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         The first school house was erected in the Winter of 1850-1, and was opened by Miss Stearns, as teacher, during the following Summer. William Runion was chosen to succeed Miss Stearns, for the Winter term, in accordance with the old-accepted ideas of the greater suitability of male teachers in the more generally attended school season.

         Until 1866, the system of education employed in this place was the primitive township or district plan; but at the above date, the citizens decided upon a more comprehensive organization. Considerable opposition was encountered from those who regarded the township as too poor to sustain the burdens of necessary taxation, but the objections were overridden by the “school party,” which favored an independent district.

         A meeting was called at the Presbyterian Church, June 9, 1866, to act upon the erection of the district. The vote resulted in forty-four affirmative and five negative ballots. Thereupon, two of the Trustees, T. C. McClelland and . . .

Pg 497

. . . Samuel Gilliland, refused to call a meeting for the election of officers of the School Board basing their opposition on the point of illegality of the meeting. On the 9th of July following, application was made for a writ of mandamus from the Circuit Court of the Eighth Judicial District, to compel the recalcitrant members to call the meeting, and the writ was issued. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court of Iowa, by Messrs. McClelland and Gilliland, in October, 1866. The decision of the lower Court was confirmed, and the formalities of election were soon afterward proceeded with.

         The following March, the Board of Directors, Aaron B. Oakley, President, Amos G. Miller, Secretary, selected Prof. E. T. Rigby, Principal; Miss Ellen Culver (now Mrs. A. Armentrout), teacher in intermediate department, and Miss Emma Snyder, teacher in primary department.

         The school building first erected under the new dispensation was constructed of wood. In 1875, a fine brick edifice was built, by order of the Board, at a cost of $10,000. Mr. A. G. Miller, of this place, contractor.

         The present Board consists of Messrs. A. Armentrout, President; J. W. Helmer, J. C. Batdorf, Samuel Keith, S. T. Buell and O. B. Judd. The corps of teachers last term was composed of Prof. R. L. Rowe, Principal; Miss C. S. Tenant, assistant; Miss M. A. B. Witter, grammar department; Mrs. A. R. Allen, intermediate department; Miss Ann Arnold, second primary, and Miss A. D. Esget, first primary.