Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Mishicot 6 - Tisch Mills ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 22, 2007, 5:48 pm MISHICOT 6 —TISCH MILLS Clare J. Panoch Mishicot district number 6 is now and has always been called the Tisch Mills school. It is sometimes referred to as the Stangel school because of the many Stangels who live in the district. Tisch Mills is located about a mile west and one mile north of the school site, but since it is the only village in the district, the school was so named. Mishicot No. 6 was at one time set up as Mishicot No. 12 when Gibson and Mishicot were one township. The district was organized for school purposes in 1857 according to an old clerk's record book written in German and Bohemian. Prior to 1856 this district was a part of Mishicot district No. 1 which consisted of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. By 1858, while Mishicot and Gibson were still one township, the districts were re-numbered and the present Mishicot 6 became Mishicot district No. 12 which then consisted of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, T. 21 N., R. 24 E. When Mishicot township separated from Gibson, the districts were again re-numbered and this area became district No. 6, Mishicot. Since its organization in 1857 various pieces of land have been detached and added to Mishicot No. 7 and Jt. 2. The first schoolhouse was built about 1857. It was said to have been a log building with a lean-to added. The records of the clerk state that $2.25 was paid out in 1868 to "point" out the old building to fit it for another year or two of service. The site was the same as the present location of the school. The land on which the school was located was a part of the 160 acre tract given by the U. S. of America to Jewett Wiggin, a private in Captain Smith's company of the New Hampshire militia. The deed to him was signed Dec. 1, 1857, by Pres. James Buchanan. Jewett Wiggin assigned the land to Thos. Wacadlo. On Sept. 27, 1858, Thos. Wacadlo and Catherine, his wife, sold to district No. 6 Mishicot, the following described property: To commence at the S.E. corner of the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Sec. 5, T. 21 N., R. 24 E. a piece of land to run 9 rods north, thence 9 rods west, thence 9 rods south, thence 9 rods east to the place of commencement, containing one-half acre for the sum of $5.00. In 1868 the log school was replaced by a frame structure. Building operations were begun the first of May. The sum of $600 was raised to pay for the new school. The school, now 80 years old, still stands and serves the community. Continued improvements have been made and new and modern equipment added. The building is 24x36 feet in size, has one large classroom with windows on the long sides and two in the entrance side, has a large cloakroom, built in library shelves, floor furnace, and large areas of blackboard space. Electric lights were installed in 1945. The teaching equipment compares quite favorably with the better schools in the county. The school has no basement and so the usual outbuildings are found. The Tisch Mills school began as, and has continued to remain, a one room school. As early as 1861, there were 86 children of school age residing in the district, but not all of them attended school. The census reports as given in the town clerk's reports to the county superintendent show that the school never had the large enrollmen [sic] found in some of the early schools. The highest attendance was 87 pupils in the year 1870. An examination of the town clerk's reports for five year periods from 1870 to 1910 show that about 50 to 70 pupils attended each year. During all of the 1900's up to 1946, the enrollment has remained constant at about 25 to 40 enrolled children. The records of district No. 6, town of Mishicot, are not without omissions. On the page one of the minute book, the following sentences appear: "Keep this book for future purpose. Take care of it. Year 1859". On the following page there is written in German script: "The third annual meeting was held Sept. 24, 1860. Wenzel Dvorak was elected treasurer for a period of 3 years. It was agreed at this meeting to limit the school to a four month term from Nov. 1, 1860 to March 1, 1861. The teacher was voted a salary of $20 per month." Several other needs were stipulated, and the proceedings were countersigned by Clerk Christ Bukousky and director Charles Eggert. On Sept. 30, 1861, Wenzel Swoboda was accepted as financial security for Wenzel Dvorak. The total expenses for the school year were $142. At that meeting, too, Thos. Rezach was elected director for 3 years to succeed Wenzel Sinkula. Up to 1867 the minutes were written in German with the following holding office: Christ Bukusky, Wenzel Dvorak, Albert Holub, Christian Fick, Chas. Maak, Thos. Rezach, and John Sehultz. After 1867 the records were for some time written in Bohemian. "It is easy to account for the languages used in conducting business", states C. G. Stangel, a former pupil. "The southern area of the district was settled by Germans, while the northern area was settled by Bohemians. It was not until 1875 that English began to be used exclusively at school meetings." Mishicot No. 6 was the home district of many prominent citizens. Frank W. Stangel became a teacher and later built and operated a general store at Tisch Mills. Frank J. Stangel became a teacher, an attorney, and later an Episcopal priest. Jacob J. Stangel founded the J. J. Stangel Hardware at Manitowoc. C. G. Stangel was one of the first rural students to receive a county rural school diploma, became a county teacher, and principal of Lincoln High at Manitowoc, and served one year as president of the Wisconsin Education Association. Dan Stangel was a county teacher and later practiced dentistry in Milwaukee. Otto Stangel became superintendent of agricultural schools in Dakota and in Pennsylvania. Adolph Stangel is head of the Badger Specialty Company of Manitowoc; John Murdrock was a teacher, dentist, physician, and city treasurer of Milwaukee. Jos. Murdrock is a prominent physician at Columbus, Wisconsin. Gust Eggert became a prominent farmer, abstractor, and register of deeds. A. G. Schauer became a teacher and later a banker in Kewaunee. Another graduate was Father Kerch, a Catholic priest. Some other outstanding graduates were: Dr. Frank Kozelka, Madison; Dr. Adolph Kozelka, Two Rivers; Frank and Otto Jansky; Sister Wencelaus, for years supervisor at the Holy Family Hospital; Arthur Koehler, the famous wood expert of the Lindberg case; and Joseph Fronk, a teacher near Madison, Wisconsin. There are many more who became prominent but this list must suffice and give an indication of the prominence of its graduates. Sam Roullier was the first teacher mentioned and he taught for two years. He was succeeded by Rudolph Tisch for two years, and then Sam Roullier again for one year. Charles Eggert taught from 1868 to 1876. Others who taught the school were: Floyd Benedict 1876; John O'Hara 1877-80; F. W. Stangel 1880-82; F. J. Stangel 1882-86; Spencer Lovedale 1886; F. J. Stangel 1887; Arthur Zander 1888 from April to May 15; C. G. Stangel 1888-91; Fred Hammond (now Dr. Hammond) 1891. Others from 1891 to 1906 were Chas. F. Schimmel, Adolph Kazda, Jos. F. Wojta, Chas. Schlundt, Jos. Stangel, John Gruber, and John Murdrock. Citizens who have served on the school board in addition to those named for the 1860's were: Geo. Schulz, Frank Schauer, John Stangel, Louis Koehler, Jos. Klenarst, Albert Kaiser, Jos. Stangel, Gust. Eggert, and Frank Stangel. Records show that the school board members have always tried to get the best teachers possible by paying a much higher salary than surrounding districts did. This school always took an active part in town and county contests. Many prizes were captured by the pupils of this school. An interesting fact discovered in looking over the old school registers was that in the years 1906-09 there were 23 Stangels enrolled out of a total enrollment of 40 pupils! One of the oldest residents of the district is "Grandma" Stangel who not only raised a large family but found time to board the teachers and to cheer them on their way. The school yard, on the east and west sides, has rows of evergreens and maples, planted one each year on Arbor Day. The district has no places of great scenic or historical interest. Tisch Mills, a village in this district, was begun by the two Tisch brothers who operated a grist mill. Since that time the hamlet has become an important trading and business cener [sic] for the surrounding, communities. Additional Comments: Extracted from: 1848 - 1948 CENTENNIAL HISTORY of the Manitowoc County School Districts and Public School System EDITED BY JOS. J. RAPPEL, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 1948 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/manitowoc/history/schools/mishicot209gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 9.3 Kb