[Pg. 31]

     This historical sketch should have been written at an earlier period, as part of our school history has been lost
— beyond recovery, and no future writer on the subject will be able to supply this missing link.
     The first school house was erected in Rossville.
At a special election, held April 13, 1851, the schools of Hamilton passed under the control of the "Akron School Law." In 1852, the work of grading and classifying our school was begun.
     The Ohio school law of 1853 bore fruits, and put an end to private schools thereby furnishing the youth of the commonwealth an avenue to secure an excellent common school education.
     In 1854, Hamilton and Rossville were annexed.  By the articles of confederation, it was stipulated that a high school building should be erected at an early date, in the First ward, and the High school should forever remain on the West Side.  Thomas L. Rhea offered to donate a two acre site for the building on Prospect Hill.  The proposition was not accepted nor the building ever erected as specified in the compact between the two villages.
     In Hamilton early attention was given to the important subject of education, and in our infancy the first school was established by Mr. Richie in 1809, on Front street, near the

[Pg. 32]
Scott residence. He afterward removed to a log house, near the corner of Front and Court streets.

     Rev. M. G. Wallace, in 1810, opened a school on Court street, opposite the United Presbyterian church, which was continued until 1814.

     In 1815, Benjamin Pardee came to Hamilton as an educator and taught on Second near Heaton street.

     Alexander Proudfit, in 18 15, organized a school on the north side of Heaton, between Second and Third streets.

     In 1818, the Hamilton Literary society erected the old Masonic building at the corner of Third and Dayton streets.  Privilege was granted Rev. Thomas McMechan and Henry Baker the lower story for school purposes.

     Miss Ellen A. McMechan was our first female teacher.

     In 1819 she taught at the corner of Third and Buckeye streets.  She was an accomplished instructor.

     In 1821, Rev. Francis Monfort taught school in a frame building on the corner of Third and High streets.

     Benjamin F. Raleigh was an educator from 1825 to 1830.  He was a native of the state of New York.  In 1853 he removed  to Highland county.  Mr. Raleigh died in Wilmington, Ohio, in 1866.

     The Hamilton and Rossville academy was opened in 1835.  Miss Maria Drummond was the first teacher.  The last teacher in this academy was Nathan Furman.

     On February 21, 1849, the legislature passed an act "providing that cities and towns may be formed into one district, to be governed by a board of six directors and three examiners."
On April 19, 1851, an election was held under this law.  The act was adopted and the members of the board and examiners were elected May 1st.  On June 21, 1851, the first school levy was made, it being one and one half mills on a dollar.

     In 1852, F. N. Slack was appointed principal of the Third ward school, and F. Jenkins assumed charge of the Second ward building. In 1859, on an overland trip to California, Mr. Slack died on the plains.

[Pg. 33]

     In 1853, Isaac W. Legg was appointed principal and taught in the Second ward.  His widow resides with William Fitton on North Third street.

     Among the early educators in Rossville, now First ward of Hamilton, we find Lemuel Ball teaching in a frame building on Main, between D and E streets.

     Stephen White and Miss Eliza Green taught school in the brick building in the rear of the old engine house.  Mr. White married Miss Green and immigrated to Iowa, where he was elevated to a judgeship.

     Evan Davies was the first instructor in the old church building in Rossville.  He was an experienced and successful teacher and conducted his school in an able manner, and justly held a high rank among the educators of his day.

     J. P. Ellinwood was afterward selected as his assistant, who edited and issued an educational journal from the printing office of Mr. Christy, in the building now owned by C. R. Kennedy, on Main street.  He resigned after serving two years, and accepted a place in the faculty of the Farmers' College at College Hill, Ohio.

     Ransford Smith, a prominent attorney of Ogden, Utah, taught in Rossville for several years.  He died in 1895. 

     Mrs. A. A. Phillips, nee Rust was his able assistant.  She was a thorough teacher and much credit was attached to her admirable administration.

     Mrs. J. Curtis Strode, nee Riley in the fifties proved her self a teacher of ability and ranked well as an instructor on the West Side.

     The Ball sisters taught for a long time in Rossville.

     William S. Phares was an able and popular teacher in his day.  After he abandoned teaching, he was elected auditor of Butler county.

     Mr. Phares was assistant state treasurer under the late John M. Millikin.

     James A. Neal and Enoch Powers were highly esteemed as early educators.  They had a long and varied experience.

     In 1854, Hamilton and Rossville were united.  It was stipulated in the article of annexation that a High school building

[Pg. 34]
was to be erected in the First ward, but this agreement was never carried into effect.  In August of the same year Alexander Bartlett, of Mansfield, Ohio, was elected principal of the schools.
     In 1855, J. R. Burgett, D. D., was elected principal.  After serving two years he declined a re-election and removed to Macon, Georgia.  He was elected president of a female institute.  During the Civil war, Dr. Burgett was captured as a confederate.  The late Charles E. Giffen recognized him on several occasions.  After the war he visited Hamilton and preached occasionally in the Presbyterian church.

     Miss H. H. Ringwood was principal of the Hamilton High schools for eighteen years.  She was graduated from the Oxford Female college, under the presidency of Rev. Robert Morris.  Miss Ringwood was an excellent instructor and her school work was of superior merit.

     Josiah Morrow, a native of Warren county, and a grandson of Gov. Morrow was graduated from Miami University in 1859.  In September of the same year he became principal of the First ward schools.  At that time the Grammar and High schools for the entire city were on the West Side.  He taught Latin, the higher mathematics, chemistry and physics.  After leaving Hamilton he studied law at Lebanon in the office' of Corwin & Sage, and was the last law student in the office of Gov. Corwin during his life time.  He has devoted much time to literary work, and is author of the history of Warren county.

     The first Board of Education of Hamilton, elected under the act of legislature, passed Feb. 21, 1849,was as follows: Isaac T. Saunders, William Hunter, John W. Sohn, John W. Erwin, and Stephen E. Giffen.

     The following notice was given to the qualified electors residing within the corporation of the town of Hamilton and all of the electors that resided within said corporation that is now in school district No. 1 and 10, in Fairfield township are hereby notified and requested to meet at the court house on Saturday, Apr. 19, at 2 o'clock p. m. on said day, then and there to vote by ballot for or against the adoption of the act for the better regulation of the public schools in cities and towns, passed Feb. 21, 1849, which act is in volume 47, page 22, and provides, amongst other things that cities and towns

[Pg. 35]
maybe formed into one district to be governed by a board of six directors and three school examiners.

[Pg. 36]
day; Matthew Pfafflin, in the German department was employed at one dollar and fifty cents per day.
     June 13, 1851, S. E. Giffen, William Hunter, John W. Sohn, Dr. C. Falconer and John W. Erwin were appointed a committee to visit the schools of Cincinnati, Dayton and Eaton for the purpose of examining their schools and school houses.  June 21 the board levied a special tax amounting to one and one-fourth of a mill.
     In August, 1851, Messrs. Marchant and Jenkins were employed to teach in the academy at five hundred dollars per year, and Miss Lydia Robertson was secured to teach in the intermediate department.
     Sept. 12, 1851, the board rented the basement of the Presbyterian church for school purposes, at $3.00 per month.  The commencement exercises were postponed until September 22, in consequence of not being able to have the school rooms in order by the time set for the commencement.
     McGuffey's Fourth and Cole's Fifth readers, Coleburn's Mental and Ray's Arithmetic and Brewer's Grammar were adopted and Mitchell's Higher Geography as text books.
     Aug. 27, 1852, the board rented the basement of the Methodist church for the German department.
     In May 1853, Josiah Scott and William Hunter were elected members ofthe board for a term of three years and Clark Lane for two years.  The board was organized by electing Stephen Giffen, president, Josiah Scott, clerk and John W. Sohn, treasurer.
     June 21, 1853, the board levied a special tax for school purposes for the year 1853-54, of one and three-fourth mills.
     At the meeting of the board Aug. 19, 1853, Mr. Elliott was elected principal of the High school, and Mr. Langdon teacher in the Grammar department.  Miss Stansbury, of Hamilton, and Miss McElroy, were elected teachers in the Primary department and Matthew Pfafflin teacher of the German school.  Sept. 1, 1853, J. W. Legg, of Piqua, was elected principal of the High school, vice Elliott resigned.

[Pg. 37]

     Oct. 17, 1853, teachers Legg and Langdon were authorized to employ boys to make fires in the several school rooms at the rate of twenty-five cents per week for the each school room.  Miss Francis Trotter was employed as teacher in the colored school at a salary of $20.00 a month.
     On Nov. 10, 1853, the board ordered a "suitable fence erected on the southern school lot, separating the play grounds of the boys from that of the girls."  At the same meeting Miss Dole was assigned to the recitation room as an assistant to the High and Grammar School.
     Mar. 13, 1853, John W. Sohn presented his bond in the sum of six thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duties as treasurer of the board, with John Stillwaugh, Peter Murphy and Thomas Millikin, as sureties.  At the same meeting Messers. Thomas and Giffen were appointed to call on Mr. Smith and obtain suitable redress for a window in the northeast school building (Third ward), alleged to have been wantonly broken by his son.
     It appearing to the board, May 29, 1854, that the schools are closed on Fridays at an earlier hour than other days of the week.  This practice was condemned and the schools there after were kept open on Friday the same hours as on other days.
     Aug. 5, 1854, the board proceeded to the election of a superintendent for the ensuing year. Josiah Hurty, of Lebanon, received five votes and J. W. Legg, one vote.  The clerk of the board was instructed to inform Mr. Hurty of the action of the board, and to tender him $800.00 salary per annum, with an offer of an increase in salary at the end of six months, that is, if his efficiency and success during that time should equal the board's expectations. Aug. 10, 1854, a letter was received from Mr. Hurty declining the superintendency on the terms proposed. D. W. McClung was elected as a teacher for the Grammar department at a salary of $50.00 per month.  The secretary was instructed to correspond with Alexander Bartlett, of Mansfield, Ohio, asking him to visit Hamilton for a personal

[Pg. 38]
conference, examination, etc., in reference to his candidacy for superintendent. August 18, Mr. Bartlett was unanimously elected superintendent of the Hamilton public schools at a salary of $80.00 per month.
     Aug. 26, 1854, the Misses Ellinwood and Stansbury agreed to teach for $25.00 per month.  Isaac Robertson stated to the board that Miss Robertson would teach for the same amount.
     Sept. 14, 1854, J. R. Burgett, D. D., superintendent, submitted a system of gradation and studies to be used and pursued in our schools.  This report was adopted by the board Sept. 16, 1854.  At this meeting it was ordered that Miss Ellinwood be placed as an assistant in the High school and Miss Burgett as teacher in the Primary department. Oct. 5, 1854, Mrs. Lawrence was elected a teacher for the colored schools at $20.00 per month.  At this date W. H. Ingersoll was employed as a teacher of music for three months, for which the board agreed to pay him $100.00.  Miss Alice Stansbury's salary was increased to $18.00 per month until further orders from the board.
     Dec. 14, 1854, it appearing to the board that the number of pupils attending the colored school for the last month averaged less than fifteen the schoolroom was ordered closed at the end of the session.
     Thursday evening, Jan. 18, 1854, a petition from the female teachers was presented to the board, asking for an increase of compensation.  The petition was referred to John W. Sohn and Josiah Scott to be reported on at the next meeting.  It was resolved at this meeting that the president and secretary give notice for an election of one director from the First ward to serve for three years and one from the Second ward to serve for two years, and one from the Third ward for three years.  The election was held on the first Tuesday in May 1855, in each ward.  The election resulted as follows: John Mills, First ward, two years; Henry Beardsley, Second ward, two years; N. G. Curtis, First ward, three years; T. A. Heim, Third ward, three years

[Pg. 39]

[Pg. 40]

[Pg. 41]

[Pg. 42]

[Pg. 43]

[Pg. 44]

[Pg. 45]

[Pg. 46]

[Pg. 47]

[Pg. 48]

[Pg. 49]

[Pg. 50]

[Pg. 51]

[Pg. 52]

[Pg. 53]

[Pg. 54]

[Pg. 55]

[Pg. 56]

[Pg. 57]

[Pg. 58]

[Pg. 59]

[Pg. 60]

[Pg. 61]

[Pg. 62]

[Pg. 63]

[Pg. 64]

[Pg. 65]

[Pg. 66]

[Pg. 67]

[Pg. 68]

[Pg. 69]

[Pg. 70]

[Pg. 71]

[Pg. 72]

[Pg. 73]

[Pg. 74]

[Pg. 75]

[Pg. 76]
past record of Miss Rose was commended by the Board.  Miss Clara A. Laurie was elected to fill the vacancy.
     June 8, 1881, the old teachers were re-elected.
     Miss Marie Reutti resigned as teacher in the schools, June 30, owing to failing health, being compelled to take a trip to Europe.  Miss Belle Bowman also resigned on July 28th.  August 1, J. K. Aydelotte and Miss Amanda Groenland were elected to fill the vacancies.  Miss Jennie Long resigned as teacher in the Primary department, August 22.  Three additional school examiners were elected on the above date, as follows: Captain W. C. Margedant, Rev. Philip Stemple, and James W. See.
     At the meeting of the Board, held Aug. 29, 1881, Miss Sue Ritter and Miss Dora Hargitt were elected teachers.
     September 8, Marcellus Thomas was appointed a member of the Board, vice, Allen Andrews, removed from the ward.
     Member John F. Schwenn died Oct. 2, 1881.  The Board passed resolutions expressing feelings of regret.  On October 31, Joseph B. Hughes was declared a member elect of the Board.  Miss Nellie C. Hill resigned as teacher of the Primary department Dec. 12, 1881.
     Christian Rothenbush, Marcellus Thomas and O. C. Brewer were appointed on a special committee to prospect for a location and price of lot for the purpose of erecting a new school building thereon.  At this time, February 20, an additional ward was about to be created.
     Apr. 3, 1882, Christian Rothenbush, Peter Schwab, Martin Mason, L. A. Boli, M. D. Schnell and John E. Heiser were elected members of the Board of Education. On the 17th of the same month the Board organized by electing O C. Brewer, president; Christian Rothenbush, clerk; and Frank Hammerle, treasurer. The president announced the death of Miss Marie Reutti, a former teacher in the public schools, at Karlsuth, Germany, Mar. 29, 1882.  The Board passed resolutions of sympathy.
     June 12, 1882 the committee on law recommended "That there be no attempt to sell our land in Mercer county, but

[Pg. 77]
that there be a special committee appointed with power to lease said land for a term of years and to dispose of so much of the timber thereon as may be necessary to make the land productive and of value to this Board."

     L. R. Marshall, Prof. Karl Merz and Delos Spaulding were candidates for music teacher in the public schools.  The roll was called twice, which resulted in a tie between the two first named gentlemen.  On the third ballot, L. R. Marshall was elected at a salary of $850.
     On Sept. 22, 1882, it was resolved that a committee of three be appointed to procure a suitable location for a new school house.  Marcellus Thomas, Peter Schwab and Frank Hammerle were appointed on said committee.
     On Oct. 2, 1882, the Board purchased fourteen lots, in the East addition, from William Beckett and Israel Williams, assignee, for the sum of $3,771.66.
     I. N. Slayback was appointed city school examiner, on October 30, vice J. W. See, resigned.  Miss Carrie Jacobs was elected teacher for the English-German department and Miss

 - CLICK to Go to Page 78 - Public Schools - Continued