Yolo County CA Archives History - Books .....Schools Of Yolo County 1913
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Book Title: History Of Yolo County

CHAPTER XXVIII
SCHOOLS OF YOLO COUNTY

By Mrs. May E. Dexter-Henshall

    In the spring of 1847 in a primitive structure near the banks of Cache creek
one mile from Gordon's, Mr. Tyler, the pioneer teacher of Yolo county, gathered
about him his little flock of eight pupils and taught them the three R's,
untrammeled by any laws governing education. Miss Matilda McCord, of Illinois,
taught the second school, which was located at Fremont in 1849. The school-house
was a frame building erected by Jonas Spect. Mr. Wheaton, afterwards a lawyer in
San Francisco, taught a private school in Washington at an early date. It was
probably the third school in the county.

    There was one school in the county in 1851 and seventy-five children between
four and eighteen years of age. An early historian states that the school was
probably located at Washington. The reports of 1852 and 1853 show that there
were two schools and one hundred and forty-three children between four and
eighteen years of age. These two schools were at Washington and Yolo City, now
Woodland.

    In the early part of 1853 the people living south of Cache creek who had
children needing school facilities erected a building on the land later owned by
R. L. Beamer, within four rods of the south line of his place, and where Fourth
street would intersect it if continued far enough north. The building was 16x20
feet, the frame, floor, windows, and door casings being of sawed oak lumber,
while the roof and sides were covered with oak shakes. There were four windows,
two on either side, and a door in the west end. The furniture consisted of seats
eight feet long, made from 4wo-inch planks, by inserting pins into them for
legs, the desk being a seat with longer legs. The lumber was all hand-sawed by
Joseph German. J. C. Welch was the first teacher. He was paid $100 a month by
the school patrons, John Morris, Robert Welch, F. C. Ruggles, Mrs. High, J. M.
Harbin, George McConnell, William G. Belcher, John Cops, William Gordon, the
Wolfskills, and Hap. Works of Gordon Valley. The books used were such as each
family happened to possess. There were Ray's, Smith's, and Smiley's arithmetics,
Smith's grammar, and several kinds of readers. The school was taught five months
by Mr. Welch, commencing in April or May, and the attendance averaged about
twenty pupils. He was succeeded by Joseph German, followed by L. B. Ruggles. The
building was afterwards given to the public and in it was taught the first
public school by Rev. J. N. Pendegast, in District No. 1.

   Sometime during 1853 a school-house was built on the land now owned by A. W.
Morris, north of Cache creek, and as the school census reports of 1854 show but
three schools in the county, they must have been in the Woodland, Reed, and
Washington buildings. The Reed school-house was in Cache Creek District No. 2,
which was north of the creek. Previous to 1855 the county assessor had
supervision over the schools of the county.

   On September 13, 1855, L. M. Mering was elected county school superintendent.
No records are on file for the year that he served, as his books and papers were
burned. Fortunately he had filed a report with the state superintendent. His
reports shows that the following districts were in existence:

   Cache Creek, Districts Nos. 1 and 2, with number of children between the ages
of four and eighteen years of age, 278; Washington No. 1, 64; and Cottonwood No.
1, 95.

   The lowest salary paid was $60 per month and the highest was $100. The
average school term was five months. The teachers employed were L. B. Ruggles,
C. D. Tibbetts, Emma Alexander, M. A. Wheaton, and M. Woods. The total amount
expended for educational purposes in 1855 was $1,543.50.

   N. Wyckoff was appointed superintendent of schools on November 20, 1856. He
was succeeded by Henry Gaddis on September 15, 1857. Of those early days his
widow, Mrs. Anna Barnes, has given most interesting information. The
superintendent did not have an office. People who wished to transact business
with him went to his home. The applicants who wished to teach came to him to be
examined. They would travel for miles on horseback through the forest, and, with
carpet-bag in hand, ask for a night's lodging and for permission to teach.
"Every greenhorn that came thought he could teach in 'Californy' " The
optimistic remark, "I reckon I can brush up a bit," was often heard.

   After the applicant had rested over night and been fortified by a generous
meal of fried chicken, provided by the superintendent's sympathetic wife, the
examination commenced. It was usually oral. Webster's international spelling
book proved the Waterloo of many a crestfallen applicant, for failure to spell
correctly was an offense not to be condoned by Mr. Gaddis.

   As the years went by the teachers were examined by an examining board. The
early records give names of examiners and those examined. If successful, the one
word "Approved" was placed after the applicant's name. If unsuccessful, the word
"Disapproved" was written. After an instructor had taught school a year he had
to be examined again. Teaching had not then reached the dignity of a profession.
Neither were the people agitated by the question of "state text-books." Each
child studied from the books his parents happened to possess.

   Promotion certificates and diplomas of graduation had not at that time caused
any unrest to pupils, teachers, or parents. At the close of the term the pupils
would mark the page that they had studied last. The next year a new teacher
would appear, have them go back to the beginning, and study it all over again.

    Pupils sat on benches and had benches in front of them for their books. The
big rawhide or black-snake occupied a prominent place and kept an outward
serenity in the overcrowded schoolrooms. At the close of the month the teacher
would have to go to the home of the superintendent for his salary warrant and
then travel on horseback to Cacheville, the county seat, to have it cashed.

    Among the pioneers who have left a lasting impression upon the minds and
hearts of the people is Mrs. F. S. Freeman. When a girl of seventeen in her
comfortable Eastern home she read "Colton's Three Years in California."
Fascinated with the tales she read, she decided to see this western land. She
made the trip in 1856 by the Nicaragua route. Shortly after her arrival she
commenced teaching a subscription school three miles from Folsom. Each pupil
paid her $1 per week, bringing the money to her each Monday. At the close of the
term she decided to go to Yolo City (Woodland). She crossed the Sacramento river
on a ferry-boat and traveled on horseback from seven o'clock in the morning
until seven in the evening through the woods between Sacramento and Yolo City.
Because of the oak grove in which Yolo City was located Mrs. Freeman, at a later
date, suggested that the village be called Woodland. When the postoffice was
changed from Cacheville to Yolo City the name Woodland was given to the place.

    In those early days Mrs. Freeman was known as Miss Gertrude Swain, and was
elected first teacher to occupy the new school building that was erected in Yolo
City in 1856, one block west of the eastern termination of Main street. The
upper part of the new school building was used as a Masonic hall.

    The trustees, Mr. Giddings, F. C. Ruggles, and Rev. J. N. Pendegast, asked
Miss Swain a few general questions, gave her some words to spell, had her read
two verses from one of Longfellow's poems, and then pronounced her qualified to
teach the sixty restless lads and lassies of the village. She proved herself
equal to the undertaking, and names with pride as her former pupils, R. H.
Beamer, J. I. McConnell, D. M. Burns, Wirt Pendegast, Henry Fisher, Mrs. Mary
Beamer Brown, and many others.

   It was not an uncommon sight to see three or four children on the back of one
horse wending their way through the woods to school. They were all ages, from
the tiny "A, B, C's" to the stalwart youth who was as old as his teacher. The
salary paid was $60 a month. The school was in session three months in the
summer and three months in the winter. Miss Swain taught the school for two
years. She was succeeded by J. C. Welch, who was followed by Miss Carrie
Templeton. The school had grown so large that it was divided into two rooms.
Prof. Giles Freeman and his wife were elected teachers.

    The school building which was erected in 1856 was built on land not
belonging to the district, and resulted in expensive litigation in after years.
C. W. Crocker, who owned the land on which it was built, failed to make either a
deed to the district or to reserve it when he sold the farm, and the property,
after passing through several hands, was finally purchased by W. L. Messenger
and George D. Fiske, who offered to sell the same to the district for $250. By a
majority of three the people voted the requisite amount for Messenger and Fiske;
also $300 to pay the Masons for their interest, and $300 for teachers' salaries.
The collection of the tax was contested. The supreme court decided in favor of
the tax. As the value of the lot had increased in the meantime until it was
worth four times the amount of their first offer, Messenger and Fiske refused to
sell it for $250. The trustees prosecuted them in the courts for a year or two
in a vain effort to force an acceptance of the offer. The building was finally
decided to be the property of Messenger and Fiske. Afterwards it was used as a
hotel and was called the Travelers' Best, or Quilty Building.

    The district being without a school-house, a vote was taken to see if the
people would authorize a tax to build one. The vote was not in favor of the tax.
At the time a lot was offered for school purposes at $400, and to secure it
twenty progressive men subscribed $20 each, and after having purchased it
offered it to the district as a gift, provided a school-house was built on it.
Another election was called and the proposition received but seventeen negative
votes. The following are most of the names of those who presented the lot to the
district: Clark Elliot, Nathan Elliot, R. B. Blowers, D. A. Jackson, Dr. George
H. Jackson, J. G. A. Overshiner, C. P. Sprague, George D. Fiske, James Asberry,
A. C. Ruggles, F. C. Ruggles, F. S. Freeman, L. F. Craft, G. E. Sill, J. M.
Garoutte, O. D. Wescott, A. S. House, D. M. White, and W. L. Messenger. The
trustees procured plans and specifications, and in August, 1871, commenced to
erect the structure that is now known as the Main Street school building. It
cost nearly $16,000. In March, 1872, the legislature passed a special Act
authorizing the levying of taxes and issuing of bonds to enable Woodland
district to complete the building and pay the debts already incurred.

    At the present time (1912) there are three elementary school buildings in
Woodland named after the principal street upon which each is located, as
follows: Main, Walnut and Oak.

    The following is the official list of the districts, clerks, postoffice
addresses, and teachers of Yolo county for the year ending June 30, 1912:

Apricot—August Brinck, Winters. Teacher, Mrs. Anna C. Gregory.
Buckeye—Chas. Allen, Winters.   Teacher, Mrs. Maude Lamme.
Cache Creek—G. L. Griffith, Woodland. Teachers, Edith V. Edmiston, Mrs. Lulu
     H. Windsor.
Cacheville—Bernard Borach, Yolo. Teachers, D. D. Sturgis, Margaret Shell.
Canon—C. W. Kingsbury, Brooks. Teacher, June B. Smith.
Cadenasso—H. C. Howard, Brooks. Teacher, Gatsey Landrum.
Capay—L. A. Eddy, Capay. Teacher, Lillie L. Laugenour.
Cottonwood—L. E. Kale, Madison. Teacher, Elsie White.
Clover—Wm. Reiff, Madison. Teacher, Mary Vasey.
Davis—J. C. Luft, Davis. Teachers, E. C. Kissling, Elsa V. Boydstun, Hazel Hyde.
Enterprise—D. F. Houx, Blacks. Teacher, Frank Hulbert.
Esparto—C. F. Derby, Esparto. Teachers, T. L. Herbert, Julia McWilliams.
Eureka—Chas. C. Morris, Grafton. Teacher, Blanch I. Laird.
Fairfield—Wm. Oeste, Davis. Teacher, Vivian Yater.
Fairview—Edward Linderman, Capay. Teacher, Elizabeth Powers.
Fillmore—W. H. Browning, Woodland. Teacher, Julia Bray.
Gordon—S. L. Norton, Madison. Teacher, Lester C. Dalbey.
Grafton—M. F. Huber, Grafton. Teachers, T. L. Whitehead, Alma Brandenberg.
Guinda—A. H. Beard, Guinda. Teacher, Stella Harris.
Jefferson—J. C. Smith, Courtland. Teacher, Lillie Bean.
Laugenour—J. W. Gallup, Woodland. Teacher, Stacy Armstrong.
Liberty—Mrs. W. W. Vickroy, Woodland. Teacher, Mrs. May Sharpnack.
Lisbon—M. S. Contente, Freeport. Teacher, Marion Duncan.
Madison—J. T. Archer, Madison. Teacher, Florence Armstrong.
Merritt—B. J. Waterbury, Clarksburg. Teachers, Myrtle Rowe, Gertrude Watson.
Monument—J. J. Merkley, Sacramento. Teacher, Lucy V. J. Riley.
Mountain—Eobert Clooney, Capay. Teacher, Aida Cadenasso.
Mt. Pleasant—George J. Snyder, Madison. Teacher, Mrs. E. J. Craig.
North Grafton—A. H. Reager, Dunnigan. Teacher, Widde Kendrick.
Oat Creek—D. H. Long, Blacks. Teacher, Elizabeth McGrew.
Parks—Mrs. S. Pritchett, Brooks. Teacher, Elvie Swinney.
Plainfield—H. O. Purinton, Plainfield. Teacher, Mary Hall.
Pleasant Prairie—Frank Cook, Woodland. Teacher, Marian Stone.
Prairie—L. J. Didion, Blacks. Teacher, Arthur E. Mills.
Bumsey—Geo. A. Farish, Rumsey. Teacher, Edna Williams.
Sacramento River—George C. Lauken, Sacramento. Teacher, Kate Merkley.
Spring Lake—E. S. Farnham, Woodland. Teacher, Frances Simmons.
Summit—A. A. Logan, Guinda. Teacher, Hilda Fisher.
Union—Mrs. Clarence Scott, Winters. Teacher, Mabel Sackett.
Washington—Frank De Riso, Broderick. Teachers, Carolyne M. Webb, Irma Phleger,
    Olive Martinelli, Anna M. Dixon, Vita Baker, Mary Duff.
Wildwood—A. H. Abele, Arbuckle. Teacher, Maude Kast.
Willow Spring—John Horgan, Blacks. Teacher, Ellen Kelly.
Woodland Prairie—W. C. Schuder, Woodland. Teacher, Merlin Ogden.
Winters—Geo. R. Sidwell, Winters. Teachers, Stewart O. Samuels, Emily Seaman,
    Edith Overhouse, Edna Stark, Alma Sims, Mrs. Bertha Young; music, Helene
    J. Sloane.
Woodland—C. E. Dingle, Woodland. Teachers, C. E. Dingle, Harriett S. Lee,
    Kathryn Simmons, Annie McWilliams, Mabel Griffes, Bertha Laugenour, Florence
    Murray, Eleanor Shell, Lola Bray, Jennie Gibson, Gertrude White, M. Ella
    Baker, Rhoda Maxwell; kindergarten, Anne Reith; music, March Clements.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Esparto Union High—J. L. Stephens, Madison. Teachers, Charles G. Davis, Ethel
    Davis, Violet Beck, Lillian Secrest.
Pierce Joint Union High—J. E. Cain, Arbuckle. Teachers. J. Perry Eatzell, A. R.
    Baird, Mildred Martin, Clara Shira.
Winters Joint Union High—F. W. Wilson, Winters. Teachers, Louise Mayne, Mary
    Stewart, Kate Zimmerman, Bessie Mayne, Matilda Hayes.
Woodland High—Wm. M. Hyman, Woodland. Teachers, William M. Hyman, Mrs. L. D.
    Lawhead, Lola J. Simpson, Oda M. Smith, Olive Montgomery, Ella Tuttle,
    Veta Hurst, G. T. Kern.
Yolo County Board of Education—C. E. Dingle, Woodland: Wm. M. Hyman, Woodland;
    Annie McWilliams, Woodland; E. C. Kissling, Davis; May E. Dexter-Henshall,
    Woodland.
May E. Dexter-Henshall, superintendent of schools.
Suspended Districts—Franklin, Monday and Willow Slough.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

    The earliest record of the establishment of a school district as shown by
the records of the board of supervisors was on October 7, 1856. No name was
given to the district. (A-197.) On December 3, 1856, the following districts
were in existence, as the records show that school funds were apportioned to
them: Cache Creek North, Cache Creek South, Washington. (A-219.) On January 7,
1857, N. Wyckoff, superintendent of schools, made the following order: "To
prevent confusion from the similarity of names, it is ordered by this office
that districts shall be numbered as follows: Cache Creek South shall be known as
District No. 1; Cache Creek North, District No. 2; Washington, District No. 3;
Cottonwood, District No. 4; Cache Creek on the Colusa Plains (probably the early
name for Prairie District), District No. 5.

    From the records of the boards of supervisors and also those kept by Henry
Gaddis, superintendent of schools from 1857 to 1863, the names of the districts
and dates they were established have been secured. As some of the districts were
not named when they were established and some of them changed their names after
they were formed, it has been impossible to give an accurate record of the
establishment of each of the present districts. The following is a list of the
districts and the dates they were established:

Cache Creek North, No. 1.
Cache Creek South, No. 2.
Washington, No. 3.
Cottonwood, No. 4, May 4, 1858.
West of Cache Creek North, No. 5, May 4, 1858.
West of Cache Creek South, No. 6, May 4, 1858.
Knight's Landing, No. 7, May 4, 1858.
South Putah, No. 8, June, 1858.
North Putah, No. 9, June, 1858.
Buckeye, No. 10, September 11, 1858.
Cacheville, No. 11, October, 1858.
Grand Island, No. 12, August 2, 1859.
Merritt, No. 13, August 2, 1859.
Fillmore, No. 14, February 25, 1861.
Fremont (Sycamore Grove), No. 15, November, 1859.
Plainfield, No. 16, June 17, 1861.
Willow Slough, No. 17, October 10, 1861.
Monument, No. 18, November 5, 1861.
Pine Grove, No. 19 (Winters District).
Cache Creek Valley School District (Canon), No. 20, November 6, 1862.
Union, No. 21, November 6, 1862.
Woodland Prairie, No. 22, August 3, 1863.
Richland, No. 23, 1864.
Sacramento River, No. 24, November 7, 1864.
Mount Nebo, No. 25, November 7, 1864.
Eureka, No. 26, May 2, 1865.
Cottonwood, No. 27, August 15, 1865.
Capay, No. 28, March 5, 1866.
Putah, No. 29, May 7, 1866.
Excelsior, No. 30, May 8, 1866.
Enterprise, No. 31, August 8, 1866.
Vernon, April 4, 1867.
Pleasant Prairie, No. 33, May 8, 1867.
Fair View, March 9, 1868.
Fair View (probably Spring Lake), May 5, 1868.
Clover, August 4, 1868.
Yolo, September 7, 1868.
Mount Pleasant, March 1, 1869.
North Grafton, April 6, 1869.
Montgomery, February 8, 1870.
Lisbon, May 4, 1870.
Haight, March 6, 1871.
Center, May 6, 1872.
Mountain, January 12, 1875.
Langville, May 12, 1875.
Jefferson, April 11, 1876.
Occidental, July 10, 1876.
Jefferson, January 8, 1877.
Quicksilver, January 8, 1877.
Champion, July 19, 1880.
Wildwood, May 10, 1881.
Bufort, May 10, 1881.
Pacific, October 13, 1885.
Oat Creek, April 6, 1886.
East Slope, March 5, 1890.
Cleveland, March 5, 1890.
Escalante, March 5, 1890.
City of Woodland School District of Yolo County, July 9, 1890.
Guinda, April 7, 1891.
Monday, May 5, 1891.
Madison, April 3, 1894.
Summit, April 2, 1895.
New district (not named), March 1, 1897.
Fillmore, February 7, 1910.

    Additional districts are mentioned in the reports of 1867, '697 '70, and '71
made by the superintendents to the supervisors, as follows: Woodland, Buchanan,
Prairie, Grafton, Franklin, Monitor, Gordon, Fairfield, Liberty.

    Vernon and Franklin Districts were consolidated on May 10, 1881. Wildwood
District in Yolo county consolidated with Wildwood District in Colusa county
September 12, 1881. Montgomery District was re-established June 6, 1887.
Montgomery District was lapsed July 15, 1891. Pine Grove District was named
Winters District on June 6, 1887. Occidental District was named Rumsey April 5,
1892. Pacific District lapsed July 2, 1894. Eureka and Buchanan Districts united
September 20, 1897, and formed Eureka District. Center District lapsed July 3,
1899. Monitor District lapsed June 8, 1900. Cleveland District lapsed June 3,
1907. Franklin District was suspended August 3, 1909. Willow Slough District was
suspended August 7, 1911. Monday District was suspended August 7, 1911. Parks
District was suspended August 5, 1912. Mountain District was suspended August 5,
1912. Monday District lapsed August 5, 1912. Summit District was suspended
August 5, 1912.

    The list of school superintendents of Yolo county, with date of election, is
as follows: L. M. Mering, September 13, 1855; N. Wyckoff, November 20, 1856
(appointed); Henry Gaddis, September 15, 1857; Henry Gaddis, September 10, 1859;
Henry Gaddis, September 4,1861; Henry Gaddis, September 2, 1863; M. A. Woods,
September 6, 1865; R. R. Darby, September 4, 1867; R. R. Darby, January 13,
1868; R. R. Darby, September 6, 1869; G. N. Freeman, September 11, 1871;.G. N.
Freeman, September 3, 1873; H. B. Pendegast, September 6, 1875; H. B. Pendegast,
September 5, 1877; J. W. Goin, September 3, 1879; J. W. Goin, November 7, 1882;
George Banks, November 2, 1886; George Banks, November 11, 1890; Clara A. March,
November 6, 1894 (died July, 1897); H. B. Pendegast, July 8, 1897 (appointed);
Mrs. S. E. Peart, November 8, 1898; Mrs. Minnie De Vilbiss, November 10, 1902
(died January, 1906); May E. Dexter, January 15, 1906 (appointed); May E.
Dexter, November 6, 1906; May E. Dexter-Henshall, November 8, 1910.

HESPERIAN COLLEGE

    Hesperian College was organized June 20, 1860, by the citizens of Yolo City,
under leadership of Prof. O. L. Mathews. Ten acres of land were donated by M. M.
Harris, five for the college and five for the residence of Professor Mathews.
The sum of $4,925 was subscribed in scholarships. The cash donation amounted to
$1,025. All this was, by a contract with the citizens, to go to Prof. O. L.
Mathews, who was to erect a building and conduct an academy or seminary for five
years called "Yolo Seminary." At the end of five years the property was to
belong to Mr. Mathews.

    On January 18, 1861, a committee of stockholders reported on a change of
plan, owing to the fact that it would take several thousand dollars more than
was originally anticipated. They reported a plan whereby the property and
premises may and shall be forever devoted to the cause of education and agreed
to pay Professor Mathews $700 for his interest, carry out his obligations, and
employ his teachers.

    The committee further reported and advised that a temporary board of five
trustees be selected to conduct and control said enterprise, employ teachers,
and to employ Professor Mathews to take charge of the same; that a committee be
appointed to apply to the legislature for certificate of incorporation with a
permanent board of trustees, and that three-fourths of the same shall be members
in good standing of the religious body known as the Christian Church; that a
committee be appointed to draft a plan of organization and prepare a charter for
a collegiate institution, and on approval to submit the same to the present
session of the legislature of California (1861) and they be petitioned to pass
the same.

    The committee advised that a general agent be appointed whose duty it shall
be to canvass the state and solicit aid for the institution in money, books,
apparatus, etc., and that a special agent be appointed to solicit aid in Yolo
county and the counties adjacent.

    This report was submitted by a committee January 8, 1861, which committee
was composed of J. N. Pendegast, N. Wyckoff, J. C. Welch, F. S. Freeman and R.
L. Beamer, and the same was adopted, and the following were elected as the board
of trustees, viz.: Joshua Lawson, James F. Morris, H. M. Fiske, and J. C. Welch.
J. N. Pendegast, O. L. Mathews and W. W. Stephenson were appointed a committee
to petition the legislature to incorporate the institution under a board of
trustees, three-fourths of whom should be members, in good standing, of the
Christian Church.

    On March 11, 1861, Professor Mathews assigned his interest to said trustees,
in consideration of $700, and he was employed president of the institution. The
first term of the institution opened on the first Monday in March, 1861. On
March 6, 1861, the treasurer made report showing that he had received $4,813.13
from scholarships and donations and had paid out $4,999.80. At the same meeting
J. N. Pendegast, of the building committee, made a report showing that in
building, the institution was in debt above its assets, in the sum of $2,238.04.
About this time the name of the institution was changed from "Yolo Seminary" to
Hesperian College.

    The minutes show that down to 1894 the president of the institution was a
member of the Christian Church and that the faculty at all times had been
composed of members of the Christian Church.

    On January 20, 1868, the board of trustees present J. N. Pendegast, F. S.
Freeman, R. L. Beamer and E. Giddings, selected a temporary board of trustees
for the incorporation of the college, as follows: J. N. Pendegast, F. S.
Freeman, R. L. Beamer, C. Nelson, U. Shellhammer, Edward Bynum, Jesse Clark, G.
O. Burnett, W. W. Dewitt, A. C. Hawkins, B. S. Young, John Hendley, J. F.
Thompson, J. P. Rose, W. C. Miller, A. M. Crow, T. H. Lane, Silas March, J. P.
Blanks, S. K. Hallum and W. W. Pendegast.

    On October 17, 1868, on motion, J. N. Pendegast was appointed to make
application for a charter to the state board. June 3, 1869, the minutes show
that, Hesperian College, having been incorporated, it was ordered that the first
meeting of the new board be held at she college building on Monday, August 23,
1869, and the secretary directed to notify the trustees.

    On August 23, 1869, J. N. Pendegast was elected president; B. C. Lawson,
secretary, and the faculty elected was composed of J. M. Martin, J. L. Simpson,
G. N. Freeman, Mrs. C. L. Cross, William Walle, and Mrs. J. E. Dixon, for the
school year of 1869-70.

    On March 15, 1872, a committee composed of J. L. Simpson, B. C. Lawson and
R. W. Dewitt, was appointed to consider the propriety of inaugurating a Bible
department in Hesperian College, and a committee consisting of C. Nelson, U.
Shellhammer and Jesse Welch appointed to consider the question of raising an
endowment fund for Hesperian College. These committees reported May 8, 1872. On
endowment, the report in substance is that the endowment of the college is an
indispensable necessity to her future prosperity; that the sum of $25,000 be the
minimum subscribed to make the subscription binding; that the subscriptions be
paid in five equal installments, the first to be due when the sum of $25,000
shall have been subscribed, and the other installments to be due within one,
two, three, and four years thereafter, with interest annually at the rate of ten
per cent. The committee on Bible department reported in substance that the cause
of Christ requires the establishment of a school for the dissemination of the
knowledge of the sacred scriptures amongst the young, and especially for the
benefit of those who propose to preach the gospel, and recommended the
inauguration of such a school or department of instruction in Hesperian College,
provided that a sufficient sum can be raised to endow a chair of sacred literature.

    Elder J. N. Pendegast was chosen president of the college and professor
sacred literature on July 26, 1872.

    On December 2, 1872, on motion, the plan for raising the endowment fund for
the college passed May 8, 1872, was annulled, and the minimum sum to be raised
by subscription fixed at $10,000.

    About 1887 the trustees of Hesperian College decided to sell the original
site and building to Gibson and Briggs for $20,000. The college was next located
on the present site of the Woodland High school. Nine years slipped quickly by.

    The trustees of Hesperian College met in Beamers' Hall, August 21, 1896,
with the following members present: C. W. Bush, J. D. Lawson, F. S. Freeman, C.
G. Day, C. W. Thomas, John R. Briggs, U. Shellhammer, A. M. Elston, J. J.
Stephens, W. Y. Browning, W. A. Gardner, C. Nelson, W. B. Gibson and J. W.
Bandy. C. W. Bush was elected chairman and J. D. Lawson, secretary. The purpose
of the meeting was to hear the report of the committee on the matter of
transferring the property and endowment fund of Hesperian College to the
Berkeley Bible Seminary. C. W. Thomas made a verbal report in behalf of himself
and W. A. Gardner, showing how a legal transfer could be made. C. W. Bush
followed with a written minority report. C. W. Thomas made a motion that was at
first defeated, then reconsidered and carried by unanimous vote. His motion was
that all the money, property and franchise of Hesperian College be transferred
to the Berkeley Bible Seminary on condition that said Berkeley Bible Seminary
pay the indebtedness of Hesperian College and transfer the land with college
building and stable to the Woodland High School District, paying all expenses
for transfer and in addition thereto pay to the Christian Church the sum of
$5626.75.

   Mr. Thomas then moved that the trustees proceed to pay the debts of the
corporation and make application for dissolution. The motion was adopted by
unanimous vote.

   A motion was made and carried authorizing the executive committee to transfer
the chemical apparatus to the high school and the library to the Public Library
and to dispose of all other personal property belonging to the college.

    On August 22, 1896, the trustees of Hesperian College conveyed to the
trustees of the Berkeley Bible Seminary the real property of the college, an
endowment fund of $21,170.23, and certain rights, privileges and franchises.

    The Berkeley Bible Seminary agreed to accept the conveyance of the property,
endowment, rights, etc., and agreed to pay to the Christian Church of Woodland,
California, an amount sufficient to pay off a mortgage indebtedness of $5626.76
and to convey the real property known as the Hesperian College property,
including college building, barn, and lot on which barn is located to the
Woodland High School for high school purposes.

    On February 12, 1897, the property was deeded to the Woodland School
District with the following proviso: "Provided that said property shall be used
for high school educational purposes and none other, that if said property
should at any time cease to be used for high school educational purposes the
same shall revert to the Berkeley Bible Seminary and become the property of this
corporation."

   During the many years that Hesperian College was in existence it was
recognized as one of the best educational institutions in California. It
numbered among its instructors some of the finest educators of the state. Its
presidents were: O. L. Mathews, H. M. Atkenson, J. W. Anderson, J. M. Martin, J.
N. Pendegast, B. H. Smith and A. M. Elston.

YOLO COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, DISTRICTS

    Winters Joint Union High School was established in 1892. It comprises
Apricot, Buckeye and Winters Districts in Yolo County and Olive and Wolfskill
Districts in Solano County. The enrollment for the year ending June 30, 1912,
was seventy-three pupils. The members of the high school board are Fred W.
Wilson, president; August Brinck, James R. Briggs, C. M. Cooper and William
Baker. The members of the faculty for the year 1912 are Louise Mayne, principal;
Mary Stewart, Matilda Hayes, Bessie Mayne and Mrs. Kate J. Stirring.

    Esparto Union High School was established in 1892. The districts forming it
are Cadenasso, Canon, Cottonwood, Esparto, Fairview, Gordon, Guinda, Madison,
Monday, Mountain, Mt. Pleasant, Rumsey, Summit and Willow Spring. The number of
students enrolled in 1912 was forty-two. The members of the high school board
are J. L. Stephens, president; R. O. Armstrong, H. B. Johnson, E. J. Mast and
Edward Morrin. The members of the faculty for the year 1912 are Mrs. H.
Josephine Shute, Lillian Secrest, Pearl Heath and Ray T. Howes.

    The date of the establishment of the Woodland High School was April 23,
1895. It was located within the corporate limits of the city of Woodland.

    The city board of education at that time had for its members C. I. Nelson,
N. M. Weaver, F. E. Baker, E. T. Clowe and Herbert Coil. E. H. Henderson was the
first principal, with Mrs. L. D. Lawhead and J. D. Burks as assistants. The
first year the school was held in three rooms in the Walnut Street Grammar
School building. The next year (1896) the trustees of Hesperian College
permitted the old college building to be used by the high school. The members of
the faculty for the term commencing August 24, 1896, were E. H. Henderson,
principal, with Mrs. L. D. Lawhead and William Hyman as assistants.

    The steady increase of students from 1896 till there were one hundred
ninety-one in 1912 made it necessary to vote bonds for a new building. A bond
election was held December 18, 1911. It carried by more than two-thirds
majority. Nine hundred seventy-three votes were cast. Of this number eight
hundred fourteen votes were in favor of the bonds. The bonds issued were for
$90,000, payable in forty years, with interest at the rate of five per cent per
annum. The bonds were purchased by the Bank of Yolo. A magnificent new building,
designed by W. H. Weeks of San Francisco, is in course of construction.

    The members of the Woodland Board of Education are J. Reith, Jr., president;
F. C. Emert, J. L. Harlan, R. J. Gibson and Charles Thomas, Jr.

    The members of the faculty are William M. Hyman, principal; Mrs. L. D.
Lawhead, vice-principal; Lola J. Simpson, Oda M. Smith, Olive Montgomery, Ella
Tuttle, Veta Hurst, G. T. Kern and Arthur Thomas.

UNIVERSITY FARM

    The University Farm at Davis was established according to an act of the
legislature of 1905. At that session Hon. Nicholas A. Hawkins, member of the
assembly from Yolo county, introduced a bill appropriating $1,500 to purchase
and begin the equipment of such a farm and naming a commission of five men to
make the selection. Out of scores of sites offered in various parts of the state
a farm of 780 acres adjoining the town of Davis was chosen in 1906.

    The first buildings were erected in 1907. Short courses for adult farmers
were first offered in the fall of 1908. The farm school for young men and boys
was opened in January, 1909, and students from the College of Agriculture at
Berkeley came for part of their four-year course at the same time.

    The farm is a part of the College of Agriculture of the State University and
its purpose is to carry on experiments in all lines of agriculture and to give
instruction in agriculture in such a manner that all who need may be supplied.
The farm school is open to boys who have completed the grammar school and offers
a three-year course touching upon all phases of farm life and work. The farmers'
short course admits all persons over eighteen years of age and without any
educational test. The courses, seven in all, are given each fall and range in
length from two to seven weeks. In 1911 the short course enrollment was 214.
During 1911-12 the enrollment in the farm school was 100. Up to July 1, 1912,
about $450,000 have been expended in land, buildings and permanent equipment.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]


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