Stearns County, Minnesota - Chapter 46, 1915 (part 3 of 3)

District Number 33, known as the Friedrich school, was organized in 1878. The first school oflScers were Hermann Bockhold, Peter Friederichs and Joseph Hoppe. Dina Bergmann. now Mrs. John Hoeschen of Los Angeles, California, was the first teacher, twenty-seven pupils attending.. For the first term no school building had been provided, so instruction was given in the kitchen of Joseph Hoppe's home. The teachers following Miss Bergmann were Barney Borgerding, Henry Benolken, John Wocken, Frank Brinkmann, Conrad Marschall, Joseph Kramps, Henry Benolken, Anna Christen, J. B. Himsl, James Dufner, John Schwinghammer, Joseph Lommel, Mary Jackale, Joseph Gumper, Henry Briol, Rosalie Weisser, Rose Strobel and Mathilda Wimmer.

District Number 117, the Rieland school, was organized in 1881. Hubert Rieland, J. T. Hoppe and Peter Caspers were the first school officers. The first teacher was John Steichen. He was followed by Casper Kramps, Peter Gans, John Glass, Frank Rieland, Henry Reiter, Jacob L. Hohmann, Frank Rieland, Paul Ahles, John Nierengarten, Anton Rieland, Albert A. Eich, John A. Kraus, P. A. Sand, Jacob Jacobs, Nicholas Schmitz, Theodore Schulte, and Martin J. Schmitt.

Paynesville Township. The first school in the township of Paynesville was taught within the present village limits, but since the history of the Independent districts has been assigned to others it need not be dwelt on at any greater length here. The first rural school was taught in District Number 43, known as the Zion school and situated about half way between Roscoe and Paynesville. The district was organized in 1863. The first school oflacers were John Baitinger, Michael Schultz and John Boylan. Mary Blakely was the first teacher. The first building was a log structure occupying the present site. Other teachers employed were R. D, Abbott, Charles W. Ferree, M. U. Ivers, F. B. Hoar, Maud Whitney, H. A. Bretzke, Clara Kuhn, Gottfried Voss, Gustave Koepp, Minnie

Hedlund, Marie Heuslin, Hazel Seavey, Cora Klampe, Celia Knebel, Gladys Latterell and Lydia Groenig. The Reverend Messrs. Baitinger, Schoenleben, Helmer, Freitag, Gedorsch and Hertzberg attended this school in their boyhood.

District Number 52, better known as the Blakely and the Koronis school, was organized March 30, 1867. D. S. Twitchell was elected director, Jacob Staples, treasurer, and Hugh Blakely, clerk. Three months of school was voted for the first year, and was taught by Mrs. Alzina Blakely at her home. The clerk calls it "sitting room, dining room, kitchen and school room all in one." The wages were $16 per month. In 1868 the district bought a log building of Robert Blakely, which stood in the township of Roseville, in Kandiyohi (then Monongalia) county, for the sum of $80, which was used as a schoolhouse for about twelve years. In 1878 it was decided at the annual meeting to build a schoolhouse on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of Section 30 in the township of Paynesville in Stearns county. The old building was traded off to Charles Pemble for the new site, comprising one-half acre of land. A schoolhouse, 18x24, was erected the following year, to which an addition was built in 1896.. The building is fully equipped with maps, globes, charts, blackboards, library, drinking fountain, clock, heating and ventilating plant and new furniture. The free text book system is used. The following persons attended the school in 1867: Ellen, Nancy, Crawford, Frank, Jestina, Moses and Caroline Blakely; E. H. and F. W. Lester; Emily and Fred Twitchell; A. W. Flanders, Elizabeth Wilson, Ellen and Viola Brown, Anna, Dennis, Paul and Henry Kelley and Frank Wire. The teachers employed in the school were Mrs. Alzina Blakely, Ellen L. Siver, Mary and Ellen Blakely, John W. Darby, Albert E. Bugbie, Ellen B. Clark, Ellen Lester, Ida A. Blaisdell, Eliza Blakely, Hattie Christholm, Grace Lester, Etta Geer, Maggie McKinley, Emma Caswell, Grace Kelley, N. Rogers, M. E. Brown, Susan G. Benton, Lazar Hoar, Lee Barber, Hattie Siver, Ida Brown, Victoria Gale, Adelphia Pemble, Mable Phipps, Anna Stein, J. F. Christholm, Josephine Appelgren, Ida L. Libby, B. Holgerson, R. W. Hoskins, J. W.

District Number 162 was organized in 1892. George Conrad, C. D. Hudson and Frank Brown were the school officers. Ida Brown, now living at Sunnyside, Washington, was the first teacher. School was taught in the present building, fourteen pupils attending. Other teachers employed were Dolly Young, Cora Sheldon, Delpha Pemble, Carrie McGowan, John Chisholm, Willis Knox, Gustav Koepp, Grace Haines, Victoria Gale, Ella Paasche, Cora Klampe, Phoebe LeMunyan, Martha Moede and Josephine Appelgren.

District Number 171, known as the Northtown school, was organized in 1894. The first school board was composed of William Manz, S. P. Roach and I. Swanson. Mary Walberg, now living at Kimball, was the first teacher. School was first taught in a building on the south side of the river, but later it was moved to Northtown. Other teachers employed were Gustav Koepp, L. R. Abbot, Edith Sheldon, Elbertine Davis, Eva Norrig, Frank Weber, G. O. Voss, Susan Roach, R. S. Weber, May Fearon, Nellie Whalen, Adel Holquist, Ella Paasche, Victoria Gale, Eva Pemble and Ethel Kachel.

Raymond Township. The first school in the township of Raymond was taught by Mrs. Eliza Richardson in the summer of 1867, in an unoccupied dwelling house belonging to P. Smith. This was in what is known as Lyman Prairie, in which District Number 57 had been organized a few months before. How long this old building was used is not known. All records belonging to the district have been destroyed and no old settlers remain. Other teachers employed in this district were Ed Mclntyre, Eva Grimes, Laura Mclntyre, Maggie Hawkins, Anna Kraft, Katherine George, Blanche Frazier, Mary Hawkins, Charlotte Swift, Augusta Nelson, Myrtle Hendry, Hazelle Zinn and Verona Maloney.

District Number 58, known as the Ebensteiner school, was organized in 1867, only a few months after District Number 57 in Lyman Prairie. Unfortunately nothing at all is known of the early history of this district. All that remains is an old schoolhouse in a pasture half a mile north of the present school site. This is a frame building with a log foundation in which school was taught in the early days, but whether it was the scene of the very first instructions or not is not known. The building was rudely furnished and it is said that the children were obliged to bring their chairs with them. Since none of the homes boasted a larger number of chairs than were actually needed, the children had to carry them to and from school morning and evening, thereby providing an interesting sight. The names of only a tew of the teachers employed could be learned and these are of more recent years. About twenty years ago the site was changed to the present location and a frame schoolhouse erected. This was afterwards destroyed by fire and with it all the records. A new building was provided, and the old structure in the pasture, after serving for a time as a dwelling house and later as a granary, gradually fell into disuse and ruin. The teachers whose names could be learned were Margaret Meagher, Julia Egan, Grace Doherty, Ella W.. Jones, Eleanora Maehren, Louise F. Young, Leona M.. Lovell, Bertha Winkler, and Mary Mitchell.

District Number 70, the Padua school, was organized in 1871. The first school officers were John Darcy, Patrick Killeen and Hugh Rooney. Catherine Rooney, nowliving in Alaska, was the first teacher. School was first taught in a log building which stood something over a mile east of the present site. Thirty-nine children attended. Other teachers in this school were Patrick Grimes, Hugh McFarlane, Samuel E. Meagher, John Rooney, Thomas Killeen, Paris Bruce, William Martin, Maggie Gibbon, Katherine Meagher, Archie Hickock, Julia Gannon, Mary Riley, Emily Rassier, Agnes Kinsella, Jacob Zimmer, Gertrude Mitchell, Anna Macfarlane, Mary Trzewik, Mae E. Doyle, Mrs. Nellie Marx, John F. Schwinghammer, Alma Kaufmann, Mary L. Zapp, Mabel Bean, Olive Williams, and Ellen J. Callahan.

District Number 92 was organized in 1876. Joseph Kusba, John Gilman and Joseph Molitor were the first school officers. Josie Connors, now Mrs. Charles Gutches, of Long Prairie, was the first teacher. For a number of years the schoolhouse stood on the southeast quarter of Section 3, but it was later moved to the present site, where a new building has since been erected. The teachers following Miss Connors were Edna Carpenter, Vinnie Johnson, Ernestine Wehrhahn, Emma Johnson, Blanche Chisholm, Ethel Moon, Eva Carey, Eldorado Judkins, Jennie Hines, Merle Pangburn and Sarah Tessendorf.

District Number 129, known as the Schoolgrove school, was organized in 1885. The first school officers were Joseph Mc- Dermond, Gilbert Gilbertson and Knute A. Fauskee. Gertrude Carpenter was the first teacher. School was taught in the present building, thirty-two pupils attending. After Miss Carpenter the following were employed: B. W. Veeder, Stella Rue, Emil A. Peterson. Maggie Miller, Nellie Brown^ James H. Sanders, Mary Sanders, John Erdal, Gustav Torkelson, A. O. Reiquam, Gertrude Molitor, Ernestine Wehrhahn, Margaret Macfarlane, Gertrude F. Mitchell, J. P. Kruchten, Viola E. Cousin and Gertie B. Olson.

District Number 192 was organized in 1901. George Beidlemann was the first clerk, W. Wruck, treasurer, and M. D. Cowlthorp, director. Mabel Cowlthorp, now Mrs,. D. C. Gray, of Ceylon, Saskatchewan, Canada, was the first teacher. School was taught in the present building, fourteen pupils attending. Other teachers employed were Emma Anderson, Minnie Pitzlin, Anna L. Buckley, Tilda Forsberg, Lillie Rengel, Leta White, Maude Van Etton, Nannie Anderson, Mildred Cowlthorp, Mae Gallagher, Lucy Gallagher and Gertrude Shook.

Rockville Township. The first school in the township of Rockville was taught within the present boundaries of District Number 40, the school being now known as the Mill River school, situated about a mile north of Pearl lake. Instruction was first given in the home of G. Bauer soon after the first settlement, but immediately upon the organization of the district in 1866, a log schoolhouse was built on Section 34. This served the pupils until 1874 when a frame building was erected. Caspar Stein, John Wolter and John Steichen were the first school officers, and "Nicholas Hofmann was the first teacher. Others employed were Peter Abfalter, Nicholas Schmit, George Hansen, Alex Wolter, Jacob Lemm, John Schmit, Gallus J.

District Number 44, the Rockville village school, was organized in 1866, although school had been taught previously in private houses for several terms. The first school was taught by Elizabeth Wolter, now Mrs. Jacob Botz, of Sauk Centre, and the apartment placed at her disposal was a room in the house of Mr. Sheelar. This house stood almost across the road from the present creamery. She was followed by Joseph Kunkler and Gallus J. Schmidt, who also taught in the Sheelar home. Conrad Marschall of St. Joseph was next employed. He rented a house north of Broadway on the west bank of Mill river in which he lived, using one of the rooms for school purposes. Shortly after the organization of the district the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 17, being about a mile southwest of the village, was selected for a school site and a small frame building erected. This was known as Thomey's corner, where the school stood for several years. As the population of the village increased the people objected to sending their children out into the country, and at a special meeting a site in the village, near the present location, was selected. But the people of the country were not willing that their schoolhouse should be taken from them without a struggle, and so for a considerable time conditions remained in the old state. However, one night the villagers induced a man by the name of Decker to hitch his powerful yoke of oxen to the little building (which had already been placed on skids) and without attracting much attention the schoolhouse made its nocturnal journey into the village. The farmers had either expected this sort of a move or else they had been secretly informed, for they proved equal to the occasion, and very quietly allowed the villagers to remove their schoolhouse, offering no resistance whatever. But the crowd had scarcely dispersed and gone to their respective homes when a delegation of farmers waited on Mr. Decker and induced him to repeat the performance. The building had not been removed from the skids, and with as little ceremony as characterized the first act, it was silently dragged back to Thomey's corner where it was found the next morning by the chagrined villagers. Thus in a single night the little frame schoolhouse had been moved to the village and back again! Several years later the building was sold to Michael Reiter (on whose farm it is still serving as a warehouse) whereupon a larger structure was erected. In 1894 the question of changing the school site again came up for a vote and the villagers were once more successful. Legal proceedings were had to prevent the removal of the building, but the matter was finally settled in an amicable way and the schoolhouse moved into the village. One teacher was employed until 1912, when an addition was built and an assistant engaged, and since then the school has been on the semi-graded list. The teachers employed in this district, following Gallus J. Schmidt, were Charles H. Klostermann, John Schmit, J. B. Meyers, Peter Ellenbecker, J. L. Bold, J. H. Bold, Nicholas Schmit, John Jacobs, John A. Roeser, Michael Loesch, Math. N. Koll, Joseph Hengel, Adolph Lodermeier, Nicholas Thomey, James J. Dufner, C. M. P. Hansen, Elizabeth lingers, John Lang, William Noe, Barney Eschpeter and Frank Herzog. The assistants were Regina Kaufmann and Edith Hartel. Among the pupils who later attained prominence were Nicholas Thomey, the present county auditor, and Hubert Hansen, former judge of probate of Stearns county.

District Number 16 was organized in 1868. The first school within its boundaries was taught by. Mrs. Goundry, who received $2 per week, school being kept in different private houses. This practice continued until 1874 when a schoolhouse was erected. The teacher received her board from the different families according to the number of children until 1885.. The first teacher in the public school was Henrietta Campbell, nine pupils attending. The first school officers were John Payne, Henry Brinkman and Robert Weaver. Other teachers employed were Irene Thombs, Sophronia Lovelace, Hugh Macfarlane, Josephine O'Connell, Mary E. Green, Julia Noyes, Susan Clark, Elizabeth Noyes, Jennie

District Number 91 was organized in 1871. John A. Ahles, Felix Dietman and Joseph Schreiner were the first school officers and John Legesseman was the first teacher. School was first taught in a building which stood about four rods south of the present structure, five or six pupils attending. Other teachers employed were Peter Abfalter, John Doerner, M. Hoffmann, C. A. Marschall, Gotthard Harren, George Hansen, Peter Hengel, Joseph Lemm, Paul Ahles, Joseph Krebsbach, Nick Ahles, Anna Engels, Clara Kraemer, Magdalen Eschpeter, Anna Eschpeter, Eulalie May, and Anna Masuch.

District Number 155, the Grand Lake school, was organized in 1890. The first school officers were Henry Weber, John Wolf and Xavier Dahinten. Peter P. Weber, now living in Eden Valley, was the first teacher. Others employed after him were Ignatius Zeltinger, Jacob Doetzel, N. M,. Weber, Ch. Hansen, Nicholas Thomey, Anna Schomer, Susan Lahr, Alma Kaufmann and Wilhelmina Halter.

District Number 168, the Fink school, was organized in 1893. Thomas Sasgen, George Schneider and Michael Molitor were the first school officers and Casper Loesch, now living in North Dakota, was the first teacher. Others who followed him were Martin Molitor, Martin Ivetz, Peter Molitor, John Fink, B. J. Keppers, Katherine George, Christine Schmitz, Henry Weismann, Isabel Krebs, William Moser, Sarah Tessendorf, Elsie Planer and Joseph Habiger.

Township of Sauk Centre. The first rural school in the township of Sauk Centre was taught in 1860 by Nellie Harmon in what was until two years ago known as District Number 25. It is very likely that this was a private venture, for District Number 25, the tirst rural dis- trict in the township, was not organized until 1868. Miss Harmon, who later became Mrs. Prank Holmes of Minneapolis, was boarded by the lowest bidder at ninety cents per week. After the organization of the district the school officers elected were S. M. Bruce, J. M.. Thomason and Sylvester Ramsdell. The schoolhouse for s number of years stood on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 26. Unfortunately the names of only a few teachers employed could be learned. These are Agnes Crandall, Carrie Irish, Emma Baldwin, S. E. Reed, Margaret Irish, Edna Trattles, Grace Johnson, Laura Gary, Ida Weeks, Mary Zapp and Alice Cass. The school was equipped for the special state aid in 1911, and one year later it was consolidated with the Sauk Centre independent district. The children are now taken to the central school In specially equipped wagons.

District Number 26, known as the Dix and also as the Borgmann district, was organized in 1868. The teachers employed in this school were Myra Barnett, Mary Tubbs, Tessie Trumann, Augusta Lee, C. B. Richards, Carrie Farrington, C. E. Foot, Ella M. Wilcox, Mamie Shaw, J. E. Richards, Olive Leavitt, Emma Peters, Sylvia Case, Emma Bass, Josie Vogel, Josephine Pangburn, Eva Davis, Maud Van Camp, F. L. Minette, Margaret Irish, Eliza Cathlow, Anna Phlepsen, Helen Held, Alvina Besemann, Margaret Roerig, Rose Strobel, Rose Dicks, Mabel Brown, Rose Sandbrink and Helen Hingsberger.

District Number 49, whose building is situated three miles west of the city of Sauk Centre, was organized in 1866. Unfortunately no records of the early days are available. It is known that the first school building occupied the present site and that it was destroyed by fire, but who was the first teacher and who the first school officers were is unknown. Some of the teachers employed were Mrs. Newell, Louise Canfield, Frank Stiles, Delia Veeder, Fannie Martin, Orpha Stiles, Clara Stiles, Nannie Batchelder, Susan Warren, Jennie Hines, Emma Stiles, Marion McCollum, Myrtle Perkinson, Vera Parker, Carrie Irish, Grace V, Johnston, Ernestine Wehrhahn, Edna Carpenter, Maggie Roerig, Bertha Stiles, and Leta White.

District Number 100, known as the Mc- Cormick lake school, was organized in 1873. The first school board was composed of C- J. Craig, director; John Rue, treasurer, and G. N. Lorimer, clerk. Carrie Moore, now living in Alberta, Canada, was the first teacher. For a number of years the schoolhouse stood on the south side of Lake McCormick, but it was later moved around to the east side, about a mile from the first location, in order to accommodate all the children of the district. The teachers employed were Carrie Moore, Fannie Richards, Paris Bruce, Eva Boober, Flora Pike, Lizzie Hubbard, Martha Hubbard, Leda Smith, Judith Meigs, Lulu Bonham, Mary L. Marvin, Walter F. Merry, Juno Lindberg, Alice Reynolds, Martha White, Martha J. Wolford, Nelly Bryant, Etta Craig, Mary Johnston, Hattie Smith, Carrie Farrington, Serena James, Elinor M. Quinn, Stella Rue, Anna Langley, Francis Meigs, Mary E. Cleveland, Emma Bass, Edna Craig, Carrie Wilson, Ethel Allen, Carrie Irish, Leta White, Esther Sprague, Mrs. Alice Newel, Avis Cass, Nannie Anderson, Davis Elliott and Florence Compton.

District Number 85, a part of which lies in Todd county, was organized in 1870. The first school officers were John Jensen, S. J. Sutton and J. P. Buckingham. Maggie Carr, later Mrs. Lyman Kells, was the first teacher. School was taught in the present building, twenty-five pupils attending. The number of pupils has decreased very much since then, only five being enrolled for the past three years. The school is associated with the Sauk Centre high school. Other teachers employed were Clara Wilcox, Ella Wilcox, Hattie Smith, Elinor Hinkston, Miss Woolford, Misa Bishop, Leta White, Miss Canfield, Mrs. H. Doyle, Edna Brown, Mary Zapp, Nannie Anderson, Florence Compton, Belle Chisholm and Bertha Huber.

District Number 138, known as the Tillman school, was organized in 1888. The school officers were Henry Tillman, John Batohelda and John Minetta. The schoolhouse first stood on the land of Ludwig Tillman. Minnie C. Batonelda was the first teacher, fifteen pupils attending. Other teachers were May Lewis, Mary Hoffmann, Katherine Kinsella, Frank Wagner, Lena Hockert. Mary Goerger, Victor Winter,

District Number 27, part of which lies in Todd county, was organized in 1892 Belle Tuttle was the first teacher, instruc tion being given in the present building The first school ofl^icers were E. A. Peder son, C. A. Johnson, and T. R. Barnes, Other teachers were Jane McGowan, E. K Smith, Anna Grundmann, Aletha Rice, Alice E. Newell, Maud Van Camp, Belle Larson, Lillian McGibbon, S. E. Reed, Lucy Chisholm, Marian McCullum, Agnes Crandall, Hattie H. Allen and Bridget Lynch.

District Number 186 was organized in 1898. The trustees were John Knott, David Pangburn and Louis Hinden. Margaret Irish was the first teacher, being succeeded by Ella L. McGibbon, Maud Mathies, Roxie Smith, Minnie Bohn, S. E. Reed, Laura Mclntyre, Mary Folmer, and Edna E. Brophy. The schoolhouse was a brick structure and stood about three miles northeast of Sauk Centre. In 1912 this district was consolidated with the Sauk Centre independent district.

District Number 84 was organized in 1870. The schoolhouse stood about two miles east of Sauk Centre, little more than a mile distant from the schoolhouses of Districts Numbered 186 and 100. In 1912 this district was also consolidated with the Sauk Centre school. Unfortunately the names of only a few of the teachers employed could be learned. These are Evely F. Smith, I. W. Reed, Mabel Reid, Alice Hartley, Alice Crandall, Edna Trattles, S. E. Reed, Arah Mullin and Mildred Lathrop.

St. Augusta Township. The first school in this township was taught in 1859 by Henry Krebs, later county superintendent of schools. The building was a log structure, and stood about a mile north of the present village of St. Augusta. The district. Number 34, was organized in 1861, whereupon the site was changed to the present village and school taught in an old log church. Although there were only nine pupils the first year, the number rapidly increased so that in a few years an assistant was given Mr. Krebs. As already stated, Mr. Krebs was in charge of the school at St. Augusta in all over twenty years. He, was followed by J. Eversmann, now the Rev. William Eversmann, O. S. B., who taught several terms.

He was followed by Joseph Gans and Adam Roesl. Two of the early assistants were Joseph Walz and Tobias Schleper. For the last twenty-six years the school has been in charge of Benedictine Sisters. At the Stearns county fair in 1914 this school won the first prize for a general exhibit from semi-graded schools, besides a number of individual prizes.

District Number 36, the Luxemburg school, was organized in 1861. Peter Maus, Hubert Hansen and Math Peck were the first school ofiicers, and Nicholas Hoffman was the first teacher, having an enrollment of sixteen pupils. As in a number of other districts school was first taught in a log building, which stood about six or seven rods southwest of the present site. Later a more commodious structure was erected, which is still standing although it is no longer used for school purposes, as the district has a fine, modern, two-room brick schoolhouse, fully equipped. Among the pupils who attended this school and later attained prominence were Gotthard Harren, John A. Maus, the Rev. Louis Traufler, O. S. B., the Rev. Kilian Held, O,. S. B., now president of St. John's University, and the Rev. Bonaventura Hansen, O. S. B. The teachers following Mr. Hoffman were Henry Doerner, B. H. Dirks, C. Brown, Miss Zimmermann, Lucas Lembeck, P. Menth and Mr. Miley. Since Mr. Miley's time Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict have been in charge. At the state fair in 1913 the first prize in penmanship was awarded to Clara Kronenberg, a pupil of this district, and at the Stearns county fair held the following year a number of individual prizes were awarded other pupils.

District Number 35, known as the Trout Brook and the Meyer school, was organized in 1868. The first school officers were Edward Benoit, Nicholas Gasser and Frank Zellar. J. Brown was the first teacher. School was first taught in a log building which stood about one-quarter of a mile north of the present site, forty pupils attending. Later teachers were John P. Block. Edward H. Schultz, Anna M. Steichen, John Kraus, Lauretta Eich, Florence Wright, Tessie Lorenz, Louise C. Streitz, Mary Trzewik, Kate W. Stanger, Lillian Barton, Ida E. Spencer, Dominik Lemm and Mabel Planer.

St. Cloud township. The first rural school in St. Cloud township was taught in what is now District Number 2, the schoolhouse standing near the Sauk river bridge on the St Cloud-St. Joseph road. The district was organized in 1857, but it appears that school was not taught until in the summer of 1860. Albert Smith, John Becker and William Pattison were the first school officers, and Miss Adelpha Davenport, who later became Mrs. Christ Wilkins, was the first teacher. The first schoolhouse stood near the present band stand in the village of Waite Park, which was then the farm of a man named Becker. However, it was not in reality a schoolhouse. It was built for a granary and served that purpose both before and after its educational career, which lasted two years. Thereafter school was taught in a log building which was situated on what is still known as the Gans farm, though the land has several times changed owners since that day. This log structure served as a schoolhouse for one summer term. The following term was taught by Mrs. Mollie Wood at her residence, a log house on the Waite farm. This was in the summer of 1867, and in the fall of that year the first real schoolhouse was erected, Mrs. Edna Getchell donating the site. Mrs. William Pattison, who is still living in the city of St. Cloud and who had taught school in the state of New York, wrote the notice for the first school meeting, at which her husband was elected one of the officers. William Smith, who was for many years connected with the Northern Pacific railway in the capacity of chief engineer on locations, attended this school in his boyhood days. George Spear, the famous horse jockey, was a pupil here in the early days. The Rev. Leo Gans, D. D., pastor of the cathedral in St. Cloud, also received his early education in this school. The teachers who taught in the days when the school had no permanent home, were Adelpha Davenport, Martha Barr, Sarah Becker, Mary Waite, Ella Clark and Mrs. Mollie Wood. The first teacher in the new school was William Duncan, a brother of Mrs. William Pattison, who later returned to his native land, and is at present postmaster in Burrallton, Scotland. He was followed by Sarah Becker, whereupon he again taught the school for one term. Laura Jordan, H. A. McKinstry and Mollie Caruthers taught the school in 1869 and 1870, whereupon Major George H. Smith took charge. This gentleman believed that Stearns county had a great future as a hop producing country, and so started a hop farm in connection. Believing also, like the immortalized schoolmaster of Dotheboy's Hall, that a practical education exceeded all others, he put his pupils to picking hops when the proper time had come. In consequence both the school and the hop farm failed! Other teachers employed in this district were Lydia Hill, Juliette Hicks, Ella Becker, Kate Smith, Bettie Conwell, Etta Clifford, G. A. Mc- Donnell, Julia Noyes, Clara Weary, William H. Alden (for many years justice of the peace in the City of St. Cloud) M. H. Slosson, Kate Cole, M. S. Hoffmann, J. W. Bangs, Nettie Wilson, Edith Pattison, Miss B. Connell, Charles Weber, Lottie Brown, John Goetz, Frances Weber, Hallie Getchell, Henry Reiter, Hallie Getchell, Minnie Hull, Peter J. Gans (now Father Roger of the Capuchin Order), Charlotte Getchell, Sister Winefrida O. S. B., Minnie Pranke, August Richter, Joseph P. Lahr, Edward Gans, Anna B,. Morris, Bertha Linnemann, Elizabeth Steichen, Dora Kennedy, Gertrude Mueller, Lizzie Hinds, Michael Schmitt, James Dufner, Sophia Kranz, Marie Mimbach, Mathias Hurth, Rose Strobel, Leona Lovell and Mary Zierten.

District Number 37, known as the school at the Half-Way House, was organized in the fall of 1862. Peter Lommel, John Kraus and Peter Neidhardt were the first school officers, and Joseph Hoffmann was the first teacher. The first schoolhouse, a log building, stood about a mile south of the present location, near the Joseph Schoen farm. Among the pupils who attended this school in the early days was the Hon. John A. Roeser, the present judge of the district court of the Seventh judicial District. Mr. Roeser was also engaged to teach the school several years later. The teachers of this school were Mr. Kessler, Joseph Kunkler, Michael Baltes, William Heimert, Peter Doerner, Paulinus Mockenhaupt, George Hansen, Jacob L. Holimann, John A. Roeser, Joseph Lemm, H. Brinkmann, Joseph Lommel,

District Number 47, known as the Janske school, was organized in 1866. The first school officers were Peter Doerner and John Schwartz, the third member being unknown. School was first taught in a building which stood near the southeast corner of what is now known as the Schwartz farm. The first teacher was John Doerner. After him came Paul Mockenhaupt, Joseph Walz, Peter Warnken, P. J. Limperich, Edward Doerner, Joseph P. Heltemes, Sister Stephanie O. S. B., Anton J. Hilger, August Doerner, Ignatz Zeltinger, Mary Jackale and Math Weyrens.

District Number 3, whose building is located about three miles south of the city of St. Cloud and which is known as the Brickyard school, was organized in 1868. John Richter, Fred Kuhn and Louis Mockenhaupt were the first school officers, and Fritz Rupp was the first teacher. He taught in a log building which occupied the present site, thirty-five pupils attending. The present frame building, which succeeded the log structure, was built by the Rev. William Eversmann O. S. B., who followed the carpenter's trade before he studied for the priesthood. After Mr. Rupp the following were employed: Robert Mockenhaupt, Anna Zimmer, P. J. Limperich, J. L. Meyer, V.. Ulrich, Frank J. Weisser, Phillip Richter, J. M. Goetz, J. M. Gillitzer, Joseph Kuhne, John Miller. George Hansen, Francis Bryer, Edward Doerner, Christine Keller, Anna Keppers, Dora M. Kennedy, Frank Fritz, M. G. Weyrens, Theodore Schulte, B. G. Kruchten, Lauretta Eich, Anna Engels, Lena Hockert and Eulalie May. For the last twenty-four years Barney Richter has been treasurer of this district, and the present clerk, Edward Kuhn, is a son of the first clerk, Fred Kuhn.

District Number 152, the Waite Park school, was organized in 1889. The first school officers were J. W. Scott, Christ. Stanger and P. W. Ladd, Miss Carrie Jones was the first teacher. After her the following were employed: Carrie Rogers, Miss Skinner, Louise Raymond, Mr. Lahr, Eva Grimes, P. M. Larson, Mrs. C. Estey, Miss Erickson, Miss Marion, Archie W. Kirk, Magdalen T. Burns, Adeline Becker and Agnes Erickson. At present three teachers are employed. At the 1914 Stearns county fair the first prize for a drawing exhibit, besides a number of individual prizes, was awarded this school.

Township of St. Joseph. District Number 9, the village school of St. Joseph, was organized in 1859. Nicholas Hoffmann was the first teacher, school being taught in a little log church which stood at the west end of the village. About twelve pupils attended. This was a private school, in existence two years before the district was organized. The names of the first school officers are unknown. Other teachers employed were William Heimert, Henry Duerr and Joseph Duerr. After that Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict had complete charge of the school, until 1905 when it was placed on the state graded list and a male principal engaged. This was Jacob Zimmer, who was followed by Philipp Goerger, John Schwinghammer and again Mr. Goerger. In 1914 the district school building was sold to the Catholic parish, whereupon a parochial school was started. A new modern structure was erected and two teachers employed, the public school continuing on the semi-graded plan.

District Number 10, which was at one time the largest in the county, was established by the county commissioners in 1858, but the organization was not completed until 1863 when the first school officers were elected. These were Henry Campbell, director; Frederick Schilplin, clerk; and John Stanger, treasurer. Miss Henrietta Campbell was the first teacher, twenty-six pupils attending. Frederick Schilplin, son of the first clerk of the district and at present business manager of the St. Cloud Daily Times, attended this school when a boy. Some of the teachers who were employed in this district were Frederick Schilplin, Sr., Frona Lovelace, Michael Walz, A. H. Pike, Charles Pike, E, G. Pike, Sadie E. Macomber, Theresa Schwalier, Myrtle Lorenz, Tessie Lorenz, Helen Staples. Daisy Haines, Beatrice Waite, Daisy McKelvy, Blanche Phelps, and Charlotte Wilkes.

District Number 108 was organized In 1875. Math Ethen, Constantin Crever and Peter Heinen were the first school officers, and John Rebmann was the first teacher. School was taught in the present building, about fifty pupils attending. Dominik Galama, John Stock and Veronica Bechtel, who later became teachers, and J. C. Crever, for eight years auditor of Stearns county, attended this school in their youth. The teachers employed were Michael Walz, John Blonigan, Barney Fietsam, Nicholas Lahr, Sister Aurelia O. S. B., Sister Romana, O. S. B., Sister Aquina, O.. S. B., Jacob Friedmann, A. C. Seifert, Michael Bormann, Theodore Thielen, Sister Gonzaga, O. S. B., Anna Seifert, Arnold Pung, Christine Keller, Michael Meinz, Anton Ethen, Dominik Galama, Margaret Kosel, Agnes Kosel and Mary Schroeder.

District Number 1 was organized in 1877. It will thus be seen that though first in numerical order it is not the oldest district in the county. This is the Schroeder school, about half way between St. Joseph and Jacob's Prairie. The first s^chool officers were Fred Schroeder, Sr., John Terwey, and John Henninger. John Wimmer was the first teacher, school being taught in an old log building which is now serving the unprosaic purpose of sheltering the hogs of a farmer who lives nearby. Later a more commodious frame building was erected, which in turn was replaced by a fine modem structure, erected about five years ago. Other teachers employed were Sister Cecilia O. S. B., Jacob Bold, Philipp Richter, Sister Vincentia O. S. B., Pater Danzl, Sister Hilaria O.. S. B., Anton Eldrich, Conrad Marschall, Michael Gans, John Jacobs. Elizabeth Wiessen, Adolph Lodermeier, John Lauermann. J. M. Gillitzer, Carrie Walz and Jacob Jacobs.

Township of St. Martin. The first school in the township of St. Martin was taught in 1861 within the present boundaries of District Number 74, which occupies the northwest corner of the township. The teacher was a Miss Brooks who gave private instruction in the home of William Bosworth. Her salary was paid by private subscription, but it appears from all accounts that Mr. Bosworth was the chief supporter. It is not known for how long this school continued. District Number 22, the village school of St. Martin, was organized in 1862. Henry Ley, Peter Kuhl and Peter Haehn were the first school officers, and William Heimert was the first teacher. In the absence of a more suitable building school was first taught in a granary belonging to Mr. Ley, one of the officers. Though rather small in size the granary, which stood on the present site of Valentine Haehn's store, was sufficiently large, since the enrollment consisted of only nine pupils. At the present time a modern, well-equipped, two-room building is occupied. The teachers in the order of their employment were William Heimert, H. B. Meyer, Math. Gans, W. F. Lenz, Nicholas Hoffman. Henry Duerr, Joseph Walz, Theodore Muellermeister, Mr. Sieke, J. P. Menth, Michael Kummer, Frank J. Weisser, John Wocken, Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict, and Nicholas Bohnen. The year following two teachers were employed, W. F. Kuehnl being the first principal. After him came Charles A. Boerger, who in turn was followed by J. C. Diekmann. The assistant teachers were Valentine Haehn, Clara W. Ginther, William Bloms, Katharine Hecklin, Edward Linster, Aurelia Theisen and Henry Haehn.

District Number 74 was organized in 1869, eight years after the first school had been taught within its present boundaries by Miss Brooks. The first school officers were Samuel Ferraby, Eben Pillsbury and William Bosworth. The schoolhouse, a log structure, stood about two miles south of the present location. Emma Caruthers was the first teacher after the organization of the district. In 1873 the log schoolhouse was destroyed by fire and a small frame building took its place. In 1884 a new and better building was erected, and v.'as moved to the present location in 1894. The teachers following Miss Caruthers were Etta Foot, Artie Beach, Mrs. Theodore Smith, Samuel Ferraby, Martha Sutton, Susan Buchanan, O.. F. Trace (who later became Superintendent of Schools of Benton county). E. G. Vaughan, E. P. Vaughan, John Slattery, Ida E. Blaisdell, Martin H. Lynch. John F. Uhl, E. Slattery, Eva V. Bryant, Kitty E. Allen, Mary Hannan, F. E. Lynch, Alice A. Moon, Anna Macfarlane, Jane McGowan, Mary McNulty, Mary Graham. Blondina Breher, Sophia Kranz, John Goetz, Lawrence Iten, Math Garding, Joseph Krebsbach, Elizabeth

District Number 81 was organized in 1869. Carl Dufner was the first clerk, Peter Rausch, director, and Nick Evans, treasurer. Casper Klostermann was the first teacher. School was first taught in an old log building which stood some distance east of the present site, near the Thelen home on the Farming-St. Martin township line. The new schoolhouse was built in 1889 and a short time after a cottage for the use of the teacher was erected. The teachers employed were John M. Biehler, John Blonigen, Peter Kuhl, Nicholas Schmit, Joseph M. Gillitzer, John Wocken, George Haupt, Joseph Heinen, M. S.. Weyrens, Peter J. Weber, Joseph L. Krebsbach, Joseph Dufner and B. G. Kruchten. So far as can be learned no woman teacher was ever employed in this district.

District Number 125, known locally as the Garding school, was organized in 1883. Bernard Garding, Math Kollmann and Michael Klinkner were the first school officers. Michael Kummer, now a prominent business man of Cold Spring, was the first teacher. School was taught in the present building which occupied the present site, about thirty pupils attending. In 1897 a dwelling house was erected for the use of the teacher. John Rausch, at present teaching in District Number 119, attended this school when a boy. The teachers employed were Michael Kummer, George Sauer, Joseph Kramps (who died during the term), John Kramps, Frank Kramps, Joseph M. Gillitzer, N. K. Weber (twenty-two years) and H. J. Adrian.

District Number 48, known as the Mc- Gowan school was organized in 1898. The first school officers were M. T. McGowan, John E. Christen and David Shay. Miss Jane McGowan, now living in West Butte, Montana, was the first teacher. The first school was taught in the present building, thirty pupils attending. Other teachers employed were Lois Campbell, Emma Wightman, Josie Cosgrove, Leonore Selkey, Mary Mimbach, Catherine Sieverding, Mary Lynch, Anna Gerding, Nanita Wimmer, Minnie Harren, Gertie Madden, Susan

St. Wendel Township. District Number 56, whose building is located about half a mile north of Collegeville station, was organized in 1867. The school officers were Mr. Theisen, Mr. Sand and Mr. Goedert Nicholas Hoffman was the first teacher. The old school building was replaced by a strictly modern structure in 1906. The teachers employed after Mr. Hoffman were J. Terwey, Michael Waltz, Mr. Ulrich, Conrad Marschall, Sister Paula O. S. B., Sister Dominica, O. S. B., Miss Seifert, Sophie Kranz, E. Winter, J. Kugler, Henry Stoetzel, Joseph Ruf, Mr. Hartnett, J. Bockerhauser, Anna Marschall, Helena Popp, Anna M. Heger, and Jeanette Guthrie.

District Number 11, known as the Fiedler school (and more recently as the Indian Busch school) was organized in 1867. Simon Lodermeier and Joseph Eich were two of the first school officers, the name of the third being unknown. Anthony Froehlich was the first teacher, school being taught in the present building. During the first years the teacher occupied rooms above the school. The teachers who followed Mr. Froehlich were Michael Walz, John Salter, Joseph Meyer, Frank Weisser, Charles M. Weber, Elizabeth Seifert, Anna Marschall, Simon P. Brick, Edward Gans, Sophia Kranz, Adolph Lodermeier, Carrie Walz, Bertha Walz, Mary Held, Leonore Hennemann, Agnes Kosel, Frances Koelzer, Mary Zierden, Mathilda Lemm and Hilda Bechtel.

District Number 42 was organized in 1869. The first school officers were Edward Barrett, Barney Murphy and Michael Barrett. Patrick Grimes was the first teacher. The schoolhouse first stood on the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 6, but it was later moved about three-fourths of a mile west. The teachers following Mr. Grimes were John Browne, Joseph Mclsaac, Clara Thorpe, Lizzie Collins, Bridget Collins, Anna Zimmer, Helen Zimmer, Irene Reed, Mary Barrett, Sarah Twomey, Blanche Kimball, Hattie Lavette, Julia Slattery, Theresa Hill, Sarah Fearon, Marie Heid, Sarah Tracey, Mrs. Patrick Welsh, Agnes Burns (later superintendent of the Benton county

District Number 142, known as the Fischer Hill school, was organized in 1890. The school officers were Joseph Pohl, Joseph Eich and John Seifert. Bertha Long, now Mrs. Frank W. Boos, of St. Cloud, was the first teacher. The Misses Agnes and Margaret Kosel, who later became teachers, attended this school in their youth. Other teachers were Barney Reiter, Dora Eich, John M.. Goetz, P. Jacobs, John C. Crever, Frank Ferschweiler, John Heimenz, Dominic Galama, John Stock, Monica Aschenbrenner, Joseph Heinen, Martin Schmitt, Cecilia Bettenburg, Mary Mies, Martha Ziska, Magdalen Eschpeter and Elizabeth Just.

District Number 188 was organized in 1900. James Meagher, John Rossman and Peter Barrett were the first school ofllcers, and Margaret Twomey, now living in St. Paul, was the first teacher. The frame building erected at the time of the organization of the district was destroyed by fire in 1911, after which a fine new brick structure was erectpd. Other teachers employed were Mary Schauble. Louise Mc- Laughlin, Clara Dezelar, Jessie Kennedy, James L. Barrett, Margaret Murphy, Georgie Hanza, Sarah Tracy and Louise Lenz.

Spring Hill Township. The first school in this township was taught in the summer of 1867 by Henry Duerr in a frame schoolhouse on section 27, about one mile east of the village of Spring Hill. This was in District Number 21, which had been organized the previous year. Some years later the old schoolhouse was moved to section 22, about a mile north of its first location, where it stood for several years. As new settlers arrived and other districts were formed, the area of District Number 21 decreased and the center was shifted farther to the north. The little frame building was then sold to John Bauer for $50 and a new one erected near the north line of section 15, where it now stands. This was in 1887.. The first school officers, whose names could be learned, were Peter Gau and Joseph Salchert. The first teacher, as already stated, was Henry Duerr, who was followed by Theodore Muellermeister, P. J. Limperich, L. J. RochoU, Thomas Brown, August Doerner,

District Number 38, the school in the village of Spring Hill, was organized in 1880. J. P. Krebsbach, Math Haub and Joseph Edermann were the first school officers and P. H. Schomer was the first teacher. Others employed after him were Nicholas Lahr, John C. Drexler, Rev. Ambrose Lethert, Conrad A. Marschall, Peter Henricy, James Sullivan, Caspar Kramps, M. P. Schiltz and H. W. Lembeck. For the past eighteen years Mr. Lembeck has been in charge of the school, and during all that time it has enjoyed a high standard.

District Number 135, recently designated the Boxelder school, was organized in 1887. The first school officers were John Brown, Michael Kolb and Bertus Weber. John Kranz was the first teacher. School was taught in the present building, twentyeight pupils attending. Other teachers were Jacob Zimmer, Valentine Haehn, Nicholas Klein, Jacob Jacobs, Anna Sandbrink, Mary Folmer and Anna Gerding. A word of appreciation is here due Mary Folmer, during whose activity in this district (three years) splendid results were achieved. When she took charge of the school the building and equipment were in an almost pitiable condition. However, with great skill and ability Miss Folmer drew the parents to the school on numerous occasions, and in this manner they were brought to a proper realization of the conditions. Without much apparent effort on her part the necessary changes were brought about, so that now the school is one of the most attractive in the county.

District Number 133, lying in the southeastern part of the township, was organized in 1887. Henry Emmel was the first clerk, Peter Winter treasurer and John Hess, director. Valentine Haehn, now proprietor of a large store in St. Martin, was the first teacher. The first school stood about fifteen rods south of the present location. Among the pupils who attended this school was the Rev. Father Meinrad O. S. B., pastor of the Catholic congrega- tion at Freeport. The teachers who followed Mr. Haehn were Carrie Parrington, John Lang, Mrs. A. Lyman, Max Grave, Frank Messing, Theodore Schulter. Martin J. Jahn, Gertrude Scherkenbach and John Olmscheid.

District Number 161 was organized in 1891. The first school officers were Joseph Winter, Martin Schoenberg and Henry Nietfeld. Joseph Lemm, now living in Tobler, Montana, was the first teacher. Others were Joseph S. Weyrens, Edward Ortman. W. F. Hilger, Anton J. Hilger, Jacob Jacobs, Charles Hilger, John J. Gumpert, William J. Noe, Anton P.. Reuther, John Hoeschen, Blonda Smith, P. J. Pung, John L. Tschida and Rose Lahr. At the 1914 Stearns county fair this school was awarded the third prize for the number of parent's visits. The enrollment that year was 27 and the number of visitors 164.

District Number 167, known locally as the Humbert school, was organized in 1893. Ben Humbert was the first clerk, Ben Frieler, director and Frank Wolbeck, treasurer. Clemens Vornbrock was the first teacher. School was taught in the present building, forty-two pupils being enrolled. Other teachers were Joseph Benolken, Joseph Weyrens, Michael Pinnemann, Casper Loesch, Barbara Krick, John Hoeschen, Michael Klein, Norbert Schneider, John Eickhoff, Joseph Theisen, Anna M. Heger, Esther C. Drenckhahn and Louise Lenz.

Wakefield Township. The first school in the township of Wakefield was taught by Frank Kuhn, in the winter of 1859, in what is now known as the Bavarian settlement, the house of Michael Niebler, a log structure, being used for the purpose. The school was a private venture, the salary being raised by subscription. Later another private house was used, since no schoolhouse had as yet been built. Mr. Kuhn, the first teacher, is still living on his farm, on which he made a homestead claim and a part of which he donated for school purposes.

Singularly all the school districts in the township of Wakefield were organized within a fortnight. Districts Number 14, 15 and 17 were organized on April 13, 1861, and District Number 18 on the twentysixth of the same month and year.

were Frank Kuhn, Michael Niebler and George Niebler. The teachers who followed Mr. Kuhn were Michael Niebler, Anton Moosbrugger, Henry Klostermann, Lucas Lembeck, J, Lang, Theodore Muellermeister, Casper Klostermann, Charles F. Ladner (now proprietor of a large hardware store in St. Cloud), John Fischbach, Mr. Hueltner, Caspar Balthasar, Conrad Marschall, Michael Weyrens, George Saner, Nicholas Jacobs, Jacob Weismann, John Eich, John Jacobs, Peter Weber, Peter Biewer (who was drowned in Mullein lake during the term), Frank Lorinzer, Nicholas Thomey, Mr. Schmueller, Ignatius Fuchs, B. Lemm, Michael Lutgen, Lucas Lembeck, Michael Weyrens, J. L. Hohmann and Henry J. Weismann. It will be observed that though school has been taught in this district since 1859 no woman teacher was ever employed.

District Number 14, the village school in Cold Spring, was organized, as already stated, in 1861. The first school was taught in a frame building situated in a small grove where the creamery now stands. Florence Jodoin was the first teacher, finding employment in this district for several terms. The building is said to have been very primitively furnished. The customary long, unpainted and unvarnished benches were used, and these, together with a box stove and a few primers, completed the interior equipment. Only ten children attended the first term, and since these were all small (or at least beginners) it is not surprising that the primer was the only book used. Miss Jodoin was succeeded by Miss Sommers, Miss Odell, M. Caruthers and Emma Caruthers. The following year a two-room schoolhouse was built on the river bank across the street to the north of the mill. The teachers in this building were Joseph Kunkler, G. Schmit, Mr. Hertle, Fr. Ellenbecker, Joseph Walz, Pierre Schomer, Stephen Mondschein and Michael Kummer. In 1886 a new brick schoolhouse was erected about half a mile west of the former location. The assistant teachers were William Bold, John B. Glass, Mary Phlepsen, Michael Meinz and Barbara Tschumperlin. Since 1887 John Wocken has been employed as a teacher in this district and it is only fair that a little more than passing mention be given this pioneer teacher. Mr.

Wocken is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born in 1855. He was graduated from the Diocesan Teachers' Seminary at Osnabrueck in 1874, after which he taught in the old country for seven years,. In 1881 he came to America on the promises of a man who had painted glowing pictures of what he would do for the young teacher, only to learn that he was basely deceived and deserted upon his arrival. But the treachery of one person alone was not sufficient to drive the young man to despair. By strenuous efforts he learned the English language, spending a year in St. John's University for the purpose, after which he took up the work in the school room again. He taught in Districts Numbered 33, 81, 106, in the village of St. Martin, and in 1887 became principal of the Cold Spring village school. In this position he remained for twenty-seven years. In the fall of 1914, in order to lessen his responsibility, he relinquished the principalship and took the place of first assistant. Mrs. Wocken was Katherine Schlick of St. Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Wocken have eight children living, three others having died in infancy. Since September 1914 Martin J,. Jahn has held the principalship in the Cold Spring school.

District Number 17, which came into being on the same day with Districts Numbered 14 and 15, embraces the southeastern part of the township. Its school is known as the Old St. Nicholas school. Jacob Lentz was the first teacher, instruction being first given in a little log building which stood half a mile north of the present building and which was also used as a church in the early days. Angela Schmit and Nicholas Hoffman also taught in this building. In the early seventies a frame structure was erected about half a mile west of the present building. Twenty years later the present schoolhouse was built on the present site and the old frame building was sold to Jacob Doetzel, on whose farm it is now serving a variety of purposes. One of the early teachers, in order to save a few dollars out of his meager salary, placed a couch in the little frame schoolhouse upon which he slept, thus saving the expense of fuel and room rent. Observing that the practice was productive of good results he sought further to increase his savings by doing his own laundry work. He accordingly invested in a tub and washboard, and before the arrival of the pupils on Monday mornings got out his weekly edition of shirts, underwear, stockings and handkerchiefs. During the summer months this domestic journal was flung to the breeze on the playground, but during the cold winter months a less painful method prevailed. The good man simply stretched a line diagonally across the schoolroom whereon he suspended his rejuvenated garments, not a whit abashed by the presence of the pupils. Whatever additional economy the gentleman planned to apply is not known, for his practice came to an abrupt end. One day, when a rather larger output of wearing apparel than usual was in evidence, the county superintendent drove up to the schoolhouse and before the discomfited schoolmaster could remove his regalia the official was upon him. It may be easily surmised what the superintendent's instructions were, for thereafter the pupils were obliged to learn their lessons without the invigorating odor of drying clothes. Shortly thereafter a midnight rover forced an entry into the schoolhouse in search of warmth and shelter, and the frightened schoolmaster resolved to sleep in a near-by farmhouse after that. Following Mr. Hoffmann, school was held in the little frame building and in the present structure, and the teachers were Mr. Meyer, Mr. Ziegler, Joseph Lemm, Gotthard Harren, Philip Lemm, Joseph Heinen, Hubert Miller, Nicholas Steil, Joseph Gillitzer, Michael Lutgen, Mathias Schmidt, Valentine Henkel, Clara Streitz and Margaret Keil. Among the pupils who attended this school were the Rev. Benedict, O. S. B., the Rev. Theodore Peters, and Charles Schmit, the present assistant county superintendent of schools.

District Number 18, the school at Jacob's Prairie, was organized April 26, 1861. It is not known who the first school officers were. The first school was taught in a little log building which stood near the road a short distance west of the present school building. The first teacher was Nicholas Fuchs. After him were Miss Lustig. Math Gans (father of the Rev. Dr. Leo Gans), Pierre Schomer, Joseph Broker, Joseph Ruf, Lucas Lembeck, Stephen Mondschein, H. Eldrich, Joseph Hilt, Jo-

Zion Township. - The first school in the township of Zion was taught in 1866 by John Moore in a log schoolhouse. This was in District Number 45, now known as the Salem school. The first officers of the district were M. F. Plantikow, David Moede and Michael Nehring.. In the beginning there was a large attendance, but for a number of years the enrollment has steadily decreased, so that at the present time there are only five pupils. The teachers following Mr. Moore were George Haller, David Kirchner, Herman Bretzke, Herman Plantikow, Silas Utzinger, Albert Utzinger, C. W. Walthousen, Robert Helmer, Emmet Helmer, Martin Eppert, Harrison Schmidt, Ida Manz, Adolph Sack, Ada Michaelson, Gustav Reeck, Violet Hislop, Olive Waite, Miranda Plantikow, Mary Hiller, Elsie Klampe, Lydia Groenig and Cecilia Dignan.

District Number 63, known as the Wolf Settlement, was organized in 1866. Jacob Mehr, Christ Heisler and Christ Bach were the first school officers. Mary Jane Heisler was the first teacher, twenty-five pupils attending. Other teachers were Rudolph Schweitzer, John Fischbach, Philip Richter, John Schmit, Peter Henricy, J. M. Gillitzer, P. J. Limperich, John Weyrens, N. K. Weber, Jacob Nohner, Joseph Kruchten, Henry Lembeck and Joseph Lahr. The district supplies a cottage for the use of the teacher.

District Number 104, whose schoolhouse is situated on the southwest corner of section 23, was organized in 1876. August Sack, Charles Schmidt and Fred Wendtland were the first officers. The schoolhouse originally stood about three-fourths of a mile northeast of the present location. Agatha Blattner, now Mrs. A. L. Riley of St. Cloud, was the first teacher. Others employed in this district were Julia Krugel, Joseph Hemmesch. Ferdinand Arndt, Mr. Hengstebeck, Gustav Koepp. Ida Snow, Calcie Davis, Martha E. Passer, Gustav Koepp, Lena Moede, Magdalen Preice, Ruby Griebler, Gladys Latterell, Grace Haines, Lila Plantikow and Martha Moede.

District Number 193 the Roscoe village school was organized in 1902,. The first officers were P. W. Hilger, A. Schmitt and Nicholas Kotschevar. Oscar Voss, now living south of Paynesville, was the first teacher, forty-one pupils attending. In 1911 an addition was built to the schoolhouse and since then two teachers have been employed. The teachers after Mr. Voss were Barney Reiter, Conrad Diekmann. C. A. Boerger and Valentine HenkeL. Miss Ottilia Hartel was the first assistant. She was followed by Rosalie Weisser (now Mrs. John Ebnet of St. Cloud) and Hildegard Molitor.

Conclusion. - This is a brief, and - it is candidly admitted - imperfect history of the Stearns county schools. Owing to the lack of records and the utter absence, in some sections, of old settlers, it has been impossible, in the limited time at the writer's disposal, to collect all details, many of which would have added greatly to the value of this history. However, it is hoped, and urged, that in the future greater pains be taken to keep and to safeguard the records of the several school districts, so that a coming generation may with greater facility and exactness compile a more creditable review, for there are great changes in the making.

Fifty-eight years have passed since Father Cornelius taught his little school in the pioneer home of Joseph Edelbrock, and out of that humble beginning a system has unfolded of which Stearns county may well be proud. But if during this first period the changes have been great, the next half century will witness sti}l greater. The legislature in 1913 created an education commission to make a careful study and investigation of conditions in this state with respect to public education, including the public school system and public educational institutions, and the relation of the educational institutions one to another and the public school system; to recommend a general plan for the organization and administration of public education and public educational institutions. The general purposes of the commission are to effect economy and efficiency with respect to the several branches of public education in this state.

economy and efficiency are as follows: The common schools are managed by local school boards with limited supervision by the county and the state. The county now exercises its supervision through the county superintendent of schools, elected by the people. The local districts are of three classes - common, independent and special. A common district is created by the county board upon petition of the freeholders and is governed by three trustees elected by the district. An independent district is created from, and may be reduced to, a common district by action of the voters and is governed by a board of six directors. It differs from the common district chiefly in the power to establish and maintain graded schools and high schools, and in the tax levy, fixed by popular vote in one case and by the board in the other. Special districts are those created by special act of the legislature and they are in each case coterminous with a city. There are also consolidated rural districts, formed either by amalgamation of several districts or by joining several districts to one graded or high school; districts covering ten or more townships, under a peculiar organization, and unorganized districts managed by county school boards.

The teachers in the several districts are employed and their salaries fixed by the local school board, quite independently of other districts and of the superintendent's office. Local school boards, upon the direction of the districts, acquire land, build schoolhouses and in short have general control of all the affairs pertaining to their respective schools. It is now proposed to make of the county a financial agency only, a large common school district, governed by one board elected at large, by whose will and pleasure the county superintendent and all the teachers outside of the independent districts shall hold their positions. The purposes aimed at may be learned from the following extract from the commission's report:

"It is the rural school that needs skilled supervision most and gets it least. In the rural schools the untrained and inexperienced teacher is most apt to be found. Those who display marked ability or acquire superior knowledge of the art of teaching are soon called to other schools.

"While they need special supervision for this reason, the rural districts are least able to obtain it. Districts that can pay for the best teachers and equipment can also provide competent supervision. The district that is hardly able to pay the minimum for teachers has nothing at all to spare for the supervision that it peculiarly needs. The small school district, the rural school in general, is dependent solely on the county superintendent for the sort of oversight that strengthens the weak teacher and tones up the school.

"Since these schools are so much in need of trained leadership and since it is offered to them only through the county superintendent's agency, it is of the highest importance that the county superintendent should have knowledge, capacity and experience. Teachers and pupils are alike entitled to the benefit of such qualities in their supervisor.

"It is recognized that the method of engaging county superintendents by popular vote does not reasonably insure such a choice. Popular election is indeed the only fit method of choosing representatives; the selection of trained men for any service is, in turn, best delegated to a representative body.

"Among teachers it has long been held as eminently desirable that the men and v/omen who are to oversee teachers should invariably be fitted for the duty, the most delicate and influential in the whole range of county activities. By assigning this selection to a representative body, it is reasonable to expect that the desired result will be gained.

"Your commission therefore recommends that all the territory of each county outside the independent districts shall constitute a common school district; that its government be lodged in a common school board to be elected by the district, and that first among its duties the board shall have the responsibility of choosing a superintendent of schools for the district who shall have the capacity and authority to put the rural school in every respect within its means on an equal footing with the best city schools.

velop a trained body of school directors. Their position will be conspicuous and honorable. The responsibilities of the position will attract men who can shoulder responsibility. Their individual character and the broad basis of their election will be the best guarantee that schoolhouses will be located where they will most conveniently serve the largest number, that personal reasons will not govern in the election of teachers, and that the funds Avill be spent for the benefit of the entiredistrict. To place a building where it will ill serve half the people in a district is to waste public funds; to engage a teacher who is not competent is to throw away money. Yet from personal bias or want of comprehension, both these mistakes are too common.

"In the district governed by the common school board, elected by the people, and administered by the school superintendent whom this board deliberately chooses, mistakes of this character should be eliminated.

"Moreover, in contracts for school buildings and in the purchase of supplies, positive economy will be introduced to a degree seldom attainable by the more limited experience of the local school board in the small district. It is reasonable to expect this, and so far as experience is available it confirms the anticipation.

"The people do not, by this rearrangement of authority, surrender their control of the schools. They transfer it from one agency which has often proved unsatisfactory to one which will be not less responsive to their wishes but will be better equipped to carry them out, an agency that will be more adequate for spending to the best advantage the funds raised by taxation and for achieving the truest economy."

Another change, less ostentatious and affecting practically the schools of Stearns county alone, is also approaching. Ever since the first school was taught in this commonwealth religious needs were not lost sight of. Various sections of the county are settled by the adherents of different creeds, and these have always been supplied with teachers of their own faith. In some of the exclusively Catholic communities nuns of the Order of St. Benedict have been employed, whose work to this day stands unexcelled in the entire county. In a very large number of these schools the children were given fundamental instruction in their religion, being thus provided with the only firm foundation for true citizenship. It is here not denied that there may have been technical violations of the law. But this much is generally admitted: the practice has produced no evil effects.

However, in 1914 the state high school board decreed that from and after August 1, 1914, no graded or high school, in which religious instruction is given and in which teachers wearing a distinctive religious garb are employed, shall share in the state funds distributed by apportionment and special aid, and the superintendent of public instruction, being a member of the board, was obliged to extend this ruling to the rural and semi-graded schools. The result will be an increased number of parochial schools and the consequent collapse of many districts.

May the future historian of Stearns county's educational institutions be enabled to tell of harmony and cooperation between the public and the parochial schools as cordial as it has been in the past!