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Historical Collections of Coshocton County

by William E Hunt, 1876

CHAPTER XVI.

SCHOOL MATTERS.

SCHOOL matters did not receive much attention nor attain any noticeable prominence for many years after the organization of the county. The demands of pioneer life were, as is commonly the case, too heavy in other directions to allow of as much time or means for these things as they might in other conditions receive. But there was not much disposition on the part of many to create or improve facilities. There was some study and very earnest efforts on the part of individuals to get something of "book learning," and a very marked "individual proficiency in the three great underlying primarily utilitarian attainments of reading, writing, and cyphering; but practically no schools before 1820. About that time, the policy of the State was thoroughly settled and well shaped, and stimulated what of interest there was in localities. The Congress of the United States, in 1803, had granted to the State the one-thirty-sixth of all the lands in the United States Military District for the use of schools in the same, and the Legislature provided for the leasing thereof. But these leases yielded little or no revenue beyond the expense of managing them, and in 1827 they were sold, and the proceeds taken as a loan by the State (now a part of the irreducible debt), with the agreement to pay to schools six per cent. interest on the amount annually. These lands in Coshocton county were appraised by James Robinson and Richard Fowler, and staked out by James Ravenscraft. The sale of them was superintended at first by Samuel Rea. Afterward James Hay was appointed for this work, and he declining, Robert Hay was designated. The sum paid to the county from this fund has been for many years about $800.
In 1821 school districts (school affairs having been hitherto in the hands of township trustees, and almost wholly dependent upon voluntary efforts) were fully arranged for, and the householders in such districts were authorized to select a school committee and a collector and treasurer, and the committee was authorized to receive donations of sites for building, and to assess taxes on their district, as also to receive from the township the rents of the school lands.
In 1825 a school tax was directed to be raised in every county, and yet more complete and practicable arrangements as to districts and directors were made. On certain conditions a tax, not exceeding in amount $300, could be levied for building a school-house. Rate (or tuition) bills could be arranged for and relied on where the tax was insufficient.
Under these provisions, "Dr. S. Lee and his, associates," being householders of the district, got from the county commissioners the privilege of erecting a brick school- house (20 by 20) on the southwest quarter of the square, in 1828. Before that, a room in a private house was used. At a few points in the county, family and neighborhood schools of small proportions were carried on for a few of the winter months.
In Coshocton, James Madden, from Virginia, crippled as to one hand, gave instruction in the" elements," especially in writing, in which he was a "proficient."(He subsequently moved up the Tuscara.was to the Ravenscraft neighborhood, and taught for some time.) Then it was, too, that Moses L. Neel,(He subsequently kept a tavern in the town of Coshocton) -a "Down-Easter"-a regular genius-handled the ferule, and otherwise, especially by a remarkably fine penmanship, made his mark sufficiently plain to be read to this day. About the same time, David Grimm was teaching in Millcreek, and the father of Dr. M. Johnson in Keene township.
Among the teachers of the earlier day were W m. B. Hubbard, who subsequently went to Columbus, and became famed as a railroad "magnate;" Noah H. Swayne, now Judge of the United States Supreme Court, and Chas. Elliott, afterward the famous Methodist minister and college president. Out about West Carlisle, Robert McCormic was acquiring fame as a teacher; in Coshocton, Jackson was, after the approved methods of the time, training some of our now well-known citizens, and Thomas O'Neil was giving his youthful vigor to Keene and Lafayette townships. What stories of rude appliances and clumsy tricks of big incorrigible boys and of nice homespun girls the chronicles of that period do tell !
Under the law of 1825, there were to be appointed in each county three school examiners, and in 1826 the Court of Common Pleas appointed for Coshocton county Samuel Rea, Wm. Carhart, and Andrew Grim. A year or two after the law providing for a larger number, "N. H. Swayne, Robert Hay, Wm. Wright, Wm. Hazlett, Henry Barnes, Wm. Carhart, and Samuel Rea were appointed. A few years later we find in this position T. S. Humrickhouse, Alex. McGowan, W. K. Johnson, James Matthews, Jos. Burns, and Dr. Geo. R. Morton; and at a yet later day J. W. Rue, Bradley Squires, Richard Moode, Thomas Campbell, W m. Sample, Dr. Josiah Harris, and Rev. H. Calhoun.
The examiners could individually examine. One of them gives the following as illustrative of the examination then in vogue: A man who had been teaching for some time, came to his office. After hearing the applicant read a few lines, the examiner said: "What is that little mark?" (pointing to a comma.) "Oh! that's one of them there stops that you see in all books." Examiner." Well, what is it for? or what does this particular one indicate?" Applicant. "Why, it indicates a stop, of course; they're all stops." Pressed "'With a few more questions, the applicant insisted on being tried in arithmetic, claiming that he was specially well qualified in that. Examiner." Well, what is arithmetic?" Applicant." Arithmetic! why, it's a book about figgers," etc. The man wrote a really fair hand, and was posted in practical arithmetic, and got a certificate. Grammar was not then required to be taught in the schools. From 1830 to 1850, the system inaugurated from 1820 to 1830 was not greatly modified by the Legislature, and was being more and more efficiently carried out, and more widely extended. Districts were multiplied with the rapidly incoming population; new school-houses were being built, and teachers were multiplied. The appliances were, even at the best, still rude; methods mechanical. Dr. Harris, the veteran county school examiner, coming into the county about 1838, visited several schools accounted the best, and reports them as exceedingly 1imited in their range of study- the highest branch being geography-and crude in their methods.
In the latter part of this period, say from 1840 to 1850, there was a growing conviction that thorough and extended scholarship had not been attained under the public school system as then ordered by law, and this fact and a higher sense of the importance of the religious element in education gave rise to a number of private schools and academies. In this work at Coshocton were engaged Rev. E. Buckingham, and especially Rev. Addison Coffey, both of the Presbyterian Church. The latter built quite a good brick house (now occupied by old lady Ricketts), with the view of making room for boarders, and had for his schoolhouse the building now occupied by W. R.. Forker-both buildings being on south Fourth street. The Rev. Mr. Sturgis, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, started an academy at Keene. There was a good school at West Carlisle, under Mr. Stevenson; and an academy at West Bedford, which was very successful under W. R. Powers. About the same time, there was an academy at Van Buren (now Spring Mountain), in Monroe township, of which Dr. Haldeman had charge, and afterward Prot Geo. Conant. This was under the control of a conference of the M. E. Church. The removal from the county of some of the gentlemen, especially Messrs. Buckingham, Coffey, and Sturgis, involved the discontinuance of some of these institutions, and others were less, or not at all, in demand, by reason of improvements in the public school system. The West Bedford Academy, as a combined private and public school, is still in operation.
Taking advantage of the "Akron law" (so called because, as :first passed, it had relation to the city of Akron, but it was afterward extended in its application), passed in 1849, the citizens of Coshocton proceeded to establish a graded school. Wm. K. Johnson, Joseph C. Magillity, J. G. Smith, Joseph Guinthur, and Jacob Waggoner, were chosen by the citizens as the board of education. The school examiners first appointed were Thomas Campbell, Wm. Sample, and Rev. H. Calhoun.* Wm. R. Powers, formerly of New York State, then of Utica, Ohio, was employed as superintendent, assisted in the higher department by :.Miss Sallie Elder (Mrs. Geo. Dewey). There were two primary schools, presided over by Miss Araminta Bodelle (Mrs. H. N. Shaw) and Miss Caroline Stewart (Mrs. Samuel Denman). Soon a secondary school was started, and taught by Miss Elder, her place in the higher school being supplied by Miss Delia Roberts (Mrs. Houston Hay).
The schools at that time held their sessions in a little frame school-house on the north school-house lot, and in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal and Second Presbyterian churches. The little brick school-house on the public square had become dilapidated, and, owing to the location, objection was made to repairing it. ** Among the last teachers in it were Messrs. Alexander, Henrigh, James Irvine, and James Dryden. .

.* The fol1owing other gentlemen have served in this capacity: T. S. .Humrickhouse, Rev, P. H. Jacob, Dr. J. Harris, A. R. Hillyer, J. C. Tidball, Rev. W. E. Hunt, John E. Irvine, Rev. C. W. Wallace, M. C. McFarland, Rev. S. M. Hickman, J. C. Pomrene, J. R. .J ohnson, G. "W. Cass. The board at present is: Dr. W. C. Frew, W. R. Gault, and . 'W: S. Crowell, Esqs.
. **Kindred to this building was one with a tablet over the door, bearing .the inscription, ., "Know thyself," about a mile southeast of Coshocton, in the Orangevi1le district, where the Burts from Orange county, New York, and the Denmans and Condits, from Orange, New Jersey, lived. It was torn down in 1872.

In 1853, it was determined to erect a suitable school-house. A considerable amount of feeling was manifested ,in regard to the location of it. Some were anxious to have it erected on the quarter block (two original town-lots), at the northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets, fronting the public square. Others insisted upon placing it upon the square in the north end of the town, given by the original proprietors of the town for the purpose. The latter carried the day. The building (a two-story brick, thirty by eighty feet, with belfry, all in Grecian style of architecture) was finished in 1855. A. N. Milner, a merchant and general operator, took the contract at about $4,500. A small allowance was subsequently made, but it was claimed that he was out of pocket very largely, whether by proper cost or through want of management is disputed. The brick work was done by Henry Davis; the carpenter work, etc., by George Hay. The bell was added six or eight years afterward-purchased by the fines paid in that year by violators of the liquor law. When this school-house was built, the board of education was composed of B. R. Shaw, J. C. Tidball, Jacob Waggoner, A. L. Cass, H. Cantwell, and Wm. Sample.
The following names appear in the list of those serving in this capacity subsequently : John Frew, Thomas Campbell, H. N. Shaw, James Dryden, J. G. Stewart, Henry Davis, W. H. Robinson, A. J. Wilkin, J. C. Pomrene, A. H. Spangler, D. F. Denman. The board at this time embraces J. M.. Compton, J. S. Wilson, H. N. Shaw, C. H. Johnston, Henry Davis, and W. W. Walker.
To meet the demands by reason of the increased population, the board in 1871 erected a two-story brick on the Denmead and Taylor lots, in John Burt's subdivision. H. Davis and Harrison Waggoner were the builders.
In 1874, a small frame was erected on the north school- house lot, and the accommodations being still insufficent, two primary schools were set up in a private house on Chestnut street just east of the railroad.
In 1876, an imposing three-story front addition was built on the Burt tract. The plans were furnished by Johnson* & Kremler, of Columbus, and the work done by the Coshocton Planing Mill Company-the contract price being $10,885.

* T. H. Johnson, of this firm, was born and reared in Coshocton.

W. R. Powers, as superintendent of "Coshocton Union School," was succeeded (removing to West Bedford) in 1854 by W. A. McKee (now of Knoxville, Iowa), and he in 1857 by T. V. Milligan (now pastor of old Presbyterian church in Steubenville), and he in 1859 by John Giles (now of
Springfield, Massachusetts), and he in fall of 1864 by C. Forney (now of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania), and he in 1868 by Geo. Conant, the present principal. There are at this time ten assistant teachers.
In 1870, the Presbyterian church of Coshocton made a proposition to give the frame church building for a school- house, and a strip of ground (now occupied by the parsonage) whereon to erect a boarding-house, to a board of trustees appointed by the session, but including representative members of other denominations, to the number of two- thirds of the board, if the community would assist in securing not less than $5,000, wherewith to erect the boarding-house. Over $4,000 dol1ars were subscribed (all but $300) by members of the Presbyterian church, but the community manifested so little interest in this movement to secure the "Coshocton Female College," that the church, after waiting a year, withdrew the proposition, and proceeded to erect a parsonage with the fund so far as it had been contributed within the church.
A few years later, Rev. Mr. Lee, of the Methodist Episcopal church, the president of an institution caned the "One Study University," undertook to establish a branch or feeder of that university, under the name of "Coshocton College," but this effort also was quite abortive-the concern leading a feeble life for a year or so, and then passing away.
Outside of the public schools at this writing the only work in this line being done is at Bloomfield, where Rev. T. D. Duncan, of the Presbyterian church, is conducting a small classical school, and by Rev. Mr. Nunemacher giving lessons in German to quite a large class.*

* Rev. W m. E. Hunt has, during his twenty years' residence in Coshocton, given instruction in the classics to a number of scholars, and fitted for college the majority of those who have gone in that time. Among these last were J. R. Johnson, T. H. Johnson, P. S. Campbell, G. W. Cass, Joseph K. Cass, Miss Jennie Nicholas, Charles Ingraham.

The citizens of Roscoe, at a meeting held at the house of C. W. Simmons, on the 15th of March, 1851, voted, according to law, for a union school, and on the 29th of the same month elected the following board of education, viz: John Carhart, John Dodd, John Burns, James Hill, Maro Johnson, and Arnold Medberry. A month later a site for a school house was purchased for $250, and a contract was made with S. W. Brown, Dennis Chapin, and Samuel Hutchinson for the erection of a brick building, one story, to cost $2,450. When the building was completed some complaint was made as to the workmanship, and the price actually paid was $2,352. The board employed B. W. Lewis, of Ashland county, as principal, and H. Stephens and Charles Hoy were employed as assistant teachers, each to labor half the time. The board of examiners was composed of Dr. M. Johnson, James Hill, and James Le Retilley. Mr. Lewis, after teaching two months, was compelled to resign on account of his health; and, on his recommendation, Charles R. Shreve, of Massilon, was elected principal. He continued in that position until 1858. The principals since have been R. N. Smith, 1859-61; C. S. W. Griffith, 1861-62; M. Travis, 1862-63; S. Cox, 1863-64; A. W. Oder. 1865; R. Hogue, 1866; G. E. Campbell, 1866-69; W. Nicholas, 1869-70; G. E. Campbell, 1870-72; T. Carnahan, 1872 to present time. The assistant teachers, at this time, are Eliza Hutchinson and Juliet Gardiner. The present board of directors are Henry Carhart, J. C. Harrison and Robert Dickerson.
From 1865 to 1876, there has been much improvement in school buildings and appliances throughout the county. Besides the new school-houses in Coshocton, very creditable structures have been erected in a considerable number of localities, and these, and many of the older but still good houses, have been fitted up with the modern and attractive style of desks, etc.
One of the neatest school-houses in the county, outside of Coshocton, is that at West Lafayette-a two-story brick, with belfry. It was built in 1873. T. H. Familton, Velzer Shaw, and Lewis Leighninger, were at the time directors. W m. Gorseline was at that time, and had been for a period before, in charge of the school. H. W. Harbaugh is, at this writing, in charge of it.
There is also a very nice two-story frame building in Jacobsport, built in 1873. The directors, at the time, were L. Carhart, T. P. Latham, and Alonzo Sibley. The teachers, at present, are S. P. Woodward and Miss Anna Johnson.
In 1871, a good school-house was erected at Warsaw. The directors then were N. Buckalew, Joseph Orr, and John Lenhart. John Crawford is the Centennial year principal of the school. There is a good school-house (two-story frame) at Keene, in which John M. Finley is "the presiding genius." The school-house at East Union is a good two-story frame. New Castle also has a very creditable building.
The school-house at West Carlisle, and the academies at Spring Mountain and West Carlisle, though not new buildings, are all good and well fitted up-each being a frame two-story structure. Canal LewisviIle has a neat brick school-house, and the district just east of Coshocton one- both recently built.
The following statistics give a distinct view of the school affairs in the county for the year 1875: Number of school districts, 139; number of persons engaged in teaching during the year, 235; number of pupils enrolled, 1,692; average daily attendance, 3,839; amount paid for sites and buildings, $5,452; contingent expenses, $7,981; for teachers' wages, $39,280; average of teachers' wages per month, $40.00.
The veteran school teachers of the county are M. D. Van Eman, of Bethlehem township, and James Magness, of Linton township.
.A complete list of those who have been engaged, in an the years past, in teaching, would embrace the names of very many hundreds of the excellent women and vigorous men of the county. Of those who, at this writing, may be designated as teachers, not to repeat those already mentioned, the following may be named as most acceptable and successful. Mrs. Conant, Mrs. Carnahan, Misses H. Hogle, Ida Pugh, S. Sample, Isa Campbel1, Same Anderson, Tip Elliott, Ella Johnston, Pauline Weiser, Cassie Raymer, Rebecca .J. Trego, Mary Gorham, Elizabeth Magness, Ellen Horn, Nora Crawford, Linda Lanning, Jennie M. Myser, Lyda Hutchins, Melissa Stonehocker, Kate Elliott, Eliza Hutchinson, Elizabeth L. Barnes, Eliza J. Creighton, Bell Simpson, Nannie Jones, Maggie S. Phillips, Sarah E. Buchanan, Juliet W. Gardner, Lucy Dodd, Charlotte Hogle, Kate Boyd, and Emma Massa; and Messrs. John Wagner, S. P. Woodward, H. K. Knaval, J. M. Williams, W. K. Spencer, Jas. D. Phllips, H. S. Mulford, Edgar Carroll, Wm. C. Thomas, Sam'l A. Boyd, S. P. Snyder, J. F. Myser, J. F. Hastings, F.M. Murphy, Lewis V. Cox, Geo. W. McDonald, J. B. Barcroft, Jas. S. Beall, Jas. P. Lawyer, C. Emerson, Wm. Gorsline, H. T. Wheeler, Wm. Fulks, Jno. W. Bell, Jacob Brewer, F. M. Ogilvie, O. M. Seward, Geo. D. Hill, W. S. Kilpatrick, D. A. Barcroft; Jonathan Lenhart, Wilber G. Williams, Isaac Loder, and H. B. Barnes.
Under the old law, the school examiners held their office for two years. The number for some time was at least two in each township, and the changes were frequent, so that the list would embrace scores of names. If a man, in those days, was not a school examiner, one of three things might be concluded-either he would not be bothered with the office, or he had not any noticeable literary attainments, or he was not politician enough to secure the appointment. Under the law (in force since 1851) vesting the appointment in the probate judge, and providing for only three examiners for the county, the following is the list, with term of service: C. R. Shreve, teacher, 1851-59*; John E. Irvine, teacher, 1851-54*; W m. R. Powers, teacher, 1851-56*; John T. Simmons, Esq., 1854-56; Rev. H. Calhoun, 1856-58*; W m. A. McKee, teacher, 1854-58 ;* J. J. McSuitt, 1856-60;
* Removed from county.

Dr. Josiah Harris, 1858, still in office; M. C. McFarland, deputy county clerk, 1859-65; Rev. Wm. E. Hunt, 1860-74*; John M. Finley, teacher, 1865- 76; W. S. Crowll, Esq.,1874; M. W. Wimmer, 1876, still in office.

* Resigned.

With the impulse given, teacher's institutes, under the auspices of the County Teachers' Association, were inaugurated about 1852. By the state law a small amount could be drawn, for this work, from the county treasury, upon the condition that a like amount be contributed by the teachers and friends of education.
Probably the most enthusiastic friends of this undertaking, in its original form, were C. R. Shreve, principal of the Roscoe school, and Rev. H. Calhoun, and Dr. J. Harris, of Coshocton. After a few annual meetings-partly owing to the removal from the county of Mr. Shreve and Mr. Calhoun-the institute work was discontinued. Under the law setting aside, for this purpose, the fees paid by applicants for teachers' certificates, the institute was revived about 1865, and there has since been an annual effort (and for one year, two) in that direction. Dr. J. Harris, W m. E. Hunt, Prof. Geo. Conant and wife, Prof. T. Carnahan and wife, W. C. Thomas, Wm. Gorsline, W. Nicholas, R. Compton, Geo. Hill, Misses H. Hogle, and Ida Pugh have been officially and prominently connected with this work. The officers for 1876 are as follows: President, J. T. Moore; Executive Committee, W m. Gorsline, Thomas Carnahan, and Eph. Ellis; Secretary, E. L. Retilley; Treasurer, Ida A. Pugh.
Among the instructors and lecturers engaged in connection with this work have been Professors Tappan, Marsh, Kidd, Henkle, White, Mendenhall, Andrews, Williams, T. W. Harvey, Knisely, and other gentlemen, well known in connection with such matters, residing elsewhere than in Coshocton county. Prof. Conant and Mrs. Conant, Dr. J. Harris and Rev. Wm. E. Hunt, have also been employed in the capacity of instructors and lecturers.

� copyright 2004 Sandy Payne

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