Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 16: The Schools of Buchanan County and St. Joseph-Primitive Schools of Early Days - the Public Schools; How They Are Supported, 1900

And Present

THE SCHOOLS OF BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH-PRIMITIVE SCHOOLS OF EARLY DAYS - THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS; HOW THEY ARE SUPPORTED AND MANAGED. - THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS OF ST. JOSEPH. - FINANCIAL STRUGGLES AND VICISSITUDES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. - DENOMINATIONAL AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT.

The first school of any kind in Buchanan counity, as near as can be learned at this time, was a private institution kept by Francis Ferguson, in 1839, on the southwest corner of section 16, in what is now Crawford township, near Halleck. It was in a log house, with a puncheon floor.

The court house at Sparta was also used for school purposes in 1841-44. Various academies were established in the country, all of which were eventually supplanted by the district school.

According to the constitution under which Missouri was admitted into the Union, the sixteenth section of each congressional townstate purposes, of which one-third is diverted by the state to the ship was set aside for school purposes. In Buchanan county about $100,000 was realized from this source and the money is now loaned out by the county court to individuals upon real estate security, the interest going to the districts in proportion to the capital to their various credits. This, however, is a small item in the support of the public schools, the main source of revenue coming from direct taxation. The requirements of the school districts are certified to the county court and are considered in the tax levy. Besides, there is support from the state. Each county levies a tax of 15 per cent for school fund, and this fund is distributed according to the number of school children in the district. Buchanan county receives about $29,000 from this source annually.

Each district elects directors whose province it is to employ teachers and manage the schools ; and there is a county superintendent of public instruction, whose duty it is to pass upon the qualifica- tions of teachers, and, also, to certify to the state the number of children entitled to school support, the school age being from six years to twenty years.

In 1847, the first year in which Buchanan county participated in the apportionment of state school moneys, there was an enumeration of 547, and the amount apportioned was $481.36. In 1857 the enumeration was 5,099, and the amount $3,977.22 ; in 1867 the enumeration was 12,471, and the amount $6,584.69; in 1877 the enumeration was 10,736, and the apportionment $7,983. In 1897 - a span of twenty years, the enumeration was 30,827, and the apportionment $28,767.

Other sources of revenue for school purposes are : An average bridge and right of wav tax upon railroads, the sale of swamp lands and various penalties.

There are now seventy-five school districts in Buchanan county outside of the district in which the city of St. Joseph is located. In many of these districts there are substantial and modern brick school houses. The last enumeration in the county shows 5,253 persons within the school age. The county schools are of a high grade and there is commendable rivalry for excellence among the teachers. One month of each year is devoted to an institute, where lecturers and masters of reputation are heard ; where the teacher is taught and brightened for the next season's work.

Until the year i860, no attempt at any system of public schools had been made in St. Joseph. "Occasionally," to quote Professor Neely, "a free school would be taught for a month or two, or for a sufficient length of time to absorb what was not wasted or lost of the city's share of the public school fund." But there was no public school system, and St. Joseph had merely the organization of a country school district. In i860 a few enterprising citizens obtained from the legislature a charter by which the St. Joseph Board of Public Schools was incorporated. Section 1 of the act provided that "all free white persons residing within the limits of school district No. 1, in township No. 8, in Buchanan county, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate bv the name and style of 'the St. Joseph Board of Public Schools.' " It was provided that there should be two members from each ward and a president, to be elected at large, the term of office in each case to be three years. The charter was made perpetual and the corporation given power to sue and be sued, to purchase, hold or sell property, real and personal, etc.

the St. Joseph charter the words "free white males" and inserting the words "resident taxpayers." Another change in the charter provided that the terms of the directors should be for two years and that one-half of the number should go out of office at the expiration of every school year. The president's term, however, was continued at three years.

When the first board was elected there were but three wards in the city. This board was constituted as follows: Dr. J. H. Crane, president. Directors: First ward, Louis Hax, John Sheehan; Second ward, James A. Millan, John J. Abell; Third ward, William M. Albin and Erasmus Dixon. The First ward at that time comprised the southern part of the city, the Second ward the central part and the Third ward the northern part. James A. Millan was elected secretary and Joseph C. Hull treasurer. Of the above named gentlemen Dr. Crane went to California, John J. Abell and Erasmus Dixon are dead and the others still reside in the city.

A small school house was provided for each ward as soon as possible. That in the First ward was built at the southeast corner of Third and Charles street. The property was sold to John P. Fink in 1865 for $12,000 and converted into a shoe factory. It is now used for warehouse purposes. The Second ward was provided with a school on the east side of Twelfth street. It was afterwards enlarged, and for many years was called the Franklin school, but was abandoned some years ago. The Third ward school was built at Second and Cherry streets. It was afterwards enlarged and called the Madison school. Later it was known as the First Colored school, and now it is the Humboldt. The three houses were built from the same plans. They were of brick, 34x25 feet in dimension, two stories high. Each had two school rooms, one on each floor, with a narrow stairway in front. They were furnished with common double desks of pine, and had a capacity of 120 scholars each. There were no cloakrooms or other conveniences.

The schools were opened on April 23, i860. William H. Marmion was principal of the First ward school and his assistant was Miss Annie Webster. Sidney P. Cunningham had charge of the Second ward school and had for his assistant Miss Annie Banes (now Mrs. John Townsend). The principal of the Third ward school was J. W. H. Griffin, and his assistant was Miss Lizzie Brand (afterwards Mrs. Carder). Salaries were not high in those days, the principal receiving $50 per month and the assistants $25.

the ward schools quite a number of pupils who had mastered more or less thoroughly the branches prescribed, and who were prepared to take up advanced studies. It was accordingly proposed to open a school of a higher order for their accommodation. Prof. Edward B. Neely had been conducting a classical school in St. Joseph for six years, and had recently erected a school building on Tenth street, between Felix and Francis streets. The School Board arranged with Professor Neely to take charge of the proposed higher branch, and on the first Monday in March, 1861, Professor Neely opened in his building what afterwards developed into the St. Joseph High School. He had about forty scholars of both sexes, who had brought certificates of qualification from the ward schools.

In consequence of the distrubed condition of society from the impending civil war, the School Board at a meeting on May 21, 1861, resolved to summarily close all primary and grammar schools, but continue the advanced school until the end of June. From this time until 1864 there were no public schools in the city, although the board met occasionally and maintained at least a partial organization. The buildings were sometimes rented for private schools and sometimes occupied by the military.

On August 12, 1864, the Board of Public Schools - then consisting of Louis Hax, president ; and David Pinger, William M. Wyeth, R. F. Maxwell, John Colhoun, J. P. Adolph and Bernard Patton, as members - resolved to reopen the schools. Professor Neelv was, by unanimous vote, elected superintendent, a position which he has filled without interruption until the present time.

The board offered $80 per month salary to principals and $50 per month to assistants, and also decided to establish a high school, with the superintendent as principal, and one assistant at $80 per month. The schools were not entirely free. A matriculation fee of 50 cents per month was charged each pupil in the primary and intermediate grades, and $1 per month in the high school. The rate of taxation allowed by the charter was so small that full terms could not have been maintained without the aid of the tuition fee. On February 3, 1872, this practice was abolished, and since that time the schools have been entirely free.

October 3, 1864, the schools were reopened, with Professor Neely as principal of the high school, and Nelson Wilbur, a graduate of Dartmouth College, as his assistant. Nathan Somerville was principal of the First Ward School, with Miss Jennie Parsons as assistant. Benjamin R. Vineyard was principal of the Second W ard

School, with Miss Alice Bruner as assistant, her place being afterward filled by Mrs. Annie R. Townsend. H. C. McLaughlin was principal in the Third Ward School and his assistant was Miss India Cowden (now Mrs. Evan W. Ray).

The schools were immediately crowded and many applicants who applied were unable to gain admission for want of room. This condition continued until the school board found relief through a charter amendment in 1866, permitting an increase in the rate of taxation, which gave the board the means for building two additional houses. With the proceeds of the sale of the First Ward property and the yield of the additional tax, the Everett School, at Twelfth and Olive streets, and the old High School building, at Tenth and Edmond streets, were erected. The buildings were identical in plan, and the cost of each, exclusive of ground, was about $36,000. Labor and material in those days were both extremely high, as the older people will remember.

The High School was opened in 1866, with John S. Crosby as principal, and was used as such until 1896. The building was damaged by fire in 1889, rebuilt and enlarged. In 1895 it was remodeled for grammar schools and offices of the board of education, and is now known as Robidoux School. The Everett has also been enlarged and is still in service.

In 1867 a house was provided for colored school children at Fourth and Michel streets. It was a one-story frame building, of which no trace remains.

In 1868 the school board found it necessary to issue bonds to provide additional buildings, and the sum of $40,000 was obtained from this source. As a result, the Washington School, at Fifth and Pouline, and the Webster, at Nineteenth and Beattie streets, were built 'in 1869, the former costing $11,658 and the latter $9,928. Both have since been enlarged to meet the demands. Outstanding indebtedness was liquidated with the balance of the sum realized from th bond sale.

Still the provisions were inadequate, and buildings were rented where possible, to relieve the congested conditions. More school houses were necessary, and in 1872 the board found itself compelled to again issue bonds to erect buildings and make necessary improvements upon property already owned.

At this time the board purchased the property now known as the German-English School for $8,500. This school had been founded and maintained for some years by an association of German-English citizens, formed for the purpose of perpetuating their language in their children. In the conveyance of the property to the school board it was expressly provided that instruction in the "German as well as English language shall be given in equal proportions in all departments of instruction to meet the demands of the pupils from the whole city for such instruction, according to the capacity thereof."

The sum of $36,000 was realized from the bond issue of $40,000. With this money the board paid debts, built the Neely School at Twelfth and Scott streets, at a cost of about $10,000, eredted an addition to the Everett School at a cost of $6,000, repaired the Webster, which had been unroofed by a tornado, and made other substantial and necessary improvements.

In April of 1877 the people voted, by a large majority, to increase the rate of taxation for general school purposes from three to five mills, and the county court ordered a five-mill levy for that year. But in 1878, when the board asked again for a five-mill levy, the county court refused to make it, contending that the people had voted for the five-mill levy for the year 1877 only. The board applied for a writ of mandamus to compel the court to make the fivemill levy, and a judgment was rendered in the circuit court in favor of the board. Through some neglect the judgment was not recorded and it became necessary to go to trial again. The second trial resulted unfavorably to the schools, and the five-mill levy was not again made, it being the judgment of the court that the people must vote for such a levy each year. In 1878 the county court also questioned the legality of the school board's bonds by refusing to levy a sinking fund and interest tax. The question was tested in the United States court and the legality of the bonds fully sustained.

The present bonded indebtedness of the St. Joseph school board is $415,000, of which $215,000 bears 5 per cent interest and $200,000 bears 4 per cent. In 1888 $100,000 twenty-year 5 per cent bonds were voted for the erection of school buildings; in 1890 $115,000 twenty - year 5 per cent bonds were issued to refund outstanding 6 per cents, and in April of 1894 the people voted for an issue of $200,000 twentyyear 4 per cent bonds for school buildings, which contemplated the new high school and other necessary buildings.

In 1879 a school was built at Sixth and Jackson streets and named the Floyd. This was sold in 1888 to the Holy Rosary congregation and is now used as a Catholic church. The Crosbv School, at Savannah avenue and Richardson streets, was built in 1889. at a cost of $7,400. The Steinacker School, at Second and Louis streets, was built in 1883, and the present estimated value of the building is $16,500. The other schools were built in the following order, and the amount represents the present estimated value of the buildings : Hall, Twenty-sixth and Duncan streets, 1887, $^,450; South Park, 1888, $7,600; Colored High School. Eighteenth and Angelique, 1888, $17,690; Young, Ninth and Mary, 1889, $25,725; new Floyd, Third and Hickory, 1889, $18,920; Bliss, Thirtieth and Olive, 1890, $7,500; Ernst, Walker's Addition, 1891, $7,500; Grant, North Eleventh street, 1894, $7,550; Lincoln (colored), St. Joseph avenue and Pendleton streets, 1894, $10,600; Jackson, Twenty-fourth street, near Clay, 1894, $7,500; Musser, Twenty-fourth and Olive streets, 1894, $6,550. The Avenue School, at Frederick avenue and Thirteenth street, was formerly a store building. It was rented for some years by the board and purchased for $10,000 in 1892.

After various unsuccessful efforts, the school board secured the consent of the taxpayers to erect an adequate and substantial High School building. The funds having been provided, the question of a site for the prospective new structure at once became paramount, and a lively rivalry ensued. The people in general would have been satisfied with an accessible and central location. However, the school board seems to have been actuated by high motives, so far as location and price went, for it purchased for $23,500 a piece of ground 125X 200, on the highest point of Carpenter's hill, fronting on Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, about 200 feet north of Olive street. There was much popular indignation at this deal, for the location was considered out of range and inaccessible, and the price exceedingly high.

Plans, prepared by Edmond J. Eckel, were adopted by the board during the winter of 1894-95, and the corner stone of the present building was laid with Masonic ceremony and a popular demonstration, together with oratory and music. The building was occupied in the spring of 1896, the term being finished there. The contractors were Bernard Feeney and William Rupert and John DeClue, and the cost about $90,000.

The value of the property of the St. Joseph school board is given in the last report as folows : Buildings, $389,835 ; furniture and fixtures, $49,415 ; grounds, $170,500; a total of $609,750. Of the buildings named above the High School, the Floyd, the Young, the Steinacker, the Lincoln, the Grant and the Jackson are heated and ventilated by the Smead system of dry closets and furnaces. The Web-

As the number of wards increased in the city so the number of school directors increased. Up to 1864 there were six members, in 1865 there were ten, and from 1890 to October, 1895, there were sixteen. The members of the school board have always served without pay, but there was frequently spirited rivalry at the elections, which were held in June. And the sessions of the board were often so animated that the reports of the proceedings made spicy reading in the newspapers.

The conviction that the board was unwieldy had been growing upon the people for some time and a movement to have the charter amended by the legislature met with hearty popular support. This was done at the session of 1895. Under the provisions of the new. charter the school board is composed of six members, two of whom are chosen at each general city election and each of whom serves six years. It is customary for each of the political parties to select a candidate, who is endorsed by the opposing party, thus taking the school board practically out of politics. At the April election of 1895, according to the emergency clause of the bill, six members were chosen - Messrs. B. R. Vineyard, I. T. Hosea, Dr. E. A. Donelan, B. Newberger, K. M. Mitchell and David Marshall. The board did not, however, take charge of affairs until October 1, 1895.

When the new board took charge of the schools the members elected Dr. Donelan as president and drew lots for terms. Directors Hosea and Mitchell were placed for six-year terms. Dr. Donelan and Mr. Newberger for three years and Messrs. Vineyard and Marshall for one year. In April of 1896, Mr. Vineyard was elected to succeed himself and A. C. Hinckley was elected to succeed Mr. Marshall. In April of 1898, Dr. Donelan was elected to succeed himself and Charles J. Borden was elected to succeed Mr. Newberger. Dr. Donelan has been the president of the board continuously. From August 1864, to August, 1883, Superintendent Neely was exofficio clerk of the school board and the buildings, supplies, etc., were looked after by committees. August 7, 1883, Frederick C. Parker was appointed secretary and superintendent of buildings. This gentleman held the position until March 1, 1897, when he was succeeded by Harry H. Smith, the present incumbent, who is assisted by Miss Cornelia Fredericks.

were secured in the Burnes building at Third and Felix, and these were occupied until August of 1896, when the present permanent quarters in the Robidoux school building were taken.

As the directors were generally re-elected, many of them havingretained their seats ten and twelve years, the roster is not larger considering the number of elections and members. Among those who served longest are the following: H. N. Turner, twenty years; John Broder, sixteen years ; Geo. C. Hull, sixteen years ; Charles F. Ernst, twelve years ; H. Nash, eleven years. Quite a number served nine years and from that on down to four years.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS. - Reference was made to the first school in the county in the opening lines of this chapter. Others of perhaps ecjiial importance existed in different parts of the county from that time to the permanent establishment of the public school system. In 1845 Mrs. Israel Landis opened a female seminary in St. Joseph, which prospered for several years. Contemporaneous with this Mrs. Mary Stone, a Roman Catholic lady of culture, taught a private school in the city. In 1850 Rev. T. S. Reeve, a minister of the basement of a church -that stood on a hill upon the site of the First National bank, at Fourth and Francis streets. Mr. Reeves taught successfully for four years and then withdrew from the profession.

F. X. Stuppy, Wm. O'Toole, James Hart, Wm. M. Albin, Professor Charles C. Byrne and Mrs. Burr also taught private and subscription schools. In the fall of 1854 Edward B. Neely, the present superintendent of the St. Joseph public schools, arrived from Virginia, accompanied bv R. F. Maxwell. They established a school in the rooms vacated by Mr. Reeves. Mr. Maxwell soon retired and the school was successfully conducted by Mr. Neely until that gentleman closed it.

In 1855 Professors Davis and Rogers opened a female academy in what was afterwards the Saunders House, at Third and Faraon streets. Professor Davis retired in 1858 and Professor Rogers in the following year. Rev. A. V. C. Schenck conducted the school for a brief period and sold out to William Cameron of Lexington. Mo., who remained until the building was converted into a hotel.

I11 1858, Alonzo W. Slayback, who afterwards figured prominently in the history of St. Joseph and of Missouri, taught a private school in what was the Cumberland Presbyterian church, at Sixth and Edmond streets, and which was afterward used as a syagogue. In 1859 J. P. Caldwell taught a school in the same building.

At DeKalb, before the war, Professor Charles S. Raffington conducted the Bloomington Academy, a school of high reputation. During the war Professor Raffington came to St. Joseph and opened the St. Joseph Classical Institute in the Franklin school building. It ceased to exist when that house was required by the public schools.

The Patee house was twice used for school purposes. Rev. James H. Robinson, a minister of the M. E. church, South, opened a female academy there in September, 1865, which continued to January 1, 1869. In 1877, Rev. E. S. Dulin, D. D., L.L. D., a prominent minister of the Baptist church, opened the St. Joseph Female College in the building. This institution had a high reputation and was successfully conducted for four years.

A prominent factor in education in the early days was the German School Society (Deutscher Schul-Verein), a chartered organization of German- American citizens of St. Joseph. This association was founded in 1855 and is still in existence. Up to 1869, the late Joseph Dreis taught in a building on North Sixth street. The society, by means of entertainments, accumulated a considerable fund. With this money ground was purchased at Tenth and Felix streets and a building erected. The corner stone was laid with great ceremony on July 4, 1868. Professor Dreis was succeeded by William Beneke and Ernst Kuehl. Instruction was given in both German and English. In 1872, the St. Joseph school board purchased the property for $8,500 and agreed to perpetually give instruction in equal proportion in both English and German in all branches taught.

Bryant's Business College, which was established in November of 1864 by Prof. Thomas J. Bryant and continued up to the date of Professor Bryant's death, several years ago, was a commercial school of reputation and had pupils from almost every point in the West. Professor Chapman and Professor Ritner were also successful for many years during the seventies and eighties with commercial schools.

In 1868 the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul (Sisters of Charity) opened a school for girls on the south side of Felix street, between Seventh and Eighth, in a building owned by Dr. Long. This continued until 1883, when the Sisters moved to Tenth and Powell streets, where a hospital building had been erected upon a block of ground donated by Joseph Corby. A school was maintained here until 1891, when it gave way to the present hospital.

Of the schools other than public which are still in existence, the Academy of the Sacred Heart is the oldest. In June of 1853 four members of this order came to St Joseph from St. Louis. They at once established a school, and during the first month enrolled about one hundred pupils. In 1856 the foundations of the present convent were laid, and in the following year the academy was opened. As the establishment flourished the building was enlarged and equipped

The Christian Brothers College is another of the older institutions. In 1858 Father James Powers, a pioneer priest, erected a three-storv building at Thirteenth and Henry streets and placed it in charge of the Christian Brothers. The school was discontinued during the war and the building used as barracks by Federal soldiers, for which the government, through the mediation of Congressman James N. Burnes, made an adequate alowance some years ago. In 1867 the school was reopened by Brother Noah. In 1886 the old building was made part of the present commodious modern structure.

In 1865 Dr. Charles Martin established a female academy at Fifth and Antoine streets, which he conducted until 1893. Since then it has been under various managements. Doctor Martin died March 7, 1896. His daughters are conducting a preparatory school in the building at this time.

A parochial school has been maintained at the church of the Immaculate Conception since the creation of the parish. German and English are taught here by Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph. At St. Patrick's church a school for boys has been in existence for many years under the direction of the Christian Brothers and one for girls under the direction of Sisters of St. Joseph. Holy Rosarv, St. Mary's, SS. Peter and Paid and Wyatt Park Catholic parishes all have schools attached. A parish school is also maintained in connection with the German-Evangelical church, on South Tenth street.

MEDICAL COLLEGES. - At one time there were three medical colleges in St. Joseph. The St. Joseph Hospital Medical College was founded in 1876. It was located on Second street, north of Francis. Among the faculty were Dr. C. F. Knight, Dr. Joseph D. Smith, Dr. J. M. D. France, Dr. Thos. H. Doyle, Dr. J. M. Richmond, Dr. C. J. Siemens and Dr. A. V. Banes.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons was founded in 1879, and was located in the old Christian church building at Third and Robidoux streets. Among the faculty were Drs. W. I. Heddens, Jacob Geiger, E. A. Donelan, J. W. Heddens and P. J. Kirschner.

These two colleges were merged and the name was ciianged to Ensworth Hospital Medical College, in honor of Samuel Ensworth, deceased, who left $100,000 for this purpose. The Ensworth building, at Seventh and Jule streets, was erected in 1888. The hospital

The Northwestern Medical College was founded in January, 1881, by Drs. F. A. Simmons, S. F. Carpenter, J. P. Chesney and J. T. Berghoff. Until the burning of the court house the college was quartered in the second story of that building. Subsequently it was located at Eighth and Sylvanie streets. In 1895 Dr. T. E. Potter, Dr. O. B. Campbell and others of the faculty withdrew and formed the Central Medical College, which is located at Ninth and Felix streets. The Northwestern continued for a short time and was discontinued.