The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-26
THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE.

4
We understand that the old Carlyle
school house in district No. has been
condemned, and is to be torn down.
Undoubtedly it has served its time.
1t never was very good and age has
not bettered it. 1t is the oldest dis
trict school house in the county, how
ever, and the most widely known per-
haps, and we feel as though it was in
some way the duty of one whom it
sheltered for many years, to set up at
least a line or two to its memory.
The memory of this deponent does
not run back to the time when it was
built, but 1--WE have heard our fathers
say" that a stone school house was be-
gun in 1859. When it was ready for
the roof, "the winds blew and the
rains descended" and beat upon the
walls and they fell. The pile of
stone remains there even unto this
day. In 1860 the school house which
is now to be torn down, was built. 1t
is uncertain who taught in it for the
first two or three years. Mrs DohO-
ney, long since dead, was among the
first teachers. The first one that we
remember anything about was Miss
Lizzie Case (now Mrs. n. Hankins.)
Our own experience began with Faith
er Lynn. who, we believe, taught the
following term. AS well as we can
now recollect, most of our time during
the term was spent in wishing that we
could read In the primer, as well as
our seat-mate "Billie" Evans. AS
our recollection serves, the next
teacher was Miss Maggie
Cozine (now Mrs. Brooks). Then Mr..
Emanuel Funkhouser (since dead),
taught one term. Then came Prof
David Smith. His reign began in the
fall of 1866, and for seven consecutive
years, ten months out of every twelve,
he held undisputed sway in the old
school house. And be it said, with
due Difference to all who preceded
and who have followed him, he taught
the best school that was ever taught
there. He was an educator OF
the old style. A stern man but just.
An apt and diligent pupil, he would
do anything for. But he could find no
pity in his heart for dizziness or lazi-
ness. His favorite method of punish
ment was by tweaking the ears of the
pupil. From which it came to be
said among his enemies that "you
can tell how long a boy has been to
Smiths school by The length Of his
ears" But that was a SANDER. Ev.
cry thing went along smoothly until
the seventh year of his reign. The
beginning of that year vigorous eff
fort was made to have him ousted, by
parties who were dissatisfied for vari-
Gus reasons, chiefly personal. There
was a very exciting time at the school
meeting, and some OF the most staid
and respectable men in the commu-
nifty came to blows. We know that a
trial before a justice of the peace in
lola, grew out of the meeting, to
which the neighborhood turned out
en- n,asse. Things even went so far
that the candidate of the "kickers"
for teacher, Mr.. John Caldwell, was
taken before the Presbytery charged
with conduct unbecoming christian
and a member of the Presbyterian
Church. On the first day of school
both teachers were present, but all of
the scholars recited to Prof. Smith and
Mr.. Caldwell gave up the contest.
This was the last year Of the old Pro-
fessor's reign, however, as he would
| not take the school another year. He
built little school house near his