CHAPTER- XVII
EDUCATION
Revenue from the School Lands-State Common School Fund-The First Schoolhouses and Their Furnishings-How the Early Schools Were Kept Up-The Marion Academy-Marion's Public Schools-The Educational Work of the Y. M. C. A.-St. Mary's Parochial School.
The Ordinance of 1787 provided that section 16 of every township of Congress Lands should be reserved for the maintenance of schools in that township. When Ohio became a State, these lands, amounting to 704,000 acres, were granted to her to be disposed of and the proceeds used for public school purposes. Up to 1827 these school lands were leased and rented and the meager proceeds were used for schools. In 1827 the Legislature provided for the sale of these school lands and the money therefrom was turned into the State treasury. Since the sale of the lands, each township has received annually six per cent. interest on the money so realized from the sale of its section. Most of the school lands in Marion County were sold between 1830 and 1840, for the aggregate sum of $12,243.17. This gives the schools of the county an annual income of $734.59. It is divided among the 12 townships according to the amount for which their respective sections sold, as follows:
Big Island ...................$47.05
Claridon ...................... 28.21
Grand .......................... 5.82
Grand Prairie ...............30.74
Marion..........................54.27
Montgomery ..............288.81
Pleasant .....................129.45
Richland .................... 32.18
Salt Rock .................... 38.30
Scott ........................... 32.67
Tully ........................... 7.86
Waldo .........................39.99
TOTAL................... $735.35
Inasmuch as the political township is not always co-extensive with the "survey township," it happens that several townships do not receive all the amounts due from the sale of section 16. The townships along the northern border of the county being only parts of "survey, townships," the amount realized from this source is divided on a per capita basis between the townships. Grand township receives the smallest amount, $16.78 going to -.Marseilles township, Wyandot County. Salt Rock township divides also, $14.60 going to Pitt township. In like manner Crawford County receives from Grand Prairie township $9.41, from Scott township $14.60, and from Tully township $4.70.
This provision in the Ordinance of 1787 had no application to the Virginia Military
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District and the United States Military Lands. Congress, however, generously appropriated them lands within the State, which were in time sold by the State. Several townships participate in these funds. Bowling Green township receives from the Virginia Military District Fund $25.01 ; Green Camp township, $30.36, and Prospect township $15.82. Green Camp township receives from the United States Military Lands Fund, .64; Prospect township $33.18; 18; and Waldo township, $21.94.
While these sums now seem small, yet the encouragement to our schools in an early day from this source was great. Some idea, too, may be formed of the character of our early ancestors, from their act in setting aside one thirty-sixth of all the lands in Ohio, for school purposes.
The county received last year (1906), as its portion of the State Common School Fund, the sum of $7,015.90, which is divided per capita among the townships and special school, districts.
The first schoolhouses were crude affairs and all built after the same plan. The schoolhouse was not built then as now by contract and paid for by taxes, but by the voluntary contributions and services of the residents of the district. It was constructed of logs, usually unhewed. At one end of the building was a huge fire-place. There were low benches for the small boys and high ones for the big boys. These benches had no backs, were split from trees and too much care was not always used to remove all the splinters. Along the walls. were the writing desks, above which a log had been left out. This opening covered with greased paper served for a window. The caps were hung on woolen pegs driven into the walls. In the opposite end of the room from the fire-place sat the teacher on a high chair behind a high desk and behind him was a plentiful supply of hickory withes. The writing pens, were of quills, made by the teacher. The books used were not uniform, in fact any kind of a book might be used for a reader.
The early school laws authorized taxation only to provide schoolhouses and to pay the fees of children whose parents were too poor to pay them. They were in fact pauper schools instead of public schools. No provision was made for fuel, furniture or incidentals. The fuel was supplied by having a wood-chopping each year, and every householder was expected to lend a hand. The property of non-residents could not be taxed for school purposes. This early legislation was the means of partially paying teachers, and by the good old plan of boarding around the school money was economized so as to provide school for several months during each year. The constitution of 1851 marked a decided advance, when it declared: "The General Assembly shall make such provision, by taxation or otherwise, as, with the income arising from the school trust fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the State."
THE MARION ACADEMY.
This chapter would be incomplete without an account of the Marion Academy. At some time previous to 1850, owing to the inefficient school laws, nearly every enterprising community had its academy. The best of these institutions were regularly incorporated by the Legislature and owned their own property. They drew to them the ambitious sons and daughters of the most cultivated families and when well managed attracted students from a considerable distance. The instructors were often scholarly men and graduates from colleges and universities. After the public schools began to grow, especially under the impetus furnished by the constitution of 1851, the academies began to lose ground.
Steps were first taken to establish an academy in Marion in 1838. On March 16th, of that year, a bill was passed by the Legislature incorporating the Marion Academy for the purpose of education only. The incorporators named in this bill were Sanford S. Bennett, Nathan Peters, Curtis Allen, Richard Patten, George Holloway, James H. Godman, John Ballentine, George H. Busby, John Bartram and Hezekiah Gorton, all at the time representative and influential citizens of Marion.
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The company was not fully organized until the 6th day of July, 1841, when the stockholders met in the auditor's office in the Court House and elected as trustees Sanford S Bennett, John Ballentine, Nathan Peters, Henry Peters, Thomas M. Sloan, Elisha Hardy, Richard Patten, Joseph Durfee and William Bain. The following day the trustees met and organized by electing Sanford S. Bennett, chairman, and W. W. Concklin, secretary.
The company had an authorized capital of $50,000, divided into shares of $10 each, but only $3,170 was ever paid in. There were in all 62 stockholders, including in their numbers all the prominent citizens of Marion. The stock subscriptions ranged from $10 to $100. Marion County by its commissioners subscribed $500.
While a complete organization of the corporation was not effected until July, 1841, the Academy was opened on Monday, December 21, 1840, by John J. Williams, who, in September previous, bad graduated from Franklin (Ohio) College. The following very interesting announcement is taken from the Saturday Visitor and Marion Intelligence of Saturday, December 19, 1840.
THE ACADEMY.
This institution will commence its first session in this place, on Monday morning next. The branches that will be taught are the following: Arithmetic, English Grammar, Geography, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Astronomy, Geology, Botany, Algebra, Euclid's. Elements, Logic, Rhetoric, Mental & Moral Science, Political Economy, Evidences of Christianity, Latin & Greek. Together with exercises of Writing, Reading and the art of Composition, etc. The terms per session of 5 months for the lower branches specified, are $6.50, and rating from that to $10, the other branches are included.
The location of the house is in the central and convenient part of the town. Every attention will be given by the subscribers, to render the Institution one of a respectable character, and if it he sufficiently patronized by the community, it is hoped, that it will be of lasting utility to the Town and Country. In the spring another gentleman is expected to be on to assist, especially in the Mathematical department, and then also, we shall have an opportunity to enlarge our apparatus. from the East.
JOHN J. WILLIAMS,
JOHN A. Dunlap.
MARION, Dec. 19, 1840.
John A. Dunlap, whose name was attached to the notice, was then the minister of the Presbyterian Church. The Academy opened in the Masonic Hall, located where the Bartram Block now stands. The faculty consisted of Ozias Bowen, president; John J. Williams, principal; and Dr. H. A. True, Dr. T. B. Fisher and John A. Dunlap as instructors, who delivered lectures in their respective departments. The first term continued for five months with 35 students in attendance. The success of the first year probably led to the completion of the organization of the Marion Academy Company in the following July.
The Academy was opened the next fall in the second story of the old stone building on the west side of South Main street, where W. C. Rapp's harness shop now is, with 115 pupils in attendance. The instructors were the same as the year before, with Mrs. John J. Williams added.
Following its organization, the Marion Academy Company in December, 1841, purchased of George H. Busby the lands on which now stands the Marion mill and the Prendergast Company's buildings. On March 2, 1842,. the contract was let to George H. Busby to build a two-story, brick structure with two, rooms for the sum of $2,448. was completed in August, 1843. The building John J. Williams, having taken up the study of the law with his brother-in-law, James H. Godman, was succeeded as principal by Solomon W. Shepard, a graduate in the classical course from Ohio University.
Those who attended this first year of the academy in its new home, as shown by a catalogue in the possession of Mrs. Margaret Moore, nee Elder, were as follows: Gentlemen Charles W. Anderson, Virgil Anderson, John W. Bain, Thomas Boyd, James Cunningham, Job Dodson, William Elder, Barton Gorton, Wallace Gorton, John
220 - HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Garberson, William D. Godman, Henry C. Godman, Rowlin Holmes, Richard Holmes, Augustus Holloway, Jacob Idleman, Alfred James, William Kiskadden, George W. Lucas, Joseph Mason, Albin Matthews,, William R. Morris, William Miles, Patrick R. McMillan, Richard B. McMillaan, James McNeal, Christopher Raichley, Nathaniel Red, Nelson Randall, Lyman Spaulding, Lewis Tremble, David Thompson, Joseph Uncapher, James Walker, Bryant Welch, St. Clair Welch, John Waddle, Henry Walker, Rezin Widener, Portius Wheeler, Jared Walker and Hampton Wood, Esq.
Ladies-Harriet A. Bennett, Paulina E. Busby, Jane Busby, Lucretia Busby, Clarinda Busby, Marcy D. Bay, Minerva Brown,Martha J. Bolton, Alrnira Clark, Agnes Cratty, Sarah Darlington, Ursula Epler, Margaret Elder, Ellen D. Grimes, Susan Holmes, Mary J. House, Margaret Jones, Elizabeth Johnson, Sarah W. Kent, Mary Kent, Elizabeth Moor, Olive P. H. Norton, Martha J. Powell, Kaziah J. Randall, Barbara Thomas, Sarah J. Thompson, Urana Wheeler, Elizabeth Wildbahn and Tabitha Williams.
This same catalogue relates that "This Institution is located in the centre of a beautiful plain, containing about seven acres of ground, directly west of the town of Marion. The building consists of a spacious and elegant brick edifice, with sufficient accommodations for two hundred students. There is a good Philosophical and Chemical apparatus connected with the Academy, sufficiently extensive for all practical purposes. The town of Marion is, probably, not surpassed by any in the State of Ohio for health and morality, and it is confidently believed that the conveniences for study and improvement are not excelled by any similar Institution."
The academic year was divided into two terms of 22 weeks each. The tuition was for primary studies, per quarter, $3; for natural, mental and moral sciences, $4; and for mathematics and the languages, $5. Geography, grammer, arithmetic, history, ancient and modern history and rhetoric were taught in the English department; natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, mineralogy, botany, natural history and astronomy in the department of natural science; evidences of Christianity, natural theology, moral philosophy, political economy, intellectual philosophy, rhetoric logic, elements of criticism and political grammar, in the department of intellectual and moral sciences; Latin grammar, Latin reader, Caesar's "Commentaries", Sallust, Cicero's "Select Orations," Roman antiquities, Virgil, Cicero's "De Senectute et De Amicitia," Horace, Greek grammar, Greek reader, Testament, Xenophon's "Anabasis," Homer's "Iliad" and "Graeca Majora," in the department of languages; algebra, geometry, trigonometry and surveying in the department of mathematics. After a few years it was found that financially the Academy was a failure. So the building was rented in 1846-47 to J. M. Christian, who conducted the school very much on the order of a private enterprise. In August, 1847, the affairs of the Academy were at so low an ebb that Rev. .Galbraith declined to rent the building and grounds for a period of five months at a rental of $25, and the trustees ordered a vote of the stockholders to be taken to determine whether the property should be sold. From this time on very little real teaching was done at the Academy.
The Bellefontaine & Indiana Railroad, which was constructed on Mill street, also interfered with the successful conduct of the institution, so that, in February, 1851, the trustees took steps to sell the property and wind up the affairs of the Academy. The sale of the property, which was advertised for March 5, 1851, at the door of the Court House, was enjoined in the Common Pleas Court by the Board of County Commissioners and John C. Norton, Henry A. True, William Bain, Benjamin H.. Williams and Thomas Search. After a protracted litigation, ending in the Supreme Court, the property was sold at sheriff's sale on the 19th day of August, 1854, to the Board of Education of the village of Marion. The building was subsequently converted into the Beiber mill and is now used by the Prendergast Company for the pulley works.
PAGE 221 BLANK
PAGE 222 PICTURES: HIGHT SCHOOL BUILDING, OLNEY AVENUE SCHOOL BUILDING, OLD CENTER SCHOOL BUILDING AND GREENWOOD STREET SCHOOL BUILDING
PAGE 220 - HISTORY OF MARION COUTNY
MARION'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Provision for public schools was made by the original proprietors, who dedicated lots 119 and 142, the northwest and southwest lots in the original plat of the town, to be used for school purposes. Lot 119 was sold and is now occupied by the United Brethren Church and parsonage. On lot 142 was built., in 1824, the first court, school and meeting house, by voluntary subscription, an account of which will be found in chapter on Marion. In this building, school was held in a desultory and intermittent manner, at first supported by popular subscription and later by meager levies. Private schools were also conducted in the '30's by Dr. Robinson, Mr. Smith and William L. Uleyate. The public school system was of slow growth here as elsewhere, and it was not until after the adoption of the present State constitution, in 1851, that it became in any degree efficient.
Previous to 1851 the village was broken up into school districts without any united action on the part of the citizens of the village. The first move toward a union of the schools was taken at a public meeting in the Court House on Saturday, April 19, 1851. John R. Knapp, Sr., was chairman of the meeting and E. Peters, clerk. By a vote of 60 to 9 it was resolved to have a village school district, and an election was ordered for the following Wednesday At this election John Bartram, John R. Knapp, Sr., John J. Williams, R. Patten, B. H. Williams and W. W. Concklin were elected directors. This board organized by electing Mr. Bartram, president, and Mr. Concklin, secretary. James McCoy was employed to teach in the "Old Brick Schoolhouse" at $22 per month "for such a length of time only as the board might think fit and proper." In the fall W. L. Terrill was employed as principal of the Marion Union Schools for $500 for one year from October 1, 1851, "if he and the board could so long agree."
W. L. Terrill remained as principal until 1856. Since that date the superintendents and dates when each assumed control have been as follows: G. H. Hampson (1856), E. B. Olmstead (1857), S. A. Cravath (1861), A.H. Lowrie (1863), J. Hanson (1865), W. Watkins (1866), Louisa Cope (1866), Mattie McLain (1869), Dr. Henry A. True (1870), W. S. Eversole (1871), G. F. Mead (1876), H. G. Welty (1877), S. E. Shute (1881), E. E. Henry (1882), M. A. Perkins (1884), A. G. Crouse (1885), Arthur Powell (1890) and H. L. Frank (1901).
After the purchase, of the Academy property, school was held there for several years, then in the old stone Methodist Episcopal Church, still standing at the northwest corner of Railroad and State streets, and finally in the Center school building, in 1858.
The land on which now stands the Center and High School buildings was purchased by the Board of Education May 7, 1856, for $4,700. Center school building was erected two years later.
Other buildings were erected as follows:
North State Street School ...............1877
South Prospect Street School .........1884
Greenwood Street School ...............1888
Silver Street School ........................1893
High School ....................................1893
David Street School ........................1898
Forest Lawn School ........................1899
Olney Avenue School .....................1905
Oak Street School ...........................1906
The enrollment of pupils for (1906-07) in the public schools of Marion will exceed 3,000. A uniform course of study in the High School was first adopted by the Board of Education on November 13, 1865. There was at first a three-years' English and classical course. The board members, to whom the credit be-longs, for taking this advanced step, were Dr. T. B. Fisher, John E. Davids, Isaac Young, T. T. Magruder, R. H. Johnson and John Merrill. The first class to graduate from the High School was in 1872, Charles C. Fisher and Lizzie Ruehrmund being the graduates. In July, 1879, a four-years' course in the High School was adopted.
The following have been presidents of the Board of Education : John Bartram, 1851; E. Peters, 1851 ; T. B. Fisher, 1861; John E.
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Davids, 1864; T. B. Fisher, 1865; L. C. Haines, 1868; T. B. Fisher, 1871; Isaac Young, 1872; John F. McNeal, 1873; J. R. Garberson, 1875; John F. McNeal, 1879; T. B. Prentice, 1880; J. W. Alsop, 1881; H. T. Van Fleet, 1881; W. Z. Davis, 1886; William Fies, 1887; Charles F. Garberson, 1890; Boston G. Young, 1891; F. W. Thomas, 1895; J. A. Wolford, 1896; Amos H. Kling, 1897; J. H. Thomas, 1899; C. C. Fisher, 1900; U. K. Guthery, 1901; C. C. Fisher, 1902; John J. Crawley, 1903; Busby P. Sweeney, 1905; M. B. Dickerson, 1906; and George B. Christian, Jr., 1907.
The Board of Education of Marion is at present constituted as follows: George B. Christian, Jr. (president), Michael Waddell, M. B. Dickerson, Busby P. Sweeney, H. Edmond Hill and W. B. Spaulding.
The Board of City School Examiners at present is constituted as follows: T. C. Bowen, president; John H. Clark, vice-president; and J. Wilbur Jacoby, clerk.
The Board of County School Examiners has these members: R. B. Bell, president.; S. W. Allmendinger, clerk; W. P. Maloney.
THE EDUCATIONAL WORK OF THE Y. M. C. A.
In a measure the educational work of the Young Men's Christian Association has been going on ever since the organization of the association, for the reading room, literary and musical clubs were among the first activities of association life and in the broadest sense are educational features of great influence.
Not until the fall of the year 1895, however, was any attempt made to organize a definite class with an instructor, when the first class in mechanical drawing was started with H. H. Harris as teacher. There were 12 students enrolled in this class. J. G. Evans was secretary of the association at this time. Later, classes in bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting, penmanship, arithemetic, algebra, electricity and other subjects were added to the curriculum of the evening school. The following outline will give all idea of the number of students and classes each year since the organiation of the educational work:
| YEAR | CLASSES | STUDENTS |
| 1895-96 | 1 | 12 |
| 1896-97 | 3 | 22 |
| 1897-98 | 5 | 54 |
| 1898-99 | 7 | 40 |
| 1899-00 | 6 | 89 |
| 1900-01 | 6 | 48 |
| 1901-02 | 6 | 45 |
| 1902-03 | 7 | 54 |
| 1903-04 | 3 | 36 |
| 1904-05 | 4 | 43 |
| 1905-06 | 4 | 43 |
| 1906-07 | 6 | 94 |
| TOTAL | 58 | 580 |
When the educational work was first started, the tuition fees were remarkably low, 50 cents being the cost of a three-months' term. Later the fee was raised to $1 for a similar period, 50 per cent. of which, however, was refunded for attendance at 80 per cent. of the class sessions. In keeping with the policy of the most progressive associations throughout the country, the tuition fees have been gradually advanced as the standard of the work has been raised and the proficiency of the instruction increased, and yet the fees are very reasonable, so as to enable worthy students to secure the benefit of practical instruction at a price that is within their means.
Since the 12 years of its existence, the educational department has had 580 different students enrolled in its classes; nearly 600 men have availed themselves of the opportunity of improving their education, thereby increasing their efficiency and value as employees and citizens.
ST. MARY'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL
Is one of the educational institutions of Marion, which has made remarkable onward strides since its establishment. Father Quattman was the founder of. the local parochial school. At the very beginning of his pastorate in 1875, the school building on North Main
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street was commenced and was completed the following years. The school was started with five grades and two Sisters of Charity were the teachers. There are now 12 Sisters of Charity, who are teachers, and the school is divided into eight grades and a High School. The High School maintains a high standard and requires four years of study from its graduates. There are now 400 scholars in attendance, of whom 30 are in the High School. Thirty students are in the commercial department, which requires two years study to complete the course.
As the school grew in numbers and strength, it became necessary to provide larger quarters. One of the first movements started by Father Denning was one for the new school building. The old church was taken away and in its place a handsome and modern school building was constructed at a cost of $35,710. It contains 11 rooms. It was completed in May, 1906.