mathison, and Hans Arneson; clerk, Hans Valder. A schoolhouse of small dimensions was built the same year. The first instructor was Emily Seelye. District 5. This district is said to have been organized in 1855. FE. F. West taught the first school. It was subdivided in 1872, and district No. 168 was set off, and in 1873 another schoolhouse was built. There was quite an opposition to building the new house, but the friends of the measure rallied at a school meeting one stormy night and earried their point. District 6. This was organized in 1857, and a schoo] building erected the same year, 20x30 feet. James McDonald has the honor of having taught the first schoo], in the winter of 1857. This distriet now comprises the village school of Mabel. District 66. A building for school purposes was put up in 1863, soon after the organization of the district, and the earliest school was called to order by Frances Plomteaux the following winter. District 135. In 1860, this district was organized, and the following year a schoolhonse was built at a cost of $475, 18x22 feet. Samuel Aiken taught the first school, District 150. This formed a part of the sixth distriet, and was organized near the close of the sixties. The following year a schoolhouse was erected, 18x28 feet, at a cost of #800. The first school teacher was Dura Gilmore. District 168. A schoolhouse was erected in 1873, and the first school tanght by Mrs. Robert Benedict. District 64 was taken from Nos. 5 and 6, and in the seventies was organized and a schoolhouse, 18x24 feet, erceted on section 17. It has been known as the

'"White Schoolhouse'' and was a prominent landmark. No school is now held in this district. District 1 is at Riceford in Houston county, being a joint district with this county. District 4 has a schoolhouse in section 7.

Canton. District 19. This is the old Leonra school, the first school taught in the county, in the building crected for school purposes. Its history is found in full elsewhere. District 20. This was set off from a distriet north of it extendimg into Amherst. The schoolhouse was built in 1867, and is on the southeast corner of section 8 and cost about $600. The first school was taught by Della Stewart. District 21. In 1858, Elder W. Morse, a Baptist clergyman, began teaching school from one house to another. In 1860, a house was built on the farm of Josiah Fay in section 18. District 22. In 1855, a school was opened in a house built the year before by A. Eastman, in section 14, on the northwest part, but the next year was removed to the southeast of the same seetion. The building is now used by William Willford as a stable. The first school was taught by Clarisa Eddy. <A schoolhouse was built in 1865, on section 14. District 23. On the east of section 25 tlie first school was kept in claim shanty belonging to John Graham on what is now the farm of Engebert Ellingson. This was in the fall of 1856. In the winter of 1857-58, a log house was constructed for school purposes on section 36. A brick schoolhouse was built in 1872, at a cost of 4800, besides volunteer labor. The first teacher in the district was Sarah West Benedict. The old brick schoolhouse is now replaced by a modern building. District 24. In 1866 the first school was called to order in the present schoolhouse by Alice Baker Spragne. At the first sehool there were twenty-six names on the register. The location is on the southeast corner of section 28. FElliota School, Distriet 25. The initial school was in the winter of 1855-56, in an addition to the house of C. B. Kimball, and was presided over by Sarah Allen, of Bellevue. This was east of the village, and during the following summer it was kept at the house of Andrew Cheney. In 1856, the old stone schoolhouse was construeted. This served the purpose up to 1869, when it was burned, and after quite a bitter contest a new one was put up at a cost of about $500, on the northeast corner of section 31. District 26. In a frame house of Wesley Willford's on section 21, in 1862, the first school was opened by ilannah Bursell and taught here for a single term, when a temporary frame strueture was put up near the east line of the same seclion, and there one term was also taught. Then a schoolhouse was built on section 16, at a cost of about $300. Canton Village Schools. When first recorded as a village the territory cmbraced the corners of four school districts, but in the fall of 1881 a new district, No. 174, was formed by taking forty acres from cach of them, and thus making a new one from the 160 acres thus obtained. Arrangements were made to build a schoolhouse two stories high, with a belfry and other adornments, at a cost of about $2,000. The first school was taught by May L. Mason in the house of George Hudson, in Mareh, 1881.

Harmony has seven school districis as follows: District 37 on section 3; district 38 on section 9; district 39 on section 20: district 40, the village schools of Harmony; district 42, a former district in which school is no longer held; district 41 on section 26; district 44 on section 29, and district 140 on section 1. In section 8 there ig a small chnreh school.