History of Leon Public School

Leon, Iowa

By Miss Sue E. Bell

Thinking that it would be of some interest to the citizens and old settlers of Leon, I have endeavored to write a history of the Leon public schools. It has been a laborious task to obtain the information necessary. There may be a few facts omitted, but I have done the best I could. I desire to acknowledge the help received from some of the former professors and the old citizens of Leon.

In the year 1853 Humphrey Fullerton taught the first school in Leon in a 16 foot log cabin, where J. A. Caster's grocery store now stands. The following were his pupils: Martha Ellis James, Samuel Ellis, Mary Ellis Coffin, William Tharp, Luticia Wainwright, Belle Tharp Walker, Mattie Tharp Jordan, Martha Jordan Atkins, Charlie Jordan, Benjamin Jordan, Jane Shackelford, Lyman East, Julian East, Albert Tharp, Uz Tharp.

Joe C. Porter taught at the same place in 1854. Geo. T. Young in the summer of 1855 taught in the old court house, where Mayer and Hoffhine's stores are now located. One afternoon a wind storm passed over our little village and the walls of the upper story of the school house were blown down, and not one of the eighty pupils were injured. It was afterwards rebuilt and then destroyed by fire on March 31, 1874. In the winter of 1865 Miss Nellie Arnold taught in a log cabin situated on the south-east corner of the property owned by Mrs. A. E. Chase. Miss Arnold taught a summer school in 1857 at the same place.

In the winter of 1857 L. M. Hastings taught in the new school house in the east part of town near T. J. Gibson's residence, the term being only four months. Sarah Patterson Bashaw taught in the summer of 1858 in the east school house, better known to the old settlers as Gospel Ridge. In the winter of that year J. C. Porter taught. In the summer of 1859 Miss Higby Warner taught, and in the winter, Carr Porter. Between the years of 1860 and '64 there were more than one school taught at the same time, one room not being large enough to hold the pupils. Sarah Patterson Bashaw taught in a log cabin, back of Mr. Orslan's shoe shop. Where the Farmers & Traders bank now stands, Sam Sears taught up stairs and Mr. Strong down stairs. They were succeeded by the following teachers: Mr. Adams, Mr. Wainwright, Miss Higby and Sarah Kirkpatrick. Prof. Lewis taught in a small building east of Brown's hotel, and later in a building where Frank Clark's grocery now stands; also in the M. E. church on Commercial street. Miss Sil Jones taught in a frame building west of Teale Wharton's store, Miss Emma Higby taught several terms in a building where Frank Clark's grocery now stands. Andrew Warner taught during this time, and I. P. Martin taught in the M. E. church. During this time the first brick school house was built in the north part of town by John Kirkpatrick. The building was completed in 1864, and the bell that calls us to school now, is the one that was on the old court house, and was placed on the new school house. While the school house was being built L. M. Hastings taught in the M. E. church, Mrs. Hastings and Mrs. Lizzie Simmons Vail being his assistants. At the same time, I. P. Martin had a portion of the school in a building where Frank Clark's grocery store now stands. The schools at this time were not graded and four months was the longest term taught.

In the fall of 1864 only two rooms of the new school house were completed, and Prof. Hastings occupied the south room up stairs and Sarah Kirkpatrick the north room. For the school year of 1865 and 1866, S. P. Newcomb was elected principal, and the following teachers taught in the different departments: Sarah Kirkpatrick Baldwin and Sarah Patterson Bashaw. In '66 and '67 Prof. Abbott was elected principal, and re-elected each year for the next four years. The following taught under him: Gusta Smith, Emma Blair, Mrs. Reed, Linnie Arnold Horner, Eliza Avery, Emma Dawson.

Prof. Frazer graded the schools. There were four rooms and three grades in each room. On June 16, 1871, the first graduating class was sent out. They were as follows: Samuel Gates, T. W. Silvers, A. F. Woodruff, Mrs. Matilda Jordan Critchfield.

This class bought an organ for the school which cost $275. It also started the first library, and bought a globe, a dictionary, a microscope, an electric machine and a history chart. They gave exhibitions and festivals to buy these things. On January 2, 1872, the following teachers were elected for a term of ten weeks: Emma Dawson, Hettie Rogers, Mrs. Reed.

And on March 22, 1872: Mrs. Reed, T. W. Silvers, Emma Dawson.

August 16, 1872, W. S. Domer was elected principal, with the following teachers: Mrs. Reed, Ella Eaton, Mollie Miles.

It was ordered that school commence the second Monday instead of the first. September 27, 1872, the following teachers were elected for a term of twelve weeks, beginning the first Monday in January, 1873: Lucy Black, Emma Dawson, Mollie Miles.

W. S. Domer was re-elected principal on April 4, 1873, with the following teachers: Lucy Corbett, Emma Dawson, Mollie Miles.

On April 10, 1873, a committee was ordered to rent a room for part of the primary department. The basement of the Presbyterian church was rented. Miss Hyatt was elected teacher. In the school years of 1873 and 1874 Aaron Frazier was elected principal. The following teachers taught in that year: Emma Mills, Mollie Miles, J. L. Harvey.

In 1874 the Babbott writing book was adopted as one of the text books of the school. The teachers were: Lucy Corbett, Emma Mills, J. F. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Hyatt, Esther Sanger, Laura Dye, Leota Haywood, Josie Miles, Mettie Pitman.

It was decided December 31, 1874, that five more months be added to the school year, with one week vacation. On July 28, 1875, R. L. Parrish was elected principal, and in 1876 was re-elected. The following teachers taught under him in 1875: Laura Dye, T. J. Hasty, Esther Sanger, Josephine Kellogg, Ellen Gammon.

In 1876 were: Kittie Stone, Josephine Kellogg, Belle Thompson, Laura Dye.

On August 12, 1876, it was ordered that this school year be held for nine months, and commence September 4, 1876. The first term seventeen weeks and two weeks' vacation; the last term nineteen weeks.

July 2, 1877, C. M. Des Islets was elected principal for the following four years. The teachers were as follows — between 1877 and 1881: Ellen Gammon, Emma Wilson, Esther Sanger, T. J. Hasty, William Field, Allie Porter, W. H. Albaugh, Mrs. M. A. Critchfield, I. P. Martin, S. J. Calhoun, Stephen Varga, Miss Davidson, Mrs. Reed.

Miss Pollard was elected to teach music in each department of the school, giving two lessons of fifteen minutes to each department, twice a week. The old school house which was completed in 1864 was torn down and the bricks sold, and a new one built in 1876 and 1877. It was completed September 13, 1877, B. F. Roberts being the contractor. On December 10, 1877, a new department was established in the school and was called the second intermediate department.

May 6, 1878, the school year consisted of ten months. For the school year of 1881 and 1882, A. B. Cornell was elected principal. The following teachers taught under him: Frank Gardner, Eva Kirkpatrick, Georgia Brown,Sarah Johnson, Retta Biddle, Finley Frazee, Merge Jordan, Augustus Roy, assistant principal.

—Decatur County Journal, Leon, Iowa.

Note: The second half of this article may be found at this link.