Schools of Indian Fields, Tuscola County, Michigan

Copyright © 1998 by Bonnie Petee. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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Indian Fields' Schools

Taken from The History of Tuscola County, Biographical Sketches and 
Illustrations, H. R. Page Co., Chicago, 1883. Thanks to Bonnie Petee. 



The first school Indian Fields was taught in the winter of 1857-8 by 
Miss Ruth Sherman, now Mrs. Gamble, of Cass City, in a little building 
which had just been built by Peter D. Bush, and which stood a few rods 
southwest of what is now known as the Wilsey Mill. Mr. Bush lived at 
the time just across the line in the town of Almer, but near what is 
now Caro. There were a number of children who wanted to go to school, 
and at that time there was no organized school district in the town of 
Indian Fields. Mr. Bush got lumber at Wahjamega, and went to Pontiac 
after a stove, glass and sash. School was taught that winter, and the 
following spring the building burned. At this school was the foundation, 
or rather the first start of the Caro schools, the subsequent history 
is given in connection with the village. 

The first meeting of School District No. 1 was held May 1, 1858. David 
Gamblewas chosen chairman and J. K. Heartt secretary. The following 
officers were elected: Moderator, William A. Heartt; director, J. K. 
Heartt; assessor, Daniel Dopking. There being a disagreement as to 
location of school-house site, no school was at that time organized, 
nor until 1863, when a school was opened in a shanty at Wahjamega Miss 
Martha Wilcox being teacher. She was engaged for a school to commence 
January 1, 1863, and continue three months, at a salary of $2 per week 
and board around. 

School District 2 and 3 were organized about the same time. 

The Union of Graded School District was organized in 1867, and 
comprised the whole of sections 1, 2, 3, 4, the north half of section 
9, the whole of sections 10,11,12,13,14, the north half and the 
southeast quarter of section 15, the east half of sections 22, 24, 25, 
26, 27, 33, 34, 35, and 36. This was designated as the Centerville 
Union School District. 

>From the annual school report of the town of Indian Fields for the 
year ending September, 1882, the following facts are obtained; 
Directors for the ensuing year, Wm. A. Heartt, Orestes Purdy, W. L. 
Rogers, Wm. B. Sweet, Ebenezer Beardsley and James. H. Conner. There 
are five whole districts and one fractional, with one brick and six 
frame school-houses. Number of children of school age, 600; attending 
school during the year, 539. There is one graded school in the town.






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