Grundy County IL Archives History - Books .....Chapter 8 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 4, 2006, 2:41 am Book Title: History Of Grundy County IL 1882 CHAPTER VIII.* MORRIS TOWNSHIP—ITS ORGANIZATION, BOUNDARIES AND CHANGES—THE NEW COURT HOUSE— SCHOOLS OF MORRIS—EARLY TEACHERS—THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. TURN we now from the noise, bustle and confusion, of the city to the country. The question of adopting township organization having been submitted to a vote of the people and carried by a large majority, the county court at its December term, 1849, appointed George H. Kiersted, Philip Collins and Robert Gibson, commissioners, to divide the county into towns or townships. This committee submitted their report in writing to said county court at its March meeting, 1850, which report was approved by said county court, March 4, 1850. Under and by virtue of this report, and its approval, the township or town of Morris embraced the following territory: "The whole of the north fraction of Congressional Township No. thirty-three (33) north, of Range No. seven (7) east, together with that portion of Section No. six (6) in Township No. thirty- three (33) north, Range eight east, lying north of the Illinois River; also the island in said river, with the exception of that portion of Waupecan Island lying on the south half of Section No. seven (7) in Township No. thirty- three (33) north, Range No. seven (7) east, etc. to constitute one division to be known by the name of Morris." The territory embraced in the township of Morris, as established by the commissioners, contained about *By Hon. P. A. Armstrong. 4,000 acres of land as follows: All that portion of Sec. 6, T. 33, R. 8, lying north of the Illinois River; also so much of Sections 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10, as lie north of said river, with Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 entire. But since then Morris has been badly shorn of her territory by taking from the Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, and attaching or adding them to the town of Erienna, leaving Morris but a small town in point of territory. The fraction on Section 6, T. 33, R. 8, and the north fractions of Sections 1 and 2, and a part of the east half of Section three, compose, with the lands embraced in the city, our entire territory as a township. The town of Morris was fully organized by the election of town officers, on the first Tuesday in April, 1850. At this election P. A. Armstrong was elected supervisor; E. W. Hulburd, town clerk; Thomas Reynolds, assessor, etc. The first board of supervisors of the county convened at the old court house in Morris, June 12, 1850, and organized by the election of Philip Collins, chairman. At this meeting of the county board, George H. Kiersted and Robert Gibson were each paid $11.00, and Philip Collins $1.25, for their services as commissioners in dividing the county into towns. Why the services of Messrs. Kiersted and Gibson were worth so much more than those of Mr. Collins the record fails to disclose. This was a very economical board. At their November meeting they appointed a committee consisting of P. A. Armstrong, Geo. H. Kiersted and L. W. Claypool "to count the assessment rolls and carry out in appropriate columns the several amounts of taxes in dollars and cents, and also to prepare the collector's warrants for the different towns of this countY," fixing the compensation at one dollar and a half per day. Thus the board took from the county clerk, Mr. E. W. Hulburd, about the only paying work of his office. The books used by this committee for collector's books are a curiosity. They are small sized account books costing about twenty-five cents each, and are laid away among the archives as a witness to the over zealous disposition manifested by this first county board to be very economical. They never repeated the experiment. This board also attempted to make each town maintain its own paupers, and passed a resolution to that effect; but as it was diametrically opposed to the statute, the resolution was "more honored in the breach than in the observance." At the November meeting, 1850, Mr. Armstrong presented a petition of Jacob and L. W. Claypool for a license to establish a ferry across the Illinois river at Morris, accompanied with a resolution granting, the same for a period of five years, upon condition that they execute a bond in $500, to keep the same in accordance with the statute, and pay into the county treasury ten dollars per year as tax, establishing the rates of toll at fifteen cents per team over and back the same day, and ten cents for crossing one way. For man and horse over alone on the flat boat, ten cents, all owing double ferriage after 8 P. M., etc., which was, after various attempts were made to raise the amount of tax payable to the county, adopted, without amendment, by a vote of six to three. Fearing that the county officers might be extravagant in the purchase of stationery, on motion of Supervisor Jacob Claypool, Mr. Armstrong was appointed "special agent to pUrchase and provide stationery for those officers entitled to the same, and that the board would audit no bills for stationery presented by any other person." Mr. Jacob Claypool, a member of the first County Board in 1841, and the first Board of Supervisors in 1850, has been dead several years, but his grandson, Henry C. Claypool, now wears the toga and represents the town of Wauponsee so long represented by his grandfather in the Board of Supervisors. What, between Jacob Claypool, L. W., his son, John and Henry, his grandsons, Wauponsee has been represented in the County Board by a Claypool, the greater portion of time, for thirty-two years past. At the fall election, 1853, P. A. Armstrong was elected county clerk, and as in his judgment the old court house had no suitable place to keep the books and papers of the office, or afford comfortable quarters, he rented the north room on the second story of a frame, building standing where the Claypool block now stands, and then known as Goold's bank building, and moved the office to that room. This was a severe shock to the nerves of the economical Solons of the County Board. There was a special meeting of the board April 17, 1854. They met at the old court house instead of the county clerk's office. The clerk alone had the right to organize them. After some parleying the mountain went to Mahomet, and held their meeting, as the motion was "to Mr. Armstrong's office." When the rent for the use of the office fell due, they paid it, however. At the September meeting that fall, Mr. E. Walker, supervisor of the town of Morris, offered a resolution declaring in favor of building a new court house. On the passage of which, the ayes and nays were called, and it was adopted, ayes, 9, nays, 2. Messrs. Augustine, Walker and Renne, were appointed a committee to prepare plans, etc., who reported in favor of building a court house forty by seventy feet, at a cost not exceeding $8,000. On motion of Supervisor Justice Renne, "the clerk of the board was appointed to procure from some good architect a plan and specifications of a building for a court house, of nearly the dimensions of the one proposed by the building committee, to be presented for action at the next meeting of the board." But the clerk enlarged the plan or size of building to fifty-four by eighty-four, and obtained from J. M. Van Osdell, of Chicago, the plan of the present court house, which was adopted by the board, April 17, 1855, and a loan of $5,000 was ordered to raise funds to help build the same. The building committee, having advertised to let the contract to build such a building of brick, found the lowest bid was over $18,000.00, and therefore was afraid to let the contract. A special meeting of the board was called June 15, 1855, when Supervisor L. W. Claypool offered a resolution, limiting the amount to $18,000, exclusive of superintendence. Supervisor Walker offered an amendment to strike out $18,000 and insert $20,000, which amendment was carried by ten to four, and the resolution of Mr. Claypool, as amended, was adopted by a like vote. The old court house was ordered to be sold; the log jail had already been sold for $14. Mr. Miles Hills having resigned, as a member of the building committee, Mr. L. W. Claypool was appointed in his place, which committee consisted of Supervisors C. Grant, E. Walker, and L. W. Claypool. This committee awarded a contract, to build said court house of brick, to R. J. Cunningham & Co. for $19,360, who built the foundation and commenced on the brick walls. The brick were of an inferior quality. The clerk becoming disgusted with the appearance of the work, called a special meeting of the board Oct. 9, 1855.* *Mr. L. W. Claypool adds: "After various preliminaries, the board decided on building the court house of brick with stone trimmings; and in June, 1855, the building committee, consisting of C. Grant, Miles Hills and E. Walker, let the contract to Cunningham, Foster and Williams for $19,360 ($20,000 being the limit). At the September meeting, 1855, Superintendent Grant tendered the resignation of Miles Hills, and L. W. Claypool was elected to fill the vacancy. At this time the foundations were all built to the top of the water table, and the brick were being delivered for the main walls. Mr. Claypool at once declared that he would have nothing to do with the building if such brick were to be used, and being ably assisted by County Clerk Armstrong, Superintendent Watkins, E. P. Seeley, and particularly Mr. Dubreil, one of the contractors for, and then engaged in building the piers for the Morris bridge, being an expert in stone work, in computing the difference in cost between stone and brick, on a careful estimate, found that the additional cost of stone would not exceed $3,400. The board was called together by the clerk, with the advice of the building committee, no doubt, to meet Oct. 9, 1855, when Superintendent Claypool offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the court house building committee be, and they are hereby authorized, to change the plan of the court house with the contractors thereof, so that said building shall be built of stone on exterior walls, after the manner and of similar stone and dimensions as the Joliet court house; provided, however, that the cost thereof shall not exceed $3,400, the original contract price, and that any order of The record reads as follows: "Tuesday, October 9, 1855. The Board of Supervisors met at the county clerk's office this day pursuant to a call from the county clerk, for the purpose of considering the propriety and expediency of using stone entirely in lieu of brick in the construction of the court house." Mr. L. W. Claypool offered a resolution for such change, "provided the cost should not exceed $3,400 over the original contract price and that any order of the board previously passed limiting the cost of the court house to $20,000 be and the same is altered to $23,400, to suit the above proposed change, if made by the committee"— the board heretofore passed, limiting the entire cost of court house to $20,000, be, and the same is altered to $23,400, to suit the above proposed change, if made by the committee; and if not made, the committee are hereby instructed to have the exterior walls of said court house built of first-class common brick, such as are, or should be used, in constructing buildings of that dimension and cost, being in accordance with plan and specifications now on file. And should said committee make such change, the contractors are hereby allowed until the 25th of September (next) to complete said building." Adopted without division. At this time no good brick were being made in or near Morris; the contractors would be obliged to ship them quite a distance, at great expense; hence were quite willing to accept the proposition of the committee, to construct of stone at the cost of $3,400. Nov. 19, 1855, board met. E. Walker resigned as member of the committee, and F. S. Watkins was elected to fill the vacancy. Nov. 20, Superintendent Walker moved to retire Grant from the building committee, on account of ill health, and nominated Superintendent Renne in his place; adopted. April 22, 1856, Mr. Kenne was retired, and L. P. Lott substituted. The building committee, now consisting of Claypool, Watkins and Lott, completed the building, and March 6, 1858, made final settlement with contractors, and accepted the building; entire cost, $22,760; and as the contract was missing, it was stipulated in the settlement that if found at any time thereafter, all errors should be corrected, and money over-paid to be refunded, the committee believing that the contract price was $22,360. The contract was never found, and no money refunded. Miles Gordon assisted the committee as superintendent, and his bill was $44.50." which resolution was adopted by the board, and the building committee succeeded in effecting a change from brick to Joliet stone in the contract without increasing the cost but three thousand four hundred dollars. Thus, by the action of the county clerk, Mr. L.W. Claypool, and a few other liberal men, did Grundy County obtain a building 54 by 84, instead of 40 by 70, and at a cost of $22,760, instead of not exceeding $8,000 and lastly, a permanent stone building, instead of a tumble-down soft brick structure—for at that time no good brick had ever been made at or near Morris. We confess that it required a good deal of finessing and skill to work the country Solons up to the liberal point required to vote for so large an appropriation at that time. An appropriation equal to $100,000, now. It was accomplished, however, and the county has a court house that will serve all the purposes required for half a century. The old court house was in the way of building the new one, hence it had to be taken away, leaving the county with no place to hold courts. The clerks of the circuit and county courts had taken possession of the two offices of the brick jail, which had been built in the fall and winter of 1854, at a cost of $3,180. The Court House Committee had sold the old court house to Messrs. Foster & Williams (who had the contract for the carpenter work of the new court house) for $255, and they had sold it to H. L. Smith (better known as Husband Smith), who had moved it to his farm, W. 1/2, S. W. 1/4, S. 31, T. 34, R. 7, some three miles northwest from Morris, when after re- clothing and painting, it presented quite a respectable appearance as a farm dwelling, and where it still stands as a painted ghost of former times. The building committee rented the carpenter shop, now occupied by the Morris Cutlery Company, for the purpose of holding the fall and spring terms of the circuit court, and said court was there held. The first jail of the county was ordered built by the county commissioners at their December meeting, 1845. Jacob Claypool and George H. Kiersted were appointed as a special committee to prepare plans and specifications, and let the contract to build a jail to be located on the southeast corner of the court house square. They were men of genius as well as ability, with a keen sense of the ludicrous. They knew that the county board expected a jail to be built which would cost not to exceed $200 when completed. Both had a strong prejudice against building a jail independent of a court house, or before building a court house. Hence they decided to make the thing as ridiculous as they conveniently could, and accordingly decided to build a jail of green logs, with the bark on. The size, as we now remember, was 14 by 16. The bottom logs were placed some ten feet below the surface, a hole having been first dug and the bottom covered with logs, as nearly straight as possible, so that they could be placed closely side by side. Then the log walls were carried up to the surface, when another log floor was laid and then extended up some ten feet above ground. A trap- door (iron lattice work) was placed in or near the center of the upper floor, hung at one side with heavy iron hinges and a heavy staple and clasp on the opposite side, to be fastened by a mammoth padlock. The underground compartment was to form the cells, where the prisoners were to be put at night, and the upper part was for corridors. To put the prisoners in the cell, the jailor, after throwing back the trapdoor, would cause the prisoner to let himself down by suspending himself through the trap hole the length of his arms, and then letting go, alighting on his feet. To get them out in the morning, the jailor, who was physically very powerful, would reach down, and taking hold of their wrists, pull them up by main strength. True, they had a ladder, which, however, was seldom used. This jail was let to the lowest bidder, and our old friend, Dominic McGrath, was the successful one. His bid was $202.60, just $2.60 more than the county commissioners felt like investing in the jail business. But as it was so near to it, the committee let the contract, to be paid for in county orders. Mr. McGrath used hickory logs in the construction of the jail, and soon had it completed, but when he applied for his county order, the county board cut him down to $162.60, simply on the ground that the contract price was too high. Rather than go to litigation, "Old Dom," accepted this price and was paid in county orders, worth about 75 cents on the dollar. This jail was sold for $14 in 1855. As a place to keep prisoners, this jail was a dead failure. Capt. Jeremiah Cottrell, who had been charged with the larceny of almost everything, from a trace chain to a threshing machine, in Cook county, took a change of venue to this county. Complaining of rheumatism, Sheriff Armstrong was too humane to put him down in the underground cell, where there was no light, save that which came through the grated trap-door, hence he was put in the corridor or upper part. He soon managed to get out asd report himself for duty at the ferry across the river at Morris, telling the sheriff that he was an old and experienced boatman and could and would, if permitted, make himself useful in that capacity. Struck with the impudent boldness of the man, and his unquestionable desire to be of use, the sheriff trusted him, not only with his entire liberty, but soon entrusted the entire management and control of the ferry to him. This trust he never attempted to betray, but he used his position as the trusted agent of the sheriff to manage the ferry, in making friends, and protesting his innocence of the crime charged against him, so that when his trial came off he was acquitted, notwithstanding the proofs of his guilt were clear and overwhelming. Hon. B. C. Cook was the prosecutor, and ever after held that the fact of a juror being on the Cottrell jury was a better cause for challenge than any denned in the statute. His first question to a juror was, "Were you a juror on the Cottrell trial?" If the answer was in the affirmative, Mr. Cook's reply was, "stand aside." And this he kept up as long as he practiced law in our court. That Mrs. Ann Nagle, widow of James Nagle, the first clerk of the commissioners' court of Grundy County, opened and taught the first school in Morris, there is no doubt. After the death of her husband in 1843, she opened a private school (for in those days we could have no other as we had no school fund) in her double-log-cabin, which stood a little southeast of the present depot of the C. R. I. & P. R. R. in Morris. Of her scholars several survive, among whom are Thomas Mernan, John Hart, widow Reynolds, Jacob Griggs, John Claypool, etc., all living now in Morris. She continued her school for a year or over. The next school was taught by Miss Adelia Wilkes, now the widow of E. P. Seeley, deceased, and residing on Washington street. The next was Miss Mary Hyslap, now Mrs. J. Blanding, and also living on East Washington street in this city. The next was Charles M. Lee, afterward county judge of Livingston County, Ills. The next was Charles R. Starr, who has since been judge of the circuit court of Kankakee County. All of whom, except Mrs. Nagle, occupied the old court house. Of course, there was a school vacation during court weeks. The first record we can find of any school board bears date Dec. 21, 1843, when Peter Griggs, Perry A. Claypool and William Brown (who signed his name by making a cross) met at the recorder's office in Morris, and divided township 33, R. 7, as follows: "Ordered, that the E. 1/2 of T. 33, of R. 7 E. 3d P. M., on the south side of the Illinois River, shall compose one school district to be known and designated by the name of the Mazon District, and that the west 1/2 of said township on south side of the Illinois River shall compose one school district, to be known and designated by the name of the Waupecan District, and all that portion of said township lying north of the Illinois River shall compose one school district, to be known and designated by the name of Nettle Creek District. Ordered, that William White, Sen., Barton Halderman and Edmund Brown be appointed trustees of schools in the Mazon District. Ordered, that James Robb, William Patteson and James Thompson be appointed trustees of schools in Waupecan District." In January, 1844, E. Warren was appointed "Treasurer of School Lands," on bond of $200. The first school money received by the treasurer of the board of trustees, seems to have been a warrant issued by the Auditor of Public Accounts on the State Treasury for $18.12, which the treasurer was "directed to sell at ten per cent, discount, and pay Waupecan District $4.89, Mazon District $4.46, Nettle Creek District $8.27, in auditor's warrants or cash, if sold at ten per cent, discount, and that he retain 50 cents auditor's warrants to purchase a book for the use of the treasurer." It would seem from this that auditor's warrants on the State Treasury were divisible ad infinitum. At the regular meeting of the board, Oct. 5, 1846, we find the following entry: "Whereas it appears that no returns were made in said township except in Waupecan district for the year 1845, and the treasurer reporting $35.34 auditor's warrants, therefore ordered that Waupecan district receive the sum of $35.34, and the treasurer is ordered to pay out the money to school teachers in said district, entitled to it according to law, and that the treasurer sell the auditor's warrants on hand at not more than 20 per cent, discount." This, then, was the condition of the obligations of the great State of Illinois thirty-seven years ago. Twenty per cent. discount. On the 8th of January, 1848, at a regular election held at the house of James Berry, P. A. Armstrong, John Antis and A. G. Barber were elected trustees. This board selected L. W. Claypool as their treasurer. This board changed the names of the three school districts from Nettle Creek to District 1; Waupecan to District 2, and Mazon to District 3, Jany. 11, 1848. At the April meeting, 1848, the treasurer, Mr. Claypool, reported the receipt "from the school commissioners, the school, college and seminary fund appropriated to town 33, R. 7, for 1847, in cash $16.34, auditor's warrants $5.90. Also same fund for $18.45, in auditor's warrants $1.91; total $24.15." He was ordered to sell the auditor's warrants at not more than ten per cent, discount, and distribute the same in direct ratio on returns of Dist. No. 1, filed Jan'y 20, 1848—95 scholars; Dist. No. 2—22 scholars; Dist. No. 3—48 scholars," total number of scholars in the township, 165. This embraced Morris, Wauponsee and part of Erienna. One hundred and sixty-five persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The apportionment of the school fund was made April 5, 1848, as follows: To District 1, $16.68; District 2, $3.17; District 3, $6.91. At the January (1849) meeting of the board, Mr. Claypool, as treasurer, reported that he had on hand eighty-four cents, being one year's interest on Thompson's note. Ordered, that it remain on hand until next meeting. This note seems to have been for ten dollars and eighty-four cents. At the March meeting, 1849, the treasurer reported the receipt of $19.60 in auditor's warrants, which he sold at ten per cent, discount. This with other funds on hand amounted to $31, for the year, and was apportioned as follows: Dist. No. 1, $17.85; Dist. No. 2, $4.14, and Dist. No. 3, $9.01. At the March meeting, 1850, Dist. No. 1 reported 123; No. 2, 20; No. 3, 4-2 school children, and the sum of $14.51 was apportioned. Morris got $9.20 of it. Dr. Antis went to California, and Mr. C. L. P. Hogan was elected to till the vacancy. In 1851 L. W. ClaypOol succeeded Mr. Barber as trustee, and there were $29.07 distributed to the various school districts, of which Morris got $18.32. L. P. Lott succeeded Mr. Claypool as treasurer. There is no record in 1852 to be found. In 1853 the amount distributed was $140.65, of which Morris got $93.90, on 227 school children. In 1854 Messrs. Hogan, Claypool and C. H. Goold were the trustees, with Mr. Lott as treasurer. We find a plat of a subdivision of Sec. 16, T. 33, R. 7, being the school section donated by Congress to each township for the support of schools posted in the record as of May 10, 1854, certified by Geo. H. Kiersted, county surveyor; by P. A. Armstrong, deputy. A Mr. Jenkins did the surveying. He was afterward killed by Gen. Jim Lane, in Kansas, over a claim difficulty. By this plat said school section was divided into fourteen lots, containing in the aggregate 642 21-100 acres, which were sold by Geo. Fisher, then school commissioner, for $9,470.08. This was the foundation of our fine schools of Morris. In October, 1854, the number of school children in Dist. No. 1 (Morris) was 711, and the amount distributed for the year ending Oct. 1, 1854, was $79.67, of which Morris got $59.95. In 1855 the distribution was $419.96, of which $315.97 went to Dist. No. 1. The law was changed in 1855, so the distribution was made upon the actual school attendance. At the October meeting of that year $520.19 was apportioned, and Morris got $433.35 of this amount. In January, 1856, Messrs. Claypool, Goold and C. R. Parmelee were elected trustees, who re-elected Mr. Lott, treasurer. In 1856 there were $2,013.65 apportioned or distributed, and Morris got $1,661.93. In 1857 the amounts were about the same as for 1855. The school census for 1858 showed that the total number of children between five and twenty-one years was 701; under five years, 419; total, 1,120. School Dist. No. 1 was divided in 1849, forming Dist. No. 5, composed of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8, which now are attached to and form part of the town of Erienna, or Aerienna, as more generally spelled. Hon. L. B. Ray was elected treasurer Jan'y 21, 1864, and has continued in- office ever since, except the years 1876 to 1878, when L. F. Beach was treasurer; Mr. C. H. Goold was one of the trustees from 1854 to 1878, a period of twenty-four years of continuous service. The increase of school children in the county from 1856 to 1858, was 774; at the March meeting of the Board of Supervisors, 1858, Supervisors L. W. Claypool, L. P. Lott and Wm. Pierce, special committee to settle with the school commissioner, submitted a report in which they use the following language in relation to the increase of school children in T. 32, R. 8: "Your committee are also of the opinion that there must, from the nature of the case, be some errors in the returns of the children as returned to the school commissioner; the most glaring of which is in town 32, 8; in their return of 1854 there appears but 192 children, whereas in 1856 it is 492; this is an alarming increase in the short space of two years, and if it continues in the same ratio for a few years longer, it will make this town one of the most thickly populated towns in Illinois." We are inclined to the opinion that friend Claypool had not read Fox's Book of Martyrs, or if he had read it he had forgotten John Rogers with his "nine small children, and one at the breast." Braceville may have been settled by the descendants of this self-same John Rogers, which would explain the "alarming increase." Indeed this town of Braceville (32, 8) is in many respects a wonderful one; it has more high priced poor land, more railroads, more coal and more children to the acre than any other town in the county, and is ready to take a contract to double discount 492 children on short notice, but we are drifting from our subject, THE MORRIS SCHOOLS. Unable to find the early school records we must depend on our memory largely for facts up to 1859. The last teacher mentioned by us was Judge Starr. Mrs. W. S. Woolsey, who still lives in Morris, taught a private school at the court house for several months. Mr. Oliver E. Parmelee, a druggist (and who was drowned in the canal here while bathing in June, 1850), erected the building now occupied by Francis Hall, as a saloon, in 1849; the upper part was in one room, known as "Parmelee Hall;" this room was rented by the school board, and B. M. Atherton, the father-in-law of Mr. Parmelee, was engaged to teach school in this room; he was a man of education and talent; one leg was several inches shorter than the other, hence he used crutches; naturally of a domineering disposition and irascible temper, he was anything but a pleasant man, yet his fine intelligence and legal ability (for he was a lawyer by profession) gave him a good standing in the community; barring his severity of manner, he was a very fine teacher, and did much in "teaching the young ideas how to shoot;" indeed, his school was a sort of County Normal, to which pupils from all over the county came. Parmelee Hall was used as a school room from 1850 to the fall or winter of 1853, when the district erected the main part of what is now known as the Old Center School House. In August, 1851, a vote of the district was taken upon the question of building a school-house and purchasing lots 1 and 2, B. 11, Chapin's addition to Morris, as a school-house site, which resulted favorably to both propositions, and on the 3d of September of that year, said lots were purchased from Geo. W. Armstrong for $175, and a deed was executed by Mr. A. to School District No. 1, T. 33, R 7. A contract for the erection of a school- house was awarded to R. S. Jones (as we remember) to build a school-house on said lots thirty by sixty feet, two stories high. There was a deal of fault finding at what was then considered by some the enormous size of this building. So general was this feeling that the people refused to vote the necessary amount of tax to complete the building the next year, so that work was suspended. But at the next vote upon the subject the appropriation or tax was carried and the building completed. If our memory is correct a Mr. Brooks— better known as Bully Brooks—a young man with very red hair and prominent nose, taught, or tried to teach, school in the then new school-house in the winter of 1853-4, but was forced to abandon the enterprise by the big boys before his term was out. Miss Sarah Parmelee, or "Aunt Sarah," as she was called, taught a school in one of the rooms in the spring of 1854. In September of that year Edward Sanford, A. B., a graduate of old Yale, was induced to accept the position of principal of the Morris public school. A man of magnificent executive ability and a perfect model of systematic order, he made a great success of the school. However, he could not be induced to teach but two years, and closed his duties as such principal July 31, 1856, to enter the law office of E. P. Seeley, since deceased, as a law student. Having been admitted to the bar he became the law partner of Mr. Seeley, and remained as such until the death of the latter. He is now one of our wealthiest citizens. A little fussy fellow by the name of Smith, from somewhere in Wisconsin, succeeded Mr. Sanford. He had as an assistant a woman, supposed to be his wife, but Dame Rumor said she was some other man's wife, and like the "Heathen Chinee, they had to go." In 1859 H. K. Trask, A. B., was principal, with John Trask, Anna Trask, Eliza Baldwin, Sarah Parmelee, and Kate Grant, assistants. Their salaries were as follows: H. K. Trask, $900; John Trask, $750; and $270 to each lady. The same corps of teachers had charge in 1860 at the same salaries, with Gertrude Vincent as an additional Assistant. In August, 1860, the people voted down the proposition to levy a tax to extend schools beyond six months the ensuing year. This caused Mr. Trask, who was, besides being a first-class teacher, a first-class gentleman, to decline a re-appointment here. He left Morris, and went to Wisconsin, where he has remained ever since, and is president of a college there. At a meeting of the directors, Sept. 14th, it was ordered to have six months school with seven teachers, fixing the salary of the principal at $400 for the six months, and placing the assistants' pay at $25 per month. School to commence Oct. 7, 1861. John Trask was made principal, Kate Frame, Anna Trask, Sarah Parmelee, Kate Grant, Fannie A. Hale and Celia Frary were selected as assistants. B. H. Streeter and B. F. Matteson, two of the directors, resigned April 2d, 1862. Robert Longworth and C. G. Conklin were elected to fill the vacancies April 14, 1862. Mr. Trask was re-engaged with Kate Frame, C. Vanvalkenburgh, S. Wright, K. Morley, C. Frary and A. A. Hennessey, assistants. School commenced Oct. 6, 1862. Andrew Kirkland succeeded Mr. Conklin as director this year. In 1863, Mr. McVay was principal, but the record fails to show what his initials or first names were, what wages he received, or who were his assistants when the school began or closed, or indeed that we had any school. We find under date of Nov. 16, 1863, Mr. Longworth moved to increase the salary of McVay five dollars per month; whether the motion was carried or lost, the record fails to state. In 1864, W. T. Hopkins succeeded Mr. McBride as director and clerk of the board. This board selected L. B. Searles, principal, on salary of $900, with Misses Morley (now Mrs. Hamilton), Longworth, Hennessey, Wright, Hale, Bross and Vincent, at $30 per month each. On April 1, 1865, a petition signed by O. Grant, G. W. Lane, D. D. Spencer, and thirty others was presented to the school board praying the removal of Mr. Searles. The record says: "After hearing the defenses, it is ordered that Mr. Searles be discharged." This discharge was clearly irregular and illegal. He left but collected his salary. It appears that a Mr. Fisher was employed to finish the year's school as principal. There is no record of it except of the payment of schedules, July 15, 1865, when "Fisher and Miss Morley were allowed $440, Misses Tinkham, Bross, Bean, Harrison, Hale and Wright, each $120. Mr. Kirkland resigned, when at the election to fill vacancy, and elect a successor to Mr. Longworth, E. B. Hanna and L. P. Lott were elected. Of this board, Judge Hopkins was made president, and L. P. Lott, secretary, and this was the starting point of keeping a record of the board. Zorodus Trask of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, was selected principal at $1,200 per annum, with Misses Bross, Bean, Harrison, Tinkham and Hale, assistants, at $300 per annum each. The school-house now was too small to accommodate the scholars, and outside rooms were engaged, with Miss Riordan as an additional teacher. In December of that year, the wages of the female teachers were raised to $360 per annum. We find by the schedules paid, that a Miss Wheaton was Mr. Trask's first assistant. We have no personal recollection of the lady. Additions were built to the main building this year. E. B. Hanna was again elected director in 1866. It was also voted to build a brick school-house in the 3d ward. At the August meeting, 1866, of the board the school year was fixed at forty weeks. This has been the rule ever since. Henry K. Trask was elected principal, with Misses Jennie Bross, Belle Grant, Sarah Tinkham, Alida Bliss, Fannie Hale, Alice Riordan and Gertrude Vincent, assistants, for year commencing in Sept., 1866. The school rooms were so crowded that on the 13th Oct., 1866, the board made a contract with Mrs. Bailey, wife of Rev. G. S. Bailey, to teach from forty to fifty small scholars at their residence, for $400 for forty weeks. Mr. H. K. Trask declining to accept the offer of principal, Mr. Stetman E. Massey was selected as such at $1,000 per annum. Miss Riordan did not accept the position offered, and Miss Mary E. McQueston took her place. Miss Vincent also resigned in March, 1867, when a Miss Fitch was appointed to the place. Aug. 5, 1867, C. Grant was elected to succeed Judge Hopkins. It was also voted to build a brick school-house in the 4th ward north of the railroad. The site for 3d ward school was purchased Aug. 8th, 1867, for $850. The board also bought from Thomas Hynds ninety feet south end of lot 3, B. 11, Chapin's addition to Morris, adjoining the old school-house, for $200 at this meeting. The school was opened again in Sept., 1867, with S. E. Massey, principal, Belle Grant, Jennie Bross, Fannie Hale, Alida Bliss, Sarah Tinkham, Mary McQueston and E. B. Fitch, assistants. Gouch & Smith received the contract to do the mason work on 3d ward school for $1,250. F. H. Williams & Co., the carpenter work for $1,500, selecting the Oliver brick as the material. At a meeting of the board July 11th, 1868, lots 6 and 7, B. 9, in Edwards' addition to Morris, were purchased for a school- house site for a brick school-house in the 4th ward at the sum of $600. The first mistake we note in the action of this board, one of the very ablest the city ever had, is in ordering the building of "a one story brick school-house 30 by 40 feet." On the 3d of August, 1868, Geo. W. Lane was elected to succeed Mr. Lott as director. It was also decided to purchase a site, and erect a brick school-house, in the then 5th, now 2d ward. At a meeting of the new board August 12, 1808, Mr. Grant was elected president and Mr. Hanna secretary, and Mr. Massey was reappointed principal of the schools, with Misses Bross, Bliss, Hale, McQueston, Grant, Hennessey, Harrison, Barstow and Mrs. Phillips, assistants. The principal to be paid $1,000, and each assistant $300. At this meeting the board ordered that the proposed school-house in the 4th ward be of brick and one story high and 30 by 40 feet in size; and the contract was let to Messrs. Kutz and Storr for the carpenter work at $960. The brick and stone work was let to Wm. Stage at $679. At a meeting of the board September 7, it was decided to make the 4th ward school building two stories instead of one. The lower story 14, the upper 12 feet high. The old teachers were re-employed for ensuing year at same salaries. Mary Grant was added to the list of teachers at the next meeting of the board. On the 28th of July, 1870, Prof. H. H. C. Miller was elected principal, on a salary of $1,300. His selection proved a very good one. He is a man of fine executive ability and scholastic acquirements. On the 1st of September the clerk submitted a system of grading the schools, which was adopted, and has been but slightly changed since, strange as it may seem, yet it is true that this was the first effort ever made to establish graded schools in Morris, so far as appears of record. At a meeting of the board Sept 3d, 1870, on motion of the clerk, the salaries of the assistant teachers were raised from $300 to $340, and the following were selected and assigned: Center School. Room No. 2 - Miss Emma Green. " " 3 - " Carrie Barstow. " " 4 - " Dora Schoonmaker. " " 5 - " Jennie A. Bross. " " 6 - " Jennie Wing. " " 7 - " Myra Massey. In 3d Ward Brick School House. Room No. 1 - Miss Mary Hubbard. " " 2 - Miss Lizzie Hennessey, principal. 4th Ward Brick. " " 1 - Miss Carrie Bullis. " " 2 - Miss M. A. Rippan, principal. 5th Ward Brick. " " 1 - Miss Alida C. Bliss. " " 2 - Miss Minnie Barstow, principal. Much feeling sprang up over this assignment of teachers, but it proved a very judicious one, and never did the Morris public schools do better than this year. Prof. Miller proved to be "the right man in the right place," while he was ably assisted in all the departments. This school board adopted the single seat system and rendered the principal active support in building-up a first- class graded public school. In January, 1871, Mr. Brown resigned, and Mr. F. Caspori was elected his successor. At the regular April election of that year, Mr. Lane was re-elected director without opposition. On the 21st of June, 1871, "Prof. Miller submitted his annual report of the workings of the several schools under his charge, which showed a very flattering condition, and, on motion, it was ordered that said report be published in pamphlet form and that 300 copies be printed for distribution." This was the first report of the Morris public schools ever printed. On the 23d of June, 1871, on motion of Mr. Caspori, Prof. Miller's salary was raised to $1,500 per annum, and-on motion of Mr. Armstrong, the following assignment and salaries of the assistants were made: Miss Bliss, assistant to principal, $375 Center School. Miss Jennie M. Wing, Room 6, 375 " Myra Massey, " 5, 375 " Dora Schoonmaker, " 4, 375 " Emma E. Green, " 3, 340 " Gracie Peirce, " 2, 300 3d Ward School. Mrs. L. Thayer, principal, Room 2, 375 Miss Mary L. Hubbard, " 1, 340 4th Ward School. Miss Ella C. Harrison, No. 2, principal, 340 Only one room ready for use. 5th Ward School. Miss Minnie Barstow, No. 2, principal, $375 " Jennie A. Bross, " 1 " 375 The teachers' salaries paid for previous year was $5,253. The total cost of the year's school was $7,828.17, as appears from the clerk's report. The whole number of persons under 21 years residing in the district was given at 1,730, and those between 6 and 21 were 1,200, of whom 18 were colored. The whole number of enrolled scholars was 852; number of teachers, 13 — 12 females and 1 male; with 4 graded schools, with 112 volumes in the public school library. This was truly a fine showing. But we are extending this article too long. The teachers selected for the year commencing in September, 1871, were Prof. Miller, principal, Ada Brumback as his assistant, and Misses Bross, Bliss, Green, Peirce, Harrison, Mary Foster, Mary J. Henry, Emma Card, Schoonmaker, Hubbard, and Mrs. M. L. Thayer. In March, 1872, Miss Card resigned on account of poor health, and Miss Julia McFarland succeeded her as a teacher. At the April election, 1872, Mr. Armstrong was unanimously re-elected director. On the 15th of June that year, the salary of the teacher of the grammar school was raised to $400. Prof. Miller was again chosen as principal at $1,500; Miss Lizzie Winters, as his assistant, $400. The salaries of the other teachers were not changed. The old teachers were re-engaged except Misses Brumback, Greene, Hubbard, M. J. Henry, and Mrs. Thayer, who declined to re-engage. Misses Irene Henry and Elsie F. Hare were employed in their stead. The wages were substantially the same as the prior year. On the 3d of April, 1869, Lot 3, B 2, C. H. & H. C. Goold's addition to Morris, was purchased of Mr. Caspori for the site for 5th ward school at $1,030, and contracts were awarded for the erection of a two-story brick building, 30x46 feet, to Messrs. Massey & Jackson, carpenter work and blinds $1,600; Wm. Stage, brick, stone and plastering for $1,878.50. The following teachers were selected Sept. 13, 1869: S. E. Massey, principal; Myra Massey, Susan A. Phillips, Carrie Barstow, Mary McQueston, Emma Harrison, Minnie Barstow, Jennie A. Bross, Alida C. Bliss, Lizzie Hennessey, Nellie Hall, and Ada Harrison. Their salaries were fixed at $1,000 to principal, and $300 to the assistants. On the 1st of Jany., 1870, Mrs. M. W. Loyd was made principal of 5th ward school, and Mrs. Harrison was selected to take the place made vacant by the resignation of Miss McQueston, Miss McQueston having elected to take a school of one scholar for better or for worse—for life. The school law having been amended or altered so as to bring the election in April instead of August, the election was held April 4, 1870, for two directors. This was an exciting election, and resulted in the election of Messrs. John Brown and Benjamin Olin to succeed Messrs. Hanna and Grant. This new board organized by electing Mr. Lane, president, and Olin, secretary. Miss Kate Prideaux was selected April 9, 1870, to succeed Mrs. Harrison who had resigned in Center School. Judge Olin resigned June 1, 1870, and moved to Joliet, and at a special election June 7, 1870, P. A. Armstrong was elected to fill the vacanqy, and was elected clerk of the board. The total number of scholars attending the public schools at this time was 601. While the total number of males under the age of twenty-one years was 786, females, 787: total 1,573. The division of the sexes was close—one majority for the girls. Between 6 and 21 years there were 1,052. The school law again being changed, requiring the election of a board of education, of six members, at the election held April 5, 1873, Wm. A. Jordan, John Duckworth, J. C. Carr, F. Caspori, Geo. W. Lane and P. A. Armstrong were elected as such board. Messrs. Lane and Armstrong drew the short term of one year, Messrs. Jordan and Carr the middle term of two years, and Messrs. Caspori and Duckworth the long term of three years. Geo. W. Lane was elected president of the board, and Mr. Armstrong, secretary. In May, 1873, Miss Lizzie Winters having married, resigned, and Miss T. H. Briggs was appointed to the vacancy, as principal of the grammar school, at $45 per month salary. At the June meeting of the board, Prof. Miller was again appointed principal, on the same salary as before. Miss Dora E. Schoonmaker was appointed as assistant principal at $500, Misses Bliss, Bross, Hare and Gill at $400, Misses Harrison, Foster and M. E. Hare, $375 each. The census report showed the whole number of persons under 21 years of age, 1,715, of whom 11 were colored. Whole number of pupils enrolled in the Morris public school, 858. It also showed an excess of 102 females. Miss Gill declined and Miss E. F. Hare was made principal of the grammar school, and Miss Julia Pomeroy was placed in 3d ward brick in place of Miss Hare, and Miss Alice A. Conlong was also employed as a teacher that year; also Miss Lizzie A. Hock as assistant in 4th ward school, at $300 per year. On the 3d of January, 1874, Miss Maggie Brown was assigned to the 4th ward school in place of Miss Hock, resigned, and Miss Damon to the 3d ward school in place of Miss Foster. On motion of the secretary, the following was adopted as an additional rule, viz.: "Those teachers who are most successful in governing their pupils without resorting to corporal punishment, other qualifications being sufficient, shall be awarded by the board a higher degree of appreciation, and receive the preference over all others in promotion and appointments." Miss Damon, being unable to manage her school, was transferred to Center school, and Mrs. Dukes was employed as principal of 3d ward school, in February, 1874. At the April election, 1874, for two members of the board of education, Stilman E. Massey and Mr. Armstrong were elected (Mr. Lane refusing to serve any longer). Mr. Jordan was elected president, and Mr. Armstrong secretary of the board. In June, Prof. Miller was again selected principal, on salary of $1,500. Lizzie Royce, assistant, $500. Miss Bliss, grammar school, $450. The older teachers were allowed $400 each and the newer ones $300 to $340. The new teachers were Misses Lizzie Massey and Mary J. Noble. The fiscal report of the clerk for year ending June 30, 1874, shows total receipts, $7,707.54. Expenditures, $8,203.54. The number of teachers employed, 13—1 male, 12 females. On the 7th of January, 1875, Prof. Miller tendered his resignation as principal, to take effect at the close of the school year. The board assured him that if the only reason for his leaving the school was insufficiency of salary, that should be raised. At a meeting of the board, June 9, 1875, Prof. Miller was again elected principal by a unanimous vote, and his salary increased to $2,000 per year. But he had already agreed to take charge of the public schools of Pittsfield, Ill., and declined the position here. By the secretary's fiscal report, the receipts from all sources, from June 30, 1874, to June 30, 1875, were $10,066.70. Disbursements, $9,001.33. Balance in treasury $1,065.37. The board of education, in parting with Prof. Miller, say among other things, June 19, 1875: "As an organizer of a thorough system, both of studies and discipline, and a thorough educator, we consider him second to no man in the State. * * He adds to a thorough classic education a fine understanding of the law as well as a practical education. A man of sound judgment, quick discernment and admirable temperament." He is now practicing law in Chicago. At the same meeting the old corps of teachers, except principal and assistant, were re-elected with a slight increase in salaries. On the 6th of July, 1875, Prof. Mathew Waters was unanimously elected principal on a salary of $1,500. On the 25th of June, a petition signed by C. H. Goold and some sixty tax payers of the district was presented to the board, praying the erection of a new school-house which had been referred to the committee on grounds and buildings, and at the July meeting this committee by Mr. Caspori made a verbal report relative to eligible sites, etc., when it was ordered to submit the question of building a new school-house to a vote of the people. Miss Flora Trumbull was elected assistant principal, at $600, July 20, 1875. On the 2d of August, 1875, on motion of Mr. Carr, the series known as the "Independent series," published by A. S. Barnes & Co., were adopted to be introduced, as classes were formed, etc. This, in the opinion of the writer, was the most foolish act of this Board of Education, notwithstanding we voted for it. We consider the Independent series the poorest of all the recent series of school books published. But there is and always will be serious objections to frequent changes in school books; with all their pretended improvements, we have not been able to find among the vast number of new Readers any one that equals the old time "Columbian Orator," or "National Reader." On the 23d of August, a vote was taken on the new school-house proposition, the new school- house to cost not exceeding $30,000, which resulted in favor of such new school-house 193 votes, and 120 votes were cast against the proposition. The law simply requiring a majority of the votes cast to make it obligatory on the board to act, said proposition was declared carried. In October of that year the schools were so full that two rooms in the city hall were procured, and schools opened there. On the 30th of October, a vote of the people was had upon the proposition to purchase the east half of block eighteen, Chapin's 2d addition to Morris, for $7,000, which resulted 191 for, and 61 against said proposition; this resulted in the selection of the present beautiful site of the best and among the finest public school buildings of this State. The committee on grounds and buildings having visited many of the best school- houses in the State, reported verbally to the board, Nov. 20, 1875, recommending the plan of the new Jones school-house of Chicago, with slight changes. Mr. Bigelow, who was the architect of the Jones school-house, came before the board with the plans and specifications of said Jones school, and fully explained the same. On Dec. 1, on motion of Mr. Carr, the committee on grounds and school-houses were instructed "to procure plans, specifications, and working drawings for a building nearly similar to the new Jones school of Chicago as to internal arrangements, with exterior something like the Rochelle school building." Mr. Duckworth moved, "that the new building be constructed of brick with stone trimmings." Mr. Armstrong moved to amend this motion by striking out the words "brick with stone trimmings," and insert the words "Au Sable stone," upon which motion the ayes and nays were called; those voting aye were Messrs. Massey and Armstrong, two; those voting nay were Messrs. Caspori, Carr and Duckworth, three; hence, the amendment was lost; the vote recurring on the original motion of Mr. Duckworth, it was carried; Mr. Armstrong alone voting nay; Mr. Jordan, the president, was in favor of a stone building, but could not vote except upon a tie vote, which never can occur with a full board of six. Bonds bearing not exceeding ten per cent, interest were ordered to be issued to pay for the school-house site, at this meeting, to the amount of $7,000, the purchase price thereof. The next meeting of the board was on the 5th of January, 1876, when J. H. Bigelow, the architect, presented plans and specifications which were accepted. It was also decided to advertise in the Morris papers for sealed proposals up to the first Monday in February, 1876, to furnish material and perform the labor in the erection of a school-house in conformity with the plans and specifications prepared by the architect, now in the office of the secretary. The first plan provided for a slate roof. Bids were solicited for a brick building with stone trimmings, and also for a stone building. On Monday, February 7th, the board met, opened and examined the bids, thirty-three in all, and as there were many bids for some special parts that required time to arrange and compare, the board adjourned to the 9th of February, 1876. At this meeting it was found that the lowest bid, even for a brick building, was $31,000, which was above the limit of the appropriation. The board having reserved the right to reject any or all bids, by their advertisement, on motion of Mr. Armstrong it was: "Resolved, That each and every bid submitted to this board on the 7th inst., pertaining to the erection of the new school-house in said District No. 1, be and are hereby rejected; that the roof of said proposed building be changed to near an eighth pitch, and standing groove iron be substituted for slate; and that tin be substituted for galvanized iron for the valleys and gutters; and that the architect be, and hereby is required to make such alterations in the plans and specifications as he may deem necessary to fully carry out the above named changes and alterations; that the board re-advertise for sealed proposals, to be opened Feb'y 21, 1876; that bids be invited for the erection of a brick school-house with stone trimmings, also for a stone school-house, etc. On the 21st of February there were some thirty-five proposals opened and examined. The difference between the cost of a stone building and a brick one as shown by the bids, was less than two thousand dollars. The bids of Messrs. Gordon, McGaveny, Boyer, Stage, and Gorich, who were finally awarded the contract, made but $1,650 difference in their bids between stone and brick. Their bids were for stone $28,977, for brick $27,327. After comparing the bids and discussing the question as to whether the building should be of brick or stone, the board adjourned to February 22d, when Mr. Armstrong submitted the following resolution upon the passage of which he called for the ayes and nays: "Resolved, That the action of this board at their meeting of December 1, 1875, relative to the material for the outside walls be and the same is hereby amended by striking out the words 'brick with stone trimmings,' and inserting in lieu thereof the words 'Au Sable sandstone,' in accordance with the plans and specifications prepared by the architect," which was carried. Those voting aye were Messrs. Jordan, Duckworth and Armstrong, and Messrs. Carr and Caspori voting no. Mr. Armstrong had induced the architect to make plans for a stone building, pledging himself to pay for the extra labor the sum of $35, if the board should not finally adopt stone. Messrs. Jordan and Massey were in favor of stone all the time. The contract for a stone building was awarded to our fellow townsmen Miles Gordon, Andrew J. Boyer, Thos. G. McGaveny, William Stage and Jacob Gorich, together with two wooden privies, for the sum of $28,977.00. They furnishing all materials and keeping an insurance on the building as it progressed. The work was well done. Indeed, every one of the contractors lost their time and some of them considerable money on their parts of the contract, but they did their work and did it well, and the best school house in the State stands a monument to the skill and perseverance of the builders. The entire cost of this building which is a stone building 74 by 84, three stories and basement, including superintendence, was $30,030, with $7,000 for site, making a total of $37,030, which is probably the cheapest school-house, in proportion to its real value, in the State; it has 12 rooms large enough to accommodate 63 scholars each, with a single desk; well may our people feel proud of our public school building and of our public schools. At the April election, 1877, John Duckworth and George Woelfel, were elected members of the board. Prof. Waters with Miss Mosier as his assistant, and very nearly the same corps of teachers, were selected for the school year commencing Sept 3, 1876; Miss Hosier's salary was raised to $700; she was a very fine teacher and an accomplished young lady. The new teachers were Misses Hattie Hall, Carrie Rogers, Hettie McFarlane and Abbie M. Kiersted; Miss Irene Henry, being the only old teacher, dropped out; she preferred a school of one scholar, and changed her name to Putt; the lowest wages paid this year was $340, and the total aggregate of the fifteen teachers' salaries was $7,280. The census report for this year shows whole number of males under 21, 876; whole number of females under 21, 914; between 6 and 21, males, 584; females, 655; males between 12 and 21 who can not read and write, 12; females, 6. The winter term was opened Jan'y 8, 1877, in the new building; Miss M. E. Hare having resigned, her place was filled by the selection of Miss Myra Woods, Dec. 27, 1876; Miss E. F. Hare resigned April 2, 1877, and her sister, Sarah A., was selected in her place, and on the next day Miss Lizzie Massey resigned, and Miss Anna E. Harvey succeeded her; at the April election for members of the Board of Education, Messrs. Lott, Comerford and Stephen were elected to succeed Messrs. Armstrong, Massey and Jordan, the latter having resigned, and Mr. Wm. Stephen was elected to fill the unexpired term; Mr. Stephen was elected president, and Mr. Carr secretary of the new board. On the 31st of August, 1877, the old corps of teachers, except Misses Mosier, Woods, Kiersted and Rogers, all of whom declined a re-engagement; the new teachers were Misses Alforetta Clute (assistant principal), Lillie H. Fyfe, Sadie T. Hall, Ella M. Pasegate and Lizzie E. Cody; their salaries were slightly reduced, but not materially so; at the April election, 1878, Messrs. E. Ridgeway, L. W. Claypool, and R. B. Strong, were elected members of the board vice Mr. Carr, (who declined a re-election), Mr. Stephen and Mr. Duckworth who "got lost and never was founded." This new board organized by electing Mr. Lott president and Mr. Claypool secretary, who still hold their positions respectively; Miss Clute "all the way from York State," a maiden lady of uncertain age, assistant principal on a salary of $600 per year, proved to be much abler in teaching the arts of wooing than the sciences; this compelled Prof. Waters to do a large amount of extra labor; a fine teacher and ambitious, he neglected his health, and finally broke completely down during the spring term, 1878; his nervous system was destroyed; he was confined to his bed here all that summer, and is now an inmate of the Home of the Incurables in Chicago; his limbs are all drawn up into a rigid, crooked shape; unable to feed himself, yet his mind and memory are as strong and active as they ever were, but there is absolutely no hope of his recovery. S. E. Massey, A. M., took his place as principal for the unexpired year for Mr. Waters, whose salary was paid him in full by the board, June 24, 1878. The Morris high school graduated nine scholars this year, which, in addition to the former graduates, made the full number of twenty-eight. In the class of graduates for 1873 were Miss Alice A. Conlong, who has been for many years a popular teacher in the Morris public schools, and Miss Maggie Brown, now the wife of Henry C. June, Esq., of Oak Park, Illinois. In class of 1874, Miss Mary J. Noble, also for many years last past a popular teacher in the Morris schools. Miss Hattie Coy, since married, Miss Emma E. Jones, now wife of F. Starr, Esq., of Streator, Illinois, and Miss Carrie E. Rogers, for awhile one of the teachers in Morris school. In class of 1876, Miss Kate A. Horrie and Miss Eliza Jones, now the wife of Benedict Zens, Esq., of this city. In class of 1877, Misses Delia Robinson, Ettie F. Johnson, Mary H. Shaffer, Lizzie E. Comerford (now a teacher in the school), Lizzie E. Cody, now the wife of E. H. Quigley, Esq., railroad agent at Morris, Mary Comerford, Fannie Lane (since married), Gertie Nelson, Susie C. Brown, Nora Marshall (now one of the teachers), and Charles J. Reed, since then a graduate of the Ann Arbor University, and now principal of the Princeton (Illinois) schools. In class of 1878, Miss Nellie Barr, Hattie E. Parker, Lulu Ross, now Mrs. T. P. Bailey, Nellie F. Cody, now wife of Mr. Davis, of the firm of Cody & Davis, Emma E. Leacock, Abbie C. Woods, Minnie D. Porter, Ida Caspori and Wm. J. Leacock. In August, 1878, Prof. L. T. Regan was elected principal, and has continued as such up to the present, and has been engaged for the ensuing year; and the only changes in the board of education are, Mr. Wm. Stephen and J. S. R. Scovill have succeeded Messrs. Strong and Comerford. This brings the public school history down to the time when the memory of our people is fresh, and as our chronicle is growing too long we stop here with our history of the Morris public schools, of which we feel a just pride. ST. ANGELA'S ACADEMY. On the 12th of March, 1858, John McNellis and wife executed a conveyance of out lot 8, in the Canal Trustees' subdivision of the S. W. 1/4, Sec. 3, T. 33, R. 7, containing ten acres (less the streets), with a large three story brick building at a consideration expressed at one dollar to "Rev. E. Sorin, Provincial, of the congregation of the Holy Cross, resident of Notre Dame University, of the county of St. Joseph, and State of Indiana, and to his successor in office on condition that a Catholic school shall be kept on said premises forever." Father Sorin immediately established and opened thereon and therein St. Angela's Academy, with Mother Frances a sister-in-law of Senator John Sherman of Ohio, as Mother Superior, for the thorough and practical education of young ladies. This school is second to no academy in this State. Its attendance has been large from its inception up to the present, and we can commend this school to all persons wishing a first-class boarding school for young ladies, whether Catholic or Protestant, as no effort is allowed to be made toward proselyting. It is a model of good order, and is supplied by the very best of teachers. Of course the teachers are all nuns; Mother Frances was taken further West to open other convents, but a competent Lady Superior has taken her place. This convent has been much enlarged, and the Sisters of the Holy Cross are doing their good work as silently as the dew falls, yet thoroughly and intelligently. The only effort they make at public notoriety is their annual commencements. They have students from all over the northern part of the State. Being an adjunct of Notre Dame, it is essentially a preparatory department to that leading Catholic University. In painting and music St. Angela's Academy stands high, while its curriculum is practical and well selected. With commodious buildings and extensive grounds highly cultivated and adorned with exotics, plants and flowers, St. Angela's is a very pretty place as well as a pleasant one. THE MORRIS NORMAL AND SCIENTIFIC SCHOOL is the outgrowth of the "Morris Classic Institute," started by N. C. Dougherty, A. M., over the office of Mr. Sanford, in 1869. Mr. Dougherty, now principal of the Peoria schools, came here an entire stranger, rented a room and opened a private school under the above title, and made a decided success of it. A man of push and energy, with a large degree of self-confidence, he soon established the Morris Classic Institute upon a firm basis. So rapid was its growth that his quarters were too small. He then rented a portion of the present Normal School building, and employing assistant teachers, transferred the Institute to that building where he soon established a fine reputation as an educator. He, however, did not remain long at his new quarters. Having received many offers of positions in other schools, he finally accepted the position of principal of the Mount Morris Seminary, and sold his interest in the Morris Classic to a Mr. Ross, who proved a failure. He in turn sold out to a Rev. Mr. Sloat, who imagined himself a natural-born Demosthenes and Spurgeon combined. But with all his supposed ability, the Morris Classic went into a rapid decline. It had a consumptive cough; hollow-eyed and feeble it lingered a short time and "gave up the ghost." Several efforts were made to revive the "Morris Classic Institute," but they proved unavailing or spasmodic. In October, 1875, J. J. Kinkaide, A. M., of Oil City, Pa., rented the building and tried to resuscitate it. Although a teacher of many years experience, he found he had undertaken a difficult task. He succeeded in injecting some little life into the defunct institute, but did not restore it to full life and vigor. He was succeeded in his efforts by A. W. Bulkley, A. B., and he in turn by Prof. Beatie, with about the same result—a sickly kind of disappointment. In the fall of 1878, Messrs. Cook & Stevens rented the entire building and changed the name to "Morris Normal and Scientific School." Comparatively young men, full of energy and push, with unbounded confidence in their own ability as organizers and educators, they soon commanded success and placed the Morris Normal on a sure foundation as one of the very best preparatory schools in the State. This school brings to our city talented young gentlemen and ladies from all over the country—not only from Illinois but from other States. The curriculum is a judicious one, whilst the energy and perseverance of the entire corps of teachers have been such as to win the confidence and command the respect of all. We notice the sale of the interest of Messrs. Cook & Stevens to Messrs. Kean & Forsythe. They are no strangers here. Prof. Kean has been a successful teacher for many years, and for over a year past he has been one of the principal teachers in this school, while Mr. Forsythe has also had considerable experience as a teacher, and was one of the regular teachers of the school before purchasing. And whilst many may regret that Messrs. Cook & Stevens have sold out their interest in the school, none need fear of its complete success under the new management. With four separate fine brick and stone public school buildings, with fifteen school rooms, well filled with scholars, under a competent superintendent, with fifteen assistants, with a population of 4,200 people, Morris is well prepared to educate her own children. Add to this St. Angela's Academy and the Morris Normal and Scientific School, we may well be proud of our educational facilities. No city in the State can excel Morris in that line. We now turn to our SABBATH SCHOOLS. The first Sabbath school of Morris antedates the organization of the first church here. About the 30th of June, 1847, Messrs. E. P. Seeley, A. P. Hand and P. A. Armstrong posted up written notices for a Sabbath school, to be held at the old court house in Morris, on the following Sabbath. Dr. Hand and Mr. Armstrong were on hand at the time designated, but the other signer failed to put in an appearance. The court house was filled, literally packed, by the most heterogeneous crowd imaginable. Old and young, rich and poor, gray headed men and women, barefooted and hatless urchins, county officials, canal contractors, professional men, mechanics and common laborers; while the ladies, ever first in sympathy and ready to do battle in the cause of religion and reformation, were there in force, ready, yea eager, to assist in so laudable an enterprise. Previous to this time the children had run riot in the streets and woods, the older boys spending their Sundays in hunting, fishing and ball playing, while the lesser boys and girls made mud pies or played blackmail, with no one to teach them to "remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy." Prominent among the good ladies who favored this enterprise were Mrs. Abigail Hull, now the widow Atwater, Mesdames Wm. E. and P. A. Armstrong, both deceased and Mrs. Alex. Peacock, still living. It was a trying situation for the originators, Messrs. Hand and Armstrong; neither of them were professed Christians. Propriety demanded that the exercises should be opened with prayer; no minister of the gospel or professed Christian gentleman was present. A prayer had to be offered up to the Infinite, to keep up at least the semblance of piety. Mr. Armstrong with fear and trembling called on the doctor for a short prayer. To the great relief of the expectant crowd Dr. Hand was equal to the occasion, and made, if not his only, at least his first public prayer, and it was a good one. A prayer that was fine in conception and impressively delivered. This broke the ice and the Sabbath school was inaugurated. This was the nucleus of our present magnificent system of Sunday schools. Having inaugurated this school Messrs. Hand and Armstrong rested upon their laurels and gave place to the ladies and professed Christian gentlemen as managers. The Congregational church was organized about that time, and assumed the charge of this embryo Sabbath school. Whether the Sabbath school records contain any reference to the organizers or not we are not advised, but that this was the origin of the school is true beyond a question. Nor was there any hypocrisy on the part of these men in organizing this movement. They were both sons of pious mothers, who taught them while "little toddlers," to keep the Sabbath day holy. That influence had not deserted them, and we trust, never will. Our only religious books were the Bible and John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Sabbath school books had not yet reached this locality. Those capital singers, Geo. H. Kiersted and Thomas A. Henry, led the singing in fine style. Which of us acted as superintendent we do not now remember, but are inclined to the belief that we yielded the leadership to the ladies, and that either Mrs. Hall or Mrs. P. A. Armstrong took the lead as teachers. We are quite certain that we left the field early and ceased from our labors in that noble cause. Additional Comments: HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ILLINOIS; Containing a History from the earliest settlement to the present time, embracing its topographical, geological, physical and climatic features; its agricultural, railroad interests, etc.; giving an account of its aboriginal inhabitants, early settlement by the whites, pioneer incidents, its growth, its improvements, organization of the County, the judicial history, the business and industries, churches, schools, etc.; Biographical Sketches; Portraits of some of the Early Settlers, Prominent Men, etc.; ILLUSTRATED. CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, Lakeside Building. 1882. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/history/1882/historyo/chapter856nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 73.0 Kb