Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-03-12
NOTES FROM OTHER TOWNS.
Arthur.

Carly County School Days in Grant Comfy
The frat school house near Arthur wa.
Quilt by DR.. J. }. Basye one Of the pioneer
physicians of Grant county, in 1896 upon tn.
l.. h. Wells farm first settled By the doctor
two miles northwest of Arthur in the towT
of Clifton. This primitive school house We
think is worthy of minute description ii
comparison with the cOmmodious comfost.
able and fully equipped edtaces IN which the
student is trained for the active duties Of
citizenship today. It was constructed OF
rough slabs the hrst products of Bashford',
mill erected upon the Little Platte the same
year. These slabs we're placed upright and
slightly intrenched in the ground and was
rooted with the same material All was put
together principally with augers next t.
the ak the chief tool Of the early settler)
but few nails were used in its construction
they being a scarce and expensive luxury
II was banked up upon the north and west
with earth and sod for warmth and dryness
The benches were constructed of slabs with
supports let in with augers. Upon one side
desk was attached 10 the wall OF the same
material and in the same manner of the
benches. An oblong Aperture was cut out
on the east side and covered with oiled
foolscap for window. The fire place was
composed of rough stones procured near
the site and the chimney of sticks and mud.
The floor was terraGrma kept in order with
a splint broom formed out of whiteoak
sappiing.
The doctor employed as teacher in this
primitive school an ex-English soldier. by
name Francis James Reigand. He wa very
austere exacting and a strict diciplnarian
the result Of his military training, yet Just
and impartial in his government and in
struction
Galena at that time was the base of sup
plies. The winter beginning early and Sc
we're with deep snow we were cut off from
obtaining supply of text books of which
there were bat few in the country. few
dilapidated copies of the old English read
er. kirkham's grammar and Websters eIe-
mentary speler we're all that we could
muster. Our teacher, however being an
adept with pencil and brush. came to the
rescue. He manipulated a book for the
writer out of pine board in the form OF
broad paddle, upon one side of which he
painted the capitals and upon the other he
penciled the small letters and digits after
covering the paddle with paper. This pad
die book sometimes performed double SER
vice being occasionally applied to the eeat
as well as the head Of knowledge For orr
mary spelling the teacher painted a number
of alphabets upon squares of paper which
he kept convenient upon his goods box desk
and when we LITTLE tow heads in mother
hubbards of tow were called to recite we
were required to select the proper letters
and form them into words. This exercise
proved very interesting and exciting to my
one classmate and self and we made such
proficiency that we advanced into Websters
elementary speller at the close OF the school
This was not a very large school represent
ed. believe. by but five families, but it was
very profitable one. The next we hear of
Mr.. IL. he was teaching in Lancaster: we be-
lteve the first school taught at the county
seat. From this point we know nothing
farther concerning him.
The following summer Miss Julia Warner
OF Patch Grove taught primary school in
the same school house at which the writer
possessed sure enough store book in Web
sters elementary speller. Miss Warner was
very pleasing lady and teacher and at
once won the esteem OF patrons and schol-
ars and taught a successful term in which
the writer nearly memorized his speller.
Nothing OF particular note occurred at this
school. AT the close Miss Warner took her
departure regretted by all who formed her
acquaintance. She was a sister of Jared
warner who became prominent in the at
fairs OF the county
The following winter was so severe that
no school was taught in this vicinity and
the school house was converted into a dwell
ing.
IN the summer of '3s george King began
school in preachers tent upon the first
camp ground few rods south of the first
school house. This school house was fur
ntShed with the elaborate fixtures of the
primitive one the ftOor OF which was again
mother earth. This school was consider
ably augmented by new emgrants. Mr.
KING after teaching TWO months was called
to attend the funeral Of his brother Henry
who was killed by the Caying in of well up
on the John Stephens farm in the south
west corner OF the town of Lima on the road
leading from Lancaster to Platteyille known
as kuaps Corners. Mr.. X did not return
to finish his school but soon after returned
10 his native state Ohio.
The winter of 80 Ross J Ferry an early
settler upon the Rich'd Reddy place town Of
Lima Taught a large school in the log
ton now owned by Fred kirkpatrick and
still occupied As a dwelling Mr.. Ferry was
good Christian gentleman. local preach
er ana justice of the peace. Under his in
strucuon this school made great advance
ment and the population having materially
increased anu othef schools springing up,
spelhng schools We're tnaugurated which
drew the settlers both old and Young for
many miles around and became the chief
source for recreation To the community
Many amusing inciaentssoccurred ali these
schools and many miShapS ludcrous and
semi serious IN snow drifts in efforts to
reach the place ut meeting. but like the
red man spelling schools have passed be-
yond Mr.. Ferry continued 10 farm liz
Tie, preach and dispense justice through the
summers and teach in winter many wears
until his mind became impaired and he
ended his days in the asylum 4 number of
years ago.
In the summer of 40 Benz Britten taught
large school in another preachers log
tent With earthen floor ami rude Hxtures
situated one-tourth of a mile northwest OF
Arthur postoflCe on the present farm OF
John Anthony. This school was SO large
thar the scholars when all in We're packed
similar "a sardtnes in box but being To-
Gated IN beautiful grove, scholars were
detailed in squads to con their lessons under
the cooling shade of the majestic oaks. This
was happy summer to all in attendance
a. there were enough grown scholars to in
dulgc IN various games and sports, chief
among which was gathering gum from the
wild rosin weed which grew in abundance
upon the adjoining prairie. \ vigorous
contest was waged 70 see who could secure
the greatest quantity ana store up for win
ter maStication until some collections as
sumed quite formidable proportions.
Another Sportive l,astime was boating upon
Newman mill pond in large nat boat and
failing water snakes OF which there were
hundreds The pond being new at the head
the young willows and hazel projected above
the water and snakes were frequently found
knottcd UP around the bushes, This school