HISTORY OF PLEASANTON - written by Emma Mark(s); Part 3

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Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 6/16/2014 at 10:06:06

HISTORY OF PLEASANTON written by Emma Marks - Part 3

NAMES OF PLEASANTON

Pleasantons first official name was Pleasant Plains given it supposedly by
the founders because of its location on a grassy rolling plain. More often,
however, in early days as Snookville, for William Snook as founder and
enterprising spirit of the place.

Daniel Bartholow soon after if not before the filing of the town plot, had
sold to William Loving, moved across the line to Missouri improving the
Allen Carrington farm 1/4 mile south of town.

When the Post Office was moved from the Allen Scott farm to Pleasanton in
1858, its name Nine Eagles was retained, there being another town named
Pleasant Plains. Then in 1865 the name of both were changed to Pleasanton to
honor General Pleasanton of the Civil War. When the narrow gauge railroad
came in 1833 (sic), the towns name was changed to honor an official of the
company.

The new name Harding, did not prove popular, neither it is believed did the
official in whose honor the change was made.

In some way not recalled he incurred the displeasure of the town. The
company had demanded $10,000 to bring the road to Pleasanton. Besides the
tax levied many had subscribed heavily toward the fund. The people could
see no sensible reason for losing their heads in gratitude, nor did the new
name seem to fit. Everyone was glad when the old name was restored. People
felt they were at home again.

PLEASANTON SCHOOLS - Log House

Some of the logs of this building are said to still be in use in the frame
work of the house of Mrs. Nona Overton.

The first teacher in the Log was W.S. Warnock, who with his wife had
recently arrived from Ohio. Although listed as a public school building
Warnock School was a subscription (school). Its length of term was six
months.

The second teacher was James Crawford, said to have been a graduate of
Oberlin College. His was also a subscription school.

The third teacher is supposed to have been Lewis Hastings who came the year
before. (The Decatur County History states he taught in Leon that year but
he is known to have taught in Pleasanton and it is believed he was the third
teacher and taught in 1857).

The fourth and possibly the last teacher was Nathaniel (Than) Barber.

SCHOOLS OF PLEASANTON

Since the founding of Pleasanton four buildings have been erected in
Pleasanton expressly for school purposes. Subscription schools have been
held in other buildings and a few times in private homes but these served
only temporarily and have never been considered in any sense public school
buildings.

The first of these was "Old Log" erected in the autumn of 1855. The second
The College", the third was "The Brick".

The "Old Log" stood in Block 7 of Snooks addition where the John Moore house
now stands. Citizens interested in their children attending school went to
the woods, cut down the trees, hauled the logs, hewed them and put up the
building. The floor and seats were of puncheon, the roof was clap board.
While the names listed as pupils in "The Log" only three are known to the
writer. (Emma Marks) Their parents were residents here and the children of
school age (some may have been too young, others too old or old enough to do
without school. Money may have been too scarce in some families for all the
children to go. One man who as a child attended one month in the spring of
1956 (sic) said in late life that he realized that it must have meant a real
sacrifice on the part of his father to raise the $3 required for him and his
two brothers for one month each.
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To be continued - Part 4