Decatur County Journal
May 24, l906

EDITOR JOURNAL:--It seems an opportune time to give, especially to the younger readers of the JOURNAL, some reminiscences of early school days in the district schools in Franklin Township, and as it comes from one of the smart alecs, you might well expect something extraordinary.

The school house at which the writer first attended school, was located one-half mile north and one-fourth mile west of Fairview Church on what was then called the Leon and Osceola Road, which angled across a beautiful stretch of prairie from where Fairview school house now stands to what was formerly Green Bay, over which the old buckboard, drawn by a pair of tiny steeds, assisted Uncle Sam in distributing the mails. Well, the little school ship weighed anchor and launched out with HANNAH SMITH, later LOREY, but at present EVANS, of Leon, at the helm, with a small band of urchins at her side, prominent among whom was the writer of this article, who at that time still donned the dress such as was worn by the fair sex of our country and which became a source of no little grievance to the wearer from the fact that my brothers, who were bad boys and were a little older than myself, persisted in calling me "sis", a name which I abhorred from the beginning.

Perhaps some of the readers of the JOURNAL will say, "For land sake, why didn't the mothers dress their young men in pantaloons?" Well, let me tell you some reasons for doing as they did.

lst. Fashions have changed somewhat over in Paris during the past few decades.

2nd. Cloth from which to make garments at that time was very high and we, much of necessity, economize by wearing our garments as long as they were any good.

3rd. Self pride had not yet overran this country.

4th. This country was not yet rid of the army greyback and the seven year itch.

So you see, the mothers were quite busy preparing food, looking after sanitary regulations, etc. and could not devote much time to making wearing apparel as at the present day. The little school ship glided peacefully along and we pupils were learning quite rapidly. MISS SMITH was painstaking and her methods of teaching about as follows: Twice 2 was 4, two times 4 are 8; twice 5 ought to be l0, and so on. About the same as they teach mathematics now. The school fixtures consisted of benches, a blackboard and a gad. The books were principally of the old elementary types of readers and spellers; not so costly as at present. A good lead pencil cost l0 cents, a slate, 25 to 30 cents. The pupils had to walk pretty straight or get a licking, the writer excepted, who was a very obedient lad of a few summers. Our teacher was a good singer and used to entertain us with such songs as, "We'll Hang Jeff Davis to a Sour Apple Tree." "Glory Hallalujah", etc. Our hats were home made of rye straw braided by our mothers.

In course of time it was deemed best to move the school house to a location more convenient to the pupils, who were few and scattered. At an appointed time, when the ground was covered with snow, the building was placed on skids, several teams hooked on and the building was moved one-half mile north and one-fourth mile west where it remained on the prairie, until it was sold and torn down. After the school house was moved, a term of school commenced, and at the close of the term, a summer term was taught. A big fellow who stood 6 feet tall was employed to teach the winter term. When the day arrived he appeared with a gad, some six feet long, and at the sight of that 6 foot salamander, the chills chased each other up and down my spine and I believe my school mates felt similar to myself, as we knew he had whipped a boy at another place so hard that the boy was confined to his bed for a time. This teacher, although very strict, proved to be a good instructor.

There was a class in mathematics that was far advanced, also some good readers. Among those who attended this school who have become prominent were: One missionary to India, one lawyer of no little prominance, one college professor who has the reputation of being one of the best educators in Iowa, besides several successful school teachers, farmers, merchants, etc. We now jump to a period of time to the time when LEE HARVEY, of Leon, was employed to teach a winter's term of school. MR. HARVEY was equal to the occasion. He was a very intelligent and promising young man. Well, LEE, as we called him, taught four winter terms in succession. MR. HARVEY was a kind-hearted man and was held in high esteem by the majority, if not all, the pupils.

I will bring this very incomplete sketch to a close and if it fails to drop into the editor's waste basket, I may come again.

J.N. MACHLAN.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
August 23, 200l