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JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO - 401 CHAPTER VII. BY W. M. TRAINER. SCHOOLS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY - PIONEER TEACHERS - FIRST SCHOOLHOUSES - EARLY METHODS - LADIES' SEMINARY - PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN STEUBENVILLE - RICHMOND COLLEGE, ETC. ONE of the first considerations of the early settler in Jefferson county after he had reared a log house for his family's protection and made a little clearing from which to provide their sustenance, was the education of his children. Though the grade of education of that period seldom reached beyond reading, writing and arithmetic, yet in many of the log school-houses were planted the germs of an ambition that was not controlled by " what is," but was only limited by " what might be." In some cases the settlers would erect a rude building of a very primitive nature that would be known as the school-house, while in other cases a spare room (if there was one) in one of the log cabins would be used as a school room. The log school-house was generally erected in the same manner that the log cabin was, by all the neighbors lending a helping hand. No better type of the log school-house can be used than " The Old Log School House " immortalized in Rev. Alexander Clark's book of that name. Though built at a period subsequent to many others in Jefferson county, yet a short account of it might be given here. It was erected in 1830, and one day was only taken in its erection. This is the description of it in the book: " The house was but eighteen feet square, with a low, rough ceiling, unwhitened and unadorned, with the least hint at art or luxury. There were six small nine-light windows, near enough to the ground to permit the children to feast their curious eyes on the traveler who at very long interims passed that way. Along two sides of this room, with one edge fastened to the wall, ran the writing desks, fronted by long benches of oak wood without a lock * * * A huge chimney fronted and gaped at the master, with an iron bar for its upper lip. * * * " William Kerr was the first teacher in this school, and Samuel Clark, the father of Rev. Alexander Clark, taught in it for some time. In 1874 the old log school-house was town down to give place to a more modern edifice, having been used for school purposes for forty-four years. Previous to the adoption of the public school system in this state, the teachers were paid by the neighborhood, and no formal examinations were required to be passed. The branches taught were few, and the three " R's " constituted the greater part of the school course. The school term was limited to the winter months and the schools 26- B. 402 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. were often very crowded, as the pioneers generally had large families. Probably the first school in the county was in Saline township situated near the mouth of Yellow creek. About the only information we can gather of this school is that sch0ol was taught there as early as 1800, by an Irishman named McElroy. Brush Creek township had a log school-house previous to the one described above which was built in 1814. In it Samuel Clark also taught as he did subsequently in the " Old Log School House." Cross Creek township also had schools shortly after the opening of the century. In 1804 a man by the name of Green taught school there. This school stood about where No. 4 school house now is. In 1807 a Mrs. Evans taught school in what is now district No. 1. In distrist No. 5, Richard McCullough taught in 1806. This township kept pace with the increase in population in its number of schools, and can now boast of some excellent schools. We find accounts of schools of pioneer date taught in Smithfield, and among the early teachers were Mr. Shackelford, Miss Armilla Garretson and Joel Hutton. No records of these early schools throughout the county having ever been preserved, definite information in regard to them can not be obtained. But from what can be ascertained, we can proudly infer that Jefferson county in her infancy was alive to the necessity of education, and that her early pioneers, in-so-far as they could, paid their debt to posterity in that regard. The earliest school taught in Steubenville was about the year 1805. In this year a Mr. Black opened a private school and soon had a paying attendance. In 1807 Bezaleel Wells built what was known as the Red School-House, on High street, and one James Thompson was its first teacher. In 1818 a Mr. Baker established and taught a private school near the head of Washington street. About 1820 the property opposite the seminary on High street and now known as the Stewart McElvaney property was built, and within its walls an academy was established, presided over by Prof. James Miller. Mr. Bezaleel Wells was the chief contributor to the fund of this academy. In 1814 Rev. George Buchanan established a classical school west of the railroad on Market street, which continued in a flourishing condition for many years. Dr. John Scott, for many years, was the owner and chief instructor of the Grove academy, situated on Seventh street, north of Logan, which was continued for many years in a most prosperous condition. Its doors were closed as a private school shortly before the war, only to re-open again on the faces of the children of the public schools. Other teachers of private schools in Steubenville in early days were: Mrs. Rush, Miss McClanathan, Moses Urquahart, James F. Snowden, Mrs. Orr, Alice Caldwell, the Misses Hull and Miss Kells. Miss E. McCracken, for some years, ran the Third Street seminary which proved to be a most excellent school for young ladies. Its last session was about the year 1870. In 1829 there was established in Steubenville an institution of which she can justly be proud. We refer to a noble institution yet in the prime of its usefulness, and one that, has during the past half century, JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO - 403 contributed a gratifying quota of fair ornaments to society, and laborers to the Lord's vineyard, far beyond the confines of this continent. It is none other than the far famed " Steubenville Ladies' seminary," opened by the Rev. Dr. C. C. Beatty, on April 13, 1829. The buildings, admirably located, substantial and roomy, now fill almost the entire west boundary of the seminary grounds, which are very extensive and tastefully arranged. We find that it was in 1833 the first graduates received their diplomas, the advance guard of an army of over 4,500 who have gone forth from these venerable halls, and have scattered themselves around the whole circle of the earth, many of them rising to positions of influence, some of them as missionaries, and others acting an important part in the world's great drama. Rev. A. M. Reed, the present principal and proprietor of the school, has been with it for nearly a quarter of a century, and for many years he and his wife have had entire charge of the same, the advancing years and feeble health of its venerable founder having long withdrawn him from any but a nominal connection with the institution. The seminary is conducted under the auspices of the Presbyterian chutch, but children of all denominations find a home within its hospitable walls. The grounds are laid off in tasteful style, and leafy trees and falling waters of the fountain make the place one of cooling delight, especially on a warm summer's afternoon. The buildings themselves are roomy and comfortable, and the school room is airy, light and pleasant. A large library, complete and .excellent chemical apparatus, and collections of specimens in the line of geology, ethnology and natural history, furnish ample materials for interesting object lessons, and the various and beautiful articles gathered up in different trips to the old world, and which may be found in every, part of the building, make it a place of rare attractions. A well fitted up gymnasium is at hand to aid in healthy bodily development. One of the late additions to the institution is a preparatory school, with features of the kindergarten system, for the little ones, which has met with marked success. At the close of the last term 103 scholars were enrolled, from all parts of the country, under a corps of officers and instructors numbering sixteen, teaching all the branches to be found in a first-class educational institution for young ladies. The course of study is divided into four years, primary, middle, junior and senior, and under its present management the school gives promise of a yet increasingly lengthened career of usefulness, while remaining a noble and worthy representative institution of the " Buckeye State." Origin of the Public School System in Steubenville. - Though the city has never lacked ample means for obtaining learning—in the way of private schools as the population increased it became more strikingly apparent that the imparting of education may be put on a broader and still more popular basis, hence we find that in 1838 the first board of education was organized, consisting of Dr. C. C. Beatty, Dr. John Andrews and Mr. James Means, whose object it was to open up the public school system in Steubenville. The following year two 404 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. school buildings, on Upper and Lower Fourth street, were erected at a cost of $4,000, and opened in the fall. "These," says Mr. Joseph B. Doyle, in a paper on the subject, "with rented rooms, accommodated the city youth until 1858, when a material aaddition was made to school facilities by the purchase of Grove academy, a spacious building which had been previously occupied as a school for young men, by Rev. Dr. John Scott, at a cost of $5,000. Within ten years the growth of the city compelled the further enlargement of accommodations, the end of which was the erection of a large new building on the corner of Fourth and South streets, which was completed April 1, 1870, at a cost, including furniture, of $60,000. The building is four stories in height besides the attic, and is a massive structure, containing twelve school rooms, with accommodations for B00 pupils, and is provided with a large number of class-rooms. It is heated throughout with steam, and lighted by gas, and contains all the modern improvements. The high school is located in this building and has a complete chemical and philosophical apparatus. The demand for room still increasing, by a vote of the people a new and more commodious building was ordered on the corner of Fourth and Dock streets. This was completed in 1873, and is a fine structure of pressed brick, constructed in a pleasing style of architecture, and surrounded by tasteful and well kept grounds. It is three stories in height, including the basement, and contains twelve school rooms, with accommodations for 700 pupils. In the Sixth ward are two good buildings a frame of three rooms in what is known as the rolling mill district, with accommodations for 160 scholars, and a two-story brick in the Fisher district, with room for 120 scholars. In 1884 the new Second ward and Fifth ward school buildings were erected, and at the present time the new Sixth ward school building is almost finished and will be ready for occupancy by the beginning of the next school year. These buildings are all of the latest and best approved architecture for structures of this kind, and are a source of pride and ornament to the city. The appearance of the school houses has attracted the attention of strangers, and no care is avoided to make the instructions given correspond to the outside impression. The course of study in the primary and intermediate departments is of the most approved kind, and the highest educational skill is utilized to bring out every dormant faculty of the pupil. Music is also taught during a portion of the time, with the usual literary exercises. The high school was opened in 1855, and the first pupil graduated in 1860, and from the ever widening stream which since then has poured forth in uninterrupted flow, has been supplied first-class educational talent not only for the Steubenville schools, but elsewhere. The first school superintendent was Thomas F. McGrew, who was followed by W. J. Sage, J. N. Dessellem, Eli T. Tappan, Joseph Buchanan, M. R. Andrews and H. N. Mertz, the present superintendent. The corps of teachers including the superintendent now numbers fifty. We insert here a table, taken from the annual report for 1889, which explains itself: JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO - 405