HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 9

SCHOOLS OF ORANGEVILLE TOWNSHIP

The first school within the present limits of this township was established at the Shirley place in 1816. The house was a small log cabin. The furniture consisted of split sapling seats. The first teacher was a man named Fordyce. The branches of study pursued were reading, writing and spelling, also primary arithmetic. The Shirleys, Daltons and Halberts were among the patrons of this school. In 1826 a school was established in the northeast part of the township, on land of Noah Burton. Samuel Dalton, a crippled man, and a noted pioneer teacher, commenced his career at this place in 1826. He was succeeded by Jonah B. Wood in 1828. The house, which had been built for a dwelling, was a small round log-cabin, fireplace extended across one entire end of the building. Studies same as above. About the year 1831 a school was established at Bethel Church with a man named Gardener as teacher. He was succeeded by Thomas Alison, he by a man named Wormsley, and he by P. C. Huddrell, and he by Samuel Dalton in 1841, the last having an average attendance of sixty pupils. The teachers of this school were very much disposed to whip their pupils. Huddrell whipped all who could not repeat the "hart" lesson on Monday morning. Sometimes the larger boys would rebel and have the whippings discontinued for a few days. The Mathers boys attended this school. A district school had now been established at the Jacob Shirley place, south of Orangeville. The house was of hewed logs, 18x20 feet; had glass windows; had been built by citizens of the district. Van Rensselaer Noblitt taught here about 1834-35. These were subscription schools, $1.50 per pupil for term of three months. The branches of study were reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic. Among the patrons of this school, I see the names of Shirley, Dalton, Halbert, Toliver and others. Theodore Stackhouse, for many years School Examiner of Orange County, and now one of the oldest and best known teachers of the county, taught his first school here in 1844; term of three months; wages, $11 per month. Under the Congressional Township system, Orangeville had but two district schoolhouses, and 275 children to educate. School No. 2 was at Joel Riggs' place. Van R. Noblitt taught here in 1842. He received pay in corn. which he shipped to New Orleans, and sold at 29 cents per bushel. James M. Baker taught here in 1844. The patrons of this school were the Mathers, Bakers and Riggses.

Orangeville not having been organized as a township until March, 1850, her people did not have a separate vote on free schools until August of that year, when twenty-five votes were cast for free schools and ninety-five against them. The same question being again submitted in 1851, forty-five votes were cast in the affirmative, and seventy-four in the negative. But coming events cast their shadows before only to follow closely themselves. Free schools came soon after the school law of 1852. The first Trustees were Alfred Bruner, John A. Ritter and Robert Higgins. They were elected the first Monday in April, 1853, and on the seventeenth day of August submitted the proposition to raise money to build schoolhouses by taxation to a vote of the people. This proposition was defeated by a majority of four votes. Not discouraged at this want of support, the Board of Trustees resolved not to pause in the good work, but to go on and establish schools in their township. They therefore advanced the money and built a schoolhouse during the fall of 1834. This was the first public school building in the township. It was situated on the road between Wesley Chapel and Orangeville. It has been replaced by the Wesley Chapel Schoolhouse. The first free schools were in 1855-56. The Legislature of 1853 having given the Board of Trustees power to levy and collect taxes for building schoolhouses without a vote of the people, a fund was now raised and five new school houses were built. Two more have since been added to the number. Orangeville Township has now seven public schools. The houses are substantial frame buildings, well finished and furnished, except in the matter of seats for pupils, the old box desks being still in use, but these will probably be removed at an early day and improved furniture supplied. Schools are sustained in this township from four to five months each year at a cost of about $1,100 per annum.

SCHOOLS OF NORTHWEST TOWNSHIP

The schools of Northwest Township had their humble beginning in the fall of 1823, when John Chaney opened a school in the north part of the township. The house stood on the land now owned by John McPheters. It was a round log cabin 16x16 feet, dirt floor, one end built in the shape of a fence corner for a fire-place. This was a subscription school, the subscribers agreeing to pay three "bits" per pupil for a term of three months. The branches of study were reading, writing, spelling and primary arithmetic. The patrons of the school were the Kirks, Williamses, Chaneys, Talberts. Davises and Bruners. Alfred Bruner attended his first school here. The first school record of Northwest Township bears date of April 23. 1846, being an order in favor of John T. Wallace, teacher of District No. 5, for all the school funds of said district. This is accompanied by his receipt for $9.65 for services as teacher. In 1848 the citizens of this district resolved to build a schoolhouse by voluntary labor of the inhabitants, or a tax of 25 cents per day on those who chose not to work. Not getting the house built, they afterward resolved to use the church for a schoolhouse, purchase a stove with the school funds, and support a school by subscription. This arrangement was carried out, and Celia S. Kirk became the teacher about 1850. She received $30 for a term of three months. James Pinnick was teacher here in 1851. The teachers of this district were required to procure a certificate of qualification in reading, writing and spelling. The Kirks, Collinses and Pinnicks were among the patrons of these schools. There were 290 school children in the township at this time.

Under the Congressional township system Northwest had five district schoolhouses in which to educate these children, each district receiving about $15 per annum of public money for school purposes. This seemed to be all that could reasonally be desired, as the result of the vote on free schools at August election, 1848, showed. For free schools, five votes. Against free schools, 124 votes. The same question was again submitted in 1849, when the friends of school law polled thirty-eight votes, and the opponents 104 votes. In 1851 the opposition could poll but fifty votes against thirty-three for the law, a great many persons assuming a neutral position. The first Trustees elected under the school law of 1852 were Richard Miller, James Faucett and Thomas Bedster. They were elected in April, 1853. and on the 10th day of April, 1854, they submitted the proposition to vote a tax for building schoolhouses to a vote of the people. This was defeated by a majority of fifteen votes. Nothing more was done in the way of building until 1856, when the change in the law enabled the Board of Trustees to levy and collect a schoolhouse tax without a vote of the people. A levy of 25 cents on the $100 of property, and 50 cents on the poll was now made. Schoolhouse No. 1 was put under contract in July, of this year. It cost $175.75. Six new houses were now built. They were substantial frame buildings, and are the same that are now in use. Meanwhile the first public school had been taught during the winter of 1855-56, the old district houses being used until the new ones were completed. Northwest Township has now seven schoolhouses. They are well supplied with improved furniture and school apparatus. Schools are sustained from four and a half to five months each year, at a cost of about $1,200 per annum.

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