I Purpose of the Study

At the present time I am enrolled as an undergraduate student at The Ohio State University and am completing my final quarter of studies in the College of Education, where I am majoring in English and minoring in physical education.

As a project for my History of American Education class, I have decided to do a study on schools and educational practices in the area of my home. This study attempts to cover those times from the early 1800' s to 1972, and is limited to Muskingum Township in Muskingum County, Ohio. While the report is based upon this specific area, it might be concluded that during these times rural schools varied little throughout the state.

II Establishment Of The Early Schools

In the year 1817, Muskingum Township was formed in the county of Muskingum, state of Ohio. From that time until approximately 1820, teaching of children was done in the home by any person capable of teaching the essentials of reading and writing. It should be remembered that in this newly settled territory it was of utmost importance that the settlers have a place to live and food to sustain them in order to take care of their daily needs. Work was plentiful, but hard. Once the pioneer families were able to establish themselves their thoughts could turn to education for their children.

Although there is some confusion as to the location of the first Muskingum Township school, most evidence indicates that the Oak Hill (also known as Pierson) school earns this distinction.

The first school was taught by on Shutliff, in the Pierson School House," about the year 1815. "John Elliott, Sanford Raimy, Archibald McCann, and a Mr. Phelps were among the teachers whose names are remembered, but dates and localities are wanting."(1) It is thought that Pierson School was the same location of Oak Hill School, Sub District no.3 as shown on the enclosed "Map of Muskingum Township, 1866."

This township was divided into eight districts and a School was established in each. They were as follows:

Sources for this project were rather difficult to obtain, primarily due to the specificity necessary. Very few, if any, records were kept of the early years these schools were in operation. The only early records are those of the land deeded or leased by the Muskingum Township Board of Education. These were located in the Muskingum County Recorder's Office. The Muskingum County Board of Education had no records earlier than 1915, and those were recorded in the Muskingum County Public School- Teachers Annual Report. A search was made of both the 1866 and 1875 Muskingum County Atlas, History of Muskingum County, Ohio l882 (J. F. Everhart and Co.), and Past and Present of Muskingum County (J.Hope Sutor). The local library yielded no additional information.

Much of the information I have utilized was taken from the Muskingum Township Records, which listed the treasurer's records of the Muskingum Township School Board, and also included a record of the meetings of the Muskingum Township Board of Education. The earliest treasurer's report is from the year of 1865, while the first recorded meeting of the school board were held in 1876. If there were written reports prior to these, they have evidently been lost or destroyed.

Personal interviews kindly given by Hazel Fairall and Patty Littick also proved to be valuable resources in this endeavor. Both Ms. Fairall & Ms. Littick were graduates of the Dresden Normal School, a teacher's preparatory institution formerly located in nearby Dresden, Ohio. These ladies attended school during the times this study attempts to cover, and both began teaching in these and similar area schools between 1910 & 1915. The information obtained from their interviews enabled this writer to reconstruct conditions & practices not mentioned in written records.

District 1, Shannon School

The organizational date of the first school in this district is unknown. It has been ascertained, however, that a one-room building served as a school in this area in 1815, or perhaps earlier.

Deed record Volume 24, page 546, give the following information: Entered 8/15/1853 and recorded 8/17/1853 by George King & William Spencer. This indenture made the 24th. day of April 1851 between William Butler, George Con and Samuel Baxter, Trustees & party of the first. For the sum of $1.00 paid by the school district, lease of land in trust to them and their successors in office. Part of NE quarter, Section 5, Twp.2, Range 8.

On Nov. 21, 1870, J. B. Coulter was paid $110.00 to repair the schoolhouse.

Deed book 112 page 365. Stockton Frasier sold land for school district use for the amount of $75.00. The school district was to construct and forever maintain at the E. line, a post and board fence 5 board high with strand of barbed wire 6" from top post. They also were required to keep it painted and in excellent condition. On 2/15/1896 the school board paid him for this land. It might be noted that this was the largest amount paid for any land for a school, and this money was paid to Mr. Frasier at a time when he was a member of the school board!

In April 1896 the board of education was to advertise and sell the old school building in District 1 and to retain the foundation, seats and desks.

The following entries were also found:

8/l7/1896 - Paid to contractor Samuel George $l,000.00.

9/9/1897 - Paid to contractor Samuel George $284.00.

8/20/1900 - school board voted to give the old school to the Shannon Church.

7/9/1924 wanted to close school but was rejected.

The board met on 6/15/1896 and awarded a contract to Samuel George to build a new brick school for the amount of $1174.00.

Area residents presented a petition requesting that the school location be changed from the Spencer site to the land of Stockton Frazier. This change was approved on 6/23/1896 and also at this time an additional $110.00 was awarded to the builder, in an attempt to correct an error he made in his bid to build the structure.

District 2, McGlade School

I have been able to locate very little information pertaining to this school but I did learn there was an early school located here by 1815, it being housed in a one-room building.

On 9/l6/1812 George Lunn was paid $156.00 for roofing the schoolhouse.

Teachers serving this district from l865-1870 were: S. O. Dickson, M. A. Cordray, W. Hutler, S. O. Fairbank, Richard S. Wylie, Manerva Welsh, Richard Wlylie, Miss E. J. McCann and C. W. Dickson.

District 3, Oak Hill School (Sometimes referred as Pierson)

The school having the distinction of being the first built in Muskingum Township also was the original school of the Oak Hill District. This building, which was built in 1807, was located east of the village of Shannon.

The following information was taken from Deed book 1, page 412, was entered 12/24/1841, and was recorded 12/24/1841. Robert Welsh and Martha his wife, for the sum of $1.00 and the public good-to them. Deed to the school district part of lot 15, township 2, range 8, Military tract (which was located near the Presbyterian Meeting House) - provided said lot so conveyed should ever cease to be occupied for a schoolhouse, it should then revert back to owner.

On 12/6/1869 the sum of $l,000.00 was paid to J. B. Coulter for the building of a new school house.

A water well was drilled, and on 12/19/1910 the trustees of the Muskingum Presbyterian Church donated $5.00 toward the expenses incurred in its drilling. This well was later dedicated by the school board as a "public watering place."

District 4, Lane School

The building commonly referred to as the "Lane Schoolhouse" stood on State Route 60, (presently known as Frazeysburg Road) across from Newcome's Mobile Home Plaza. The original school in this district was located approximately one-half mile south of this structure, and was on the West side of the road.

Deed volume V, page 379 reads: Jesse Butler leased lands in the forks of the Irville and Frazeysburg roads to the school district no. 4 of Muskingum Township with all privi1edges and appurtenances during the term of 50 years from date thereof. Payment to said part of first part for said premises are to be 12 cents for the whole term of 50 years.

On 9/6/1869 J. R. Brown was paid $858.00, with payments of $100.00 being made 9/6/1870 and 1/11/1871.

This school was rented out to the public on several occasions, the average rental fee being $10.00.

At the board meeting of 9/20/1886, a committee of three was appointed to consult with the prosecuting attorney concerning the colation of a line fence between the lands of Harvey Miller & the school.

At a meeting held 5/24/1890, it was discovered that the lease on the schoolhouse property had expired, and the property of Joshua Butler was sold to Fuller Van Voorhis. A committee was appointed and instructed to lease the property for three years, not to exceed $75.00.

The minutes of a 8/25/1890 meeting reveal that a lease had been completed for a length of three years, at a cost of $20.00 per year. This lease was held by Z.F. Van Voorhis. Also on this date the board paid $25.00 to Joshua Butler for previous school rental.

On 8/31/1891, the pupils of district 4 were divided up into other school districts while a new school was being built. Alfred Kelly was instructed to procure a new school house site in district 4.

On 3/7/1892 J. M. Lane agreed to furnish land for this school. Meanwhile on 4/13/1892, the board purchased the old schoolhouse from F. Van Voorhis for $50.00. On the same date they purchased land for the new school from J. M. Lane for $60.00. This author noted that J. M. Lane, a member of the school board, "made his mark" on the deed instead of placing his signature on the document.

In deed book 100, page 485, the following information was listed: John M. Lane to Board of Education in Muskingum Township for the amount of $60.00, grant, bargain, sell and convey west side of SW quarter of section 19 in quarter township 4, range 8.

Mr. Lane had fencing requirements fully specified within this deed. At time of this transaction Mr. Lane was a widower.

District 5, Kelley School

Very little is known about the first school in this district. The first reference was located in deed book 23, page 241, was entered 2/11/1862, and was recorded 2/26/1853. It stated that M. D. Gittings leased land for $1.00 for the special purpose of a public schoolhouse and for no other purpose!

A payment of $345.00 to Harrison Starkey was made on 2/5/1870 for repairs on this schoolhouse. On 10/10/1871 William J. Granger paid $21.63 for a heating stove. And on 12/28/1871 Henry Moore paid $50.00 for desks and seats.

J.W. Hankey was awarded a contract to build a new school in district 5. He was paid $200.00 on 4/23/1879, $100.00 on 5/10/1879, $215.00 on 5/30/1879, and $168.65 on 5/20/1879. The total paid for this new structure came to $683.65.

In deed book 70, page 631, the following was listed: John Kelley to Board of Education of Muskingum Township, entered 8/21/1880 and recorded 8/26/1880, bargained and sold in consideration of $8.00 and other considerations. Entered 8/21/1880 and recorded 8/25/1880: Hugh Madden to Muskingum Township Board of Education Will Matting1y, Wil1 Fa----, N. McDonald, Lewis Lane, Will Lane, John Riley, Henry Butler, Stockton Frazier. Bargained and sold for $20.00.

District 6. Sandy Ridge Scho21

In deed book volume 2, page 563, the following was entered: Jacob Lane on 11/4/1842, entered on 11/23/1842, and recorded on 11/23/1842 for the consideration of $10.00, from the directors of District 6, bargained and sold the land for as long as it is used for the purpose of teaching school; if it is converted to other use, the obligation was voided and of no effect.

At a board meeting on 5/5/1884, members voted in favor of replacing the school with a new school building.

On 8/26/1884, the bid of $898.00 by Henry Goshen was accepted for the new school.

On 10/3/1884, Henry Goshen was paid $300.00, and on 11/2/1884 he received $515.03 more.

On 1/2/1885 the building committee reported these things were not according to specifications: ring for bell rope, stone, painting, flooring, plastering, sealing, brackets and wainscoting. They agreed to deduct $30.00 for incomplete work. They were planning to sell the old school building, and the Clerk and President of the Board were empowered to sell it.

On 4/20/1885, the board received $12.50 from Jacob Swiger for the old school building, which was to be removed by 11/1/1885.

From volume 27, page 73 entered 6/23/1856, and recorded 7/18/1856: D. Bainter to Board of Education said consideration of $10.00 due them before delivery of deed, and land to be used for the purpose of school and no other use. Location

Range 7, Township 2, Lot 28, approximately 1/2 acre. (Bainter could not write but was a member of the school board).

District 7, Green Valley School

The first school in this district was a log, one room building located across the creek from the second "Green Valley" school, which joined the farm owned by this author's family.

On 4/1/1869, J. R. Brown was paid $422.50 for building the school. On 8/26/1870 he was paid $422.50, making a total of $845.00.

On 4/20/1891, Henry J. Butler was instructed to survey and obtain a deed for a school lot in district 7. No survey was made, and controversy developed over what Butler owned as land was donated for "school use only" by two other landowners in addition to Butler.

On 10/18/1909, on page 220, the board purchased 24 seats and desks and a teacher desk and chair.

Early teachers of this school were: A. Bozlan, Frances Kelly, S.O. Dickson, F.S. Welsh, Nancy M. Jones, George A. Bolin, Mary E. Lowdan, T. J. Sloan, George W. Lowry, Warren Search, and Fay Powelson.

Green Valley School was the school in my immediate vicinity. The orginal log school was attended by this author's paternal great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Florence May Thrap & Howard Tunis. The frame school building which was in use until 1939, was attended by her grandfather, uncle and father. Public dances were held in this building for a few years and then it was converted into a dwelling. It was demolished in 1960 when the State of Ohio built the Dillon Reservoir, as the building was in the easement area near the Creamery Road.

District 8, Ellis School

The location of the early school in this district is unknown, but there was one in 1815.

On 3/14/1869, Henry L. Pake was paid $300.00 to rebuild the school and on 9/20/1870, William Latham was paid $243.00 for carpentry work on the school house.

At the meeting 4/20/1891, Thomas Gadd was instructed to get a deed for the school district 8.

Minutes of a meeting on 4/18/1892, (page 88) show that a lease from George and Ed Ellis was obtained, granting the school house and lot to the board for school district 8, for a period of five years.

Early teachers of this school were: F. Etty, Fannie Burns, J.C. Sullivan, H. Woodworth, Gelestia A. Woodworth, Mary E. Logsden, William Lathlan, May E. Logsden, J. K. McCann, and Virginia Scott.

III Formation of Districts and Operation

"The first schools were pay schools and built by public subscription. During the 1836-1837 session the General Assembly took up the subject of school lands and common school(2).

Although public records tell us that the General Assembly first took up the subject of schools in 1836, they did not act or present any plan of action until a few years later. Considerable care was taken in the selecting of the first officials for the schools, as actions called for the bonding of each Treasurer and Clerk for the Board of Education. Three men were elected or appointed in each district, (for 3, 2, & 1 year terms), one of whom served as clerk of that particular school and represented the district on the Township School Board. These men were to set up the township's school system according to the "framework" the General Assembly had provided. Census records were to be used in this early formation of districts.

As previously stated, Muskingum Township was divided into eight school districts, with a school located in each district. Each school was a one-room building for the teaching of the first eight grades, and each building was spaced rather evenly throughout the township.

Thus, the first school board had eight members plus a clerk, and elected the President & Treasurer by an annual balloting of members.

For many years the Township School Board consisted of eight members, but after 1910 the board was reduced in size and the members had to run for office and be voted upon as in our elections today. In order to establish school enrollments, a representative was appointed in each district to take enumeration. This representative was paid a sum of two dollars for performing this duty.

Some of the duties of the school board were the hiring of all teachers, selection of the course of study, the purchase of books and supplies, the handling of all school monies (including payment of bills, levy taxes for additional revenue), division of funds to each school district, and the keeping of accurate records of all transactions. Some of the school revenue came from the State Tax (common), Township Tax (district), tuition, and the U. S. Military Funds.

The Clerk of the Board of Education was paid $2.00 per meeting and the Treasurer received the same. Very little change was made until August 1900, when the board voted to pay the treasurer l% of the school disbursements.

IV Pioneer Schools

The first schools were log buildings, some with oiled paper windows, and many with no windows. Frame buildings soon followed, as did brick and stone structures with glass windows. The early fuel was wood, and advanced to coal when stoves were introduced.

In the beginning very little was taught beyond the "3 R's" reading, riting and rithmetic. Pencils were unknown, and pens were cut from goose quills. All early schools were characteristically the same, out of necessity.

Transportation was not provided for the students, so everyone walked to school. The big social event of the school year was the "spelling bee", which the families of the pupils would attend. Activities on this special occasion would last throughout the day, and often on into the evening.

Books were rare and expensive and soon wore out. To combat this, one enterprising early teacher constructed a paddle wih the alphabet on one side and spelling lessons on the other. This creation was more durable than a book and legend asserts that the teacher (a female) employed it for other than strictly intellectual purposes. The following quotation effectively conveys the feelings toward punishment during those days: "Tis education molds the human mind; and with a birch 'tis oft whipped in behind."

During 1905, J. Hope Sutor reported there were eight school districts in I-Muskingum Township, each with a one-room building, valued in the aggregate of $3,000.00, and employing four male and four female teachers. The enrollment at this time was ninety-three boys and seventy-eight girls.

Sources show that "a system of bonding, or bailing, prevailed among the early teachers with respect to girls; a boy was permitted to become security for the good behavior of a girl, and the punishment for infraction of rules, which otherwise would have been inflicted upon her, was imposed upon the boy hostage; the rule required that the substitute should be held by another boy while submitting to the chastisement, but legend affirms that the instances in which a girl forfeited her bond were exceedingly rare." (1)

Text books finally made their appearance in the school systems in 1876, when they were purchased by the Township Board of Education along with globes, maps and charts.

In 1875 there were 195 schools in the county, which was divided into twenty-four townships. Four new schools were erected in 1874 at the cost of $39l0.00. The total value of all school property in the county was $271,632.00 There were 236 school rooms, and 241 teachers. (It should be remembered that nearly all schools of this era were one-room schoolhouses for the first eight grades). Total enrollment was 11,539 (3).

V Teachers and Requirements

The first teacher no doubt was a relative in the home. Perhaps shortly afterwards a wandering teacher would appear in a settlement, and would teach "from harvest to planting". This teacher would board around with families, taking his/her pay in "lodging and keep." This was usually the beginning, and shortly thereafter the community would build a school and try to locate a permanent teacher.

These early teachers usually had no formal training, but were able to read and write and could teach it to others. Indeed, as late as 1915 and beyond, if a person had successfully completed eight grades and passed the "Boxwell Examination", they were eligible to take a test which enabled them to teach school.

Shortly after l915, more students began to attend high school and improve their education. In fact, a few students attended "Normal School" for one year, and received concentrated study of those subjects covered upon the Boxwell Examinations. Many of these teachers are still actively employed today, (l972) and it will not be until 1973 that all public teachers must be a graduate of a four year college.

The first school teachers received little more than room and board for payment. Around 1850 the average monthly wage paid in the township for teachers were:

Elementary gentlemen	$36.00 per month
Elementary ladies	$28.00 per month
High School gentlemen	$45.00 per month

The pay gradually increased to an average of about $40.00 per month. Men were usually paid more than women for the same work, thus establishing a double standard which was to continue in education & other industries for some time. The average stipend for teaching school in 1875 was $275.00.

VI From Beginning to Now

(A short history of the schools my ancestors & I attended).

1. First schooling was received in private homes.

2. Pay schools, public subscription schools established. One-room school houses for grades one through eight, with passage of examination for graduation. Our family was in district 7, Green Valley School.

3. Eventually high schools were established. Pupils could attend Zanesville, Frazeysburg, or Dresden area high schools. In later years when one room schools no longer provided the type education required, a new school was built in the Licking District which taught grades one through twelve. This new school (Nashport) served this district until August 1955, when it merged with the Frazeysburg schools and became known as the Frazeysburg-Nashport School District. It was also called the "Northwest District," and served approximately 75 square miles, including parts of Jackson, Licking, Western Cass & Muskingum townships. In 1960 the State of Ohio built the Dillon Reservoir, which took a large percentage of land in this school district. The school was razed, and a new building, housing kindergarten through grades 8, was built three miles south of the original building on state route 146. (Newark Rd.)

4. In 1966 it was again deemed advisable to merge, and the Frazeysburg-Nashport School District joined with the Jefferson and Adamsville School Districts. The new district was called Tri-Valley, and has a 1972 enrollment of 1016 pupils in grade school (1-6), 154 students in kindergarten. There are 673 pupils in junior high school (7-9), and 587 pupils in high school. This makes a total enrollment of 2,493 students.

The following schools comprised the Tri-Valley school district at the time of merger:

School	Built	Approximate Cost ($)
Nashport Elementary School	1960	300,000
Frazeysburg Elementary	1957	350,000
Frazeysburg High School	1914	100,000
Frazeysburg High School Addition	1938	48,000
Jefferson Elementary School	1954	365,000
Jefferson Elementary Addition	1957	90,000
Jefferson High School	1923	124,170
Jefferson High School Addition	1939	111,000
Adamsville Elementary	1923	unavailable
Adamsville High School	1952	unavailable
Adamsville High School Addition	1959	unavailable

A school levy was passed to build a new Tri-valley High School to serve the entire district. It was completed and graduated the first class in 1971. Earlier classes were housed in the old Jefferson High School building. This author graduated from there in spring of 1969.

Conclusion

The first school in Muskingum Township was organized in 1815, and consisted of a one-room structure housing eight grades. Teacher preparation consisted of no formal training. After the eighth grade pupils continued at this site, went to an area high school, or, quit.

These schools continued until the 1920's or 1930's, and then were disbanded, with pupils being sent to state approved schools. The present tendency is toward repeated consolidations to increase school enrollment and facilitate learning.