Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-07-04
The First School Established in 1882,
When Mrs. Slaughter Was
' a"- : or
Superintendent.
Hopeful People, Happy Children
and Comfortable Homes Wis.,
ible Everywhere.
Apple Creek Township-13s-79.

bends and winds its way through the
township. The Northern Pacific leaves
the higher lands at the east line of the
town and has a western down grade
through it to the city. Two good county
roads, with high grades, bitches on the
sides through the lowlands and bridges
over the creeks. lead to and through the
town. Passengers from the east on the
cars passing through the cuts necessary to
reach the lowlands "a route made neces-
sary in order to secure a proper grade) on
looking out from the windows in coming
through this town, often express the
opinion tnat they are passing through a
rather uneven and poor town; but as soon
as they get out from the cuts, so that a
view can be had of the country off from
the track, they change and say, "Why, we
from the cars" The truth is that of the
thirty-six sections in the town only six can
be marked as not frst-class land for tillage,
and they are the best of grazing land,
| which is a necessity to the diversity so
long and now practically called for in
farming on the Missouri slope.
Let us look at this town-let us inquire
into Its settlement and rapid development.
The first claim was taken in the year 1877,
by j. A. Field, a veteran union soldier
from LewistOwn, Me. The second by Pc
ter Cox who served five years in the regu-
lar army, and on receiving his discharge
took a claim. This was thirteen years ago.
Others rapidly followed and to-day we find
the assessable property OF the town, real
and personal, to amount to $61,7 24. We
find 815 acres sown to wheat, 223 to oats,
252 planted to corn, 1856 soWn to millet, SO
planted to potatoes and 100 to vegetables.
We find 1877 head of horses, 218 of cattle, 5
mules, los mich cows, 100 hogs and 1000
fowl.
Several tree claims have a good growth
Of trees, and one, ten acres, belonging to j.
q: Field. has been proven up on; has trees
thirty feet in height and six to ten inches
in diameter. Clarence Price and Messrs.
Scribner and Shelton have fine groves sur
rounding their homes. The houses are
very comfortable structures, and from
the ri sssr Ea tsr 5e Z h sis~ 2? The s'i spaiH is saS
and grass lands in this town never
looked better than they do now, if we ex-
cept the four farms that were proved uO
on and then mortgaged for money to ena-
BILE the owners to either leave the state or
60 into other business.
A few of the farms belonging, OF that
did belong, to this class have been allowed
to grow up to weeds and the improve
ments to be damaged. A number of this
class of farms have been rented and have
been cropped in a hasty way; others have
been put in properly, and the difference
between the work poorly done and the
work properly done is very noticeable.
more than hopeful; they are now conf
dent Of a crop, and are delighted with the
condition of their stock and the abundant
grass crop they are certain to secure.
While this civil township was not organ
lied until 1885, the pioneers did not wait
until that late day to establish a school,
but away back in 1882, when Mrs. Lynda
schools, a school district was formed of the
north half Of 1873 and south half of 1S9, both
of range 70, into an independent school
district. l.. U. Stevens, now an attorney
in Colorado: James Goss, now a prominent
citizen of Billings, Mont, and J.. A. Field,
still "holding. the FORT" were the first
board. They bonded the district for ST.;
designed frame school house: had
it painted inside and out:
in the school house they placed the most
improved modern furniture; also, black
boards, maps, globe, wash bowls, clothes
and hat racks, erected a coal and wood
model school house and has a complete
outfit. But what speaks best for the judg-
ment and liberality of the first board and
succeeding directors is that since the open
ing of this school no parent or child has
had TO pay tuition, and all books. states,
writing waterfall and everything required,
has been furnished free of charge. And
to-day, after ten school seasons, the build
ing is in a good state of repair. The school
board has paid all warrants on presenta-
ton, have paid 500 on the bonds and have
q surplus on hand for future use. If this
is not a good and creditable showing,
where will You find one. The present
and J: A. Field-this being Mr.. Fields
sixth term, he having served ten years and
Is now in hopes Of being of service for two
years more. The board act in harmony.
The neighborhood have confidence in the
board and allow nothing to stand in the
way Of the education Of their children.
baiee a1 taneht Is b1 nq M;s No. H 81; Ts Ske Sehoo Tbs is
ssaiEassf and ID fe Sns 1t Of the the p' tow9s
ship. a permanent resident and practical
farmer. Miss Shelton has had experience
at teaching. She at n time taught at the
school house in Bismarck now used for
county offices. l find eight scholars pres
ent, all neatly clad, little rosy faces clean;
all orderly and attentive. The older chill
dren of the country cannot attend school
at this season, as they are greatly needed
on the farms. There is a general effort
being made by all farmers TO do all their
W work, so the average attendance OF
the country schools is at this time cut
down. The board of this district contem-
plates having a winter school. If so, the
older children can attend, and this school
being situated close by the residence on
Clarence Prices farm, and in a location
very accessible, there would be no very
great danger from storms, should there be
any. Miss Shelton is pleased with the
school, the scholars and her calling. 1t is
much more Of a task to teach eight than it
is to teach twice as many. Those accus-
toned to teaching all make this statement.
! found here a little boy, Evan Edwards,
that came. fOnr miles, also a little girl,
Fanny Hedges, that came two miles, This
will be an eye-Opener to our city school
children.
On leaving the school, l crossed the road
to the farm of Clarence Price, and after
looking it all over. examining the stock
n crops, his house and barns, the grove
Of thrifty trees, its location on the railroad
and near the creek, the good road to
market-only six miies-and a No. / neigh
borh0Od, l came to the conclusion that
Clarence would not be able to fndsand Sc
cure the equal OF this farm in his western
trip; also, that while he is away he need