Untitled Document

EARLY ROCKFORD SCHOOLS

The first school in Winnebago county was taught by Miss Eunice Brown. who afterward became Mrs. J. G. L yon. This school was on the site of 110 South Second street, in the rear of what is known as the John Early residence, and taught in a log house. This was about July. 1837. In the spring of 1838 Miss Brown taught on the west side, in a building on what is now the court house square. Mrs. Lyon died at her home in Rockton, December 7, 1889

In 1837 Miss Frances Bradford taught school in a log cabin which belonged to William E. Dunbar.

In 1869 the late Mrs. John H. Thurston prepared a list of early Rockford schools and teachers, which, with some amplification, is substantially reproduced.

Israel Morrill and Miss Sarah E. Danforth taught in 1838 on the west side

Miss Wood in 1839, on the west side

James M. Wight, in the winter of 1838-39, in the build ing on the corner of Madison and Market streets, on the site of the American house

Miss Hyde, in 1839, in the same place

Andrus Corbin, in 1839, in a house owned by himself on the west side

Mr. Jackson, in the winter of 1839-40, in the house on the corner of Madison and Market streets

Miss Hepsabeth Hutchinson and Miss Maria Baker, in 1840. on the east side

Mrs. Mary Jackson, in 1838-39, on the west side

Miss Wealthy Bradford, in 1841-42, on the west side

Lewis S. Sweezy, in 1841-42, in the brick school house on the southeast corner of the public square, east side

Miss Harriet Barnum, in 1841, in a private house, east side

Miss Minerva C. Fletcher, in 1842, in a log house that stood opposite the First Congregational church, east side

Elijah Holt. in 1841-42, in the brick schoolhouse, east side

John Paul, in 1841, in the first house south of the railroad. Main street. west side

Lewis B. Gregor y. in the brick schoolhouse, east side, 1843-44

Miss Fronia Foote and George Waterman. in 1843-44

Miss Julia Barnum, in 1844. in private house, east side

Miss Adeline Warren, private house. east side

Miss Augusta Kemfield in 1843, east side

C. A_ Huntington, 1843 to 1849. in the old courthouse on North First street. and on the west side

Miss Elizabeth Weldon was assistant to Mr. Huntington

H. H. Waldo. in 1848. in Baptist church, west side

D. W. Ticknor. from 1846 to 1849, in the brick schoolhouse, east side :assisted in turn by Miss Elizabeth Weldon

Anson Barnum, John W. Andrews. and D. Dubois : H. H. Waldo, in 1849 50

Miss Hannah Morrill. 1848, east side

Robert A. Sanford. 1848. west side.

In 1830 Mr. Bowles taught in the brick schoolhouse on the east side

Mrs. Squires, in 1830, on what is now 111 South Madison street, east side, and afterward on west side

Mrs. King H. Milliken, in 1830 east side

Miss Mary Dow, Miss Delia Hyde and George E. Kimball, 1830-33. in the basement of the present First Baptist church building, west side

Miss Sarah A. Stewart and Miss Mary Joslin, in 1830, in a building where the Masonic temple now stands

Seely Perry, in the basement of the First Methodist church, on Second street

B. Rush Catlin, in 1832, in basement of First Methodist church

Misses Charlotte and Harriet Leonard, in 1831-32

Miss Stowell and T. J. L. Remington, in 1831, in the brick schoolhouse, west side

Rev. C. Reighley, in 1852, on the east side

Miss Fanny Avery, in 1852, on the east side

Mr. Stevens, in 1853, in the brick schoolhouse, east side

Miss Lizzie Fern, in 1853, on the east side

Mrs. Carpenter, in 1853, west side

Rev. L. Porter, 1852; Mr. Stowell, in 1853

Rev. Addison Brown and Miss Frances A. Brown on the west side

Miss Julia Galloway, in 1854, in the lobby of the First Congregational church, east side

Darwin Dubois, in 1854, in the First Methodist church

Mrs. Julia and Miss Chapman, in 1854, on the west side

Miss Belle Burpee and Miss Ethalinda Thompson, in 1855, on the east side

Halsey G. Clark, in 1855, in old courthouse, east side, with Miss Lizzie Giffen as assistant

Miss Emma Brown. in 1857, east side

A. W. Freeman, in the basement of First Baptist church, west side

Wesley Sovereign, in First Methodist church, east side

Mrs. Jones, on west side

Miss Elizabeth Fisher, west side

Miss Gunsolus, east side

Mr. Johnson and Mr. Gifford, west side.

Nearly all these schools were private. The teachers were paid mainly by the parents. The teacher made out his own bills and collected them. There was then no regular state or local tax, and the only public school money was derived from the interest on the several state school funds, and the township fund obtained from the sale of the sixteenth section. Private teachers, who conformed to certain requirements of the law, received some compensation from the public money, in proportion to the number of pupils under their instruction.

The early public school records of Rockford township have been lost. It is therefore impossible to obtain exact information. There appears, however, to have been a school district, with a schoolhouse, on each side of the river.

The east side public school was in the brick building on the southeast corner of the public square. This schoolhouse was erected at an early date, by private subscription. L. B. Gregory taught there soon after his arrival in Rockford. His examination for certificate was quite brief, and was held in E. H. Potter's store. The directors were E. H. Potter, William E. Dunbar. Willard Wheeler and Dr. A. M. Catlin. Mr. Gregory was asked to spell baker. He replied that he could not ; but the certificate was granted.

In the classical institute, in the basement of the First Baptist church, from 1855 to 1856, of which H. P. Kimball was principal, one class pursued the regular studies of the freshman year in college, and entered one year in advance. A score of students left this institution and entered eastern colleges. Two years' study was considered sufficient to advance scholars through a full preparatory course of mathematics and the usual books in Latin and Greek, giving them a sufficient preparation.

Seely Perry taught a preparatory school for young men about a year and a half, in the First Methodist church. At this school quite a number of students prepared for college. Among these were the late Dr. Selwyn Clark ; Alexander Kerr, who became professor of Greek in the University of Wisconsin ; Rev. John Edwards, brother of Mrs. Clemens. On account of ill health, Mr. Perry turned over the school to a brother of Dr. E. P. Catlin.

Besides the houses used for schools on the east side already noted, were : one on Kishwaukee street, near bridge ; one on lot in rear of engine house on South First street ; one on South Madison street. Not less than eight buildings were used for school purposes on the east side. A sum of money was once raised to build a second public school house on the east side ; but it was never erected. The money was finally paid into the municipal treasury, upon the order of the city council.

John A. Holland and others built a school house for private pupils on South West street. It was occupied exclusively by the children of those who erected it. It was therefore not a large school, but somewhat exclusive. The contract was made with Seely Perry for furnishing building material.

An old schoolhouse stood on South Main street, and later used as a blacksmith shop, near Mrs. Brett's block. The Second Congregational church was organized in this building. There was also a small schoolhouse on the south side of Green street, between Church and Court. It was a white frame building. Abbie Parker, a sister of the late G. W. Parker, taught there at one time.

Past and Present of Winnebago County

Illinois Ancestors