Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 13: Education, 1904

Chapter 13: Education

The Schools of Buchanan County and St. Joseph - Primitive Schools of the Early Days - The Public Schools; How They are Supported and Managed - The School Buildings of St. Josepli - Financial Struggles and Vicissitudes of the School Board - Private and Denominational Schools of the Past and Present - INIedical Colleges.

PvUnitivc Schools. - The first school of any kind in Buchanan County, 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, witli 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.

The Public Schools. - According to the constitution under which Missouri was admitted into the Union, the i6th section of each congressional township 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 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 qualification 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 20 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 - '^ span of 20 years - the enumeration was 30,827, and the apportionment $28,767.

And Represextatr'E Citizens

There are now 75 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 county schools are of a high grade and there is commendable ri\-alry 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 the late 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 i of the act provided that "all free white persons residing within the limits of school district No. I, in township No. 8, in Buchanan County, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate by 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. U^ 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 t(^ sue and be sued, to purchase, hold or sell pro])erty, real and personal. etc.

was provided for in 1866 by striking out in 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, howe\er, 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 W^ard, Louis Hax, John Sheehan ; Second \\'ard, James A. Millan, John J. Abell ; Third W'aid. \\'illiam M. Albin, Erasmus Dixon. The First Ward at that time comprised the southern part of the city, the Second Ward the central part and the Third W^ard the northern part. James A. Millan was elected secretary and Joseph C. Hull, treasurer. Of the above named gentlemen. Dr. Crane went to California, and the others are deceased except James A. Millan, who still resides 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 streets. 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 1 2th street. It was afterward enlarged, and for many years was called the Franklin School, but was abandoned some years ago. The Third \\'ard School was built at Second and Cherry streets. It was afterward enlarged and called the ]\Iadison 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, 34 by 25 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 cloak-rooms or other conveniences.

The schools were opened on April 23, i860. William H. IMarmion was principal of the First Ward School and his assistant was Miss Annie Webster. Sidney P. Cunning-ham 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 ( afterward Mrs. Carder). Salaries were not high in those days, the principal receiving $50 per month and the assistants $25.

In the \\ inter of 1861 it_ was found that there were in each of 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 loth street, between Felix and Francis streets. The School Board arranged with Professor Neely to take charge of the proposed higher l)ranch, and on the first Monday in March, J 861. Professor Neely opened in his building what afterwards developed into the St. Joseph High School. He had about 40 scholars of both sexes, who had brought certificates of qualification from the ward schools.

In consequence of the disturbed 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 hy 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 Neely was, by unamimous vote, elected superintendent, a position which he filled without interruption until his demise in 1904.

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.

Octol)er 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, witli Miss Jennie Parsons as assistant. Benjamin R. Vineyard was principal of the Second Ward School, with Miss Alice Bruner as assistant, her place being afterward filled by Mrs. Annie R. Towmsend. H. C. McLaughlin was principal in the Third Ward School and

The schools were immediately crowded and many applicants who applied were nnable to g-ain 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. W'hh the proceeds of the sale of the First Ward property and the yield of the additional tax, the Everett School, at 1 2th and Olive streets, and the old High School building at loth and Edmond streets, were erected. The buildings were identical in plan, and the cost of each, exclusive of ground, was about S36.000. Labor and material in those days were both extremely high, as the older people will remember.

The High School at 10th and Edmond streets, was opened in 1866. with John S. Crosby as principal, and was used as such imtil 1896. The building was damaged by fire in 1889, after which it was 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 issite 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 19th 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

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 miprovements upon property already owned.

At this time the board purchased for $8,500 the property now known as the German-English School. 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 pr.;- vided 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 cit\' 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 12th and Scott streets, at a cost of about $10,000, erected 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 5-mill levy for that year. But in 1878, when the board asked again for a 5-mill levy, the Comity Court refused to make it, contending that the people had voted for the 5-mill levy for the year 1877 only. The board applied for a writ of mandamus to compel the court to make the 5-mill 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 5-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.

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 Crosby School, at Savannah avenue and Richardson streets, was built in 1880, 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, 26th and Duncan streets, 1887, $5,450; South Park, 1888, $7,600; Colored High, i8th and Angelique, 1888, $17,690; Young, Ninth and Alary, 1889, $25,725; new Floyd, Third and Hickory, 1889, $18,920; Bliss, 30th and Olive, 1890, $7,500; Ernst, Walker's Additi(-)n, ]89i, $7,500; Grant, North nth street, 1894, $7,550; Lincoln (colored), St. Joseph avenue and Pendleton street, 1894, $10,600; Jackson, 24th street, near Clay, 1894, $7,500; Musser, 24th and Olive streets, 1894, $6,550. The Avenue School, at Frederick avenue and 13th street, was formerly a store building. It was rented for soine years by the board and purchased for $10,000 in 1892.

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 prospecti^'e ne\\- structure at once became paramount, and a li\-ely 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 125 by 200, on the highest point of Carpenter's hill, fronting on 13th and 14th 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 w^as 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.

In 1900 the Eugene Field School was built at 1 6th and Sacramento streets, at a cost of $32,500; and the Free Public Library and school office building was erected at a cost of $121,000.

In 1 90 1 three substantial houses were built on the south side : The Hosea School, at a cost of $26,700; the Hyde School, at a cost of $17,000 and the Florence School in Florence addition at a cost of $4,800. The Wyatt School, at nth and Henry streets, was also built in 1 90 1, at a cost of $36,500.

Axd Represextatr'E Citizens

As the number of wards increased in the citv, so the number of school directors increased. Up to 1864 there were six members, in 1865 there were 10, and from 1890 to October, 1895, there were 16. The members of the School Board have always ser\-ed 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 peojjle for some time and a mo^-ement 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 yeaVs. 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. Xewberger, K. AI. Mitchell and David Marshall. The board did not, however take charge of affairs until October i, 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 ])lace(l for six-year terms, Dr. > Donelan and ?\lr. Xewberger for three years and Messrs. Vineyard and Marshall for one year. In A])ril of 1896, Air. Vineyard was elected to succeed himself and A. C. Hincklev was elected to succeed Mr. Marshall.

Air. Hinckley resigned Xovember i, 1901. and was succeeded by James AI. \\'ilson. In April of 1898, Dr. Donelan was elected to succeed himself and Charles J. Borden was elected to succeed Air. X'^ewberger. Air. Borden served until he was elected mayor, in April, 1902, when he was succeeded by Elijah AI. Birkes, who served until April, 1904. Dr. Donelan was succeeded in i\pril. 1904. by John P. Strong and James. E. AIcEvoy, was elected to succeed Air. Birkes. In July, 1899, J. C. W'yatt was elected to succeed Air. Hosea and in 1900 Henry W. Burke was elected to fill out the unexpired term of B. R. Vineyard. Dr. Donelan served as president continuously during' his term. lu April, 1904, the board was reorganized with K. AI. Alitchell as president, the other* members being J. C. W'yatt, H. \\'. Burke, J. AI. Wilson, J. E. AIcEvoy and John P. Strong.

On August 7. 1883, Frederick C. Parker was appointed secretary and superintendent of buildings. This gentleman held the position until Alarch i. 1897, when he was succeeded by Harry H. Smith, the present incumbent.

For many years the board officed and met in the Kirschner Building, corner of Felix street and Alarket square. In 1892 quarters were secured in the Burnes Estate Building at Third and Felix, and these were occupied until August of 1896, when permanent quarters were established in the Robidoux School building. These were maintanied until the completion of the h'ree Public Library building.

Prof. Edward B. X'eely was superintendent up to the time of his death on April 29, 1904. He was succeeded by Prof. J. A. Whiteford, of Aloberly, Alissouri.

The following are the names of the various presidents of the school board : Dr. J. H. Crane served 1860-63; John Colhoun, 1863-67; Samuel Hays, 1867-70; William H. Floyd, 1870- and 12 years, the roster is not larger considering the nun-iber of elections and members. .\mong- those who ser\ed longest are the fcjllow'ing: H. N. Turner, 20 years; John Broder, 16 pyears ; George C. Hull, 16 years; Charles V. Ernst, 12 years; PL Nash, 11 years. Quite a number served nine years and from that on down to four vears.

Private and Dciioimnatioiial Schoi)!s. - Reference was made to the first school in the county in the opening lines of this chapter. Others of perhaps equal importance existed in different parts of the county from that time to the permanent establishment of the ]niblic school system, hi 1845 Mrs. Israel Landis opened a female seminary in St. Joseph, which prospered for se\-eral years. Contemporaneous with this, Mrs. Mary Stone, a Roman Catholic lady of culture, taught a private scliool in the city. In 1850 Rev. T. S. Ree\'e. a minister of the New School Presbyterian Cluu-ch. opened a female seminary in the basement of a church that stood on a hill upon the site of the First National Bank, at Fourth and Francis streets. Re\'. Mr. Ree\'e taught successfully for four )-ears and then withdrew from tliC: profession.

The St. Joseph I'emale High School opened at Fifth and Faraoii streets in September of 1854. It w-as conducted bv three ladies named Lesueur.

h\ N. Stupp\-. William O'Toole. James Hart. William M. .\lbin. Prof. Charles C. Byrne and Mrs. Purr also taught pri\ale and subscription schools. In the fall of 1854 E(\- ward B. Neely, the late superintendent of the St. Joseph public schools, arrived from \'irginia, accompanied by Robert F. Maxwell. They established a school in the rooms vacated bv Rev. Mr. Reeve. Mr. Maxwell soon re--

Axd Representative Citizens

In 1855 Professors Davis and Rogers opened a female academy in what was afterwards the Saunders House, at Third and Faraon streets. Professor Da\ is retired in 1858 and Professor Rogers in the followingyear. Rev. A. \\ C. Schenck conducted the school for a l)rief i)eriod and sold out t(^ WWliam Cameron of Lexington, Missouri, who remained until the l)uilding was couA-erted into a hotel.

In 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 synagogue. In 1859, J. P. Caldwell taught a school in the same building.

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

The Patee House (now [McDonald's shirt factory) was twice used for school purjjoses. Rev. James H. Robinson, a minister of the Metbodist Episcopal Church. South, opened a female academy there in September, 1865, Avhich continued to January i, 1869. In 1877, Rev. E. S. Dulin, D. D., LL. D.. a prominent minister of the Baptist Churcli. openerl the St.

A prominent factor in education in the early days was the German School Society ( Deutscher Scluil-Verein). a chartered organization of German-AmericcMi citizens of St. Joseph. This association was founded in 1855 and is still in existence. L'p 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 loth and Felix streets and a building erected. The corner-stone was laid with great ceremony on Julv 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 conimercial school of reputation and had pupils from almost every point in the \\'est. 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. wlien the Sisters mo\'ed to 10th and Powell streets, where a hospital building had been erected upon a block of ground donated by Joseph Corby.

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 100 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 until to-day it is one of the best owned by the Order of the Sacred Heart in the West.

The Christian Brothers College is another of the older institutions. In 1858 Father James Powers, a pioneer priest, erected a three-story building at 13th 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 ade(|uate allowance some years ago. In 1867 the school was reopened by Brother Noah. In 1886 the old building was inade part of the present commodious moderi-i structure.

In 1865 Dr. Charles Martin established a female academy at Fifth ai-d 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 jireparatory 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 parisli. German and Englisli are taught here by the Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph. At St. Patrick's Church a school for bovs has been in existence for man\- years under the direction of the Christian Brothers and one for girls under the direction of the Sisters of St, Joseph. In 1902 the Sisterhood of the Sacred Heart completed the largest and best equipped parochial school in the city, at a cost of $65,000. It is located at nth and Isidore streets and serves the Cathedral Parish. Holy Rosary, St. Mary's, SS. Peter and Paul and Wyatt Park Catholic parishes all have schools attached. A parish school is also maintained in connection with the German-Evangelical Church, on South loth street.

The St. Joseph Hospital Medical College was founded in 1876. It was located on Second street, north of Francis. Among the faculty were Drs. C. F. Knight, Joseph D. Smith, J. M. D. France, Thomas H. Doyle, J. M. Richmond, C. J. Siemens and 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. Done- Ian, J. VV. Heddens and P. J. Kirschner.

These two colleges were merged and the name was changed to Ensworth Hospital Medical College, in honor of Samuel Ensworth, deceased, who left $100,000 for this purpose. The Ensworth Building, at Seventh and Jules streets, was erected in 1888. The hospital is now in charge of the Order of Deaconesses.

The Northwestern Medical College was founded in January, 1881, by Drs. F. A. Simmons, S. V. Carpenter, J. P. Chesney and J. T. Berghoff. Until the burning of the Court House, the college was quartered in the second at Ninth and Felix streets. The Northwestern continued for a short time and was subsequently converted into a school for the training of nurses, under the direction of Dr. J. A. French, owner of the property.