CHAPTER XXXII FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP (CONT'D)

ORGANIZATION.

Franklin township was a part of the townships of Grant and Turkey Grove until 1870, when the board of supervisors re-organized all the townships of the county, making their lines conform to the congressional boundaries. The first election was held at McClare's school house, on the 11th of October, 1870, and was for township officers. The officers chosen at this election were the following named: W. W. McClure, James Morgan and Joseph Turner, trustees; James Turner, clerk; R. L. Jameson and William Judd, justices; Thomas Whitmore, assessor; D. M. Lyons and William Wood, constables. H. G. Smith and Thomas Whitmore, acted as clerks at this, the first election. The officers in 1884 are as follows: S. J. Roe, William Wood, and John Borchers, trustees; William Christie, clerk; Joseph Turner and William Wood, justices of the peace; G. C. Hornby and W. W. McClure, constables, and W. W. Jameson, assessor.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school held in what is now Franklin township was taught by William Judd, at the log cabin of John Eller, on section 20, during the summer of 1857. An early school was also taught by Hannah Lewis, at the residence of W. W. Jameson during the summer of 1858. District No. 1, consists of section 1, 2, 11 and 12. The school house was built in 1873, and is 18x26 feet in size. Oll Coomes, the well known literateur and writer, was the first director, and Annie Huff, the first teacher. Mary Wood is the teacher at this writing. District No. 2, embracing all of sections 3 and 10, and the east quarter of section 4 and 19, is one of the smallest in the township. In this sub-district, a school was taught in the summer of 1860, by Hattie Turner. In the following year a small school house was erected, in which Gertie Disbrow was the first teacher. This building was used until the summer of 1876, when it was sold to Mrs. Sarah Robinson, for a granary, and a new edifice put up. The new building is 22x30 feet in dimension, and cost about $611, to erect. The pioneer teacher in this building was Frank Caruthers. Anna Dalzell, is the teacher the present year, (1884). William Wood was the first director of the district. District No. 3 contains the west three quarters of section 4, and 9, and the east quarter of section 5 and 8. The first school house was built in 1870, on section 89, with Miss Annie Griffith as the first teacher. The pioneer school was held prior to this, in a log cabin on the same section, and to Miss Clara Brooks belongs the honor of having been the first to "teach the young idea how to shoot," in the district. In the year 1880, a new educational building was erected at a cost of about $1,500, and Miss Samantha Nordman was the first preceptress. District No.4 has a good school house, erected in 1867, at a cost of $700. It is a frame structure, 22x32 feet in size. W. W. Jameson, was the first sub-director. The district consists of the west three quarter of sections 5 and 8, and all of sections 6 and 7. District No. 5 embraces all of sections 17, 18, 19 and 20. In the summer of 1860 a school house was erected on the northern line of section 19, which was 16x20 feet in size. This was undoubtedly the first school house in the township. Miss Mary Cary, was the first teacher. Some ten years, ago, say 1874, a new school edifice was built, and the old one was sold to John Eller, who uses it for a granary yet. David Lyons was the pioneer teacher in the new building and Miss Eliza Henderson the present one, in 1884. George Magee was the first director in this sub-district. The new building in 22x32 feet in ground area, and was erected at a cost of $625. The present school board of the district township of Franklin, is composed of the following gentlemen: Oll Coomes, president; William Christie, secretary; Oll Coomes, director from district number 1; J. R. Turner, number 2; William Christie, Jr., number 3; W. G. Edwards, number 4; August Seaman, number 5; H. C. Odell, number 6; S. Sampson, Jr., number 7; G. Sandhorst, number 8; D. Ballentine, number 9, and G. S. Abbott, number 10.

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Transcribed by Deb Lightcap-Wagner, February, 2014 from:"History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Reporesentative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 800-801.