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present financial school-law went into operation. But fines only yielded a small sum, the proceeds of Section 16 were small, when apportioned among the several schools of the township; money was scarce and difficult to obtain, either by labor or produce, for there was but little demand for either. and had it not been for the low wages of teaching, schools could not have been continued for three months. The first schoolhouses in the county were rude structures, built of round logs, covered by clapboards, held in their places by poles laid upon them. The writing desks were generally slabs, laid upon pins driven in holes bored in the wall, while the seats were rude benches made of slabs. with two holes bored in each end, into which the legs were driven. The floors were also made of puncheon, dressed on one side, and the writer remembers that the second house in which he taught had only a part of the floor thus made, while the other part was the ground leveled off to correspond with the puncheons, and ground-squirrels and rats would frequently come out of their holes, during school hours, and run across the floor, to the no small amusement of the pupils.

The custom of

In many of the schools, pupils were required to study in a loud tone, and hence called a loud school, the object being to let the teacher know they were engaged upon their lessons, and not in mischief. Classes in arithmetic and writing were never formed, but each pupil "ciphered away at will," and received personal assistance from the teacher when the same was needed. Writing was taught by the teacher "setting the copy," and the pupil trying to imitate the same. The "quill pen" was used by the pupil, and the "master" was expected to make the pen, and mend the same when the pupil thought it unfit for use. "barring out the teacher, and compelling him to treat," about the holidays, was indulged in by the pupils as a general custom, and sanctioned by the parents; but this relic of barbarism has almost entirely disappeared from our schools. Until the present school law went into operation, there were two County School Examiners, who examined applicants for certificates to teach school, at any time they were called upon, the fee being fifty cents. and the grade of qualification necessarily low, compared with the qualifications during the past twenty years. Among the early Examiners, we may mention John Beers, Dr. J. Briggs, C. F. Dempsey, J. R. Knox and A. L. Northrop the latter also taught school in 1844, and claims that he first taught mental arithmetic in the schools under his charge. He afterward became County Auditor, and has ever been a warm friend of education. and a firm supporter of our common-school system. John Beers, John Wharry, J. R. Knox and William Allen were, respectively, members of the Board of Examiners until the year 1856, when C. G. Matchett. E. B. Putnam and G. H. Martz constituted the board. This board required mental arithmetic to be taught, and made it a grade of qualification for the teacher. Many applicants for certificates were rejected for incompetency; the standard of teaching was raised, and the schools necessarily took a higher standing in education and usefulness. A vacancy occurred in the board. by the death of E. B. Putnam, and A. T. Bodle was appointed a member of the same. At the breaking-out of the rebellion. C. G. Matchett raised a company of the Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served with honor and distinction during the war, and, at its close, located, as a lawyer, in Greenville, Ohio. filled the office of Prosecuting Attorney with fidelity, and is now a prominent member of the Greenville bar. G. H. Martz followed teaching for a number of years, served four years as Treasurer of Darke County, and is now serving his third term as County School Superintendent of Greenwood County. Kan. A. T. Bodle followed the profession of teaching for a number of years. and is now a prominent member of the Greenville bar. The first meeting of teachers was held about the year 1856, the object being the mutual exchange of views relative to the duties and responsibities of teachers. In 1859. A. T. Bodle, L. S. B. Otwell and J. T. Martz, being then School Examiners, in connection with other teachers organized the Darke County Teachers' Association. which was kept alive for some time; and, after the enactinent of the law creating a teachers'

institute fund was passed, the association was re-organized, and has been kept in existence from that time to the present. J. T. Martz has been President of this association for a number of years, and, previous to March, 1879, was member of the Board of School Examiners for more than twenty successive years. He has taught a number of normal schools for teachers, in different parts of the county. With Prof. Lang, of Gambier, Ohio, A. J. Rickoff, Superintendent of the public schools of Cleveland, Ohio, and Rev. A. L. McKinney, of Troy, Ohio, he held the first teachers' institute in the county. He has been one of the instructors of the Darke County Teachers' Institute for a number of years, and has just completed his ninth successive year as Superintendent of the Greenville Union School. The last teachers' institute enrolled 150 members, and was one of the most successful held in the county. Hon. T. W. Harvey, John Hancock, Rev. J. F. Reinmund, and other distinguished educators of the State, have been teachers and lecturers at our institutes, and they have taken front rank with like institutes in the State.

Education in the county seems to be progressive. The public schools are generally well attended, and there seems to be a desire on the part of both teacher and pupil to make all possible progress in the acquisition of knowledge. Teachers make themselves acquainted with the modern methods of teaching, and adopt the same when preferred. Graded schools have been established at the following places, and under the control of the following Superintendents: At Bradford, D. S. Myers; at Gettysburg, Rev. C. W. Shoate; at Versailles, J. E. Polly; at Dallas, J. S. Royer, who is also a member of the Board of Examiners at Union City, Ohio side. B. F. Landis is Superintendent at New Madison; Thomas Eubank, who is also a member of the Board of Examiners, at Arcanum. A goodly showing this, of nine graded schools in the county, together with 200 schoolhouses, requiring 250 teachers. It will be well in this connection to review somewhat the history of education in the State in order to understand how it has been possible to reach the present system of education in the county of Darke.

Ohio, educationally, has been a favored state. When, nearly a century ago, the Confederate Congress passed an act for the survey of Western lands, one section of each township was reserved "for the maintenance of public schools within said township." In the act for governing the Northwest Territory, passed July 13, 1787, it was provided: "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of educa tion shall forever be encouraged. Later, one-thirty-sixth of the entire land of the State was given to the State in trust for the support of schools. The State constitution of 1802 provided: "Religion, morality and knowledge being essentially necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged by legislative provision, not inconsistent with the rights of conscience." Despite these provisions for education, the schools of Darke, as intimated in earlier chapters, were for many years of little moment. The law of 1821 left it to the vote of each township whether school districts should be formed. Four years later, action in this regard was changed, and Township Trustees were required to divide the township into districts. A tax for schools was levied by the county and provided a fund of about $10 for one ordinary country district.

In 1838, the first efficient law was adopted by the General Assembly. It provided that School Directors "may determine the studies to be pursued in each school, so that reading, writing and arithmetic may be taught in the English language." In 1849, teachers, in addition to examination in spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic, were required to show qualifications in geography and gramThe present cost, condition and value of Darke County schools may be ascertained by a consideration of the following statistics for the year 1879:

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The balance of school money on hand September 1, 1877, was $71,982.88; the State tax gave $19,899, the irreducible school fund added $4,553.69; the

local tax for school and schoolhouse purposes gave $68,333.56; the amount received on sale of bonds was $940: from other sources, $1,611.49-thus making the total receipts $167,320.62. The following were the disbursements during the same year: The amount paid teachers was-primary, $58,276.99; high school, $6,095 total $64,371.99; managing and superintending, $675; sites and buildings, $10,892.79; bond interest, $8,205.66; fuel and other expenses, $18,925.53 ; a total expenditure of $103,070.97-leaving a balance, September 1, 1878, of $64,249.65. The State received, during the fiscial year ending November 15, 1878, from the county, of common-school fund, $18,586.15, and paid to the county $19,899, or an excess of $1,312.86. The number of youths between six and twenty-one was 13,175. The Section 16 school fund amounted to $5,135.92.

Darke has 20 townships, 177 subdivisions, 9 separate districts and 9 subdivisions, included in separate districts. During the year, 5 primary schoolhouses were erected in the townships, at a cost of $5,000. The value of school property is about $200,000 in townships and $130,000 in separate districts, or a total of about $330,000. There were 230 schoolrooms, requiring 231 teachers. There were employed, within the year, 186 gentlemen and 71 ladies, in primary schools ; 22 gentlemen and 24 ladies, in separate districts, or a total of 303 teachers. The number of teachers who taught the entire time the schools were in session were 154. The average wages of gentlemen, in primary township schools, was $38; ladies, $26. In separate districts-primary, $49; ladies, $32; high, gentlemen. $61. The average number of weeks' schools were in session, was 28, 31 and 33. The local tax of townships, 1878-79, was 3.4; separate districts, 7. The number of pupils enrolled within the year was of boys, 4,973; girls, 4,161-total, 9,124 ; in primary, in townships: separate districts-primary, boys, 1,050: girls, 958; high, boys, 201; girls, 197-total, 2,406; grand total, 11,530. The average daily attendance was 6,918, the per cent, in townships, being 76, and in separate districts, 82.

The number in each branch of study is thus given: Alphabet, 1,767; reading, 8,988; spelling, 9,832 writing, 7,826; arithmetic, 6,775; geography, 2,750 ; grammar, 1,830; oral lessons, 2,271; composition, 1,054; drawing, 436; vocal music, 1,395; map drawing, 373; history, 283; physiology, 28; physical geography, 13; natural philosophy, 23, and German, 145; algebra, 336; geometry, 26; trigonometry, 11; surveying, 2; chemistry. 11; geology, 11; botany, 10; astronomy, 1; book-keeping, 22.

The School Examiners of Darke, in 1879, were E. B. Leitz, J. T. Martz and E. Lockett, the last named resident of Gettysburg. Eighteen meetings were held for examination of teachers; 368 gentlemen made application for license and 187 ladies-total, 555; of these 205 were rejected. Fourteen persons, all gentlemen, received license for two years; 46 for eighteen months; 226 for a year, the remainder for six months; entire number licensed, 350; 37 per cent were rejected. The institute, held at Greenville, commenced August 19, 1878, was in session eleven days, and 160 persons were in attendance.

Thus briefly we learn of the large sums annually paid for education, the full supply of teachers, the fair wages and the increasing exactions of the people for better qualifications. The institute, the high schools and the common schools provide means for acquiring that knowledge so indispensable to the control and instruction of the young. The schools are by no means perfect, but they are progressive, and, as compared with the past, have shown surprising advance.

SOCIETIES.

The local historian nowhere finds a more interesting field for research, or one more fruitful, than that which embraces the experience of the pioneers of Darke -the men who literally hewed out the county from the sturdy and unbroken forest, wherein the ax of the woodman had never before resounded; who conquered a scanty subsistence from the unused soil which the plowshares of civilization

had never disturbed; who not only were hindered by these primitive and inert conditions, but positively opposed by the rigors of the climate, the malarial influences of the atmosphere, and the depredations of wild animals; whose crops were even preyed upon by the birds of the forest and the smaller predatory animals. But peace hath her victories." and adversity and savagery combined withstood not the constant onward march of the vanguard of the grand army of civilization, whose pioneers, discharging their daily routine of duty, unwittingly recorded their deeds in history.

Desirous of the benefits of association, the following-named pioneers met in Hart's Grove, July 4. 1870, and there organized the first pioneer association of Darke County, viz.: Henry Arnold, Aaron Hiller, Israel Cox, John S. Hiller. David Studabaker. John Wharry, Josiah D. Elston, James Cloyd, John Martin. Robert Martin, Henry W. Emerson. John Stahl and William F. Bishop, in all thirteen. On motion, James Cloyd was elected President; John S. Hiller, Vice President; Henry W. Emerson, Second Vice President: John Wharry, Secretary, and H. Arnold. Treasurer. The following was the preamble to the constitution and by-laws: "We, the undersigned, citizens of Darke County, Ohio, believing it commendable to collect and preserve all the incidents and reminiscences as connected with the early settlement of our county, and to preserve them, that those who follow us will, in some degree, be made acquainted with the manners, customs, difficulties, hardships and trials incident to the settlement of a wilderness county, do establish this our constitution, etc." Again, in a year and a day, the pioneers met at the same place. There was singing by Greenville people, prayer by Rev. Levi Purviance, music by Arcanum Band, address by Hon. G. V. Dorsey. of Piqua, on "Pioneers and Pioneer History," and other music by band and choir. when there was served just such a dinner as pioneers are capable of getting: an overwhelming abundance of the best the land affords, prepared with a culinary skill and neatness peculiar to our pioneer mothers." In the afternoon, G. B. Holt and others gave voluntary addresses, then with due and appropriate ceremonies, the remains of the two Wilson girls, who had been slain by the Indians, were disinterred, buried in the Greenville Cemetery, and a suitable monument erected to commemorate them. The semi-annual meeting was held at the court house in Greenville, January 1. 1872. An address was delivered by Dr. I. N. Gard, and it abounded in historical allusions to events in the early day. It is a subject of deep regret that the addresses delivered before the association had not been written and the papers filed with the Secretary, as the subject matter, however interesting. was lost in its utterance so far as there was any benefit to posterity. A dinner was concluded by a dessert of corn-bread and milk. In the afternoon there was an experience meeting." greatly enjoyed. Israel Cox presented the society with a cabin door made in 1816, of clapboards pinned together by wooden pins and hung on wooden hinges. The annual meeting was held at the fair grounds. The death of James Cloyd was formally announced, suitable resolutions were passed, the constitution was amended, and H. K. McConnell chosen Corresponding Secretary. This gentleman then delivered an address on The Early History of the County, followed by H. W. Emerson, Dr. Gard. J. S. Hiller and others, when the roll was signed by quite a number of persons. On July 4, 1873, the associa tion met at Morning-Star Grove, Greenville, President Hiller in the chair; William Allen read the Declaration of Independence, when rain threatened and the meeting was adjourned to the court house, where addresses were delivered by Abner Haines, of Eaton, G. D. Hendricks and others. Again, January 1, 1874. the association met at Greenville and listened to a well-prepared, interesting address upon “The growth of the country, its resources, and future possibilities." A vote of thanks was tendered the Judge therefor. Aaron Hiller was chosen Secretary, vice Wharry resigned. A Bible presented by Mrs. J. W. Frizzell was placed in the care of the Corresponding Secretary. The constitution was amended to admit pioneer women as members, and true to the gallantry of “ye

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olden times," the membership fee was remitted.

At a semi-annual session, New

Year's Day, 1874, the constitution was amended to require five in place of three Vice Presidents, whereupon William Arnold and Lemuel Rush were unanimously chosen. Death was busy before the assembly on July 4, 1874, and H. Arnold, Mrs. Jane Arnold and Mrs. Nancy Gilbert were appointed a committee to draft and report suitable resolutions of condolence on the death of Mrs. Delilah A. Harper. The record at this point contains the following

Henry Arnold,
Aaron Hiller,
Israel Cox,

John S. Hiller,
David Studabaker,
John Wharry,
Josiah D. Elston,
James Cloyd,
Robert Martin,
John Martin,
Samuel Hine,
Joseph Cole, Jr.,
J. G. Gilbert,
John King,
Harry House,
Henry Tillman,
John R. Knox,
Chas. G. Matchett,
John M. McNeil,
Lucy L. Ladd,
Jane Rush,

Samuel Bechtolt,
A. T. Bodle,

Mrs. C. M. H. Bodle,
James R. Brandon,
S. C. Baker,
Hannah Baker,
Nancy Gilbert,
Samuel Hahn,
Martha Larrimore,
Geo. D. Miller,
Elizabeth Miller,
W. H. Morningstar,
H. W. Emerson,
John Stahl,
William F. Bishop,
William Arnold,
W. S. Harper,
Delilah A. Harper,
Margaret B. Pixler,
Dr. I. N. Gard,
H. Zimmerman,
F. T. Hamilton,
Enos C. Shade,
T. H. McCune,
John Stephenson,
Eliza S. Stephenson,
Tracy House,

ROLL OF PIONEERS.

Allen La Mott,

Mary Ann La Mott,
John Ketring,
Jane Hart,

Sarah Jane Scribner,
J. W. Frizzell,
Adam Beam,
G. W. Beam,
Dilman Mote,
C. M. Sharp,
David Craig,
Asa Rush,
Lemuel Rush,
S. H. Robison,
Dr. E. Lynch,
James Garver,
Geo. C. Lecklider,
Judson Jaqua,
Mrs. Jaqua,
Franklin Scribner,
David Riffle,
Mrs. Mary Riffle,
Mrs. Robert Martin,
Mrs. Dilman Mote,
David Harter,
Wm. Scott Piqua,
Robert S. Ross,
Jane Wintermote,
Lewis Byram,
J. M. Brady,
A. L. Wortley,
Wash. G. McGee,
John L. Johns,
John Hagerman,
John McClure,
Rebecca McClure,
Morris Bryson,
Mary A. C. Bryson,
Mrs. Ellen Hiller, 2d,
Mrs. Sarah Stokely,
Thomas Stokely,
William R. Young,
Jane House,
Maria Bishop,
Ruhamer Craig,
Phoebe Hamilton,
Alice House,

Maria Lecklider,

John G. Horner, Daniel Drill, John Mark, Noah Arnold. Mrs. Sarah Hall, William Lecklider, Reynolds Morton, S. T. Mendenhall, J. W. Hall, John V. Hiller, H. R. Calderwood, Ezra Lecklider, G. W. Earhart, Mary Lynch, Gideon Martin, O. C. Perry, T. F. Chenoweth, T. H. McCune, John Westfall, William Allen, Asa Brady, George Arnold, John C. Arnold, Dennis Hart, Peter Weaver, Elias Ross, Isaac Funk, H. C. Kerr, Lucinda M. Young, David Brown, Joseph Phillips, Mary Jane Craig, Lydia Brown, David F. Harter, T. H. Hamer, Philip Albright, Henry Snell, Mary Snell, Aaron Fleming, Rachel Fleming, Aaron Clawson, Rachel Clawson, Elizabeth Fisher, Sarah Scribner, R. M. Brown, Jeremiah John,

Christena Chenoweth, Josiah Harter,

Rebecca Harter, William S. Turpen, T. P. Turpen, Michael Ritenour, Catharine Ritenour, Christopher Briney, Mrs. Rebecca Ross, Tabitha Oliver, Eleanor Bechtolt, Lewis Wintermote, J. R. Calderwood, Catharine Funk, Mrs. E. A. Funk, Sarah Culbertson, Alanson Brown, Cyrus Boyer, Turnice Denice, Hannah Hunter, D. D. Hunter, Wesley Jay, Laurinda Jay, H. J. Sturgley, John L. Winner, Harrod Mills, Louisa S. Mills, Louis B. Lott, David P. Judy, Catharine B. Mark, Joseph Bryson, John Bruce, Nancy Starn, William Martin, Charles Calkins, Jane Studabaker, George Arnold, Mary Arnold, William Parent, Hannah Parent, Phoebe Brady, James Marquith, W. H. Matchett, Jason Downing, Daniel Reigel, Lydia A. Reigel, Mahlon Martin, Philip Froebe, Elizabeth Froebe, Jesse Woods -211.

On January 1, 1875, the association met in the jury-rooms of the new court house. President in the chair. Meeting was opened with prayer by L. B. Lott. The roll was completed as just given. Mr. Lott was elected Assistant Secretary. D. D. Hunter, N. Arnold and David Craig, appointed as a committee to secure a speaker, recommended the Hon. William Allen, of Greenville.

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