Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-03-22
SCHOOL HISTORY.
Historical Sketch Of "Olney school "
Of Ross Township.

was once PerIysburg township better
known perhaps as the Pan Handle"
where the depth and quality Of soil could
nowhere In the State be surpassed, where
the forest yielded timber in immense guam
titles and Of excellent quality, few pio-
neers, many years ago, commenced, with
jealous ambition, to build for themselves
homes in the unbroken wilderness. Not
withstanding the obstacles and contingen-
ces in new country, and the anxiety OF
mind to provide for themselves buildings
and hasten the removal Of that heavy
growth OF timber flom few acres, in or.
der that they might produce a few neces-
sarics Of life, they we're not unmindful or
neglectful in providing means whereby
their children might. be taught the rudi-
ments OF a common school education.
Upon the records it appears by the efforts
Of Perry Stevens Anson Smith, Elisha
Pike, Horace Hollster and others they
voluntarily reared n suitable building, for
those days, and gratnitously paid a teacher
to take charge OF the school. The entire
enumeration then consisting of but twelve
scholars.
The law for the better organization of
district schools, being passed in | ls53, steps
were immedia ,ely taken to secure the adj
vantages intended by the same The rec
ords show that Perry Stevens, Anson Smith
and Elisha Pike were elected MS the first
board OF Directors in what was then dis
trict No. 10 of Perrysburg township. The
names of the citizens appearing upon the
records as acting in that capacity after
wards, are James Stevens, VIM. III. Ford,
VIM. +. Hill, w. w. Hicks, Harmon
Oberbeck, George King, Mr.. Marx, J. G.
Ketcham, ]. b. Russell, Walter Cary, An
drew Bihn, John Wieland, s. o. Crandall,
aud few others, whose names do not APP
pear upon the records.
In 1854, necessary measures were taken
and new frame school-house was erected
the whole community being imbued afresh
with a moro intense interest in the pros
perity Of the school.
Perhaps it would not be amiss to give
publicity to the names OF those who have
acted as instructors in this school from it's
first organization; considering the idea,
were it possible, of locating the home ef
each and giving the whereabouts of many
of the scholars, who have been under their
instruction, it.might awaken many pleas
ant associations which have been forgot
ton bv intarveu ;p0 vaors rboraf,ro :, ~, d,
be possible that some one may be perusing
the columns OF the JOURNAL and be pleased
with an idea that would cause the mind to
revert back from their present sphere, to
the days when their spirits we're overflow
ing with buoyancy, and their minds graft
fed with imaginative themes OF the future
while they happily spent the time in said
school, either in the capacity OF teacher or
student.
Therefore by the records and other
available means 1 am able to give the
names of those who have taught one or
more terms in the district mentioned above
as follewS: Miss C. Stevens, Miss Eliza
Conrad, Miss L. NJ. Stevens, Miss Lucy
Cook, Miss Bessie e. Hill, Miss Hattie Bas.
cum, Miss Susan Cook, Miss Emily Norton,
Miss Marian A. Hill, Miss p A. Stevens,
Miss Annie Daily, Miss Elizabeth White,
Miss c. E. Smith, Miss Lucinda Tyler, Mr..
Hays Williams, Miss Josie A. Timanus,
Mr.. Ru1ton Sweet, Mr.. VIM. Nichols, Miss
Amanda Clark, Mr.. Frank Kingfeld, Miss
H. J. Mathews, Miss Maggie Daily.
Aa far as could be ascertained there are
but FIVE Of the above named persons who
are still engaged in teaching. One of these
has occupied a position for many years in
the Toledo schools another highly priced
for professional skill in the art of teaching
has been retained fer many years in the
public schools of Cleveland
As the capacity of the old building was
9 inadequate TO accommodate all the schol-
ars, it became necessary to build a new
/, one. There were urgent appeals made on
the part of some Of the citizens for graded
! school, but it was finally decided to build
, , one large and commodious room and fur
, nish it with everything necessary for COM
: fort and to facilitate school work, which |
believe was done to the satisfaction OF all
concerned. This building was dedicated
: on the second Monday of November, 1876,
! by gsodly number of the citizens being
! present, and appropriate remarks heing
made by Rev. ]. u. Frazer, of East Toledo.
=, AS this part OF Perrysburg had been
! changed to Ross township it was then and
, there christened as "The Olney School" f"
! of said township.
y Having taught the same school ever
since, | here submit the following con-
> densed report for the term commencing
/, ing Nov. 10, 1877, and ending March 8, '78:
, No. OF Scholars enrolled. ............... 66
Average daily attendance ............. SO
\ Per cent. OF attendance. 81
3 In department, all the scholars above
e twelve years OF age being twenty four were
I truly representative members of the school
4 Their acts in general reflects the highest
n degree OF self respect; il savors OF the
4 fact that reason, good Judgment, and com.
/ mon sense were the means thought Of by
i them, which would bring desired results
8 | regret to state there were few unpleas
/, ant occurrences; but desirous of barring
!, out everything that would have a tendency
/, to waste the time and prevent that which
e would be detriment to all concerned, il
i became necessary to reprimand and to thC
i credit of those who deviated from a true
v scholarly course they voluntarily made al
:. apology, and with alncrity, promised tc
# make consistency" their watehword il
/. failure. In each case the promise made
1t was duly and honorably kept. l cannot
n refrain from suggesting the proprety o.
d all scholars adopting this course. II mol
!, only strengthens the scholar in cultivatinl
a | onn1 nriuciulps but il 0ivea tho faacha,