Washington County Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 20, No. I
March 2003


RURAL SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY - 1983
SEVENTY-SIX TOWNSHIP


Rural Schools in Seventy Six Township, Washington County, Iowa - 1983

76-Center (See. 16 - township house); No. 4 - Independent (Sec, 19 - storage);

Prairie Flower (Sec. 2 7 -storage)

In 1940-41, the Journal printed a series of rural school histories as collected through the cooperation of County Superintendent Lester B. Krabill and teachers and pupils of the country schools of Washington county Teachers and pupils worked together to compile the histories, searching records and interviewing district residents. The histories were condensed and rearranged in the superintendent's office before being submitted for publication, but do contain many names of pupils and teachers The WCGS newsletter will be reprinting these histories, by township in as many issues as it takes to cover them all. The township maps will be printed, showing the buildings! still existing as of April 24, 1983. The reprinting will also give locations and histories for other schools known to have existed

Seventy-Six Township

  The civil township received its name from the congressional township of which it is a part. Lack of timber caused the early settlers to shun this portion of the county, and prior to 1850 there were almost no improvements made. Charles Patterson from Maryland took a claim on section 23 as early as 1839, a Mr. Vina on section 24 in 1840. These must have been made under peculiar circumstances, for it was some time before others followed.

Seventy-six township was organized in 1856, the first election taking place in April at the Wine of John C. Taylor. Prior to this the township was part of Dutch Creek and Lime Creek townships.

 The first township trustees were David Brooks, John S. Melvin and Samuel Mathers. James H. Sargeant was the first township clerk James Gardner was the first assessor, and W. S. Hamilton the first justice of the peace.

The first school was taught by Mrs. Garrett Meek in her own home. There were six pupils whose tuitions were paid by their parents. The first school house was built on the northwest comer of section 14 in 1860 at a cost of $50. J. C. Taylor was sub director at the time and it was under his direction the school was built in 1941 there were seven schools operating with an enrollment of sixty-one pupils.

By 1983, there were only three school houses still standing.

76-Center

No. 6 school is located two miles east of the Center school, on an oiled county road.

The first records of school are reports of minutes from March 3, 1865. A tax of one mill was levied for payment of officers and contingent expenses for the School Township of Seventy-Six. Five mills were levied for erection of school houses. No. 6 requested four mills for their schoolhouse fund to erect a building. The subdirector was James D. Gardner, S. R. Mather, the president; and Thos. McDonald, the secretary

In 1866 J. H. Sargeant was elected treasurer of the township. The secretary was asked to give $500 bond and the treasurer $3000. Four mills were levied for a teachers fund The treasurer was allowed 2% on all money paid out. Two men were appointed to examine records of county treasurer to see if there was any error in paying of teachers fund and school house fund to the district. This custom was followed yearly.

Minutes of March 9, 1872 recorded the request that algebra be taught in the winter schools of the district

Motion of township board meeting of March 10, 1873 to change from National Series readers to McGuffey readers was lost.

 Minutes of the third Monday in September, 1869 recorded the willingness of Cedar township to cede of their lands lying with the geographical limits of Seventy-Six township. Motion carried. Districts in Seventy-Six were then assigned their respective areas, which is approximate areas of today. At a meeting of March 21, 1871, a committee was appointed to select a new site for No. 6, and was also given authority to deed old lot back to Thos. McDonald for $1.00.  No 6 district was allowed $600 to build a new building. Each district was allowed $175 for teachers salary. No. 6 was given permission to rent a building for school purposes.

 On October 19, 1870, it was resolved to recommend uniform use of McGuffey Readers and spellers, Ray's Arithmetic, Clark's Grammar, Monteeth's geography, Beberards history, and Spencerian. writing. Teacher for winter term of 1864 was E. J. Wright, and spring term Ellen Wright. Salary was $16 per month in 1866 the teachers were M. Goodspeed and B. C. McCauley. McCauley received $12.00 per mouth. Other teachers were Florence Yockey, James Galloway, G. C. Goodspeed, Eliza Write.

 At an election at Center school, June 25,1875, there were 33 votes cast 22 of which were favorable to creating independent districts. J. H. Sargeant was secretary and J. W. Torrey was president. After 1875 the records appear tQ be missing until 1885. Complete records of teachers and pupils are available since that time.

  Just when the present school was built is not known. Records show that$600 was asked for a new building in1870 and another record requests that it be refunded.

  An interesting record of 1871 is as follows: Expenses of William Beaty, subdirector 79 bushels coal $24; broom, 25¢; cup 10¢; crayons 50¢; 2 seats $4; moving and repairing schoolhouse $23; fenceposts $12.50.

  Records of subdirectors from 1865 to 1875 are James Gardner, Thos. McDonald, Elias King, Wm. Cullumber, W. S. Beaty (4 yrs.), Elias King, F. M. Hodges.

 Each child has written why he likes his school so dearly, but space will. not permit to give these sentiments.

 The present teacher is Miss Della E. Potsander and- the children are Delilah, John, Detweiler; Abigail Flynn; David Fladung; Donald Stover;.Esther, Richard Romine; Bobby Schnoebelen.

 People interviewed were Mrs. John Powell and Mrs. Henry Henderson.

Center

  The  first school of this district was located a quarter of a mile south and a half mile cast of the 1940 school. In 1868 the schoolhouse was moved by a team of oxen to the northwest comer of section 2 1.

  In 1875 it was decided the district should become independent. A meeting of the board of directors was held at the school house. Three directors, Thomas Flaherty, J. W. Torrey and I M. Wilson were chosen. It was also decided the name "Center" should be adopted as the name of the independent district. A week later the directors met and elected Flaherty president of the board and Torrey secretary.

  Miss Lelia Sargeant was elected as teacher at a salary of forty dollars. Other teachers who have taught here are J. W. Baker, Alice Bishop, Stella Goodspeed, Wesley Goodspead and Emma Edmondson.

  The schoolhouse was first insured in 1877. In 1899 a new school house was built. The lumber and other material for this school amounted to $324. The labor was $124.

 The enrollment of the school for the 1940-'41 term. included John Gretter, Dorothy Gretter, James Reed, Leo Ollinger, Joellen Ollinger, Cletus Reed, Hubert Reed, Rose Ellen Reed, Joanne Reed and Eileen Wallar. Margaret Wittrig was the teacher.

Tallman No. 4
  Tallman school was built about 1868. It received its name from P. H. Tallman who lived on the comer across from the school. The building is located on the oil road at the southwest comer of section 17.

  The surrounding country was open prairie when the first school was built. This building was still in use 'in 1940.  

  During the intervening years certain changes were made, and a porch across the south end of the building was removed. The black board, a painted board, was changed to the regular slate board in 1939. The seats at first were the long, bench type.

  It is believed that Jarrard Talliman was the first director of this school organization. At that time the district had only one director.

  Some of the first teachers were Mary Seaton, Maggie McLaughlin, Stella Goodspeed, John Augustine, Mr. Bowman and Jonathan Jones.

  The first school had three terms a year. The salary ranged from $18 to $25 per month. During the first years of the school the enrollment was usually as high as 25 or 30. Many times pupils had to sit on each other's laps.

  The school grounds was surrounded by a board fence, and in the southwest corner there was a large pond where the children waded at recess. The first trees 'in the school yard were planted by William Teets, the father of William Nelson Teets who was living 'in this district in 1941.

  The teacher in 1940-'41 was James See with these pupils: Pauline Dill, Garold Hagist, Robert Dill, Geralyn Lewis Donna Jean Hendrson, Imogene Morgan, Janice Dill, Audrey May Dill and Barbara Ann Henderson.

Prairie Flower No. 8

  Prairie Flower school No. 8 is located in section 28, one half mile south and three miles east on the road formerly known as the "Old White Way." The name Prairie Flower originated with Mrs. Sam Swearingen, but the reason for her selection is not known.

  In 1870 William Dayton deeded to the district one acre from the southeast comer of his farm for school purposes only. If at anytime the district discontinued to use it as such, it was to be returned to the home estate.

  C. 0. Dayton, who was still living in 1940, received his rural education at this school and later taught here. His wife also taught here and their children attended Prairie Flower school until ready to enter the high school.

  Prairie Flower school was on one of the routes used by die immigrants on their way west, and it was not an uncommon sight to see the school yard at night crowded with covered wagons and camp fires gleaming, as the weary immigrants rested. The people of the neighborhood hurried through their chores, then would gather round these camp fires to listen to the tales of these pioneers.

   The old school building like so many other early ones was equipped with bare necessities. Here one was fortunate if he was taller than his neighbor, for that was the way the pupils were graded. This was used especially in spelling. The talIest student was at the head of the class and therefore the best student. Often times the large boys became so entranced with the teacher, if she was nice looking, that they crowded the smaller children away from the teacher's desk.

   At the July meeting in 1875 the subdirector announced the district had become independent, and they were to proceed with elections held under this system- J. K. Bryson was elected president with J. Kuhn and Isreal Davis as the other directors. On July 22, 1875, the bond for treasurer was fixed at $550 and secretary at $200. A tax of 4 mills on the dollar was levied for the teacher's fund and 1 1 1/2 mills for contingent funds.

  Jonathan Jones was the teacher for all and winter terms of 1876, beginning the third week in October. Isreal Davis was allowed $95.94 for seats and grading of school in 1875. In March, 1876, Mira Mills was elected for two months beginning in May.

   At the September meeting the board agreed on six months for the first term beginning the first Monday in October, and second term, three and one half months after two weeks vacation. Mary Hunter was teacher.
At the March 1877 meeting S. Robb elected as director and the building was insured against lightening. Robb and Isreal Davis put up the rods, and at the same time erected a wooden fence between the school lot and the William Dayton farm. Mary Schrekengast was teacher for summer term, Sally B. Whitebill for winter term.
In 1876 the school term was changed to eight months and a W. King was to teach a term in 1879. In 1880, the board required a well to be dug as near three feet as possible and walls to be made of brick Miss Jones was teacher in 1880. Mr Known was elected as new director in 1881, and a Mr. Hamilton was the new director in 1883.
The school was insured for $500 in 1883, and new floors were laid in 1884. Miss Brombrak was teacher at that time. Mr. Dayton was elected director in 1889, with a Miss Miller as teacher. The equipment was increased with the purchase of a new globe and a new Webster dictionary. In 1895, the district decided to Place gas pipe fence, two and one half inches  in diameter, around the school yard. At the March meeting in 1904 uniform text books were adopted, and it was decided to teach Spencerian penmanship in writing class. In 1907, $118.45 was paid out for repairs for schoolhouse, seats and desk.

  The teacher for 1940-'41 was Jeanne Martin with seven pupils: James Shannon, Kenneth Aller, Vernon Sprague, Merlin Aller, Margaret Sprague, Donald Shannon and Robert Davis.