HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 9

SCHOOLS OF NORTHEAST TOWNSHIP

The first school of which we have any account in this township was taught by Thomas Vandeveer, in the fall of 1817. It was situated upon the land of Perry Johnson, on Lost River. The house was a small, round log building, which had been constructed for a dwelling. The studies pursued were reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic. The patrons were the Reeds, McKinneys, Osborns and Glovers. Jonah Morgan became teacher in this neighborhood about the year 1822. Mr. Morgan's school was situated on the river near the east line of the township. The house was a small, round log-cabin, puncheon floor, and paper for window lights. In 1825 David Warford opened a school south of the above, on Orleans and Livonia road. The house had been used as a dwelling. Course of study same as above. The Glovers, Maxwells, Cases, McKinneys and Reeds attended this school. All of the above were subscription schools, the teachers receiving about $2 per pupil for a term of three months. The district school on Max Lewis’ farm, near Island Church, was established about 1830. The house was a hewed-log building, 18x24 feet; had plank floor and glass windows. Henry Hammersly taught here in 1832. He was succeeded by Richard Mills, and he by John Murray. The Bridgewaters, Boons, Haynes, McLains and Lewises were among the patrons. The district schoolhouse on the Claysville road, near the east line of the township, was built in 1834. This was a hewed-log building, fitted up as required by the school law of 1824. The first teacher was Daniel Watkins; he was a good teacher. He remained here until about 1843, teaching a three months’ session each year. The course of study in this school embraced all the common school branches. McKinneys, Standifords, Cases, Hayses and Glovers were among the patrons. John B. Glover, afterward State Treasurer of Indiana, and now United States Consul at Havre, France, was a pupil of this district.

The district schoolhouse in the southeast part of the township was known as the "White Schoolhouse." John Murray taught several terms here about 1846-47. He was succeeded by Jesse Hungate, now of Salem, John W. Gillum and Daniel Robbins in the order named. The patrons of this school were the Altons, Halls, Knoxes, Browns, Vancleaves, Modlins, Vickreys, Potters, Lindleys, Sallees, Walkers and Hamptons. The people of this district were very much attached to their school, and refused to allow the schoolhouse to be sold at the introduction of the free-school system in 1853. A district school had also been established near the town of Lancaster. David Finley taught here in 1845. The enumeration now showed about 400 children in Northeast Township. The four districts above enumerated were all the schools provided for these children under the Congressional Township system. At the August election, 1848, Northeast Township, with less than 200 voters, polled more votes for the free-school law than any other township in the county, there being forty-nine votes in the affirmative and 131 in the negative. At each succeeding election there was a gain in the affirmative vote. In 1851 there were sixty-nine votes for free-school and seventy-seven votes against them. The first Trustees under the free-school system were John W. Gillum, William Hays and Lewis Fordyce. They were elected in April, 1853, and in May, of same year, they submitted the proposition to build schoolhouses by taxation to a vote of the people. This proposition was defeated by a majority of thirty-nine votes. The Board now determined to build the schoolhouses by private subscription. They accordingly laid off six districts and ordered the houses to be of hewed logs 20x30 feet, five windows and two doors in each. Leonard Hardman, John W. Gillum, William Hays and Lewis Fordyce were appointed a Committee to solict subscriptions. As nothing was realized from this, the building of schoolhouses had to be postponed until legislative aid could be obtained. That body, having so amended the school law of 1852 as to allow the money to be levied for schoolhouse purposes without an affirmative vote of the people, the Board of Trustees, in April, 1856, levied 25 cents on each $100 worth of property and 50 cents on each poll for building schoolhouses. In June of this year the Board contracted with James Crocket to build six frame houses, 18x24 feet. for $2,000. The first free schools were taught in the winter of 1857-58. These houses having been found to be too small to accommodate all the children of the township, the building of larger and better houses was determined upon. John W. Ellis was elected Trustee in April. 1878. During his administration of four years, six large and substantial frame houses were erected and furnished with improved furniture and school aparatus, so that now the educational facilities of Northeast Township are second to none in the county. Schools are sustained for about five months each year, at a cost of about $1,100 per annum.

SCHOOLS OF ORLEANS TOWNSHIP

The first school in this township of which we have any account, was at the Henry Shirley farm in the southwest part of township, about the year 1822. The house was a small round-log building. The windows were made by cutting out a log and stretching greased paper across the opening thus made. The Hudelsons, Elrods, Hendersons, Kenleys and Busicks were among the patrons. The first teacher was William Dougherty. He was very exact in teaching his pupils good manners. He was succeeded, as a teacher, by David Hudelson in 1823. A district school having been established at this place, John McGonahay became teacher in 1834. He was succeeded by Thomas Dias. In this school John Hudelson and William McKnabb had some trouble, which they wished to settle by a fight, and accordingly proceeded to make that kind of settlement at a time when all should have been quiet and orderly study in the school room. Samuel Hudelson and Theodore Stackhouse were also teachers in this district. Grammar, arithmetic and geography had been introduced into the course of study. A district school was established on the land now owned by George Wolf, in southeast part of township, about 1831. This was known as the Maxwell House. A Dr. Tucker was the first teacher. The patrons of this school were the Webbs, Frosts, Scotts, Busicks, Cools, Bakers, Pickens, Speers, Chishams, Maxwells, Stines, Wares and Trues. The wages of the teacher was $15 per month. Van R. Noblitt taught here in 1837. John W. Frost in 1845. A term of three months; wages, $10 per month. Aaron Speer was teacher here in 1849.

About the year 1834 Shadrach B. A. Carter opened a school at his farm south of the town of Orleans. The house, a small frame, stood near the family residence. He taught here for several years. Among his patrons were the Langfords, Brookses, Webbs and Steerses. John H. Steers, the oldest native inhabitant of Orleans, was a pupil of this school. A cave which opened at the south part of the large pond just south of the house, was used by the boys as a play-ground. Under the Congressional township system, Orleans Township including the town, had but four district schoolhouses, in which to educate her 600 children. But notwithstanding her poor accommodations, her people refused to exchange for a free school system. At the August election, 1848, there were cast for free schools 33 votes, and against free schools 242 votes. The same question being submitted the next year, there were 87 votes in the affirmative and 208 votes in the negative. By the year 1851 the friends of free schools had increased their number to 105, while the opposition were reduced to 119 votes, many persons remaining neutral. Thomas Elrod, Bury Sears and Washington Hardman were the first Trustees under the free school law of 1852. They were elected April, 1853. I have not been able to find any record of their official acts, but Mr. Abner Freeman recollects that during the summer of 1853, they submitted the proportion to raise a fund for building schoolhouses. by taxation, to a vote of the township, and that the proposition carried after a spirited contest. The records in the County Treasurer’s office show that the levy was placed upon the tax duplicate of 1854, and that the sum of $1,368.48 was realized from it. The Board now sold the old district houses, and built six new houses, four in the country and two in the town. They were small frame buildings 18x24 feet. The first free schools were in the winter of 1855-56. W. T. Spicely and John H. Lindsey were among the first teachers. W. W. Chisham was elected Trustee in 1856, and served continuously for eight years. During his administration two new districts were organized. He was succeeded by Thomas Elrod, under whose administration the building of larger and better houses was commenced. Orleans township has now eight school districts. The houses are substantial frame buildings, well fitted and furnished with improved furniture and modern school apparatus. Schools are sustained from five to five and a half months each year, at a cost of about $1,600 per annum.

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