Untitled Document

SCHOOLS

Nine schools have an existence in this township, many of them wearing, the appearance of neglect. The one known as Salter's Grove on the S.E. of Sec. 26 is no doubt a relic of the old-time cabin school, erected and operated by John McKiney and Dykeman Shook. If so, it has not kept up with the rapid march of its sister institutions, as it has the appearance of a school abandoned twenty years ago.

Dutch Row school-house, formerly located on Sec. 29, but recently removed to the northwest corner of Sec. 34, was, it is said, the second in the township, built in the fall of 1856 by R. G. Duncan, D. Rawhouser and Samuel Stewart, directors.

The David Graham schoolhouse on the S.E. I of Sec. 19, a neat little frame structure, needing the protecting influence of a few shade trees, was perhaps the third, while the fourth is said to be the Records schoolhouse, located on the S.E. of Sec. 5. It is of good size, is painted white, and at once attracts attention on account of its pleasant location on the cross-road and the few trees that adorn its yard. Fairview schoolhouse on Sec. 2, southeast corner as its name would indicate, has a pleasant sightly appearance, but seems to lack the expenditure of a sufficient amount of money to make the building equal to its surroundings.

Situated on the N.E. of Sec. 15 is the McLain school-house and is supposed to be the sixth in the township in the order of their building. It shows the appearance of being in the care of neat and careful hands, with its white coat of paint and green window shutters contrasting with the dark and frozen ground of our dreary fall and winter seasons.

Paul D. Salters and Dr. William McMillan's schoolhouses, located on Sec. 24 and the S.W. is of Sec. 31, complete the list. Many changes have been made, many are being made, and changes will no doubt continue for some time to come before the school system of this township is considered complete; hence a detailed history of each country school would be superfluous. For a more extended pioneer school history the reader is referred to the history of Walnut Grove, where it is pictured in panoramic clearness by the able writer of that chapter and is withheld here to save repetition.

History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.

Illinois Ancestors