cient direct interest in toiling, or pasturing the soil, or they may have some interest to conflict with our purposes; but we appeal to all good citizens for their cordial coöperation and to assist in our efforts toward reform, so that we may eventually remove from our midst every vestige of tyranny and corruption. We hail the general desire for fraternal harmony, equitable compromise, and earnest coöperation as an omen of our future suc

cess.

"7. It shall be an abiding principle with us to relieve any of our oppressed and suffering brotherhood by any means at our command.

"Last, but not least, we proclaim it among our purposes to inculcate a proper appreciation of the abilities and sphere of woman as indicated by admitting her to membership and position in our order. Imploring the continued assistance of our Divine Master to guide us in our work, we here pledge ourselves to faithfully and harmoniously labor for all future time to return by our united efforts to the wisdom, justice, fraternity and purity of our forefathers."

A memorial to the patrons in the cotton States was also adopted. It is a strong argument in favor of a mixed husbandry in the Southern States instead of expending all the energies of the people of that section in raising a single staple, and gives several strong reasons why the planters of the South should and how they can become self-sustaining.

It was the grand and noble declaration of principles and purposes which gave such strength to the order and caused it in a few short months to become a power for good in the land; to cause monopolists to tremble and extortionists to shake with an apprehension of coming doom. That it should so soon lose its power is much to be regretted, but that its good work lives after it, is seen even to this day. The farmers, the mechanics and the laboring men have found that they are strong enough to rule when joined together in the cause of right, and the same organization will again come to the front when monopolists become tyrants and would oppress and rob those who are their real benefactors. That it checked the railroad cormorants in their insatiable greed is certain, that the money power felt that the Patrons of Husbandry had rights that money kings were bound to respect was more than once illustrated by the lack of that defiant tone so common to those who have secured wealth and usurped power. One of the incidents of the organization of the order in Grundy county is worthy of record and took place in the early fall of 1874. The grange agent at Trenton could not make rates with the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad for the shipment of wheat. Rates were offered by the Hannibal & St. Joe at Chillicothe which were acceptable. A meeting was called and the result was that 200 wagons with an aggregate of 10,000 bushels of wheat filed in procession and delivered that wheat to the Hannibal & St. Joe depot at Chillicothe.

CHAPTER IX.

SCHOOLS OF GRUNDY COUNTY.

Educational-Exploring the Records-School Organization-Enumeration in 1847-Number of Children, 1853 and 1854--School Moneys-Progress from 1865-School Commissioners-New Era-Superintendent's Report-School Fund, 1874-Steady Growth-Letter from State Superintendent-School Fund by Townships, 1875–1876-County Superintendent's Report, 1879-1880-Value of School Property and Report for 1881—“ The Men Who Have Guided."

"Bid him besides his daily pains employ

To form the tender manners of the boy,
And work him like a waxen babe, with art,
To perfect symmetry in every part."

Schools have been the beacon-lights which have illumined the pathway of civilization from the earliest ages up to the present era of progress and enlightenment. Education has stood the keystone in the arch of all social and intellectual advancement, and as with broad and far-reaching sweep it has spread over the world, the arts and sciences of peace have "smoothed the wrinkles from the brow of grim-visaged war," and relegated to the depths of darkest oblivion the days when conquering armies tread the 'civilization of the ancients under foot, leaving a country devastated by pillage and plunder to mark the line of march. Learning stepped in, and the physical force of the sword gave way to the intellectual sway of the pen raising man to a higher plane and a nobler aim than the mere acquirement of athletic accomplishment. Mental power began to be looked up to, and from that early day to this, with steady stride the progress of education has been a tour of triumphs " onward and upward" toward the goal of universal knowledge.

When the early pioneer first set foot upon the fertile soil and invaded the leafy forests of Grundy county, the first thing to engage his attention, after the erection of his rude cabin home in western wilds away from the bustle of the world, was the thought of a school for his children, and the deed followed the thought with immediate action. Then the log schoolhouse assumed a prominent place in every settlement, a substantial token of the admiration of the citizens for learning.

From these early evidences of a desire for culture sprang the present comprehensive system which has given to every district in every township good school-houses and a thorough course of study in the various branches of knowledge, and to this influence may be traced the industry and prosperity which permeates every nook and corner of Grundy county, aiding in its growth and development, until to-day she stands in the front rank. among counties in the grand old Commonwealth of Missouri.

EXPLORING THE RECORDS.

In going over and exploring the musty records of the past, the first evidence found relating to schools was in the month of June, 1840, at which date the organization of township 61, range 24, into a school-district took place, the first section organized for school purposes in Grundy county covering what is now known as Trenton township, the most populous portion of the county. From this time on schools became frequent, and each township boasted of from one to two school-houses. These institutions of learning were under charge of the township, each was numbered and was controlled by a board of trustees, and the chairman of the several boards of the township constituted the township school-board to which all questions connected with the schools were referred. This system continued in force until the year 1875, when the law was changed, giving to each district full charge of its own school affairs, since which time the schools have made considerable progress. The working of this law, which is still in force, has aided not a little in attainment of the present high standard and perfection of the schools of Grundy county.

On the 4th of August, 1846, the County Court ordered congressional township 62, range 24, to be organized for school purposes, and on the 10th of February of the following year the citizens of said township met at the home of Mr. Samuel Kelso, where the necessary arrangements were made. Mr. Kelso's residence was near the center of what is now known as Lincoln township, but which at that time was embraced in the limits of Trenton township. At the same term of court Mr. Wm. H. Robinson was appointed school-commissioner for Trenton township, and consequently was the first school-commissioner in the county.

SCHOOL CENSUS.

In 1847 a general sentiment seemed to prevail throughout the county in favor of a more thorough organization of the school system, and to that much desired end, at the June term of the County Court, enumerators were appointed to take a census of the children of school age in the various townships in the county, and the following gentlemen were named to perform the duty: James R. Devaul, Franklin township; Samuel Rook, Marion; J. L. Henderson, Trenton; Zela Conkling, Jefferson; Jacob Robbins, Washington; John Priest, Liberty; William Metcalf, Madison. This was the first combined effort on the part of the citizens of the county toward their one cherished object-a uniform school system, affording advantages alike to all portions of the county.

The following year, 1848, the petitions for the organization of townships began to flow in upon the County Court and in March, township 63, range 24, in Washington township, and township 62, range 22, in Liberty, were

organized for school purposes, with Elijah Burgess, Wm. Kent and Royal Williams as commissioners. About this time the first experience of trouble with the finances in Trenton township came up before the May term of the County Court, when the directors of school township 61, range 24, filed a motion to investigate the schools of said township, stating that a deficiency of some hundreds of dollars existed. The investigation was ordered, but as nothing further concerning the matter is to be found upon the record it is supposed everything was made, or found to be, satisfactory.

In May, 1850, the citizens of township 62, range 22, petitioned for an organization for school purposes. This was the same school-district in Liberty township organized in 1848. The petition was granted and Giles. Songer was appointed commissioner, and A. Beckner, Wm. Ruckee and George Smith were appointed directors. In April, 1851, Wm. Linney and others presented a petition to organize a school-district in Liberty township 62, range 23, which was duly granted. On November 28th, of the same year, a petition to organize a school-district of township 60, range 22, in Marion township, was also granted, and a meeting for that purpose was held at the home of Washington R. Young, near Dyke's Mill, on Medicine Creek, January 1st, 1852. The next school organization was of township 60, range 24 in Trenton township, and in June, 1853, the first meeting in regard to the matter was held at the house of J. D. Parkins.

NUMBER OF CHILDREN-1853.

The commissioner's record shows a total of 1,781 children in Grundy county in 1853. Of that number the four school-districts of the municipal township of Trenton contained 294; Madison township, with two districts, furnished 314; Jefferson's one district numbered 176; Franklin, with four districts, came forward with 244; Marion's four districts gave a total of 246; Liberty, with five districts, the largest number in the county, footed up 259; Washington, with four districts, completed the list with 240.

SCHOOL MONEY.

The State school money for 1854 amounted to $748.02, which sum was divided among the townships as follows; Trenton, $123.48; Madison, $131.88; Jefferson, $77.28; Franklin, $102.48; Marion, $103.32; Liberty, $108.78; Washington, $100.80; amounting to 42 cents per capita on the enumeration of 1853. The township money for the same year amounted in the aggregate to $633.86, which was apportioned among the twenty-four schools in the county.

NUMBER AND AMOUNT.

The number of children entitled to the benefits and privileges of the public schools in 1854 showed a perceptible increase over the enumeration of the previous year, 2,010 names appearing upon the rolls. The State fund

for 1855, under the above enumeration for that year, reached the sum of $763.80, an average of thirty-eight cents per head. There were $849.64 of township money for the same year. The growth of the schools continued, showing gratifying gains in the number in attendance, and also in the additional increase in the State appropriations. The school census of 1855 gave to the county 2,352 children, and the appropriations for the year 1856, which were based upon the above enumeration, amounted to $1,881.60, or eighty cents per head, from the State, and $1,260.44 from the townships. In 1856 the number of children of school age showed a total of 2,852, which formed the basis of the school moneys for 1857, the State fund being $2,224.56, while from the townships were received $2,623.84. The children numbered 3,226 in 1857, and the appropriations for 1858 showed a corresponding increase, the county adding, for the first time, its quota to the school fund, in the sum of $533.80; the same year the State furnished $2,258.20, and the townships $1,963.58. The enumeration of 1858 contained the names of 3,645 school children, and on the basis of that number $2,515.05 was the portion of Grundy county from the State fund, the county money amounting to $187.28, and the townships increasing the sum by $1,518.16, for the year 1859. The next information we can find is for the year 1862. That year the number of children returned was only 2,380, and the amount of money received from all sources was $952. The exact manner in which this was divided is, unfortunately, not of record. Some districts which failed to report got nothing. For instance, in 1856 district Nos. 1 and 4, township 62, range 22, failed to call for their apportionment for two years, and it was given to other districts in the same township; and in 1858 township 60, range 23, with four schools-districts, only No. 1 reported, with thirty-three children, and it got the entire money of the districts, amounting to $336.37. Here closed the official record, as far as can be ascertained, up to the breaking out and during the civil war. In the fall of 1859 a school meeting was called for the election of trustees in Union School No. 1, but in what township or range was not of record. The election was to have been held October 8, 1859, but whether it was or not cannot be told. November 12, 1859, William P. Warmouth and Elijah Burgess were appointed trustees of some school-district. This ends all school reports up to 1863, when Joseph L. Bush, of district 5, township 61, range 22, was appointed, October 6, 1863, trustee for that district. Alexander S. Hughes, October 18, 1863, was appointed for district 4, township 61, range 22. E. L. Webb, Hiram Richardson and Isaac H. Brown were appointed trustees, October 29, 1863, for district No. 1, township No. 63, of range 22; James Dunlap was appointed, December 1, 1863, trustee for district No. 3, township 61, range 24; H. H. Turner, William F. Brown and Thomas Williams were appointed trustees, April 8, 1865, of district No. 1, township No. 60, of range 25, and M. S. Pond, Robert Stephens and John Davis were, on