The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-05-13

Cooper at the Alumni Banquet, CIV
ing history of the schools and school
teachers of lola, contained so much
valuable material and was of 80 much
inherent interest that the REGISTER
asked Mrs. Cooper to permit the pub
LEGATION of the manuscript in order
that the data she had been at so much
pains to esther might be put perman.
emily on record. The request was
Kindly complied with and the adj
dress follows in full:
Forty Years.
THE lola SCHOOLS FROM 1S5S-1S9S.
For convenience, the history of the
lola schools may be divided into four
parts--the private schools in and
around lola, the public schools in the
frame building in the western, the
schools that we're taught ia the stone
building and those taught in the
present building.
The town-site of lola was laid out
in the spring Of 1859 but before that
time, Miss Maggie Bird, now Mrs.
Daniel Horville taught school in u
little log house at the edge of the
timber just south of her present resi-.
dence and Mrs. McDonald's children
with others attended that school.
AS early as the summer of 1858, Mr.
VIM. Hart, brother j. w. Hart, a
young man nineteen years of age,
taught school in a little log house
about l2xl4 feet. This house had
two windows 2x2 feet and it stood
almost south of the Jay McCarley
farm and south of Rock Creek about
400 yards.
Schools were taught in lola in vari-
GUS places and by different teachers
and think have succeeded in get
ting the names of nearly all of the
early teachers but l cannot depend
on the dates altogether.
After lola was laid out, Mr.. Alex.
Stewart, lawyer and Justice of the
Peace taught school In a little one
story, frame building which stood
where Mr.. Mann's livery barn now
stands. Mr.. VIM. Hart afterwards
taught in the same building, and still
later, Mrs. Larimer taught in little
one story residence on the present
site of the Pennsylvania Central
Hotel. Then followed Miss Hancock,
an eastern lady who had been a mis-
sienary among the indians, and she
taught in her private residence
Lizzie Case, Now Mrs. Nimrod Han
kins, was one of Miss Hancock's pu-
pills.
Perhaps Miss Hester Walters, sis
ter of John Walters, was the first
teacher who taught in the public
school. Mrs. Lizzie Hart and Miss
M. V. Tbrssher also Taught in early
times.
In 1863 /. b. Hitchcock taught
school. My impression is that he
taught a private school first and after
wards taught in the public school.
A part of the term he was assisted
by Miss Mary Coval and later by
Miss Lizzie Case, whom many of yot
know 80 well rs Mrs. Nimrod Han
kins. Mr.. Hitchcock and Miss Cova
were refugees from the Indian Terri
tory and came to lola at or about tn,
same time that so many of the coloreC
people came.
Notwithstanding Miss Coval's mile
ways and pleasant manner, she was
descendant of the noble Red Man
her mother being full-blood Indial
woman, aud Mr.. Hltchcock's wife
who was an intelligent, well inform
ed woman was also descendant o
the same race.
You will pardon me for bringing il
the work of the county superintend
ants as it has been their duty to hav
an oversight over the public school
from the beginning until the presen
time.
A Mr.. More was the first count
superintendent and during his ad
ministratiOn in 1859 Teachers Inst
tute was held in lola. This was a
important meeting and was well at
tended by the people of the commu
nifty. This meeting was held in
frame building which stood wher
the Masonic Hall now stands.
In 1860 u. J. Wisner was appointe
to fl vacancy in the county Supe
intendeut's office aud was afterward
elected to the office and served unit
1868 when he resigned to go to wa
and DR.. Collins was appointed. NJ
Hitchcock was elected in 1868 all
Rev. Lynn in 1864 ar 1860
Mr.. Wisner made the first report
the State superintendent in 1856
The county records were burned du