The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-12-09
Pioneer Life.
BY DAVIS MACKLEY.

The southern portion of Jackson Coun-
ty was, settled by immigrants from Vir-
ginia. They were poor, had no enterprise,
were ignorant and superstitious but
they were truthful, honest, and extreme
ly hospitable. They were very poorly ed
ucated. Nearly all could read, some could
read and write, but not one in ten knew
thing about Arithmetic. In Virginia,
they could readily see the advantages of
even common school education. and the
pioneers were willing to make any rea-
sonable sacrifice to give their children
some sort of education. 1t was difficult
to get up a school, for several reasons.
There were few who had education suffi-
cient to be teachers. There was no
money to pay teachers, and trade was
scarce. The population was so sparse
that enough children could not be found
near enough together to form school,
without many having to go too far to get
to the school house.
The first school house built in Jefferson
Township was built in the year 1926, a
mile east of where my father lived.
How that house was built, will tell
hereafter. In the fall of 1926, John Nc
Kenzie, who lived about mile and a half
south of the new school house, took up
school there. l commenced my school
education then and there, and afterwards
1 attended school there three winters, my
teachers being Willis c. Wilmore, James
Kelly and John Shumate
Two years ago l lectured before the
Teachers Institute here, my subject be-
ing schools in Jackson County Sixty
Years Ago" / wrote to my second teach
er, to get some facts. and here is his an
swer:
WINCHESTER, ND, Nov. 1884.
EsTEEMtD FRIEND-Your kind and esteemed
letter received, and its contents noted. will
most cbeerfully answer your questions, as well
am yet living, eightyfour years old, and
can write. a little. The first three schools
taught in the State of Ohio, was in Gallia Coun-
ty. The school you refer 10, taught in Jackson
County, in @ which you were 20, a scholar, com; n;
two dollars scholar each per quarter, three
months, in trade. All kinds OF trade were TAX.
en-. Corn was the standard-aimost a legal
tender. 1t was generally fifty cents bushel.
Other commodities We're governed by it, About
that time there was little or no money
paid for school teaching in the country. 1t was
very scarce.
The next winter taught public school in
Gauia County, for which received ten dollars
month, paid in public money. Others around
me got the same.
School houses were generally rude log cabins.
The seats were generally hewed slabs, the legs
too long for the children's feet to reach the
floor; wood and clay chimneys, often very
smoky.
Orthography, Reading, Writing, and Arthme-
tic were the branches generally taught. Stu
dents were Kept in school each day much long
er than now. In some of the schools they spell
ed aloud. was taught to call the last letter in
the English language lizard. The rod was more
freely used in school than now, yet never used
it but once; resorted to other means and had
but little difficulty to keep good order.
Notwithstanding the many difficulties that
existed in those days, young scholars generally
learned faster than now. but not so correct.
] forgot to state, in the proper place, that my
first school in Ohio commenced the first OF De-
cember, 1928.
If you publish your lecture in the Standard,
please send me copy containing it.
Yours with the Kindest Respect,
w. G. WILMoRE