350 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY R. Morrell was vicar in June, 1922, and the Mission Church of the Holy Spirit, at Lewis and Sylvania avenues, complete the list of Episcopal organizations in Toledo. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Mention has been made of Fathers Potier and Burke, who were sent as missionaries to the Indians of the Maumee Valley in the latter part of the Eighteenth Century. After them no work was done by the Catholics in this region until work was commenced upon the Miami & Erie Canal. Among the laborers on the canal were many Catholics and in 1837 Bishop Purcell sent Fathers Emanuel Thienpont and Edward Collins to attend their spiritual wants. Father Collins did not arrive, however, until the early part of 1838. These two priests visited the construction camps along the canal from the mouth of the Maumee to Fort Wayne, Indiana, traveling on horseback. They were followed by other priests, among whom were Fathers Machebeuf, McNamee and Howard. In November, 1839, Father Machebeuf visited the laborers on the national road between Fremont and Perrysburg. He then came to Toledo, which was then a straggling village of a few frame houses and log cabins. Here he found several families ill with the "Maumee fever," who needed spiritual comfort and consolation. A room was rented and before an altar f goods boxes, decorated with colored cloth, this French priest said the first mass ever celebrated in Toledo. The few Catholic families were organized into a parish and in 1841 Rev. Armedeus Rappe was sent to them as priest. He remained in charge until 1846. While here he purchased the church building on Superior Street that had been erected by the Presbyterians (or Congregationalists), remodeled it and dedicated it to the Patron Saint Francis de Sales. This was the first Catholic parish organized in Toledo. On October 10, 1847, Father Rappe was consecrated the first Bishop of Cleveland. He was succeeded in the parish by Rev. Louis de Goesbriand, who served the parish for two years, when Rev. Philip Foley came to Toledo. He built an addition to the church at a cost of $2,000. In 1862 the old church was moved and ground was broken for a new structure. Services were held in the new building for the first time in 1869, but it was not dedicated until the following year. Its cost was $70,000 and at that time it was the finest church building in Toledo. Monsignor John T. O'Connell, who is also vicar-general of the Toledo Diocese, has been pastor of this parish for more than a quarter of a century. Such is the brief history of the oldest Catholic parish in Lucas County. Until 1854 St. Francis de Sales was the only Catholic Church in the city. By that time the number f German Catholics had increased and some two hundred of them petitioned for a church in which they could conduct services in the German language. The petition was granted and in January, 1854, Rev. Charles Evrard was appointed the first priest at St. Mary's. Although a Frenchman, with an imperfect knowledge f the German tongue, Father Evrard's zeal won the respect f his parishioners, with the result that two lots on the corner f Cherry and Michigan streets were purchased, a church was erected, and on March 22, 1857, the building was dedicated. In 1866 this building was enlarged and the spire added, bringing the cost up to $45,000. From 1869 to 1904 the church was under the care of the Jesuit Fathers. Rev Charles Jansen was pastor in 1922. TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 353 The establishment of St. Mary's parish encouraged the French Catholics of Toledo to ask for a church of their own. Father Evrard was instructed to organize the parish. The result was that in 1854 St. Joseph's Church was founded. At, that time there were about one hundred and fifty French families living in Toledo, or within a few miles of the city. For their benefit a small frame chapel was built on the grounds now occupied by the Ursuline Convent, corner of Cherry and Erie streets, and in 1862 Rev. James Rouchy was appointed resident priest. Rev. Modestus Jecker took charge of the parish in 1868 and in 1876 purchased three lots on the corner of Erie and Locust streets for a church. The building was completed by Rev. Andrew Sauvaudet and was dedicated on December 8, 1878. Rev. P. G. Schoendorff was in charge of this parish in 1922. In 1862 Rev. Edward Hannin was commissioned by Bishop Rappe to organize a parish in the southern part of Toledo. A site on the corner of Thirteenth Street and Avondale Avenue was purchased by Father Hannin and on July 6, 1862, was laid the corner-stone of St. Patrick's Church. The building was completed at a cost of $27,000 and was dedicated on St. Patrick's Day (March 17), 1864, by Bishop Rappe. St. Patrick's Academy was erected soon afterward and in 1874 Father Hannin completed the building known as St. Patrick's Institute. Work was commenced on a new church edifice in 1892. It was dedicated in 1901 and cost $150,000. Rev. James P. McCloskey, has been pastor of this parish for more than a decade. St. Peter's Church (now SS Peter and Paul's) was organized in 1866 by Rev. Peter Danenhoffer and is an offshoot of St. Mary's. Lots on the corner of St. Clair and Hobart streets were purchased and a two-story brick building was erected, which was used both as a church and a schoolhouse. In 1875 a new church structure, which cost $34,000, was dedicated. It was remodeled and enlarged in 1891. Rev. Henry E. Boesken was in charge f this parish in 1922. Father Hannin, pastor of St. Patrick's, organized the Church of the Immaculate Conception in 1867. The church edifice, which is on the corner f Eastern Avenue and Maumee, cost $65,000 and was dedicated in 1896 by Bishop Horstman. This parish was organized at the request of Father Hannin, St. Patrick's being too large. Rev. John Quinn was the first resident priest. The pastor in 1922 was Rev. E. M. O'Hare. A second French Catholic Church Was organized in. 1871 and was named St. Louis'. Rev. Modestus Jecker, of St. Joseph's, served as priest until the completion of the church building in 1872, when Father Gauthier was installed as pastor. This church is located at 453 Sixth Street, East Toledo. A school was established in 1880. In 1922 the pastor of this church was Rev. Gustav H. Ricken. The Church f the Good Shepherd was organized in 1872 by Rev. R. A. Byrne. It was organized in the old Union Church building, in the southeastern part f the city, which building was afterward used as a round house by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The next year a site on the corner of Clark and Nevada streets was purchased and a church erected thereon. In August, 1875, Rev. Patrick O'Brien came to this church as pastor. For more than a quarter of a century he was associated with the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Church of the Immaculate Conception. In 1922 the pastor of this church was Rev. George A. Branigan. St. Hedwig's, the first Polish Catholic Church in Toledo, was organized in 354 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY 1874. Prior to that time the few Polish families in the city had been ministered to by priests from Chicago. Father Lewandowski was the first pastor. A site on the corner of Dexter and Lagrange streets was purchased and a building erected, which was used both as a schoolhouse and church. This building was almost entirely destroyed by fire in February, 1886, but it was rebuilt and used. until the present handsome stone structure was dedicated in 1892. Rev. Benedict Rosinski was pastor of this church in 1922. In 1881 the second Polish Catholic Church was organized under the name of St Anthony's. The next year the church building was erected on the corner of Junction and Nebraska avenues, a schoolhouse was built in' 1883, and in 1884 Rev. M. F. Orchechowski was installed as resident priest. The growth f the parish necessitated a new church building and a stone edifice was erected at a cost of $95,000. It was dedicated on July 15, 1894. Rev. A. J. Suplicki has been pastor f this parish for a number of years. About one hundred German families petitioned the bishop in March, 1883, to separate them from St. Mary's parish and permit them to organize a new church. The petition was granted and the Sacred Heart Church was organized with Rev. John Thein as the first pastor. Father Thein bought eight lots at Sixth and Oswald streets, East Toledo, and a combination building for church and school purposes was erected. The present church building was erected in 1899-1900. In 1899 the pastor was Rev. John P. Haupert. St. Ann's Church was organized on July 3, 1898, by Rev. J. H. Muehlenbeck. In May, 1899, the corner-stone of the combination church and school building was laid, and it was dedicated on July 8, 1900. The building is f Sandusky stone and is three stories high. The first floor is used for church purposes, the second for the school, and the third is a parish hall. The membership is composed chiefly of Germans and Belgians. This church is located on Horace Street, near Detroit Avenue, and in 1922 the pastor was Rev. Frederick A. Houck. St. Stephen's is a Magyar parish and was organized in 1898. The same year a frame house of worship was erected on the corner of Consaul and Genesee streets, at a cost of $3,000. The pastor of this church in 1922 was Rev. E. G. Eordogh. In 1914 a new edifice of brick was consecrated. DIOCESE OF TOLEDO All of the above mentioned churches, as well as several others in the city, were organized while Toledo was in the Diocese of Cleveland. On April 15, 1910, the Diocese of Toledo was established. It embraces all that part of Ohio lying north of the southern limits of Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Van Wert and Wyandot counties, and west of the eastern boundaries of Crawford, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties. Rt. Rev. Joseph Schremb was consecrated Bishop of Toledo on August 11, 1911, and served as such until May 11, 1921, when he was transferred to Cleveland. He was succeeded by Rt. Rev. Samuel A. Stritch. In 1912 the Diocese bought the tract of land lying at the southeast corner of Islington Street and Collingwood Avenue which, except for one residence, was vacant. This had been held by the city school board for some time. Another site for Scott High School having been obtained, this property was sold. In a short time was erected the beautiful school building now known as Cathedral Chapel, facing TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 357 Collingwood Avenue, a heating and power plant and at the west end facing Islington Street, a capacious bishop's residence and Diocesan offices. These buildings were planned architecturally- to harmonize with the Cathedral to be erected within the group and on the corner reserved. In 1922 plans were developed for the erection of the Cathedral. The building is to cost, with its furnishings, about one million dollars. In two days of intensified campaign, but with quite remarkable ease, $537,000 of the expense of this building was subscribed within the Cathedral parish, alone. The balance of the cost will be provided, as building progresses, through the ordinary processes of the church, supplemented by such special efforts as may be necessary. The Cathedral will be the most elaborate church edifice in the city. Its architect was the late John T. Comes of Pittsburgh, who died at the age of 49, April 15, 1922. Speaking of the architecture, and the inspiration thereof, selected for the new Cathedral, Mr. Comes said : "The architectural style was determined when the sketches for the whole group were made. The name of the Diocese of Toledo in the New World suggests the idea of securing from Spain, the country pf the ancient Diocese of Toledo, the inspiration for this Cathedral group. The architecture of Spain was chosen from that period of Spanish Architecture, technically known as 'Platteresque.' But no matter how interesting and beautiful any historical style may be, it is impractical and undesirable from an architectural and artistic standpoint to copy it literally. The style must be changed and adapted to suit the circumstances of time and place, not to mention the cost. "So while the 'Platteresque' which is a transitional style developed between the Gothic and the Renaissance, may be all right for Spain, it necessarily has to undergo some transformation in the mind of the architect to make it suit the conditions mentioned. Besides no serious minded architect, one who puts his whole strength into his work, would be content to copy any work, no matter how beautiful. He may go to the past for inspiration, but he cannot stop there. He must, after all, live and work in the present and after he has secured an historical and Catholic background, he must achieve success by interpreting this spirit in the full light f the present day requirements. Only in this way can a contribution be made to American Catholic Architecture. "The 'Platteresque' belongs to the romantic style it is not bound down by the hard and fast rules of the classic or even the Renaissance styles,. It has proved itself quite plastic and adaptable in the Toledo Cathedral plans. "Those who are interested in figures and dimensions, will find them below. Seating capacity including Lady Chapel 1800, gallery 500. Length 241 feet, width through Cathedral and Lady Chapel 190 feet. Width of main Church 80 feet, width f nave 52 feet. Height of nave from floor to ceiling 75 feet. To ridge of rof 90 feet. Height f tower 233 feet." According to the "Official Year Book" f the Diocese for the year ending on October 1, 1921, there were then twenty-five parishes in Toledo. In addition to the ones above enumerated, these parishes were as follows : Cathedral Chapel, at Collingwood and Melrose avenues Rev. A. J. Dean, pastor. Gesu Church, which is really a mission of St. Mary's and is under the pastoral care of Rev. Charles Jansen. 358 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY Holy Rosary, established in 1906 and located on the corner of Hull and York streets, East Toledo ; Rev. Anthony A. Pirnat, pastor. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, located at 3066 Broadway, with Rev. James A. Lane as pastor. St. Adelbert's, a Polish parish, is located on the corner of Lagrange and Oakland streets ; Rev. J. P. Wachowski, pastor. St. Agnes', located on Martha Street, near Phillips Avenue, West Toledo ; Rev. Edmund A. Widmer, pastor. St. Charles', situated at the intersection of Detroit Avenue and Wayne Street ; Rev. Charles Herr has been pastor for a number of years. St. James', a comparatively new parish located on Colburn Street, near Broadway ; Rev. L. J. Mayle, pastor. St. Michael's, organized in 1900; located at Chase and Sandusky streets ; Rev. William A. Harks, pastor. There is also a Greek parish called St. Michael's, located on Valentine Street ; Rev. Augustine Komporday, pastor. St. Stanislaus', located at 811 Detroit Avenue, was organized in 1907 ; Rev. F. J. R. Czeleusta, pastor. St. Teresa's, a new church at 1457 Dorr Street, is under the pastoral care of Rev. T. A. Kennedy. St. Thomas Aquinas', one f the newer parishes, is located at the corner of Idaho and White streets, East Toledo ; Rev. Francis J. Keyes, pastor. UNITED BRETHREN In the list of churches, as given in the Toledo City Directory for 1921, there are eight United Brethren societies. The first of these was organized in 1868 by Rev. Edward Lorenz, who was the first pastor. It was named Salem Church and a house of worship was erected at 654 Hamilton Street. Rev. R. J. Simon was pastor in 1922. Memorial United Brethren Church, located at the corner of Lawrence and Palmwood avenues, was organized in 1894, by Rev. F. P. Rosseleau. This society owns a house of worship that cost $35,000 and at the beginning of 1922 was under the pastoral care of Rev. John B. Boney. The Second United Brethren Church was organized in 1899 by Rev. M. R. Scouten. For a time meetings were held in a vacant store room. In 1900 a site was purchased at the corner of Dorr Street and Upton Avenue and a frame church erected at a cost of $5,000. Rev. Howard H. Stahl was pastor of this church at the beginning of 1922. Two churches of this faith were organized in 1901. Rev. S. W. Shoup, then pastor of the Memorial Church, founded a mission on Colburn Street, near Broadway, which later became the Colburn Street Church. A brick house of worship, costing $12,000, was dedicated in 1905. Rev. O. E. Knapp was pastor of this society in 1922. The other church organized in 1901 was the East Broadway congregation. A $20,000 church building, at the corner f East Broadway and Navarre Avenue, was dedicated in 1910. At the beginning of 1922 the pastor of this church was Rev. Curtis B. Fletcher. The other three United Brethren churches are of more recent origin. They TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 361 are: The Oakdale Church, at the corner of Oakdale Avenue and Pool Street, East Toledo ; Rev. Lewis Moore, pastor. Hebron Church, at 521 Spencer Street ; Rev. H. V. Clarke, pastor. And Somerset Church, on Somerset Street, near Wayne, Rev. J. S. Engle, pastor. MISCELLANEOUS There are five Jewish religious organizations in Toledo, to wit : Anshe Sanford Congregation, which meets at Canton and Scott streets, Lewis Klein, rabbi ; B'Nai Israel Synagogue, Twelfth and Bancrft streets, Hertz Benowitz, rabbi ; B'Nai Jacob Synagogue, Twelfth and State streets, Abraham Leibovitz, rabbi ; Collingwood Temple, Reformed Hebrew, at Collingwood and Acklin avenues ; and Shar Zedeck Synagogue, at Mulberry Street and Stickney Avenue. The first Unitarian Church of Toledo was organized in 1862 in a frame building on the corner of Adams and Superior streets which had formerly been used by the Christian denomination. Later, a fine brick church was built at Ashland Avenue and Prescott Street. This building was sold by the congregation in the fall f 1921-22 to the Salesian Society, to be occupied as a club house, the church having obtained a fine site at the northeast corner of Collingwood and Bancrft, on which in the late fall of 1922 was commenced the erection of a new building. This edifice, when completed, will be a striking feature of Collingwood Avenue. It is of brick in Georgian style, with a beautifully modelled spire of that period, the main building facing Collingwood and a well appointed parish house at the rear facing Bancroft. June 18, 1922, Rev. Horace Westwood, still pastor of this church, held services in the old building for the last time. The Hellenic Orthodox Greek Church meets at 330 Walnut Street, and the Greek Orthodox Syrian Church at Elm and Erie streets ; All Saints' Episcopal Mission (colored), is located at City Park and Pinewood avenues ; the Christian Faith Band meets at 1724 Canton Avenue ; the two congregations of the Church of God meet at 1672 Dorr Street and 1101 Woodstock Avenue ; the Church of the Brethren worships at Madeleine and Woodville streets, East Toledo ; the Church of the First Nazarene meets at Lawrence and Delaware avenues ; the First Free Methodist Church is located at 1612 Ottawa Street, with Rev. W. A. Sayre, as pastor. On the corner f Brown and Woodland avenues is the German Apostolic Church ; the New Thought Center of Truth meets in the Summit-Cherry building; the Nazarenes meet at 629 Main Street ; the Pentecostal Assembly, at 126 Michigan Street ; the Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian) is located at 2530 Lawrence Avenue ; and the Seventh Day Adventists have a chapel at 855 Orchard Avenue. The Salvation Army maintains its headquarters at 137 Erie Street ; the Union Church is located on Point Place Road near Riverside Drive ; and services of various sects are held in Gospel Hall on Tenth Street, near Washington. Missions—A number of missions have been established in the city. The most important of these are the Adams Street Mission, 572 Ontario Street ; Mission of the Holy Spirit, Lewis and Sylvania avenues ; Toledo City Mission, and the Episcopal City Mission, which meets in the Trinity Parish House. No review. of religious history of Toledo would be complete without at least 362 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY a brief sketch of the life and services of Father Edward Hannin, the founder and first pastor of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic parish. Although in his grave for twenty years, the aroma of his holy and self-sacrificing life still exists. Toledo has had many noble and able and unselfish men in its pastorates, of all sects and creeds. It belittles none of them to specially note the career of this priest. Very Reverend Edward Hannin was born December 22, 1826, on a farm in County Sligo, Ireland, of parents in fairly comfortable circumstances. His primary education was had in certain schools quietly supported by Irish patriots in: opposition to those favored by friends of England. By way of secondary education he studied in Dublin for the civil service, and in his twentieth year he left school with some education as an architect and civil engineer. For a short time he was active in these lines until the famine f 1846 drove him to Liverpool where he remained two years in commercial activities. America's generous response to his country's distress turned his eyes and ambitions westward. He reached New York, May 20, 1849, and after about a year, during which he determined upon the priesthood, he began preparatory studies at Geneva, New York, and in 1853 he entered St. Mary's Theological Seminary, in Cleveland. Bishop Rappe, the first occupant f the episcopal seat f the new Diocese f Cleveland, consecrated him to the priesthood June 1, 1856, and assigned him as an assistant priest attached to the Cathedral, and later gave him secretarial duties in the diocesan administration. The year before, Father Matthew, the noted apostle of temperance, visited the seminary and enlisted this student's warmest advocacy of his cause. Thereafter, as an important part of his never ending activities, promotion of total abstinence was Father Hannin's ceaseless care. In April, 1862, the bishop sent Father Hannin to Toledo to organize a new parish to accommodate the growing number of communicants who were of a different old-world extraction than those most numerous in other congregations. The result was St. Patrick's parish and the several parish churches, elsewhere noted. Thereafter, to his death, he was rector of St. Patrick's, although in his declining years he was obliged to resign many activities to stronger physiques. His executive and administrative ability being recognized by his superiors in the Church, for nearly two years (August, 1870, to April, 1872), he took over the temporary administration of the diocese by direction of Archbishop Purcell, remaining until the consecration of Bishop Gilmour. In 1889, the Diocesan Synod made St. Patrick's parish an irremovable rectorate, and Father Hannin an irremovable rector. The present magnificent St. Patrick's Church was long in building, and Father Hannin's first opportunity to officiate in the completed structure was not until Christmas morning f 1900. Within two years (December 14, 1902), he died, revered alike by all the people of Toledo. He laid down a life inextricably and beneficially involved in the expansion of the city from a straggling and rude provincial town to a metropolis. To no single life, lived in his time, does the city owe more for moral and spiritual upbuilding. CHAPTER XX EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT EARLY LEGISLATION-OPPOSITION TO FREE SCHOOLS-THE PIONEER SCHOOLHOUSE- THE COURSE OF STUDY-RURAL SCHOOLS-EARLY TEACHERS-TOWNSHIP STATISTICS-TOLEDO PUBLIC SCHOOLS-EARLY HISTORY-SELECT SCHOOLS-THE AKRON LAW-BOARD OF EDUCATION-CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL-MODERN PUBLIC SCHOOLS -TOLEDO UNIVERSITY-MANUAL TRAINING-ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE-MISCELLANEOUS SCHOOLS-TOLEDO PUBLIC LIBRARY-LUCAS COUNTY LIBRARY. Although the Ohio Legislature in 1825 passed an act providing for the establishment of a system of common schools, it was several years after that before a free public school system worthy of the name was placed in successful operation. But it must not be inferred from this that education was entirely neglected by the early settlers of Lucas County. A few of the pioneers were financially able to send their children to good schools at a distance from home ; but most of them were too poor to afford such a luxury and were compelled to depend upon such local schools as they could maintain. The first schools in what is now Lucas County were subscription schools—that is, the parents "subscribed" or agreed to pay a certain sum for each child sent to the school. A little later a system was adopted whereby each head of a family was assessed according to the number f his chil-dren of school age. At the present time, when the public schools are open to all, without regard to financial or social standing, it is no disgrace to attend a free school. A century ago such was not the case, the free schools frequently being termed "pauper" schools by those who could afford to pay for educating their children in a private school. Consequently, the early settlers of moderate means made many sacrifices to educate their offspring. Parents who possessed some education taught their children at home, when time could be spared from the work of building up a home in a new settlement. Many poor boys, thus guided by a father or mother, studied their lessons by fire-light, or the light of a tallow candle, and not a few of them acquired sufficient learning to "make their mark" in after years. THE PIONEER SCHOOLHOUSE The first schoolhouses in Northwestern Ohio were almost invariably of logs. Before public funds were provided for the erection of school buildings, whenever a sufficient number of families located in a neighborhood to justify a school, the settlers would get together and build a schoolhouse at some central point. The - 363 - 364 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY roof was of clapboards, or shakes, rived out of a straight grained oak with an implement called a frow. Puncheons for a floor were split from logs and after the floor was laid the upper side of the puncheons would be leveled to a comparatively smooth surface with an adz. Sometimes the only floor was mother earth. At one end of the house was a huge fireplace, capable of taking in sticks of wood four or five feet in length. On very cold days, when it was necessary to have a large fire, those sitting near the fireplace would almost roast, while others in the rear of the room would be suffering with cold. Changing seats was therefore a common occurrence and some disorder in the school resulted. At each side of the house a log would be left out for practically the whole length of the room for a window. If glass could be obtained, a real window would be placed in the opening. If not, light sticks were fastened in the aperture and to these would be pasted oiled paper or muslin. Such a window would let in some light, but on dark, cloudy days the eyes of the pupils were severely tested. The door was made of puncheons, hung on wooden hinges and fastened with a wooden latch. The furniture was in keeping with the house. Seats for pupils were made of split saplings, from eight to ten inches in diameter, the split surface being smoothed with a draw-knife. In the half round side holes were bored with a large auger and into these holes stout pins were driven for legs. The legs stood at an angle that would prevent the "bench" from tipping over. In some districts the carpenters were thoughtful enough to make the benches of different heights, to accommodate children of different ages, but in many of the houses the little fellows were compelled to sit on benches where their feet would be several inches from the floor. Along one side, under the window, pins were driven into one of the logs to support a wide board for a writing desk. Here the scholars took turns at their writing lessons. Scientific lighting, heating and sanitation were unknown. Yet in the old log school-house of this type, United States senators, chief justices, and even Presidents, received their rudimentary education. THE COURSE OF STUDY The frontier school teacher was not a graduate of a normal school. In fact, very few of them had ever attended a higher institution of learning. If an applicant for a school could spell well, read understandingly, write well enough to "set copies" for the pupils, and knew the arithmetic as far as the "Rule of Three," he was considered qualified to teach. The instruction given in most of the frontier schools was therefore confined to spelling and the "three R's." Perhaps some of the young people of the present generation may not know just what is meant by the "three R's," so a little explanation may not be amiss. As reading, writing and arithmetic were considered the essentials of an education, the "g" was frequently' dropped from reading, the "w" and "g" from writing, and the "a" from arithmetic, and the three branches were referred to as "Readin', `Ritin' and 'Rithmetic," which gave rise to the expression—"the three R's." In the study of penmanship, the scholars were not provided with lithographed copy-books as at the present time. A few sheets of fools-cap paper sewed together and covered with a sheet of wrapping paper--a home-made affair—constituted the TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY - 367 copy-book. At the top of the page the teacher would "set a copy," I. e., write a line for the pupil to imitate. These copies were often designed to teach a moral lesson, as well as afford a specimen of penmanship; such as "Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well," "A penny saved is a penny earned," "Never postpone until tomorrow what you should do today," etc. As the term of school rarely lasted more than three months in the winter season, and each new teacher had a different style of handwriting, the wonder is not that so many of the children of that day learned to write well, but that they learned to write at all. Probably more time was devoted to spelling than to any other branch of study. Spelling classes were heard the last thing before noon and just before the close of school in the afternoon. In these classes the words were pronounced, or "given out," by the teacher. If a scholar missed a word and the next spelled it correctly, the one who spelled it correctly passed above the other in the class. The one who stood at the head of the class each day received a "head-mark" and the next day took his place at the foot. At the close of the term, the one having the most "head-marks" was awarded a prize. Usually the last hour of every Friday was devoted to a spelling match, and spelling schools of evenings were of frequent occurrence. In these spelling schools both parents and pupils participated and it is doubtful if any modern entertainment can equal the old-fashioned spelling school in interest or in lasting benefit to those engaged. Sometimes one school would spell against another and the loyalty of each district to its spellers was remarkable. In these contests when one misspelled a word he took his seat and the one who was left standing was declared the victor. To "spell down" an entire school district was considered quite an achievement. Eggleston, in his "Hoosier Schoolmaster," gives a graphic description of an old-time spelling school, in which the champion, "Jeems" Phillips, was spelled down by the new teacher. Old residents can no doubt recall the blue-backed spelling book (Webster's Elementary), McGuffey's readers, Ray's "Practical Arithmetic," which many think the best textbook of its kind ever printed, Mitchell's or Olney's geography, and Butler's or Pinneo's grammar. These were the standard textbooks of early days, and in the study of them many of our best citizens laid the foundation of their education and success. RURAL SCHOOLS One of the earliest schools within the present limits of Lucas County was taught in what is now Waterville Township. Each winter season from 1825 to 1828, Deacon Hiram P. Barlow gathered the children of the settlers in the building known as the "Old Rex Ox-Mill" and gave them such instruction as he could in the elementary branches. It is not known how many pupils he enrolled, or what compensation he received. Another early teacher in this township was Miss Olive Gunn, who taught as early as 1832. As Maumee was an older settlement than Waterville, it is quite probable that the first school in the county was taught there, but when it was taught, or by whom, is uncertain. The history of the public school system in Lucas County dates from 1836. In that year a partial report from the several school districts showed the school population of the county to be as follows: 368 - TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY