Anderson County KS Archives History - Books .....Chapter XX 1877
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Book Title: THE HISTORY OF ANDERSON COUNTY, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1876.

CHAPTER XX.

  Religious Zeal of the Early Settlers—Churches —Educational Interests—Formation
of School Districts—Building School Houses— Value of School Buildings, etc.

  THE early settlers of Anderson county, like the Pilgrim Fathers, were imbued
with a religious zeal; for no sooner was a small settlement made in any locality
than a religious society was organized and preparations made for religious
services, notwithstanding the Territory was overrun by ruffians and
semi-barbarians, intent on establishing slavery in Kansas. The settlers would,
each Sabbath, meet for divine worship in their rude cabins, or in the beautiful
groves, "God's first temples," in the summer time. The many church edifices in
the county attest their steadfast devotion to the cardinal principles of true
faith handed down to them from the primitive days of the church.

  "Saint Boniface" Catholic church, in Putnam township, on the North
Pottowatomie, was the first church building erected in the county, in 1858.
Under the charge of Father Albert Heinmann, in 1871 this society built a college
building in the same neighborhood, and called it "Mount Carmel," and has
maintained a fine school therein for the education of the youth.

  The United Brethren denomination have an organization and church building in
the town of Greeley. The building was commenced in 1859.

  The Methodist Episcopal church has a good substantial church building at
Garnett; also a large membership.

  The United Presbyterians, in 1860, erected a good and substantial church
edifice in Garnett. The membership of this church, at Garnett, is the strongest
in the county, and also the largest in the State.

  The First Baptist church in Garnett was organized in 1860, and has a new
church edifice, with a good membership.

  The First Presbyterian church in Garnett was organized in 1868, and in 1870
built a neat, substantial building, and has a good living membership.

  In 1871 the Catholics of Garnett erected a neat stone church building, and
have a respectable membership in their organization.

  The Catholics have a large membership and good church building at Emerald.
Also, on the North Pottowatomie, near the west line of the county, they have a
small church.

  The Christian church of Garnett have a neat little church building, and a
small membership. The building was erected in 1872.

  The African Methodist Episcopal church of Garnett have a small stone church
building, called Quinn Chapel, erected in 1874. The membership is small.

  The Second Baptist church of Garnett (colored) have a small church building
and small membership.

  The Presbyterians have a good church and building at Central City.

  The Free Methodists have a church organization in the county, but no church
building; and there are other church denominations in the county that have no
buildings for worship. They usually hold their services in the school houses in
their vicinity, or in private dwellings of their people.

  The education of the youth received the early attention of the settlers in the
county. The formation of school districts and the erection of school houses were
first attended to, after necessaries for sustenance were procured. As soon as
children enough in number could be collected in the neighborhood to commence a
school, a school house was built and a teacher employed to instruct them. The
people regarded the common schools as the palladium of liberty, which the
schools and school houses of the county attest. The facilities for an education
are far greater in the county than in many of the States who have the age of
half a century. Eighteen years ago not a school house in the county, which now
can boast of sixty-two good substantial school houses, of the value of sixty-two
thousand dollars, with furniture of the value of forty thousand dollars, as
shown by the report of the superintendent of public instruction for 1875, with
sixty-five school districts organized.

  John R. Slentz was the first superintendent of public instruction of Anderson
county, appointed by Hugh S. Walsh, Secretary and acting Governor, on the i6th
day of December, 1858.

  The first school district was organized soon after, in Putnam township, and
Alexander Garrett, James Farrah and Wm. Puett were elected the first school board.

  The following districts were also formed the same year: No. 2. Officers: Wm.
Smith, Chas. Hidden and D. W. Houston. No. 3. Officers: C. W. Fraker, Wm. L.
Webster and D. D. Judy. No. 4. Officers: James E. White, Richard Robinson and
Isaac Hiner. No. 5. Officers: Wm. Rison, Wm. Lampman and Geo. W. Simons. No. 6.
Officers: Rufus Gilpatrick, J. T. Lanter and B. F. Smith. No. 7. Officers:
Francis A. Hart, A. W. Jones and John B. Dilday. No. 8. Officers: Henry
Williams, Anson Rudd and Wm. Agnew. No. 9. Officers: James Farrah, Benoni Brown
and Thos. G. Headley. No. 10. Officers: Stephen Marsh, C. C. Haskins and Oliver
Marsh. No. 11. Officers: Wm. Dennis, Wm. R. Vanscoyoc and Jeptha Lawellin.

  Six districts were organized in 1859, two in 1860, two in 1861, one in 1862,
one in 1863, four in 1864, one in 1865, three in 1866, one in 1867, one in 1868,
two in 1869, eight in 1870, eight in 1871, two in 1872, seven in 1873, four in
1874, and one in 1875, making 65 in all.

  The number of children of school age in 1858 was 435; in 1876, 2,096.

  The amount of State and county school funds disbursed among the several
districts in 1858 was $297.55; in 1876, $3,379.82.


Additional Comments:
THE HISTORY OF ANDERSON COUNTY,
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1876.
BY
W. A. JOHNSON,
CHAIRMAN OF HISTORICAL COMMITTEE.

PUBLISHED BY KAUFFMAN & ILER, GARNETT PLAINDEALER,
1877.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1877, by
KAUFFMAN & ILER, In the office of the Librarian of Congress,Washington, D. C.


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