The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1915-04-09
Triumph.-No. 20.

Our district was organized in the
year Of 1877. The territory OF which
II was organized was a strip OF un.
organized territory lying on the NJ nth
side Of Hickory township running
from the Nodaway river west to the
road where the 4. Is. church now
stands and south to the north line
Of Fairview district OF which was
then mostly unbroken prairie IN S
wild state except on the east side,
along the road running north from
New Point, which vas settled and a
few houses on the south side Of said
territory. Our main trouble was 10
get territory on the west end Of the
territory as those few on the south
and west end claimed that In a few
years they would organize a district
and they would have trouble getting
any uf tie territory back Tie east
end wanted TO get as much Of the
unimproycd land owned by specula.
tors - possible as they could be
taxed TO make them help build school
house, IL was finally compromised
by those present at a meeting called
that those present would give back a
certain amount OF territory when
they wanted to organize. our first
school meeting was held in 1870,
under a box elder tree In GustuS
Ilonacker's yard. Thomas Denney
was elected Chairman and j. W.
Davis, secretary: arrangements were
made for a general election 10 be
called for the purpose Of organizing.
Several meetings we're held during
the summer Ior various purposes,
such as location and the kind Of
house TO build, etc. Some wanted to
build temporary one that would
last a few years preparatory to build.
Ing a good one. Others wanted a
medium priced one and others a good
one, but the majority wanted either
good one or temporary one, but
II was decided TO build a good one.
Nothing more was done until the
spring Of 1877, No records Of the
previous meetings we're kept, and
tie first legal meeting vas held on
the date OF the annual school cleo.
tiOn when an organization was com.
pleted and boundry lines established
and the following board OF directors
elected Samuel q. Park, John Pat.
terson and John A. Goodhart. On
July 9Th special meeting was called,
which was held At John Patterson's,
for the purpose Of making arrange.
ments for borrow Ing the money for
building purposes; the board Was
authorized TO borrow si,loo, and
bonds were issued and sold to Mont.
gomery 4 Eoecker, Of oregon, and
arrangements we're made TO proceed
to build At once. A board was elected
a. building committee. John Pat.
terson and John \. Guodhart we're
authorized TO 80 10 81. Joseph and
purchase the material which VAS
purchased and shipped to Bigelow.
T. :. Mcdonald and John a. Good.
hart built the house, which was -
10y -, u foo, ceiling.
u VAS completed about tie first Of
November; they we're also engaged to
do the painting, Joseph r patter.
son was employed to teach the hrs,
term Of school which was a four
months term at s,5 per month. The
following l. a list OF the first enroll.
ment of scholars: Frank l'phouse,
Sarah Thomas, Annie Sewers, Ella
Jones, Allen Gore, &. q Denney,
Melvin and Harry Clark, Maud, Ar.
thur and Alfred Kerns, Harry, Josie
and Paul kerns, Maggie Honaker,
nov Mrs. \, H. Norris, Maggie
Hesket nov Mrs. william Hodgin),
william, Henry, James and Allen
Honsker; Alice, J. W, and Mary Pat.
terson: Clarie Goodhart; Hamilton,
Eva, Grant and John Lacey; william
Stith (coloredj
Henry T.. Wright has served ~
years Is clerk Of the district and u
terms as director and J. A, Goodhart
boasts that he has not missed attend.
ing q school election or meeting since
the first temporary meeting Was called
TO organize the district and always
voted for the longest term OF school
that was brought before the meet.
ings. The present board OF directors
are; Lum Patterson, o. c. Goodhart
and william Shields.
l. think this complete history OF
our district. II have made any mis-.
takes ! stand TO be corrected We
had but one light during our troubles
In organizing, but Is both parties are
dead we mention no names.-JonS
A, GooDuART.