Grundy County, Missouri - Chapter 8: Patrons of Husbandry, 1881

Chapter 8: Patrons of Husbandry

The success of the order was very great in the county and it was at its best in 1874. The order had flourished greatly throughout the State, and Grundy county was no exception to the general result. It was, no doubt, of great benefit to the people, especially to the farming community, and so long as the interests of the farmer and the mechanic were the chief end and object of the organization, just so long it flourished, and rapidly added to the material interests of the agricultural element of the State and county where located.

The first organization and adoption of a constitution and by-laws for Grundy county was on August 30, 1873, and the constitu tion was accepted by a meeting of the order in the city of Trenton. A great many granges had been formed in the county and the central or county organization became an important factor in extending the order until the whole county was a network of granges. The constitution and by-laws were perhaps best expressed in the "declaration of purposes," the minor details relating simply to the rules of the local granges. In 1873 twenty-five granges liad been established, and reached their highest number in 1874, when there were thirty-four granges established and in full fellowship.

The groundwork of their faith was a unity of spirit and of action in all things essential, that which was only of personal interest, full liberty in individual action, and charity exercised when wisdom taught that it would do good. As these granges flourished and grew within the count}'- a strong feeling of friendship between all connected with the farming interest sprang up, and to this day there is among the agriculturalists of Grundy county a strong, brotherly afi'ection for one another that has grown stronger as it has grown older.

List Of Granges

Defiance, No. 1846 - At Winter's school-house, in Liberty township, William Bevans, master; S. J. Adkinson, secretary; post-office Lindley, Missouri.

Lebanon^ No. 1819 - Fulkerson school-liouse, in Taylor township, Josiah Cloar, master; J. W. Mackley, secretary; post-office Edinbnrg, Missouri.

The declaration and purposes of the Patrons of Husbandry, that which caused the order to spread so rapidly over the country were of that spirit of brotherly love, and opposition to all manner of oppression, which has gained the heart of a people reared in the cradle of liberty, and staunch defenders of a republican form of government. Could the order have prevented the ])olitician from becoming a feature in its organization, and the efforts of a few aspirants for jjower and pelf to make it a stepping-stone to their political ambition, it would have flourished to-day as it did a few years ago. As a political party, its successes were of a transitory nature and local effect, yet what reforms they did succeed in carrying out were of essential benefit to the great agricultural interests of the country, and it is to be regretted that the order to this day is not enlarged and united for the work of reform, as declared in its public profession of faith. Believing that these expressions should not die, and that they are the groundwork of a people's interests and prosperity, those principles and purposes for which and under which the noble order flourished are given a place in this history. Future generations can look back with pride to their ancestors who made these declarations the groundwork of their civil and political actions. It will show them that the true spirit of brotherly love and noble manhood inspired their forefathers of this day and generation. The following is the " declaration of purposes" as given forth by the order of the Patrons of Husbandry in convention assembled:

" 3. We shall endeavor to advance our cause by laboring to accomplish the following objects: To develop a better and higher manhood and womanhood among ourselves; to enhance the comforts and attractions of our homes and strengthen our attachments to our pursuits; to foster mutual understanding and cooperation; to maintain inviolate our laws, and to emulate each other in the labor to hasten the good time coming; to reduce our expenses, botli individual and corporate; to buy less and produce more in order to make our farms self-sustaining; to diversify our crops, and crop no more than Ave can cultivate; to condense the weight of our exports, selling less in the bushel and more on the hoof and in the fleece; to systematize our work and calculate intelligently on the probabilities: to discountenance the credit system^ the mortgage system, the fashion system and every other system, tending to prodigality and bankruptcy. "We propose meeting together, talking together, selling together, buying together, and, in general, acting together for our mutual protection and advancement as occasion may require. We shall avoid litigation as much as possible by arbitration in the grange. We shall continually strive to secure entire harmony, good will, vital brotherhood among ourselves, and to make our order perpetual. We shall earnestly endeavor to suppress personal, local, sectional and national prejudices; all unhealthy rivalry; all selfish ambition. A faithful adherence to these principles will insure our mental, moral and social advancement.

"4. For onr business interests, we desire to bring producers and consumers, farmers and manufacturers into the most direct and friendly relations, hence we must dispose with a surplus of middle men; not that we are unfriendly to them, but we do not need them; their surplus and their exactions diminish our profits. We wage no aggressive warfare against any other interest whatever; on the contrary, all our acts, so far as business is concerned, are not only for the benefit of the producer and consumer, but also for all other interests, and tend to bring these two parties into a speedy and economical contract. Hence, we hold that transportation companies of every kind are necessary to our success; that their interests are intimately connected with our interests and that harmonious action is mutually advantageous, keeping in view the first sentence of our declaration of principles of action, ' that individual happiness depends oh general prosperity.' We shall, therefore, advocate for every State the increase in every practical way of all facilities for transporting cheaply to the sea-board, or between home producers and consumers, all productions of our country. We adopt it as our fixed purpose to open out the channels in nature's great arteries that the life-blood of commerce may flow freely. We are not enemies of railroads, navigable and irrigating canals, nor of any corporations that will advance our industrial interests, nor of any of the laboring classes. In our noble order there is no communism, no agrarianism; we are opposed to such a spirit and management of any corporation or enterprise as tends to oppress the people and rob them of their just profits. We are not enemies to capital, but we oppose the tyranny of monopolies; we long to see the antagonism between capital and labor removed by common consent and by an enlightened statesmanship worthy of the nineteenth century. We are opposed to excessive salaries, high rates of interest and the exorbitant per cent of profit in trade. They o;reatly increase our burdens and do not bear a proper proportion to the profits of the producers. We desire only self-protection and the protection of every true interest of our land by legitimate transactions, legitimate trade and legitimate profits. We shall advance the cause of education among ourselves and for our cliildren by all just means within our power. We especially advocate for our agricultural and industrial colleges that practical agriculture, domestic science, and all the arts which adorn the home be taught in their courses of study.

" 5. We emphatically and sincerely assert the oft re])eated truth taught in our organic law that tlie grange, national, State or subordinate, is not a political or party organization. No grange, if true to its obligations, can discuss political or religious questions, nor call political conventions, nor nominate candidates, nor even discuss their merits in their meetings, yet the principles we teach underlie all true politics, all true statesmanship, and, if properly carried out, will tend to purify the whole political atmosphere of our country, for we seek the 'greatest good to the greatest number,' but always bear it in mind that no one by becoming a grange member gives up that inalienable right or duty which belongs to every American citizen, to take a proper interest in the politics of this country^ on the contrary, it is right for every member to do all in his power, legitimately, to influence for good the action of any political party to which he belongs. It is his duty to do all he can in his own party to put down bribery, corruption and trickery ; to see that none but faithful, competent and honest men who will stand unflinchingly by our own industrial interests are nominated for all positions of trust, and to have carried out the principles which should always characterize every grange member, that the office should seek the man and not the man the office. We acknowledgre the broad principle that difference of opinion is no crime, and hold that jDrogress toward truth is made by difference of opinion, w^hile the fault lies in the bitterness of controversy. We desire a proper equality and fairness; protection of the weak; restraint upon the strong; in short, justly distributed burdens and justly distributed power. These are the American ideas, the very essence of American independence, and to advocate contrary is unworthy of the sons and daughters of au American republic. We cherish the belief that sectionalism is, and of right should be, dead and buried with the past. Our work is for the present and the future of our agricultural brotherhood and its purposes. We shall recognize no I^orth, no South, no East, no West. It is reserved by every patron, as the right of a free man, to affiliate with any party that will but carry out his principles.

"6. Ours being peculiarly a farmer's institution we cannot admit all to our ranks. Many are excluded by the nature of our organization; not because they are professional men, or laborers, but because they have not a suffi- cient direct interest in toiling, or pasturing the soil, or they may have some interest to conflict with our purposes; but we appeal to all g ood citizens for their cordial cooperation and to assist in our efforts toward reform, so that we ma}^ eventually remove from our midst every vestige of tyranny and corruption. We hail the general desire for fraternal harmony, equitable compromise, and earnest cooperation as an omen of our future success.

'-Last, but not least, we proclaim it among our purposes to inculcate a proper appreciation of the abilities and sphere of woman as indicated by admitting her to membership and position in our order. Imploring the con-tinued assistance of our Divine Master to guide us in our work, we here pledge ourselves to faithfully and harmoniously labor for all future time to return by our united efforts to the wisdom, justice, fraternity and purity of our forefathers."

A memorial to the patrons in the cotton States was also adopted. It is a strong argument in favor of a mixed husbandry in the Southern States instead of expending all the energies of the people of that section in raising a single staple, and gives several strong reasons why the planters of the South should and how the}^ can become self-sustaining.

It was the grand and noble declaration of principles and purposes which gave such strength to the order and caused it in a few short months to become a power for good in the land; to cause monopolists to tremble and extortionists to shake with an apprehension of coming doom. That it should so 'soon lose its power is raucli to be regretted, but that its good work lives after it, is seen even to this day. The farmers, the mechanics and the laboring men have found that they are strong enough to rule when joined together in the cause of right, and the same organization will again come to the front when monopolists become tyrants and would oppress and rob those who are their real benefactors. That it checked the railroad cormorants in their insatiable greed is certain, that the money power felt that the Patrons of Husbandry had rights that money kings were bound to respect was more than once illustrated by the lack of that defiant tone so common to those who have secured wealth and usurped power. One of the incidents of the organization of the order in Grundy county is worthy of record and took place in the early fall of 1874. The grange agent at Trenton could not make rates with the Ohicasfo & Rock Island Railroad for the shipment of wheat. Rates were oflFered by the Hannibal & St. Joe at Ohillicothe which were acceptable. A meeting was called and the result was that 200 wagons with an aggregate of 10,000 bushels of wheat tiled in j)rocession and delivered that wheat to the Hannibal & St. Joe depot at Ohillicothe.

Educathiial - E.rpJorinf/ tJie Records - School Orf/cniizadon - Enumpmtion in 1'^47 - Xiiinher of Children, ]S53 and 1854 - School Moneijs - Progress from 18G'> - ScJiool Conimissioners - Netv Era - Superintendent's Report - School Fund, 1874 - Steadi/ Growth - Letter from State Superintendent - School Fund hif Toirnships, 1875-1876 - County Superintendent's Report, 1879-1880 - Value of School Propcrti/ and Report for 1881 - '' The Men Who Ilare Guided."

" Bid him besides his daily pains employ To form the tender manners of the boy, And work him Uke a w*cen babe, with art. To perfect symmetry in every part."

Schools have been the beacon-h'ghts which liave ilhimined the pathway of civilization from the earliest ages up to the present era of progress and enlightenment. Edncation has stood the keystone in the arch of all social and intellectual advancement, and as with broad and far-reaching sweep it has spread over the world, the arts and sciences of peace have " smoothed the wrinkles from the brow of grini-visaged war," and relegated to the depths of darkest oblivion the days when conquering armies tread the civilization of the ancients underfoot, leaving a country devastated by pillage and plunder to mark the line of march. Learning stepped in, and the physical force of the sword gave way to the intellectual sway of the pen raising man to a higher plane and a nobler aim than the mere acquirement of athletic accomplishment. Mental power began to be looked up to, and from that early day to this, with steady stride the pi-ogress of education has been a tour of triumphs " onward and upward" toward the goal of universal knowledge.

When the early pioneer first set foot upon the fertile soil and invaded the leafy forests of Grundy county, the first thing to engage his attention, after the erection of his rude cabin home in western wilds away from the bustle of the world, was the thought of a school for his children, and the deed followed the thought with immediate action. Then the log schoolhouse assumed a prominent place in every settlement, a substantial token of the admiration of the citizens for learnino:.

From these early evidences of a desire for culture sprang the present comprehensive system which has given to every district in every township good school-houses and a thorough course of study in the various branches of knowledge, and to this infiuence may be traced the industry and prosperit}^ which permeates every nook and corner of Grundy county, aiding in its growth and development, until to-day she stands in the front rank among counties in the grand old Commonwealth of Missouri,

Exploring The Records

In going over and exploring the musty records of tlie past, the first evidence found relating to schools was in the month of June, 1840, at which date the organization of township 61, range 24, into a school-district took place, the first section organized for school purposes in Grundy county covering what is now known as Trenton township, the most populous portion of the county. From this time on schools became frequent, and each township boasted of from one to two school-houses. These institutions of learning were under charge of the township, each was numbered and was controlled by a board of trustees, and the chairman of the several boards of the township constituted the township school-board to which all questions connected with the schools were referred. This system continued in force until the year 1875, when the law was changed, giving to each district full charge of its own school affairs, since which time the schools have made considerable progress. The working of this law, which is still in force, has aided not a little in attainment of the present high standard and perfection of the schools of Grundy county.

On the 4th of August, 1846, the County Court ordered congressional township 62, range 24, to be organized for school purposes, and on the 10th of February of the following year the citizens of said township met at the home of Mr. Samuel Kelso, where the necessary arrangements were made. Mr. Kelso's residence was near the center of what is now known as Lincoln township, but which at that time was embraced in the limits of Trenton township. At the same term of court Mr. Wm. H. Robinson was appointed school-commissioner for Trenton township, and consequently was the first school-commissioner in the county.

School Census

In 1847 a general sentiment seemed to prevail throughout the county in favor of a more thorough organization of the school system, and to that much desired end, at the June terra of the County Court, enumerators were appointed to take a census of the children of school age in the various townships in the county, and the following gentlemen were named to perform the duty: James R. Devaul, Franklin township; Samuel Rook, Marion; J. L. Henderson, Trenton; Zela Conkling, Jefferson; Jacob Robbins, Washington; John Priest, Liberty; William Metcalf, Madison. This was the first combined effort on the part of the citizens of the county toward their one cherished object - a uniform school system, affording advantages alike to all portions of the county.

The following year, 1848, the petitions for the organization of townships began to flow in upon the County Court and in March, township 63, range 24, in Washington township, and township 62, range 22, in Liberty, were organized for school purposes, with Elijah Burgess, Wm. Kent and Royal Williams as commissioners. About this time the first experience of trouble with the finances in Trenton township came up before the May term of the County Court, when the directors of school township 61, range 24, filed a motion to investigate the schools of said township, stating that a deficiency of some hundreds of dollars existed. Tlie investigation was ordered, but as nothing further concerning the matter is to be found upon the record it is supposed everything was made, or found to be, satisfactory.

In May, 1850, the citizens of township 62, range 22, petitioned for an organization for school purposes. This was the same school-district in Liberty township organized in 1848. The petition was granted and Giles Songer was appointed commissioner, and A. Beckner, Wm. Ruckee and George Smith w^ere appointed directors. In April, 1851, Wm. Linney and others presented a petition to organize a school-district in Liberty township 62, range 23, which was duly granted. On November 28th, of the same year, a petition to organize a school-district of township 60, range 22, in Marion township, was also granted, and a meeting for that purpose was held at the home of Washington R. Young, near Dyke's Mill, on Medicine Creek, January 1st, 1852. The next school organization was of township 60, range 24 in Trenton township, and in June, 1853, the first meeting in reo-ard to the matter was held at the house of J. D. Parkins.

Number Of Children 1853

The commissioner's record shows a total of 1,781 children in Grundy county in 1853. Of that number the four school-distripts of the municipal township of Trenton contained 294; Madison township, with two districts, furnished 314; Jefiferson's one district numbered 176; Franklin, with four districts, came forward with 244; Marion's four districts gave a total of 246; Liberty, with five districts, the largest number in the county, footed up 259; Washington, with four districts, completed the list with 240.

School Money

The State school money for 1854 amounted to $748.02, which sum was divided among the townships as follows; Trenton, $123.48; Madison, $131.88; Jefferson, $77.28; Franklin, $102.48; Marion, $103.32; Liberty, $108.78; Washington, $100.80; amounting to 42 cents per capita on the enumeration of 1853. The township money for the same year amounted in the aggregate to $633.86, which was apportioned among the twenty-four schools in the county.

Number And Amount

The number of children entitled to the benefits and privileges of the public schools in 1854 showed a perceptible increase over the enumeration of the previous year, 2,010 names appearing upon the rolls. The State fund for 1855, under tlie above enumeration for that year, reached the sura of $763.80, an average of thirtj'-eight cents per head. There were $^49.64 of township money for the same year. The growth of the schools continued, showing gratifying gains in the number in attendance, and also in the additional increase in the State appropriations. The school census of 1855 gave to the county 2,352 children, and the appropriations for the year 1856, which were based upon the above enumeration, amounted to $1,881.60, or eighty cents per head, from the State, and $1,260.44 from the townships. In 1856 the number of children of school age showed a total of 2,852, which formed the basis of the school moneys for 1857, the State fund being $2,224.56, while from the townships were received $2,623.84. The children numbered 3,226 in 1857, and the appropriations for 1858 showed a corresponding increase, the county adding, for the first time, its quota to the school fund, in the sum of $533.80; the same year the State furnished $2,258.20, and the townships $1,963.58. The enumeration of 1858 contained the names of 3,645 school children, and on the basis of that number $2,515.05 was the portion of Grundy county from the State fund, the county money amounting to $187.28, and the townships increasing the sum by $1,- 518.16, for the year 1859. The next information we can find is for the year

1862. That year the number of children returned was only 2,380, and the amount of money received from all sources was $952. The exact manner in which this was divided is, unfortunately, not of record. Some districts which failed to report got nothing. For instance, in 1856 district Nos. 1 and 4, township 62, range 22, failed to call for their apportionment for two years, and it was given to other districts in the same township; and in 1858 township 60, range 23, with four schools-districts, only No. 1 reported, with thirty-three children, and it got the entire money of the districts, amounting to $336.37. Here closed the official record, as far as can be ascertained, up to the breaking out and during the civil war. In the fall of 1859 a school meeting was called for the election of trustees in Union School No. 1, but in what township or range was not of record. The election was to have been held October 8, 1859, but whether it was or not cannot be told. November 12, 1859, William P. Warmouth and Elijah Burgess were appointed trustees of some school-district. This ends all school reports up to

1863, when Joseph L. Bush, of district 5, township 61, range 22, was appointed, October 6, 1863, trustee for that district. Alexander S. Hughes, October 18, 1863, was appointed for district 4, township 61, range 22. E. L. Webb, Hiram Richardson and Isaac H. Brown were appointed trustees, October 29, 1863, for district No. 1, township No. 63, of range 22; James Dunlap was appointed, December 1, 1863, trustee for district No. 3, township 61, range 24; H. H. Turner, William F. Brown and Thomas Williams were appointed trustees, April 8, 1865, of district No. 1, township No. 60, of range 25, and M. S. Pond, Eobert Stephens and John Davis wore, on

August 7, 1865, appointed trustees of district No. 4, township No. 60, of range 25. In some of the townships schools continued regularly, as the record of 1862 gives evidence, but there seemed to be but little school funds received from any source for that purpose.

School-Commissioner

No record of a school-commissioner for Grundy county can be found earlier than 1859, when, in September of that year. Judge R. A, DeBolt was appointed to the position which he held by election until November, 1863, when Mr. Geo. H. Hubbell was appointed, holding the office until 1865. Both of these gentlemen labored earnestly in behalf of the educational interests of the county, and must be credited with much that is enduring of the present excellent school system.

In 1864 the County Court, at the February term, made an order in regard to the payment of principal and interest due on the school fund. The war, which had been in progress for nearly three years at that time, had caused a rather unsettled state of affairs to exist regarding school matters, and a custom had prevailed during the time mentioned of receiving Union military bonds as either principal or interest on the common school fund or the township school fund, and the order in question prevented a further receipt of these bonds, except from soldiers who had served in the army for them. Another order was issued by the same court in June, 1865, instructing the treasurer of Grundy county, Missouri, to be authorized to loan the principal and interest on hand of Missouri military bonds belonging to the common school fund of said count}^, for the term of twelve months, and if not paid at the end of that time, to draw ten per cent interest per annum, payable in United States treasury notes.

New Eka

After the rude shocks and alarms of war had passed away, and Missouri had once more settled down to the enjoyment of peace; when once more the industries of the State sprang into active life and the busy hum and whirr of machinery were heard in cities and towns; when the early whistles called the workmen to their labor, and morning light brought bustle and activity to the farm, then it was that the never flagging interest in the public schools manifested itself, and with undiminished zeal the citizens of Grundy county bended their energies to the work of building up the schools which had languished during the four years of strife. The schools were put upon an enduring basis and the good work progressed rapidly and well. In October of 1867 an enumeration was ordered and the result showed a total of 3,584 children enrolled who were entitled to the benefits of the common school and State school funds, and 4,402 w^ho were entitled to the advantages ot the township school money.

The schools, under the nourishing care of an efficient management, continued to grow and flourish until, in 1870, seventy-five school-houses lifted their chimneys toward the blue vault above, and their walls within echoed and reechoed with childish shouts and childish laughter. The schools were beginning to form a valuable portion of the county's property, and in this same year the round sum of $62,960 was their total valuation. It was in 1870 that the Trenton high school building was erected, W. H. Smith, contractor, at a cost of $15,000, $7,500 in cash, and the same amount in school bonds. The building is of brick, square and substantial, the exact proportions being seventy by seventy feet and two stories in height, situated on a gentle knoll in the resident portion of the city, well located and convenient in all its appliances. The liistory of its educational management will be found embodied in the history of the city of Trenton.

The condition of the schools was one of constant improvement. Prof. E. C. Norton, one of the best teachers the county ever had, and also superintendent, reported in 1872 eighty primary schools in the county. There was one high school (at Trenton), also three select schools and one college, the latter Grand River College. One colored school in Trenton, with an attendance of twenty-four pupils, completes the school statistics of 1872. The total number of children of school age in Grundy county in 1872 numbered 4,549, of which 3,806 attended school. The colored children numbered but 36 in aU. The daily average attendance, 2,617, and the number of schools 82, and the number of school-houses 75. There were 97 teachers employed, 71 of whom were males and 26 females. The average salary paid, $38 per month for the males, and $26 for female teachers. The regular income arising from the difterent funds was reported as follows :

The total amount of school fund reported for the year 1872 was $33,- 288.48. There was little diiference in 1873 from the above yearly record, and (5n January 1, 1874, a full statement of the school fund was made.

School Fund 1874

While the schools seemed to have flourished and the fund to grow, it was evident that for several years there had been a looseness in the management of the fund arising out of tiie sales of the sixteenth section. To show first how the matter stood, tlie County Court ordered a statement giving the school fund as it stood January 1st, 1874. The statement was as follows of the amount of township school fund due each township:

The county clerk makes the following remarks on the above statement: "This is the fund from which interest is derived to support the public schools of the county, other than that received from the State and known as State school money, and that arising from taxation. Of course more or less of this $32,394.17 is worthless, arising from insufficient security and negligence on the part of the County Court of former years. The County Courts since 1866 have taken every ]3recaution to make this fund as secure as possible, the present court having just ordered citations for additional security on all bonds where either of the securities have removed from the county or deceased, and have ordered collections in many cases. They propose, also, to engage a competent person to examine into the solvency of all the bonds, and report to them at a succeeding term."

Grundy county had sold up to January 1st, 1873, eight thousand one hundred and twenty (8,120) acres of school lands, from the sixteenth section and received for the same $12,560. Of this sum by improper security $1,307.71 were lost up to that time. The swamp land which was a part of the school fund amounted to 33,255 acres. It is all sold and realized the sum of $15,434.23 and of this amount by insufficient security and otherwise ^1,864.04 were also lost to the county and the school fund. There has not, perhaps, been all that care necessary in taking charge of the school fund of Grundy county that should have been, yet the County Court has exercised a judgment worthy of all praise from the fact that nearly all the losses have been by failures caused by misfortune in business and removal of securities, of which no information was given, rather than by any rascality on the part of those who purchased, or their securities. Still a more watchful care will not fail to prove of value to tlie school fund of Grundy county and of greater credit to the County Court.

Steady Progeess

There has been steady progress in the schools of the county, and they have continued to increase in number and efficiency. Thg yearly apportionment has been more regiilarl}^ called for and the result has proven very satisfactory. Some few districts in the county need to elect more thorough men to their boards of trustees. No man should accept the position who would not only take an interest in education but work for the success of the school.

Letter From The State Superintendent

The year 1874 opened well for the schools of Grundy county, and notwithstanding there are many older counties in the State, very few, if any, stand higher in the educational department of the State than this county. Exceptionally good teachers, combined with earnest work, have given Grundy county a proud prominence in educational matters. Her adadvanced progress brought her into notice, and the state superintendent of schools, the Hon. John Monteith, paid Prof. Norton, who was then county superintendent of Grundy county schools, the following high compliment in the year above mentioned. Referring to tlie change in the county su}>erintendent's office, he says:

The main defects in the new law are, the assessment of teachers to defray the expense of examination for certificates, and the curtailment of the duties and pay of the county school officer. The first named defect will perhaps be oflset by a very material reduction in the contingent expenses of the district, such as the amount thereto paid for blanks and for commissions to township treasurers, a fact which will create a strong tendency in the direction of higher wages. The second named defect is the striking off the visitation of schools from the duties of the county school officer.

This is an unfortunate restriction, and if our citizens are desirous of knowing why it was made, let them ask their late representatives. Nearly every member and every senator, without distinction of party or section, advocated or supported this change. This defect is partially, but forcibly offset by a few considerations and facts.

Experience proves that the most effective influence exerted by the county officer upon the schools of his county is the character and quality of the teachers he selects, examines and approves.

Take, for example, tlie condition of the scliools in the county of Grundy, wliich will compare favorably with the educational conditions of any other county in the State. Tlie superintendent (now commissioner) of that county has held the office for nine years, and yet, during all that time, has drawn almost as small an amount for visitation as has been received for this purpose by any superintendent in the State. The secret of success in this county lies in the fact that Prof Norton has worked up his schools through his teachers. A thorough, practical teacher at the head of such an educational force, vnthout visitation, will effect more than can possibly be accomplished by an officer selected for political and not educational qualifications with visitation.

The new school law will have a tendency to retain just such men as Prof Norton at the head of the schools in each county, far more effectually than did the old law. Under the present regulations the county officer is to be elected at the annual school-district meetings, when the people are gathered together for purely educational purposes.

The schools for 1875 continued in a flourishing condition, and the total number was 84, not counting Grand Eiver College. The school fund for 1875 and 1876 was apportioned among the several townships as follows:

The school population of the county was, in 1875, 6,154. Of this number there was an attendance of 5,008; not attending, 1,046. The above we find upon the county records, but in the state superintendent's report it is given at 4,714, and an attendance of 3,842. Just who is to blame for this difference is. not mentioned, and doubtless until this book was published the discrepancy was not known to exist. However, this year 1875 was a new school law, and the changes and errors are probably due to the new order of things. While we have given the public school fund for 1876 by townships, making a gross sum of $4,963.86, the state superintendent makes $3,319.92. The vahie of the school property in the county in 1876 was placed at $54,750, and the unexpended balance of school money at the close of the yeai', $3,522.13. The year 1878 had increased the number of school-houses to seventy-eight. There had been some ten thousand dollars added in new buildings and repairs, and about two thousand more for the necessary apparatus in the different schools. This had been expended from 1876 to 1878, inclusive. This brought up the value of the school property of the county to $86,579. The public school fund for 1877 and 1878 amounted to $7,110.43, and there were on hand at the close of the school year $5,522.60 of school funds. One hundred and sixteen teachers had been employed during the year, and the amount paid them was $15,504.55, the average salaries of male teachers being $33.02, and of females $23.87 per month. There were thirty-eight colored children attended school.

There was no halt in the educational department for 1879-80. The schools increased in number and more teachers were needed to impart instruction, and every effort was to still further advance the popular desire and wishes of the people on the part of those who had the schools under their charge. The following will show the principal features of the schools for the year ending July 1, 1880:

There is but little to be observed that shows a change for the school year ending July 1, 1881, over that of the same date of 1880. The number of school children gives a small increase, being a total of 5,393, of which 5,155 attended school. There were ninety-six white schools and one colored school in operation during -the school year, and $18,071 were paid for teachers' wages, an increase of $1,754 over the year previous. The eighty-three school-houses are paid for, and two houses had to be rented for school purposes for the year. Other school-houses will be erected soon, as it is not the intention to pay rent longer than to get a sufficiency of scholars to warrant the erection of a permanent school-building. The cost of fuel for the year amounted to $814.25, and there were paid for repairs and rent $1,235.50. Besides the regular school funds (State, county a,nd township), there were raised by taxation for the school year just closed, $12,087.77, the school tax for the year being forty-two cents on the dollar valuation. The value of the school property of Grundy county is $87,231. The average of the counties throughout the State is $64,503.52. This shows that Grundy county far exceeds this, her excess being $22,727.48, an excess that is over one-third the general average. This is a showing that any. people may be proud of, and of which few counties can boast.

The Men Who Have Guided

the schools of Grundy county to their present ennobling and prosperous condition since Messrs. DeBolt and Hubbell closed their duties as schoolcommissioners have each and all been trained, educated gentlemen, who took pride in their work, and who by energetic labor and faith in the cause of progressive education and a higher order of scholarship have reared a monument to their memory that time will not crumble or decay.

Prof Pratt was reelected in 1880 and is now superintendent, serving in his second term and giving untiring: attention to his duties. The interest -in the schools of Grundy county is still unflagging, and the desire is to increase their usefulness by constant endeavor and securing every faculty for their progress. And, in closing, would say that the entire educational interests of Grundy county are grounded upon popular sentiment, enlightened law and liberal and comprehensive management.