CHAPTER XXX.

THE SCHOOLS. II.

BY JAMES U. BARNHILL, M. D.

Public Schools. District School Management, 1826 to 1838. In keeping with the enlightened sentiment of the famous educational compact the pioneer settlers of Franklinton and Columbus provided fair school privileges for their children. Before revenues from the land grants were realized or general school laws enacted, private schools and means of education had been very generously encouraged. In the very infancy of the town of Columbus its founders had constructed a schoolhouse for the benefit of the community. In 1820 a school company formed by leading citizens for the extension of school facilities erected an academy, organized a school and otherwise aroused public interest in education. An academy on the west side and a classical school and the academy on the east side of the river had been liberally patronized. A great many subscription schools had been maintained. Some of the teachers were college graduates and the leading spirits of the community were men of learning. The general sentiment seems to have been in favor of popular education, but there were very naturally differences of opinion as to the best modes of securing it. Lucas Sullivant and Orris Parish were among the incorporators of the Worthington College. They with other prominent citizens had taken an active interest in securing efficient legislation for the maintenance of schools. Not only had schools been encouraged but the claims of moral instruction had not been disregarded. The church and school were planted side by side and fostered as cardinal interests. The schools were frequently conducted in church buildings and the New Testament was used as a textbook in reading. Rev. Dr. James Hoge, the founder of the first church and first Sunday school of the settlement, was a zealous friend of popular education, was identified with the efforts to promote its interests and greatly aided in molding the educational sentiment of the community.

In January, 1822, Governor Allen Trimble appointed a board of commissioners. in which Caleb Atwater, Rev. James Hoge, and Rev. John Collins were the active men, to report a system of common schools for Ohio, and although the system agreed upon by these commissioners was not adopted "they are entitled to grateful remembrance for what they did in awakening an interest upon which more was accomplished than they deemed advisable to recommend." They prepared the way

for the enactment of the Guilford law of 1825, which was the first general law for the support of schools in the State.

On April 25, 1826, the Court of Common Pleas of this county appointed Rev. James Hoge, Rev. Henry Mathews and Doctor Charles H. Wetmore as the school examiners for the county. The examiners appointed by the court in 1828 were Rev. James Hoge, Doctor Peleg Sisson and Bela Latham; in 1829 Samuel Parsons, Mease Smith, P. B. Wilcox; in 1830 S. W. Ladd, R. Tute, R. W. Cawley and Doctor C. H. Wetmore; in 1832 Isaac N. Whiting, Rev. W. Preston and Isaac Hoge, Cyrus Parker being at the same time appointed examiner of female teachers; in 1834, John W. Ladd, Erastus Burr, Rev. James Hoge, Rev. William Preston, Rev. George Jeffries, William S. Sullivant, Jacob Grubb, Doctor A. Chapman, W. H. Richardson, Jacob Gander, Rev. Ebenezer Washburn and Timothy Lee; in 1835 J. C. Brodrick, W. T. Martin, Joseph Sullivant, Jacob Grubb and M. J. Gilbert; in 1836 David Swickard, James Williams, Joseph Moore, Henry Alden, J. R. Rodgers, Cyrus S. Hyde, David Smith, and Arnold Clapp.

Among the first teachers to receive certificates were Joseph P. Smith, W. P. Meacham, C. W. Lewis, Eli Wall, H. N. Hubbell, Nancy Squires, John Starr, Robert Ware, J. Waldo, George Black, Kate Reese, Margaret Livingston, Cyrus Parker, Lucas Ball and Ira Wilcox of Montgomery Township; Ezekiel Curtis, Caleb Davis, Phoebe Randall and William T. Denson of Franklin Township; Lucy Wilson, William Dunlevy, Priscilla Weaver, Isabella Green and F. J. Starr of Sharon; Grace Pinny, John Sterrett and Benjamin Bell of Mifflin; Flora Andrews, Emily Maynard and W. G. Harper of Clinton; Rachel Jameson, W. H. J. Miller, Pymela White, Hannah Calkins and S. Lucius of Blendon; John Scott and Daniel Wright of Plain; W. G. Graham, Mary Ross, Samuel Gould and David Graham of Truro; Orange Davis and Jacob Keller of Norwich; Peter Sharp, J. M. Cherry and T. J. Howard of Madison; Frederick Cole, Jinks Wail, O. Risby and Isaac Lewis of Pleasant; C. S. Sharp, Henrietta Christie, J. W. Maynard and D. Benton of Hamilton; John Juds of Jackson; J. K. Lewis, Jacob Feltner, T. Kilpatrick, Joseph Ferris and Jacob Kilbourne of Perry; Peter Mills and Willis Spencer of Jefferson. All of these taught in their respective townships prior to December 31, 1829, and for such service were paid by the County Treasurer.

Franklin Township was divided on May 10, 1826, by its trustees into five full districts, of which the second and third included the town of Franklinton, which contained at that time about sixty five houses and three hundred and fiftyseven inhabitants. The boundary of District Number Two was thus described: "Commencing at the Scioto River where the road leading from Newark to Springfield (West Broad Street) crosses it, then along said road to the west line of the township, thence northerly with the township line to the northwest corner of the township, thence down said river to the place of beginning." The householders of this district were Joseph Grate, Reuben Golleday, Nancy Park, Sarah Jameson, Lewis Risley, Joseph Davidson, Polly Perrin, Homer L. Thrall, William Barger, Nathan Cole, Samuel Flemming, Jacob Eby, Henry Saunders, Jacob Grubb, Mrs. Sterling, Elisha Grada, Horace Walcott, Earl Frazel, Joseph K. Young, Edward Green, William Ross, William Flemming, John Swisgood, J. B. Meneley, John

Fowler, Mrs. Hannah Meneley, Mrs. Broderick, Jacob Keller, Esther Waldo, John Scott, Joseph Badger, Samuel Johnson, S. Wickson, William Scott, George Read, George Skidmore, Mrs. Marshall, A. Hopper, J. R. Godown and Jennie Robinson; forty in all.

District Number Three was thus bounded: "Beginning with District Number Two, thence down the Scioto River to the line dividing I. Miner's and Thomas Morehead's land, westwardly with said line until it intersects the Hillsborough Road, thence northeastwardly with said road until it intersects the road leading from Newark to Springfield, thence along with said road to the place of beginning." The householders in this district were Joseph Brackenrage, William Perrin, Samuel Deardorf, Jacob Armitage, William Lusk, A. Brotherlin, John Robinson, Ezekiel Pegg, Mr. Monroe, Samuel Scott, Jacob Runels, Mrs. Park, E. Curtis, William Domigan, Temperance Baccus, Mrs. Lord, Robert W. Riley, Mrs. Barr, Epkin Johnson, David Deardurff, Katharine Deardurff, Urias Perrin, Elias Pegg, Elizabeth Swan, William Wigdin, Lewis Williams, Thomas Reynolds, Arthur O'Harra, Isaac Miner, J. Ransburg, Andrew Jameson, John Mannering, Mrs. Rabourn, Cornelius Manning, Mrs. Bennett, Lewis Slaughter, Widow Fanny; total thirtyseven. This list is certified in behalf of the trustees by Ezekiel Curtis, Township Clerk. In the entire township there were one hundred and fortysix householders. The school directors were elected in the fall or winter of 1826. In the following year Caleb Davis and Ezekiel Curtis were employed as teachers in the second and fifth districts respectively. Winchester Risley, William Badger, Samuel Deardurff and Horace Wolcutt were among the earliest directors in the Franklinton districts. The amount of school funds appropriated to the second and third districts respectively for the year 1826 was $9.845 and $9.107; for 1827 $9.52 and $8.29; for 1828 $10.48 and $11.53. From the levy of five mills for school purposes in 1826 Franklin Township received $35.86, Montgomery Township $162.31, Hamilton $61.04, Truro $17.75, Jefferson $10.63, Plain $9.68, Mifflin $16.27, Clinton $27.73, Perry $22.80, Sharon $42.62, Norwich $15.18, Blendon $22.96, Washington $10.02, Prairie $12.58, Pleasant $17.43, Jackson, $10.60.

On July 26, 1828, that part of District Number Two lying west of the "Cattail Prairie and a line extending northerly to the river near the stone quarry" was set apart as District Number Seven. The householders of the Second District still numbered forty. Many had moved out of the district, while the following new names appeared: Fredom Bennett, Ambrose Canfield, John Robinson, Nathan Cole, Ignatius Wheeler, Peter Lisk, Wesley Srieves, Samuel Scott, William S. Sullivant, William Mitchell, John Hickman, William St. Clair and Israel Gale. The following new names appeared in the third district in 1828; Michael L. Sullivant, Griffin Miner, Levi Taylor, Abram Mettles, William Riley. Henry Saunders, Winchester Risley, Enos Henry, Benson Sprague, Riley Thacker, and Jane Brown. The total number of householders in the district was fortythree.

Montgomery Township was divided by its trustees into school districts in the spring of 1826. According to William T. Martin the first school meeting for the district embracing the town plat of Columbus was held pursuant to the act of 1825 at the old Presbyterian Church on Front Street November 21, 1826. Orris Parish

was chosen chairman and William T. Martin secretary; and Doctor Peleg Sisson, Rev. Charles Hinkle and William T. Martin were elected school directors. Soon afterwards a Mr. Smith was employed as teacher and a public school which continued about three months was organized. This teacher was probably Joseph P. Smith, who a short time before had been engaged in teaching a private school in the Academy on Fourth Street, and who, as the records show, taught during the following year a public school in the fifth district. However, before the school funds for 1826 were distributed, the township had been divided into seven districts containing respectively 29, 59, 27, 36, 34, 59 and 24 householders. The total number

of householders in the township in 1826 was 268, about two hundred of whom resided in the town. The distribution of the school funds to the districts for 1826, as entered on the County Auditor's books, was as follows: First District $17.416, second $35.365, third $18.170, fourth $21.644, fifth $20.505, sixth $35.150, seventh $14.063; total $162.313. The following additional entries appear: "March 31, 1827. The Trustees of Montgomery Township met and new-districted the township for school purposes as follows, to wit:

First District to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus and township of Montgomery lying north of Long Street in said town and as far eastward as the eastern extremity of the outlots of said town [line of East Public Lane]; householders, John Van

voorst, John Brickell, Stephen Robinson, John Doherty, David Jones, Margaret Johnston, Benjamin Platt, H. Rochester, Abraham Jaycox, Samuel Cady, Jonathan Fuller, Thomas Dawson, John Hamm, John Jackson, John Jones, John Loutharos, James Dean, Joseph Gamble, Bela Latham, Thomas Tipton, Solomon Miller, Elizabeth Sparks, Thomas Robins, Gustavus Swan, G. Leightenaker, William Gimpson, Martin Baringer, Sarah Philips, Thomas Locket, Samuel Ayres, James Wood, Jane Lusk, John Thomas, Elizabeth Zinn. Total thirtyfour. [The Clerk says this should be fiftyfour. The estimated number of children in the district from five to fifteen years of age was sixtyone.]

Second District, to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus lying between Long and State streets; householders, R. Pollock, D. Rathbone, Henry Brown, Charles Knoderer, G. B. Harvey, Cyntha Vance, Jarvis Pike, D. W. Deshler, Orris Parish, R. Osborn, R. Armstrong, Mary Kerr, Mary Justice, Jacob Elmore, E. Browning, Thomas Johnston, Thomas Martin, Edward Davis, John Young, John Marcy, R. M. McCoy, J. McLene, John Loughry, James Hoge, William Doberty, Mrs. Miller, William Latham, Joseph Ridgway, Samuel Crosby, John Jones, (tailor), Elizabeth Culbertson, David Lawson, James Coudson, Benjamin Henly, William Montgomery, Mary Peoples, Mrs. Adams, James Robinson (teacher), Robert Dawson, William Waite, Henry Hawkin, Hiram Plate, A. J. McDowell, John Cunning, M. Smith, E. Herrington, P. B. Wilcox, Theodore Nealy, Samuel Leonard, Ebenezer Butler; fiftyone. Estimated to contain sixtynine children from five to fifteen.

Third District to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus lying between State and Town streets, including the white house at the end of Town Street; householders, R. Rupill, P. M. Olmsted, James Robinson, R. Brotherton, F. Stewart, L. Reynolds, William Long, David Smith, Joseph Jameson, Henry Farnum, Joseph Leiby, C. Fay, L. Goodale, William Armstrong, J. Neereamer, J. M. Walcutt, Otis Crosby, R. Lalaker, George McCormick, Abraham Raney, Mrs. Lanford, Elijah Cooper, M. Northrup, Joel Buttles, Mrs. Tumey, Ed. Phenix, George Riardon, M. Gooden, Joseph P. Smith, John Wilson; thirty. Estimated to contain fiftyfour children from five to fifteen.

Fourth District, to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus lying between Town and Rich streets; householders, Alex. Patton, William K. Lawson, J. C. Brodrick, John Greenwood, Peter Putnam, John Kilbourn, Jeremiah Armstrong, William Madison, John Whitsel, Nathan Soals, David Brooks, A. Benfield, J. Vorys, A. Backus, Benjamin Sells, John M. Edmiston, Gibbs Greenham, Samuel Barr, C. Lofland, Margaret Wherry, William Altman, M. Matthews, Jacob Overdear, John Stearns, Thomas Wood, Henry Butler, James Bryden, Amos Jenkins, Samuel Parsons, James Harris, John Wise, Conrad Notestone, Mrs. Powers, Jennet Vanderburgh, James Uncles, John Boiland, Hamilton Robb; thirtyseven. Estimated to contain sixtyseven children from five to fifteen.

Fifth District, to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus lying between Rich and Friend streets; householders, John McElvain, James Cherry, Peleg Sisson, John Kelly, Ira B. Henderson, Mary Nichols, William John, J. W. Flinniken, John Emmick, C. Heyl, John Warner, Conrad Heyl, Peter Sells, George Nashee, Dennis Faris, Amos Menely, Jacob Hare, Aaron Mathes, William St. Clair, John D. Hodgkins, John Robinson, Samuel Gelin, William T. Martin, Mrs. Wynkorp, John B. Compston, Moses Jewett, Thomas Piper, John John, William McElvain, Elizabeth Strain, H. S High, Sarah Stahl, Moses R. Spingien, William Thrall, Mrs. Wright; thirtyfive. Estimated to contain sixtyfive children from five to fifteen.

Sixth District, to be composed of all that part of the town of Columbus and of the townships of Montgomery as lies south of Friend Street, and as far eastward as the eastern extremity of the outlots excepting, however, such territory and families as have been attached to Hamilton Township for the formation of a school district from a part of each township; householders, Matthias Kenney, David Gibson, Caleb Houston, John McLoughlin, Ebenezer Thomas, N. W. Smith, Jesse F. Nixon, Mrs. Booth, Joseph McElvain, Joseph O'Harra, Arthur O'Harra, Nathaniel McLean, Purdy McElvain, Christian Crum, Thomas Bryson,